rollcall--2020-02-04--DOJ: Congress must meet high bar for Trump tax information

The Justice Department on Monday night backed President Donald Trump in the Supreme Court fight over congressional subpoenas for his financial documents , telling the justices that lawmakers must meet a higher bar when seeking a sitting president ’ s personal records .
The cases , set for March 31 oral argument , center on subpoenas from three House committees to accounting firm Mazars USA , Deutsche Bank and Capital One Financial Corp. House Democrats are seeking eight years of Trump ’ s financial and tax records .
Trump filed lawsuits to challenge the subpoenas in his personal capacity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the term at the end of June could reshape the limits for impeachment and other oversight investigations into a sitting president .
The Trump administration weighed in Monday to argue that the subpoenas are unconstitutional because the House did not make enough of a showing of the need for the information for a “ legitimate legislative purpose.
” [ House urges Supreme Court to enforce subpoenas for Trump ’ s financial records ] The DOJ argues that the cases involve the first attempts by congressional committees to demand a president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subpoenas pose “ a serious risk of harassing the President and distracting him from his constitutional duties.
” The Justice Department lays out in the brief what it sees as the heightened requirements when Congress seeks information from the president and argues that the House committees did not meet them .
That includes that the full chamber should “ unequivocally authorize a subpoena , ” the legislative purpose should be “ set forth with specificity , ” courts should scrutinize that purpose “ with care ” instead of presuming , and the information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legitimate legislative purpose.
” “ The four reasons offered in support of the Mazars subpoena betray an impermissible law-enforcement objective , and the boilerplate statement that the subpoena furthers ‘ multiple laws and legislative proposals ’ is far too vague to enable , much less withstand , meaningful scrutiny of its legitimacy , ” the Justice Department wrote .
Trump ’ s personal lawyers also have argued that the committees did not have a legitimate legislative purpose to seek the records from before and after Trump took office .
In the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reform Committee has argued it has legitimate interests in investigating the accuracy of Trump ’ s financial disclosures and the lease of the Old Post Office Building as the site of the Trump International Hotel , as well as possible violations of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution by accepting payments from foreign governments .
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit , in a 2-1 decision , sided with the House and ruled that Mazars must comply with the April 15 subpoena .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Services and Intelligence committees argued they need subpoenas to Deutsche Bank and Capital One to pass and implement legislative changes to secure the nation ’ s 2020 elections from foreign influence .
A decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit would allow enforcement of those congressional subpoenas for financial records of Trump and his businesses .
The cases are Trump et al .
v. Mazars USA et al.
, Docket No .
19-715 , and Trump et al .
v. Deutsche Bank et al.
, Docket No .
19-760 @

The Justice Department on Monday night backed President Donald Trump in the Supreme Court fight over congressional subpoenas for his financial documents, telling the justices that lawmakers must meet a higher bar when seeking a sitting president’s personal records.
The cases, set for March 31 oral argument, center on subpoenas from three House committees to accounting firm Mazars USA, Deutsche Bank and Capital One Financial Corp. House Democrats are seeking eight years of Trump’s financial and tax records.
Trump filed lawsuits to challenge the subpoenas in his personal capacity, and a Supreme Court decision expected by the end of the term at the end of June could reshape the limits for impeachment and other oversight investigations into a sitting president.
The Trump administration weighed in Monday to argue that the subpoenas are unconstitutional because the House did not make enough of a showing of the need for the information for a “legitimate legislative purpose.”
[House urges Supreme Court to enforce subpoenas for Trump’s financial records]


rollcall--2020-02-04--The tech company behind the Iowa debacle has a ‘client success’ job opening

People wait for the start of a Democratic satellite caucus at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Hall on Monday .
As the Iowa caucuses unfolded , precincts struggled to use a new app .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) Shadow Inc. , the company behind the app currently destroying Iowa ’ s plans of remaining “ First in the Nation ” among presidential primary contests , is looking for a new client success representative .
Monday night , excited election watchers gathered in front of their televisions with their snacks to await the returns in the Iowa Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And tweeted .
And waited .
And eventually ( I assume ) went to bed .
Then woke and waited some more .
That ’ s because an app commissioned by the Iowa Democratic Party and designed to tally and transmit the results experienced a glitch .
Precinct captains and volunteers who ’ d never used the app were stuck in limbo .
The Nevada Democratic Party had planned to use the app in their upcoming caucuses , but announced they would abandon that plan .
Folks , this is why you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Shadow ’ s job opening is an hourly contract position .
Interested candidates should be “ available nights and weekends as necessary.
” The description appears on Shadow ’ s website , and the company tweeted about the job in January .
On Tuesday it popped up on Daybook , a listing site for jobs in politics , policy and nonprofits .
Shadow ( a perfectly good and normal name for a political consultancy firm ) describes itself as “ a technology company dedicated to building power within the progressive movement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ other progressive organizations to reach a wider audience of supporters and make sense of the data available to them.
” Some political observers are using the debacle as Exhibit C of why Iowa no longer deserves to go first in the quadrennial presidential nominating process .
Iowa has come under scrutiny , particularly this cycle , for playing such an outsized role while no longer reflecting the demographics of a diverse Democratic Party .
Iowa ’ s 18-and-older population is 91.6 percent white , according to the Pew Research Center .
The caucuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and convoluted process , made even more complex by recent rule changes .
Hard to imagine that argument being ignored after this recent snafu .

Shadow Inc., the company behind the app currently destroying Iowa’s plans of remaining “First in the Nation” among presidential primary contests, is looking for a new customer service client success representative. Monday night, excited election watchers gathered in front of their televisions with their snacks to await the returns in the Iowa Democratic presidential primary caucuses. And they waited. And tweeted. And waited. And eventually (I assume) went to bed. Then woke and waited some more.
That’s because an app commissioned by the Iowa Democratic Party and designed to tally and transmit the results experienced a glitch. Precinct captains and volunteers who’d never used the app were stuck in limbo. The Nevada Democratic Party had planned to use the app in their upcoming caucuses, but announced they would abandon that plan.
Folks, this is why you don’t ignore the software update.
Shadow’s job opening is an hourly contract position. Interested candidates should be “available nights and weekends as necessary.”
I bet.


rollcall--2020-02-04--Lobbyists donate to presidential contenders, who then reject it

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, shown speaking at the Iowa State Fair in August 2019 , does not accept lobbyist campaign donations .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) Democratic presidential contenders — including Joe Biden , Pete Buttigieg , Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren — have official policies of rejecting campaign donations from registered federal lobbyists , but lobbyists still donated to all of them in recent months , new disclosures show .
Some of the K Street cash has already been refunded to the contributors , lobbyists told CQ Roll Call .
Other donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as some of the campaigns said they would return any newly identified contributions from registered federal lobbyists .
Lobbyists have mostly sat on the sidelines of the Democratic primary money chase with many of the contenders rejecting their dollars as toxic , or taking an anti-corporate , anti-K Street approach to policy matters .
Candidates who prohibit donations from registered lobbyists are following the policy of former President Barack Obama .
Hillary Clinton during her 2016 bid did not ban contributions from registered lobbyists .
Even with the growing rejection of lobbyist campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclosed donations to Biden during the second half of 2019 , according to recently filed semiannual political money reports to the Senate and House required for federally registered lobbyists .
At least some had already been refunded by the campaign to the contributors .
For comparison , about the same number of lobbyists ( 31 ) reported they had donated to President Donald Trump during the same period , according to the disclosures .
The Trump campaign does not bar lobbyists from donating , and among its donors is former Louisiana GOP Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some 16 lobbyists disclosed donations in the last half of 2019 to former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg , who quickly eschewed K Street contributions in late April after an initial wave of support from lobbyists .
Among Buttigieg ’ s donors was former Sen. Kent Conrad , a Democrat from North Dakota , who also donated to Klobuchar , who represents Minnesota in the Senate .
Conrad disclosed that he contributed $ 500 to Buttigieg in November as well as $ 2,000 to Klobuchar in installments in August , October and December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Buttigieg campaign , said in an email that the campaign would look into the donations .
`` If anyone is [ a ] federally registered lobbyist we would return the money , if we have n't already , '' Meagher added .
Conrad did not respond to a request for comment .
The Klobuchar campaign did not provide a comment .
Even Warren , whose donors must certify that they are `` not a federally registered lobbyist , '' picked up a handful of small contributions from lobbyists including a disclosed $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council .
Such blanket bans on campaign donations from registered lobbyists sometimes loop in those who represent liberal or public interest clients as well as lobbyists for corporations .
Other lobbyists who disclosed giving to Warren 's presidential effort included Steve Holmer of the American Bird Conservancy , who disclosed a $ 100 contribution , and Monica Montgomery of the Friends Committee on National Legislation , affiliated with the Religious Society of Friends or Quakers , who disclosed $ 15 .
The Warren campaign did not respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders of Vermont does not explicitly prohibit federal lobbyists from donating , but his populist message is unpopular among K Street denizens .
Still , six lobbyists — including from the American Civil Liberties Union , a federal employee union and the Friends Committee — reported contributions to his campaign .
The Biden campaign appears to be researching its donors and refunding contributions from registered federal lobbyists to comply with its stated policy of not accepting contributions from such individuals .
One Biden donor , Perrin Brown of the firm Squire Patton Boggs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth of donations to the former vice president 's campaign before registering as a federal lobbyist last fall .
`` I was conscious of the restrictions and I followed it , '' he said .
Even so , he said , the Biden campaign still refunded all his donations after he registered as a lobbyist .
`` I did not ask for it , nor did I want it , '' he added in a phone interview .
Brown also disclosed donations to Steve Bullock , who did not have a policy about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buttigieg before registering to lobby .
The presidential campaign of Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet `` does not accept contributions from federal lobbyists , and we refund any lobbyist contributions that have been erroneously received , '' said a campaign spokeswoman Samantha Greene .
Still , a few K Streeters disclosed donations to the Colorado senator 's presidential effort , filings show .
They include a $ 500 contribution dated Dec. 30 from William Oldaker , who was once business partners with Hunter Biden , the son of another presidential candidate , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belair .
Oldaker did not respond to a request for comment .

