rollcall--2020-01-17--Former Rep. Chris Collins sentenced to just over two years in federal prison

Former New York Rep. Chris Collins was sentenced to two years and two months in federal prison for insider trading .
( Al Drago/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Former Rep. Chris Collins was sentenced to two years and two months in federal prison Friday for insider trading crimes he committed , ending a legal process that evolved from the New York Republican calling the charges “ meritless ” shortly after he was indicted to him pleading guilty and proclaiming embarrassment for his actions .
Collins , who represented the Buffalo-area 27th District for seven years and was the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for president , pleaded guilty on Oct. 1 to participating in a scheme to commit insider trading and lying to the FBI to conceal his illegal activity .
He resigned from Congress the day before his guilty plea .
“ Collins ’ s hubris is a stark reminder that the people of New York can and should demand more from their elected officials , and that no matter how powerful , no lawmaker is above the law , ” Geoffrey S. Berman , the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The former lawmaker also has to pay a $ 200,000 fine and will be under one year of supervised release , according to the SDNY .
Although no final determination was made as to where Collins will serve his prison sentence , he could end up doing time about a nine-hour drive from his home in Marco Island , Florida .
That facility could be FPC Pensacola , a minimum security federal prison camp .
“ There was a recommendation for a camp in Pensacola , Florida , ” SDNY spokesman Nicholas Biase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by [ District Judge Vernon Broderick ] .
” Sentencing guidelines called for Collins to serve 46 to 57 months in federal prison , but the U.S .
Probation Office recommended a lesser penalty : one year and one day in jail , a supervised release term , and the $ 200,000 fine .
Collins ’ lawyers argued the recommendation was too much for the 69-year-old to spend in jail .
In a sentencing memorandum filed earlier this month , they said he should get a significant house arrest term and extensive community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine .
Several Republican lawmakers , including former Speaker John A. Boehner , who is Collins ’ neighbor in Marco Island , Florida , wrote letters of support to Broderick on the former congressman ’ s behalf .
Calls for leniency over a prison sentence included pleas from his family and friends .
Those calls for leniency weren ’ t the only letters sent to the judge in the lead-up to Friday ’ s sentencing .
Former constituents of Collins asked Broderick to impose the maximum sentence on their disgraced congressman , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back his salary from the date of his indictment to his resignation and to forfeit his federal pension .
Collins served on the board of directors for Innate Immunotherapeutics , an Australian biotechnology company , the success of which was largely contingent on the progress of MIS416 , a drug designed to treat a form of multiple sclerosis .
The drug failed the clinical trial , passage of which was required for the company to commercialize the drug and profit from it .
On June 22 , 2017 , while he was at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Picnic , Collins received an email from Innate ’ s CEO informing him the drug failed its clinical test — a revelation that would inevitably sink the company ’ s stock .
At that time , Innate had not publicly released the results and Collins , using this insider knowledge , called his son , Cameron , to alert him of the confidential news so Cameron and others close to the family could unload their shares of Innate to avoid losses .
Had the clinical trial been successful , it would have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; however , when Innate publicly announced the trial failure of MIS416 , the stock price dove 92 percent .
Those who were tipped off by Collins avoided $ 768,000 in losses , although the former congressman did not trade his shares and lost millions .
Collins could not trade his shares because they were still held by a transfer agent in Australia .
Collins held approximately 16.8 percent of Innate ’ s stock — one of the largest holders of Innate securities — and Cameron Collins held approximately 2.3 percent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously noted that Collins is rather wealthy , with a fortune estimated conservatively of $ 13.8 million .
They cite Collins ’ possession of a baseball card collection and a coin collection , valued at $ 1 million each .
Cameron has a net worth of over $ 21 million , according to prosecutors .
Michael J. Hook , Collins ’ chief of staff at the time Innate ’ s stock crashed , held a substantial amount of shares in the company and was one of many who incurred large losses when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released to the public by Innate on June 26 , 2017 .
Hook sold between $ 65,000 and $ 150,000 in Innate shares over the course of a two-day stretch from June 29 to 30 in 2017 .
The actions of the disgraced congressman propelled the House to ban members from serving on boards of public companies .
The measure HR 6 created a new clause in the Code of Official Conduct , which became effective this year .
It prohibits members , delegates , resident commissioners , officers or employees in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of any public company .

Former Rep. Chris Collins was sentenced to two years and two months in federal prison Friday for insider trading crimes he committed, ending a legal process that evolved from the New York Republican calling the charges “meritless” shortly after he was indicted to him pleading guilty and proclaiming embarrassment for his actions.
Collins, who represented the Buffalo-area 27th District for seven years and was the first member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump for president, pleaded guilty on Oct. 1 to participating in a scheme to commit insider trading and lying to the FBI to conceal his illegal activity. He resigned from Congress the day before his guilty plea.
“Collins’s hubris is a stark reminder that the people of New York can and should demand more from their elected officials, and that no matter how powerful, no lawmaker is above the law,” Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement Friday.
The former lawmaker also has to pay a $200,000 fine and will be under one year of supervised release, according to the SDNY.
Although no final determination was made as to where Collins will serve his prison sentence, he could end up doing time about a nine-hour drive from his home in Marco Island, Florida. That facility could be FPC Pensacola, a minimum security federal prison camp.


rollcall--2020-01-17--USDA official to resign, leaving civil rights post vacant

The effort to fill the top Agriculture Department civil rights post got a setback this week with the resignation of Naomi C. Earp , the nominee for the position who has been serving as deputy assistant secretary for civil rights .
Earp , chairwoman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under President George W. Bush , has been under fire from Rep. Marcia L. Fudge , D-Ohio , chairwoman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition , Oversight and Department Operations .
[ USDA ’ s hemp rules open door to states to set up regulations ] Fudge has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and discouraged USDA employees and those affected by the department ’ s programs from filing complaints of discrimination or harassment .
“ Whoever next fills this important role must understand the importance of strong civil rights enforcement to ensure everyone who looks to USDA to stand up for them can trust that will happen , ” Fudge said in a statement Thursday after learning of Earp ’ s resignation .
The department said Friday that Earp will remain at USDA until Jan. 31 and that it “ will undertake a careful and thorough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
” It said Earp will not seek renomination for the assistant secretary position .
The Trump administration twice nominated Earp to be assistant secretary for civil rights and the Senate Agriculture Committee twice reported out her nomination , most recently in May .
Sen. Debbie Stabenow , D-Mich. , the committee ’ s ranking member , said in May that Earp addressed her earlier concern she would not be proactive and aggressive in enforcing civil rights protections or take seriously the need to build a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that does not tolerate sexual attacks or harassment .
Earp ’ s nomination is still pending along with those of Mindy Brashears for USDA food safety undersecretary and Scott Hutchins for USDA undersecretary of research , education and economics .
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue created deputy posts for all three in January 2019 after their nominations lapsed at the end of the 115th Congress .
Brashears is food safety deputy undersecretary and Hutchins is deputy undersecretary of research , education and economics .
Perdue said he took the unusual but not unprecedented step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting for the Senate to act on their nominations .
The administration again nominated all three on Jan. 16 , 2019 .

Corrected 4:50 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19 | The effort to fill the top Agriculture Department civil rights post got a setback this week with the resignation of Naomi C. Earp, the nominee for the position who has been serving as deputy assistant secretary for civil rights.
Earp, chairwoman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under President George W. Bush, has been under fire from Rep. Marcia L. Fudge, D-Ohio, chairwoman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations.
[USDA’s hemp rules open door to states to set up regulations]
Fudge has said Earp’s managerial style caused discord and discouraged USDA employees and those affected by the department’s programs from filing complaints of discrimination or harassment.
“Whoever next fills this important role must understand the importance of strong civil rights enforcement to ensure everyone who looks to USDA to stand up for them can trust that will happen,” Fudge said in a statement Thursday after learning of Earp’s resignation.


rollcall--2020-01-17--Court tells teen plaintiffs it can’t force climate policy changes

A three-judge panel of a federal appeals court said Friday that young climate activists established that government policies worsened climate change but dismissed the activists ’ case seeking to force policy changes , ruling it was beyond the court ’ s power .
In a 2-1 decision , the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel accepted the argument that climate change had accelerated in recent years and that government policies encouraged fossil fuel use even as authorities knew it could have disastrous consequences .
But the Constitution doesn ’ t empower courts to force such sweeping changes to policies at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The order reversed a lower court ’ s ruling that the case could proceed because the plaintiffs had shown they were harmed by a host of federal policies .
The majority opinion said the 21 plaintiffs , who were teenagers and pre-teens when they first sued in Oregon federal court in 2015 , showed “ the federal government has long promoted fossil fuel use despite knowing that it can cause catastrophic climate change , and that failure to change existing policy may hasten an environmental apocalypse.
” But , as government attorneys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the courts lack the power to intervene in the policies to which the activists objected .
The activists had asked the court to order several executive branch agencies to enact a plan to phase out fossil fuels and reduce carbon dioxide emissions .
The panel said such a plan required not only an order to halt current policies but also several complex new policies , which could only be enacted by the executive or legislative branches of government .
Government attorneys had argued that instead of suing , the activists should petition any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defendants in the case for policy changes .
The panel agreed the agencies would be the appropriate place to seek policy changes and encouraged the plaintiffs , if they were unable to win changes from current officeholders and officials , to challenge them through the electoral process .
“ Reluctantly , we conclude that such relief is beyond our constitutional power , ” Judge Andrew D. Hurwitz wrote for the majority .
“ The plaintiffs ’ impressive case for redress must be presented to the political branches of government.
” Throughout the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued ill effects of climate change will rob them of basic civil rights .
In a dissent , Judge Josephine L. Staton took that framing and argued that because fundamental rights have been threatened , the court did hold the power to force changes , as courts had in civil rights cases .
The potential destruction caused by climate change will “ destroy the United States as we currently know it.
” Such a threat can be protected against by courts , she wrote .
“ If plaintiffs ’ fears , backed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove true , history will not judge us kindly , ” she wrote .
“ When the seas envelop our coastal cities , fires and droughts haunt our interiors , and storms ravage everything between , those remaining will ask : Why did so many do so little ?
” Neither attorneys for the activists nor the U.S. Department of Justice , which argued the case for the government , responded to requests for comment by press time .
Climate change has emerged as an animating issue for young people around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existential threat .
Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg , who has become an international symbol of youth activism on the issue , testified to a House hearing , spoke to the United Nations and helped organize a youth climate strike in September .

