rollcall--2020-10-26--Senate packs up with coronavirus relief bill on ice until after elections

Senators prepared to leave town Monday night for their October recess with virtually no prospect of passing new COVID-19 aid legislation before the Nov. 3 elections .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke by phone for 52 minutes on Monday in what has become a near-daily attempt to narrow differences on pandemic relief between Democrats and the Trump administration .
But there was no indication of any major progress .
Democrats “ continue to eagerly await the Administration ’ s acceptance of our health language , which includes a national strategic plan on testing and tracing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the call .
And Hammill suggested that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , who has resisted a large-scale aid deal , would need to show a greater willingness to compromise .
“ It is clear that our progress depends on Leader McConnell agreeing to bipartisan , comprehensive legislation to crush the virus , honor our heroes — our essential workers — and put money in the pockets of the American people , ” Hammill said .
While Hammill said Pelosi “ remains optimistic ” about reaching a deal before the elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes had diminished over the weekend , when White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN that “ we ’ re not going to control the pandemic ” but would await a vaccine .
In a letter to her caucus Monday , Pelosi said “ the Administration crossed another line in its arrogance in fighting the coronavirus .
”

Senators prepared to leave town Monday night for their October recess with virtually no prospect of passing new COVID-19 aid legislation before the Nov. 3 elections.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke by phone for 52 minutes on Monday in what has become a near-daily attempt to narrow differences on pandemic relief between Democrats and the Trump administration. But there was no indication of any major progress.
Democrats “continue to eagerly await the Administration’s acceptance of our health language, which includes a national strategic plan on testing and tracing,” Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill tweeted after the call. And Hammill suggested that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who has resisted a large-scale aid deal, would need to show a greater willingness to compromise.
“It is clear that our progress depends on Leader McConnell agreeing to bipartisan, comprehensive legislation to crush the virus, honor our heroes — our essential workers — and put money in the pockets of the American people,” Hammill said.
While Hammill said Pelosi “remains optimistic” about reaching a deal before the elections, the speaker made clear that her hopes had diminished over the weekend, when White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN that “we’re not going to control the pandemic” but would await a vaccine. In a letter to her caucus Monday, Pelosi said “the Administration crossed another line in its arrogance in fighting the coronavirus.”


rollcall--2020-10-26--What is Section 230?

What is Section 230?

You may have heard the phrase `` Section 230 '' uttered a lot this election cycle .
That 's because @ @ @ @ @ the aisle want to revisit this piece of legislation from 1996 — though for very @ @ @ @ @ CQ Roll Call 's technology reporter Dean DeChiaro breaks down what the language in Section @ @ @ @ @ law it originally came from .

You may have heard the phrase "Section 230" uttered a lot this election cycle. That's because lawmakers on both sides of the aisle want to revisit this piece of legislation from 1996 — though for very different reasons.
Watch as CQ Roll Call's technology reporter Dean DeChiaro breaks down what the language in Section 230 means and the 1934 law it originally came from.
[Justice Department files antitrust complaint against Google, alleging monopoly power]


rollcall--2020-10-26--Senate confirms Amy Coney Barrett but controversy follows her to the Supreme Court

Senate Republicans finished their race Monday to confirm Amy Coney Barrett and boost the long-running conservative advantage on the Supreme Court , where her actions on consequential cases in the coming days and months could amplify calls to revamp the high court and change Senate rules to do so .
Barrett narrowly won confirmation in a 52-48 vote Monday evening almost entirely along party lines to fill the vacancy left by the death last month of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
She joins the court in time to consider legal fights over the presidential election and to decide whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be wiped out .
Democrats decried Republicans for what they called a sham and hypocritical confirmation process so close to the Nov. 3 elections that will determine control of the White House and the Senate .
Four years earlier , Republicans refused to consider President Barack Obama ’ s Supreme Court nominee , Merrick B. Garland , for eight months because they said it was too close to a presidential election .
“ The truth is , this nomination is part of a decadeslong effort to tilt the judiciary to the far right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radical right and their allies , Senate Republicans , could never accomplish through Congress , ” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Monday .
But Democrats were powerless to stop Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell from strengthening the long-running advantage for justices appointed by Republican presidents from 5-4 to 6-3 , including a third appointee by President Donald Trump .

Senate Republicans finished their race Monday to confirm Amy Coney Barrett and boost the long-running conservative advantage on the Supreme Court, where her actions on consequential cases in the coming days and months could amplify calls to revamp the high court and change Senate rules to do so.
Barrett narrowly won confirmation in a 52-48 vote Monday evening almost entirely along party lines to fill the vacancy left by the death last month of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She joins the court in time to consider legal fights over the presidential election and to decide whether the entire 2010 health care law should be wiped out.
Democrats decried Republicans for what they called a sham and hypocritical confirmation process so close to the Nov. 3 elections that will determine control of the White House and the Senate. Four years earlier, Republicans refused to consider President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Merrick B. Garland, for eight months because they said it was too close to a presidential election.
“The truth is, this nomination is part of a decadeslong effort to tilt the judiciary to the far right to accomplish through the courts what the radical right and their allies, Senate Republicans, could never accomplish through Congress,” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Monday.
But Democrats were powerless to stop Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell from strengthening the long-running advantage for justices appointed by Republican presidents from 5-4 to 6-3, including a third appointee by President Donald Trump.


rollcall--2020-10-26--What happens when a state can’t decide on its electors

Turnout topped 93 percent in Hawaii .
The state ’ s result was close , just as the nation ’ s was overall .
Nixon initially appeared to be the winner by 141 votes , and the Republican governor declared him the winner .
But a judge granted the Kennedy team ’ s request for a recount .
As it dragged on , the judge rejected GOP attempts to stop the count .
When the mid-December date came for the Electoral College to meet — this year it ’ s Dec. 14 — both Republican and Democratic electors sent their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kennedy eventually was declared the winner in the Hawaii recount by 115 votes , but the two sets of certifications were waiting when the joint session of Congress convened .
Democrats , including Rep. Daniel K. Inouye , were ready to lodge an objection if the GOP slate was counted , but the presiding officer — the Senate president , who also is the vice president : i.e.
, Nixon — pushed the issue aside .
“ He resolved it in a rather statesmanlike way by using parliamentary procedure , ” State University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a recent webinar organized by the New York State Bar Association .
“ He asked for unanimous consent that the votes of the Democratic electors would count .
So he resolved this against himself.
” Nixon wasn ’ t the first vice president who had to preside over the opening of electoral votes that declared his opponent the winner , and he wasn ’ t the last .
The most recent was Al Gore , who had conceded the 2000 election after the Supreme Court stopped a recount in Florida , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes , and the presidency , to George W. Bush .
At that joint session in 2001 , House Democrats in the Congressional Black Caucus tried to object to the acceptance of Florida ’ s electoral votes .
But their complaint did not have a Senate co-sponsor as required by law , and it was dismissed by Gore .
In the event of a bicameral objection , the rules say the House and Senate would separate to debate the objection according to their rules .
This is when things can get very muddy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential for disputes between legislatures and governors and arguments over whether electors were “ lawfully certified.
” Votes could be thrown out if they were not “ regularly given ” — but what does that mean in a year when the coronavirus pandemic has forced states that previously relied heavily on in-person voting to shift to mail-in or drop-off paper ballots ?

Turnout topped 93 percent in Hawaii. The state’s result was close, just as the nation’s was overall. Nixon initially appeared to be the winner by 141 votes, and the Republican governor declared him the winner. But a judge granted the Kennedy team’s request for a recount. As it dragged on, the judge rejected GOP attempts to stop the count. When the mid-December date came for the Electoral College to meet — this year it’s Dec. 14 — both Republican and Democratic electors sent their votes to Washington to be counted.
Kennedy eventually was declared the winner in the Hawaii recount by 115 votes, but the two sets of certifications were waiting when the joint session of Congress convened. Democrats, including Rep. Daniel K. Inouye, were ready to lodge an objection if the GOP slate was counted, but the presiding officer — the Senate president, who also is the vice president: i.e., Nixon — pushed the issue aside.
“He resolved it in a rather statesmanlike way by using parliamentary procedure,” State University of New York professor James A. Gardner said in a recent webinar organized by the New York State Bar Association. “He asked for unanimous consent that the votes of the Democratic electors would count. So he resolved this against himself.”
Nixon wasn’t the first vice president who had to preside over the opening of electoral votes that declared his opponent the winner, and he wasn’t the last. The most recent was Al Gore, who had conceded the 2000 election after the Supreme Court stopped a recount in Florida, effectively handing the state’s electoral votes, and the presidency, to George W. Bush. At that joint session in 2001, House Democrats in the Congressional Black Caucus tried to object to the acceptance of Florida’s electoral votes. But their complaint did not have a Senate co-sponsor as required by law, and it was dismissed by Gore.
In the event of a bicameral objection, the rules say the House and Senate would separate to debate the objection according to their rules. This is when things can get very muddy, legal experts agree, with the potential for disputes between legislatures and governors and arguments over whether electors were “lawfully certified.” Votes could be thrown out if they were not “regularly given” — but what does that mean in a year when the coronavirus pandemic has forced states that previously relied heavily on in-person voting to shift to mail-in or drop-off paper ballots?


rollcall--2020-10-27--Fintech experts divided on form for U.S. central digital currency

Financial technology experts agree that some form of digital payment system by the U.S. central bank is inevitable , although opinions diverge on the form it should take .
Rapid progress on a central digital currency elsewhere could threaten U.S. hegemony over global finance , and the current payment system is leaving some Americans behind financially , fintech advocates argue .
China and Singapore are experimenting with digital currencies and may soon be joined by Russia , Japan and Sweden .
In addition , private companies , including Facebook Inc. , have proposed their own digital currencies that may challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a central bank digital currency , or CBDC , issued by the Federal Reserve , would be in the form of instantaneously transferable electronic dollars , unlike the digital dollars in bank accounts today , which require trusted parties to agree that the funds are available before a transfer can take place .
Congress has explored whether a CBDC would help get government funds such as COVID-19 relief payments into the hands of underbanked recipients sooner .
Groups studying the idea include The Digital Dollar Project , headed by Christopher Giancarlo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trading Commission .
The project supports maintaining the banking system , which would supply consumers with the central currency , although it would n't be like retrieving cash from ATMs .

