rollcall--2020-01-28--House of accommodations: Impeachment managers find ways to vote

House impeachment managers , from left , Sylvia R. Garcia , Val B. Demings , Jason Crow and Hakeem Jeffries are seen in the Capitol on Friday before the continuation of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia has never missed a vote — not in her first term so far in the House and not in the six years she served in the Texas state Senate .
The freshman Democrat ’ s perfect attendance could ’ ve been in jeopardy this week since she is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s case in the Senate trial of President Donald Trump .
But fortunately for Garcia , House Democratic leaders are keeping the floor schedule flexible to ensure the managers can participate in votes .
“ We ’ re trying to accommodate [ the schedule ] to make it so they can vote , ” Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said .
On Monday , the House had two votes starting around 6:30 p.m. A dinner break in the trial allowed the managers to get to the first vote without issue , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second vote was called .
So leadership held the vote open and the managers ducked out of the trial in small groups to cross the chamber and register their votes .
Garcia was among the first group to go vote , along with Reps. Zoe Lofgren of California and Hakeem Jeffries of New York .
Intelligence Chairman Adam B. Schiff , the lead manager from California , followed on his own shortly after .
Reps. Val B. Demings of Florida and Jason Crow of Colorado came as a duo after him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not vote Monday .
He had already announced he would be missing the trial that day to accompany his wife , who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer , as she met with doctors to determine the next steps for treatment .
It was easier for managers to make House votes Tuesday because the president ’ s lawyers concluded their defense in about two hours .
The managers even had time for a quick press conference before heading to votes .
“ Absolutely , that ’ s why we ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told CQ Roll Call afterward about whether she had talked to leadership about ensuring she would keep her perfect-attendance voting record during the Senate trial .
Schiff said after Monday ’ s votes that he hopes the managers can participate in other floor votes this week .
While he would ’ ve preferred the Senate accommodate House votes with brief recesses so House managers didn ’ t have to step out of the trial , Schiff said , “ at least we can make sure we get on the board.
” Hoyer indicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its breaks around House votes but rather the House may adjust its schedule to accommodate them .
In cases where the votes don ’ t fall during trial breaks , Hoyer said they ’ ll follow the method of bringing the managers over in groups so there is always a manager on the floor of the Senate .
While Hoyer was happy to make accommodations for the managers to vote , he said he personally advises members like Garcia not to be worried about perfect attendance .
“ That ’ s against my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to miss some votes , ” Hoyer said , noting some lawmakers “ get so fixed ” on their voting records that they don ’ t have any flexibility to miss votes when they ’ re sick or have to attend to other personal matters .
As a member of the Texas state Senate , Garcia in 2015 tweeted that she was sick in bed and under doctor ’ s care but thankfully it was after the legislative session , during which she hadn ’ t missed any of the 3,909 votes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter from the secretary of the Texas Senate commending her for her 100 percent voting record .
The managers may not miss any votes this week , but they are missing out on most parts of their House day jobs to be in the Senate for the trial .
That ’ s a reason some members didn ’ t jump at the opportunity to serve as managers .
Jeffries even told reporters before Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced her seven picks that he didn ’ t expect to be a manager .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at the time .
The Democratic Caucus chairman has already missed some of those day-job duties he had hoped to keep doing through the trial .
The only member of leadership serving as a manager , he missed Pelosi ’ s weekly leadership meeting Monday because the trial was still ongoing .
On Tuesday morning , the court of impeachment had not yet gaveled in but the House managers typically spend their mornings prepping for what ’ s to come that day .
All seven managers missed the Democratic Caucus meeting at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offsite this week at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee headquarters a few blocks from the Capitol .
Caucus Vice Chairwoman Katherine M. Clark told CQ Roll Call that she briefly opened the meeting “ with our champion of democracy otherwise engaged , ” referring to Jeffries , who normally kicks off caucus gatherings .
Last week , as most House members were in their districts or on the overseas congressional delegation trips , known as CODELs , impeachment managers spent their recess week presenting the House case for why Trump should be impeached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress .
This week , as their House colleagues return to Washington to legislate , the House managers are expected to miss out on committee proceedings , constituent meetings and other daily business to focus on the trial .
Demings told CQ Roll Call she won ’ t be able to participate in committee activities this week — which for her includes a Wednesday markup of seven bills in the Homeland Security Committee — but her constituents understand her current obligation takes priority .
“ When I was home in the district doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one ’ s paying attention , I can not tell you how many times people mentioned the impeachment inquiry , the impeachment trial and [ that ] we ’ re basically doing God ’ s work , ” the Florida Democrat said .
Five of the seven impeachment managers are members of the Judiciary Committee .
The panel has no full committee meetings scheduled this week , but it had a subcommittee hearing Tuesday and another scheduled for Wednesday morning .
Nadler , as chairman , has a right to attend any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday ’ s discussion about fentanyl at the Crime , Terrorism , and Homeland Security Subcommittee .
Neither did Demings , the subcommittee ’ s vice chairwoman , and Jeffries , a member .
Lofgren , who chairs the Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee holding the Wednesday hearing , said she plans to open the proceedings but won ’ t be able to stay for the discussion on due process in immigration courts because the managers will be busy preparing for the Q & A portion of the trial that begins that afternoon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ subcommittee .
A House Science Committee hearing scheduled for the same time Wednesday means that Lofgren likely would not have taken her seat as that panel discusses the U.S. losing ground in critical technologies , even if she weren ’ t serving as an impeachment manager .
Lofgren is also chairwoman of the House Administration Committee but that panel has no public meetings scheduled for this week .
Likewise , there is no public business scheduled in the Intelligence Committee that Schiff leads .
Crow serves on the Armed Services Committee , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Korean peninsula that he missed , and the Small Business Committee , which has a Wednesday hearing to review Small Business Association field operations .
Jeffries is a member of the Budget Committee that will hear from the Congressional Budget Office on Wednesday on its budget and economic outlook , likely without him present .
Garcia may miss a Financial Services Committee hearing Wednesday to examine whether the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is undermining the intent of the Community Reinvestment Act .
Several Democratic aides for the impeachment managers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not return requests for comment .

Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia has never missed a vote — not in her first term so far in the House and not in the six years she served in the Texas state Senate.
The freshman Democrat’s perfect attendance could’ve been in jeopardy this week since she is one of the seven House impeachment managers prosecuting the chamber’s case in the Senate trial of President Donald Trump. But fortunately for Garcia, House Democratic leaders are keeping the floor schedule flexible to ensure the managers can participate in votes.
“We’re trying to accommodate [the schedule] to make it so they can vote,” Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said.
On Monday, the House had two votes starting around 6:30 p.m. A dinner break in the trial allowed the managers to get to the first vote without issue, but the trial had resumed by the time the second vote was called. So leadership held the vote open and the managers ducked out of the trial in small groups to cross the chamber and register their votes.


rollcall--2020-01-28--Deficit widens, economic growth slows in new CBO outlook

Under new Congressional Budget Office estimates , the federal deficit is projected to fall slightly to $ 1 trillion in fiscal 2021 and then commence a steady rise to $ 1.7 trillion in 2030 .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) The Congressional Budget Office projects higher deficits for this year and the coming decade , with a fiscal 2020 deficit of $ 1.015 trillion — $ 8 billion higher than the agency estimated last August .
The fiscal 2019 deficit was $ 984 billion , by comparison .
Over the next decade , the cumulative deficit outlined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and economic outlook is estimated at $ 12.4 trillion , $ 160 billion more than the earlier projection .
The largest factor in the 10-year deficit increase was the repeal of several health care taxes in fiscal 2020 appropriations legislation .
The CBO said the repeals were among legislative changes that increased projected deficits by $ 505 billion .
Technical updates , including a $ 315 billion increase in projected Medicare spending , drove the deficit projection some more .
But the agency said economic changes , including revising interest cost projections downward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the deficit increase , resulting in the net projected deficit expansion of $ 200 billion .
Under the new estimates , the deficit is projected to fall slightly to $ 1 trillion in fiscal 2021 and then commence a steady rise to $ 1.7 trillion in 2030 .
Speaking to reporters after the report 's release , CBO Director Phillip L. Swagel said despite the current strong economy , rising deficits show a “ worrisome trajectory ” for the budget .
“ Not since World War II has the country seen deficits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as large as those that we project — nor , in the past century , has it experienced large deficits for as long as we project , ” he said .
CBO has long warned that rising deficits and debt are “ unsustainable ” and may eventually lead to a “ debt crisis.
” Swagel said no crisis is imminent .
“ We ’ re not saying that there ’ s an imminent , urgent problem , ” he said .
“ The challenge is over time.
” If debt as a share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades in the future , he said investors could lose faith in the ability of the U.S. government to continue to manage the high deficits , leading to expectations of higher inflation and interest rates and resulting in a “ more difficult fiscal situation.
” Swagel said slow growth in the rest of the world and the attractiveness of the United States as a place to invest have contributed to low interest rates , which in turn have reduced borrowing costs and therefore the growth of the deficit .
He added that traders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the U.S. will eventually address the rising debt , without knowing whether it would be through spending cuts , tax increases or a combination .
In its economic forecast , the CBO projects that gross domestic product will grow by 2.2 percent in calendar 2020 , and at an average rate of 1.7 percent over the next decade .
That represents a slowdown from 2.5 percent in 2018 and an estimated 2.4 percent this year , the agency said .
The 2020 growth figure is slightly higher than what the CBO forecast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said if current laws remain unchanged , the deficit as a share of GDP will rise from 4.6 percent in 2020 to 5.4 percent in 2030 .
Over the past 50 years , the deficit averaged 3 percent of GDP ; however , during periods of relative economic strength , deficits were about half that size relative to the broader economy , the report says .
Debt held by the public , which excludes special government securities held by the Social Security and other trust funds , is projected to grow from 79 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 98 percent in 2030 , rising to 180 percent by 2050 , the agency said .