A three-judge panel of a federal appeals court said Friday that young climate activists established that government policies worsened climate change but dismissed the activists’ case seeking to force policy changes, ruling it was beyond the court’s power.
In a 2-1 decision, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel accepted the argument that climate change had accelerated in recent years and that government policies encouraged fossil fuel use even as authorities knew it could have disastrous consequences. But the Constitution doesn’t empower courts to force such sweeping changes to policies at several federal agencies, the majority ruled.
The order reversed a lower court’s ruling that the case could proceed because the plaintiffs had shown they were harmed by a host of federal policies.
The majority opinion said the 21 plaintiffs, who were teenagers and pre-teens when they first sued in Oregon federal court in 2015, showed “the federal government has long promoted fossil fuel use despite knowing that it can cause catastrophic climate change, and that failure to change existing policy may hasten an environmental apocalypse.”
[Safe climate a constitutional right, young plaintiffs tell court]


rollcall--2020-01-17--Forget impeachment, Sensenbrenner's got something else on his mind

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump on Dec. @ @ @ @ @ Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Impeachment might be the hottest topic on the @ @ @ @ @ Sensenbrenner is preparing for another epic clash on the horizon — the NFC Championship matchup @ @ @ @ @ and San Francisco 49ers .
CQ Roll Call sat down with the Wisconsin Republican for @ @ @ @ @ the big matchup .
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your @ @

Impeachment might be the hottest topic on the Hill, but Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner is preparing for another epic clash on the horizon — the NFC Championship matchup between the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers.
CQ Roll Call sat down with the Wisconsin Republican for a hot take ahead of the big matchup.


rollcall--2020-01-17--Trump basks in glow of ‘big strong-looking’ LSU champs

President Donald Trump hosts the LSU Tigers at the White House on Friday .
( Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images ) Last year , he served up fast food from McDonald ’ s .
This year , he served up “ big strong ” compliments .
As the shadow of an impeachment trial looms , Louisiana State University ’ s newly minted national champion football team provided President Donald Trump a welcome distraction Friday morning at the White House .
“ He ’ s all man , a big strong-looking guy , ” said Trump , describing LSU head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know if he had laryngitis , ” he added , a reference to the coach ’ s trademark croaky voice .
For those who ’ ve never heard Orgeron talk , imagine an entire army of frogs lodged in a 58-year-old man ’ s throat speaking in unison with a Cajun accent .
Trump has an obsession with physical attributes .
Anyone who ’ s seen him at these type of events knows he enjoys hanging out with military guys and athletes and describing their physical attributes in detail .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team but was blocked from purchasing an NFL franchise , isn ’ t the first president to enjoy hobnobbing with athletes .
Barack Obama attended basketball games and even hosted several NBA superstars ( including LeBron James ) at the White House for a pickup game on his 49th birthday .
Given the liberal leanings of basketball fans , it ’ s unlikely you ’ ll catch Trump at a Wizards ’ game anytime soon .
But the president has found respite at Southern college football venues , a place almost like his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with praise and adulation .
Despite having to arrive two hours early for security checks , fans erupted in chants of “ U-S-A ” when Trump attended the college football championship game Monday night in New Orleans .
That reception stood in stark contrast to the boos Nationals fans rained down on him when he showed up at Game 5 of last fall ’ s World Series in Washington .
Friday morning , flanked by Orgeron and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow , Trump delighted in recapping the Tigers ’ thrilling victory over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notoriously welcomed to the White House with fast-food hamburgers the previous year .
`` LSU had to beat the reigning champions , a team that was here last year … nice guys , and they were very large .
We served them a lot of food , ” the president said .
“ Eating and eating.
” Several members of the Louisiana delegation attended Friday ’ s reception , including Republicans such as Sen. Bill Cassidy , Rep. Mike Johnson and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise , whom Trump called a “ special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The audience offered an extended ovation when Trump mentioned LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger , whose daughter-in-law died in a plane crash on the way to Atlanta for the Tigers ’ first-round playoff game .
With the excitement of a child mimicking both a play-by-play announcer and a color commentator , Trump rattled off stats and highlights by wide receiver Ja ’ Marr Chase , telling the star wideout , “ You ’ re gon na make a lot of money ” someday .
He also complimented Burrow ’ s performance , calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump also heaped praise on coach Orgeron , or as the White House announcer called him “ coach Orge-ROO.
” He seemed to identify with “ Coach O , ” a man on the older side for his job who ’ d been dismissed and underestimated , partially because of his speaking style .
The president called Orgeron after LSU ’ s first-round victory over Ohio State University .
The Tigers may have given Trump a welcome distraction from the stress of impeachment , but because it ’ s Trump , he couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really on his mind after inviting the players to the Oval Office .
“ So coach , if you like , we can take whoever wants to go to the Oval Office and take pictures behind the Resolute Desk , ” Trump said .
“ You know , a long time , a lot of presidents , some good , some not so good ... you got a good one now even though they ’ re trying to impeach the son of a bitch.
” Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll @ @ @ @ @

Last year, he served up fast food from McDonald’s. This year, he served up “big strong” compliments.
As the shadow of an impeachment trial looms, Louisiana State University’s newly minted national champion football team provided President Donald Trump a welcome distraction Friday morning at the White House.
“He’s all man, a big strong-looking guy,” said Trump, describing LSU head coach Ed Orgeron. “I didn’t know if he had laryngitis,” he added, a reference to the coach’s trademark croaky voice. For those who’ve never heard Orgeron talk, imagine an entire army of frogs lodged in a 58-year-old man’s throat speaking in unison with a Cajun accent.
Trump has an obsession with physical attributes. Anyone who’s seen him at these type of events knows he enjoys hanging out with military guys and athletes and describing their physical attributes in detail.
But Trump, who once owned a USFL team but was blocked from purchasing an NFL franchise, isn’t the first president to enjoy hobnobbing with athletes. Barack Obama attended basketball games and even hosted several NBA superstars (including LeBron James) at the White House for a pickup game on his 49th birthday.


rollcall--2020-01-17--Campus Notebook: Sen. Bob Menendez spent over $5 million in legal fees associated with corruption sc

Campus Notebook: Sen. Bob Menendez spent over $5 million in legal fees associated with corruption scandal

The New Jersey Democrat spent $ 5.16 million on his defense , according to his legal expense fund filing with the Senate Office of Public Records .
The trust was formed in 2014 at the beginning of Menendez ’ s legal woes .
It allows people to make contributions to Menendez so he can fight his legal battles associated with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics inquiries and allegations of federal law violations associated with his role as a senator .
The trust was terminated Dec. 31 , and the final disclosure report was filed Jan. 15 by Marc E. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works for Perkins Coie .
The expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2019 include $ 157,255 for legal services from Perkins Coie LLP , $ 26,429 for legal services rendered by McDermott Will & Emery LLP and $ 300 for database services provided by Every Action Inc .
Asked if Menendez had a comment on the expenses , Tricia Enright , a spokesperson for the senator said , “ Nope.
” His 2017 federal corruption trial ended in a mistrial as a result of a deadlocked jury that couldn ’ t decide whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice dropped the case in 2018 after the judge entered acquittals on seven of the 18 charges Menendez faced .
The charges against Menendez included honest services fraud relating to allegations of accepting bribes in the form of gifts from Salomon Melgen , a South Florida ophthalmologist , who was also on trial .
Federal prosecutors alleged that more than $ 700,000 in campaign contributions , vacations and flights on Melgen ’ s private jet were part of a scheme to induce Menendez to provide inappropriate favors and assistance to Melgen , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Services over Medicare billing issues .
In a separate matter , Melgen was sentenced to 17 years in prison for his role in a Medicare fraud scheme that resulted in a $ 42 million loss to Medicare .
In April 2018 , Menendez , chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , was “ severely admonished ” by the chamber ’ s Ethics Committee for improperly accepting gifts from Melgen .
The bipartisan committee , comprising three Democrats and three Republicans , issued a strong statement against the way Menendez comported himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards by placing your Senate office in Dr. Melgen ’ s service at the same time you repeatedly accepted gifts of significant value from him .
Your assistance to Dr. Melgen under these circumstances demonstrated poor judgment , and it risked undermining the public ’ s confidence in the Senate , ” the Ethics Committee wrote .
“ As such , your actions reflected discredit upon the Senate.
” A suspect was arrested on Jan. 13 in the 600 block of Second Street Northwest after a woman said she was threatened and assaulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her with a broomstick and closed fist before leaving the scene .
The woman who was assaulted had a bloody lip , according to the Capitol Police arrest report .
The suspect was charged with assault with a deadly weapon in addition to threats to do bodily harm , simple assault and bench warrant .
The Capitol Police arrested a person for crossing a police line , which was constructed for a protest on the East Front of the Capitol .
The arresting officer saw the person cross the boundary after the person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the arrest on Jan. 10 , the arrest report states .