Financial technology experts agree that some form of digital payment system by the U.S. central bank is inevitable, although opinions diverge on the form it should take.
Rapid progress on a central digital currency elsewhere could threaten U.S. hegemony over global finance, and the current payment system is leaving some Americans behind financially, fintech advocates argue. China and Singapore are experimenting with digital currencies and may soon be joined by Russia, Japan and Sweden. In addition, private companies, including Facebook Inc., have proposed their own digital currencies that may challenge traditional payment networks.
In the U.S., a central bank digital currency, or CBDC, issued by the Federal Reserve, would be in the form of instantaneously transferable electronic dollars, unlike the digital dollars in bank accounts today, which require trusted parties to agree that the funds are available before a transfer can take place.
Congress has explored whether a CBDC would help get government funds such as COVID-19 relief payments into the hands of underbanked recipients sooner.
Groups studying the idea include The Digital Dollar Project, headed by Christopher Giancarlo, the former chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The project supports maintaining the banking system, which would supply consumers with the central currency, although it wouldn't be like retrieving cash from ATMs.


rollcall--2020-10-27--Tech companies push for new software to break China’s 5G lead

America ’ s top tech companies are pushing for a software-based approach to building 5G telecom networks that could help the United States and its allies get past the hardware-based leadership position that China ’ s Huawei currently holds .
“ We have a point of view which is now pervasive in the industry that the way you will ultimately build out the 5G and beyond infrastructure is not a legacy telco model , ” said John Roese , the chief technology officer at Dell Technologies , referring to traditional telecom companies that provide all the equipment needed to operate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The new idea is to “ disaggregate that infrastructure , to open it up , to software define it and run a nonstandardized hardware ” to operate the open radio access networks , or RAN , that power cellular technology , Roese told CQ Roll Call in a recent interview .
Dell , AT & T , Deutsche Telekom , China Mobile , Microsoft , Cisco , Ericsson , IBM , Intel , Nokia , Qualcomm , Samsung and other top tech companies around the world are part of the O-RAN Alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments to break away from proprietary telecom networks and embrace virtual telecom models .
The idea behind virtual telecom models is that you can develop software that takes on the functions currently delivered by proprietary hardware and therefore the new systems can be run on widely available cloud-based servers .
A radio access network is an essential element of a mobile telecommunication system that connects user devices such as computers , smartphones and tablets to the core part of a network .

America’s top tech companies are pushing for a software-based approach to building 5G telecom networks that could help the United States and its allies get past the hardware-based leadership position that China’s Huawei currently holds.
“We have a point of view which is now pervasive in the industry that the way you will ultimately build out the 5G and beyond infrastructure is not a legacy telco model,” said John Roese, the chief technology officer at Dell Technologies, referring to traditional telecom companies that provide all the equipment needed to operate a network in a proprietary black box.
The new idea is to “disaggregate that infrastructure, to open it up, to software define it and run a nonstandardized hardware” to operate the open radio access networks, or RAN, that power cellular technology, Roese told CQ Roll Call in a recent interview.
Dell, AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, China Mobile, Microsoft, Cisco, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung and other top tech companies around the world are part of the O-RAN Alliance to push the United States and other governments to break away from proprietary telecom networks and embrace virtual telecom models.
The idea behind virtual telecom models is that you can develop software that takes on the functions currently delivered by proprietary hardware and therefore the new systems can be run on widely available cloud-based servers. A radio access network is an essential element of a mobile telecommunication system that connects user devices such as computers, smartphones and tablets to the core part of a network.


rollcall--2020-10-27--Baseball fans will have to settle for early voting at Nationals Park

Well , it ain ’ t the World Series , but I guess it ’ ll do .
Last year @ @ @ @ @ t even clear the low bar required to make the 16-team Major League Baseball playoffs @ @ @ @ @ season .
But at least Washington fans can soak in the relatively empty confines of @ @ @ @ @ .
The District of Columbia has long embraced early voting , and the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ of a priority .
Starting Tuesday , 32 venues open to the public .
That @ @ @ @ @ usual assortment of recreation centers and schools but six locations carrying the label “ SUPER @ @ @ @ @ All caps and exclamation point courtesy of the D.C. Board of Elections promotional material , @ @ @ @ @ We were looking for some facilities that would be of interest beyond just voting , @ @ @ @ @ spokesman for the D.C. Board of Elections .

Well, it ain’t the World Series, but I guess it’ll do.
Last year’s champions couldn’t even clear the low bar required to make the 16-team Major League Baseball playoffs during this odd, COVID-shortened season. But at least Washington fans can soak in the relatively empty confines of Nationals Park for early voting.
The District of Columbia has long embraced early voting, and the coronavirus pandemic has only made it more of a priority. Starting Tuesday, 32 venues open to the public.
That number includes not just the usual assortment of recreation centers and schools but also six locations carrying the label “SUPER VOTE CENTER!” (All caps and exclamation point courtesy of the D.C. Board of Elections promotional material, not me.)
“We were looking for some facilities that would be of interest beyond just voting,” said Nick Jacobs, spokesman for the D.C. Board of Elections.


rollcall--2020-10-27--With all the chaos, the shape of the Trump-Biden race is unchanged

ANALYSIS — With one week until Election Day , you don ’ t need another column from me on swing voters or key states .
You don ’ t need more of my analysis of President Donald Trump ’ s style and how that has affected the race .
You don ’ t need more of my thoughts on the suburbs or partisan polarization , or which Senate races will be crucial and who has the edge in the fight for control .
Sometimes , enough is enough .
I ’ ve already told you what I think about all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The shape of the presidential contest has not changed fundamentally since early 2019 , when I started handicapping the race .
The president had plenty of opportunities to change things .
He simply chose not to , or maybe ( as in the case with COVID-19 ) he just was not up to the task .
As most readers know , I once rated House and Senate races in my newsletter , which has become “ Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales.
” I decided to use the same categories to rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used for years in rating congressional races .
On Jan. 3 , 2019 , I looked at Trump ’ s standing , the 2018 results and the Democratic race and concluded , “ There are too many questions surrounding the president ’ s reelection prospects to call the race even , and there are too many opportunities for the Democrats to blunder toward a weak general election nominee to rate the race Leans Democratic.
” So , I rated the presidential contest as “ Toss-up/Tilting Democratic .
”

ANALYSIS — With one week until Election Day, you don’t need another column from me on swing voters or key states. You don’t need more of my analysis of President Donald Trump’s style and how that has affected the race. You don’t need more of my thoughts on the suburbs or partisan polarization, or which Senate races will be crucial and who has the edge in the fight for control.
Sometimes, enough is enough. I’ve already told you what I think about all those things and how I got here. The shape of the presidential contest has not changed fundamentally since early 2019, when I started handicapping the race. The president had plenty of opportunities to change things. He simply chose not to, or maybe (as in the case with COVID-19) he just was not up to the task.
As most readers know, I once rated House and Senate races in my newsletter, which has become “Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales.” I decided to use the same categories to rate the presidential contest this cycle that I used for years in rating congressional races.
On Jan. 3, 2019, I looked at Trump’s standing, the 2018 results and the Democratic race and concluded, “There are too many questions surrounding the president’s reelection prospects to call the race even, and there are too many opportunities for the Democrats to blunder toward a weak general election nominee to rate the race Leans Democratic.”
So, I rated the presidential contest as “Toss-up/Tilting Democratic.”


rollcall--2020-10-27--DeFazio faces tough challenge in changing Oregon district

President Donald Trump lost Oregon ’ s 4th District in 2016 by less than a percentage point , but for 34 years , Democratic Rep. Peter A. DeFazio has won election after election handily .
This year could be different for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman , however , in his district that covers the southern half of Oregon ’ s Pacific coastline .
DeFazio , 73 , a pugnacious lawmaker who lives on a houseboat when he ’ s in Washington and has an affinity for profane socks , faces his toughest challenge in decades from a 28-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thwart a terrorist attack on a train from Amsterdam to Paris in 2015 .
Alek Skarlatos , a political newcomer and Afghanistan veteran , performed on “ Dancing with the Stars ” after playing himself in a Clint Eastwood-directed movie about the train attack .
He lost his only other political race for a spot on the Douglas County Commission in 2018 but has raised nearly $ 4.5 million for his congressional race , including $ 2.6 million last quarter .
Republicans hope he ’ s a unicorn in what feels likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : He ’ s outraised a longtime incumbent , has star power and is running in a swing district during what is an extraordinarily turbulent time for Oregon marked by wildfires and political upheaval .
Skarlatos is using that in his campaign ads , in which he intones about “ violent mobs ” attacking those in uniform and “ socialists and communists … burning our city .
”