Democratic presidential contenders — including Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren — have official policies of rejecting campaign donations from registered federal lobbyists, but lobbyists still donated to all of them in recent months, new disclosures show.
Some of the K Street cash has already been refunded to the contributors, lobbyists told CQ Roll Call. Other donations may be on their way back, as some of the campaigns said they would return any newly identified contributions from registered federal lobbyists.
Lobbyists have mostly sat on the sidelines of the Democratic primary money chase with many of the contenders rejecting their dollars as toxic, or taking an anti-corporate, anti-K Street approach to policy matters. Candidates who prohibit donations from registered lobbyists are following the policy of former President Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton during her 2016 bid did not ban contributions from registered lobbyists.
Even with the growing rejection of lobbyist campaign cash, more than 30 registered lobbyists disclosed donations to Biden during the second half of 2019, according to recently filed semiannual political money reports to the Senate and House required for federally registered lobbyists. At least some had already been refunded by the campaign to the contributors.
For comparison, about the same number of lobbyists (31) reported they had donated to President Donald Trump during the same period, according to the disclosures. The Trump campaign does not bar lobbyists from donating, and among its donors is former Louisiana GOP Rep. Bob Livingston of the Livingston Group.


rollcall--2020-02-04--At first-ever Iowa caucus in DC, confusion, chaos and civic pride

For the first time , the Iowan-on-Iowan politicking that characterizes quadrennial presidential caucuses happened outside the state , and about 100 people attended a caucus Monday at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers headquarters in downtown Washington .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) Iowa voters Susan and Jim Swain were prepared to board a flight from their winter home in North Carolina to participate in Monday ’ s caucus .
But Iowa in February is cold .
So they were happier to drive five hours and stay overnight in a hotel to fulfill their civic duty in Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , were among about 100 Iowa voters who gathered Monday night in a basement conference room at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union ’ s downtown headquarters to participate in the satellite caucus , one of 24 held outside of Iowa for the first time this year .
Three more were held in foreign countries .
“ We kind of miss the fact that we ’ re not sitting there with our neighbors , ” Susan Swain said .
But the trip , they said , was worth it .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is because of the chance to exercise my rights , ” Jim Swain said .
The satellite locations were created by Iowa ’ s Democratic Party to address concerns that the caucuses , which demand several hours of in-person participation , were inaccessible to some voters .
Participants — including longtime Hill staffers who had worked alongside some of the candidates , members of the military and young people caucusing for the first time — largely deemed the event a success .
But like the caucuses at home , the Washington event was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Swains , originally from Cedar Rapids , said they had not met anyone who could tell them how the results would be counted ( it ’ s complicated ) .
In what appeared to be a last-minute decision , members of the media — who outnumbered participants — were told to leave the room during deliberations .
Just like home : No results There were no official results available as people left Monday night — the state party stunned candidates and media by saying it would not release them until Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elizabeth Warren secured the most delegates to the state party convention , followed by former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg , former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders .
Other candidates did not get enough support in the room to secure delegates .
Caucus officials did not respond to inquiries Tuesday .
Results of the out-of-state caucuses will be reported as “ at-large ” counties and weighted by the number of participants , according to an explanation on the Iowa Democratic Party website .
Barbara Larkin , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the 1970s , has kept her Iowa voter registration “ because that ’ s home.
” She said she normally flies back for every caucus but changed her plans when the satellite location was announced .
She came to show her support for Biden , whom she knew personally from her days as a staffer in Sen. Dianne Feinstein ’ s office when Biden was a senator and helping to pass an assault weapons ban in 1994 .
“ I don ’ t think we have the luxury right now to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ropes as they go , ” she said .
Ericka Petersen , from Iowa City , could not go back for the caucus this year because her husband was on a work trip and she was alone with her two children , 3 and 1 .
So it was a relief , she said , that all she had to do was borrow a double stroller , bring along an iPad and hope her children stayed entertained long enough for her to caucus for Sanders .
“ This was quite an endeavor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was so important to be here.
” Across the room , Rocco Zappone , 64 , sat with dozens of people registered to vote in other states who were allowed to attend as observers .
As a lifetime resident of Capitol Hill , he was thrilled at the chance to see a caucus in action .
“ I ’ ve always been curious about the caucuses , ” he said .
“ But I never felt that I had a really good feel for how they actually operated.
” He gestured at Petersen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on her stroller while she tried to eat a sandwich and feed french fries to her kids , while a clutch of photographers and video teams documented every bite .
“ One of the most interesting things I ’ ve seen so far is , there seems to be a Bernie supporter there who brought a baby , ” he said .
“ That seems so Iowa to me .
You know : family.
” But for all the earnestness of participants and observers , the event was also a messy display , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that threaten to upend the caucuses for good .
The venue was moved from Woodley Park to downtown at the last minute , reportedly to accommodate a larger crowd .
But the windowless room was still too small .
So in a move at odds with the spirit of transparency of the caucus process , reporters were told to wait in the foyer and stay several yards away from closed doors , where muffled shouts and applause periodically filtered out .
Inside the room , organizers seemed to be making on-the-spot decisions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disjointed , ” said Luke Huisenga , an Iowa City native who has not been able to caucus before because of his military service .
“ It was not as organized as I have heard it was back home.
” Drew Veysey , who was there to caucus for Sanders , said he was prepared to deliver a pitch to the room on behalf of the Sanders campaign but was told he wasn ’ t allowed because he isn ’ t a paid campaign staff member .
The directive contradicted his understanding of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It was extremely bizarre , ” he said .

Iowa voters Susan and Jim Swain were prepared to board a flight from their winter home in North Carolina to participate in Monday’s caucus. But Iowa in February is cold. So they were happier to drive five hours and stay overnight in a hotel to fulfill their civic duty in Washington, D.C.
The Swains, both 66, were among about 100 Iowa voters who gathered Monday night in a basement conference room at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union’s downtown headquarters to participate in the satellite caucus, one of 24 held outside of Iowa for the first time this year. Three more were held in foreign countries.
“We kind of miss the fact that we’re not sitting there with our neighbors,” Susan Swain said. But the trip, they said, was worth it.
“The primary reason I get excited about this is because of the chance to exercise my rights,” Jim Swain said.


rollcall--2020-02-04--State of the Union: Governors keep their distance from Trump

Arizona Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey speaks beside President Donald Trump at a 2018 White House dinner .
Ducey this year noted differences between “ the Arizona way ” and “ D.C .
politicians.
” ( Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images ) To hear New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo tell it , his Empire State is strong but threatened by a national mood he compared to a sea “ as tempest-tossed as we have seen , ” with “ waves of anxiety , injustice and frustration .
.
.
fanned by winds of anger and division , creating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 State of the State address in Albany framed the state of the union under President Donald Trump as a disaster that would be far worse for New Yorkers if not for his state government .
Trump , in his State of the Union address before Congress on Feb. 4 , will no doubt paint a different picture .
But many governors around the country appear to be happy to contrast their self-proclaimed steady hands to the gyrations of the federal government .
Executives who have delivered speeches so far this year have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favorably to the federal government .
Democrats , predictably , have been more likely to criticize Trump , but polarization and the perception of inaction at the federal level are popular targets for rhetorical punches .
While Democrats are more likely to make direct references to Trump , Republicans , too , seek to draw a contrast between their state governments and the Washington power structure .
Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey made references in his speech to “ the Arizona way , ” which included both an ideological mantra to reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of working across party lines .
Both represented differences with “ D.C .
politicians ” and other states , he said .
Several governors noted a divisive national mood in their addresses , with many trying to distance themselves from the polarization , warning it could infiltrate their states .
Cuomo , for example , framed national division as a serious threat to New York .
Vermont Gov .
Phil Scott , a Republican starting his fourth year in office , appeals to civility and collaboration in every State of the State speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s highlighted the issue more every year , says Rebecca Kelley , a spokeswoman for the governor .
“ We ’ re certainly not immune to the growth in partisanship we ’ ve seen around the country , ” says Scott spokeswoman Rebecca Kelley .
Scott , an understated former construction manager , has also spoken against Trump when he ’ s felt the president has been particularly divisive .
When the president said four women of color who are freshmen Democrats in the House should “ go back ” to “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which they came , ” Scott called the remarks “ offensive , racist and certainly not what we expect ” from the president .
“ Words matter , ” he said at a news conference .
“ And we ’ ve seen the same rhetoric used throughout history to discriminate , degrade and divide.
” As a statewide official in a mostly blue state , the governor has a good reason to distance himself from Trump .
And on policy , too , he ’ s diverged from his party and the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as regularly as the state ’ s Democrats would like .
“ There are some very important , notable things that I absolutely applaud him for that are the exception not the rule , ” says Vermont House Speaker Mitzi Johnson , a Democrat .
But Scott stood with the state ’ s congressional delegation — Sen. Bernie Sanders , an independent who caucuses with Democrats , and Sen. Patrick J. Leahy and Rep. Peter Welch , both Democrats — at a 2017 news conference to oppose House Republicans ’ efforts to repeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama in 2010 .
And he and Massachusetts Gov .
Charlie Baker were the first Republicans to join the U.S .
Climate Alliance , a coalition of state governments that agreed to stick to the conditions of the Paris climate accord after Trump announced plans to pull out of it .
He also reversed his position on guns to sign a Democratic gun safety bill shortly after the Parkland shooting in Florida and after authorities foiled a mass shooting plot in Vermont .
Kentucky ’ s new Democratic governor , Andy Beshear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a conservative state — made appeals in his address to working across party lines and urged lawmakers to reject partisanship .
“ Now don ’ t get me wrong , I believe Kentucky has a lot going for it , ” he said .
“ But there are so many needs , so many in crisis , too many families crying out for help .
There is simply not enough time or enough bandwidth to solve these problems if we play partisan games.
” Beshear also used his speech to try and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Matt Bevin , the Republican incumbent he beat in November .
The new governor ’ s agenda was a direct reversal of some Bevin policies .
In his first days in office he restored voting rights to nonviolent felons and rescinded a Bevin-led Medicaid waiver that required Kentuckians to work , attend school or complete some other community service in order to receive benefits from the program .
In perhaps his strongest repudiation of Bevin in the Jan. 14 speech , Beshear also called on lawmakers to pass a raise for public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deteriorated to the point where many participated in a coordinated “ sickout ” last year , missing school to protest the governor .
The fight was unpopular in the commonwealth and contributed to Bevin ’ s image as an uncompromising governor with an abrasive personality — and likely to his loss .
Beshear said he was eager to reverse the state ’ s position .
“ We can wipe the slate clean , and we can move forward in support of public education together , ” he said .
Beshear is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The other , Republican Tate Reeves in Mississippi , hasn ’ t scheduled a State of the State address .
In general , the surplus of incumbents means governors are more likely to project a positive view of their states in speeches .
It also means broad , ambitious plans are unlikely to be revealed this year , says Brian Sigritz , the director of state fiscal studies for the National Association of State Budget Officers .
But governors seeking to emphasize positives have been fortunate in recent years as unprecedented economic growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Most have highlighted existing initiatives or priorities .
Increasing teacher pay and otherwise boosting funding for public education , addressing transportation infrastructure and encouraging job growth have been among the most common policy areas governors have mentioned so far this year .
The longest period of economic growth in the country ’ s modern history has eased the financial strain on states .
Many have been able to grow their rainy day funds as officials await a downturn .
But many also expect the good times to ebb in the near future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to plan for how to handle a slowdown in the economy .
Fitch Ratings , a credit rating company , projects 2020 will see economic growth around 1.7 percent — still expanding , but at the lowest rate since 2011 .
Some governors believe identifying problems in the state gives viewers the impression they ’ re up to the task .
Cuomo ’ s speech , which warned of “ a challenging year ” ahead , was notable for its bluntness about difficulties the state faces .
Richard Azzopardi , an adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what citizens see .
Cuomo ’ s speech came mere weeks after a man stabbed five people during a Hanukkah celebration in a heavily Jewish community .
The act was considered a hate crime by many and heightened a sense of fear .
Scott identified a “ crisis ” of population loss in most areas of Vermont while claiming “ enormous faith ” in the state ’ s ability to solve that and other problems .
“ The governor feels it ’ s important to not put our head in the sand on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
“ We ’ re not going to solve them if we can ’ t acknowledge them .
”