Millions in legal expenses for Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption scandal
The New Jersey Democrat spent $5.16 million on his defense, according to his legal expense fund filing with the Senate Office of Public Records. The trust was formed in 2014 at the beginning of Menendez’s legal woes. It allows people to make contributions to Menendez so he can fight his legal battles associated with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics inquiries and allegations of federal law violations associated with his role as a senator.
The trust was terminated Dec. 31, and the final disclosure report was filed Jan. 15 by Marc E. Elias, an attorney for Menendez who works for Perkins Coie. The expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2019 include $157,255 for legal services from Perkins Coie LLP, $26,429 for legal services rendered by McDermott Will & Emery LLP and $300 for database services provided by Every Action Inc.
Asked if Menendez had a comment on the expenses, Tricia Enright, a spokesperson for the senator said, “Nope.”
His 2017 federal corruption trial ended in a mistrial as a result of a deadlocked jury that couldn’t decide whether he was guilty. The Department of Justice dropped the case in 2018 after the judge entered acquittals on seven of the 18 charges Menendez faced. The charges against Menendez included honest services fraud relating to allegations of accepting bribes in the form of gifts from Salomon Melgen, a South Florida ophthalmologist, who was also on trial.


rollcall--2020-01-17--Top Trump aide stops short of echoing boss’ claim that economy is ‘best it’s ever been’

Larry Kudlow , director of President Donald Trump ’ s National Economic Council , says the economy under Trump will “ rank up there ” with previous strong economies .
( Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images ) Donald Trump ’ s chief economic adviser on Friday stopped short of endorsing the president ’ s repeated claim that the U.S. economy is at its strongest point in the country ’ s history .
“ In history ?
I think it ’ ll rank up there , yes , ” Lawrence Kudlow told CQ Roll Call on Friday .
But he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the strongest it ’ s ever been as his boss heads into what pollsters and strategists in both parties say could be a photo-finish election .
Kudlow ’ s assessment came one day after Trump made one of his favorite boasts during a religious freedom event in the Oval Office .
“ You just have to take a look at the polls .
You see , I don ’ t need anybody ’ s help , ” he said when asked about Lev Parnas , an associate to his embattled personal attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the center of the Ukraine scandal that prompted House Democrats to impeach Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
“ We ’ re doing phenomenally well , ” Trump said Thursday .
“ The economy is the best it ’ s ever been in — we have never had an economy like this in history .
We just made the two best trade deals in the history of our country .
We are doing well.
” Kudlow offered his view of the economy after being asked to describe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his .
[ Trump signs ‘ phase one ’ China pact , first of two trade milestones this week ] The former Reagan administration official and Wall Street executive cited “ big gains in take-home pay.
” “ I think probably as much as anything , the fact that the middle- and low-end wage earners are growing faster … I think that ’ s very interesting , ” he said .
“ I think that is a historic pace .
It ’ s lasted over two years now .
“ That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tremendous gains in take-home pay , tremendous in jobs and wages for the middle and lower middle [ classes ] , ” Kudlow said .
“ Tremendous unemployment declines .
I ’ m not blowing smoke.
” He also noted that “ this is one of the biggest stock markets in history , ” sounding a lot like Trump ’ s usual line at one of his raucous political rallies in battleground states .
Voters give the president high marks for his overall handling of the economy .
Aides acknowledge Trump and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection drum about low unemployment , wage growth , retirement fund growth and other positive economic indicators as he seeks a second term .
Polling by the nonpartisan Gallup organization recently found something of a mixed bag for Trump on economic matters .
Fifty-seven percent of Americans approve of his handling of the economy ( 42 percent disapprove ) , while 54 percent disapprove of his handling of trade issues ( 44 percent approve ) , ” according to Gallup .
The overall economic approval figure is up 7 percentage points since May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ product growth rates have slowed , making Trump ’ s economy on par with Obama ’ s in that category .
Candidate Trump panned his predecessor for policies that he said slowed growth .
What ’ s more , Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows the level of U.S. adults ages 25 to 54 who are employed is below the levels of the late 1990s under President Bill Clinton .
And the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta has crunched data that shows wage growth has gone up and down for several years ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same as two years ago .
One former Clinton administration official has raised doubts about the Trump team ’ s claims .
“ Big Bank profits in 2019 ➡ $ 120 billion .
Before Trump 's tax cut for billionaires , these banks ’ profits had never climbed past $ 100 billion , ” former Labor Secretary Robert Reich tweeted .
“ Meanwhile , wages are going nowhere .
Enough of this trickle down nonsense .
”

Donald Trump’s chief economic adviser on Friday stopped short of endorsing the president’s repeated claim that the U.S. economy is at its strongest point in the country’s history.
“In history? I think it’ll rank up there, yes,” Lawrence Kudlow told CQ Roll Call on Friday. But he notably did not say the U.S. economy is the strongest it’s ever been as his boss heads into what pollsters and strategists in both parties say could be a photo-finish election.
Kudlow’s assessment came one day after Trump made one of his favorite boasts during a religious freedom event in the Oval Office.
“You just have to take a look at the polls. You see, I don’t need anybody’s help,” he said when asked about Lev Parnas, an associate to his embattled personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, who suddenly is at the center of the Ukraine scandal that prompted House Democrats to impeach Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
“We’re doing phenomenally well,” Trump said Thursday. “The economy is the best it’s ever been in — we have never had an economy like this in history. We just made the two best trade deals in the history of our country. We are doing well.”


rollcall--2020-01-17--Trump basks in glow of ‘big, strong-looking’ LSU champs

President Donald Trump hosts the LSU Tigers at the White House on Friday .
( Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images ) Last year , he served up fast food from McDonald ’ s .
This year , he served up “ big strong ” compliments .
As the shadow of an impeachment trial looms , Louisiana State University ’ s newly minted national champion football team provided President Donald Trump a welcome distraction Friday morning at the White House .
“ He ’ s all man .
A big , strong-looking guy , ” said Trump , describing LSU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t know if he had laryngitis , ” he added , a reference to the coach ’ s trademark croaky voice .
For those who ’ ve never heard Orgeron talk , imagine an entire army of frogs lodged in a 58-year-old man ’ s throat speaking in unison with a Cajun accent .
Trump has an obsession with physical attributes .
Anyone who ’ s seen him at these type of events knows he enjoys hanging out with military guys and athletes and describing their physical attributes in detail .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ USFL team but was blocked from purchasing an NFL franchise , isn ’ t the first president to enjoy hobnobbing with athletes .
Barack Obama attended basketball games and even hosted several NBA superstars ( including LeBron James ) at the White House for a pickup game on his 49th birthday .
Given the liberal leanings of basketball fans , it ’ s unlikely you ’ ll catch Trump at a Wizards game anytime soon .
But the president has found respite at Southern college football venues , a place almost like his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with praise and adulation .
Despite having to arrive two hours early for security checks , fans erupted in chants of “ U-S-A ” when Trump attended the college football championship game Monday night in New Orleans .
That reception stood in stark contrast to the boos Nationals fans rained down on him when he showed up at Game 5 of last fall ’ s World Series in Washington .
Friday morning , flanked by Orgeron and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow , Trump delighted in recapping the Tigers ’ thrilling victory over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notoriously welcomed to the White House with fast-food hamburgers the previous year .
`` LSU had to beat the reigning champions , a team that was here last year … nice guys , and they were very large .
We served them a lot of food , ” the president said .
“ Eating and eating.
” Several members of the Louisiana delegation attended Friday ’ s reception , including Republicans such as Sen. Bill Cassidy , Rep. Mike Johnson and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise , whom Trump called a “ special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The audience offered an extended ovation when Trump mentioned LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger , whose daughter-in-law died in a plane crash on the way to Atlanta for the Tigers ’ first-round playoff game .
With the excitement of a child mimicking both a play-by-play announcer and a color commentator , Trump rattled off stats and highlights by wide receiver Ja ’ Marr Chase , telling the star wideout , “ You ’ re gon na make a lot of money ” someday .
He also complimented Burrow ’ s performance , calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump also heaped praise on coach Orgeron , or as the White House announcer called him “ coach Orge-ROO.
” He seemed to identify with “ Coach O , ” a man on the older side for his job who ’ d been dismissed and underestimated , partially because of his speaking style .
The president called Orgeron after LSU ’ s first-round victory over Ohio State University .
The Tigers may have given Trump a welcome distraction from the stress of impeachment , but because it ’ s Trump , he couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really on his mind after inviting the players to the Oval Office .
“ So coach , if you like , we can take whoever wants to go to the Oval Office and take pictures behind the Resolute Desk , ” Trump said .
“ You know , a long time , a lot of presidents , some good , some not so good ... you got a good one now even though they ’ re trying to impeach the son of a bitch.
” Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll @ @ @ @ @


rollcall--2020-01-20--Reporter’s Notebook: Precedent, the reason Senate rules feel ‘made up’

Niels Lesniewski talks about his deep dive into the 1936 impeachment of a federal judge from Florida .
( Graham @ @ @ @ @ Roll Call reporter Niels Lesniewski took a deep dive into the history of impeachment ahead @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump .
He found some pertinent parallels in a 1936 impeachment case of @ @ @ @ @ that involved the House adding articles of impeachment after a Senate trial began .
Watch @ @ @ @ @ the weird rabbit hole he jumped down for this archived story .

