rollcall--2020-01-14--Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 14

Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 14

Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrives for the House Democrats ’ meeting Tuesday to discuss transmission of of impeachment to the Senate .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) Emerging from a caucus meeting this morning , House Democrats indicated a vote on transmitting articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump would be held Wednesday .
Rep. Karen Bass says Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not identify the impeachment managers but Rep. Henry Cuellar said Pelosi said the resolution would be done tomorrow and a vote would occur then .
“ That ’ s what we would assume , everything would be done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pelosi did not say how many managers there would be , Cuellar said .
Pelosi might announce the names of the impeachment managers “ at some point before ” the resolution to formally name them is released , House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer told reporters during his weekly pen and pad briefing .
“ We expect to transmit [ the articles ] tomorrow at some point in the day , ” he said .
“ It won ’ t be morning .
It won ’ t be before noon , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday ’ s vote on managers .
The House typically doesn ’ t start legislative business before noon , except on fly-out days , which is Thursday this week .
Hoyer said the timing question on the resolution is about whether a vote should occur before or after a 3 p.m. Congressional Gold Medal ceremony .
“ I certainly expect the resolution to pass tomorrow , ” he said .
“ As you know , it ’ s a 10-minute debate , five minutes per side .
It ’ s really procedural.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmitting the articles to the Senate to occur sometime Wednesday but said it could also be “ at the latest Thursday morning.
” Here is the latest on impeachment : What else they talked about : “ She talked about what ’ s not happening in the Senate , '' Rep. Rosa DeLauro said of what Pelosi did say in the meeting .
She repeated Democrats ’ arguments that the rules the Senate is considering are not identical to the rules for Clinton ’ s trial .
Not calling witnesses would be unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the meeting to lay out procedural technicalities of the impeachment handoff and the House ’ s role , said Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado .
Asked if Pelosi told the caucus who she would name as managers , New York Rep. Max Rose said she did not , but that the speaker did provide a breakfast that was “ out of this world.
” The Bolton question : “ Nothing has been ruled in and nothing has been ruled out , ” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jefferies said when asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security adviser John Bolton , who resigned from the White House over foreign policy differences .
“ The ball is in the Senate ’ s court.
” Bolton raised issues with the involvement of Rudy Giuliani , Trump ’ s personal attorney , in negotiations with Ukrainian President Zolodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Trump political rivals in return releasing a military aid package .
Bolton has said he would testify in a Senate trial if he was subpoenaed .
Managerial decisions : Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters , Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who were among six committee chairs leading investigations into Trump this year , all said they will not be impeachment managers , nor did they want to be .
“ I think it ’ s more of a lawyerly undertaking now , ” Neal said .
Waters also said she thinks the managers should be attorneys .
Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler declined to say whether he would be named a manager as he left the meeting .
He declined to reveal any details on those picks , including whether he was involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been finalized .
Nadler did say he expects the resolution naming the managers to be released “ soon.
” When asked to clarify if that meant the text would be released Tuesday , he said , “ possibly.
” Rep. Zoe Lofgren , a veteran member of the Judiciary Committee who worked in different capacities on the Clinton and Nixon impeachments , said “ I can ’ t really discuss it , ” when asked whether she has been asked to serve as a manager .
“ I did not apply for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked if she wanted to be one .
“ Whatever the speaker wants is what we ’ ll do , ” Lofgren said .
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland , another Judiciary Committee member , also declined to comment on whether he has been asked to serve as a manager .
Jeffries said he had “ no expectation to serve as an impeachment manager .
I have a day job.
” “ It ’ s the speaker ’ s call , ” he said , but he noted he expects Intelligence Chairman Adam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ very capable individuals named.
” Jeffries noted that he was speaking alongside Judiciary members David Cicilline and Ted Lieu “ who I would expect or certainly would be very tremendous impeachment managers.
” Cicilline is chairman and Lieu is a co-chairman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee , the caucus ’ messaging arm .
Pelosi and Schiff remained in the room for more than an hour after most members broke from the meeting .
They left through a back door away from most of the gathered media and did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handful of cameras .
On the other hand : Rep. Markwayne Mullin said the Republicans did not spend much time discussing impeachment in their caucus meeting , but did discuss logistics on when they expect Pelosi to appoint managers for the Senate trial and transmit the articles .
“ We just talked about when we expect her to send it ( articles of impeachment ) over and when the vote might be , ” the Oklahoma Republican said .
“ We expect that tomorrow we might have the vote on appointing their representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we don ’ t know when she ’ s planning on walking over and if they plan on doing it at the same time or not.
” “ The only time we discussed it was when we were talking about votes , ” Mullin added .
What ’ s proper : Rep. Jason Smith said at a news conference Tuesday morning that Republicans were concerned about the impartiality of the four Democratic senators running for president .
“ I think a question that needs to be asked , as the Articles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate , is will the four candidates for office for president of the United States be impartial jurors ?
, ” Smith said , referring to Sens .
Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , Bernie Sanders of Vermont , and Michael Bennet of Colorado .
McConnell said in December that he is “ not an impartial juror.
” Smith , a Missouri Republican who serves as the conference secretary , called for the Democrats running for president to recuse themselves from the Senate trial .
“ Four people that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the United States and the election process .
How can they be impartial jurors sitting through that process ?
That ’ s a question that should be asked .
That ’ s a question that should be addressed and I hope those four senators decide to recuse themselves , ” Smith said .
“ That is what ’ s proper.
” The timing of the transmission of articles will allow those senators who qualified to participate in tonight ’ s Democratic presidential debate in Iowa .
Klobuchar , Sanders and Warren are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bennet didn ’ t qualify , and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey , who also didn ’ t qualify , dropped out of the race on Monday .
Ready to help : Trump indicated earlier that he would like to have some of his fiercest Republican defenders in the House be members of his legal team in the Senate , but Senate Republicans have made it clear that ’ s not a strategy they favor .
“ I ’ m gon na do anything I can to help the president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any possible role he might have in a Senate trial .
Jordan said the only conversations he has had with the Senate was when he was asked by GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah to brief him on the progress of the House inquiry .
“ I ’ ve not had any conversation with senators about whether I ’ m on any type of defense team , ” Jordan said .
“ That ’ s completely up to President Trump , [ White House counsel ] Pat Cipollone and [ Majority Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want us to help in that manner , we will , ” Jordan said of a potential role in the Senate trial .
Dismissal dismissed : Chances of the Senate dismissing the articles in short order appeared to diminish Monday with at least five Republican senators saying they would vote against such a move or that they would consider voting for hearing witnesses .
McConnell can only afford to lose four Republican senators to be able to dismiss the case against Trump .
Sens .
Lamar Alexander , Roy Blunt , Susan Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all indicated that McConnell shouldn ’ t count on their vote .
Trump suggested over the weekend that he would prefer that the Senate dismiss the case rather than give the “ hoax ” any credibility .
Jeffries said Pelosi ’ s decision to hold the articles since the House voted to impeach on Dec. 18 “ created space ” for Collins , Murkowski and Romney “ to publicly and expressly say individuals like John Bolton should testify if the Senate is going to conduct a fair trial.
” He cited GOP Sens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cory Gardner and Alexander as others where “ hopefully decency will prevail ” to vote to call witnesses .
“ No games ” : Republican Rep. Jim Banks thinks Pelosi held the impeachment articles for several weeks in part to have the impeachment trial hang over Trump at his Feb. 4 State of the Union address .
Banks said in a series of tweets Trump should tell her “ no games ” and say he won ’ t deliver his SOTU until after the trial .
“ Its not just America watching SOTU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Tehran is watching .
Hong Kong is watching .
Taipei is watching .
Each have made clear they want their cities & nations to look more like USA .
Trump must deliver message of peace , strength & unity to freedom-loving ppls around the globe !
” Pomp and circumstance : The transmission of the articles is more like a choreographed procession , with plenty of pomp and circumstance between the House and the Senate .

House committees investigating President Donald Trump as part of the impeachment process released a trove of documents Tuesday night including phone records, documents and materials produced by Lev Parnas, an associate of President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.
The evidence the committees released showed Parnas was a key figure, as other witnesses testified, in working with Giuliani to try to get Ukraine to open the investigations Trump wanted.
Parnas communicated with several associates of Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, including his top aides and longtime friends Ivan Bakanov and Serhiy Shefir and Ukraine’s interior minister Arsen Avakov, to try to set up a meeting between Giuliani and Zelenskiy, according to electronic messages the committee released.
Handwritten notes from Parnas the committees released seem to offer some insight about the objectives, but the documents were released without the context in which they were written other than that they were scribbled on stationary from the Ritz-Carlton in Vienna.
The notes, which Parnas seems to be taking as reminders for himself, have two starred items, one to “get Zalensky (sic) to announce that the Biden case will be investigated” and one saying he should start communication with Zelenskiy. Those are followed with a note that appears to be numbered list of action items, including plans to put together a package to take to D.C. and “do my ‘magic’ and cut a deal.” The notes mention counsel that had been retained to assist in the matter and suggest thoughts of hiring lobbyists and PR firms as well.


rollcall--2020-01-14--Crypto enthusiasts say new products lend bitcoin credibility