To hear New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tell it, his Empire State is strong but threatened by a national mood he compared to a sea “as tempest-tossed as we have seen,” with “waves of anxiety, injustice and frustration . . . fanned by winds of anger and division, creating a political and social superstorm.”
His Jan. 8 State of the State address in Albany framed the state of the union under President Donald Trump as a disaster that would be far worse for New Yorkers if not for his state government.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo distributed a poster with a nautical theme after his State of the State address on Jan. 8.
Trump, in his State of the Union address before Congress on Feb. 4, will no doubt paint a different picture. But many governors around the country appear to be happy to contrast their self-proclaimed steady hands to the gyrations of the federal government.
Executives who have delivered speeches so far this year have often compared the shape of their states favorably to the federal government. Democrats, predictably, have been more likely to criticize Trump, but polarization and the perception of inaction at the federal level are popular targets for rhetorical punches.
While Democrats are more likely to make direct references to Trump, Republicans, too, seek to draw a contrast between their state governments and the Washington power structure.


rollcall--2020-02-04--Impeachment news roundup: Feb. 4

Impeachment news roundup: Feb. 4

Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine , arrives for the Senate Republicans ’ lunch in the Capitol before the start of Senate impeachment trial session on Jan. 23 , 2020 .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) Senators are taking to the Senate floor to explain their vote on President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment Tuesday and others will get their turn until they cast it Wednesday afternoon .
Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski said even though Trump ’ s actions were “ shameful and wrong , ” she would vote to acquit him .
Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins said Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump on both articles of impeachment .
“ I do not believe that the House has met its burden of showing that the president 's conduct , however flawed , warrants the extreme step of immediate removal from office , ” Collins said .
[ View from the gallery : Senators pack up desks as impeachment trial nears its end ] Murkowski was critical of the House ’ s investigation , but she had some harsh words for her colleagues , too , saying the Senate “ should be ashamed by the rank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is particularly bright on moderate Democratic Sens .
Joe Manchin III and Doug Jones , of Alabama , who have not yet said which way they will vote .
West Virginia ’ s Manchin said he believes there is a bipartisan majority that would condemn the president ’ s actions and urged his colleagues to censure the president .
But that idea has been rejected by some Republicans , including Sen. Roy Blunt , who told reporters it is “ too late ” to censure Trump .
Asked if he ’ s floating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential acquittal vote , Manchin said , “ I don ’ t know .
I ’ ve never heard that scenario before.
” Here is the latest on impeachment : 4:20 p.m. | Bolton subpoena : House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said it is “ a possibility ” that the House may subpoena former National Security Advisor John Bolton .
“ I ’ m sure we ’ ll discuss it with the leadership , whether it will bear any fruit , ” the Maryland Democrat said .
“ But we have a continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had information that we ought to have .
I frankly think a lot of other information is going to come out along the way .
And I do n't think ignoring it is clearly the option.
” Hoyer said he doesn ’ t think the Senate vote to acquit Trump will be bipartisan .
“ I hope not , ” he said , adding that Republican senators who have decided Trump ’ s actions do n't rise to the level of an impeachable offense “ are wrong.
” 2:45 p.m. | FISA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affairs Chairman Ron Johnson said he is still committed to getting to the bottom of meetings at the White House in 2016 involving Obama administration officials , Ukrainian government representatives and Democratic National Committee officials .
A request he and Senate Finance Chairman Charles E. Grassley sent to the National Archives and Records Administration for records of those meetings apparently produced thousands of pages of responsive documents , which will have to go through a classification review and receive agreement from Obama and his counsel before they can be released , the Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also looking into FISA abuse and various other matters related to 2016 .
“ My chairmanship ends on this committee this year so I want to complete as much of this as possible , ” he said .
“ If we retain the majority , I ’ ll be chairman of PSI and we ’ ll continue.
” 2:35 p.m. | Whistleblower : Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr said an investigation that his panel started several months ago into the whistleblower that was suspended for impeachment will soon resume .
“ Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , ” the North Carolina Republican said .
Asked if his goal is to reform the whistleblower process , Burr said , “ If we find that something did n't proceed like it was designed to.
” 12:19 p.m. | Naming names : Sen. Rand Paul read aloud on the Senate floor the question about the impeachment case that Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. refused to read during the question and answer period last week .
Paul ’ s question identified the alleged whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment inquiry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ A number of Republicans have expressed hope that Trump doesn ’ t bring up impeachment when he delivers his State of the Union speech tonight .
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy said he has had conversations with moderate members of his who are caucus who are considering voting to acquit .
“ I don ’ t know that it ’ s lobbying , but we ’ re spending a lot of time together , so you can ’ t help but have lots of conversations with your colleagues about the consequences of the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re about to take , ” he said .
Alabama Democrat Doug Jones , considered the most vulnerable senator up for reelection this year , and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona have not yet said how they will vote .
Nor have Republicans Susan Collins and Mitt Romney , who both voted with Democrats to hear more witnesses in the trial .
6:40 a.m. | More from the floor : In his floor speech , Manchin said the Senate “ was shortchanged ” by not hearing from witnesses .
“ History will judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how the trail was handled .
He called the House managers ’ case “ strong , ” and said they effectively showed “ what the president did was wrong.
” Murkowski said she voted against hearing from witnesses because it could have left it up to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to decide .
“ What started with political initiatives that degraded the office of the president and left the Congress wallowing in partisan mud threatened to drag the last remaining branch of government down along with us , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case : The House impeachment managers and Trump ’ s defense team closed their arguments Monday afternoon before senators got their time on the floor .
The impeachment court will reconvene for its vote at 4 p.m. Wednesday .
Lead manager Adam B. Schiff challenged senators to “ find the courage to stand up to [ Trump ] , to speak the awful truth to his rank falsehood .
The White House ’ s team continued its theme that impeachment is about overturning Trump ’ s election and that they should “ leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Updated 4:3o p.m.
Senators are taking to the Senate floor to explain their vote on President Donald Trump’s impeachment Tuesday and others will get their turn until they cast it Wednesday afternoon.
Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski said even though Trump’s actions were “shameful and wrong,” she would vote to acquit him. Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins said Tuesday that she will also vote to acquit Trump on both articles of impeachment.
“I do not believe that the House has met its burden of showing that the president’s conduct, however flawed, warrants the extreme step of immediate removal from office,” Collins said.
[View from the gallery: Senators pack up desks as impeachment trial nears its end]


rollcall--2020-02-04--State of the Union: Draft after draft

State of the Union: Draft after draft

Rep. Josh Gottheimer , D-N.J. , speaks with reporters following the final votes of the week on Dec. 12 , @ @ @ @ @ Roll Call ) Rep. Josh Gottheimer was one of the youngest staffers on the Clinton @ @ @ @ @ team .
“ The good news is I was only 23 so I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ how overwhelmed I should have been by being in the West Wing , ” said @ @ @ @ @ Call the Clinton speech memorabilia adorning his walls .
Watch the New Jersey Democrat recall @ @ @ @ @ how last minute the State of the Union comes together .