CQ Roll Call reporter Niels Lesniewski took a deep dive into the history of impeachment ahead of the Senate trial for President Donald Trump. He found some pertinent parallels in a 1936 impeachment case of a federal judge from Florida that involved the House adding articles of impeachment after a Senate trial began.
Watch as he takes us through the weird rabbit hole he jumped down for this archived story.


rollcall--2020-01-20--McConnell’s impeachment rules would condense opening arguments, limit evidence

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday released a resolution setting time limits on the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump , and is specifically seeking to limit the number of session days for opening arguments that would begin on Wednesday .
Under text of a procedural resolution that the Senate would vote on Tuesday afternoon , the House managers would be allotted up to 24 hours over the course of up to two days , starting Wednesday afternoon , to make the case that the president should be removed from the White House .
Democrats are sure to contest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for two marathon sessions rather than a greater number of more reasonable work hours for the presentation of the case .
A senior Republican leadership aide argued that neither the managers in the Clinton case nor the president ’ s team used the full time allowed .
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York was quick to take issue with the resolution as drafted for not providing for the automatic admission of evidence from the House .
“ After reading his resolution , it ’ s clear Senator McConnell is hell-bent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get witnesses and documents and intent on rushing the trial through .
On something as important as impeachment , Senator McConnell ’ s resolution is nothing short of a national disgrace , ” Schumer said in a statement .
Schumer said he would seek to offer several amendments to change the process .
“ Sen .
McConnell ’ s proposed rules depart dramatically from the Clinton precedent — in ways that are designed to prevent the Senate and the American people from learning the full truth about President Trump ’ s actions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The McConnell rules don ’ t even allow the simple , basic step of admitting the House record into evidence at the trial.
” There could be several procedural votes Tuesday , with Democratic senators seeking potential guarantees on the front end for testimony from specific witnesses or the production of documents .
It ’ s also expected that the Senate impeachment trial may go into closed session for a debate on procedural questions about document requests and other concerns .
In addition , it is in order under the underlying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal team to make a motion to dismiss the articles immediately following adoption of the resolution on Tuesday .
Under the proposal from McConnell , a Kentucky Republican , the Trump legal team would have the same structured time allotted for making its case .
That means it is likely that if adopted without amendment , the presentation of arguments could be completed by the end of the day on Saturday .
The resolution would make in order up to 16 hours combined for senators to ask questions of the two legal teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachments would be asked in writing through Chief Justice John Roberts .
Key votes might take place after such questioning .
The resolution provides , at that point , for four hours of arguments before a potential vote on whether or not to allow any debate on issuing subpoenas to compel appearances by any witnesses , or for the production of any documents .
Absent modifications , that could take place during the middle of the last week of January .
Any witnesses subject to subpoena would be deposed first before the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testimony .
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday released a resolution setting time limits on the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, and is specifically seeking to limit the number of session days for opening arguments that would begin on Wednesday.
Under text of a procedural resolution that the Senate would vote on Tuesday afternoon, the House managers would be allotted up to 24 hours over the course of up to two days, starting Wednesday afternoon, to make the case that the president should be removed from the White House.
Democrats are sure to contest this, since it would theoretically provide for two marathon sessions rather than a greater number of more reasonable work hours for the presentation of the case. A senior Republican leadership aide argued that neither the managers in the Clinton case nor the president’s team used the full time allowed.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York was quick to take issue with the resolution as drafted for not providing for the automatic admission of evidence from the House.
“After reading his resolution, it’s clear Senator McConnell is hell-bent on making it much more difficult to get witnesses and documents and intent on rushing the trial through. On something as important as impeachment, Senator McConnell’s resolution is nothing short of a national disgrace,” Schumer said in a statement.


rollcall--2020-01-20--Crimes required? Trump’s impeachment defense could set new standard

A clerk places a tray of pens before Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , signs the articles of impeachment during an engrossment ceremony on Wednesday , Jan. 15 .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) President Donald Trump ’ s defense team is arguing that a president should not be convicted by the Senate on articles of impeachment that do not include a criminal violation , putting the very definition of an impeachable offense at the center of the Senate trial set to begin Tuesday .
And some legal experts said the outcome of that debate could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removing a president from office in future impeachments .
Trump ’ s memorandum released Monday , much of which reads more like a political argument than a legal or constitutional one , stresses that the two articles of impeachment “ allege no crime or violation of law whatsoever — much less ‘ high Crimes and Misdemeanors , ’ as required by the Constitution.
” Allowing the impeachment of a president who is in charge of an entire branch of government on such a “ diluted standard ” would “ permanently weaken the Presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ branches of government in a manner that offends the constitutional design established by the Founders , ” Trump ’ s legal team states in the memo .
But outside constitutional law scholars widely disagree , saying that the drafters of the Constitution ’ s “ high Crimes and Misdemeanors ” phrase specifically allowed for the impeachment and removal of a president who had not violated a statutory crime .
“ It is indisputable that the framers were aware of the phrase ’ s origins and that it included non-criminal conduct , ” Frank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor at the University of Missouri , wrote Monday on a website for his book , “ High Crimes & Misdemeanors : A History of Impeachment for the Age of Trump.
” Historical evidence “ demonstrates unequivocally that the phrase was a term of art employed virtually exclusively in impeachment and that it embraced a wide array of misconduct by government officials that was not criminal , ” Bowman wrote .
Some Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have cast the “ abuse of power ” impeachment article as the highest crime against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s trial memorandum released Saturday argues that impeachable offenses “ need not be indictable criminal offenses.
” “ Rather , as [ Alexander ] Hamilton explained , impeachable offenses involve an ‘ abuse or violation of some public trust ’ and are of ‘ a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated political , as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself , ’ ” the House memo states .
During the impeachment investigation , House Democrats including Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California had discussed potentially accusing Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violations or obstruction of justice .
In the end , none were the subject of an article of impeachment .
Former Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz , who has helped in Trump ’ s impeachment defense , has argued recently that a person can ’ t be impeached for anything less than a crime .
Bob Bauer , a former White House counsel for President Barack Obama , wrote Monday on Lawfare that “ it would be difficult to overstate the significance of a Senate acquittal on the theory that Dershowitz will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the crime must be similar in nature to treason or bribery , Bauer wrote , and that could create new hurdles for removing from office presidents who are abusing their powers .
Bauer also pointed out that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , on the floor in speeches against the Trump impeachment , conceded that the Constitution does not “ strictly ” limit impeachable offenses to an “ actual crime.
” But McConnell “ believes that the limitation should be at least a norm , needed as a safeguard against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Bauer wrote .
Dershowitz and McConnell ’ s arguments could help “ set a very different precedent ” in impeachments that “ there is no room for removing a president for the serious abuse , or repetitive abuses , of the power of his office , ” Bauer wrote .
Former U.S. attorney Barbara McQuade , who testified before the House Judiciary Committee in June that Trump had committed multiple crimes of obstruction of justice as described in the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election , expressed concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argument would mean .
“ Trump certainly violated the law , but the harm of falsely claiming that impeachment requires a crime is that it becomes precedent for next time , ” McQuade tweeted Saturday .
Trump ’ s memo shows that his team will press that argument .
The first argument is that the “ abuse of power ” article of impeachment fails because it does not identify any impeachable offense .
“ House Democrats ’ novel theory of ‘ abuse of power ’ improperly supplants the standard of ‘ high Crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would permanently weaken the Presidency by effectively permitting impeachments based merely on policy disagreements , ” the Trump memo states .
On Sunday , a video of Dershowitz on CNN in 1998 surfaced on social media that shows he did not always agree with the argument he is now helping Trump make .
“ It certainly doesn ’ t have to be a crime if you have somebody who completely corrupts the office of president and who abuses trust and who poses great danger to our liberty , ” Dershowitz states on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump last month , the Government Accountability Office found that Trump was in violation of the impoundment control law when the administration withheld $ 391 million in military aid to Ukraine .
Trump ’ s dealings with that aid form the core of the impeachment articles , but the impoundment law would not be a criminal violation .
Sources working with the president ’ s legal team also said that while the White House disagrees with the GAO finding , the House has not properly incorporated that allegation into the case being brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not going to get into too much detail on something that ’ s not in the articles of impeachment except to point out that it ’ s not in the articles of impeachment , ” one of the sources said .
“ We ’ re going to try on a specific set of charges spelled out in a charging document .
The charging document doesn ’ t include anything about that GAO report , so in our view that ’ s not properly part of the accusation that ’ s been brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that an evidentiary argument awaits , but unlike in a normal courtroom it wouldn ’ t likely be the presiding judge — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. — but rather the senators themselves who could have to decide whether the GAO report should be part of the case up for consideration .
Alternatively , House impeachment managers led by Intelligence Chairman Adam B. Schiff , D-Calif. , could seek to get permission from the House to amend the original charges .