The big development at the end of 2019 was the first trading of what ’ s known as physically settled bitcoin futures , following approval from state and federal regulators .
Those bitcoin futures trade through regulated exchanges and clearinghouses .
( Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images photo illustration ) The cryptocurrency industry is hailing the emergence of complex bitcoin investment products as a needed step to attract new investors while lending credibility to the digital asset and building a pathway to regulatory clarity .
The big development at the end of 2019 was the first trading of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ futures , following approval from state and federal regulators .
And while the launch of these investment products hasn ’ t convinced everyone that they will lead to buy-in from a skeptical financial industry , those leading the charge say it ’ s a crucial step .
Futures represent an agreement to exchange a good for an agreed-upon payment at a later date .
Futures have long been used by buyers and sellers to protect themselves from sudden swings in a market .
The bitcoin futures that launched in 2019 trade through regulated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-founder of Blockchain Advocacy Partners , said products with this level of regulatory oversight help his organization ’ s conversations with lawmakers .
Fonda ’ s trade association represents the interests of the blockchain industry , the distributed ledger technology that makes cryptocurrencies possible .
“ From a policymaker perspective , this lends a tremendous amount of industry credibility for tokens and cryptocurrencies in general , ” Fonda told CQ Roll Call in an interview .
Fonda said there ’ s still a lot of skepticism on Capitol Hill , but regulatory clarity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help lawmakers feel at ease.
” He previously worked as chief of staff to former Rep. Robert Pittenger , a Republican from North Carolina who was on the House Financial Services Committee .
Physically delivered futures differ from cash-settled ones , in which money , rather than cryptocurrency , changes hands .
The worry over cash-settled contracts is their dependence on unregulated spot markets to determine bitcoin ’ s value when the contract ends .
And there have been accusations that bitcoin markets are heavily manipulated by participants .
Delivering the digital coins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t require any determination of value .
Financial tech firm Bakkt LLC , a subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange lnc.
, launched the first physically settled bitcoin futures in September .
Bakkt President Adam White told CQ Roll Call in an interview that these contracts are less vulnerable to manipulation and an added layer of protection from using regulated exchanges to trade the contracts has opened the cryptocurrency to new investors .
The Intercontinental Exchange says it wants to repeat for bitcoin what it did with energy trading in the early 2000s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened up the commodities market to more investors .
Intercontinental also owns the New York Stock Exchange .
“ Our real goal is to onboard new customers , new institutions that have never traded crypto before largely because they didn ’ t want to have a dependency on the unregulated spot markets , ” White said .
Bakkt courts as clients institutional investors , a term that encompasses banks , pensions , mutual funds , endowments , investment advisers and other financial entities .
The company relies on market technology and infrastructure regulated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York state to reassure investors .
Bakkt ’ s physically settled futures trade on a regulated futures exchange and are settled through a regulated clearinghouse owned by its parent company .
Bakkt also provides custody of the bitcoins for the length of the futures contract through a New York trust license .
It took about two years to line up the regulatory approvals needed to launch the products , which has paved the way for others , White said .
“ We ’ re helping the whole market grow by spending time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand what we ’ re doing and how it fits into frameworks that are already there.
” Physically settled futures could also help bitcoin grow beyond a tool for speculation , which is necessary for the digital asset to reach its full potential , White said .
The product “ allows not just speculation but hedging and risk management , ” he said .
Those functions are necessary to lock in bitcoin value if you ’ re a miner producing the currency or a merchant accepting bitcoin as payment .
Steven Adamske , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association , said futures contracts have long served that purpose in other commodities markets , including corn , wheat and soybeans .
He said he expects that they could provide similar benefits for producers and users of bitcoin .
“ Futures have proven to be extremely useful tools for managing the volatility of commodity prices , ” he said in an email .
The other company offering physically settled bitcoin futures is ErisX , which caters to institutional and retail investors trading digital assets .
Its futures launched in December .
CEO Thomas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ healthy mix ” of producers , speculators , hedgers and market makers as customers , including bitcoin miners that need to move inventory and investors or consumers who want the underlying commodity .
The company is backed by U.S. online brokerage TD Ameritrade .
Chippas likened the function to gold futures , which a buyer may use to gain ownership of gold to hold as a long-term investment or to use as a raw material in manufacturing a product , such as jewelry .
Not everyone agrees that the new products will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nafis Alam , a finance professor at Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation , said he ’ s skeptical that the futures will mature bitcoin markets beyond speculation .
Alam ’ s work focuses on financial technology .
“ With a physical settlement , we can get rid of speculative trading , but the underlying asset needs to be a stable , popular and valuable asset like gold rather than a speculative one like bitcoin , ” he said in an email .
Bitcoin ’ s price is driven by speculation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Moreover , regulated futures didn ’ t solve the greater legal and regulatory uncertainty surrounding bitcoin or digital assets , Alam added .
Declining prices , for example , are proof that new investment products have done little to solve bitcoin ’ s underlying problems , he said .
From the September launch of Bakkt ’ s futures to Jan. 1 , bitcoin ’ s price dropped by about 26 percent .
In the first three days after the launch , the price dropped by more than $ 1,600 , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ With a physically settled bitcoin future , the price should have gone up but unfortunately , it has not happened which shows a lack of trust in Bitcoin as an asset , ” Alam said .

“From a policymaker perspective, this lends a tremendous amount of industry credibility for tokens and cryptocurrencies in general,” Fonda told CQ Roll Call in an interview.
Fonda said there’s still a lot of skepticism on Capitol Hill, but regulatory clarity and investor acceptance of digital assets “help lawmakers feel at ease.” He previously worked as chief of staff to former Rep. Robert Pittenger, a Republican from North Carolina who was on the House Financial Services Committee.
Physically delivered futures differ from cash-settled ones, in which money, rather than cryptocurrency, changes hands. The worry over cash-settled contracts is their dependence on unregulated spot markets to determine bitcoin’s value when the contract ends. And there have been accusations that bitcoin markets are heavily manipulated by participants. Delivering the digital coins to an account, though, doesn’t require any determination of value.
Financial tech firm Bakkt LLC, a subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange lnc., launched the first physically settled bitcoin futures in September. Bakkt President Adam White told CQ Roll Call in an interview that these contracts are less vulnerable to manipulation and an added layer of protection from using regulated exchanges to trade the contracts has opened the cryptocurrency to new investors.
The Intercontinental Exchange says it wants to repeat for bitcoin what it did with energy trading in the early 2000s. Founded in 2000, the Intercontinental Exchange opened up the commodities market to more investors. Intercontinental also owns the New York Stock Exchange.


rollcall--2020-01-14--Cyberattackers lurking longer inside computers, report finds

To avoid detection , sophisticated nation-state attackers tend to operate quickly after breaking into a victim ’ s computer .
But criminals may move slowly , hoping to cause bigger disruptions and collect larger ransoms , CrowdStrike said in a 2019 report .
( Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Online attackers are becoming so good at hiding themselves that they can remain undetected in victims ’ computers for months before being found , potentially giving these criminals more time to inflict greater damage than if they were detected earlier , according to cybersecurity research firm CrowdStrike .
Cyberattackers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days before discovery last year , compared with an average of 85 days in 2018 , CrowdStrike said in a report made public Monday .
The sharp increase in dwell time “ is not a metric that we want to see go up , ” Tom Etheridge , CrowdStrike vice president of services , told CQ Roll Call .
Deploying so-called living-off-the-land techniques , “ where an attacker can masquerade as a legitimate user in a client environment and remain stealthy provides an opportunity to get a full spectrum lay of the land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making their moves more impactful .
[ At ground zero , Homeland chiefs say cyber is top future threat ] The increase in dwell time last year seen by CrowdStrike may have been partly because it took on a larger number of international clients with weaker technological means to find attackers than their American counterparts , Etheridge said .
To avoid detection , sophisticated nation-state attackers tend to operate with speed once they have broken into a victim ’ s computer .
But criminals may move slowly , hoping to cause bigger disruptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a report published in 2019 .
Russian intelligence agency operators code-named Fancy Bear and Cozy Bear were eight times as fast as their nearest North Korean attackers , according to CrowdStrike .
The Fancy Bear group has been linked to a large number of global attacks , including on the Democratic National Committee in 2016 as well as several Eastern European governments and militaries .
Criminals seeking to get higher ransoms could use their extra time inside a computer system to encrypt not only active data in use by a victim but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Etheridge said .
As large companies get better at finding and stopping attackers , cyber thieves are turning to smaller suppliers and software service providers for their targets , CrowdStrike found .
About 6 percent of incidents investigated by CrowdStrike in 2019 were the result of a compromise on a contractor or subcontractor to a larger company , the company said .
Although these supply chain compromises are a small proportion of attacks , “ third-party compromises have the potential to be more impactful or far-reaching than attacks originating ” from other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providers also include cloud service companies and internet service providers , and any compromises of their networks could allow attackers to penetrate many of the providers ’ client computers as well , Etheridge said .
Lawmakers , intelligence agencies and the National Institute of Standards and Technology have been warning U.S. companies about supply chain cybersecurity risks for more than two years .
A variety of vendors , from janitors to software suppliers , with physical or virtual access to a company ’ s computer network could inflict damage , NIST has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undertake a variety of best practices , including better screening of their employees and of vendors ’ cybersecurity routines .
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also has prepared a series of presentations advising federal agencies and U.S. companies on cybersecurity risks posed by suppliers and vendors .
The agency and others have also warned about the risks of software backdoors that would allow hackers and spies to gain access to networks .
In one example of widespread concern over far-flung networks of suppliers potentially undermining U.S. security , the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week that many of their electronic components , including capacitors and chips , were sourced from China , but executives said they had no idea what proportion came from there .
Companies that engage in large mergers and acquisitions also are starting to examine the cybersecurity practices of their potential takeover targets , Etheridge said .
Due diligence assessments are starting to examine the target company ’ s networks either before closing a deal or before the acquired company is integrated into the buyer ’ s computer networks , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that last year nearly 8 out of 10 clients were able to find a breach or an intrusion on their own without first being alerted by law enforcement officials .
Self-detection is getting better because tools to find intrusions are getting more sophisticated , Etheridge said .
The combination of artificial intelligence-enabled techniques and the hiring of cybersecurity research firms is likely boosting such early detection , he said .
Companies also are engaging in more “ threat hunting ” to identify whether their networks have been breached , Etheridge said .
Combining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ techniques and procedures used by attackers , companies examine whether those same approaches have been deployed against their own networks .