Rep. Josh Gottheimer was one of the youngest staffers on the Clinton administration’s speech writing team.
“The good news is I was only 23 so I don’t think I realized just how overwhelmed I should have been by being in the West Wing,” said Gottheimer while showing CQ Roll Call the Clinton speech memorabilia adorning his walls.


rollcall--2020-02-05--Survey reveals wide split among aides on impeachment

The impeachment that has so divided lawmakers and the public has also split congressional aides .
The latest Capitol Insiders Survey , conducted by CQ Roll Call as President Donald Trump ’ s lawyers made their case to the Senate , found Democratic staffers in favor of removing Trump from office by a margin of 86 percent to 1 percent , with 13 percent unsure .
Republican aides were even more pronounced in their feelings , with 93 percent of respondents opposed to Trump ’ s removal , 5 percent in favor and 2 percent unsure .
CQ Roll Call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 , and they had through Jan. 29 to fill out the poll .
Of the 148 who did , 86 were Democrats , 60 were Republicans and two were independents .
Some Republican staffers said they would like to see more evidence presented , with 31 percent saying the Senate should call witnesses and subpoena documents and 22 percent saying they believed Trump had done something wrong in his dealings with Ukraine .
[ Even after witness vote , Collins remains in a tough spot in Maine ] Democrats have accused him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter and of obstructing Congress by refusing to cooperate with the Democrats investigating him .
The Democratic aides were united in saying that the Senate should call witnesses and that Trump had done something wrong .
But the GOP respondents were much more confident than the Democrats that the impeachment trial will redound to the Republicans ’ benefit in this election year .
Nearly 7 in 10 Republican respondents said the trial would benefit their party politically , while only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats .
The rest were unsure .
By contrast , more than a third of the Democratic aides said the impeachment trial would benefit neither party , while a quarter said it would benefit the Democrats and 1 in 10 said it would benefit the Republicans .
The belief that Trump is now politically beneficial to the Republican Party marks a huge shift in the Republican aides ’ thinking .
Polled in advance of the 2016 election , fewer than a third of the GOP respondents said they planned to vote for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Democratic opponent , Hillary Clinton , would win .
But now , most Republican staffers say they foresee Trump helping their bosses win reelection .
More than 9 in 10 said they thought the representatives and senators they work for should either remain as aligned as they are now with Trump or align with him more closely in order to boost the party ’ s chances of gaining House and Senate seats .
Only 7 percent said GOP representatives and senators should distance themselves from Trump .
Meanwhile , more than 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump will win reelection , with nearly as many of the staffers supporting his renomination .
The Democratic aides also think their candidate will win the presidency in November , but they are less confident than the Republicans .
Sixty-three percent expect the Democrat to win , with 31 percent predicting Trump will .

Some Republican staffers said they would like to see more evidence presented, with 31 percent saying the Senate should call witnesses and subpoena documents and 22 percent saying they believed Trump had done something wrong in his dealings with Ukraine.
[Even after witness vote, Collins remains in a tough spot in Maine]
Democrats have accused him of abusing his power by asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter and of obstructing Congress by refusing to cooperate with the Democrats investigating him. The Democratic aides were united in saying that the Senate should call witnesses and that Trump had done something wrong.
But the GOP respondents were much more confident than the Democrats that the impeachment trial will redound to the Republicans’ benefit in this election year. Nearly 7 in 10 Republican respondents said the trial would benefit their party politically, while only 1 in 7 see it benefiting the Democrats. The rest were unsure.
By contrast, more than a third of the Democratic aides said the impeachment trial would benefit neither party, while a quarter said it would benefit the Democrats and 1 in 10 said it would benefit the Republicans.


rollcall--2020-02-05--States weigh expansion of their Medicaid programs

Participants hold signs during the Senate Democrats ’ rally against Medicaid cuts in front of the U.S. Capitol on June 6 , 2017 .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) State officials are seeking to change health care coverage for the nation ’ s poorest individuals , with Democrats trying to expand Medicaid to cover more people while Republicans aim to save costs over time .
Democratic governors in at least three states with Republican-controlled legislatures are ramping up efforts to pass legislation to expand the program .
At the same time , states like Michigan have begun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving Medicaid work , which could lead to fewer people being covered if that is upheld in the courts .
[ Medicaid at issue in 2019 races for governor ] On the federal level , the Trump administration announced broad guidance last week allowing states to cap funding in exchange for added flexibility .
And voters in November could greenlight Medicaid expansion because of grassroots efforts by advocates for ballot initiatives in Missouri and Oklahoma .
Last year was one of the most active for Medicaid since states began expanding the program in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and this year promises a flurry of action as well .
Changes in state Medicaid policy through legislation , the courts and the ballot box could have larger implications on the national level .
Democratic governors in Kansas , Wisconsin and North Carolina are pushing for Medicaid expansion .
“ Democratic governors ran and won on the promise of protecting families ’ health care , and they will fight for that commitment in office , even in the face of Republican opposition , ” said Christina Amestoy , the Democratic Governors Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our Democratic governors will do everything they can to get it done.
” Under the 2010 health care law , states can expand coverage to individuals earning up to 138 percent of the poverty level , with the federal government covering 90 percent of the costs .
Kansas Gov .
Laura Kelly announced a deal in January with the Republican state Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning that would expand Medicaid , including a work referral program and monthly premiums .
The state House passed a Medicaid expansion bill last year but was unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kelly said legislators “ have the ability to bring this over the finish line in the early days of the 2020 session .
I am calling on them to do just that.
” Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers , like Kelly , ran on expanding Medicaid .
Wisconsin is the only non-expansion state without a coverage gap , meaning the state covers individuals under Medicaid up to the federal poverty line and low-income individuals whose incomes are higher than that qualify for health insurance exchange subsidies .
Wisconsin ’ s Medicaid structure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ match rate like under the health care law ’ s Medicaid expansion , so the state shoulders more of the costs .
Evers previously proposed expansion , but lawmakers rejected it .
It faces a steep climb to passage again this year .
North Carolina Gov .
Roy Cooper , who is up for reelection this year , similarly pushed for Medicaid expansion in the state ’ s budget last year , leading to a standoff with state lawmakers .
This year , a stand-alone Medicaid expansion bill could get state House support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bigger hurdle in North Carolina will be gaining Senate support .
A number of state-level Medicaid policy changes are taking effect this year .
Two states , Utah and Idaho , began implementing Medicaid expansion in January .
Both states , along with Nebraska , approved expansion by ballot initiative in 2018 .
Nebraska plans to roll out its expansion in October .
Utah ’ s expansion also has a strict work requirement .
Unemployed people are supposed to participate in an online job test , training programs and the completion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If an unemployed Medicaid recipient does not live in an area that has at least 48 job openings , the person can seek an exemption .
The work requirement will likely be challenged in court .
Idaho is awaiting approval of a 20-hour-a-week work requirement .
Michigan began implementing its work requirements in January after winning federal approval in December 2018 .
Eligible enrollees must complete 80 hours of qualifying activities per month .
Failure to complete these requirements for three months within a calendar year could result in termination of benefits .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the work requirements , which were approved by her Republican predecessor and required by law .
The requirements were challenged in district court , but oral arguments have not yet been set .
“ The governor had wanted to delay , similar to other states , given the pending litigation and administrative costs , ” said Robin Rudowitz , co-director of the Kaiser Family Foundation Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured .
But the state law required implementation .
Virginia , which flipped both its legislative houses to Democratic control in November , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans .
Virginia implemented expansion last January and also submitted a waiver to include work requirements .
Republican state lawmakers had successfully pushed for the requirements before signing on to the expansion plan .
But after the election , Democrats controlled both the Virginia legislature and the governorship for the first time in 26 years .
In December , Democratic Gov .
Ralph S. Northam confirmed that the state would modify its Medicaid waivers .
The state legislature is expected to rescind the work requirements .
Last week , the administration revealed long-expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal funding in exchange for more Medicaid flexibility .
States that participate would be able to share savings with the federal government and refuse to cover certain drugs like commercial health plans can do .
Oklahoma GOP Gov .
Kevin Stitt expressed interest in submitting a waiver .
The policy — which was criticized by Democrats , liberal advocacy groups and the pharmaceutical industry — will likely face litigation this year .
Opponents worry it could lead to reduced services , more limited drug coverage and stricter eligibility that would result in enrollment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its hands full defending its approval of several Medicaid work requirements in court .
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit dismissed Kentucky ’ s appeal in January .
The court heard arguments last year over the federal approval of work requirements in Arkansas and Kentucky , but Kentucky ’ s new Democratic governor instructed the state to rescind its waiver .
A decision on Arkansas could come any day , as well as timing on oral arguments on the requirements in Michigan and Indiana .
New Hampshire ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state is waiting to learn if its appeal will be combined with another case .
This fall , Missouri and Oklahoma voters could decide if their states should expand Medicaid coverage .
The states are among 14 that have not adopted expansion , according to the Kaiser Family Foundation .
“ People want to keep rural hospitals open .
They want to bring back their tax dollars to make sure that people and their neighbors are getting health care , ” said Chris Coil , communications director for The Fairness Project , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expansion ballot initiatives .
“ They want to create thousands of jobs in their communities , and that ’ s something that happens every time Medicaid expansion is passed.
” But some states are reluctant to expand Medicaid , citing the costs .
“ The view amongst a fair number of Republican officeholders at the state level and the federal level is that the level of the expansion is too high .
In other words , they are putting too many people on Medicaid , which is already a very , very large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a resident fellow at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute .
Missouri supporters of expansion hope to gather enough signatures by a May 3 deadline to force a ballot vote .
Oklahoma completed its signature requirement last year .