President Donald Trump lost Oregon’s 4th District in 2016 by less than a percentage point, but for 34 years, Democratic Rep. Peter A. DeFazio has won election after election handily.
This year could be different for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman, however, in his district that covers the southern half of Oregon’s Pacific coastline. DeFazio, 73, a pugnacious lawmaker who lives on a houseboat when he’s in Washington and has an affinity for profane socks, faces his toughest challenge in decades from a 28-year-old Roseburg native best known for helping to thwart a terrorist attack on a train from Amsterdam to Paris in 2015.
Alek Skarlatos, a political newcomer and Afghanistan veteran, performed on “Dancing with the Stars” after playing himself in a Clint Eastwood-directed movie about the train attack. He lost his only other political race for a spot on the Douglas County Commission in 2018 but has raised nearly $4.5 million for his congressional race, including $2.6 million last quarter.
Republicans hope he’s a unicorn in what feels likely to be a dismal year for their party: He’s outraised a longtime incumbent, has star power and is running in a swing district during what is an extraordinarily turbulent time for Oregon marked by wildfires and political upheaval.
Skarlatos is using that in his campaign ads, in which he intones about “violent mobs” attacking those in uniform and “socialists and communists … burning our city.”


rollcall--2020-10-27--How Switzerland will regulate Libra

How Switzerland will regulate Libra

Mark Branson , the top regulator in Switzerland , explains how Libra came to be based in the country , @ @ @ @ @ regulate the cryptocurrency .
• How Mpesa transformed the world of fintech • How the @ @ @ @ @ and crypto ) oversight • The case for caution with central bank digital currencies

Mark Branson, the top regulator in Switzerland, explains how Libra came to be based in the country, and how he intends to regulate the cryptocurrency.
More podcast content
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-10-27--Election experts doubt Supreme Court decides White House race

The 2020 presidential election probably won ’ t end in the sort of nightmare scenario where a legal challenge or @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court and the justices decide who wins the White House .
“ Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ that happening at about 5.2 percent , ” Ben Ginsberg , the prominent election lawyer @ @ @ @ @ Bush campaign ’ s legal strategy during the disputed Florida recount in 2000 , has @ @ @ @ @ Ginsberg bases that on the idea that only three of the country ’ s 57 @ @ @ @ @ and that the 2000 election had one state that was remarkably close and determined the @ @ @ @ @ “ That does not usually happen , ” he said .
Other election law experts @ @ @ @ @ case to determine the 2020 election would first need to meet several unlikely conditions : @ @ @ @ @ nationwide , with a legal challenge about voting in one or more states that could @ @ @ @ @ those challenges would depend on federal law and not just state law .

The 2020 presidential election probably won’t end in the sort of nightmare scenario where a legal challenge or recount winds up at the Supreme Court and the justices decide who wins the White House.
Probably.
“Let’s put the chances of that happening at about 5.2 percent,” Ben Ginsberg, the prominent election lawyer who led the George W. Bush campaign’s legal strategy during the disputed Florida recount in 2000, has quipped in preelection webinars.
Ginsberg bases that on the idea that only three of the country’s 57 presidential elections have been contested and that the 2000 election had one state that was remarkably close and determined the outcome of the election. “That does not usually happen,” he said.
Other election law experts agree that a Supreme Court case to determine the 2020 election would first need to meet several unlikely conditions: a narrow Electoral College count nationwide, with a legal challenge about voting in one or more states that could determine the outcome, and those challenges would depend on federal law and not just state law.


rollcall--2020-10-27--Photos of the day: DC kicks off ‘super’ early voting

CQ Roll Call photojournalists fanned out across Washington on Tuesday to capture scenes at the “ Super Vote Centers ” @ @ @ @ @ Arena , Nationals Park and Union Market .
Tuesday is the first day of in-person @ @ @ @ @ nation 's capital .
In addition to the usual polling locations at schools and recreation @ @ @ @ @ Columbia Board of Elections opened several of these socially distanced large centers as part of @ @ @ @ @ ” campaign .

Bill Clark, Tom Williams, and Caroline Brehman

CQ Roll Call photojournalists fanned out across Washington on Tuesday to capture scenes at the “Super Vote Centers” that opened at Capital One Arena, Nationals Park and Union Market. Tuesday is the first day of in-person, early voting in the nation's capital.
In addition to the usual polling locations at schools and recreation centers, the District of Columbia Board of Elections opened several of these socially distanced large centers as part of their “Vote Safe DC” campaign.
A sign outside of the Capital One Arena urges residents to vote early as the first day of early voting begins. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Voters wait on social distancing markers on the sidewalk outside of the Capital One Arena. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Poll workers used a tape measure to socially distance voters waiting outside the Capital One Arena. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Voters cast their votes along the concourse inside the Capital One Arena. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
A "Thank You For Voting" sign is displayed on the outfield scoreboard at the "Super Vote Center" at Nationals Park. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Voters wait in line to cast their ballots outside Nationals Park. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Voters fill out their ballots at Nationals Park. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
A poll worker disinfects a voting booth inside the "Super Vote Center" at Union Market. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
A voter casts a ballot at Union Market. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)


rollcall--2020-10-27--How the election may impact the spending process

CQ Roll Call ’ s David Lerman and Jennifer Shutt explain the various ways the election outcomes could impact the @ @ @ @ @ duck session and the next couple of years .
• With all the chaos , @ @ @ @ @ race is unchanged • Fintech experts divided on form for U.S. central digital currency • @ @ @ @ @ relief bill on ice until after elections

David Lerman, Jennifer Shutt, and Evan Campbell

CQ Roll Call’s David Lerman and Jennifer Shutt explain the various ways the election outcomes could impact the appropriations process during the lame duck session and the next couple of years.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-10-27--Top health care issues for the next administration

No matter who wins the presidential election on Nov. 3 , the next president will need to tackle certain policies @ @ @ @ @ care reporter Mary Ellen McIntire is here to break down the top three health care @ @ @ @ @ .

Mary Ellen McIntire and Thomas McKinless

No matter who wins the presidential election on Nov. 3, the next president will need to tackle certain policies. CQ Roll Call health care reporter Mary Ellen McIntire is here to break down the top three health care issues for the next administration.
[ Also watch: Speech therapist discusses Biden’s stutter ahead of final debate ]


rollcall--2020-10-27--Top House tax writers unveil retirement savings proposal

House Ways and Means Committee leaders introduced a long-awaited bipartisan collection of retirement savings incentives on Tuesday , building off another sweeping package enacted late last year .
The new proposal , intended to lay the groundwork for action next year if not in a postelection lame-duck session , would among other things expand and enhance the saver ’ s credit for lower-income households .
The bill would also increase the age for required minimum distributions from 401 ( k ) s and other tax-favored retirement plans from 72 to 75 years old , adding options for older savers wrestling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest rates amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The 132-page draft bill won plaudits from financial services associations , and its inclusion of provisions from a Senate bill foreshadows bicameral support for the package .
In one long-sought change , the bill would allow employees to count student loan repayments toward their employers ’ matching contribution for a retirement account .
The IRS in 2018 ruled that health care products company Abbott Laboratories could offer such a plan to its employees , which the legislation would codify and incentivize other companies to do the @ @

House Ways and Means Committee leaders introduced a long-awaited bipartisan collection of retirement savings incentives on Tuesday, building off another sweeping package enacted late last year.
The new proposal, intended to lay the groundwork for action next year if not in a postelection lame-duck session, would among other things expand and enhance the saver’s credit for lower-income households.
The bill would also increase the age for required minimum distributions from 401(k)s and other tax-favored retirement plans from 72 to 75 years old, adding options for older savers wrestling with weak stock market returns and low interest rates amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The 132-page draft bill won plaudits from financial services associations, and its inclusion of provisions from a Senate bill foreshadows bicameral support for the package.
In one long-sought change, the bill would allow employees to count student loan repayments toward their employers’ matching contribution for a retirement account. The IRS in 2018 ruled that health care products company Abbott Laboratories could offer such a plan to its employees, which the legislation would codify and incentivize other companies to do the same.


rollcall--2020-10-28--These GOP House candidates walk a fine line on immigration, an issue that’s personal

Victoria Spartz credits her conservative values to what she saw as a child .
Born and raised in Ukraine , she recalls an era when the former Soviet government controlled the religion people practiced and monitored what they said in public .
“ The values of freedom are very valuable for someone who immigrated from a country where we didn ’ t have a lot of freedoms , ” said the 41-year-old Republican running for Indiana ’ s 5th District .
Immigration has long been one of President Donald Trump ’ s signature issues .
His 2016 campaign pledges to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along the U.S.-Mexican border , crack down on illegal immigration and curb legal immigration , have driven many of his policies since taking office .
Trump has vowed to continue rolling out more of these policies in a second term .
Those issues hold more personal meaning for Spartz and a handful of other Republican immigrant women running for Congress this year .
While pressing issues such as the economy and pandemic-related recovery rank high on their priorities , these candidates can ’ t avoid addressing where they stand on immigration policies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stances , but others have cautiously held those policies at arm ’ s length .
“ I am running as my own person and on my own ideas , ” said Young Kim , a Republican making her second bid for California ’ s 39th District .