President Donald Trump’s defense team is arguing that a president should not be convicted by the Senate on articles of impeachment that do not include a criminal violation, putting the very definition of an impeachable offense at the center of the Senate trial set to begin Tuesday.
And some legal experts said the outcome of that debate could set a new, higher standard for removing a president from office in future impeachments.
Trump’s memorandum released Monday, much of which reads more like a political argument than a legal or constitutional one, stresses that the two articles of impeachment “allege no crime or violation of law whatsoever—much less ‘high Crimes and Misdemeanors,’ as required by the Constitution.”
Allowing the impeachment of a president who is in charge of an entire branch of government on such a “diluted standard” would “permanently weaken the Presidency and forever alter the balance among the branches of government in a manner that offends the constitutional design established by the Founders,” Trump’s legal team states in the memo.
But outside constitutional law scholars widely disagree, saying that the drafters of the Constitution’s “high Crimes and Misdemeanors” phrase specifically allowed for the impeachment and removal of a president who had not violated a statutory crime.


rollcall--2020-01-21--Gerrymandering potential sways state legislative targets

North Carolina is among the states seeing increased attention from both parties on legislative races ahead of redistricting based on the 2020 census .
( Al Drago/CQ Roll Call file photo ) National political parties are targeting a handful of competitive state legislative chambers this year , where the majority parties can draw favorable district lines — with the potential for gerrymandering — after the 2020 census .
The state legislative campaign arms of both parties said wins in Florida , Georgia , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Texas and Wisconsin would help win congressional majorities for the next decade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 116 representatives to the U.S. House — more than a quarter of the entire voting body .
Republicans outnumber Democrats in their combined delegations , 69-46 , with one vacancy in Wisconsin .
Both chambers of the legislature in all six states are now held by Republicans , and all empower their legislatures to draw congressional district lines .
The first election cycle of a decade carries added importance because the winners will use the new census to draw district lines , which generally stay in place for 10 years .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the Pennsylvania House , where Democrats would need to win 4.9 percent of seats now vacant or held by Republicans for a majority .
The greatest gap is in the Georgia Senate , where Democrats would have to flip 14.3 percent of all seats .
[ Reapportionment after census could shake up swing districts ] Matt Harringer , a spokesman for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee , which focuses on state legislatures , said the party was caught off-guard in the 2010 cycle , when Republicans spent heavily in state races and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Learning from that cycle , the DLCC and allied groups are spending money and attention on state races this year , which should give the party a better chance of competing in 2020 .
So too should the presidential election , which tends to increase Democratic turnout , Harringer said .
“ It ’ s a once-in-a-two-decade thing , ” he said .
“ Because it ’ s only every other census that we get it lined up with a presidential year.
” The DLCC said on Jan. 16 it would spend $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Flip Everything ” campaign .
And at least one Democrat-aligned group , Swing Left , is also spending in state legislative races , choosing targets based on redistricting .
The Republican State Leadership Committee , the DLCC ’ s counterpart , has acknowledged it likely will be at a funding disadvantage this cycle , but it has pledged to prioritize races in Ohio , as well as Florida , Georgia , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Texas and Wisconsin .
Losses in 42 races in those seven states would affect 136 congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited target list comes as a growing movement to take the line-drawing process away from politicians has picked up steam .
Control over the Arizona state Legislature is in play , but the state adopted an independent commission for redistricting in 2000 .
Similarly , Pennsylvania , New York and several other states have adopted some form of a line-drawing commission .
Going into the 2020 state legislative elections , Republicans control the majority of the legislatures , according to Adam Kincaid , the executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and data efforts in redistricting .
“ The GOP is still in a very strong position going into the next cycle , ” Kincaid said , noting that the party controls legislatures in states projected to gain seats , like Texas , Florida and North Carolina .
“ We ’ re still at pretty much the highest point we have been in the last century.
” Democrats feel they ’ re on offense at the ballot box , Harringer said , and some of their targets show it .
The Texas House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Democratic majority in 18 years .
The party would need to pick up nine seats this cycle to change that trend .
The party points to former Democratic Rep. Beto O ’ Rourke ’ s Senate race in 2018 as a sign it can close that gap .
Though O ’ Rourke , a Democrat , lost the race to GOP incumbent Ted Cruz , he carried nine state legislative seats now controlled by Republicans .
Texas ’ size — it ’ s the largest not to use an independent commission for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it critical for both parties this cycle .
If Democrats can successfully make the Lone Star State a battleground , it will help the party outside the state ’ s borders as well , forcing Republicans to draw resources from other competitive states .
“ When Republicans are going to be forced to defend Texas and spend millions and millions of dollars there , it makes it harder for them to spend in a place like Minnesota , ” Harringer said .
Patrick Rodenbush , a spokesman for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suburban congressional seats have trended blue the last few cycles , further helping the effort to take over the Texas house .
“ In districts where the [ Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ] may be investing a lot of money , there are a few potential state legislative pickups as well , ” Rodenbush said .
Flipping a chamber in Texas , as in Florida , Georgia or Wisconsin , would break a Republican trifecta — control in both legislative chambers and the governor ’ s office .
In all states but Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going into the 2020 elections .
Similar , for redistricting purposes , is North Carolina .
The state doesn ’ t give its governor , Democrat Roy Cooper , the power to veto maps drawn by the Republican-controlled legislature .
Rodenbush called the path to flipping a chamber in Tar Heel State “ tough but doable , ” pointing out that the legislative elections will use new maps drawn after a 2018 state court ruling that found the North Carolina lines represented an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander .
Ballot-box battles represent one front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as both parties have stood up their own organizations to fight for better maps for their side .
That may involve courtroom battles , advocacy for state initiatives or political campaigns .
For instance , the NDRC ’ s separate foundation filed the state court suit that resulted in North Carolina ’ s new maps .
Democrats don ’ t even have to flip entire chambers in some cases to increase their power over maps .
In Kansas , the DLCC is aiming to flip enough seats to break GOP supermajorities in each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give Democratic Gov .
Laura Kelly real veto power , without the possibility that her veto could be overridden on party-line votes .
In Ohio , a new redistricting process requires that at least half of both parties vote for the new lines in order for them to go into effect .
Rodenbush said that means that every seat Democrats gain there matters , even if they don ’ t flip the entire chamber .
“ It really is important for Democrats to pick up a few more seats there , ” Rodenbush @ @

National political parties are targeting a handful of competitive state legislative chambers this year, where the majority parties can draw favorable district lines — with the potential for gerrymandering — after the 2020 census.
The state legislative campaign arms of both parties said wins in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin would help win congressional majorities for the next decade. Those six states send a total of 116 representatives to the U.S. House — more than a quarter of the entire voting body. Republicans outnumber Democrats in their combined delegations, 69-46, with one vacancy in Wisconsin.
Both chambers of the legislature in all six states are now held by Republicans, and all empower their legislatures to draw congressional district lines.
The first election cycle of a decade carries added importance because the winners will use the new census to draw district lines, which generally stay in place for 10 years. By percentage, the closest chamber to flipping is the Pennsylvania House, where Democrats would need to win 4.9 percent of seats now vacant or held by Republicans for a majority. The greatest gap is in the Georgia Senate, where Democrats would have to flip 14.3 percent of all seats.
[Reapportionment after census could shake up swing districts]