State officials are seeking to change health care coverage for the nation’s poorest individuals, with Democrats trying to expand Medicaid to cover more people while Republicans aim to save costs over time.
Democratic governors in at least three states with Republican-controlled legislatures are ramping up efforts to pass legislation to expand the program. At the same time, states like Michigan have begun implementing aspects of their requirements that people receiving Medicaid work, which could lead to fewer people being covered if that is upheld in the courts.
[Medicaid at issue in 2019 races for governor]
On the federal level, the Trump administration announced broad guidance last week allowing states to cap funding in exchange for added flexibility.
And voters in November could greenlight Medicaid expansion because of grassroots efforts by advocates for ballot initiatives in Missouri and Oklahoma.
Last year was one of the most active for Medicaid since states began expanding the program in 2014 under the 2010 health care overhaul, and this year promises a flurry of action as well. Changes in state Medicaid policy through legislation, the courts and the ballot box could have larger implications on the national level.


rollcall--2020-02-05--TV looks to fill the void where ‘Veep’ and ‘Scandal’ used to be

Actor Spencer Trinwith on set in Los Angeles for the filming of “ King of K Street.
” ( Mike Adan / Courtesy of Mattie Moore ) It ’ s been a rough couple of years for fans of overstated political TV .
First we said goodbye to “ Scandal ” and all its backroom sleaze .
Then it was “ House of Cards ” and “ Designated Survivor.
” We still can ’ t talk about the final season of “ Veep , ” which took the absurdities of Washington and reduced them to a single , never-ending cringe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which means the Washington establishment is in the market for another reflection of itself , preferably one that reveals our warts but also plays to our vanity — no easy feat .
What new TV offering will emerge to fill the void ?
At least one seems to have figured out the vanity part .
The phrases “ Ways and Means ” and “ achingly glamorous ” have likely never been uttered together in the history of either , but CBS is hoping to change that with an upcoming pilot .
Named after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dempsey as a disillusioned congressman .
Yes , that ’ s Patrick Dempsey of medical drama “ Grey ’ s Anatomy , ” the one who played a heartthrob so heartthrob-y that he earned the nickname “ McDreamy.
” Dempsey is also an executive producer of the series , which was almost called “ The Whip , ” alongside the likes of Republican political consultant Mike Murphy , whose job description presumably includes “ ensuring some degree of verisimilitude.
” An underdog in the D.C.-TV fight is “ King of K Street , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrust in the family business of lobbying , ” according to creator Mattie Moore , a former producer at CNBC .
It hasn ’ t been picked up yet , but the project is filming in Los Angeles and will soon head to D.C. — but probably just for b-roll .
Shooting in D.C. is expensive , and Moore doesn ’ t have the kind of dough to “ shut down K street or M street , ” she told us .
Moore calls her show an “ apolitical ” farce “ which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humor.
” Of course , “ King of K Street ” won ’ t be the first to turn a gimlet eye on the world of lobbying .
“ Thank You for Smoking , ” released in 2006 , and “ Casino Jack ” ( based on the Jack Abramoff scandal ) did it well .
HBO ’ s “ K Street ” used head-turning cameos to blur the lines between fiction and reality .
And “ Veep ” gleefully poked holes in the euphemistic cloud — “ consulting ” or “ lobbying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Veep ” this is not — unless you count the bit part that one of the “ King of K Street ” actors had on that show .
Instead , it ’ s the next crop of political TV hopefuls , and we ’ re here for it , like it or no .
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

It’s been a rough couple of years for fans of overstated political TV. First we said goodbye to “Scandal” and all its backroom sleaze. Then it was “House of Cards” and “Designated Survivor.”
We still can’t talk about the final season of “Veep,” which took the absurdities of Washington and reduced them to a single, never-ending cringe.
Those shows are gone now, which means the Washington establishment is in the market for another reflection of itself, preferably one that reveals our warts but also plays to our vanity — no easy feat.
What new TV offering will emerge to fill the void? At least one seems to have figured out the vanity part. The phrases “Ways and Means” and “achingly glamorous” have likely never been uttered together in the history of either, but CBS is hoping to change that with an upcoming pilot. Named after the tax-writing committee, it features Patrick Dempsey as a disillusioned congressman.
Yes, that’s Patrick Dempsey of medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” the one who played a heartthrob so heartthrob-y that he earned the nickname “McDreamy.”


rollcall--2020-02-05--Goodbye, Iowa. Hello, Bloomberg

Goodbye, Iowa. Hello, Bloomberg

If Democrats are serious about beating President Donald Trump , former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg may be their best hope , Murphy writes .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) OPINION — Iowa Democrats can ’ t seem to count caucus votes , even though the votes were cast Monday night in public and covered by so many cable news reporters , they could have rolled up their sleeves and tallied the ballots themselves .
Reporters compared Monday night ’ s debacle to a goat rodeo .
I ’ ve never been to a goat rodeo , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I can tell you the sheep were a lot more organized .
Those little guys probably could have counted votes too .
It ’ s not really that hard .
Congressional Democrats also apparently can ’ t count votes either .
Or at least they hadn ’ t counted the votes they needed before pushing Speaker Nancy Pelosi to begin impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump .
And so the process ends , with Democrats in disarray in the presidential campaign and Trump , the man they ’ re trying to replace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address sitting atop the highest personal approval poll numbers he ’ s ever gotten from Gallup .
Enter the biggest winner of this week .
Not Trump , who seems incapable of just leaving a good news cycle well enough alone .
And not Joe Biden , even though he got to skip giving a pep talk to sad-faced Iowa campaign workers and declare , “ On to New Hampshire !
” And certainly not Mayor Pete , who may or may not have won the caucuses Monday night , but will never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the once-important state with a win under his belt and history in the books .
The real winner this week is former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg , who has been lying in the tall grass of the later states , seeding each with money , TV and staff , waiting for the day Democrats take a look at their options and say , “ Is this the best we can do ?
” That day seems to be coming faster than anyone anticipated .
As the Democratic field has narrowed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have emerged as the top contenders , independent voters I ’ ve spoken with tell me they ’ re looking for two things — someone to keep the Trump economy going , without the drama we endure on a daily basis .
Economy and competence .
“ Can you tell me that the stock market won ’ t fall off a cliff if I vote for you , Bernie ?
” is a frequent refrain .
So is , “ Can Mayor Pete run a country ?
Can any of them ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspire confidence .
And in the meantime , quietly yet in plain view , the Bloomberg campaign has been blanketing America with so much cash , you could pull it up over you like a warm blanket .
Look no further than Georgia , where Bloomberg plans to open eight field offices in the next month .
Why in the world would any campaign spend so much now in a state that isn ’ t voting until after Super Tuesday ?
Because he can .
It ’ s more than money he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s people and endorsements .
While the other candidates have spent their focus on peaking in debates and barnstorming Iowa and New Hampshire , Bloomberg has rolled out more than two dozen endorsements from current and former big-city mayors , most in heavily populated , diverse areas .
Places like Augusta , Georgia , and Flint , Michigan , Los Angeles , Philadelphia and Tampa Bay .
When he nabbed the endorsement of the rising-star black mayor of Columbia , South Carolina , The Washington Post ’ s Jonathan Capehart said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that matters.
” Bloomberg has done this , not with financial support , but by supporting those mayors — for years — on the issues that Democrats care most about .
While national Democrats seemed too timid to enact major changes on gun safety and climate change , Bloomberg invested heavily to promote both .
There ’ s nothing timid about his approach to climate change .
There ’ s nothing timid about his approach to guns .
And by the way , there ’ s not much that ’ s timid about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Democrats have struggled to find the right way to fight back , Bloomberg has seemed to delight in it .
One recent ad features him responding to Trump ’ s claim that Bloomberg had hired him to run a golf course .
“ That ’ s true , ” Bloomberg says .
“ But he was the only bidder and running a golf course is the only job I would hire him for.
” If we look to Bloomberg ’ s 2005 New York mayor ’ s race , there are lessons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without a party or much of a personality wins an election .
For one thing , he outspent his rival 10-to-1 and outmanned him in every category we have tools to measure .
He ’ s doing something similar now , with more than $ 300 million already spent on TV , radio and digital advertising around the country .
And he says he ’ ll have 125 offices around the country with 2,100 staffers by the end of the week .
I heard from one of those Bloomberg staffers recently , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COO ” of the office where he ’ s working .
Can I tell you how many Democratic campaign staffers in the same position I ’ ve talked to call themselves the “ idea guy ?
” As in , “ The staff executes .
I ’ m the idea guy.
” Here ’ s an idea , Democrats .
Get serious about beating Trump .
Bloomberg may not be one of you , but he may be the only person left to save you — if you ’ re not able @ @ @ @

Enter the biggest winner of this week. Not Trump, who seems incapable of just leaving a good news cycle well enough alone. And not Joe Biden, even though he got to skip giving a pep talk to sad-faced Iowa campaign workers and declare, “On to New Hampshire!” And certainly not Mayor Pete, who may or may not have won the caucuses Monday night, but will never have the chance to come barreling out of the once-important state with a win under his belt and history in the books.
The real winner this week is former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has been lying in the tall grass of the later states, seeding each with money, TV and staff, waiting for the day Democrats take a look at their options and say, “Is this the best we can do?” That day seems to be coming faster than anyone anticipated.
As the Democratic field has narrowed and Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Biden seem to have emerged as the top contenders, independent voters I’ve spoken with tell me they’re looking for two things — someone to keep the Trump economy going, without the drama we endure on a daily basis. Economy and competence.
“Can you tell me that the stock market won’t fall off a cliff if I vote for you, Bernie?” is a frequent refrain. So is, “Can Mayor Pete run a country? Can any of them?” The Iowa goat show does not inspire confidence.
And in the meantime, quietly yet in plain view, the Bloomberg campaign has been blanketing America with so much cash, you could pull it up over you like a warm blanket. Look no further than Georgia, where Bloomberg plans to open eight field offices in the next month. Why in the world would any campaign spend so much now in a state that isn’t voting until after Super Tuesday? Because he can.