Corrected 7:55 p.m. | Victoria Spartz credits her conservative values to what she saw as a child. Born and raised in Ukraine, she recalls an era when the former Soviet government controlled the religion people practiced and monitored what they said in public.
“The values of freedom are very valuable for someone who immigrated from a country where we didn’t have a lot of freedoms,” said the 42-year-old Republican running for Indiana’s 5th District.
Immigration has long been one of President Donald Trump’s signature issues. His 2016 campaign pledges to build a “big beautiful wall” along the U.S.-Mexican border, crack down on illegal immigration and curb legal immigration, have driven many of his policies since taking office. Trump has vowed to continue rolling out more of these policies in a second term.
Those issues hold more personal meaning for Spartz and a handful of other Republican immigrant women running for Congress this year. While pressing issues such as the economy and pandemic-related recovery rank high on their priorities, these candidates can’t avoid addressing where they stand on immigration policies. Some have embraced Trump’s hard-line stances, but others have cautiously held those policies at arm’s length.
‘My own person’
“I am running as my own person and on my own ideas,” said Young Kim, a Republican making her second bid for California’s 39th District.


rollcall--2020-10-28--Administration plans to nominate bipartisan pair to hobbled FEC

After leaving so many vacancies at the Federal Election Commission that it couldn ’ t even hold meetings for most of the 2020 campaign cycle , the Trump administration said Wednesday it planned to nominate a bipartisan pair to the hobbled agency .
President Donald Trump ’ s picks are Republican Sean J. Cooksey , who serves as general counsel to Sen. Josh Hawley , a Missouri Republican , and Shana M. Broussard , who currently serves as counsel to FEC Commissioner Steven T. Walther .
Broussard , if confirmed , would be the first Black commissioner in the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefly had four commissioners , a quorum that could take official action , back in May with the confirmation of GOP lawyer James “ Trey ” Trainor III .
But shortly after he took his post , Caroline Hunter headed for the exit in July .
Even when the FEC has its requisite six commissioners — three Republican and three Democratic picks — it is often gridlocked along party lines .
Should Cooksey and Broussard win Senate confirmation , the FEC still would be short one commissioner .
And two of the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operating on long-expired terms .
The other one is Commissioner Ellen Weintraub .

After leaving so many vacancies at the Federal Election Commission that it couldn’t even hold meetings for most of the 2020 campaign cycle, the Trump administration said Wednesday it planned to nominate a bipartisan pair to the hobbled agency.
President Donald Trump’s picks are Republican Sean J. Cooksey, who serves as general counsel to Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, and Shana M. Broussard, who currently serves as counsel to FEC Commissioner Steven T. Walther. Broussard, if confirmed, would be the first Black commissioner in the agency’s 45-year history.
The FEC briefly had four commissioners, a quorum that could take official action, back in May with the confirmation of GOP lawyer James “Trey” Trainor III. But shortly after he took his post, Caroline Hunter headed for the exit in July.
Even when the FEC has its requisite six commissioners — three Republican and three Democratic picks — it is often gridlocked along party lines.
Should Cooksey and Broussard win Senate confirmation, the FEC still would be short one commissioner. And two of the current three commissioners, including Walther, are operating on long-expired terms. The other one is Commissioner Ellen Weintraub.


rollcall--2020-10-28--Senators criticize social media executives, and each other

Senate Republicans on Wednesday accused the heads of Facebook , Google and Twitter of using their content moderation policies to censor conservatives while Democrats slammed their GOP colleagues for holding a “ sham ” hearing less than a week before Election Day .
The Commerce , Science and Transportation Committee hearing with Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook , Sundar Pichai of Google and Jack Dorsey of Twitter had been billed by Republican leaders of the committee as a discussion of possible changes to a 1996 law that protects technology companies from lawsuits related to third-party content posted on their platforms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Section 230 , and questions about what changes , if any , the companies might support paled in comparison to GOP criticisms of specific content moderation decisions , namely how Facebook and Twitter handled the New York Post ’ s recent Hunter Biden story , which raised doubts with fact-checkers and other news outlets .
“ Who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report and what the American people are allowed to hear ?
” Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , asked @ @

Senate Republicans on Wednesday accused the heads of Facebook, Google and Twitter of using their content moderation policies to censor conservatives while Democrats slammed their GOP colleagues for holding a “sham” hearing less than a week before Election Day.
The Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing with Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Sundar Pichai of Google and Jack Dorsey of Twitter had been billed by Republican leaders of the committee as a discussion of possible changes to a 1996 law that protects technology companies from lawsuits related to third-party content posted on their platforms.
But mentions of the law, known as Section 230, and questions about what changes, if any, the companies might support paled in comparison to GOP criticisms of specific content moderation decisions, namely how Facebook and Twitter handled the New York Post’s recent Hunter Biden story, which raised doubts with fact-checkers and other news outlets.
“Who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report and what the American people are allowed to hear?” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, asked Dorsey.


rollcall--2020-10-28--Photo of the day: Trump on display, 6 days before election

A woman wears a face mask as she walks past a mural featuring posters of President Donald Trump with his @ @ @ @ @ mural is on display at Union Market in Washington on Wednesday .

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
A woman wears a face mask as she walks past a mural featuring posters of President Donald Trump with his face blacked out. The mural is on display at Union Market in Washington on Wednesday.


rollcall--2020-10-28--Interior OKs Tongass logging amid Alaska timber, petroleum push

The Trump administration lifted logging protections on the majority of the nearly 17-million-acre Tongass National Forest in Alaska , the latest in a series of steps in the final weeks of the president 's first term to give industry access to the state ’ s rugged and fragile wilderness .
In a notice posted Wednesday , the Forest Service rolled back logging restrictions on more than 9.3 million acres of the Tongass — one of the world ’ s few remaining old-growth temperate rainforests — that have guarded the ecosystem since 2001 .
And in August , the Interior Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 19-million acre refuge on a coastal stretch of the region known as the 1002 Area .
That coastal plan area is separate from the area in which the Willow project could come online .
It will be legal Thursday for logging companies to erect roads and cut down trees .
The restrictions that had been in place , called the “ roadless rule , ” have protected about 60 million acres of federal forests in 39 states since it was finalized by the Clinton administration .
As the name suggests , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn , logging .
[ Without Senate-confirmed leaders , Interior rules may be at risk ]

The Trump administration lifted logging protections on the majority of the nearly 17 million-acre Tongass National Forest in Alaska, the latest in a series of steps in the final weeks of the president's first term to give industry access to the state’s rugged and fragile wilderness.
In a notice posted Wednesday, the Forest Service rolled back logging restrictions on more than 9.3 million acres of the Tongass — one of the world’s few remaining old-growth temperate rainforests — that have guarded the ecosystem since 2001.
And in August, the Interior Department released a separate plan to drill in the 19-million acre refuge on a coastal stretch of the region known as the 1002 Area. That coastal plan area is separate from the area in which the Willow project could come online.
It will be legal Thursday for logging companies to erect roads and cut down trees. The restrictions that had been in place, called the “roadless rule,” have protected about 60 million acres of federal forests in 39 states since it was finalized by the Clinton administration. As the name suggests, the rule prevents road construction and, in turn, logging.
[Without Senate-confirmed leaders, Interior rules may be at risk]


rollcall--2020-10-28--Little time, big differences threaten lame-duck spending deals

Pandemic-related aid and delayed appropriations for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 appear set to merge into a sweeping multitrillion-dollar negotiation as lawmakers approach the Dec. 11 expiration of stopgap funds for federal agencies .
Congressional leaders have sought to keep the two politically charged issues on separate tracks for months , but Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated that emergency funding will be added to the must-pass spending bill absent a separate coronavirus relief deal .
“ In the lame duck we ’ ll have to pass stimulus or we ’ ll have to put provisions in the appropriations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi said Oct. 6 during an event hosted by the 92nd Street Y in New York .
Since then , Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have made little progress , remaining stuck on dozens of complicated issues ranging from national standards for virus testing to liability protections to refundable tax credits for low-income workers .
Meanwhile , GOP apprehension has grown along with the topline funding level the White House is willing to accept — nearly $ 2 trillion — and Republicans fear Mnuchin will make too many policy concessions to seal @ @ @

Pandemic-related aid and delayed appropriations for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 appear set to merge into a sweeping multitrillion-dollar negotiation as lawmakers approach the Dec. 11 expiration of stopgap funds for federal agencies.
Congressional leaders have sought to keep the two politically charged issues on separate tracks for months, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated that emergency funding will be added to the must-pass spending bill absent a separate coronavirus relief deal.
“In the lame duck we’ll have to pass stimulus or we’ll have to put provisions in the appropriations bill to keep government open,” Pelosi said Oct. 6 during an event hosted by the 92nd Street Y in New York.
Since then, Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have made little progress, remaining stuck on dozens of complicated issues ranging from national standards for virus testing to liability protections to refundable tax credits for low-income workers.
Meanwhile, GOP apprehension has grown along with the topline funding level the White House is willing to accept — nearly $2 trillion — and Republicans fear Mnuchin will make too many policy concessions to seal a deal.


rollcall--2020-10-28--Trump’s worst possible closing message

Trump’s worst possible closing message

ANALYSIS — The president of the United States has settled on a closing message that could transform the 2020 election .
But not in a way that would improve his prospects .
By arguing that the country is “ rounding the corner ” on COVID-19 in the face of irrefutable data that the coronavirus is surging , Donald Trump risks appearing more and more out of touch with reality .
Critics of the president will joke that he has been out of touch for the last four years .
But Trump ’ s argument in the final weeks of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , possibly causing some of his weakest supporters to stay home .
Daily reports of more cases , hospitalizations and deaths make it difficult to ignore the illness , which is expected to surge in the late fall and winter .
Indeed , nervousness on Wall Street — stocks have taken a substantial hit recently — about the spread of the virus and its impact on the economy in both Europe and the United States suggests that investors aren ’ t convinced of Trump ’ s “ we ’ ve turned the corner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point of view , spiking coronavirus numbers make it difficult for Trump ’ s messages about the economy , China , peace in the Middle East or challenger Joe Biden ’ s mental acuity to reach voters .
And given the current shape of the economy and Biden ’ s successful debate performances , two of Trump ’ s reelection themes seem to be of limited effectiveness .