Online attackers are becoming so good at hiding themselves that they can remain undetected in victims’ computers for months before being found, potentially giving these criminals more time to inflict greater damage than if they were detected earlier, according to cybersecurity research firm CrowdStrike.
Cyberattackers remained undetected for an average of 95 days before discovery last year, compared with an average of 85 days in 2018, CrowdStrike said in a report made public Monday.
The sharp increase in dwell time “is not a metric that we want to see go up,” Tom Etheridge, CrowdStrike vice president of services, told CQ Roll Call. Deploying so-called living-off-the-land techniques, “where an attacker can masquerade as a legitimate user in a client environment and remain stealthy provides an opportunity to get a full spectrum lay of the land” of the computer system, thus making their moves more impactful.
[At ground zero, Homeland chiefs say cyber is top future threat]


rollcall--2020-01-14--Think impeachment has been a self-defeating crusade for Democrats? Think again

The punditocracy may say that Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats have overplayed their hands on impeachment , but the latest Iowa Poll pokes holes in that argument , Shapiro writes .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) [ OPINION ] DES MOINES , Iowa — The recently unveiled Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll is considered the gold standard for deciphering the opening-gun Feb. 3 Democratic caucuses .
But a polling question asked of a sample of the entire Iowa electorate may be more important for understanding the upcoming impeachment trial .
The question never mentioned the words “ Donald Trump.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , “ Do you think it is OK or not OK for a U.S. presidential candidate to try to gain political advantage over an election rival by seeking help from foreign countries ?
” At a time of intense partisan divisions over everything , it is difficult to locate fleeting examples of consensus .
Even asking about the weather ( traditionally considered the safest topic in polite conversation ) now is likely to provoke a bitter fight over global warming .
But the Iowa Poll answers on digging for political dirt with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By a lopsided 7-to-1 margin , Iowa voters said that it was wrong .
Even 59 percent of Republicans and 56 percent of Trump voters viewed such behavior as morally suspect .
Remember that Iowa is not one of those coastal states where elite voters sip tea with raised pinkies and ridicule Trump .
Disproportionately white and hemorrhaging college graduates in quest of better jobs , Iowa went for Trump in 2016 by a 10-point margin .
This was an epic turnabout in a state that twice backed both Barack Obama and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment , Iowa voters were evenly split ( given the margin of error ) , with 43 percent approving the House action and 45 percent disapproving .
In short , when you pose a direct impeachment question , everything defaults to standard political divisions .
All this brings us to the current political orthodoxy that says impeachment has been a self-defeating crusade for the Democrats .
With Mitch McConnell holding firm against witnesses during the Senate trial ( and Susan Collins displaying her traditionally ineffectual “ concerns ” ) , the standard verdict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ momentum the Democrats possessed by delaying sending over the articles of impeachment .
Now , in the judgment of much of the pundit parade , the only solution is to get everything over with fast since the outcome is preordained .
Sure , the TV talking heads argue , the Democrats may force vulnerable GOP senators to cast a few potentially embarrassing votes on witnesses .
But , like as not , apart from the scarlet “ I ” on Trump ’ s permanent presidential record , the entire charade will be mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poll pokes holes in the conventional wisdom .
Because the formality of a trial makes great political theater with Chief Justice John Roberts presiding , it is likely that viewership will extend far beyond C-SPAN devotees .
And if there is one argument that the Democratic impeachment managers will make again and again , it is that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son Hunter .
You don ’ t need new witnesses to prove this case , though .
It is all in the summary of Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zelenskiy .
In the unending quest for a “ smoking gun , ” it is easy to forget how everything started .
There in a White House-released document is Trump saying , “ I would like you to do us a favor , though.
” Then a few minutes later , Trump adds in characteristically mangled syntax , “ There ’ s a lot of talk about Biden ’ s son , that … [ Joe ] Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s defense team in the trial will undoubtedly parse words and repeat the mantra “ No quid pro quo.
” Some Republican senators with a dollop of honesty will admit that Trump displayed faulty judgment .
But they also will take refuge in the position that since Ukraine ultimately got the $ 391 million in military aid ( admittedly , after the whistleblower ’ s complaint made the media ) , the matter does not rise to the level of removing a president .
But the transcript , combined with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defied Trump ’ s gag order , does add up to a convincing case that Trump was using Ukraine to help reelect himself as president .
Sure , once this point is hammered home in the trial , a certain percentage of Iowa Republicans will decide that it is fine to shake down a foreign country — as long as it hurts Joe Biden .
And a certain percentage will come to the conclusion that anything Trump does is , by definition , heaven-sent .
But not all the 56 percent of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the abstract , that this conduct is wrong will suddenly become devotees of situational ethics .
Some will be stricken with a few qualms about how Trump is conducting himself as president .
Equally important , Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst , who is facing a competitive reelection this fall , will be in the position of defending Trump ’ s attempt to blackmail Ukraine into yielding dirt on Biden .
It is one thing to be Trump ’ s enabler on routine Senate matters or to ignore his inflammatory tweets .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third Senate presidential impeachment trial in history .
Ultimately , the Democrats ’ strongest argument is not over procedural points on the testimony of witnesses .
Though I will admit I would love to find out if John Bolton believes that revenge is a dish best served cold .
What matters , in the end , is the July 25 phone call that so provoked the original whistleblower .
And just because it ’ s old news doesn ’ t diminish its moral power in an impeachment trial .

[OPINION] DES MOINES, Iowa — The recently unveiled Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll is considered the gold standard for deciphering the opening-gun Feb. 3 Democratic caucuses. But a polling question asked of a sample of the entire Iowa electorate may be more important for understanding the upcoming impeachment trial.
The question never mentioned the words “Donald Trump.” Instead, it asked registered Iowa voters, “Do you think it is OK or not OK for a U.S. presidential candidate to try to gain political advantage over an election rival by seeking help from foreign countries?”
At a time of intense partisan divisions over everything, it is difficult to locate fleeting examples of consensus. Even asking about the weather (traditionally considered the safest topic in polite conversation) now is likely to provoke a bitter fight over global warming.
But the Iowa Poll answers on digging for political dirt with the help of foreign countries were unequivocal. By a lopsided 7-to-1 margin, Iowa voters said that it was wrong. Even 59 percent of Republicans and 56 percent of Trump voters viewed such behavior as morally suspect.
Remember that Iowa is not one of those coastal states where elite voters sip tea with raised pinkies and ridicule Trump. Disproportionately white and hemorrhaging college graduates in quest of better jobs, Iowa went for Trump in 2016 by a 10-point margin. This was an epic turnabout in a state that twice backed both Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.


rollcall--2020-01-14--‘I didn’t have any role models,’ says black hockey tour curator

The tractor-trailer parked in front of the Canadian Embassy is there to remind people of what overlooked black hockey players have contributed to the game .
“ This is so that the young kids , fans of the game , are able to see ourselves in it , ” says Kwame Mason , one of the curators of the NHL ’ s Black Hockey History Tour , which kicked off Monday in Washington .
For the second consecutive year , the mobile museum will travel the country to educate fans .
The tour will make 14 stops in NHL cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in D.C. outside the embassy until Tuesday .
The inside of the trailer is designed like a hockey stadium locker room , with walls adorned with photos of every black player in NHL history and milestones of black achievement in the sport .
The Boston Bruins jersey of Willie O ’ Ree , who integrated the NHL in 1958 , is enshrined in a glass case .
O ’ Ree himself stopped by Monday .
The 84-year-old is still waiting on another D.C. event — the passage of the Willie O ’ Ree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ award him the highest civilian honor in the United States .
The act has been introduced but needs to be sponsored by two-thirds of Congress before it can be considered by the banking committees in both chambers .
If both panels approve , the measure would receive a floor vote .
Many people don ’ t know that black players have been part of the NHL for decades , says Mason .
“ One of the biggest things for us is to be able to say , ‘ We ’ ve been here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mason likens the progress of black hockey players to that of black quarterbacks in the National Football League , who for years were steered into other positions under the prejudice that they weren ’ t capable of leading .
For instance , black players in the early days of the NHL were not considered main parts of the offense , says Mason .
“ If you ’ re looking at the guys who were playing 1970s or 1980s , and maybe the early 1990s , a lot of them were used as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goons , ” are responsible for protecting their own star players by meting out violence against the other team for suspected dirty play .
But now black players such as forward Anthony Duclair are getting more opportunities to play central roles in the game .
Diversity and inclusion can be an uphill climb even in a league like the NFL , which has 70 percent black players yet still struggles to place them into leadership .
Despite efforts such as the Rooney Rule , which requires that NFL team owners interview at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ openings , only 3 of 32 are black .
The NHL ’ s tour is a part of its “ Hockey Is For Everyone initiative , ” a two-decade-old effort that aims to reach fans from diverse communities .
“ I really didn ’ t have anybody that was there to guide me , ” Mason says .
“ I didn ’ t have any role models that I could see on a consistent basis .
They were out there , but I never got to see them on TV .
No one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t celebrated.
” He pauses and grins before saying , “ I ’ m so jealous of these kids today.
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The tractor-trailer parked in front of the Canadian Embassy is there to remind people of what overlooked black hockey players have contributed to the game.
“This is so that the young kids, fans of the game, are able to see ourselves in it,” says Kwame Mason, one of the curators of the NHL’s Black Hockey History Tour, which kicked off Monday in Washington.
For the second consecutive year, the mobile museum will travel the country to educate fans. The tour will make 14 stops in NHL cities across North America and will be parked in D.C. outside the embassy until Tuesday.
The inside of the trailer is designed like a hockey stadium locker room, with walls adorned with photos of every black player in NHL history and milestones of black achievement in the sport. The Boston Bruins jersey of Willie O’Ree, who integrated the NHL in 1958, is enshrined in a glass case.