rollcall--2020-01-21--2020 census begins! Decennial headcount starts in Alaska

U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham addresses state and Alaska Native leaders in Anchorage days before Tuesday ’ s first count of the 2020 census .
( Mark Thiessen/AP ) By snowmobile and small plane , the 2020 census starts Tuesday in Alaska , facing the same language barriers and government trust issues that will make the count difficult on the U.S. mainland on top of actual physical obstacles like the rugged terrain where most of the state lies off the road system .
The geography of Toksook Bay , a fishing village on Alaska ’ s western coast that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows the difficulty of counting the state ’ s residents .
Many of the state ’ s villages , including Toksook Bay , can only be accessed by boat , plane or snowmobile .
The effort starts in Alaska midwinter to count residents there before they disperse for seasonal work in the spring .
[ Reapportionment after census could shake up swing districts ] Local organizations like the Alaska Census Working Group have spent months on census preparations , including outreach and raising awareness among the Alaska Native community that makes up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population .
Gabe Layman , chief operating officer of the Cook Inlet Housing Authority and chairman of the working group , said the road system does not reach a significant portion of the state .
“ In a state that is geographically so expansive , it is essentially impossible to get out to these remote communities and reach out to people , ” Layman said .
“ People [ live ] in very small communities of just a couple hundred people and often know very little about the census.
” The counting effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues that have plagued preparations in the mainland United States — delayed funding , distrust of government and language problems — as the agency prepares to count about 330 million American residents later this year .
At a press conference Friday in Anchorage , Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham acknowledged the state presents “ a host of challenges we are working on and prepared to meet.
” The bureau ’ s deputy for operations , Tim Olson , told reporters last week that the agency had met its hiring goals for the Alaska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lagged behind many of its hiring goals leading up to the census , and those who were hired had little time to get settled into their jobs .
“ We want more [ workers ] but Alaska is looking really good compared to other parts of the nation , '' Dillingham said .
Overall , he said the agency has about 1.8 million applicants out of a goal of 2.6 million applications for its on-the-ground staff jobs .
Layman said the agency ’ s late hiring in the state made the job more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t do everything they need to in the space of a few months , he said .
“ They are doing amazing work , but it is just a shame the bureau didn ’ t have the resources to hire more people and get them sooner , ” Layman said .
Bureau officials did not translate census documents into Yup ’ ik or other languages spoken by Alaska Natives , and the Alaska Public Interest Research Group worked on its own to translate the materials .
The information the Census Bureau distributed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service announcements , according to Kevin Allis , the president of the National Congress of American Indians .
Allis raised concerns about the outreach to American Indians and Alaska Natives throughout the census process during a House Oversight Committee hearing earlier this month .
Allis pointed out the outreach campaign for Alaska Natives started about a month before the enumeration , far less than the five months the agency planned for the rest of the country .
Additionally , the Census Bureau ’ s reliance on online hiring processes has hurt its ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Allis pointed out the last census missed almost 5 percent of Native Americans and Alaska Natives living on reservations .
This year ’ s emphasis on online responses poses a risk for the count .
“ The prospect of yet another undercount of American Indians and Alaska Natives is deeply disturbing , ” Allis said , pointing out the communities have been among the hardest to count historically .

By snowmobile and small plane, the 2020 census starts Tuesday in Alaska, facing the same language barriers and government trust issues that will make the count difficult on the U.S. mainland on top of actual physical obstacles like the rugged terrain where most of the state lies off the road system.
The geography of Toksook Bay, a fishing village on Alaska’s western coast that’s hosting the first count, shows the difficulty of counting the state’s residents. Many of the state’s villages, including Toksook Bay, can only be accessed by boat, plane or snowmobile. The effort starts in Alaska midwinter to count residents there before they disperse for seasonal work in the spring.
[Reapportionment after census could shake up swing districts]
Local organizations like the Alaska Census Working Group have spent months on census preparations, including outreach and raising awareness among the Alaska Native community that makes up a significant portion of the state’s population. Gabe Layman, chief operating officer of the Cook Inlet Housing Authority and chairman of the working group, said the road system does not reach a significant portion of the state.
“In a state that is geographically so expansive, it is essentially impossible to get out to these remote communities and reach out to people,” Layman said. “People [live] in very small communities of just a couple hundred people and often know very little about the census.”


rollcall--2020-01-21--K Street firms post big earnings gains for 2019

Lobbying firms are working with clients about their agendas for 2021 , which will be hugely dependent upon who wins the White House this November .
( CQ Roll Call file photo ) K Street ’ s top-tier firms posted sizable gains last year , fueled by technology , pharmaceutical and big-business interests concerned with such policy matters as trade , health care , taxation and government spending .
And lobbyists say impeachment proceedings and the 2020 campaigns haven ’ t yet derailed the influence industry ’ s agenda this year .
“ Maybe I 'm an optimist , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest in actually trying to address some issues to respond to the American people ’ s interest in bipartisan work , ” said Marc Lampkin , who leads the Washington office at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck .
“ You ’ ve got an electorate that wants to see their Congress and the executive branch get some things done.
” [ The swamp successfully boils and bubbles in 2019 ] Brownstein Hyatt ’ s federal lobbying revenue increased by about 30 percent between 2018 and 2019 , according to recently filed disclosure reports filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The firm hauled in about $ 40.8 million from such clients as T-Mobile , the Cannabis Trade Federation and McDonald ’ s Corp. Lampkin says he sees room for collaboration in 2020 between the Trump administration and Congress on prescription drug pricing , for example .
The city ’ s biggest lobbying practice , Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld , also reported an uptick in business in 2019 , disclosing that clients paid the firm $ 42.6 million .
That ’ s up from $ 37.7 million the year before .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes the drug industry ’ s lobby , Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America , as well as private prison company CoreCivic and the Gila River Indian Community .
Hunter Bates , who leads Akin Gump ’ s lobbying team , said the fourth quarter of 2019 was the firm ’ s biggest quarter ever , as lawmakers completed work on a spending measure that included the permanent repeal of health care and medical device taxes as well as a seven-year reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank .
The House also approved a revised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico and Canada , which senators OK ’ d this month .
“ The last three quarters were exceptionally strong with trade , health care and taxes dominating the agenda and culminating in a number of successes for our clients in the year-end legislative packages and trade deals , ” said Bates , a former top aide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
Still , some of K Street ’ s biggest spenders reported a decrease in their investments .
The top-spending U.S. Chamber of Commerce , and its affiliates , reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , down from 2018 ’ s $ 93.9 million .
Tech giant Google , too , reported a 44 percent slide in its spending on federal lobbying as it restructured its K Street operation , with $ 11.8 million in 2019 , down from $ 21.2 million in 2018 .
The National Rifle Association reported a 35 percent decrease in spending on federal lobbying in 2019 with $ 3.1 million , down from $ 4.8 million in 2018 .
A senior NRA official said the decline , in part , reflected a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s top lobbyists .
NRA ’ s longtime chief lobbyist Chris Cox , for example , departed last year amid other personnel shuffling .
The lobbying practice at K & L Gates reported a small dip in its federal lobbying revenue , but Darrell Conner , who chairs the policy practice , said his shop still had a “ terrific ” year when factoring in revenue from work not captured by the federal lobbying disclosures .
The firm reported bringing in about $ 17.7 million in lobbying fees for 2019 , down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He expects the first half of this year to be a “ burst of activity , ” followed by a summer and fall lull when the campaigns hit full swing .
“ As I look at 2020 , impeachment in some respects is a bit of a sideshow in the legislative and policy context , ” Conner said .
Lobbyist Stewart Verdery , who runs Monument Advocacy , said his shop was up about 9 percent in 2019 with $ 8.9 million in federal lobbying revenue .
Trade policy was a major driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , he noted .
“ The trade wars , that was certainly No .
1 , ” he said , noting trade negotiations with China as well as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada pact and ongoing fallout from tariffs .
“ We were playing offense in some respects and defense in others.
” The firm also represents several technology interests , including Amazon , Microsoft and Zillow .
Tech companies are grappling with issues around facial recognition and bias in algorithms as well as data privacy and cybersecurity , he added .
Into 2020 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have to explain how they ’ re helping on the workforce-of-the-future issues , ” Verdery said .
“ Policymakers are getting more and more worried about how companies can do more and more with less jobs.
” Firms also are working with clients about their agendas for 2021 , which will be hugely dependent upon who wins the White House this November .
If a Democrat wins , then corporate clients could be in for a major shift on climate and energy matters , health care and taxes , said Democratic lobbyist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A new Democratic president will create a lot of activity , and people should start getting prepared for this this year to make sure they have members on the relevant House and Senate committees who are friendly and understand their agenda , ” he said .
But , said Verdery , that ’ s a tougher struggle .
The Democratic Party is wrestling with an energized progressive wing , while “ Republicans are less reflexively in support of big business , ” he said .