ANALYSIS — The president of the United States has settled on a closing message that could transform the 2020 election. But not in a way that would improve his prospects.
By arguing that the country is “rounding the corner” on COVID-19 in the face of irrefutable data that the coronavirus is surging, Donald Trump risks appearing more and more out of touch with reality.
Critics of the president will joke that he has been out of touch for the last four years. But Trump’s argument in the final weeks of the campaign could alienate any remaining undecided voters, possibly causing some of his weakest supporters to stay home.
Daily reports of more cases, hospitalizations and deaths make it difficult to ignore the illness, which is expected to surge in the late fall and winter. Indeed, nervousness on Wall Street — stocks have taken a substantial hit recently — about the spread of the virus and its impact on the economy in both Europe and the United States suggests that investors aren’t convinced of Trump’s “we’ve turned the corner” claim.
Purely from a campaign point of view, spiking coronavirus numbers make it difficult for Trump’s messages about the economy, China, peace in the Middle East or challenger Joe Biden’s mental acuity to reach voters. And given the current shape of the economy and Biden’s successful debate performances, two of Trump’s reelection themes seem to be of limited effectiveness.


rollcall--2020-10-28--Facebook endorses Section 230 changes ahead of Senate hearing

Facebook supports changes to an embattled 1996 law that protects social media and other technology companies from lawsuits relating to third-party content on their platforms , the company ’ s chief executive , Mark Zuckerberg , will tell a Senate panel on Wednesday .
The surprise announcement from Zuckerberg , who is scheduled to testify before the Senate Commerce , Science and Transportation Committee alongside Sundar Pichai , the head of Google , and Jack Dorsey , the head of Twitter , separates Facebook from other giants in the technology sector who favor preserving the 1996 law , known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the key to Silicon Valley ’ s meteoric rise in the last two decades , has come under bipartisan scrutiny since the 2016 presidential election .
Lawmakers , federal regulators and the Trump administration have all questioned whether technology companies , particularly social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter , have amassed too much power over online speech .
“ Section 230 made it possible for every major internet service to be built and ensured important values like free expression and openness were part of how platforms operate , ” Zuckerberg will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared testimony .
“ Changing it is a significant decision .
However , I believe Congress should update the law to make sure it ’ s working as intended .
”

Facebook supports changes to an embattled 1996 law that protects social media and other technology companies from lawsuits relating to third-party content on their platforms, the company’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, will tell a Senate panel on Wednesday.
The surprise announcement from Zuckerberg, who is scheduled to testify before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee alongside Sundar Pichai, the head of Google, and Jack Dorsey, the head of Twitter, separates Facebook from other giants in the technology sector who favor preserving the 1996 law, known as Section 230.
Section 230, considered the key to Silicon Valley’s meteoric rise in the last two decades, has come under bipartisan scrutiny since the 2016 presidential election. Lawmakers, federal regulators and the Trump administration have all questioned whether technology companies, particularly social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, have amassed too much power over online speech.
“Section 230 made it possible for every major internet service to be built and ensured important values like free expression and openness were part of how platforms operate,” Zuckerberg will tell the committee, according to his prepared testimony. “Changing it is a significant decision. However, I believe Congress should update the law to make sure it’s working as intended.”


rollcall--2020-10-29--Don’t throw out your intern ID badge. You may want it when you’re in Congress

The first time Alex X. Mooney ran for office , he was still in college .
“ Well , it @ @ @ @ @ a race , ” he says of running for state legislature in New Hampshire while @ @ @ @ @ Dartmouth .
One day he was hanging out with his fellow College Republicans .
The @ @ @ @ @ ballot for a real election , keeping it warm for his party in a long-shot @ @ @ @ @ , like , a two-week campaign , ” he recalls .
“ I did learn @ @ @ @ @ smiling and shake your hand and say , ‘ Good luck ’ does not mean @ @ @ @ @ voting for you , ” he laughs .

The first time Alex X. Mooney ran for office, he was still in college.
“Well, it wasn’t much of a race,” he says of running for state legislature in New Hampshire while he was a student at Dartmouth.
One day he was hanging out with his fellow College Republicans. The next he was on the ballot for a real election, keeping it warm for his party in a long-shot bid.
“It was, like, a two-week campaign,” he recalls.
“I did learn that just because people are smiling and shake your hand and say, ‘Good luck’ does not mean they are walking in and voting for you,” he laughs.


rollcall--2020-10-29--Pathogens, nose swabs and flip phones: What work was like during anthrax

After mail laced with anthrax showed up on Capitol Hill in 2001 , things started to feel different .
“ @ @ @ @ @ it was all crinkly and crispy , ” says Jim Manley of the letters he @ @ @ @ @ to kill any spores .
Manley remembers the uncertainty of that time , when he @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Edward M. Kennedy .
“ It really was a surreal moment , right up @ @ @ @ @ I ever saw in 21 years in the Senate , ” he says .
“ @ @ @ @ @ fear , a lot of paranoia.
” It ’ s a feeling that many can @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic continues to reshape workplaces around the country .
Fear of an airborne @ @ @ @ @ along with rounds of nasal swab testing and staffers going remote .

After mail laced with anthrax showed up on Capitol Hill in 2001, things started to feel different.
“You picked it up and it was all crinkly and crispy,” says Jim Manley of the letters he got after that, treated to kill any spores.
Manley remembers the uncertainty of that time, when he worked as an aide for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
“It really was a surreal moment, right up there with the weirdest stuff I ever saw in 21 years in the Senate,” he says. “There was a lot of fear, a lot of paranoia.”
It’s a feeling that many can relate to now, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to reshape workplaces around the country. Fear of an airborne pathogen became the norm, along with rounds of nasal swab testing and staffers going remote.


rollcall--2020-10-29--Schools weigh plans for rapid COVID-19 tests

White House officials hoped that sending states rapid COVID-19 tests would encourage their use in reopening schools , and while @ @ @ @ @ states are using the shipments , they say they need more resources and better data @ @ @ @ @ testing .
Health officials in some states say they are beginning to offer testing to @ @ @ @ @ they are still finessing how to determine who should be tested and how frequently that @ @ @ @ @ administration last month announced that it would provide 150 million rapid antigen tests to detect @ @ @ @ @ would go to states and territories to help reopen schools and their economies .
When @ @ @ @ @ Secretary for Health Brett Giroir , who oversees the administration ’ s testing strategy , @ @ @ @ @ several settings in which states may use the tests .

White House officials hoped that sending states rapid COVID-19 tests would encourage their use in reopening schools, and while that’s one way states are using the shipments, they say they need more resources and better data about how to best deploy testing.
Health officials in some states say they are beginning to offer testing to students and teachers, but they are still finessing how to determine who should be tested and how frequently that should occur.
The Trump administration last month announced that it would provide 150 million rapid antigen tests to detect COVID-19, two-thirds of which would go to states and territories to help reopen schools and their economies.
When announcing the tests, Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir, who oversees the administration’s testing strategy, named schools as one of several settings in which states may use the tests.
[Workplace testing for coronavirus remains a challenge]


rollcall--2020-10-29--How much can change in six years? Ask these Senate Republicans

The same group of Republicans who helped their party win control of the Senate in 2014 could be responsible for the GOP losing the majority next week .
For these particular senators , a lot has changed over the last six years .
In 2014 , it might have been incomprehensible that , six years later , Donald Trump would be president , Democrats would be raising millions in a single fundraising quarter , the 2010 health care law would be popular and the world would be grappling with a once-in-a-century pandemic .
But that ’ s the reality facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of senators that included some “ rising stars ” in the party , such as Iowa ’ s Joni Ernst and Colorado ’ s Cory Gardner .
They ’ re now among the most vulnerable senators up for reelection , in part because of the dramatically different political environment .
“ Six years is a long time in politics , ” said Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran , who ran the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2014 .
One crucial difference between 2014 and 2020 ?
These senators are now running in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spikes .

The same group of Republicans who helped their party win control of the Senate in 2014 could be responsible for the GOP losing the majority next week. For these particular senators, a lot has changed over the last six years.
In 2014, it might have been incomprehensible that, six years later, Donald Trump would be president, Democrats would be raising millions in a single fundraising quarter, the 2010 health care law would be popular and the world would be grappling with a once-in-a-century pandemic.
But that’s the reality facing the GOP class of 2014, a group of senators that included some “rising stars” in the party, such as Iowa’s Joni Ernst and Colorado’s Cory Gardner. They’re now among the most vulnerable senators up for reelection, in part because of the dramatically different political environment.
“Six years is a long time in politics,” said Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, who ran the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2014.
A presidential year
One crucial difference between 2014 and 2020? These senators are now running in a presidential election year, when turnout typically spikes.


rollcall--2020-10-29--US Geological Survey director wrongly reassigned whistleblower, watchdog says

The head of the U.S. Geological Survey violated the whistleblower protection law by retaliating against an agency employee who had @ @ @ @ @ conduct , according to the Interior Department ’ s internal watchdog .
USGS Director James @ @ @ @ @ soon after he learned the employee filed a complaint against him with Interior , the @ @ @ @ @ report Thursday .
It is unclear what prompted the employee to file the report against @ @ @ @ @ the accusations , though Reilly at one point described the complainant as possessing an “ @ @ @ @ @ the employee “ weaponized the IG process ” against him , according to the IG @ @ @ @ @ not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the report and its findings .
@ @ @ @ @ under ethical clouds since the tenure of Ryan Zinke , the former secretary , and @ @ @ @ @ Bernhardt .