rollcall--2020-01-14--Rep. Billy Long fractures shoulder chasing daughter’s poodle

Rep. Billy Long returned to Capitol Hill last week with a new accessory — a sling .
While he was in his hometown of Springfield , Missouri , for the holidays , the congressman fractured his shoulder while “ wrangling ” the family puppy .
The incident occurred on Dec. 20 , while Long was dog-sitting his daughter ’ s 6-month-old poodle named Tex .
In an email exchange with Heard on the Hill , the congressman remembers picking the canine up from “ doggy daycare ” and sitting “ with him for over an hour , and within two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside , he bolted under the gate ” and into the middle of the street .
The 64-year-old Long explained that Tex “ doesn ’ t know a car from a pork chop , so I just knew he ’ d get killed on my watch , and I wasn ’ t going to let that happen.
” After several attempts to catch Tex and return him to safety , Long said the final maneuver , the one resulting in his fracture , failed after he pivoted from a “ crouched position.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a scene from an action film , as he called for help from people on the sidewalk and yelled , “ Get the dog .
He ’ ll get killed — don ’ t worry about me.
” He was then transported by ambulance to a local emergency room and underwent four and a half hours of surgery on his shoulder .
“ The dog got by without a scratch , ” a spokesperson for Long said , and on Monday the congressman joked , “ I fought the dog and the dog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can leave the sling at home , but his next medical checkup is a week away .

Rep. Billy Long returned to Capitol Hill last week with a new accessory — a sling. While he was in his hometown of Springfield, Missouri, for the holidays, the congressman fractured his shoulder while “wrangling” the family puppy.
The incident occurred on Dec. 20, while Long was dog-sitting his daughter’s 6-month-old poodle named Tex. In an email exchange with Heard on the Hill, the congressman remembers picking the canine up from “doggy daycare” and sitting “with him for over an hour, and within two minutes of picking him up to go inside, he bolted under the gate” and into the middle of the street.
The 64-year-old Long explained that Tex “doesn’t know a car from a pork chop, so I just knew he’d get killed on my watch, and I wasn’t going to let that happen.”
After several attempts to catch Tex and return him to safety, Long said the final maneuver, the one resulting in his fracture, failed after he pivoted from a “crouched position.”
The Missouri Republican described what sounds like a scene from an action film, as he called for help from people on the sidewalk and yelled,“Get the dog. He’ll get killed — don’t worry about me.”


rollcall--2020-01-14--Capitol Ink | The Grim Reaper

Capitol Ink | The Grim Reaper

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rollcall--2020-01-14--Impeachment articles’ path to Senate governed by rules and precedent

The articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton lie on the desk of Secretary of the Senate Gary Sisco on Dec. 19 , 1998 , after House Judiciary Chairman Henry J. Hyde delivered them from the House floor after the impeachment votes .
( Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call file photo ) The expected House vote this week to name impeachment managers for the Senate trial and authorize them to spend House funds will set in motion a set of established steps that will guide the articles of impeachment from the House to the Senate .
The resolution , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nancy Pelosi meets with her caucus Tuesday morning , will appoint managers who will act as prosecutors during the Senate trial that will determine whether the impeached President Donald Trump is removed from office .
They will present the case for the House impeachment articles , approved in December , which charge the president with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
The transfer of the articles of impeachment between the chambers has been delayed by a weekslong standoff between Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell regarding the parameters of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to relinquish her grip on the articles , there will not be a tense photo op of a handoff between the two congressional leaders .
The transmission of the articles is a choreographed ceremony .
It will put the Secretary of the Senate Julie E. Adams , a Kentucky native who came up through McConnell ’ s office and typically works behind the scenes , at center stage .
Adams will receive the articles from the House , likely delivered by Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler or Intelligence Chairman Adam B. Schiff and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment managers .
Pelosi has not indicated which House members will serve as impeachment managers , but they will be appointed this week .
Some names floated in recent weeks include familiar characters in the impeachment inquiry , including Schiff , Nadler and other members of their committees .
The solemn ceremony of walking the articles to the Senate and the procedures that it would trigger are in part set in Senate impeachment rules passed in 1986 and precedent set by the impeachment and trial of President Bill Clinton that stretched from 1998 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ path from the House is in part the result of a scramble to get things ready in the Clinton case .
Impeachment is a duty enshrined in the Constitution , but it didn ’ t provide many details .
James Ziglar , who served as Senate sergeant-at-arms during the Clinton impeachment , said that with the limited precedent for impeachment , he pieced things together with the help of the Senate historian , parliamentarian and others .
“ Because there is no scripted format , you make it up as you go along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a sense of the chaos in the background , ” Ziglar wrote in an article last month .
The House resolution expected this week will also likely allow the managers to tap into Judiciary Committee funds and other House accounts to hire legal and clerical help and cover other expenses that arise in the preparation for and execution of the Senate trial .
It is not yet clear if the Senate will pass its own resolution to authorize funds for the trial .
Ahead of the impending Clinton impeachment trial , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small measures to prepare , including authorizing the installation of special seating for impeachment managers and the president ’ s counsel and to allow audiovisual equipment to facilitate the presentation of the case .
The articles against Clinton arrived in the Senate in 1998 in blue leather-like folders , embossed in gold with the congressional seal .
House Judiciary Chairman Henry J. Hyde walked through the long marble hallways from one side of the Capitol to the other , followed by his colleagues and a flurry of photographers .
The 1998 handoff ended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read from a notecard about transmission of the important documents .
While the details of this week ’ s handoff will be sorted out by Adams and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael C. Stenger , it will likely be a similar exchange .
This time Adams will safeguard the documents before turning them over to the full body for the trial .
Stenger will eventually make a proclamation on the floor , along the lines of : “ Here ye , here ye .
All persons are commanded to keep silence , on pain of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is exhibiting to the Senate of the United States articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump.
” After the proclamation , the House managers will present the articles of impeachment to the Senate and the presiding officer will then inform the managers that the chamber will “ take proper order ” on the impeachment and will provide notice to the House of the start of the trial .
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will also be alerted that the trial is imminent .
Eventually , the Senate will convene a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators to escort the chief justice into the Senate , and oaths will be administered to each senator .
Once the Senate receives the impeachment articles and list of House managers , the chamber will notify the president that he is invited to come and respond .
The rules and precedents are silent on key procedural matters , which is why the Senate will need to approve a resolution detailing a framework for the impeachment trial before it gets underway .
Todd Ruger and Niels Lesniewski contributed to this report .

Correction appended Jan. 14, 2:10 p.m. | The expected House vote this week to name impeachment managers for the Senate trial and authorize them to spend House funds will set in motion a set of established steps that will guide the articles of impeachment from the House to the Senate.
The resolution, which won’t be released until Speaker Nancy Pelosi meets with her caucus Tuesday morning, will appoint managers who will act as prosecutors during the Senate trial that will determine whether the impeached President Donald Trump is removed from office. They will present the case for the House impeachment articles, approved in December, which charge the president with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
The transfer of the articles of impeachment between the chambers has been delayed by a weekslong standoff between Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell regarding the parameters of the Senate trial. While Pelosi has agreed to relinquish her grip on the articles, there will not be a tense photo op of a handoff between the two congressional leaders.
The transmission of the articles is a choreographed ceremony. It will put the Secretary of the Senate Julie E. Adams, who came up through McConnell’s office and typically works behind the scenes, at center stage.


rollcall--2020-01-14--Can - and should - an algorithm be ethical when it comes to financial technology?