rollcall--2020-02-05--Capitol Ink | Coronation Day

Capitol Ink | Coronation Day

Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

The Source for news on Capitol Hill since 1955
CQ Roll Call is a part of FiscalNote, the leading technology innovator at the intersection of global business and government. Copyright 2023 CQ Roll Call. All rights reserved.


rollcall--2020-02-04--Cummings’ predecessor, Kweisi Mfume, wins Democratic nod in Maryland

Former Rep. Kweisi Mfume has won the Democratic nomination for Maryland ’ s 7th District , which has been vacant since Elijah E. Cummings died last fall .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) Former Rep. Kweisi Mfume , who last served in the House in 1996 , has won the Democratic nomination for the seat vacated by his successor , the late Rep. Elijah E. Cummings .
Defeating 23 Democrats — including Cummings ’ widow — he ’ s heavily favored to be the next member of Congress from the solidly Democratic Baltimore-area seat .
With 72 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vote when The Associated Press called the race .
Cummings ’ widow , Maya Rockeymoore Cummings , was in second place with 17 percent , followed by state Sen. Jill Carter with 16 percent .
Republican Kimberly Klacik won her party ’ s nomination with 42 percent of the vote .
The nominees will face off in an April 28 special general election in a district that Hillary Clinton carried by 53 points in 2016 .
That is also the date of the state ’ s regularly scheduled primary , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic nomination again that day to appear on the November ballot .
First elected to the House in 1986 , Mfume represented the 7th District until 1996 , when he stepped down to lead the NAACP .
He hasn ’ t served in Congress in over two decades , but voters in the district , which includes parts of Baltimore City and Baltimore and Howard counties , largely remembered him as their congressman .
Mfume has denied allegations of sexual harassment during his tenure at the NAACP , which The Baltimore Sun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations didn ’ t seem to dampen his support among older African American women , a crucial voting bloc in the district .
Half of the district ’ s voters live in the city .
Mfume had the support of two of Cummings ’ sisters , who complained that Rockeymoore Cummings , who could have been the first woman to hold the seat , wasn ’ t “ genuine.
” “ She ’ s not Elijah , no way , ” Diane Woodson , Cummings ’ 63-year-old sister , told CQ Roll Call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mfume ” event in Baltimore .
“ She could never fill his seat or the shoes that he walked in , ” Cheretheria Blount , his 70-year-old sister , added .
National politics , including Monday ’ s presidential caucuses in Iowa and its delayed results , as well as an equally crowded upcoming Baltimore mayoral primary , overshadowed this congressional primary , which fell on the same day as President Donald Trump ’ s State of the Union address .
But Mfume didn ’ t hesitate to make Trump a part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the district to get back at Cummings , who had sought to review the president ’ s personal finances and tax returns as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee .
“ We believe that if we put Humpty Dumpty back together again , we can have a district that is respected , that will say to Donald Trump , ‘ Shut up !
You don ’ t know who we are , ’ ” Mfume said to a crowd of hundreds at last month ’ s Women for Mfume rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of the pre-special reporting period , which ended on Jan. 15 .
Much of the campaigning in this race played out in the last several weeks , with ground organizing and get-out-the-vote efforts .
Mfume , who had the backing of the state AFL-CIO , ran on his experience .
Women often said they didn ’ t know Rockeymoore Cummings , who commuted back and forth between Washington , D.C. , and Baltimore since marrying Elijah Cummings in 2008 .
She didn ’ t become a Maryland voter until 2014 .
Rockeymoore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s legacy — and the promise of continuing it .
Videos on her social media platforms said , “ Send Cummings to Congress ” and “ The legacy continues.
” She earned plenty of high-profile media attention .
She announced her campaign on MSNBC , where she revealed she ’ d be undergoing a preventative double mastectomy .
She also appeared on “ The View ” on Martin Luther King Jr. Day .
Maryland has been without a woman in Congress since 2017 after Sen. Barbara Mikulski retired and Rep. Donna Edwards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A woman has never represented the 7th District .
EMILY ’ s List backed Rockeymoore Cummings .
The NAACP executive committee took a secret vote in 2004 not to renew Mfume ’ s contract as president , according to the Sun ’ s review of former NAACP Chairman Julian Bond ’ s papers , now at the University of Virginia .
The newspaper found allegations of sexual harassment , including a threat of a lawsuit against Mfume and the NAACP .
Mfume has denied those allegations .
“ It ’ s not an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think it ’ s an issue for women , ” Thelma Daley , the chairwoman of Women for Mfume and national director of Women in the NAACP , told CQ Roll Call last month .

Former Rep. Kweisi Mfume, who last served in the House in 1996, has won the Democratic nomination for the seat vacated by his successor, the late Rep. Elijah E. Cummings. Defeating 23 Democrats — including Cummings’ widow — he’s heavily favored to be the next member of Congress from the solidly Democratic Baltimore-area seat.
With nearly all the precincts reporting, Mfume had 43 percent of the vote. Cummings’ widow, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, was in second place with 17 percent, followed by state Sen. Jill Carter with 16 percent.
Republican Kimberly Klacik won her party’s nomination with 40 percent of the vote. The nominees will face off in an April 28 special general election in a district that Hillary Clinton carried by 53 points in 2016. That is also the date of the state’s regularly scheduled primary, which means that Mfume will have to win the Democratic nomination again that day to appear on the November ballot.
First elected to the House in 1986, Mfume represented the 7th District until 1996, when he stepped down to lead the NAACP. He hasn’t served in Congress in over two decades, but voters in the district, which includes parts of Baltimore City and Baltimore and Howard counties, largely remembered him as their congressman.
Mfume has denied allegations of sexual harassment during his tenure at the NAACP, which The Baltimore Sun unearthed during the campaign, and those allegations didn’t seem to dampen his support among older African American women, a crucial voting bloc in the district. Half of the district’s voters live in the city.


rollcall--2020-02-04--A boost for Buttigieg and concerns for Biden and Warren

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg talks with attendees at a campaign event in Fairfield , Iowa , on Aug. 15 , 2019 .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) ANALYSIS | One state down , and many states to go .
In one respect , former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg “ won ” the Iowa caucuses Monday evening regardless whether he finishes first in delegates or in the popular vote .
One year ago , Buttigieg was a mere asterisk in the Democratic contest .
Then 37 years old and the gay mayor of South Bend , Indiana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money or to excite Democratic voters , who were likely to gravitate to better known officeholders like former Vice President Joe Biden , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
Even former Rep. Beto O ’ Rourke , fresh off an unsuccessful but enthusiasm-generating Senate campaign in Texas , seemed like a potentially more significant hopeful in the Democratic field .
Veteran pollster Gary Langer described Buttigieg ’ s performance in the Iowa caucuses entrance poll as showing a “ broad-based appeal , ” while candidates like Sanders and Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did extremely well among young voters , but poorly among seniors .
Biden was strong with seniors but weak among younger voters .
Sanders did well among the most liberal voters , while Biden was strong among so-called moderates .
Iowa was not kind to Biden .
His fourth-place showing was unimpressive , and while it is fair to note that the state is not necessarily ideal for him , his weak showing doesn ’ t necessarily inspire confidence in his ability to win the nomination .
As I noted months ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sharpness as a candidate .
Biden ’ s strategy continues to be surviving until South Carolina at the end of February , when African-American voters will carry him to victory in the Democratic primary .
But if he finishes behind Buttigieg in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday and underperforms in the Nevada caucuses on February 22nd , will the air completely come out of Biden ’ s balloon ?
Biden isn ’ t the only hopeful who leaves Iowa with huge question marks .
Warren seems to have finished third in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the “ tickets ” out of the state .
That ’ s a solid finish , but remember : Warren was often credited with having the top ground game in Iowa .
More important , Warren is in a mini-race against Sanders , and the Vermont senator beat her in Iowa and appears to be running ahead of her in the Granite State ( where both Sanders and Warren are neighbors ) , as well as in national polls .
If Warren repeatedly finishes behind Sanders , she will at some point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her party ’ s nomination .
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar has reason to be happy with her relatively strong fifth-place showing ( based on popular votes and delegates ) in Iowa .
She clearly gained strength in the final weeks before the caucuses , and her message of pragmatism and electability certainly seems to resonate with some Democrats .
But Klobuchar is competing with both Biden and Buttigieg for that Democratic “ lane , ” and her showing no doubt had something to do with the fact that Minnesota is an Iowa neighbor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to repeat her “ Midwest ” message in New Hampshire , Nevada or South Carolina , so even if Biden stumbles more , it ’ s unclear whether she can overtake Buttigieg in the pragmatic lane .
Buttigieg has both assets and liabilities as a candidate — including questions about his appeal in the minority community — but he is one of the few candidates who can appeal to a broad spectrum of Democratic voters .
That is , he seems acceptable to Democrats of various stripes , in part because he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burdened by a long record of recorded votes and political positions .
Finally , Biden ’ s showing had to make supporters of Michael Bloomberg feel good .
The pragmatic lane remains fractured , and the former New York mayor ’ s money means he can run a first-rate media campaign in Super Tuesday states on March 3 .
One caucus does not equal the Democratic nomination .
But Buttigieg benefits most from Monday ’ s results .
Now he has to take advantage of that showing .

ANALYSIS | One state down, and many states to go. In one respect, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg “won” the Iowa caucuses Monday evening regardless whether he finishes first in delegates or in the popular vote.
One year ago, Buttigieg was a mere asterisk in the Democratic contest. Then 37 years old and the gay mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Buttigieg seemed unlikely to raise the necessary money or to excite Democratic voters, who were likely to gravitate to better known officeholders like former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Even former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, fresh off an unsuccessful but enthusiasm-generating Senate campaign in Texas, seemed like a potentially more significant hopeful in the Democratic field.
Veteran pollster Gary Langer described Buttigieg’s performance in the Iowa caucuses entrance poll as showing a “broad-based appeal,” while candidates like Sanders and Biden demonstrated much more narrow appeal.
Sanders did extremely well among young voters, but poorly among seniors.
Biden was strong with seniors but weak among younger voters.


rollcall--2020-02-05--Donald Trump: How to win kitsch and influence people

First Lady Melania Trump awards Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom during President Donald Trump ’ s State of the Union address in the House Chamber on February 4 , 2020 .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) President Donald Trump ’ s State of the Union was a master class in deploying conservative rhetoric , entertainment kitsch and Americana tropes before a televised audience .
Critics of the president frequently fail to understand his appeal to his supporters , but many times that comes down to the somewhat elusive question of taste .
It might just depend on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” or “ The Big Bang Theory.
” For the latest Political Theater Podcast , Alyssa Rosenberg of the Washington Post discusses Trump ’ s gifts as an entertainer and how he uses it to maximum effect in the political arena .
• Five made-for-TV moments from the State of the Union • ‘ Taking off the gloves ’ : Pelosi ripping SOTU draws parties into their corners • Photos of the day : State of the Union 2020 • Soldier reunited with family during State of the Union • Strong , hateful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State of the Union in 3 words • State of the Union : Draft after draft • For Trump , a State of the Union with nothing to say • To write a State of the Union for Clinton , you had to do math Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

President Donald Trump’s State of the Union was a master class in deploying conservative rhetoric, entertainment kitsch and Americana tropes before a televised audience.
Critics of the president frequently fail to understand his appeal to his supporters, but many times that comes down to the somewhat elusive question of taste. It might just depend on whether you prefer “Game of Thrones” or “The Big Bang Theory.”
For the latest Political Theater podcast, Alyssa Rosenberg of The Washington Post discusses Trump’s gifts as an entertainer and how he uses it to maximum effect in the political arena.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-02-05--Like McCain before him, Romney rebukes President Trump

Back in 2008 , Mitt Romney spoke at the Republican National Convention to back the presidential candidacy of onetime rival John McCain .
( Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call file photo ) The greatest rebukes of Donald Trump ’ s presidency from the Republican side of the aisle have come from the two previous standard-bearers for the GOP .
When Utah Sen. Mitt Romney , a freshman senator best known for being the 2012 Republican nominee for president , announced Wednesday on the Senate floor that he would vote to convict Trump of abuse of power , it evoked memories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. John McCain voted in 2017 to thwart the president ’ s desired repeal of the 2010 health care law .
McCain , a hero of the Vietnam War and the 2008 Republican nominee for president , cast his vote with a dramatic thumbs-down that the current occupant of the Oval Office has not forgotten .
Trump has continued to allude to the vote , which doomed GOP plans to nix the health care law , particularly during campaign rallies .
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries , one of the impeachment managers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguments Monday .
The New York Democrat quoted McCain as saying : “ Glory belongs to the act of being constant to something greater than yourself , to a cause , to your principles , to the people on whom you rely and who rely on you.
” McCain , like Romney , was a longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin , and the Jeffries presentation might be viewed through the prism of connecting the two men .
Jeffries told the Senate that Ukrainians and Europeans were watching whether the Senate would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founded on .
“ Doing the right thing and being constant to our principles requires a level of moral courage that is difficult but by no means impossible , ” he said .
Though , in the president ’ s parlance , both McCain and Romney are “ losers ” for having failed in their respective presidential campaigns against Democrat Barack Obama , both men embodied the mainstream of the Republican Party , especially when it came to foreign policy and America ’ s role in the world .
GOP senators otherwise lined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ articles of impeachment , including the charge of abuse of power in seeking an investigation of the Biden family by Ukraine , as well as what turned out to be a temporary withholding of foreign assistance to help the country counter its Russian neighbor .
In his floor speech , Romney said his support for much of the president ’ s agenda was not sufficient to excuse the behavior that he thought merited removal .
“ I have voted with him 80 percent of the time .
But my promise before God to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my personal feelings and biases aside , ” the Utah senator said .
“ Were I to ignore the evidence that has been presented , and disregard what I believe my oath and the Constitution demands of me for the sake of a partisan end , it would , I fear , expose my character to history ’ s rebuke and the censure of my own conscience.
” Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel , Romney ’ s own niece , quickly said in a tweet that the party was on Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time I have disagreed with Mitt , and I imagine it will not be the last .
The bottom line is President Trump did nothing wrong , and the Republican Party is more united than ever behind him , ” she said .
“ I , along with the @ GOP , stand with President Trump.
” To be sure , Romney knew what was coming .
He is not up for reelection in Utah until 2024 , which would be at the end of a potential second term for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are people in my party and in my state who will strenuously disapprove of my decision , and in some quarters , I will be vehemently denounced .
I am sure to hear abuse from the president and his supporters , ” Romney said .
“ Does anyone seriously believe I would consent to these consequences other than from an inescapable conviction that my oath before God demanded it of me ?
” As for any relationship with Trump himself ?
Romney had a thought about that in an interview with The Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ ll burn that bridge when we come to it , ” Romney said .
Though he ’ s not on the ballot this year , Romney ’ s vote quickly became fodder in other races , including the special election in Georgia for former Sen. Johnny Isakson ’ s seat .
Rep. Doug Collins took to Twitter to point out that Sen. Kelly Loeffler , a fellow Republican who was appointed to the seat by the governor , had given more than $ 750,000 to Romney 's 2012 presidential campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elect @ realDonaldTrump in 2016.
” Collins is challenging Loeffler in the November special election .
Despite widespread speculation about other senators voting contrary to their partisan affiliation , Romney was the only one to cross party lines .
He voted to convict the president on the article of impeachment on abuse of power , leading to a final vote tally 48-52 .
He voted with his party to acquit the president on the obstruction of Congress article , making the final tally a party-line vote of 47-53 .
West Virginia Democratic Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection in 2018 , was among the last holdouts , announcing just before the vote that he would vote “ guilty ” on both both charges .
“ I take no pleasure in these votes , and am saddened this is the legacy we leave our children and grandchildren .
I have always wanted this President , and every President to succeed , but I deeply love our country and must do what I think is best for the nation , ” Manchin said in a statement .
As he waited for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sullen , head tilted down toward his lap where he picked at his fingers .
Trump is popular in West Virginia — he carried it by 42 points in 2016 .
Manchin hasn ’ t ruled out running again in 2024 , so his votes put him in the spotlight .
Manchin took advantage of own personal brand in the state — he ’ s a former two-term governor — and a flawed opponent to win a second full term in 2018 .
He played up his relationship with the president and ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall .
Manchin is used to bucking his party in the Senate .
He was the only Democrat to vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh in 2018 .
But on Wednesday ’ s votes , he stuck with his party .
Several Democrats approached Manchin after the votes and shook his hand or hugged him before they left the floor .
Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer connected with Manchin in the Cloakroom and gave him a hug .
Meanwhile , Arizona Democrat Kyrsten Sinema , a freshman senator , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the impeachment process , declining to offer the media much insight into her thinking as the trial unfolded .
Like Manchin , whom she hugged on the Senate floor before the vote , Sinema announced prior to the vote that she supported Trump ’ s conviction on both charges , calling his actions “ dangerous to the fundamental principles of American democracy.
” She drew attention when she stood and applauded several times during Tuesday ’ s State of the Union address when her Democratic colleagues did not .
Trump carried Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Democrats are making a play for the state this November .
Sinema arrived in the Senate last year , having defeated Republican Martha McSally by 2 points .
She ’ s not facing reelection until 2024 .
( McSally was subsequently appointed to the late Sen. John McCain ’ s seat and is up for election this year . )
Sinema has already bucked her party in the Senate .
Her vote for two of Trump ’ s Cabinet nominees provoked progressives in Arizona into trying to censure her .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee in 2018 and has not yet officially endorsed Mark Kelly in his Senate race against McSally .
Simone Pathé , Herb Jackson , Griffin Connolly , Lindsey McPherson and Todd Ruger contributed to this report .

The greatest rebukes of Donald Trump’s presidency from the Republican side of the aisle have come from the two previous standard-bearers for the GOP.
When Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, a freshman senator best known for being the 2012 Republican nominee for president, announced Wednesday on the Senate floor that he would vote to convict Trump of abuse of power, it evoked memories of the time when the late Arizona Sen. John McCain voted in 2017 to thwart the president’s desired repeal of the 2010 health care law.
McCain, a hero of the Vietnam War and the 2008 Republican nominee for president, cast his vote with a dramatic thumbs-down that the current occupant of the Oval Office has not forgotten. Trump has continued to allude to the vote, which doomed GOP plans to nix the health care law, particularly during campaign rallies.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries, one of the impeachment managers, spoke of McCain during the closing arguments Monday.


Unchecked Power

CQ on Congress host Shawn Zeller builds a case of how the acquittal of President Trump is yet another notch @ @ @ @ @ toward an imperial presidency leaving a sagging Congress and judiciary that will have implications for @ @ @ @ @ making .