CBO has long warned that rising deficits and debt are “unsustainable” and may eventually lead to a “debt crisis.”
Swagel said no crisis is imminent. “We’re not saying that there’s an imminent, urgent problem,” he said. “The challenge is over time.”
If debt as a share of GDP is higher at some point decades in the future, he said investors could lose faith in the ability of the U.S. government to continue to manage the high deficits, leading to expectations of higher inflation and interest rates and resulting in a “more difficult fiscal situation.”
Swagel said slow growth in the rest of the world and the attractiveness of the United States as a place to invest have contributed to low interest rates, which in turn have reduced borrowing costs and therefore the growth of the deficit. He added that traders and other market participants should be confident that the U.S. will eventually address the rising debt, without knowing whether it would be through spending cuts, tax increases or a combination.
In its economic forecast, the CBO projects that gross domestic product will grow by 2.2 percent in calendar 2020, and at an average rate of 1.7 percent over the next decade. That represents a slowdown from 2.5 percent in 2018 and an estimated 2.4 percent this year, the agency said. The 2020 growth figure is slightly higher than what the CBO forecast in August, however.


rollcall--2020-01-28--Trump’s legal team quickly wraps defense of president at impeachment trial

President Donald Trump ’ s personal lawyer Jay Sekulow arrives to the Capitol before the continuation of Trump ’ s impeachment trial on Tuesday .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) Donald Trump ’ s attorneys utilized just 10 of the 24 hours allotted to them to defend the president against two articles of impeachment charging him with obstruction of Congress and abuse of power , concluding their three-day presentation Tuesday by arguing that Democrats ’ case amounted merely to politics .
White House counsel Pat Cipollone closed the defense ’ s case by urging senators to consider their role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could make on American history .
“ I have every confidence , every confidence in your wisdom .
You will do the only thing you can do , what you must do , what the Constitution compels you to do — reject these articles of impeachment for our country and for the American people , ” Cipollone said .
He called senators to put the Constitution above partisanship , a talking point that Democrats have also used in urging Republicans to step out from behind the GOP party line .
“ I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But , I think you ’ ve heard a lot from our side and I think we ’ ve made our case .
So , I just want to leave you with a couple of points , ” Cipollone said in the defense team ’ s closing remarks .
The Senate will now begin two days of questions of up to eight hours each day , starting Wednesday afternoon .
Votes on whether to call specific witnesses would occur after that .
Most Republicans have resisted having witnesses at the trial , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compel additional testimony .
Lead House impeachment manager Adam B. Schiff on Tuesday called for the Senate to hear from additional witnesses and to see additional documents .
The California Democrat lamented what he called the “ legal duplicity ” of Trump ’ s defense team , which argued before the Senate that the House should have subpoenaed the witnesses they want to hear from them , even if that meant duking it out in the courts .
“ They go to court and say the House may not sue in court to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schiff said after reading from arguments the Justice Department made against the House attempt to subpoena former White House counsel Don McGahn .
During his closing remarks , Cipollone used two-decade-old clips of Democrats decrying the use of impeachment as a political tool during the impeachment of President Bill Clinton .
Democrats in the clips included House impeachment managers Jerrold Nadler of New York and Zoe Lofgren of California , along with Sens .
Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts , Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Charles E. Schumer of New York The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid revelations in a book by former national security adviser John Bolton that appears to confirm the president made military aid to Ukraine contingent upon a politically motivated investigation into rival Joe Biden .
The delayed aid package is at the center of the impeachment trial .
Trump defense attorney Jay Sekulow said Bolton ’ s manuscript would be “ inadmissible ” during a typical trial and dismissed its importance to the impeachment proceedings in the Senate .
Sekulow stressed what remains unknown about Bolton ’ s still-unpublished book , calling it “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have an idea of maybe what it says.
” He read statements from Trump , the Justice Department and Vice President Mike Pence ’ s chief of staff denying Bolton ’ s allegation that the president directly connected the withheld military aid to Ukraine to investigations of the Bidens .
“ I mean , that ’ s what the evidence — if you want to call that evidence — I don ’ t know what you ’ d call that — I ’ d call it inadmissible — but that ’ s what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sekulow also warned senators about historic consequences for impeachment of Trump .
He put the blame squarely on the House managers , saying they were seeking to lower the bar for impeachment .
Sekulow said that all the presentations from Trump ’ s defense team have contained a common warning , “ Danger , danger , danger , ” Sekulow said .
“ To lower the bar of impeachment based on these articles of impeachment would impact the functioning of our constitutional republic and the framework of that Constitution for generations , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trial of the leader of the free world and the duly elected president of the United States , ” and “ not a game of leaks and unsourced manuscripts .
That ’ s politics , unfortunately , and [ founder Alexander ] Hamilton put impeachment in the hands of this body , the Senate , precisely and specifically to be above that fray .
This is the greatest deliberative body on Earth .
”

Donald Trump’s attorneys utilized just 10 of the 24 hours allotted to them to defend the president against two articles of impeachment charging him with obstruction of Congress and abuse of power, concluding their three-day presentation Tuesday by arguing that Democrats’ case amounted merely to politics.
White House counsel Pat Cipollone closed the defense’s case by urging senators to consider their role and the lasting impact that their decision could make on American history.
“I have every confidence, every confidence in your wisdom. You will do the only thing you can do, what you must do, what the Constitution compels you to do — reject these articles of impeachment for our country and for the American people,” Cipollone said.
He called senators to put the Constitution above partisanship, a talking point that Democrats have also used in urging Republicans to step out from behind the GOP party line.
“I had kind of a lengthy presentation prepared. But, I think you’ve heard a lot from our side and I think we’ve made our case. So, I just want to leave you with a couple of points,” Cipollone said in the defense team’s closing remarks.


rollcall--2020-01-28--Can you point to Ukraine? It may be a while before you get your chance

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the State Department earlier this month .
He used an unlabeled map in an attempt to stump NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly on the location of Ukraine .
( Win McNamee/Getty Images ) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a challenge for NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly after their interview Friday : Find Ukraine on a blank map .
Anyone who wants to see the map Pompeo used may face another challenge .
Getting a copy could take months — or even years .
A simple request by CQ Roll Call for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` complex processing track '' Monday by the State Department because of `` unusual circumstances . ''
That treatment is meant for the department 's most complicated and voluminous public records requests .
The Freedom of Information Act requires agencies to provide responsive records within 20 business days , though they seldom meet that deadline .
The State Department takes an average of 465 days to process requests it places on the complex track , according to its 2018 FOIA annual report .
The State Department did not respond to a request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complex or why it needs additional time to process it .
Kelly pressed Pompeo during an interview Friday to say what he did to defend Marie Yovanovitch , the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine , before President Donald Trump recalled her in May 2019 .
After the interview , Pompeo reportedly showed Kelly the map while upbraiding her .
`` Do you think Americans care about Ukraine ?
, '' Pompeo asked Kelly in the expletive-filled exchange , according to NPR .
Yovanovitch is at the center of one of the two articles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Senate .
Pompeo accused Kelly in a statement Saturday of lying to him about what questions she would ask and whether their post-interview exchange would be off the record .
The secretary of State also made a cryptic allusion to a third country .
`` It is worth noting that Bangladesh is NOT Ukraine , '' Pompeo said .
Kelly , a veteran national security reporter with a master 's degree in European studies from Cambridge University , has said that she identified Ukraine correctly when Pompeo asked .
Kel McClanahan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , guffawed when he was told about the State Department 's response to the FOIA request .
`` There has been a spike in the last year or so in agencies putting every request in the complex track , '' McClanahan said .
`` It 's not all agencies , obviously .
It 's not even all offices within the agencies .
But it is completely arbitrary and without any rhyme or reason . ''
There are several motives for the practice , according to McClanahan .
Many agency FOIA offices are chronically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That can lead agencies to pull out all the stops — whether that 's placing almost every request in their complex track or claiming unusual circumstances as a matter of course — to buy more time .
The State Department 's FOIA office has long come under criticism from transparency advocates , McClanahan said .
`` The State FOIA office is not the beacon of hope for FOIA and transparency , '' he said .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a challenge for NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly after their interview Friday: Find Ukraine on a blank map.
Anyone who wants to see the map Pompeo used may face another challenge. Getting a copy could take months — or even years.
A simple request by CQ Roll Call for a copy of the map was put on a “complex processing track” Monday by the State Department because of “unusual circumstances.” That treatment is meant for the department’s most complicated and voluminous public records requests.
The Freedom of Information Act requires agencies to provide responsive records within 20 business days, though they seldom meet that deadline. The State Department takes an average of 465 days to process requests it places on the complex track, according to its 2018 FOIA annual report.


rollcall--2020-01-28--How to pay for infrastructure? Ways and Means will count the ways