Algorithms have evolved into to powerful engines of financial technology .
But they don ’ t always live up to @ @ @ @ @ models fail to take account of basic societal concerns like fairness , privacy and bias @ @ @ @ @ with Michael Kearns to find out what can be done to make algorithms “ ethical.
@ @ @ @ @ down with the former chief of the Federal Reserve ’ s open banking unit • @ @ @ @ @ a one-on-one with Maxine Waters Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on @ @ @

Algorithms have evolved into to powerful engines of financial technology. But they don’t always live up to the hype, as algorithmic models fail to take account of basic societal concerns like fairness, privacy and bias. Fintech Beat sits down with Michael Kearns to find out what can be done to make algorithms “ethical.”
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-01-13--Dems say GOP broke ethics rules using video trackers in House office buildings

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is accusing its GOP counterpart , the National Republican Congressional Committee , of violating ethics rules by sending trackers to video record members of Congress in House office buildings .
The DCCC filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics on Monday alleging the NRCC and its chairman , Minnesota GOP Rep. Tom Emmer , violated House rules barring lawmakers from using official resources for political purposes .
Twitter accounts for the NRCC and some of the committee ’ s spokespeople posted videos of Democrats in House office building hallways being questioned by someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or campaign staffers who take video of candidates and pepper them with questions , are common .
But the Capitol complex has been considered off-limits for trackers in the past .
The DCCC contended in its complaint that trackers on the Capitol grounds are not just frowned upon , they violate the rules .
The complaint cited a rule in the House Ethics manual that states , “ The House buildings , and House rooms and offices — including district offices — are supported with official funds and hence are considered official resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they may not be used for the conduct of campaign or political activities.
” DCCC executive director Lucinda Guinn said in a statement , “ Congressman Emmer and the NRCC broke the rules .
They used taxpayer-funded facilities for political purposes .
And they did it while harassing members of Congress who were doing work for their constituents.
” NRCC spokesman Chris Pack responded to the complaint Monday night , writing in an email , “ So the DCCC is using official government resources for a political publicity stunt where they accuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a political publicity stunt ?
Got it.
” It is notable that the DCCC filed its complaint with OCE , which is a non-partisan entity that reviews allegations of misconduct involving House staff and lawmakers and refers cases to the House Ethics Committee .
The office has jurisdiction to investigate alleged violations of a “ law , rule , regulation or other standard of conduct.
” Democrats have fought to protect funding for OCE .
Filing with OCE , as opposed to directly with the House Ethics Committee , could mean the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public .
However , unlike the Ethics Committee , OCE does not have subpoena power and can not force people to comply with an investigation .
OCE examines each complaint but does not always launch an investigation .
When a complaint is filed with OCE , two OCE board members first authorize a preliminary review if there is a “ reasonable basis to believe that a violation may have occurred , ” according to the OCE website .
The preliminary review would be completed in 30 days .
Three board members can then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completed in 45 days with the possibility of a two-week extension .
The OCE board then decides whether there is “ substantial reason to believe a violation occurred , ” and if it should be referred for further review by the House Ethics Committee , which is made up of an equal number of Democratic and Republican lawmakers .
If the investigation is referred to the Ethics Committee , OCE ’ s findings from its investigation are made public 45 days later .
Katherine Tully-McManus and Chris Marquette contributed to this report.Get breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on your iPhone .

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is accusing its GOP counterpart, the National Republican Congressional Committee, of violating ethics rules by sending trackers to video record members of Congress in House office buildings.
The DCCC filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics on Monday alleging the NRCC and its chairman, Minnesota GOP Rep. Tom Emmer, violated House rules barring lawmakers from using official resources for political purposes. Twitter accounts for the NRCC and some of the committee’s spokespeople posted videos of Democrats in House office building hallways being questioned by someone in December and January.
Trackers, or campaign staffers who take video of candidates and pepper them with questions, are common. But the Capitol complex has been considered off-limits for trackers in the past. The DCCC contended in its complaint that trackers on the Capitol grounds are not just frowned upon, they violate the rules.
The complaint cited a rule in the House Ethics manual that states, “The House buildings, and House rooms and offices — including district offices — are supported with official funds and hence are considered official resources. Accordingly, as a general rule, they may not be used for the conduct of campaign or political activities.”


rollcall--2020-01-13--Hoyer: House priorities for 2020 include health care, infrastructure, climate, redistricting

House Democrats in 2020 plan to pass legislation on top party priorities like health care , infrastructure and climate as well as more under-the-radar subjects like modernizing Congress and redistricting — all while trying to fully fund the government on time for the first time in 24 years , Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said .
The No .
2 Democrat , who is in charge of the floor schedule , outlined his legislative priorities for the year in an interview with CQ Roll Call .
The aforementioned issues were among a long list that Hoyer said Democrats plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 116th Congress .
Others the Maryland Democrat mentioned include education , taxes , the annual defense and intelligence authorizations , and reauthorizations of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and National Flood Insurance Program .
Many of those issues , like health care and climate , will follow up on legislative efforts Democrats started last year after they took back the House majority .
“ We got done what we said we were going to get done , ” Hoyer said .
“ I think we had a very successful year .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a successful Congress .
And we mentioned some of the things that we need to get done.
” One thing Democrats still want to get done on health care is legislation on surprise billing , in which patients are charged out-of-network prices for services they thought were in-network .
The House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees have competing plans .
In the spending deal Congress passed in December , lawmakers only extended funding for several expiring health care programs through May 22 — pressuring themselves to pass a comprehensive measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Memorial Day .
Hoyer said it ’ s “ possible ” the House could act on surprise billing legislation before May but noted that leadership hasn ’ t set a time frame .
Democrats passed HR 3 in December to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices , but they may have to follow up , he said .
The House will also pursue legislation to strengthen the 2010 health care law , Hoyer said .
“ We ’ ve already passed bills on protecting preexisting conditions , but that was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we may do something else , ” he said .
Surprise billing , prescription drug prices and preexisting conditions are the “ big ” health care issues Democrats will be focused on this year , Hoyer said , but he also mentioned maternal mortality rates and youth vaping .
He didn ’ t rule out other topics , including reinsurance and subsidies to make health care more affordable .
Infrastructure was among the top three issues that Democrats campaigned on in 2018 .
After an effort with President Donald Trump on a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Democrats want to move ahead without him .
“ We ’ re gon na have to figure out how to pay for it on our own , ” Hoyer said .
“ That ’ ll be tough , but we ’ re going to work on that .
And I ’ m hopeful that we ’ ll do that relatively early in the year , certainly before May.
” While Hoyer said Democrats would welcome Republicans to that effort , he thinks they ’ re “ politically afraid.
” The politics aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who will be out on a limb supporting revenue increases to pay for a plan with little chance of enactment .
Hoyer hopes Democrats will be willing to take that risk and look for ways to pay for other bills .
Democrats several times last year waived their “ PAYGO ” rule requiring legislation that increases the deficit to be offset by spending cuts or revenue increases .
“ My recommendation to our caucus is that , yes , we do it less because we need to be concerned about the deficit and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On infrastructure , decisions need to be made beyond paying for new spending that Democrats want to authorize .
One is whether to package Transportation and Infrastructure Committee bills on infrastructure like highways , bridges and ports with education and housing infrastructure bills under the jurisdiction of other committees .
Hoyer has advocated not merging the three , but no decisions have been made .
The proposals “ will be focused on being environmentally sound and moving towards renewable , clean infrastructure construction and use , ” Hoyer said .
A broader climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other panels is also a priority , Hoyer said .
Those committees will consider recommendations that the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis plans to submit in March .
“ These will be real proposals that if [ they ] became law would accelerate and ensure our reaching by 2050 or earlier , if not carbon-free , a very radically reduced carbon imprint , ” Hoyer said .
The House will also act this year on recommendations from the Select Committee on Modernization of Congress , Hoyer said .
Washington Rep. Derek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Hoyer has been a “ bullish , enthusiastic and an active participant ” in discussing changes .
The committee has reported out some recommendations and is considering others .
“ All of it is in broad service of having the institution function on behalf of the American people , ” Kilmer said .
“ Part of my admiration for Steny is that ’ s the mantra he brings to work every day.
” Just like with health care and infrastructure , House Democrats in 2020 want to do more on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People ” 2018 campaign agenda : cleaner government .
Since the Senate has not acted on HR 1 , Democrats ’ government overhaul focused on campaign finance , voting and ethics , the House will break out at least one big piece of that bill and pass it as a stand-alone .
“ I ’ m particularly interested in redistricting reform , ” Hoyer said .
“ I ’ m very committed to trying to get legislation through that will require a fair redistricting process in every state.
” House Administration Chairwoman Zoe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stand-alone bill last year and is supportive of advancing such a measure through her committee but hasn ’ t identified a timeline .
The California Democrat doesn ’ t know if Republicans would support that but said she hopes so because “ it ’ s important for polarization in the country.
” Unlike in 2019 when Congress spent weeks early in the year in a partial government shutdown , Democrats can get to work on their party priorities right away in 2020 .
“ We are here working on substance , other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Hoyer said .
After Democrats won the House majority in 2018 , Hoyer made it a goal to pass all of the chamber ’ s fiscal 2020 appropriations bills during a four-week period in June .
He held a series of meetings and calls with key players in early 2019 , including top House and Senate appropriators , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , to ensure the process went more smoothly than the fiscal 2019 one that led to the shutdown .
By the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 12 fiscal 2020 bills , which accounted for 96 percent of funding .
Hoyer blamed the Senate for the continuing resolutions that Congress relied on until it struck its broader December deal .
This year , Hoyer hopes the government is fully funded before the fiscal 2021 year begins Oct. 1 ; that hasn ’ t happened since 1996 .
He again has set aside the month of June to pass appropriations bills through the House and is confident they can at least pass the same 10 measures as last year if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will make the fiscal 2021 process easier than the fiscal 2020 process is that topline spending levels for defense and nondefense spending were agreed to as part of a budget deal passed in July , Hoyer said .
The timing of that deal helped delay the Senate from advancing its fiscal 2020 bills , and Hoyer hopes senators will start the process sooner so the chambers can resolve differences and have the president sign them before Sept. 30 .
“ They have to have the will to do it , ” Hoyer said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s recommended that the Appropriations committees , in deciding fiscal 2021 subcommittee allocations , give each of the 12 panels their proportional share of the $ 2.5 billion increase for defense and $ 2.5 billion increase to nondefense accounts from fiscal 2020 levels .
“ It ’ s not a big enough number really to cause a major problem , ” he said .
Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey told CQ Roll Call she agrees with that approach .
As for Hoyer ’ s goal to get all fiscal 2021 bills done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat said it depends on whether the White House is a willing partner .
Last year ’ s budget deal should also help the defense authorization bill advance earlier in 2020 .
Hoyer said he wants to bring it to the floor in May , two months earlier than last year .
Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith told CQ Roll Call he ’ s aiming for a late April markup , which he said will focus on making the Pentagon more effective , encouraging competition and “ getting the most bang for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in last week about “ reasserting Article 1 congressional authority over war-making ” is likely to resurface again in the NDAA , the Washington Democrat said .
“ Steny has done a great job running the floor , ” Smith said .
“ And it ’ s helped us get our job done and pass a lot of meaningful legislation.
” Mary Ellen McIntire and Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report .