CQ on Congress host Shawn Zeller builds a case of how the acquittal of President Donald Trump is yet another notch in this administration’s move toward an imperial presidency leaving a sagging Congress and judiciary that will have implications for 21st century policies and policy making.


rollcall--2020-02-05--Doug Jones, facing ‘lose-lose’ situation, opts to convict Trump

Long before the impeachment process began , Sen. Doug Jones was considered the most vulnerable senator in 2020 .
The Alabama Democrat ’ s vote Wednesday to remove President Donald Trump from office doesn ’ t change that .
Jones , a former prosecutor , said that after “ many sleepless nights , ” he concluded that Trump abused his power by pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate Democrats , including former Vice President Joe Biden , and that Trump obstructed Congress ’ investigations of those allegations .
The Senate later voted Wednesday to acquit Trump on both impeachment charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ decision does not fundamentally alter the headwinds he faces in 2020 as a Democrat running for reelection in a state Trump carried by 28 points in 2016 .
Because Alabama is already so polarized , a high-profile vote on a polarizing issue like impeachment mainly reinforces that partisan divide .
“ There are places where this could have an impact , ” Alabama Republican consultant Jonathan Gray said .
“ Alabama ’ s just not one of those states.
” Some campaign strategists cast Jones ’ vote as picking the lesser of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he would face a backlash , from either Trump supporters or his Democratic base .
“ He is in a real political vise on this , ” one Democratic operative said .
“ This is a lose-lose situation for him.
” Jones ’ potential Republican opponents were quick to cast his decision to convict Trump as proof that he aligns more with Democrats in Washington than with Alabamians .
GOP Rep. Bradley Byrne said Jones ’ vote was “ the final straw , ” adding that he was continuing to “ put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of Alabama.
” And former GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions called Jones “ a foot soldier for Chuck Schumer and the radical left.
” But it ’ s not clear whether Jones would have won over any Trump supporters had he decided to acquit the president .
“ He ’ s not going to move any pro-Trump Republicans , regardless of how he votes , ” Gray said .
If he had voted to acquit , Jones could have risked angering a Democratic base that has to turn out in high numbers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a full term in November .
The Democratic operative said voting to convict and remove Trump “ gives [ Jones ] the opportunity now to spend the next several months trying to woo independents and find ticket-splitters , instead of trying to spend day in and day out trying to repair damage with his political base.
” Jones also needs Republican crossover votes to win reelection , and impeachment could dampen that effort .
But Gray noted that a vote to convict Trump could appeal to so-called Never Trumpers in the GOP who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the president .
The problem for Jones , though , is there aren ’ t many of them in Alabama .
“ It makes things a little bit difficult for him but doesn ’ t fundamentally change the math , ” the Democratic operative said .
“ The math was always difficult for him.
” Jones does appear to have enough resources to make his case to Alabama voters .
He began the year with $ 5.4 million in his campaign account , according to recent filings with the Federal Election Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much in the bank as Sessions , the former attorney general and the best-funded Republican running in the March 3 primary .
Sessions ’ campaign had $ 2.5 million at the start of the year , most of which was left from the Senate account he had built before he gave up his seat to join the Trump administration in 2017 .
Byrne had $ 2.2 million on hand at the end of the year , while former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville had $ 1.5 million .
Jones was also well-funded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three years of Sessions ’ term .
He went on to defeat former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore , who faced allegations of sexual assault and misconduct in the final weeks of the race .
Republicans who opposed Moore were a critical voting bloc for Jones in that race .
Moore is running again , but campaign strategists say he is not expected to emerge from the primary .
He had $ 44,000 in his campaign account on Dec. 31 .
Sessions , Byrne and Tuberville are considered the top candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to go to a runoff , though , which would take place March 31 .
Republicans often note that Jones barely beat Moore in 2017 , winning by just 2 points .
Absent a deeply flawed candidate like Moore , they argue , Jones faces insurmountable partisan dynamics running for reelection in a deep-red state .
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the Alabama Senate race Leans Republican .
Republicans on Wednesday speculated that Jones ’ decision to remove Trump indicated he ’ s already planning for life after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones has decided he ’ s better off auditioning for a low-level Cabinet slot in a Bernie Sanders administration than reflect the will of Alabama , ” said Jack Pandol , a spokesman for the Senate Leadership Fund , a GOP super PAC .
But Jones has cast his decision as part of a transparent and deliberative process and said he kept an open mind throughout the trial .
He posted daily videos on social media explaining his thoughts on the vote and did a slew of interviews prior to the trial about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event .
Jones , a former U.S. attorney who once prosecuted Ku Klux Klan members , said his vote was ultimately one of conscience .
Standing on the Senate floor Wednesday , he noted that he sits at the same desk as former President John F. Kennedy , who authored “ Profiles in Courage ” while serving in the Senate .
“ There are so many who will simply look at what I am doing today and say it is a profile in courage .
It is not , ” Jones said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ right and wrong.
” Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

Long before the impeachment process began, Sen. Doug Jones was considered the most vulnerable senator in 2020. The Alabama Democrat’s vote Wednesday to remove President Donald Trump doesn’t change that.
Jones, a former prosecutor, said that after “many sleepless nights,” he concluded that Trump abused his power by pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate Democrats, including former Vice President Joe Biden, and that Trump obstructed Congress’ investigations of those allegations.
Operatives in both parties said Jones’ decision does not fundamentally alter the headwinds he faces in 2020 as a Democrat running for reelection in a state Trump carried by 28 points in 2016. Because Alabama is already so polarized, a high-profile vote on a polarizing issue like impeachment mainly reinforces that partisan divide.
“There are places where this could have an impact,” Alabama Republican consultant Jonathan Gray said. “Alabama’s just not one of those states.”
‘Lose-lose’ situation?
Some campaign strategists cast Jones’ vote as picking the lesser of two evils. Whichever way he voted, he would face a backlash, from either Trump supporters or his Democratic base.


rollcall--2020-02-05--Senate votes to acquit Trump on both impeachment charges

Sen. Edward Markey , D-Mass.
, walks past protesters as he leaves the Capitol after the Senate impeachment trial proceedings on Monday .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) The Senate on Wednesday acquitted President Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment , swiftly ending months of investigation and public arguments that ultimately changed few minds on Capitol Hill .
The Senate voted 48-52 to reject the House ’ s abuse of power charge and 47-53 to reject the obstruction of Congress charge .
A two-thirds majority of the Senate is required for conviction .
Trump ’ s acquittal ends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment saga that began soon after his 2017 inauguration but was n't officially launched until Sept. 24 , 2019 , when Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the House 's impeachment inquiry .
The House then undertook a punishing schedule of depositions and public hearings , including a roster of senior White House , Pentagon and State Department officials defying Trump ’ s orders and testifying on the alleged scheme to hold up military aid to Ukraine until Kyiv agreed to investigate 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter .
Utah Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress to defy Trump during the inquiry and trial , casting a vote to convict the president on the charge of abuse of power .
Romney on Wednesday said Trump made a “ flagrant assault on our electoral rights , our national security , and our fundamental values.
” Romney fought back tears during his speech , speaking about commitment to his faith and his oath “ before God ” to conduct impartial justice .
He called this the most difficult decision he has ever made .
Other Republican fence-sitters came out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would vote to acquit .
But some took to the Senate floor to explain their positions before the vote .
Lamar Alexander of Tennessee said Wednesday he believed Trump did what the House alleged , but that his “ inappropriate ” actions were not impeachable .
“ The question , then , is not whether the president did it , ” Alexander said , “ but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did .
I believe that the Constitution clearly provides that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidential election that began on Monday in Iowa.
” Alexander went on to call the obstruction of Congress article “ frivolous , ” a sentiment echoed by Maine Republican Susan Collins and Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski who were also considered potential swing votes .
Alexander , Murkowski and Collins said the House rushed the impeachment process , noting that House Democrats did not pursue witnesses they argued must be heard like former national security adviser John Bolton before impeaching Trump .
The House argued that Trump blocked those witnesses from appearing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should have settled the dispute in court .
More than a dozen Senate spouses were in the family gallery to witness their partners cast their historic votes .
The balconies were packed , with visitors , staffers , family and press all interested in watching the close of the impeachment trial .
Right before the vote , Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi might tear up the verdict like the California Democrat did with Trump ’ s State of the Union speech Tuesday night .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he seemed to consider a clever line , but no other senators reacted .
Faces remained similarly stone during the votes .
Each senator had to stand , and instead of yeas and nays , say guilty or not guilty .
The similar sound of the options left some Republican senators giving extra emphasis to the “ not ” in not guilty , or perhaps that reflected an emphasis on their strong views on the articles .
Iowa Republican Charles E. Grassley , a sometimes cantankerous octogenarian who raises his voice while making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audible while he announced his votes .
When Romney voted guilty on the abuse of power article , there was no reaction among his Republican colleagues .
While the impeachment process is now over , the issue is sure to follow Trump as he campaigns for reelection .
[ Out of the impeachment , into the fallout ] Arguing before the Senate on Monday , the House ’ s lead impeachment manager Adam B. Schiff of California repeatedly asserted that Trump must be removed from office because if allowed to stand for reelection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the odds if left in office that he will continue trying to cheat ?
I will tell you : 100 percent , ” Schiff said .
“ A man without character or ethical compass will never find his way .
”

The Senate on Wednesday acquitted President Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment, swiftly ending months of investigation and public arguments that ultimately changed few minds on Capitol Hill.
The Senate voted 48-52 to reject the House’s abuse of power charge and 47-53 to reject the obstruction of Congress charge. A two-thirds majority of the Senate is required for conviction.
Trump’s acquittal ends, at least for now, an impeachment saga that began soon after his 2017 inauguration but wasn’t officially launched until Sept. 24, 2019, when Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the House’s impeachment inquiry.
The House then undertook a punishing schedule of depositions and public hearings, including a roster of senior White House, Pentagon and State Department officials defying Trump’s orders and testifying on the alleged scheme to hold up military aid to Ukraine until Kyiv agreed to investigate 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
Utah Republican Mitt Romney became the only Republican in Congress to defy Trump during the inquiry and trial, casting a vote to convict the president on the charge of abuse of power.