K Street’s top-tier firms posted sizable gains last year, fueled by technology, pharmaceutical and big-business interests concerned with such policy matters as trade, health care, taxation and government spending.
And lobbyists say impeachment proceedings and the 2020 campaigns haven’t yet derailed the influence industry’s agenda this year.
“Maybe I’m an optimist, but out of impeachment could come a mutual interest in actually trying to address some issues to respond to the American people’s interest in bipartisan work,” said Marc Lampkin, who leads the Washington office at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. “You’ve got an electorate that wants to see their Congress and the executive branch get some things done.”
[The swamp successfully boils and bubbles in 2019]
Brownstein Hyatt’s federal lobbying revenue increased by about 30 percent between 2018 and 2019, according to recently filed disclosure reports filed with Congress under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The firm hauled in about $40.8 million from such clients as T-Mobile, the Cannabis Trade Federation and McDonald’s Corp.


rollcall--2020-01-21--White House angers GOP senator with executive privilege claim on car tariff report

Sen. Pat Toomey , R-Pa. , is not pleased with the administration 's claim of executive privilege ona statutorily required report .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) The Trump administration is making a sweeping claim of executive privilege on a topic of interest to the Senate this week , and it has nothing to do with the impeachment trial .
And the White House is angering at least one Republican senator in the process .
The Justice Department ’ s Office of Legal Counsel has issued an opinion stating that the statutorily required release of a report on national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be blocked from release due to executive privilege .
The most recent appropriations law includes a provision in the fiscal 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science spending package that required public release from the Commerce Department no later than Jan. 19 .
The Commerce Department has produced a report on the national security effects of imported cars , which could include recommendations to President Donald Trump for imposing tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 .
Lawmakers have long prepared for the report and possible tariffs on imported car parts and foreign cars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least partly in the United States ) , but its release has been stalled .
But Assistant Attorney General Steven Engel wrote in a memo dated Friday that the president did not have to follow the intent of Congress .
“ We conclude that the Executive Branch may rely on the constitutional doctrine of executive privilege to decline to release the report at the deadline .
The report is a confidential presidential communication , the disclosure of which would risk impairing ongoing diplomatic efforts to address a national-security concern , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk interfering with executive branch deliberations over what additional actions , if any , may be necessary to address the threat.
” Sen. Patrick J. Toomey , a Pennsylvania Republican who has been among the most outspoken lawmakers against the potential national security tariffs , disputes the administration ’ s contention .
“ By refusing to make public the statutorily-required report on automobile tariffs , the Department of Commerce is willfully violating federal law , ” Toomey said in a statement .
“ This is unacceptable , and my staff and I are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compel the rightful release of this report.
” The president may be relying on Toomey to support his procedural claims in the impeachment trial , but there are no signs of agreement when it comes to the upcoming legal tussle about the trade report .
Other Republican senators have expressed past concerns about Trump using the national security tariff authority , including Finance Chairman Charles E. Grassley of Iowa .
The OLC memo concedes that the Congress may have an interest in seeing the report released eventually , but Engel writes that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the executive branch .
“ [ T ] he report falls within the scope of executive privilege and its disclosure would risk impairing ongoing diplomatic efforts to address a national-security threat and would risk interfering with executive branch deliberations over what additional actions , if any , may be necessary to address the threat , ” the OLC opinion said .
Trump , who is attending meetings at the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , told reporters Tuesday that tariffs on European automobiles remained on the table .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with Europe .
And if they don ’ t make a deal , we ’ ll certainly give that very strong consideration , ” Trump said .
“ OK ?
But we expect to make a deal with Europe.
” The president made the remarks after he had already met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen .
“ The European Union we met with , as you know , and we had a very good talk .
But if we ’ re unable to make a deal , we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been treated very badly as a country for many , many years on trade , ” the president said .
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross originally initiated the review in May 2018 , one day after Trump had asked him to consider investigating the effect of foreign vehicles on national security .

The Trump administration is making a sweeping claim of executive privilege on a topic of interest to the Senate this week, and it has nothing to do with the impeachment trial.
And the White House is angering at least one Republican senator in the process.
The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel has issued an opinion stating that the statutorily required release of a report on national security concerns related to foreign automobiles can be blocked from release due to executive privilege. The most recent appropriations law includes a provision in the fiscal 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science spending package that required public release from the Commerce Department no later than Jan. 19.
The Commerce Department has produced a report on the national security effects of imported cars, which could include recommendations to President Donald Trump for imposing tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Lawmakers have long prepared for the report and possible tariffs on imported car parts and foreign cars (many of which are actually assembled at least partly in the United States), but its release has been stalled.
But Assistant Attorney General Steven Engel wrote in a memo dated Friday that the president did not have to follow the intent of Congress.


rollcall--2020-01-21--View from the gallery: Senators struggle to sit in silence at Trump trial

Sens .
Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , and Tom Cotton , R-Ark.
, arrive at the Capitol for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Tuesday .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) Sen. Lindsey Graham looked restless during the first hour of President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial , when none of the senators had access to their cell phones and the president ’ s lawyers and the House managers traded procedural arguments .
It was an unusual first day of buttoned-down decorum for the exclusive club of 100 senators-turned-jurors , who were made to stay in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not talk and not tweet during only the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history .
The press-friendly South Carolina Republican , who served as a House manager during the 1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton , closed his eyes for a while .
He roused himself and looked around at the ceilings and galleries .
He took notes with a pencil on a white legal pad .
Graham yawned repeatedly , or looked around at his colleagues as if he hoped to share a glance .
But he found his colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching the argument of lead impeachment manager Rep. Adam B. Schiff , D-Calif .
So at the first recess , two hours in , Graham burst out his observations in a pair of tweets .
“ Quite frankly , having Adam Schiff lecture the Senate about fairness and due process is like listening to an arsonist talk about fire prevention , ” Graham tweeted .
He wasn ’ t the only one .
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy , D-Vt. , retrieved his phone during the break to criticize arguments from White House Counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsehoods.
” Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota responded to a suggestion from Trump ’ s lawyers that she is upset because she ’ s at the trial instead of campaigning in Iowa .
“ No .
This is my constitutional duty .
And I can do two things at once , ” Klobuchar tweeted during the break .
Inside the chamber , there were physical differences that evoked the feeling of a momentous event during the proceedings , which stretched into the night .
Extra tables cram the areas where senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump lawyers and a team of Democratic House impeachment managers fill the floor .
Temporary televisions display video evidence .
When video clips were played during the Democratic impeachment managers ’ arguments , the partisan divide in the chamber was personified beyond the traditional seating on each side of the center aisle .
As senators took in the video , they turned their heads to the screens closest to them , away from their colleagues across the aisle .
Arguments and logistics are low-tech , even when video clips are allowed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment managers held up a sheet of paper with “ 10 minutes ” and then “ 5 minutes ” while Rep. Zoe Lofgren spoke , warning the California Democrat that her speaking time was winding down .
During arguments , the unusual position of the podium might have disoriented regular Senate watchers .
The television cameras showed speakers in front of the dark marble rostrum , instead of a typical backdrop of blue carpet and warm wood when senators give speeches from a desk .
The galleries above the floor weren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15-minute limit for regular tickets .
Actress and activist Alyssa Milano was seated in the front row of the gallery , behind the Republican senators .
She wore black and had her hair pulled into a tight bun , and sometimes pulled her glasses out to read something .
Former Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona spent time watching the proceedings from the gallery behind his former GOP colleagues .
He sat alone in the front row of the section .
House Republican firebrand Louie Gohmert of Texas sat in the back row of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where staffers usually sit .
The trial had a strong schoolhouse vibe , with senators at their small desks , seated in rows , number 2 pencils at the ready .
The senators faced forward and sat silently , taking notes and even passing notes between each other .
Democrats had identical large white binders with blue cover pages on their desks in the chamber .
Some flipped through them , but many sat untouched in the corner of the desks while senators took notes .
As Cipollone began to speak in favor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , staffers for McConnell and then Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer moved the lecterns from atop the leaders ’ desks to a lower level so they could view the speaker while seated , unobstructed .
McConnell ’ s gaze never left Schiff as the Democrat made the House ’ s case for rules changes that would , among other things , allow the Senate to subpoena witnesses and documents .
McConnell sitting just feet away from the podium where the House Intelligence Committee chairman spoke , sat upright , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aisle from McConnell , Schumer slouched , though he appeared just as focused as McConnell on Schiff ’ s opening statement .
Neither McConnell nor Schiff took notes .
Sen. Susan Collins , the Maine Republican who is a target for Democrats in this year ’ s elections , sat a row behind McConnell and took notes as if what was being spoken would be on a final exam .
Collins filled more than a page of a legal pad during Schiff ’ s opening statement .
She flipped to a fresh page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening remarks , and filled that page with notes after Sekulow yielded to Cipollone .
Other note takers : Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska , Cory Gardner of Colorado , John Thune of South Dakota , Rob Portman of Ohio and Charles E. Grassley of Iowa .
Other senators appeared focused but less studious .
Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders , an independent from Vermont , looked on intently as each presenter spoke .
Klobuchar sat in the back row , arms often crossed , focused on the speakers .
A little more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nebraska Republican Ben Sasse , sitting in the back row of the Republican side of the chamber , popped something into his mouth — maybe gum , or more likely a snack , which would violate the rules of the trial .
Later , he snuck a bag of beef jerky into his desk .
On the other side of the chamber , Democratic Sens .
Tammy Duckworth of Illinois , Michael Bennet of Colorado and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island briefly whispered to each other as Cipollone wrapped up his statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ aide delivered a note to Schumer .
He responded longhand below whatever the original note said , scrawling multiple lines .
He handed it back to staff , who scooted past Sen. Richard J. Durbin , D-Ill. , to send the note back to whence it came .
Sen. Mark Warner appeared close to falling asleep as he rested his head on his hand around 1:50 p.m. , only to be stirred by Schiff playing a video of Trump remarks .
Around 2 p.m. , a staffer brought Grassley a black binder and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latter of which he put in his open desk drawer .
Senate pages experienced work as waiters and waitresses , surveying all the desks and fetching empty water glasses and returning with full ones .
Among glasses that needed refills by 2:15 p.m. were those on the desks of Collins and Republican Sens .
Ted Cruz of Texas , Josh Hawley of Missouri and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana .
Shortly before 3:00 p.m. , the Senate adjourned for its first 15-minute recess .
Alabama Republican Sen. Richard Shelby shook Cipollone ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chairman Richard Burr of North Carolina huddled with the White House counsel .
Graham shook Jay Sekulow ’ s hand before joining a chat among Collins , Murkowski and Republican Senators Jim Risch of Idaho and Roy Blunt of Missouri .
After the Republicans ’ chat broke up , New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand emerged from the Democratic cloakroom with a plastic grocery bag in hand , the contents of which she deposited into her desk .
The senators got more comfortable after the break .
Cassidy munched away on a candy bar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat .
The metallic wrapper glistened each time he raised the bar to his mouth , while he took notes with his other hand .
He ate fallen bits off his desk by pressing them into his finger and then licking his finger .
During Lofgren ’ s long speech , Sanders struggled to take a plastic wrapper off a box of mints or something similar .
He eventually took his keys out of his pocket , attempting to muffle the jangle , and cut off the plastic .
He then blew his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his desk .
Schiff spoke at length on an amendment offered by Schumer to the rules resolution for the trial , but he wasn ’ t permitted to speak forever .
As his time expired around 4:30 p.m. , North Dakota Republican John Hoeven made a “ c ’ mon ” gesture , extending his two hands outward as Schiff left the podium .
Only then could the senators speak .
They could only say one word though , aye or nay , as they voted on Schumer ’ s amendment .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chamber ’ s party breakdown , with senators voting 53-47 to table , or kill , the minority leader ’ s initial amendment to subpoena documents .