House Democrats in 2020 plan to pass legislation on top party priorities like health care, infrastructure and climate as well as more under-the-radar subjects like modernizing Congress and redistricting — all while trying to fully fund the government on time for the first time in 24 years, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said.
The No. 2 Democrat, who is in charge of the floor schedule, outlined his legislative priorities for the year in an interview with CQ Roll Call. The aforementioned issues were among a long list that Hoyer said Democrats plan to pursue in the second session of the 116th Congress. Others the Maryland Democrat mentioned include education, taxes, the annual defense and intelligence authorizations, and reauthorizations of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and National Flood Insurance Program.
Many of those issues, like health care and climate, will follow up on legislative efforts Democrats started last year after they took back the House majority.
“We got done what we said we were going to get done,” Hoyer said. “I think we had a very successful year. Now, one successful year doesn’t make a successful Congress. And we mentioned some of the things that we need to get done.”
[House calendar for 2020 includes presidential election year oddities]


rollcall--2020-01-13--Previewing the appropriations process in 2020

CQ Roll Call reporter Jennifer Shutt joins the podcast to share her predictions on what we can expect from the @ @ @ @ @ appropriations process .
Despite a deal on overall spending limits , election campaign pressures may @ @ @ @ @ appropriations passed on time .
We 'll also examine a little-noticed provision in a funding @ @ @ @ @ has widened a fight among victims of terrorism seeking access to a federal compensation fund @

CQ Roll Call reporter Jennifer Shutt joins the podcast to share her predictions on what we can expect from the year to come in the appropriations process. Despite a deal on overall spending limits, election campaign pressures may force another delay in getting appropriations passed on time. We’ll also examine a little-noticed provision in a funding bill from last year that has widened a fight among victims of terrorism seeking access to a federal compensation fund.


rollcall--2020-01-13--Ukraine aid legal ruling could shake up impeachment trial

Congress ’ investigative arm may be about to add a new wrinkle into the Senate ’ s impeachment trial of President Donald Trump sparked by the nearly two-month holdup of Ukraine security assistance last year , which Democrats charge Trump orchestrated to extract political favors .
As early as this week , the Government Accountability Office could release its legal opinion on whether Trump and senior White House officials violated the Nixon-era budget law that requires executive branch agencies to spend appropriated funds according to lawmakers ’ wishes .
Sen. Chris Van Hollen , D-Md.
, who initially requested the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes that Trump violated the 1974 law aimed at preventing such presidential “ impoundments.
” But he wouldn ’ t go so far as to label that an impeachable offense .
“ The House charges of abuse of power do not relate directly to the [ 1974 budget law ] , they relate to the president of the United States improperly using taxpayer funds to .
.
.
pressure Ukraine into interfering in the 2020 election on his behalf , ” he said .
“ But look , this is all part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But I don ’ t want to elaborate further until we see what the GAO opinion is.
” Nevertheless , in a Dec. 23 letter to GAO , Van Hollen wrote that Trump ’ s withholding of the aid was illegal and part of a “ scheme ” to , as the House impeachment inquiry charged , “ use the powers of his office to solicit foreign interference on his behalf in the 2020 election.
” Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , in a Friday letter announcing she planned to transmit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Senate , cited concerns voiced by some Pentagon and Office of Management and Budget officials about possible violations of the 1974 budget law .
The hold was formally initiated July 25 , the day of Trump ’ s now-infamous “ do us a favor though ” call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy .
While the letter was initially signed by Mark Sandy , a career OMB official , it was renewed several times by a political appointee , Michael Duffey , which budget veterans have said is highly unusual .
Sandy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November that two OMB officials resigned over the aid holdup , at least in part due to concerns about potential budget law violations .
Late last year , Democrats renewed their calls for administration officials including Duffey to testify before Congress , citing newly unearthed communications between top OMB and Pentagon officials they say buttress their argument .
In one instance , the Pentagon prepared a draft letter saying the Defense Department had repeatedly warned OMB that if the hold continued beyond Aug. 19 that it would jeopardize the department ’ s ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since the money was expiring at the end of the fiscal year , if the department couldn ’ t get the money out the door , it would disappear , potentially putting the agency in violation of the 1974 law .
Ultimately the funds were released on Sept. 12 , but the Pentagon still couldn ’ t obligate $ 35.2 million of its $ 250 million fiscal 2019 Ukraine military assistance appropriation in time ; Congress had to extend the funds ’ availability in a stopgap funding law .
The remaining $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financing funds were obligated on time .
The 1974 law gives presidents two options to avoid spending appropriated funds .
They must ask for a “ rescission , ” or cancellation , which triggers a congressional vote to approve the request , or a “ deferral , ” which allows a funding pause under certain specific circumstances , as long as lawmakers are notified .
Critics charge the Ukraine aid hold neither met any of the law ’ s criteria , nor was accompanied by the required notification to Congress .
A deferral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ prudently ” obligate the funds before they expire , which did not occur in the case of the Pentagon aid .
White House officials dispute the allegations .
In a Dec. 11 letter , OMB General Counsel Mark R. Paoletta wrote to GAO that the “ pause in obligations of the Ukraine funds ” was a “ programmatic delay , ” not an illegal deferment .
An administration official said that while some budget officers questioned the holds , they were approved as legal by the general counsels at both OMB and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law after a fight with President Richard M. Nixon over his refusal to spend billions of dollars appropriated under the Clean Water Act to help build wastewater treatment plants .
But for all the law ’ s initial drama , it was written to provide Congress with the tools to “ control ” impoundments and free up withheld funds rather than to punish the president or executive branch employees for illegal withholding , experts on the law who spoke on condition of not being identified said .
If the GAO finds a violation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sue the administration to release the funds .
But that has only happened once , in 1975 , when the GAO filed a lawsuit that was later dismissed after parties to the suit agreed the funds in dispute had been released .
Over the years , the GAO has reported periodic illegal impoundments , including during the Trump administration and others during the presidencies of George Bush , Bill Clinton and George W. Bush .
Typically , the funds were released for obligation , making a lawsuit unnecessary .
Two other avenues exist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that claim they are entitled to the funds under the law can sue in federal court to obtain the money if they can demonstrate legal standing , experts said .
Lawmakers also can respond to impoundments through legislation , such as extending the availability of Ukraine aid in the fiscal 2020 stopgap law .
In the most recent example of an illegal deferral , the GAO in December 2018 cited the Department of Homeland Security for withholding $ 95 million that had been appropriated for a Coast Guard national security cutter .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missions including interdiction of drugs smuggled out of Colombia .
DHS said it delayed obligating the funds while it was reviewing the potential impact of a proposed rescission of the funds passed by the House but not enacted into law in that form .
GAO said the withholding was illegal because the president did not transmit the special message .
The GAO took no further action because by that time the funds had been obligated .
The White House might also push back against a GAO finding on constitutional grounds .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , OMB ’ s Paoletta wrote that when an agency of the legislative branch interprets a law differently , the executive branch is not bound by its views due to the separation of powers principle .
The memorandum related to GAO findings on a separate law that bars spending money that has not been appropriated , but a similar argument could be applied to the impoundment law .
Some lawmakers want to add stronger provisions to the impoundment law .
Van Hollen , for example , offered an amendment that was adopted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the panel approved a budget process overhaul bill .
The amendment would codify a GAO opinion that OMB can not withhold funds until they expire without congressional approval , and require the budget office to publicly post apportionment documents and make other information available to the Budget and Appropriations committees to provide an early warning of withholding .
It ’ s unclear what chance the Senate Budget Committee bill has of making it to the Senate floor .
Van Hollen said he plans to introduce a standalone bill with similar provisions within weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through fiscal 2021 appropriations legislation .
House Budget Chairman John Yarmuth , D-Ky. , intends to introduce legislation with a similar purpose in the next couple of months that he said in a statement will “ directly focus on restoring and protecting Congress ’ power of the purse , increasing accountability and transparency of the Executive Branch , and addressing the unprecedented overreach of this Administration .
”

Congress’ investigative arm may be about to add a new wrinkle into the Senate’s impeachment trial of President Donald Trump sparked by the nearly two-month holdup of Ukraine security assistance last year, which Democrats charge Trump orchestrated to extract political favors.
As early as this week, the Government Accountability Office could release its legal opinion on whether Trump and senior White House officials violated the Nixon-era budget law that requires executive branch agencies to spend appropriated funds according to lawmakers’ wishes.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who initially requested the GAO ruling last year, said he believes that Trump violated the 1974 law aimed at preventing such presidential “impoundments.” But he wouldn’t go so far as to label that an impeachable offense.
“The House charges of abuse of power do not relate directly to the [1974 budget law], they relate to the president of the United States improperly using taxpayer funds to . . . pressure Ukraine into interfering in the 2020 election on his behalf,” he said. “But look, this is all part of the picture that’s being painted. But I don’t want to elaborate further until we see what the GAO opinion is.”
Nevertheless, in a Dec. 23 letter to GAO, Van Hollen wrote that Trump’s withholding of the aid was illegal and part of a “scheme” to, as the House impeachment inquiry charged, “use the powers of his office to solicit foreign interference on his behalf in the 2020 election.”