The head of the U.S. Geological Survey violated the whistleblower protection law by retaliating against an agency employee who had filed a complaint about his conduct, according to the Interior Department’s internal watchdog.
USGS Director James Reilly reassigned the unidentified employee soon after he learned the employee filed a complaint against him with Interior, the inspector general said in a report Thursday.
It is unclear what prompted the employee to file the report against Reilly or the nature of the accusations, though Reilly at one point described the complainant as possessing an “evil streak” and said the employee “weaponized the IG process” against him, according to the IG.
A USGS spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the report and its findings.
The Interior Department has been under ethical clouds since the tenure of Ryan Zinke, the former secretary, and its current head, David Bernhardt.


rollcall--2020-10-29--Inspector general: More Amtrak safety workers need drug testing

Amtrak conducts random drug tests on conductors and engineers but fails to include about 4,000 other employees who work in safety-related positions , the company 's inspector general said in a new report released Thursday .
While the National Transportation Safety Board recommends random drug tests of all transportation employees in positions that could affect employee safety or the safety of others , Amtrak limits its random tests to those who fall under the U.S. Department of Transportation ’ s minimum requirements — about 8,300 of the company ’ s roughly 18,500 employees .
That means employees like sheet metal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and yardmasters aren ’ t required to take random drug tests , though they may be tested if they ’ re involved in an accident or prior to employment .
They are responsible for the safe movement of trains and rail cars within a rail yard or for conveying appropriate safety instructions to Amtrak passengers during an emergency .
Airlines , by contrast , require flight attendants and maintenance employees to undergo such tests .
By omitting such employees from random tests , the inspector general reported , only 70 percent of workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
[ Hit by pandemic , Amtrak is making cuts that may endure ]

Amtrak conducts random drug tests on conductors and engineers but fails to include about 4,000 other employees who work in safety-related positions, the company's inspector general said in a new report released Thursday.
While the National Transportation Safety Board recommends random drug tests of all transportation employees in positions that could affect employee safety or the safety of others, Amtrak limits its random tests to those who fall under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s minimum requirements — about 8,300 of the company’s roughly 18,500 employees.
That means employees like sheet metal mechanics, onboard service attendants, welders and yardmasters aren’t required to take random drug tests, though they may be tested if they’re involved in an accident or prior to employment. They are responsible for the safe movement of trains and rail cars within a rail yard or for conveying appropriate safety instructions to Amtrak passengers during an emergency. Airlines, by contrast, require flight attendants and maintenance employees to undergo such tests.
By omitting such employees from random tests, the inspector general reported, only 70 percent of workers in safety positions are being tested regularly.
[Hit by pandemic, Amtrak is making cuts that may endure]


rollcall--2020-10-29--At the Races: Closing time

At the Races: Closing time

Welcome to At the Races !
Each week we ’ ll bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call team that will keep you informed about the 2020 election .
Know someone who ’ d like to get this newsletter ?
They can subscribe here .
It ’ s almost over .
Well , at least we can start to see the beginning of the end of the 2020 campaigns .
We ’ re in what our own Nathan L. Gonzales has dubbed the eye of the storm .
Congressional candidates , just like their counterparts at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in with their closing arguments , releasing their final television ads this week .
Democrats have doubled down on the same messages they ’ ve amplified throughout the cycle : health care and combating corruption .
The Democratic super PAC House Majority PAC launched new ads in 14 districts this week highlighting those themes .
Democratic candidates are doing the same .
Pennsylvania state Auditor Eugene DePasquale , who is in a Toss-up race against GOP Rep. Scott Perry , highlighted his brother ’ s struggle with muscular dystrophy in his closing ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll fight to protect health care for everyone , ” DePasquale says in the 30-second spot .
The GOP super PAC Congressional Leadership Fund launched ads in six districts , tying Democrats to the “ radical left ” and focusing on taxes , energy policy and funding for police .
One spot against Oklahoma Rep. Kendra Horn featured footage of Joe Biden saying in the final debate that he would “ transition from the oil industry.
” Some Republican candidates are using their closing ads to combat Democrats ’ health care messaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is in a hotly contested open-seat race in the 5th District , featured her daughters and her father-in-law in her final two ads .
Her father-in-law , who is battling cancer , said Spartz “ will protect Medicare and health care for people like me .
”

Kate Ackley, Stephanie Akin, and Bridget Bowman

Welcome to At the Races! Each week we’ll bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call team that will keep you informed about the 2020 election. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here.
It’s almost over. Well, at least we can start to see the beginning of the end of the 2020 campaigns. We’re in what our own Nathan L. Gonzales has dubbed the eye of the storm. Congressional candidates, just like their counterparts at the top of the ticket, have come in with their closing arguments, releasing their final television ads this week.
Democrats have doubled down on the same messages they’ve amplified throughout the cycle: health care and combating corruption. The Democratic super PAC House Majority PAC launched new ads in 14 districts this week highlighting those themes. Democratic candidates are doing the same. Pennsylvania state Auditor Eugene DePasquale, who is in a Toss-up race against GOP Rep. Scott Perry, highlighted his brother’s struggle with muscular dystrophy in his closing ad. “That’s why I’ll fight to protect health care for everyone,” DePasquale says in the 30-second spot.
The GOP super PAC Congressional Leadership Fund launched ads in six districts, tying Democrats to the “radical left” and focusing on taxes, energy policy and funding for police. One spot against Oklahoma Rep. Kendra Horn featured footage of Joe Biden saying in the final debate that he would “transition from the oil industry.”
Some Republican candidates are using their closing ads to combat Democrats’ health care messaging. Indiana state Sen. Victoria Spartz, who is in a hotly contested open-seat race in the 5th District, featured her daughters and her father-in-law in her final two ads. Her father-in-law, who is battling cancer, said Spartz “will protect Medicare and health care for people like me.”


rollcall--2020-10-29--Photo of the day: Throwback Thursday

Photo of the day: Throwback Thursday

It 's not an election until someone ends up in a chicken costume .
In the final days of Sen. @ @ @ @ @ campaign 10 years ago , a campaign worker dressed up in a `` ChickenAngle '' @ @ @ @ @ in Henderson , Nevada .
Reid 's campaign said the chicken suit was being used @ @ @ @ @ challenger , Sharron Angle , was avoiding the media .
The event , called `` @ @ @ @ @ canvassing , was on Oct. 31 , 2010 .
Reid went on to win his @ @ @ @ @ that year and maintained his position as Senate majority leader .
He retired from the @ @ @ @ @ seeking re-election in 2016 .

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
It's not an election until someone ends up in a chicken costume. In the final days of Sen. Harry Reid's final election campaign 10 years ago, a campaign worker dressed up in a "ChickenAngle" suit before a canvassing event in Henderson, Nevada.
Reid's campaign said the chicken suit was being used to illustrate how his Republican challenger, Sharron Angle, was avoiding the media.
The event, called "Knock or Treat" Halloween canvassing, was on Oct. 31, 2010.
Reid went on to win his fifth term on Election Day that year and maintained his position as Senate majority leader. He retired from the Senate in 2017 after not seeking re-election in 2016.


rollcall--2020-10-29--Supreme Court readies for possible postelection cases

The Supreme Court has all but run out of time to deal with more legal fights ahead of Election Day on Tuesday , but its down-to-the-wire decisions from Pennsylvania and North Carolina foreshadow what issues could land at the high court after Nov. 3 .
The justices declined Wednesday night to decide prior to the election whether Pennsylvania can tally mail-in ballots that arrive up to three days after Election Day amid concerns that mail delivery has slowed — but that doesn ’ t mean the case is over .
“ I reluctantly conclude that there is simply not enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the question before the election , ” Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote in a statement that went out along with the order .
“ That does not mean , however , that the state court decision must escape our review.
” The Supreme Court can still agree to hear the appeal from Republicans , who are challenging a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that allows those ballots to be counted , Alito wrote , with Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil M. Gorsuch joining that statement .
And the justices could still “ order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segregated so that if the State Supreme Court ’ s decision is ultimately overturned , a targeted remedy will be available , ” Alito wrote .

The Supreme Court has all but run out of time to deal with more legal fights ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, but its down-to-the-wire decisions from Pennsylvania and North Carolina foreshadow what issues could land at the high court after Nov. 3.
The justices declined Wednesday night to decide prior to the election whether Pennsylvania can tally mail-in ballots that arrive up to three days after Election Day amid concerns that mail delivery has slowed — but that doesn’t mean the case is over.
“I reluctantly conclude that there is simply not enough time at this late date to decide the question before the election,” Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote in a statement that went out along with the order. “That does not mean, however, that the state court decision must escape our review.”
The Supreme Court can still agree to hear the appeal from Republicans, who are challenging a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that allows those ballots to be counted, Alito wrote, with Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil M. Gorsuch joining that statement.
And the justices could still “order that ballots received after election day be segregated so that if the State Supreme Court’s decision is ultimately overturned, a targeted remedy will be available,” Alito wrote.


rollcall--2020-10-29--Gray wolf protections lifted by Trump administration

Gray wolves will lose their protection under the Endangered Species Act across the contiguous United States , a long-held goal of some Republican lawmakers , ranchers and hunting groups .
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced the new rule Thursday at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington , Minn. , a swing state in the race for the White House .
“ Multiple states , including Wyoming , Montana , Idaho , Oregon and Washington already manage healthy and sustainable gray wolf populations , ” Sen. Mike Lee , R-Utah , said in a statement .
“ Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be able to determine how best to preserve gray wolf populations while protecting other native species and livestock.
” Opponents to the wolves ’ protection under the ESA have long cited the animals ’ threats to livestock and ranching as reasons to delist the species , urging state officials to assume management instead of the federal government .
Bernhardt said the gray wolf packs in the Lower 48 states had recovered sufficiently to justify the delisting .
The U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service will monitor gray wolves for five years under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the animals over to states and tribes .
Interior is expected to publish the rule on Tuesday , Election Day .