DeFazio , who may release `` general principles '' of his infrastructure bill as soon as Wednesday , says he prefers paying for it with a higher gas tax .
( File Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) When the House Ways and Means Committee meets Wednesday to take its first tentative steps to deciding how to pay for a federal infrastructure bill , its members will revive a perennial battle that could derail the whole debate : whether to raise a gas tax unchanged since 1993 .
Since it was created in 1956 , the Highway Trust Fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas tax — has largely funded highway construction and maintenance as well as transit .
But increasingly fuel-efficient cars and a gas tax unchanged since the Clinton administration conspired to create a shortfall : Since fiscal 2008 , the federal government has had to transfer more than $ 140 billion from its general fund and other government funds to meet the needs of the nation ’ s highways and mass transit .
The problem isn ’ t expected to get better .
Between this year and fiscal 2030 , according to the Congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highway account is expected to reach $ 134 billion , with a shortfall of an additional $ 54 billion for mass transit .
[ DeFazio wants to go big on infrastructure despite hurdles ] Enter Ways and Means , which has jurisdiction over how to pay for the bill .
Wednesday ’ s hearing — with an agenda of five witnesses , including representatives from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials , the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency and the New Jersey Department of Transportation — is expected to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Among the options put forth Monday in a paper from the Joint Committee on Taxation are a mileage-based tax system , an infrastructure bank , tolling and public-private partnerships .
Perhaps the easiest option is to stick with the tried and true : raising the gas tax .
House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter A. DeFazio , D-Ore. , has suggested Congress raise the gas tax in part by indexing it to inflation .
And groups as diverse as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , the AFL-CIO , the American Public Transportation Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backed an increase in the gas tax , which is fixed at 18.3 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.3 cents per gallon for diesel and kerosene .
The ranking Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee , Rep. Sam Graves , R-Mo.
, has instead endorsed a mechanism that would allow highway users to pay based on vehicle miles traveled .
On Monday , he highlighted a report by the state of Washington recommending it move away from fuel taxes to a vehicle miles traveled system to pay for the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report clearly shows that transitioning to a VMT system is a more equitable way to charge drivers for the roads they use , and that we are in fact capable of beginning that transition now.
” DeFazio — who is expected to announce general principles of his infrastructure bill on Wednesday as well — has been generally supportive of moving toward a VMT method , but argues that it ’ s too soon for such a dramatic shift in financing mechanisms .
Senate Finance Chairman Charles E. Grassley , R-Iowa , has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raising the gas tax .
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last July approved a five-year , $ 287 billion surface transportation bill ( S 2302 ) .
But Grassley ’ s committee , which has jurisdiction over how to pay for the bill , has yet to take it up .
Two other Senate committees — Banking and Commerce , and Science and Transportation — also have jurisdiction over elements of that bill .
Though it is the most well-known source of funding , the Highway Trust Fund is far from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infrastructure .
The Airport and Airway Trust Fund ; the Inland Waterways Trust Fund and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund also contribute to federal infrastructure projects .
DeFazio noted there has also been a boost in the New Markets Tax Credits program , which has been tapped previously to provide incentives for electrification projects in economically struggling areas .
With the tax credit allocation for this year raised from $ 3.5 billion to $ 5 billion , DeFazio suggested there could be a larger electrification component in the infrastructure package than some expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had looked close to reaching a comprehensive infrastructure agreement in early May 2019 , when Trump appeared to embrace the notion of a bill that could cost up to $ 2 trillion .
Those plans were thwarted by the end of that month , when Trump , at a second White House meeting on infrastructure , demanded an end to what he called “ phony investigations.
” But on Monday , House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer , D-Md.
, said that House Democrats haven ’ t given up on working with Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still going to try to work with the White House , of course , '' he said .
Doug Sword and Lindsey McPherson contributed to this report .

When the House Ways and Means Committee meets Wednesday to take its first tentative steps to deciding how to pay for a federal infrastructure bill, its members will revive a perennial battle that could derail the whole debate: whether to raise a gas tax unchanged since 1993.
Since it was created in 1956, the Highway Trust Fund — paid for primarily by a federal gas tax — has largely funded highway construction and maintenance as well as transit.
But increasingly fuel-efficient cars and a gas tax unchanged since the Clinton administration conspired to create a shortfall: Since fiscal 2008, the federal government has had to transfer more than $140 billion from its general fund and other government funds to meet the needs of the nation’s highways and mass transit.
The problem isn’t expected to get better. Between this year and fiscal 2030, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the cumulative shortfall for the highway account is expected to reach $134 billion, with a shortfall of an additional $54 billion for mass transit.
[DeFazio wants to go big on infrastructure despite hurdles]


rollcall--2020-01-28--US won't rule out travel restrictions as China outbreak worsens

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday the U.S. government is expanding screenings of travelers from China in order to quickly quarantine anyone who arrives while ill. ( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Travel restrictions from China haven ’ t been ruled out as the United States monitors the spreading outbreak of coronavirus that infected thousands there , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday .
For now , the U.S. government is expanding screenings of travelers from China in order to quickly quarantine anyone who arrives while ill .
There will now be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , up from five airports where screenings had been occurring for the past 10 days .
While previously only passengers arriving from the city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak , were screened , now nearly all passengers arriving from anywhere in China will be .
The five confirmed infected people in the U.S. so far arrived in the country before they developed symptoms , so federal health officials also emphasized that the screenings would be a way to inform travelers to be on the lookout for symptoms .
The State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Prevention are also recommending against any non-essential travel to China and warning explicitly against travel to the city of Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province .
While the number of cases in China has rapidly increased in recent days — with 1,700 new cases reported overnight , bringing the total to around 4,500 — Azar and other officials said that the risk to the general U.S. population remained low .
They noted that relatively few Americans would likely be exposed to someone who had recently traveled in China , but warned health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about monitoring their contacts .
“ Americans should know that this is a potentially very serious public health threat , but , at this point , Americans should not worry for their own safety , ” Azar said .

Travel restrictions from China haven’t been ruled out as the United States monitors the spreading outbreak of coronavirus that infected thousands there, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday.
For now, the U.S. government is expanding screenings of travelers from China in order to quickly quarantine anyone who arrives while ill. There will now be screenings at 20 airports with quarantine facilities, up from five airports where screenings had been occurring for the past 10 days. While previously only passengers arriving from the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, were screened, now nearly all passengers arriving from anywhere in China will be.
The five confirmed infected people in the U.S. so far arrived in the country before they developed symptoms, so federal health officials also emphasized that the screenings would be a way to inform travelers to be on the lookout for symptoms.
[US ready for potential coronavirus outbreak, CDC assures lawmakers]


rollcall--2020-01-28--Shelby skeptical of nascent House discussions on earmarks

Chairman Richard C. Shelby , center , and Sens .
Jack Reed , D-R.I. , and Susan Collins , R-Maine , attend the Senate Appropriations Committee markup of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement implementation bill on Jan. 15 .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby said it ’ s unlikely Republicans in his chamber will bring back spending bill earmarks , regardless of what the House decides .
“ The Republican Caucus is on record against that , so that ’ s not going to go anywhere right now , ” the Alabama Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the practice stopped in 2011 , Shelby declined to discuss his personal views on the topic at this point .
“ I ’ m part of the [ GOP ] caucus and the caucus is not going to support that .
So unless the caucus is involved it won ’ t happen , ” he said .
Nonetheless , House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer hinted Tuesday that he ’ s already talking with Republicans in both chambers about bringing back special home-state projects , known as earmarks , in some form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycle .
“ You would be surprised if I hadn ’ t talked to both the Senate Dems and Republicans , and the House Dems and Republicans , and you would be correct in your surprise if I had not done that , ” the Maryland Democrat told reporters at a Tuesday briefing .
“ How ’ s that work ?
A somewhat opaque answer.
” Members of both parties have pushed to bring back earmarks since House Republicans wrote a ban into their conference rules in 2011 .
Democrats discussed bringing back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House in January 2019 but opted not to for the fiscal 2020 spending process .
House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey , D-N.Y. , has begun conversations with committee members as well as more broadly among the Democratic Caucus .
Lowey and Appropriations subcommittee “ cardinals ” met Tuesday with freshman lawmakers and others considered vulnerable in the 2020 elections , telling CQ Roll Call later that the group had a “ good , healthy ” conversation .
But Lowey said others , including Speaker Nancy Pelosi , also need to weigh in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interested , and we just have to be sure that if we move ahead we do it in the right way , ” she said .
Freshman Rep. Donna E. Shalala , D-Fla. , said after the meeting that lawmakers ’ communities would love to have earmarks back but that she wants to see a final proposal before deciding if she ’ d support restoring the practice .
Other freshmen declined to comment or hadn ’ t formed opinions yet .
“ It was certainly a discussion , ” added Max Rose , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district last cycle in a New York district that Trump won in 2016 .
Rose said appropriators did not provide a timeline for when they ’ d have a more formal proposal to present .
“ I ’ ve got lots of questions about this , ” he said .
“ I just went to hear them out , ” said Anthony Brindisi , who , like his New York colleague Rose , flipped a GOP seat in a Trump district .
“ I haven ’ t formulated an opinion one way or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L. Gonzales counts Rose and Brindisi among the most vulnerable Democrats in the 2020 elections , rating both of their races Toss-ups .
A House Democratic aide who wasn ’ t authorized to speak publicly said after the meeting that the meeting was “ constructive ” and that there is “ general support for increased congressional involvement in funding community projects and for reforms to ensure public trust in such a process.
” Discussions would “ continue in the coming days , ” the aide added .
It ’ s likely incumbent on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for members ’ states and districts in spending bills .
Otherwise , House lawmakers could be in the uncomfortable position of promising to direct federal funds without much likelihood of securing them in the final spending bills .
And senators would find themselves unable to crow about aiding their constituents in the same way House members could with pre-election press releases .
Shalala said she first wanted to gauge “ whether there 's a bipartisan effort to put [ earmarks ] back in.
” House Transportation-HUD Appropriations Chairman David E. Price , D-N.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is not feasible without support from House Republicans and the Senate .
“ You don ’ t want one party not being part of the process and carping at the process , ” he said .
“ That ’ s simply not tenable.
” But Price said that support could come in stages .
“ I ’ m not necessarily saying that before we do any of this or experiment with it that all boxes need to be checked , ” he said .
“ We just have to see how we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can count on and then hope that we can have near unanimity about this at the end of the day.
” Senate Republicans have a “ permanent ” ban on earmarks , imposed last year on a 28-12 conferencewide vote .
But Hoyer was dismissive of that Senate GOP cohesion lasting in perpetuity : “ Yeah , right , ” he said .
Rep. Dan Kildee , D-Mich. , who serves as chief deputy whip , said a majority of Democrats favor earmarks , “ but I think there ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a way that is significantly different than the way it was done in the past.
” Hoyer said earmarks , if they return , would likely require full transparency .
For example , members would have to list their names next to their project requests earmark .
They ’ d also have to certify that neither they nor their family members have any personal financial interest in a project backed by federal funds .
And earmarks could only go toward public objectives , not private entities .
“ We expect and have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways to make sure that these are fully transparent and legitimate investments on behalf of the jurisdictions and the American people , ” he said .
“ In that context , I believe we ought to bring them back.
” Support is already growing within the House , including from the chamber ’ s Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress , lawmakers said .
Some panel members say there is a chance the panel will vote to recommend the return of earmarks , which could be an important step symbolically to spark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House .
“ The decision hasn ’ t been made yet whether to even vote on it , ” said Rep. Dan Newhouse , R-Wash. , a member of the modernization committee as well as the Appropriations panel .
“ But I think , gauging the interest , I think there ’ s a pretty good possibility that we could get to that point.
” Newhouse said there is “ a lot of support to discuss the potential .
A lot of people are seeing it as a constitutional issue .
The powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not the executive branch.
” Rep .
Rob Woodall , R-Ga. , another select committee member , said there is support on the committee for Congress reclaiming its spending powers .
“ Do we have bipartisan support for filling that Article 1 [ of the Constitution ] role ?
Of course we do , ” Woodall said .
“ Have we found a pathway that makes everyone comfortable ?
I don ’ t think we have.
” Woodall stressed his support for restoring lawmakers ’ ability to designate Army Corps of Engineers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-N.C. , a prominent conservative , said he continues to oppose earmarks , saying they are a “ slippery slope ” to the return of the type of scandals that eroded support for the practice over the past decade .
“ I understand the argument some have made from the constitutional standpoint , but Congress has no history of being able to balance that without allowing the corruption part of it to set in.
” However , Walker said there are a growing number of Republicans in the House who favor earmarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy of Vermont said Congress ought to bring back line items for member projects — even if it means Republicans are left out .
“ If they don ’ t want earmarks they don ’ t have to have them , ” Leahy said .
“ If the Republicans want to make sure their members don ’ t have earmarks , there ’ s that much more left for the Democrats .
”

Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby said it’s unlikely Republicans in his chamber will bring back spending bill earmarks, regardless of what the House decides.
“The Republican Caucus is on record against that, so that’s not going to go anywhere right now,” the Alabama Republican said Tuesday. Himself a prolific earmarker before the practice stopped in 2011, Shelby declined to discuss his personal views on the topic at this point. “I’m part of the [GOP] caucus and the caucus is not going to support that. So unless the caucus is involved it won’t happen,” he said.
Nonetheless, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer hinted Tuesday that he’s already talking with Republicans in both chambers about bringing back special home-state projects, known as earmarks, in some form as lawmakers prepare for the next appropriations cycle.
“You would be surprised if I hadn’t talked to both the Senate Dems and Republicans, and the House Dems and Republicans, and you would be correct in your surprise if I had not done that,” the Maryland Democrat told reporters at a Tuesday briefing. “How’s that work? A somewhat opaque answer.”
Members of both parties have pushed to bring back earmarks since House Republicans wrote a ban into their conference rules in 2011. Democrats discussed bringing back earmarks when they regained control of the House in January 2019 but opted not to for the fiscal 2020 spending process.


rollcall--2020-01-28--Fate of ‘national security Democrats’ provides key to House majority

From left , Democratic Reps. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey , Abigail Spanberger of Virginia , and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan pose for a selfie taken by Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania in February 2019 .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Four months ago , seven freshman Democrats accelerated the impeachment process with an op-ed in The Washington Post .
With less than a year before Election Day , their electoral fates represent a microcosm of the Republican challenge to win back the House majority .
For much of the impeachment discussion and process , Republicans have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be held accountable for the time spent investigating President Donald Trump and experience a backlash similar to the one Republicans faced in the late 1990s when President Bill Clinton was impeached .
While the national narrative paints one scenario , an individual look at each race reveals a difficult road ahead for the GOP .
The seven “ national security Democrats ” all represent districts recently represented by Republicans .
All were elected in 2018 — four of them in districts Trump carried and three in districts that backed Hillary Clinton — with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Not only have the seven Democrats not shied away from impeachment , one of them , Colorado ’ s Jason Crow , is among the seven House impeachment managers .
Based on the partisanship of their districts now and the national political environment , along with the strength of the incumbents and challengers , the outlook is not good for the GOP .
The best case scenario for Republicans , at this stage , is knocking off two or three of these seven freshmen .
It ’ s also plausible that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wins out of the seven races .
These aren ’ t all “ must wins ” for Republicans , but since the districts were part of the previous GOP majority , Republicans will have to find other seats to win around the country if they don ’ t win enough of these seven .
And the story in many of those races is similar , where Republican candidates are getting lapped by Democrats in fundraising .
Here ’ s a look at each race : The good news for Republicans is that former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cisneros in cash on hand through Sept. 30 ( $ 658,000 for the incumbent to $ 638,000 for Kim ) .
The bad news is that Cisneros is a lottery winner with personal money to spend , and Clinton won the San Gabriel Valley/northern Orange County district with 52 percent in 2016 .
And there ’ s little evidence the district has shifted away from Democrats .
Kim came within 2 points of a win in 2018 , but it ’ s still a tough environment .
Current rating : Likely Democratic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ term , Crow was chosen as one of the impeachment managers .
He represents a previously competitive district in the Aurora area , but Clinton ’ s 50 percent win in 2016 , Crow ’ s 10-point victory in 2018 and the lack of a credible challenger in 2020 fuels Democratic confidence that impeachment won ’ t be a liability .
Crow had $ 1.1 million in the bank on Sept. 30 , while the next closest Republican candidate had $ 191,000 .
Current rating : Solid Democratic .
Mid-decade redistricting solidified the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic .
Clinton would have received 53 percent under the current lines .
In addition , Houlahan had $ 1.8 million in her campaign account at the end of September compared to $ 133,000 for Republican John Emmons .
Current rating : Solid Democratic .
Republicans believe they ’ ve got a top-tier challenger with former Rep. Scott Taylor in the Virginia Beach district that Trump won with 49 percent .
Taylor lost to Luria by 2 points in 2018 and started the cycle running against Democratic Sen. Mark Warner .
After switching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s now playing catch-up with Luria in fundraising .
On Sept. 30 , she had $ 1.1 million , while he had $ 167,000 in his Senate account that could be transferred .
Current rating : Leans Democratic .
Sherrill took over a Morris County-area seat that had been in Republican hands for generations , and the GOP will have a hard time winning it back in 2020 .
Trump won it with 49 percent , but the congresswoman is one of the Democrats ’ best fundraisers — she had $ 1.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republican Rosemary Becchi , who recently switched from the 7th District race to run here , had $ 267,000 at the end of September .
Current rating : Likely Democratic .
The Republican National Committee tried to pressure Slotkin into rejecting an impeachment inquiry , and Trump won her Lansing/exurban Detroit district with 51 percent .
But defeating Slotkin won ’ t be easy .
She raised a considerable $ 1.27 million in the last three months of the year and finished 2019 with $ 2.8 million in the bank .
State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is supposed to be Slotkin ’ s top GOP challenger , entered the race in early October and is playing catch-up in fundraising .
Current rating .
Lean Democratic .
The race only recently saw the entry of top-tier GOP challengers , while Spanberger had $ 1.5 million in her campaign account on Sept. 30 .
Trump won the suburban Richmond district by 7 points , but Republican state Dels .
Nick Freitas and John McGuire won ’ t likely be able to ramp up their fundraising until the GOP selects a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tina Ramirez has been running since April and had $ 52,000 at the end of September .
Current rating : Tilts Democratic .

Four months ago, seven freshmen Democrats accelerated the impeachment process with an op-ed in The Washington Post. With less than a year before Election Day, their electoral fates are a microcosm of Republicans’ challenge to win back the House majority.
For much of the impeachment discussion and process, Republicans have been emboldened. They believe Democrats will be held accountable for the time spent investigating President Donald Trump and experience a backlash similar to the one Republicans faced in the late 1990s when President Bill Clinton was impeached.
While the national narrative paints one scenario, an individual look at each race reveals a difficult road ahead for Republicans. The seven “national security Democrats” all represent districts recently represented by Republicans. All were elected in 2018 — four of them in districts Trump carried and three in districts Hillary Clinton carried — with 53 percent or less of the vote.
Not only have the seven Democrats not shied away from impeachment, one of the freshman, Colorado’s Jason Crow, is one of the seven House impeachment managers.
Based on the partisanship of the districts now, the national political environment, along with the strength of the incumbents and challengers, the outlook is not good for the GOP. The best case scenario for Republicans, at this stage, is knocking off two or three of these incumbents out of seven. It’s also plausible that they are shut out — with no wins out of the seven races.


rollcall--2020-01-28--Democrats fight for Elijah Cummings’ legacy — and a seat in Congress

Maryland Democrat Maya Rockeymoore Cummings greets worshippers Sunday before a service at the Zion Baptist Church in Baltimor .
She is running in a crowded Democratic primary to succeed her late husband , Rep. Elijah E. Cummings , in the 7th District .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) BALTIMORE — Two dozen Democrats are running for the nomination in Maryland ’ s 7th District , but no one looms larger over the race than the late Rep. Elijah E. Cummings , whose death last fall prompted the upcoming special election .
What Cummings wanted in a successor — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — have become big factors in this contest , where the two best-known candidates are his widow , Maya Rockeymoore Cummings , and his friend and predecessor , Kweisi Mfume , who left Congress in 1996 to lead the NAACP .
“ My late husband was a beautiful man , ” Rockeymoore Cummings said , her voice rising as she addressed the congregation at Zion Baptist Church on Sunday .
“ And I ask you to continue to pray for me and our family as we continue to walk this path.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The late congressman ’ s daughters are backing one of his former staffers , while at least two of his sisters were at a “ Women for Mfume ” rally later that day .
“ There ’ s nobody else that I would vote for .
Not even my sister-in-law , ” said Cheretheria Blount , Cummings ’ 70-year-old sister .
“ My motto is : A vote for Maya Rockeymoore is not a vote for Elijah , ” added Diane Woodson , Cummings ’ 63-year-old sister .
But this race may also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have changed , with Rockeymoore Cummings — who is two decades younger than Mfume — striving to be the first woman to hold this seat and the only woman in Maryland ’ s all-male congressional delegation .
Mfume is facing allegations of sexual harassment during his tenure at the NAACP , which he denies .
In the two decades since he left Congress , though , similar allegations have derailed other lawmakers ’ careers .
Next week ’ s contest , expected to be a low-turnout election , has been overshadowed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national Democrats jockeying to take on President Donald Trump .
Voters in this solidly blue district go to the polls next Tuesday , the day after the Iowa caucuses and the same day Trump is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address .
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will likely win the special general election on April 28 , which is the same day as the primary for the regular November election .
All eyes are on Mfume and Rockeymoore Cummings , but state Sen. Jill Carter has consolidated some progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous , while law professor Michael Higginbotham has poured more than $ 500,000 of his own money into his campaign .
Rockeymoore Cummings has earned media attention — she announced her campaign on MSNBC and was on “ The View ” last week .
Seated in the second-from-the-front pew in church Sunday morning , Rockeymoore Cummings often had a hand outstretched — either above her in prayer or to the side to embrace a fellow parishioner .
The women who packed the service — even those who said they hadn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom to support — beamed at her .
Black women are motivated voters , and they ’ re an influential part of the primary electorate in the 7th District , which includes parts of Baltimore City and Baltimore and Howard counties .
Half of the district ’ s voters live in the city .
“ Black women are the heart and soul , the pumping power , of the Democratic Party .
It is time that our party looked like us , ” state Del .
Robbyn Lewis said at a Monday news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EMILY ’ s List , Baltimore Women United for Action , Higher Heights for America , which supports black female candidates , and local leaders .
Rockeymoore Cummings talks about “ shattering the glass ceiling , ” but she ’ s running on more than just making history .
Her pitch is twofold : She has congressional and policy experience , and she wants to continue the legacy of her late husband , whom she met on Capitol Hill .
She worked on the Ways and Means Committee and was chief of staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rangel before starting her own consulting firm .
But among activists and politicos , at least , the significance of electing a woman to this seat has been underscored by a Jan. 17 Baltimore Sun story about Mfume ’ s departure from the NAACP .
The executive committee took a secret vote in 2004 not to renew his contract , according to the Sun ’ s review of former NAACP Chairman Julian Bond ’ s papers , now at the University of Virginia .
The newspaper unearthed allegations of sexual harassment , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the NAACP .
“ I really don ’ t like talking ill of a dead person except to say that Julian ’ s recollection in all this was not correct , ” Mfume told CQ Roll Call on Sunday .
“ I was a single man who , on the job , dated a single woman for about six months , ” he said .
“ There were , I think , one or two other people who thought , ‘ Maybe he should have been dating me.
’ ” “ Voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past , ” she told CQ Roll Call when asked about them .
“ I ’ m standing for women , that I ’ m not about exploitation , that I ’ m focused on women ’ s empowerment and opportunities , ” she added .
Later that afternoon , hundreds of women crowded a ballroom across town , waving blue pompoms and chanting , “ We are women for Mfume !
” The women here weren ’ t bothered by the sexual harassment allegations against the former congressman , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not an issue for me .
And I don ’ t think it ’ s an issue for women , ” said Thelma Daley , the chairwoman of Women for Mfume and national director of Women in the NAACP .
“ It may be an issue for The Sun paper , OK ?
But it ’ s not an issue for us.
” Takiyah Oduntan , 41 , of Baltimore , agrees with Rockeymoore Cummings that Maryland needs a woman in Congress .
But she remembers Mfume being her congressman before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a less violent version of its current self .
“ I ’ m all the way for women , but sometimes it ’ s not a gender thing .
It ’ s a ‘ What ’ s best for the city ?
’ thing , ” she said while waiting for Mfume at Sunday ’ s rally .
“ Experience ” was the word these women mentioned over and over again when asked to describe their support for Mfume , who announced the endorsement of the state AFL-CIO once he took the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything negative to say about Rockeymoore Cummings except , “ I don ’ t really know her.
” After marrying Elijah Cummings in 2008 , Rockeymoore Cummings commuted back and forth between Washington , where she had her consulting business , and her adopted city of Baltimore .
She only became a Maryland voter in 2014 .
“ In D.C. , I was Dr. Rockeymoore , and here in Baltimore , I was Mrs. Cummings .
And nobody cared about the doctor or the Rockeymoore , ” she said .
“ People loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t know a whole lot about me until I became the chair of the Maryland Democratic Party.
” She was elected chairwoman in December 2018 after a short-lived gubernatorial campaign that she suspended when her husband was hospitalized .
So how big a part of her candidacy is her last name ?
“ It ’ s huge , ” she said .
“ The reason I ’ m here is because I fell in love with Congressman Elijah Cummings .
But I ’ m staying here and I choose to live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But whereas she tells a story of love and legacy , others sense opportunism .
“ She ’ s just piggybacking off of the Cummings name , ” said Blount , one of the late congressman ’ s sisters .

BALTIMORE — Two dozen Democrats are running for the nomination in Maryland’s 7th District, but no one looms larger over the race than the late Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, whose death last fall prompted the upcoming special election.
What Cummings wanted in a successor — and what people think he would have wanted — have become big factors in this contest, where the two best-known candidates are his widow, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, and his friend and predecessor, Kweisi Mfume, who left Congress in 1996 to lead the NAACP.
“My late husband was a beautiful man,” Rockeymoore Cummings said, her voice rising as she addressed the congregation at Zion Baptist Church on Sunday. “And I ask you to continue to pray for me and our family as we continue to walk this path.”
But family in this race is complicated. The late congressman’s daughters are backing one of his former staffers, while at least two of his sisters were at a “Women for Mfume” rally later that day.
“There’s nobody else that I would vote for. Not even my sister-in-law,” said Cheretheria Blount, Cummings’ 70-year-old sister.


rollcall--2020-01-28--Subpoena for Bolton’s unpublished book would likely face fierce resistance

The forthcoming book by former national security adviser John Bolton could lead to a protracted fight if it is subpoenaed in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
( Win McNamee/Getty Images file photo ) Congress could subpoena the manuscript of former national security adviser John Bolton ’ s forthcoming book on his time in the White House , but such a move could raise concerns about intellectual property rights and lead to a fight between lawmakers and Bolton and his publishers .
“ Either [ chamber ] of Congress has the ability to subpoena records , including unpublished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former chief oversight counsel for the Senate Finance Committee .
But Armstrong , who now represents clients involved in congressional investigations at the D.C. lobbying firm Holland & Knight , added that congressional subpoenas are “ issued within a political environment ” and often meet stiff resistance — especially when the release of the requested information affects subjects ’ bottom line .
That would certainly be the case for Bolton , whose 528-page insider tell-all , “ The Room Where It Happened : A White House Memoir , ” is scheduled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand the harm subpoenaing an unpublished book and entering it into the Congressional Record — where it would be on display for the entire public , free of charge — would have .
“ Members are aware of the inherent unfairness of taking this book and obliterating its fair market value , ” Armstrong said .
The manuscript was leaked to The New York Times over the weekend and contains passages that directly challenge President Donald Trump ’ s assertions that he never told anyone the hold on military aid to Ukraine was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bidens and the long-discredited conspiracy theory named after Crowdstrike , the American cybersecurity firm that investigated the 2016 hack of the Democratic National Committee .
The theory suggests that Ukraine , not Russia , interfered in the 2016 .
“ Our expectation is that a subpoena for John Bolton would not only be for his testimony but would also be for his notes , ” the aide said , noting Bolton is known for taking contemporaneous notes and those were likely the basis for the account he provided in his manuscript .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a CNN interview Monday that he could not yet answer whether Democrats would seek the manuscript , but added that Bolton ’ s notes were more important .
Some Republican senators have already said they want access to Bolton ’ s manuscript .
“ That ’ s a minimum amount that we should actually be able to get and I am encouraging the White House , anybody that I can talk to to say , ‘ That manuscript is pertinent and we should get access to that manuscript to see what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oklahoma GOP Sen. James Lankford told The Oklahoman on Monday .
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina tweeted Tuesday his endorsement of Lankford ’ s proposal .
Former Republican House Oversight Chairman Tom Davis of Virginia said lawmakers can “ certainly ” demand access to Bolton ’ s manuscript , but it is not as important as having Bolton in to testify himself .
Still , the manuscript could be a useful roadmap for lawmakers to ask questions of the former Trump adviser .
“ You ’ d rather get him , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could get the manuscript too and cross-examine him with it .
But it looks like time is of the essence at this point , and you have to take what you can get.
” Lawmakers would have three avenues to try to obtain the manuscript through a compulsory process if they choose to go down that path , Armstrong said : They could subpoena the White House , Bolton ’ s publisher , or the former national security adviser directly .
“ I ’ d expect both Ambassador Bolton and the publisher would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Armstrong said .
“ Ideally you and the entity who issued the subpoena would enter into a negotiation to find some way to resolve it without harming the client and his bottom line.
” A subpoena for Bolton ’ s book manuscript would be virtually unprecedented , Armstrong and others told CQ Roll Call .
During the House ’ s Iran-Contra investigation in the 1980s , a dispute over Ronald Reagan ’ s personal diary and whether it was subject to executive privilege claims loomed large .
“ Reagan was maintaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his post-presidential memoirs , ” said Mark Rozell , an expert on executive privilege and the dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University .
Of all the documents Congress could subpoena from the White House , Reagan believed his personal diaries had the most legitimate claims to executive privilege .
He considered fighting the House over the diaries to protect the legal prerogatives of the executive branch , but he eventually voluntarily submitted them largely because he believed they contained nothing incriminating , Rozell said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of the story and being as transparent as possible was in his best interests .
Imagine that , ” he said .

Congress could subpoena the manuscript of former national security adviser John Bolton’s forthcoming book on his time in the White House, but such a move could raise concerns about intellectual property rights and lead to a fight between lawmakers and Bolton and his publishers.
“Either [chamber] of Congress has the ability to subpoena records, including unpublished manuscripts,” said Chris Armstrong, the former chief oversight counsel for the Senate Finance Committee.
But Armstrong, who now represents clients involved in congressional investigations at the D.C. lobbying firm Holland & Knight, added that congressional subpoenas are “issued within a political environment” and often meet stiff resistance — especially when the release of the requested information affects subjects’ bottom line.
That would certainly be the case for Bolton, whose 528-page insider tell-all, “The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir,” is scheduled to hit bookshelves on March 17.
Politicians understand the harm subpoenaing an unpublished book and entering it into the Congressional Record — where it would be on display for the entire public, free of charge — would have.


rollcall--2020-01-28--Checks and Balance: This summer's conventions may be a bit unconventional

The Clintons and Kaines gather on stage as balloons drop at the end of the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) ANALYSIS | The quadrennial political conventions , where the party faithful publicly coalesce in cheerleading for their respective White House picks , play a lesser-known role — as sleep-away camp for K Street .
Away from the convention ’ s main stage , K Streeters are booking concert halls , hotel ballrooms and chic restaurants in the host cities for brunches , receptions and late-night , booze-infused concerts to fete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the corporate clients they represent .
That tradition will carry on this summer with the Democrats in Milwaukee and the GOP in Charlotte , N.C .
But as lobbyists and executives mull their presence at the conventions , some aren ’ t entirely convinced the show is worth the investment , sometimes into the six figures .
An anti-corporate , anti-lobbyist vibe is strong among the Democratic presidential contenders ; even Joe Biden , whose son Hunter was once a registered lobbyist , has sworn off contributions from the denizens of K @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side , President Donald Trump cuts a controversial figure , worrying some companies about tying their brands to the incumbent ’ s most divisive policies , such as immigration .
“ In the current environment , companies are particularly cautious about alienating employees and customers by sounding like they are closely aligned with either party , ” says Doug Pinkham , president of the Public Affairs Council .
Many of the most engaged companies in Washington remain mum about what plans , if any , they may have in the works .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of now , ” Amazon spokeswoman Jodi Seth said in an email .
Andy Stone , a Facebook spokesman , says similarly : “ We don ’ t have any comment to offer at this stage about what the plans are.
” Banking industry titans , such as Charlotte-based Bank of America , may take a public profile at the Republican convention .
The nation ’ s biggest companies often give millions of dollars to the convention host committees .
But even some organizations that say they ’ re not shying away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conventioneering in 2020 .
Take the Credit Union National Association , for one .
The group ’ s political coffers are hitting record numbers this election cycle , raising $ 2.8 million so far .
“ Credit union members and employees and executives and volunteers are just becoming more politically engaged , ” says the group ’ s Trey Hawkins , who runs the political action committee .
“ As an association we ’ re pushing harder on engaging people in advocacy.
” So it might make sense for CUNA to make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it won ’ t .
“ We ’ ve engaged to a great degree in past cycles , but we ’ ve decided to have a lesser presence , ” Hawkins says , noting the change wasn ’ t related to any concerns about political controversies and was , instead , a matter of priorities .
Though many lobbyists expect to parachute in to Milwaukee or Charlotte , and maybe even both , for a specific shindig , many say the interest they ’ re gauging from their colleagues and clients isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past .
“ It ’ s not business as usual , ” says Jeff Forbes , a Democratic lobbyist who runs Forbes Tate Partners .
“ People are definitely questioning the value they get ” from hosting convention events and doing sponsorships .
Still , the parties will go on .
After all , despite the perils of politics and eye-popping sums to hold events , much of K Street will be loath to miss out on opportunities to mingle over policy with the targets of their influence campaigns .
Magnum Entertainment Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kimbell of Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates Inc. and John Green of Crossroads Strategies — will put on three evenings of live music events in Charlotte , as it has done at GOP conventions since 2004 .
Kimbell says he ’ s seen “ zero ” change this cycle when compared with two decades of organizing inaugural and convention events .
“ Virtually every elected lawmaker in both parties goes to the conventions and in some cases are actually delegates themselves , ” he says .
“ So , if you want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level , you must be there.
” Lobbyist Stewart Verdery , who runs Monument Advocacy , agrees that the conventions still matter , but says they ’ ve lost some luster .
“ It ’ s kind of like something that used to be a big deal that faded , ” he says .
“ You know , like September sweeps .
Remember those ?
” If you don ’ t recall the television networks ’ major push to get viewers during regular fall audience estimates , then maybe he ’ s made @ @ @

ANALYSIS | The quadrennial political conventions, where the party faithful publicly coalesce in cheerleading for their respective White House picks, play a lesser-known role — as sleep-away camp for K Street.
Away from the convention’s main stage, K Streeters are booking concert halls, hotel ballrooms and chic restaurants in the host cities for brunches, receptions and late-night, booze-infused concerts to fete their favorite politicians and bring them together with the corporate clients they represent.
That tradition will carry on this summer with the Democrats in Milwaukee and the GOP in Charlotte, N.C. But as lobbyists and executives mull their presence at the conventions, some aren’t entirely convinced the show is worth the investment, sometimes into the six figures.
An anti-corporate, anti-lobbyist vibe is strong among the Democratic presidential contenders; even Joe Biden, whose son Hunter was once a registered lobbyist, has sworn off contributions from the denizens of K Street. And, on the Republican side, President Donald Trump cuts a controversial figure, worrying some companies about tying their brands to the incumbent’s most divisive policies, such as immigration.
“In the current environment, companies are particularly cautious about alienating employees and customers by sounding like they are closely aligned with either party,” says Doug Pinkham, president of the Public Affairs Council.