rollcall--2020-01-13--Hunter Duncan still wants you to know he’s not Duncan Hunter

Hunter Duncan is just an aspiring comedian in Austin , Texas , who ’ s tired of being mistaken for the embattled congressman from California .
“ I ’ m tired of people tweeting at me that I ’ m a ‘ pr*ck ’ and should be in jail , ” Duncan has said .
The not-congressman is referring to the congressman who announced in December he would resign from Congress after pleading guilty to misusing campaign funds .
Monday is the lawmaker ’ s last day on the job .
The comic , a Democrat who ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” resolved to run as a Republican for California ’ s 50th District .
After “ extensive research , ” he launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the expenses of getting his name on the ballot .
“ There ’ s only one way to get him out of office and it ’ s for my name ‘ Hunter Duncan ’ to be on the ballot with ‘ Duncan Hunter , ’ ” he said in his campaign announcement last year .
He was ready to be “ the representative Americans wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , ” he told Heard on the Hill in a phone conversation .
Duncan formed a campaign committee , but failed to deliver the required signatures or $ 1,740 fee by the filing deadline .
As for the $ 932 he raised through his GoFundMe campaign , “ I wouldn ’ t spend a dime of donor dollars on anything like tequila , Hawaiian shirts or flying pet bunnies.
” This week the former congressional hopeful returned the money he raised , he said .
Despite Duncan ( the guy in Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy in California ) , he ’ s still taking “ 100 % credit ” for the representative ’ s “ guilty plea and eventual resignation.
” He even has plans to host a “ Mission Accomplished ” party to celebrate .

Hunter Duncan is just an aspiring comedian in Austin, Texas, who’s tired of being mistaken for the embattled congressman from California.
“I’m tired of people tweeting at me that I’m a ‘pr*ck’ and should be in jail,” Duncan has said.
The not-congressman is referring to the congressman who announced in December he would resign from Congress after pleading guilty to misusing campaign funds. Monday is the lawmaker’s last day on the job.
I think you’re looking for Duncan Hunter. You’re not wrong tho, I need to do better https://t.co/IhpkiE6ybx — Hunter Duncan (@hunterduncan212) August 24, 2018
The comic, a Democrat who’s been to San Diego “once for work,” resolved to run as a Republican for California’s 50th District. After “extensive research,” he launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the expenses of getting his name on the ballot.


The Steyer boomlet

OPINION — Once again , there ’ s a new “ hot ” candidate .
This time it ’ s billionaire Tom Steyer , who hit double digits in new Fox News polls in Nevada and South Carolina , thereby qualifying him for Tuesday ’ s CNN/Des Moines Register presidential debate — the last debate before the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses .
Of course , other surveys show Steyer in the low-to-middle single digits in the first two states with Democratic contests , Iowa and New Hampshire , and weak showings in those two states could affect his standing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic former hedge fund founder is anywhere in any poll on this planet is that he has spent millions of dollars in advertising , first to promote the impeachment of President Donald Trump and now his own candidacy for the 2020 Democratic nomination .
Steyer has so far spent more money on his campaign than all of the other candidates combined except for Michael Bloomberg , a billionaire who like Steyer is trying to buy the Democratic nomination .
If the Fox News numbers in Nevada and South Carolina are correct , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Steyer could be mucking up the Democratic contest , adding yet another dose of uncertainty to an already uncertain race .
Some Democrats are still looking for a perfect candidate to defeat Trump , and a billionaire liberal businessman who says the entire system is “ broken ” might be appealing to some .
But , of course , there is plenty of reason to believe that this Steyer boomlet isn ’ t very meaningful and that if and when Democrats look at him at greater length , they ’ ll find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard-bearer in November .
Up to this point , the Democratic front-runners have ignored Steyer , but if they see him as a real factor in the race , he ’ ll get much more attention from them — and from the national media , in general , and the Iowa debate moderators , in particular .
Where did he get all his money ?
What businesses and companies did he invest in ?
For a party that seems uncomfortable with millionaires and billionaires , Steyer would be a strange choice .
Yes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent his money for good causes and to fix the system , but he is still a billionaire who is trying to buy the nomination .
Like Trump , Steyer thinks that government is broken and that only a radical remake of the country — its laws and the Constitution — will make the system open to the people .
One of Steyer ’ s wackier proposals involves his support for term limits .
“ You and I both know we need term limits … that Congress shouldn ’ t be a lifetime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV spot that he rolled out in November to air in the four February states .
“ But members of Congress — and the corporations who ’ ve bought our democracy — hate term limits .
Too bad.
” Much like Trump , who throws words around as if they have no fixed meaning , Steyer must know that members of Congress aren ’ t “ appointed ” and that they don ’ t serve for a lifetime , unless the voters continue to reelect them every two or six years , depending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have a “ lifetime appointment , ” the way federal judges do .
Moreover , where is the evidence that corporations “ hate term limits ?
” One of the reasons why limiting terms is such a bad idea — it was bad when conservatives promoted them as a way to create more open seats when they were in the minority , and it is a bad idea now that a liberal Democratic hopeful is proposing them — is that term limits would empower unelected Hill staffers and lobbyists , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the details of legislation and have policy expertise .
House members wouldn ’ t be in Congress long enough to become experts in most matters of public policy .
Steyer reminds me a lot of Trump .
He ’ s never held elective office but thinks that he is his party ’ s — and the country ’ s — political savior .
Everything is broken .
Everything is corrupt .
Let ’ s throw everything out and start over .
Representative government ?
Forget it .
Let ’ s have a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who can dominate the airwaves during the national discussion leading up to the referendum ) .
From a purely handicapping point of view , I ’ m skeptical that Steyer has much staying power in the race .
His anti-establishment , liberal message of the evils of corporations will resonate with some , but many of those Democrats already have their favorites ( such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren ) .
And once the media and the other Democrats turn their fire on Steyer — if they ever do — he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defensive answering questions .
That ’ s not an ideal situation for a billionaire former hedge fund founder running for the Democratic nomination .

OPINION — Once again, there’s a new “hot” candidate. This time it’s billionaire Tom Steyer, who hit double digits in new Fox News polls in Nevada and South Carolina, thereby qualifying him for Tuesday’s CNN/Des Moines Register presidential debate — the last debate before the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses.
Of course, other surveys show Steyer in the low-to-middle single digits in the first two states with Democratic contests, Iowa and New Hampshire, and weak showings in those two states could affect his standing in the subsequent state contests.
The reason the Democratic former hedge fund founder is anywhere in any poll on this planet is that he has spent millions of dollars in advertising, first to promote the impeachment of President Donald Trump and now his own candidacy for the 2020 Democratic nomination.
Steyer has so far spent more money on his campaign than all of the other candidates combined except for Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire who like Steyer is trying to buy the Democratic nomination.
If the Fox News numbers in Nevada and South Carolina are correct, they would at the very least suggest that Steyer could be mucking up the Democratic contest, adding yet another dose of uncertainty to an already uncertain race.


rollcall--2020-01-13--Prosecutors want Chris Collins to serve years in prison

Federal prosecutors want former Rep. Chris Collins to spend “ the top end ” of a sentence guideline that ranges from almost four years to just under five years in prison for the crimes he pleaded guilty to in October : insider trading and lying to the FBI to conceal an insider trading scheme .
“ There is no case that Collins cites , and no insider trading case of which the Government is aware , in which the circumstances call as clearly as they do here for a sentence that carries a sufficient term of incarceration to ensure respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York , wrote on behalf of the government .
Judge Vernon S. Broderick will consider the government 's filing along with requests by Collins ’ former constituents of New York ’ s 27th Congressional District that he impose the maximum 57 months prescribed by sentencing guidelines .
Current and former GOP lawmakers , including former Speaker John A. Boehner , have written letters of support for Collins to Broderick .
His family and friends have also written on his behalf .
Sentencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 46 to 57 months in federal prison , but his lawyers argue the 69-year-old should not go to jail .
They want Collins to get probation with conditions of a significant house arrest term and extensive community service , along with a substantial fine .
The U.S .
Probation Office recommended Collins spend one year and one day in jail , a supervised release term and a $ 200,000 fine .
“ A sentence at the top end of the Guidelines range is necessary to assure the public that those in power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” prosecutors wrote .
“ The numerous letters that Congressman Collins ’ s former constituents have submitted to the Court expressing their deep frustration and disappointment with Collins ’ s secret illegal behavior reinforce the need for a substantial period of incarceration to promote respect for the law.
” Collins will be sentenced by Broderick at 2:30 p.m. Friday in New York City .
The New York Republican served on the board of an Australian biotechnology company , Innate Immunotherapeutics , and was alerted by the CEO in an email that Innate ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed a crucial clinical drug trial .
That drug was a primary component of Innate ’ s business and the company ’ s success hinged largely on the performance of MIS416 .
Collins then called his son , Cameron , and urged him , along with others , to sell shares of Innate to avoid grave losses once the information of the failed test became public knowledge .
If the trial was successful , that would have been great news for the stock price , but because it failed , the stock price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public .
“ As a member of Innate ’ s Board of Directors , Congressman Collins had a duty not to disclose material non-public information about the company that came into his possession , ” prosecutors wrote .
“ During the summer of 2017 , however , he violated that duty in order to confer a financial benefit on his family that ordinary investors , who lacked access to inside information , could not obtain.
” This allowed those close to Collins to avoid $ 768,000 in losses , although the former congressman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions .
Collins could not trade his shares because they were still held by a transfer agent in Australia .
“ It is critically important that the sentence imposed on Congressman Collins drive home the message that status does not constitute a basis for leniency , ” prosecutors wrote .
“ Collins ’ s decision to break the law while making the law — a decision that he made twice , ten months apart — was brazen.
” Collins was one of Innate ’ s largest shareholders , holding 16.8 percent of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Innate stock .
Prosecutors also note that Collins committed this financial crime with a vast personal wealth estimated at $ 13.8 million , conservatively .
They cite Collins ’ possession of a baseball card collection and a coin collection each valued at $ 1 million each .
Cameron has a net worth of over $ 21 million , prosecutors say .
“ Collins could have ameliorated any concern he had that Cameron would lose money in Innate by simply gifting Cameron money .
His choice to commit fraud instead , as if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a total disregard for the rules that are intended to govern everyone ’ s actions , ” prosecutors said .
“ His subsequent lies to the FBI indicate the same disregard .
There is plainly a need for the sentence imposed in this case to be substantial enough that it will promote respect for the law , in light of the lack of respect that Collins has shown for it and the importance of making clear that conduct of this kind , by anyone , is not tolerated .
”