Gray wolves will lose their protection under the Endangered Species Act across the contiguous United States, a long-held goal of some Republican lawmakers, ranchers and hunting groups.
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced the new rule Thursday at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington, Minn., a swing state in the race for the White House.
“Multiple states, including Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington already manage healthy and sustainable gray wolf populations,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said in a statement. “Now, under expanded state management, impacted communities will be able to determine how best to preserve gray wolf populations while protecting other native species and livestock.”
Opponents to the wolves’ protection under the ESA have long cited the animals’ threats to livestock and ranching as reasons to delist the species, urging state officials to assume management instead of the federal government.
Bernhardt said the gray wolf packs in the Lower 48 states had recovered sufficiently to justify the delisting. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will monitor gray wolves for five years under the rule, which would turn management of the animals over to states and tribes. Interior is expected to publish the rule on Tuesday, Election Day.


rollcall--2020-10-29--Just in time for Halloween: Worst-case scenarios for the election

The 2020 election is “ rounding the corner ” — sorry , I couldn ’ t resist — but here @ @ @ @ @ few days out from Nov. 3 , which means it ’ s almost Halloween .
@ @ @ @ @ recognize the spooky nature of All Hallows ’ Eve than to discuss the scary worst-case @ @ @ @ @ Disputed counts !
Lawsuits !
Candidates refusing to concede !
States sending multiple sets of @ @ @ @ @ Runoffs !
The House and Senate refusing to seat members !
On the latest Political @ @ @ @ @ Call politics editor Herb Jackson and CQ Roll Call legal affairs senior writer Todd Ruger @ @ @ @ @ .
Some of the worst-case scenarios we discuss , which are not without precedent :

The 2020 election is “rounding the corner” — sorry, I couldn’t resist — but here we are, just a few days out from Nov. 3, which means it’s almost Halloween. And what better way to recognize the spooky nature of All Hallows’ Eve than to discuss the scary worst-case scenarios for the elections?
Disputed counts! Lawsuits! Candidates refusing to concede! States sending multiple sets of electors to be counted! Runoffs! The House and Senate refusing to seat members!
On the latest Political Theater podcast, CQ Roll Call politics editor Herb Jackson and CQ Roll Call legal affairs senior writer Todd Ruger discuss the terrifying potential tumult.
Some of the worst-case scenarios we discuss, which are not without precedent:


rollcall--2020-10-29--Emails show internal agency confusion on family separations

Internal Trump administration records released Thursday by the House Judiciary Committee reveal new details on how the White House separated migrant families at the border and shielded details of the practice from agency partners responsible for the children taken from their parents .
The documents were made public for the first time as a part of a report on an investigation of family separations launched by committee Democrats in January 2019 .
They include emails between top Health and Human Services Department officials questioning Department of Homeland Security efforts over separation and reunification efforts .
Altogether , the records demonstrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Customs and Border Protection — played a central role in implementing the policy .
They also show how they considered separating families even after a court blocked the practice and ordered children to be reunited with their relatives .
The report notes that more than 860 complaints , many from HHS employees , were filed over the issue to the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties .
Trump administration officials , who were not provided a draft of the report prior to its release , were not immediately available for comment @

Internal Trump administration records released Thursday by the House Judiciary Committee reveal new details on how the White House separated migrant families at the border and shielded details of the practice from agency partners responsible for the children taken from their parents.
The documents were made public for the first time as a part of a report on an investigation of family separations launched by committee Democrats in January 2019. They include emails between top Health and Human Services Department officials questioning Department of Homeland Security efforts over separation and reunification efforts.
[Immigrants punished for not cleaning detention center, court papers suggest]
Altogether, the records demonstrate how top DHS officials — particularly in Customs and Border Protection — played a central role in implementing the policy. They also show how they considered separating families even after a court blocked the practice and ordered children to be reunited with their relatives. The report notes that more than 860 complaints, many from HHS employees, were filed over the issue to the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
Trump administration officials, who were not provided a draft of the report prior to its release, were not immediately available for comment.


rollcall--2020-10-30--CQ Future: The presidency

CQ Future: The presidency

President Donald Trump 's time in the Oval Office has been unlike any of his predecessors , where he has @ @ @ @ @ Roll Call 's Shawn Zeller speaks with presidential historian David Greenberg to examine whether Trump @ @ @ @ @ regardless of who wins the 2020 election .
• How much can change in six @ @ @ @ @ Republicans • Senators criticize social media executives , and each other • Rating changes : @ @ @ @ @ toward Democrats

Shawn Zeller, Joanne Levine, and Evan Campbell

President Donald Trump's time in the Oval Office has been unlike any of his predecessors, where he has broken many conventions. CQ Roll Call's Shawn Zeller speaks with presidential historian David Greenberg to examine whether Trump transformed the American presidency, regardless of who wins the 2020 election.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-10-30--Could Democrats still raise record campaign cash if Trump leaves White House?

The money seems almost bottomless .
Fueled by resistance to President Donald Trump , Democrats have raised record-shattering sums for their political campaigns up and down the ballot .
Opposition to Trump has mobilized new small-dollar and big-money donors , and more women have invested in politics than ever before .
But once Trump leaves office , perhaps as soon as January if he loses his bid for reelection , Democrats will have to sustain their fundraising momentum without the benefit of the provocateur in chief residing in the free world ’ s most powerful post .
Though Democrats would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped fill their party ’ s coffers during the Trump presidency , they will retain many advantages , including the ease of donating online through ActBlue and the long list of repeat donors to hit up .
Party insiders will watch to see whether those donors , many of whom give in small amounts such as $ 10 or $ 25 , have adopted a new habit that will outlast Trump — or if they will return to their campaign finance hibernation .
A top indicator of whether people will donate political money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have done so in the past .
And Democrats expect that even if Trump loses this election , neither he nor his bombastic brand of Republican politics will exit the national stage .
So the fight may morph into a battle against Trumpism , if not against Trump himself .

The money seems almost bottomless.
Fueled by resistance to President Donald Trump, Democrats have raised record-shattering sums for their political campaigns up and down the ballot. Opposition to Trump has mobilized new small-dollar and big-money donors, and more women have invested in politics than ever before.
But once Trump leaves office, perhaps as soon as January if he loses his bid for reelection, Democrats will have to sustain their fundraising momentum without the benefit of the provocateur in chief residing in the free world’s most powerful post. Although Democrats would lose the daily outrage factor that has helped fill their party’s coffers during the Trump presidency, they will retain many advantages, including the ease of donating online through ActBlue and the long list of repeat donors to hit up.
Party insiders will watch to see whether those donors, many of whom give in small amounts such as $10 or $25, have adopted a new habit that will outlast Trump — or if they will return to their campaign finance hibernation.
A top indicator of whether people will donate political money is, after all, whether they have done so in the past. And Democrats expect that even if Trump loses this election, neither he nor his bombastic brand of Republican politics will exit the national stage. So the fight may morph into a battle against Trumpism, if not against Trump himself.


rollcall--2020-10-30--McConnell: ‘We’re going to clean the plate’ on judges

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed Friday to continue confirming both U.S. circuit and district court nominees through the lame-duck session and right up to the end of the 116th Congress , which must adjourn Jan. 3 .
“ We ’ re going to run through the tape .
We go through the end of the year , and so does the president , ” McConnell said Friday on the show of conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt .
“ We ’ re going to fill the 7th Circuit .
And I ’ m hoping we have time to fill the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opened up after the Senate elevated Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in a truncated nomination process that culminated in her confirmation in the Senate on Monday .
The other seat , on the 1st Circuit , opened after the death Monday of Juan R. Torruella , 87 , who was nominated by President Ronald Reagan .
After the vote on Barrett ’ s confirmation , McConnell teed up a Nov. 9 vote on the nomination of James Ray Knepp II to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More than two dozen nominations for lifetime appointments remain pending .
After McConnell ’ s blockade of President Barack Obama ’ s judicial nominees from 2015 through 2016 , and the demise of the 60-vote filibuster threshold for nominees , the president and majority leader have been able to fill most judicial vacancies at will .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed Friday to continue confirming both U.S. circuit and district court nominees through the lame-duck session and right up to the end of the 116th Congress, which must adjourn Jan. 3.
“We’re going to run through the tape. We go through the end of the year, and so does the president,” McConnell said Friday on the show of conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. “We’re going to fill the 7th Circuit. And I’m hoping we have time to fill the 1st Circuit as well.”
The seat on the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opened up after the Senate elevated Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in a truncated nomination process that culminated in her confirmation in the Senate on Monday. The other seat, on the 1st Circuit, opened after the death Monday of Juan R. Torruella, 87, who was nominated by President Ronald Reagan.
After the vote on Barrett’s confirmation, McConnell teed up a Nov. 9 vote on the nomination of James Ray Knepp II to be a judge for the Northern District of Ohio. More than two dozen nominations for lifetime appointments remain pending.
After McConnell’s blockade of President Barack Obama’s judicial nominees from 2015 through 2016, and the demise of the 60-vote filibuster threshold for nominees, the president and majority leader have been able to fill most judicial vacancies at will.


rollcall--2020-10-30--Photos of the week ending Oct. 30, 2020

Photos of the week ending Oct. 30, 2020

It 's four days until Election Day .
The beginning of the week in Washington was a busy one , @ @ @ @ @ to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
She was sworn in shortly @ @ @ @ @ The latter half of the week saw action heat up across the country , and @ @ @ @ @ on the campaign trail to cover some of it .