rollcall--2020-01-28--Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 28

Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 28

The president ’ s defense team has completed its presentation .
By unanimous consent , the Senate will begin the question and answer session when the Senate reconvenes at 1 p.m. Wednesday .
There will be up to eight hours for questions Wednesday , alternating between the Republican and Democratic sides .
Another eight hours will occur Thursday , with the same ground rules .
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. reminded the Senate that during the trial of President Bill Clinton , the chief justice at the time was greeted with laughter when he suggested the counsel for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to limit answers to five minutes each .
Roberts said that nonetheless both sides generally kept responses brief .
Sen. Josh Hawley has already released questions he intends to submit to be asked of both the House managers and the president ’ s legal team .
The Republican from Missouri is focusing on former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s son Hunter Biden and Burisma , as well as on any contact between House lead impeachment manager Adam B. Schiff and the intelligence community whistleblower .
At the end of the Q & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four hours of debate over whether to call additional witnesses before a vote on that issue .
But the debate over witnesses was already raging as senators began arriving for Tuesday ’ s session , with some saying they would consider a deal that would call for former national security adviser John Bolton to testify in return for compelling the testimony of Hunter Biden .
But some rejected that notion out of hand and others said they have heard enough to decide how to vote .
At the same time , there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to the manuscript of Bolton ’ s White House memoir , the contents of which The New York Times first reported .
6:25 p.m. | On the air : With opening arguments in the impeachment trial over , both sides are on the airwaves trying to sway voters .
Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott announced Tuesday he was taking a swing at former Vice President Joe Biden with a television and digital ad in Iowa less than a week before the Feb. 3 presidential caucuses .
“ The real story here is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Scott says in the 30-second spot , repeating discredited allegations about Biden ’ s effort to fire a Ukrainian prosecutor .
Scott ’ s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how much he ’ ll spend on the ad or where and for how long it will be running .
The ad is paid for by Scott 's Senate campaign , which had more than $ 1.8 million on hand as of Sept. 30 .
Scott is not up for reelection until 2024 .
Another ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , America First Policies .
That spot targets Democratic senators in Michigan and Pennsylvania — two states vital to Trump ’ s electoral strategy — urging them to “ end this travesty ” and oppose impeachment .
Trump narrowly won both states in 2016 and Michigan Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is up for reelection this year .
Republican senators were also feeling some heat on impeachment .
On Monday , Majority Forward , the nonprofit arm of the Democratic super PAC Senate Majority PAC , launched a “ six-figure ” digital ad buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McSally of Arizona , Cory Gardner of Colorado , Susan Collins of Maine , Joni Ernst of Iowa and Thom Tillis of North Carolina .
The digital ad , which will also be featured on platforms like Hulu , directs viewers to call the senators ’ offices and ask them to conduct a fair trial .
5:30 p.m. | GOP get-together : Senate Republicans met Tuesday afternoon to debrief following the conclusion of the impeachment trial ’ s opening arguments .
The meeting was to get input over whether to call witnesses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be made until Friday .
“ We ’ re still talking , everybody ’ s taking this very seriously , and I think those conversations are , I know those conversations are continuing , ” Texas Sen. John Cornyn said .
The Texas senator indicated an announcement won ’ t be made until Friday because senators get the opportunity to ask questions for the next two days .
Cornyn said he didn ’ t have “ any particular questions ” because he thought both sides did a good job laying out their case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with some.
” Sen. John Hoeven emerged from the meeting saying he did not need to see any witnesses called before the chamber .
“ At this point , I think we ’ ve had a lot of witnesses , we ’ ve had a lot of information .
I don ’ t feel we need more witnesses at this point , ” the North Dakota Republican said .
“ But , you know , the caucus will have that vote , or will have that vote on Friday.
” Sen. Lindsey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motion to call witnesses was today , “ I would vote not to have witnesses.
” If the Senate does call witnesses , the South Carolina Republican said they won ’ t call one witness , but “ a bunch of witnesses.
” 4:15 p.m. | Carper question : Thomas R. Carper of Delaware , who served alongside Joe Biden for eight years in the state ’ s Senate delegation , plans ask an open-ended question to the Democratic House managers that grants them the opportunity to “ drill down and set the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden did as vice president to go after a corrupt prosecutor ” in Ukraine .
Carper wants to give Schiff an opportunity to remind senators and American viewers on TV that the European Union , the International Monetary Fund and even many Republican senators that they supported Biden ’ s work to oust Viktor Shokin , the former Ukrainian prosecutor general who was ultimately expelled from his post for corruption .
“ I want to get that on the record , ” Carper said .
4:05 p.m. | Weak trade : Senate Minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the idea of a one-for-one witness exchange on Tuesday , saying that if Republicans wanted to call witnesses like Hunter Biden , they could have already done so .
“ They could call Hunter Biden if they had 51 votes for him today .
They don ’ t , ” the New York Democrat said .
Schumer said calling the former vice president ’ s son would make the trial a “ circus ” and accused President Donald Trump of being “ obsessed with Hunter Biden and Joe Biden.
” Schumer also swatted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to subpoena Bolton ’ s book manuscript , calling it unnecessary because it will be published soon , and Bolton already agreed to testify if subpoenaed .
“ [ Obtaining ] a classified version of the transcript is just another excuse to hide that they are afraid of the truth , ” he said .
Schumer also said he is not giving Democratic senators an edict on what questions to ask , but expects many of them to give the House managers ample opportunity to address specific arguments made by Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will , however , help organize the questions to avoid repetition and ensure a logical order of query .
“ We don ’ t want the same question 10 times , ” Schumer said .
3:49 p.m. | “ Legal duplicity ” : Schiff attacked the argument put forth by one of Trump 's attorneys that Trump released military aid because Ukraine stood up an anti-corruption court .
“ [ Jay ] Sekulow would have us believe Donald Trump released the military aid because he was so grateful that the Ukrainian parliament passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ No one believes that.
” Schiff called for the Senate to hear from additional witnesses and to see additional documents .
He lamented what he call the “ legal duplicity ” of Trump ’ s defense team , which argued that the House should have subpoenaed the witnesses they want to hear from even if that meant duking it out in the courts .
“ They go to court [ the Senate trial ] and say the House may not sue in court to compel a witness to testify.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bolton because they first subpoenaed Bolton 's aide who fought the subpoena in court .
Schiff said Bolton 's lawyer made it `` crystal clear '' that Bolton would have fought the subpoena in court , which Schiff said could have been tied up in the legal system for `` months or years . ''
Schiff declined to say if the House would try to subpoena Bolton in the future .
3:25 p.m. | Support for witnesses : A national Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday showed broad support for witnesses .
The poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — including 95 percent of Democrats , 75 percent of independents and 49 percent of Republicans — said witnesses should be allowed to testify at the impeachment trial .
More than half of voters , 53 percent , said President Donald Trump is not telling the truth about Ukraine .
But just 46 percent said he should be removed from office , compared with 48 percent who said he should not — a level of support that has not changed since a Jan. 13 survey .
2:40 p.m. | Schiff on Bolton : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team inadvertently made the case for Bolton ’ s testimony by disputing the accuracy of a New York Times report about his coming book .
“ If [ members of the defense team are ] going to dispute what John Bolton has to say , they need to give him an opportunity to testify under oath , something that the president is not willing to do , ” Schiff said .
The California Democrat also said Trump ’ s team has downplayed the president ’ s “ corrupt ” actions in withholding military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond a “ policy difference , ” as the defense team has argued , he said .
1:36 p.m. | Opening statement : Trump lawyer Patrick Philbin opened the sixth day of the impeachment trial by arguing that the House ’ s impeachment articles are flawed .
Citing constitutional lawyer Alan Dershowitz ’ s Monday argument before the Senate , Philbin said that abuse of power article was “ malleable ” and “ subjective.
” 1:18 p.m. | No layups : Multiple Democrats expressed an uptick in optimism that some Republicans might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Bolton ’ s account of his interactions with Trump .
“ The Republicans ’ lawyers on Saturday thought that they were shooting layups .
They thought it was a done deal , they had won , the end .
They don ’ t think they ’ re shooting layups now , ” said Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden , a former Division 1 college basketball player at University of California , Santa Barbara .
12:47 p.m. | We know where he stands : The notion of getting Bolton ’ s manuscript before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford , is not an appropriate substitute for the former White House national security adviser ’ s testimony , Sen. Christopher S. Murphy said .
“ I mean , you have to be able to put John Bolton under oath and question him , ” Murphy said .
“ I mean , they are so scared of his testimony because they know it blows a giant hole in the president ’ s case and so they are going to do everything they can to not allow John Bolton to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be questioned.
” 12:38 p.m. | Call campaign : Thousands of constituents called into the offices of GOP senators in certain states last week demanding that they allow witnesses in the Senate trial , according to analytics provided to CQ Roll Call by Stand Up America , a political advocacy group that opposes Trump .
Sen. Mitt Romney ’ s office received 3,017 calls through a phone number on the organization ’ s website that redirects callers to their senator ’ s office based on the caller ’ s ZIP code .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,539 calls .
He represents Colorado and is up for reelection in November .
Romney , who represents Utah , has indicated this week that The New York Times report on Bolton ’ s book manuscript increases the likelihood the former national security adviser will be called to testify .
12:37 p.m. | “ Tell us what you know ” : Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson told reporters he believes there are “ outstanding , legitimate questions , ” about Hunter Biden ’ s ties to the Ukranian energy company Burisma , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s testimony or manuscript to be brought into the trial .
“ Not particularly , I ’ d rather have John Bolton just come forward and tell us what you know , ” Johnson said .
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said there is ongoing discussion about Bolton testifying .
“ Well , I think that there ’ s still some discussion about how we will have an opportunity to hear from Mr. Bolton , ” Murkowski said .
“ I think Bolton probably has something to offer us , so we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re going to learn more.
” 12:22 p.m. | “ Zero sense ” : “ I am ready to make my decision based on the record established in the House , ” Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham told reporters Tuesday .
“ The House chose not to pursue witnesses that were available to them .
I don ’ t want to start a precedent of just doing half-ass in the House.
” The South Carolina Republican said the idea of calling one witness from each side “ makes zero sense ” and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses , there will be a lot of them .
“ I ’ m just telling everybody who thinks you can surgically deal with this , it ’ s not going to happen , ” Graham said .
“ I ’ ll make a prediction : There ’ ll be 51 Republican votes to call Hunter Biden , Joe Biden , the whistleblower and the DNC staffer at a very minimum.
” 11:36 a.m. | No deal : Democratic Whip Richard J. Durbin of Illinois and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swap to secure Bolton ’ s testimony .
“ Personally , I ’ m against it , ” Durbin said .
However , he did not commit to voting against a deal .
Durbin said the Democrats want “ material witnesses ” brought before the Senate and any questions on materiality should be brought before Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. Republican senators have been contemplating a trade that would possibly exchange the Bolton ’ s testimony for that of Hunter Biden .
“ I will give credit to Sheldon Whitehouse for coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most clever way to respond to that , which is : Why would we come up with some crooked quid pro quo deal on witnesses where we trade , ” Coons said .
“ We ’ re going to let in , an obviously directly relevant fact witness for an obviously irrelevant witness .
That ’ s what the whole underlying scheme was about .
Was trying to gin up ways to smear the Bidens .
So why would we agree to that ?
” Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon declared flatly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in a witness trade .
11:36 a.m. | Buy the book : GOP senators arriving for Tuesday ’ s impeachment proceedings largely demurred on whether they want to bring Bolton ’ s manuscript into the proceedings .
Sens .
Roy Blunt and Mike Rounds said they would make a decision on the question later in the process .
Rounds said he “ would like to read the manuscript ... but I ’ m not sure about bringing it into the [ impeachment trial ] .
” “ I ’ m sure Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Blunt said , rather than read it in a closed setting , as Republican Sen. James Lankford suggested .
GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said , “ Based on what the New York Times reported , I don ’ t think it sheds any new light on the facts as we understand them.
” But his colleague Sen. Michael D. Crapo of Idaho said he wants to see the manuscript .
Indiana Republican Sen. Mike Braun told reporters “ I don ’ t think I need ” to see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz ’ s presentation that the House allegations would not constitute an abuse of power .
Constituents in Indiana have not pushed him toward seeking more evidence , but Braun acknowledged Republican colleagues in purple states might feel differently .
11:17 a.m. : Going fishing : GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer told reporters that Republican senators have not coordinated their questions for the coming session and he is ready to vote for acquittal “ unless the president ’ s lawyers somehow convince me to vote to convict.
” He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manuscript for the Senate to review would never “ satiate the appetite ” of House impeachment managers for more witnesses .
He said any agreement on witnesses would likely result in a flood of them on both sides , rather than a one-for-one .
He called such a scenario an argument against allowing witnesses and said the House “ wants to go fishing in the Senate until they catch one.
” 11:15 a.m. : Business ?
What business ?
: House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer criticized GOP senators who have argued they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with so the Senate can return to the people ’ s business .
“ The Senate has not been doing the people ’ s business , ” the Maryland Democrat said .
“ We would hope they would get to it , not return , because they haven ’ t been doing it.
” 11:05 a.m. | “ Slime campaign ” : A senior Democratic official working on the impeachment trial criticized the White House ’ s lawyers for presenting a “ slime campaign ” against former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impeachment case .
“ The president couldn ’ t persuade [ Ukrainian President Volodymyr ] Zelenskiy to do [ a Biden announcement ] .
He instead had his lawyers do it on national television .
It was totally irrelevant , ” the aide said , adding that “ no court would ever allow that in.
” Another aide for the House Democrats , speaking on condition of anonymity , likened the president ’ s defense presentation to tactics used by criminal defense attorneys on open and shut guilty cases .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disbelief .
...
They distract with the Hunter Biden thing ” and try to convince the jury it was just a “ coincidence ” that the person Trump wanted Kyiv to investigate was the president ’ s potential 2020 election opponent , the second aide said .
“ Typically the prosecution would stand up on the rebuttal and say , ‘ Why do they say all those things ?
Because they don ’ t have a defense , ’ ” the aide said .
11 a.m. | “ Phony argument ” : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate should not subpoena Bolton for his personal notes and testimony because they are protected by executive privilege .
House Democratic aides working on the impeachment trial dismissed that line of logic .
“ That is a phony , phony argument .
Executive privilege is a very limited protection , ” one aide said , noting that Bolton ’ s book is set to drop in March and likely contains many details about that which Democrats have alleged .
Regardless , Trump waived executive privilege over his conversations with Bolton with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats have asserted .
And the president waived executive privilege over his conversations with acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney when he sanctioned the him to address reporters at the now-infamous news conference where he admitted to a quid pro quo .
“ The more evidence that comes in , the more conclusive it is .
The John Bolton testimony ?
Nail in the coffin , the aide said .
10:45 a.m. | In agreement : “ Mr .
Dershowitz was compelling and I agree with him and Judge Starr that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment happy , ” Mississippi GOP Sen. Roger Wicker said .
“ I hope we learn our lesson this time not ever to forward a narrowly partisan impeachment again.
” 10:40 a.m. | More witnesses ?
: Republican Sen. David Perdue said Tuesday that Bolton should not be called to testify in the Senate trial .
“ I don ’ t think so , ” Perdue said , but he added that he would be fine with calling one of the witnesses who provided testimony in the House .
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what he thought an appropriate list of witnesses would be but did say he wanted to hear from more .
“ Here ’ s the thing about witnesses : I just don ’ t know how you have a trial without witnesses , ” he said .
“ I just don ’ t know how they expect us , as a jury , to come to an informed decision.
” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham endorsed a plan proposed by GOP Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma for senators to review Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the opportunity to review the manuscript and make their own determination.
” 7:50 a.m. | Next up : Senators will have 16 hours after the conclusion of Trump ’ s defense to ask written questions of the House impeachment managers and Trump ’ s defense team .
The trial rules appear to allow questions to be submitted once the defense finishes its presentation .
After Q & A , the Senate will take up the question of whether more witnesses should be called and other evidence considered with four hours of debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote fails , Schumer has said he could introduce other procedural measures before votes on whether Trump is guilty of the two articles impeachment the House advanced in December — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
7:40 a.m. | More Bolton : The New York Times released more excerpts from Bolton ’ s manuscript for his White House memoir “ The Room Where it Happened ” in which he writes he privately told Attorney General William Barr that he had concerns that Trump was granting personal favors to the autocratic leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Barr responded by pointing to a pair of Justice Department investigations of companies in those countries and said he was worried that Mr. Trump had created the appearance that he had undue influence over what would typically be independent inquiries , ” the Times reported , quoting the manuscript .
The Justice Department said in a statement that it had not seen the manuscript , but from the Times account “ grossly mischaracterizes what Attorney General Barr and Mr. Bolton discussed .
7:30 a.m | Trump ’ s defense : On Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back on House managers ’ assertion that Trump released the military aid package to Ukraine because he was “ caught ” after a whistleblower raised concerns about the arrangement .
They repeated their claim that the president ’ s attempt to leverage Ukraine was about corruption within the country ’ s government and how U.S. funds were being used rather than forcing Kyiv to dig up dirt on political opponents .
And Trump attorney Jane Raskin downplayed the role of Rudy Giuliani , Trump ’ s personal attorney , in the Ukraine operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player ” despite multiple witnesses in the House inquiry portraying the former New York mayor and federal prosecutor as Trump ’ s point man .
Raskin said testimony of media characterizations of Giuliani ’ s role is “ that shiny object designed to distract you.
” 7:20 a.m. | Problem solver : Schumer said Monday that arguments in defense of Trump are bolstering the Democrats ’ case to call witnesses and subpoena documents .
“ The president ’ s lawyers keep making the case for witnesses and documents , ” Schumer told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sekulow ’ s assertions that witnesses in the House investigation did not have direct contact with Trump .
“ We want Bolton .
We want [ acting White House chief of Staff Mick ] Mulvaney .
We can solve Mr. Sekulow ’ s problem of not having witnesses who heard from the President himself , ” Schumer said .