Federal prosecutors want former Rep. Chris Collins to spend “the top end” of a sentence guideline that ranges from almost four years to just under five years in prison for the crimes he pleaded guilty to in October: insider trading and lying to the FBI to conceal an insider trading scheme.
“There is no case that Collins cites, and no insider trading case of which the Government is aware, in which the circumstances call as clearly as they do here for a sentence that carries a sufficient term of incarceration to ensure respect for the law,” Max Nicholas, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, wrote on behalf of the government.
Judge Vernon S. Broderick will consider the government’s filing along with requests by Collins’ former constituents of New York’s 27th Congressional District that he impose the maximum 57 months prescribed by sentencing guidelines. Current and former GOP lawmakers, including former Speaker John A. Boehner, have written letters of support for Collins to Broderick. His family and friends have also written on his behalf.
Sentencing guidelines call for Collins to serve anywhere from 46 to 57 months in federal prison, but his lawyers argue the 69-year-old should not go to jail. They want Collins to get probation with conditions of a significant house arrest term and extensive community service, along with a substantial fine. The U.S. Probation Office recommended Collins spend one year and one day in jail, a supervised release term and a $200,000 fine.
“A sentence at the top end of the Guidelines range is necessary to assure the public that those in power do not stand above the law,” prosecutors wrote. “The numerous letters that Congressman Collins’s former constituents have submitted to the Court expressing their deep frustration and disappointment with Collins’s secret illegal behavior reinforce the need for a substantial period of incarceration to promote respect for the law.”


rollcall--2020-01-13--West Virginia’s Richard Ojeda is back, this time running for Senate

Richard Ojeda , the West Virginia Democrat who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 , lost a bid for the House in 2018 and made a short-lived run for president , is now trying to challenge Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito this year .
Ojeda , a former state senator and retired Army major , announced his campaign on social media and in a blog post on the website of DemCast , a nonprofit advocacy group .
“ I believe Mitch McConnell needs a thorn in his side and nobody is better at that than me … Richard Ojeda , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is running for a second term in a state that backed Trump by 42 points , won ’ t be easy .
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Solid Republican .
Ojeda ’ s bid for West Virginia ’ s open 3rd District in 2018 garnered national attention for his straight-talking , unconventional campaign approach .
As a former Trump supporter , he appeared well-positioned to connect with Trump voters in the state ’ s southern coal-mining district , many of whom remain registered Democrats , even while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District by an even bigger margin than he carried the state — 49 points .
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee eventually added Ojeda to its Red to Blue list for strong recruits , and he started working with national operatives like veteran Democratic pollster Jef Pollock , who was tipped off to Ojeda ’ s candidacy by West Virginia ’ s senior senator , Democrat Joe Manchin III .
But outside groups effectively nationalized the race , and Ojeda ended up losing by 13 points to Republican Carol Miller , the only new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .
Miller , the daughter of a former Ohio congressman , also had personal resources to contribute to the campaign .
A week after his loss , Ojeda announced his bid for the Democratic nomination for president , which he eventually dropped in late January 2019 .
“ Just after two months into my campaign I realized after receiving a donation check from a handicapped woman that I did not feel comfortable continuing to accept donations from people who struggle when the news media was refusing to give me an equal voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post Monday .
Ojeda explained that he then tried to “ get my state Senate seat back , ” a position he had resigned from while running for president .
But having already submitted his letter of resignation , he was unable to do so .
“ I want to reassure everyone who hears my voice that I am committed to the citizens of West Virginia .
I ’ m asking for forgiveness but also adding a promise , ” Ojeda wrote , explaining that running for Senate will be his way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made national news when he was beaten with brass knuckles days before his state Senate primary in 2016 .
He continued to attract attention throughout early 2017 and 2018 as an example of a Democrat who could appeal in Trump country .

Richard Ojeda, the West Virginia Democrat who voted for Donald Trump in 2016, lost a bid for the House in 2018 and made a short-lived run for president, is now trying to challenge Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito this year.
Ojeda, a former state senator and retired Army major, announced his campaign on social media and in a blog post on the website of DemCast, a nonprofit advocacy group.
“I believe Mitch McConnell needs a thorn in his side and nobody is better at that than me … Richard Ojeda,” he wrote.
Taking on Capito, who is running for a second term in a state that backed Trump by 42 points, won’t be easy. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Solid Republican.
Ojeda’s bid for West Virginia’s open 3rd District in 2018 garnered national attention for his straight-talking, unconventional campaign approach. As a former Trump supporter, he appeared well-positioned to connect with Trump voters in the state’s southern coal-mining district, many of whom remain registered Democrats, even while voting Republican. Trump carried the 3rd District by an even bigger margin than he carried the state — 49 points.


rollcall--2020-01-13--Max Rose backs Mike Bloomberg, who donated to his 2018 opponent

Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg picked up his first congressional endorsement Monday , with New York Democratic Rep. Max Rose backing his bid , even though Bloomberg donated to Rose ’ s 2018 opponent .
Bloomberg gave $ 5,400 , the maximum allowed from an individual , to Republican Rep. Dan Donovan in April 2018 , Federal Election Commission documents show .
The donation came two months before the June primary , when Donovan was facing a challenge from former GOP Rep. Michael G. Grimm .
Donovan went on to win the primary but lost to Rose by 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about his 2018 donation to Donovan .
But Rose ’ s campaign pointed to his comments to NY1 late last year about Bloomberg ’ s donation .
“ I have no problem with people who are independent thinkers and who choose to support people who are at times across the aisle , ” Rose said .
Rose is one of the most vulnerable House members running for reelection this year given that President Donald Trump carried his Staten Island district by 10 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have started to line up behind Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign , a sign they view the former vice president as the best general election candidate .
Rose is the first member of Congress to endorse Bloomberg , who served three terms as mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013 , first as a Republican before switching to independent in 2007 .
An Army veteran who served in Afghanistan , Rose cited Bloomberg ’ s leadership following the 9/11 terror attacks in his endorsement .
“ Mike Bloomberg took the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to life and put us on track to lead in the 21st century , ” the Democrat said in a statement released by the Bloomberg campaign .
“ Mike Bloomberg has taken on tough fights and gotten results , which is why I believe he is the best candidate for my district , my city , and for our country , ” he added .
Rose is facing a competitive reelection race , but he has a financial advantage .
His campaign announced Monday that he raised $ 1.2 million in the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.5 million on hand Dec. 31 .
GOP leaders have signaled that their preferred candidate to take on Rose is state Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis , who recently announced she raised $ 306,000 in the final quarter and had $ 723,000 in the bank at Dec. 31 .
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race a Toss-up .
Bloomberg entered the presidential primary later than the rest of the field and is forgoing competing in the four early caucus and primary states .
Instead , he is focusing on the slew of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 .
He has reportedly already spent $ 200 million on his own campaign , twice as much as he spent during the 2018 midterms , when his super PAC coordinated with other outside groups in the effort to flip the House .
Over the weekend , Bloomberg did not rule out spending $ 1 billion to defeat Trump , whether or not he wins the Democratic nomination , according to The New York Times .
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg picked up his first congressional endorsement Monday, with New York Democratic Rep. Max Rose backing his bid, even though Bloomberg donated to Rose’s 2018 opponent.
Bloomberg gave $5,400, the maximum allowed from an individual, to Republican Rep. Dan Donovan in April 2018, Federal Election Commission documents show. The donation came two months before the June primary, when Donovan was facing a challenge from former GOP Rep. Michael G. Grimm. Donovan went on to win the primary but lost to Rose by 6 points in November.
Bloomberg’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about his 2018 donation to Donovan. But Rose’s campaign pointed to his comments to NY1 late last year about Bloomberg’s donation.
“I have no problem with people who are independent thinkers and who choose to support people who are at times across the aisle,” Rose said.
Rose is one of the most vulnerable House members running for reelection this year given that President Donald Trump carried his Staten Island district by 10 points in 2016. Some vulnerable House Democrats have started to line up behind Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, a sign they view the former vice president as the best general election candidate. Rose is the first member of Congress to endorse Bloomberg, who served three terms as mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013, first as a Republican before switching to independent in 2007.