Sen. Lindsey Graham looked restless during the first hour of President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, when none of the senators had access to their cellphones and the president’s lawyers and the House managers traded procedural arguments.
It was an unusual first day of buttoned-down decorum for the exclusive club of 100 senators-turned-jurors, who were made to stay in their floor seats, not eat, not talk and not tweet during only the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history.
The press-friendly South Carolina Republican, who served as a House manager during the 1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, closed his eyes for a while. He roused himself and looked around at the ceilings and galleries. He took notes with a pencil on a white legal pad.
Graham yawned repeatedly, or looked around at his colleagues as if he hoped to share a glance. But he found his colleagues immersed in their own note-taking or watching the argument of the lead impeachment manager, California Democratic Rep. Adam B. Schiff.
So at the first recess, two hours in, Graham burst out his observations in a pair of tweets. “Quite frankly, having Adam Schiff lecture the Senate about fairness and due process is like listening to an arsonist talk about fire prevention,” he tweeted.


rollcall--2020-01-21--Congress faces narrow spending increase as VA health care costs balloon

There is no room for big increases in FY 2021 appropriations bills , even though veterans health care faces much @ @ @ @ @ Call reporter Jennifer Shutt joins the podcast to explain where the spending bills are going @ @ @ @

There is no room for big increases in FY 2021 appropriations bills, even though veterans health care faces much higher costs. CQ Roll Call reporter Jennifer Shutt joins the podcast to explain where the spending bills are going to be squeezed.


rollcall--2020-01-21--New press guidance for impeachment trial restricts movement

A U.S. Capitol Police officer checks a reporter for electronic devices as he enters the Senate chamber to take his his seat in the press section on Tuesday , Jan. 21 , 2020 .
A magnetometer was set up in the Senate Press Gallery for the Senate impeachment trial .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) Reporters covering the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump were given guidance on how their access to senators during the proceedings will be drastically impeded .
The press galleries issued guidelines for the first time on Tuesday at 10:30 am , just hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting the ground rules for trial rules .
Holds will be implemented on the first and second floors of the Senate side of the Capitol before the trial session starts and shortly after the trial proceedings end for the day .
This process will be reprised for any breaks during the trial .
But there was confusion about the length of time the holds would be in effect , depending on which gallery was issuing guidance .
Some reporters were told it was a 30-minute period of time before the trial began and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in effect , while others were told those time frames were 15 minutes .
“ Reporters must remain in place inside press pens during the holds , ” the guidance says .
“ The East Grand Staircase will be closed during the holds .
Holds will be reinstated during breaks in the trial session.
” Sergeant at Arms Michael C. Stenger did not respond to an email request for comment .
Eva Malecki , a Capitol Police spokesperson , did not respond to an email request for comment .
No food or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Under normal circumstances , it is commonplace for reporters to catch up with senators when they leave the floor to ask them questions .
With these restrictions , reporters will have a hard time getting quotes from senators immediately after they leave the floor , unless the lawmaker seeks them out .
The pens that reporters will be tethered to are located at the Ohio Clock Corridor West Side , Ohio Clock Corridor East Side , Senate subway area , and the Russell Senate Office Building basement area .
Why there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russell basement area is unclear .
As described by the Senate Sergeant At Arms , the Russell building is open to the public during the trial .
“ The Senate office buildings are open to the public , and overlays are not required in the office buildings except for spaces near the Senate Subway , ” the SAA ’ s email notes .
A limited number of tickets were issued for members of the press to cover the trial from inside the Senate chamber .
Further , there is a magnetometer between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , presenting another challenge for those working to cover the trial from the room where the debate is happening .
“ Access to the Senate chamber will be subject to additional screening , ” the guidance states .
“ No electronics will be permitted inside the Senate chamber.
” Electronics are not usually allowed inside the chamber , so that isn ’ t a departure from normal operations ; however , the installation of a magnetometer and Capitol Police officers to screen members of the press as they go back and forth between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ write their stories will present another hurdle for reporters across the board .
The process for obtaining press credentials to cover the Senate requires an application for full-time , paid correspondents of recognized news organizations .
Journalists are granted a hard pass if their application is accepted .
Everyday reporters , press credential in-hand , go through a magnetometer , staffed with several Capitol Police officers , to gain entry into the Capitol .
The journey to the Senate Press Gallery includes at least two more checkpoints with officers usually checking ids .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to access the press gallery will have to undergo an added layer of scrutiny to do their jobs .
A half-hour before any trial matter starts , journalists must have an impeachment trial overlay and a congressional press credential to get into the Capitol or the Senate subway .
This is also required until 30 minutes after the conclusion of a session .
The Regional Reporters Association , which advocates for D.C. correspondents from newspapers across the U.S. , said the reporters it represents worry that the restrictions will “ hinder us from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the most consequential actions they will ever take.
” Jonathan Tamari of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweeted an excerpt from the group ’ s statement that the rules “ serve no purpose but to hinder the public from learning about their public officials.
” That argument has been echoed by the press galleries that represent credentialed reporters in the Capitol .
During a press conference on Tuesday before the trial started , Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said he was not involved in the decision to limit press access during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s office in the Capitol is included as an area the press has limited access to .
“ The Second Floor East Corridor from DL ( Democratic Leader ) Schumer ’ s office suite to the elevator near S-219 is restricted and closed to the press , ” the SAA guidance notes .
Schumer said he would prefer the Senate 's interactions with the press during the impeachment trial to be like a “ normal day.
” “ I want to see the press have as much access as possible , ” Schumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be similar to on a normal day , but I was not asked about them and did not sign off on them . ''
Later on the Senate floor , Schumer echoed his opposition to increased press restrictions for the Senate impeachment trial .
He said the restrictions could cause some journalists to miss key moments during the trial .
Schumer said from the Senate floor that “ some may not want what happens here to be public , ” an apparent shot at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
Sen. Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer of the Senate—that the restrictions imposed on the Capitol Hill press corps during the impeachment trial should be scaled back because they are “ draconian ” and “ antithetical to a free press.
” The New Mexico Democrat wrote Tuesday to express his concern and discomfort about the limitations placed on reporters during the trial .
He asked Stenger to change the restrictions to better balance access and security .
“ To place limitations on the press is to place limitations on the American people ’ s ability to learn about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Heinrich said in the letter .
Sen. James Lankford , who spoke to CQ Roll Call during one of the impeachment trial breaks , said he does n't have an issue with the press limitations .
“ So I have not—of course I 'm not on the other side of this—I have not had an issue , ” the Oklahoma Republican said .
“ Our press folks have talked to lots of press .
I talked to lots of press this morning .
I 've got meetings with press later on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access points around the different hearing time , yeah , that ’ s a little different just because of the magnitude of the number of people that are here . ''
“ Yeah , because I 'm very open to the press , ” Lankford added .
“ We ’ re meeting all morning , meeting all afternoon .
But during the actual session—time like this—is a pretty scarce period of time.
” Niels Lesniewski and Patrick Kelley contributed to this report .

Reporters covering the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump were given guidance on how their access to senators during the proceedings will be drastically impeded.
The press galleries issued guidelines for the first time on Tuesday at 10:30 am, just hours before the Senate began considering a resolution setting the ground rules for trial rules.
Holds will be implemented on the first and second floors of the Senate side of the Capitol before the trial session starts and shortly after the trial proceedings end for the day. This process will be reprised for any breaks during the trial.
But there was confusion about the length of time the holds would be in effect, depending on which gallery was issuing guidance. Some reporters were told it was a 30-minute period of time before the trial began and after it ended that the holds would be in effect, while others were told those time frames were 15 minutes.
“Reporters must remain in place inside press pens during the holds,” the guidance says. “The East Grand Staircase will be closed during the holds. Holds will be reinstated during breaks in the trial session.”