6:25 p.m. | On the air: With opening arguments in the impeachment trial over, both sides are on the airwaves trying to sway voters. Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott announced Tuesday he was taking a swing at former Vice President Joe Biden with a television and digital ad in Iowa less than a week before the Feb. 3 presidential caucuses.
“The real story here is the corruption Joe Biden got away with,” Scott says in the 30-second spot, repeating discredited allegations about Biden’s effort to fire a Ukrainian prosecutor.
Scott’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how much he’ll spend on the ad or where and for how long it will be running. The ad is paid for by Scott’s Senate campaign, which had more than $1.8 million on hand as of Sept. 30. Scott is not up for reelection until 2024.
Another ad was unveiled Tuesday by a pro-Trump group, America First Policies. That spot targets Democratic senators in Michigan and Pennsylvania — two states vital to Trump’s electoral strategy — urging them to “end this travesty” and oppose impeachment. Trump narrowly won both states in 2016 and Michigan Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is up for reelection this year.
Republican senators were also feeling some heat on impeachment. On Monday, Majority Forward, the nonprofit arm of the Democratic super PAC Senate Majority PAC, launched a “six-figure” digital ad buy targeting five vulnerable GOP senators: Martha McSally of Arizona, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Susan Collins of Maine, Joni Ernst of Iowa and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. The digital ad, which will also be featured on platforms like Hulu, directs viewers to call the senators’ offices and ask them to conduct a fair trial.