Caroline Brehman, Tom Williams, and Bill Clark

It's four days until Election Day. The beginning of the week in Washington was a busy one, with the Senate in session to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. She was sworn in shortly after the Senate voted.
The latter half of the week saw action heat up across the country, and our photo staff got out on the campaign trail to cover some of it.
Here's the entire week in photos:
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., wears a "Grin & Barrett" face mask as she arrives in the Capitol for the cloture vote on the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett on Sunday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Protesters — both for and against the confirmation of Barrett — argue with one another outside the Supreme Court in Washington on Monday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
People pray Monday as they touch the doors to the Supreme Court. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Prop ballot boxes sit outside the Supreme Court as protesters for and against the Barrett confirmation demonstrate on Monday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Protesters demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court on Monday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Kali Fujinami measures the distance between tables while setting up a "Super Vote Center" in the Nationals Park PNC Diamond Club on Monday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
A sign outside of the Capital One Arena urges residents to vote early. The start of the first day of early voting in Washington was Tuesday. Capital One Arena and National Park were opened as "Super Vote Centers." (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at an early voting center at Nationals Park in Washington on Tuesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
A "Thank You for Voting" sign is on display at an early voting center at Nationals Park in Washington on Tuesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
A voter casts a ballot in a drop box outside the Union Market "Super Vote Center" during early voting Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)


rollcall--2020-10-30--A weekend all-nighter, fake tweets and a Grassley impression: Congressional Hits and Misses

While senators griped about being in Washington over the weekend , Sen. Charles E. Grassley was just upset he wouldn @ @ @ @ @ Iowa for # CornWatch .
Meanwhile , Sen. Roger Wicker had trouble connecting with Mark @ @ @ @ @ Kevin McCarthy dreamed about Speaker Nancy Pelosi handing him the speaker ’ s gavel following @ @ @ @ @ watch : Political stunts , difficult masks and AOC Among Us : Congressional Hits and @ @

While senators griped about being in Washington over the weekend, Sen. Charles E. Grassley was just upset he wouldn’t be back in Iowa for #CornWatch.
Meanwhile, Sen. Roger Wicker had trouble connecting with Mark Zuckerberg and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy dreamed about Speaker Nancy Pelosi handing him the speaker’s gavel following the election.
[ Also watch: Political stunts, difficult masks and AOC Among Us: Congressional Hits and Misses ]


rollcall--2020-10-30--Election may affect whether North Carolina expands Medicaid

Proponents of expanding Medicaid in North Carolina hope to gain traction on Election Day , with Democrats hoping to flip both state chambers and pass Medicaid legislation .
Gov .
Roy Cooper , a Democrat , has advocated expansion since winning in 2016 , but the Republican-controlled House and Senate blocked attempts to allow more people to qualify for Medicaid , the nation ’ s health care insurance program for the poor .
Some Republicans pitched a scaled-back alternative to expansion , but that also faced setbacks .
Currently , the state Senate has 29 Republicans and 21 Democrats , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 55 Democrats .
Medicaid expansion advocates hope an influx of supporters could break the logjam .
Under the 2010 health law , states can opt to expand coverage to people earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level .
In exchange , the federal government provides increased funding — a higher matching rate of 90 percent of the costs .
Despite this , 12 states including North Carolina and Texas have opted to keep eligibility the same , according to the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation , with opponents citing the added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best chance for expansion among those states , many of which are in the south .

Proponents of expanding Medicaid in North Carolina hope to gain traction on Election Day, with Democrats hoping to flip both state chambers and pass Medicaid legislation.
Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has advocated expansion since winning in 2016, but the Republican-controlled House and Senate blocked attempts to allow more people to qualify for Medicaid, the nation’s health care insurance program for the poor. Some Republicans pitched a scaled-back alternative to expansion, but that also faced setbacks.
Currently, the state Senate has 29 Republicans and 21 Democrats, while the House has 65 Republicans and 55 Democrats. Medicaid expansion advocates hope an influx of supporters could break the logjam.
Under the 2010 health law, states can opt to expand coverage to people earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. In exchange, the federal government provides increased funding — a higher matching rate of 90 percent of the costs.
Despite this, 12 states including North Carolina and Texas have opted to keep eligibility the same, according to the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, with opponents citing the added cost for taxpayers. North Carolina represents the best chance for expansion among those states, many of which are in the south.


rollcall--2020-11-02--Voter intimidation complaints grow on the eve of Election Day

Election advocacy groups are preparing for the possibility of voter intimidation at the polls Tuesday , although weeks of early voting remained mostly peaceful despite the country ’ s unsettled mood in a year with simmering partisan and sometimes violent conflicts on the streets .
There has been an uptick in complaints about voter intimidation to the hotline run by the nonpartisan Election Protection program at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law , Kristen Clarke , the group ’ s president and chief executive officer , said Monday .
Police used pepper spray to break up a march @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County polls in North Carolina on Saturday , and a number of people who intended to vote “ were unable to do so because they were literally detained at the local jail , ” Clarke said during a National Task Force on Election Crises briefing .
Clarke ’ s group put Florida law enforcement and election officials on alert after complaints to the voter helpline , 866-OUR-VOTE , about aggressive groups seeking to intimidate voters across the state .
And Clarke said the group is working to address complaints from Lane County , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attire were approaching people Sunday at a ballot drop box site — the kind of activity they are on high alert about for Election Day .

Election advocacy groups are preparing for the possibility of voter intimidation at the polls Tuesday, although weeks of early voting remained mostly peaceful despite the country’s unsettled mood in a year with simmering partisan and sometimes violent conflicts on the streets.
There has been an uptick in complaints about voter intimidation to the hotline run by the nonpartisan Election Protection program at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Kristen Clarke, the group’s president and chief executive officer, said Monday.
Police used pepper spray to break up a march of largely Black voters to the Alamance County polls in North Carolina on Saturday, and a number of people who intended to vote “were unable to do so because they were literally detained at the local jail,” Clarke said during a National Task Force on Election Crises briefing.
Clarke’s group put Florida law enforcement and election officials on alert after complaints to the voter helpline, 866-OUR-VOTE, about aggressive groups seeking to intimidate voters across the state.
And Clarke said the group is working to address complaints from Lane County, Oregon, that armed individuals wearing militia attire were approaching people Sunday at a ballot drop box site — the kind of activity they are on high alert about for Election Day.


rollcall--2020-11-02--Photo of the day: The art of campaigning

Jaime Harrison , the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from South Carolina , posed with a painting of himself by @ @ @ @ @ Joey Withinarts ” during a drive-in rally in Anderson , S.C. , on Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ Lindsey Graham , who on Sunday held a rally of his own in Aiken , @ @ @ @ @ likeness affixed to his campaign bus .

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Jaime Harrison, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from South Carolina, posed with a painting of himself by the artist known as “Joey Withinarts” during a drive-in rally in Anderson, S.C., on Saturday.
Harrison is challenging Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who on Sunday held a rally of his own in Aiken, S.C. in front of his likeness affixed to his campaign bus.


rollcall--2020-11-02--Election in sight: It all depends whether you believe your eyes

ANALYSIS — The choice is as clear as it gets .
Do you believe President Donald Trump or your eyes ?
The president and his defenders ( e.g.
, Jason Miller and Corey Lewandowski ) insist he has momentum in key battleground states .
They believe great enthusiasm for the president , combined with strong Election Day turnout , will help the GOP hold virtually all of the crucial states that Trump won in 2016 , plus an additional state or two .
( Nevada ?
Minnesota ? )
I suppose it ’ s possible that all of the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re conducted by various survey research firms and publications using different methodologies .
To see Trump winning , you must believe that only a handful of Republican pollsters have figured out the magic formula for gathering public opinion .
One problem is that even if the national polls understate Trump ’ s performance by a couple of points as they did four years ago , he is much further behind now than he was as the 2016 campaign closed .
For example , the last NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll of 2016 ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary Clinton ahead by 4 or 5 points , depending on whether you included the names and parties of the Libertarian and Green nominees in the question .
She ended up winning the popular vote by just over 2 points .

ANALYSIS — The choice is as clear as it gets. Do you believe President Donald Trump or your eyes?
The president and his defenders (e.g., Jason Miller and Corey Lewandowski) insist he has momentum in key battleground states. They believe great enthusiasm for the president, combined with strong Election Day turnout, will help the GOP hold virtually all of the crucial states that Trump won in 2016, plus an additional state or two. (Nevada? Minnesota?)
I suppose it’s possible that all of the polls are wrong, even though they’re conducted by various survey research firms and publications using different methodologies. To see Trump winning, you must believe that only a handful of Republican pollsters have figured out the magic formula for gathering public opinion.
One problem is that even if the national polls understate Trump’s performance by a couple of points as they did four years ago, he is much further behind now than he was as the 2016 campaign closed.
For example, the last NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll of 2016 (conducted Nov. 3-5, 2016) showed Hillary Clinton ahead by 4 or 5 points, depending on whether you included the names and parties of the Libertarian and Green nominees in the question. She ended up winning the popular vote by just over 2 points.


rollcall--2020-11-02--Brex founder and co-CEO Henrique DuBugras co-hosts Fintech Beat to discuss regulatory diversity

Henrique DuBugras , the founder and co-CEO of Brex , the multibillion-dollar payments company , jumps on the show as @ @ @ @ @ co-host and interviews Chris about fintech — and his research on Black financial regulators .
@ @ @ @ @ world of fintech • How the EU is revolutionizing stablecoin ( and crypto ) oversight

Henrique DuBugras, the founder and co-CEO of Brex, the multibillion-dollar payments company, jumps on the show as Fintech Beat’s first co-host and interviews Chris about fintech — and his research on Black financial regulators.
More podcast content
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-11-02--Special report: How one man’s death reveals some of the flaws in the Trump immigration policy

President Donald Trump was elected to office nearly four years ago on promises of shutting out immigrants .
He has @ @ @ @ @ the pros and cons of his administration ’ s approach have been hashed out in @ @ @ @ @ real people whose lives have been irrevocably changed due to these policies .
• McConnell @ @ @ @ @ going to clean the plate ’ on judges

Tanvi Misra, Joanne Levine, and Evan Campbell

President Donald Trump was elected to office nearly four years ago on promises of shutting out immigrants. He has largely delivered. And while the pros and cons of his administration’s approach have been hashed out in partisan terms, there are real people whose lives have been irrevocably changed due to these policies.
(NOTE: To call for help: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is staffed around the clock: 1-800-273-8255. Online: The website includes warning signs, information for veterans, and local crisis centers: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org)
Show Notes: