Category Archives: Republican

Kentuckys Republican secretary of state, who had earned widespread praise for increasing his states voter turnout during the coronavirus pandemic and for expanding opportunities to vote, won his primary on Tuesday.

Michael Adams faced a primary challenge from two Republicans who align themselves with the growing faction within the GOP who believe elections are frequently rigged and stolen. Adams will now face Buddy Wheatley, a Democrat and former state representative, in November.

During his time in office, Adams has shot down conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and defended his states election system from claims of fraud, a stance that he said earlier this week could cost him his job.

In an interview, Adams said it would absolutely be worth it if he lost the race to have defended and expanded Kentuckys elections, but he was hopeful that Kentucky Republicans understood the ways his reforms had benefited them.

Im not surprised that I have a primary, but I also think in my gut that if these Republicans utilized early voting and absentee voting, then theyre not going to hold it against me that I implemented those things, he said.

The race marks the latest in what is likely to be a long series of primary contests in which more moderate, mainstream Republicans are challenged by candidates to their right who are allied with Trump and who deny the results of the 2020 election.

There wont be a GOP primary that doesnt have election denialism as part of it, said Ben Ginsberg, a conservative elections lawyer, at a recent conference for election officials in Washington DC.

The Republicans challenging Adams were Stephen Knipper, an information technology project manager who has twice run unsuccessfully for secretary of state, and Allen Maricle, a former state legislator. Knipper is endorsed by Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO, who has spread conspiracy theories about Trump winning the 2020 election. Knipper has also said he has serious doubts about the 2019 victory of Kentuckys Democratic governor, Andy Beshear, and alleges that voting machines were hacked.

Maricle has said he disagrees that the states elections are rigged, but he has maintained that voter fraud affects them.

Both challengers wanted Kentucky to join the eight states that have recently left the Electronic Registration Information Center (Eric), a national database used by a majority of states to compare voter rolls and keep them accurate. Fueled by false claims and conspiracy theories about the networks ties to the liberal donor George Soros, Republicans who once praised Eric now claim it does not protect election integrity.

Adams has defended Kentuckys participation in Eric and has said Kentucky will remain a member as long as it is beneficial and worth the dues. Prior to the last couple of months, when critical states have pulled out, Eric has been a godsend for us in helping us get people off the rolls, he said.

Since taking office in 2020, Adams has worked with Beshear and the GOP-controlled legislature to expand absentee and early voting. During the height of the pandemic, he worked to open countywide polling supercenters in large venues. The work helped Kentucky see a primary turnout record in 2020 and earned him praise from Democrats.

Adams said his biggest reason for running was to protect the expansions he has made to voting.

I do think if I get beat, that will send a message to other Republicans in the legislature, especially, that doing things the way Ive done them is bad politics, and Im afraid theyll dismantle expanded voting and absentee voting for political reasons.

That desire overpowers his reluctance to continue serving in a job he calls miserable given the environment of threats and harassment for election officials.

I didnt especially want to run again, he added, but I felt like I had to do it to protect what weve done.

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Republican who expanded Kentucky voting opportunities wins primary - The Guardian US

House Republicans on Wednesday repelled an effort by Democrats to force a vote on expelling Representative George Santos of New York, who was charged last week in a 13-count federal indictment covering wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions, stealing public funds and lying on financial disclosures.

Republicans voted along party line 221 to 204, with seven Democrats voting present to refer the resolution to expel Mr. Santos to the House Ethics Committee, which has been investigating Mr. Santoss finances and campaign activity for months.

The measure to expel Mr. Santos, introduced by Representative Robert Garcia, a Democrat of California, was unlikely to succeed in the House, where it would have required a two-thirds supermajority to pass. Republicans hold a majority so thin that Mr. Santoss vote remains crucial, reducing the political incentive for them to support his ouster.

Indeed, by delaying the vote, House Republicans including some who have called on Mr. Santos to resign avoided having to commit to a firm position on his behavior. But their actions also may be construed as a tacit endorsement of Mr. Santoss remaining in Congress as he faces ethical and legal inquiries.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy has for months deferred action and defended Mr. Santoss right to his seat, arguing that the House should not punish Mr. Santos without a formal report by the Ethics Committee. But a handful of Republicans, many of them first-term representatives from New York, have for months said that Mr. Santos was unfit to serve and demanded that he resign.

A vote to expel Mr. Santos threatened to put those New York representatives, most of whom flipped swing districts that will be prime targets for Democrats next year, in a politically thorny position. Voting for Mr. Santoss expulsion would have put them at odds with their party. But voting against it might have made them appear hypocritical after months of forcefully denouncing Mr. Santos.

That tension was on display when Representative Anthony DEsposito, the first House Republican to call for Mr. Santoss resignation, introduced the motion to refer Mr. Santoss expulsion to the Ethics Committee.

Mr. DEsposito, who represents a district adjacent to Mr. Santoss, said that he would have voted to expel Mr. Santos. But since he knew the effort would fall short of the votes it needed, he said, he believed this is the quickest way of ridding the House of Representatives of this scourge on government.

After the vote, Mr. Santos, who voted with Republicans, said, I look forward to seeing the process play out. And if the Ethics Committee finds a reason to remove me, that is the process.

The timeline for the House Ethics Committees investigation remains unclear. The committee did not open its inquiry into Mr. Santos until March, nearly two months after two Democratic lawmakers first requested it do so. It is often criticized by government watchdog groups for moving too slowly.

The criminal case against Mr. Santos could further delay the committees work. In past cases when federal prosecutors have brought criminal charges against a representative, the Ethics Committee has deferred its inquiries at the Justice Departments request.

A spokesman for the Ethics Committee would not say whether it has received such a request regarding its work into Mr. Santos. The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Still, Mr. McCarthy on Tuesday said that he wanted the committee to move quickly. I think they could come back faster than a court case could, he said.

Mr. Santos, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, is next expected to appear in federal court on Long Island on June 30. He has repeatedly insisted he had no plans to resign and last month announced his intent to run for re-election.

He said on Wednesday that he has been 100 percent compliant with the Ethics Committees investigation, but he has not appeared before them yet. As he spoke, Representative Jamaal Bowman, Democrat of New York, loudly heckled him, urging him to step down.

You gotta resign, bro, Mr. Bowman said, extending his thumb in a hit-the-road gesture. You gotta resign.

Catie Edmondson contributed reporting from Washington.

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House Republicans Stall Effort to Kick George Santos Out of Congress - The New York Times

Experts say a default would be catastrophic for US economy, but political standoff has persisted as deadline looms.

United States President Joe Biden and the Republican speaker of the US House of Representatives have both said they were optimistic the country would avert a potentially catastrophic default on its debt commitments, even as negotiations remain ongoing.

Both Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Wednesday that they would push ahead on talks to raise the countrys $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, which has been the subject of a months-long standoff. A deal would need to be struck before the government runs out of money to pay its bills, something the US Treasury has said could happen as soon as June 1.

Were going to come together because theres no alternative, Biden told reporters at the White House.

To be clear, this negotiation is about the outlines of the budget, not about whether or not were going to [pay our debts], Biden added. The leaders [of Congress] have all agreed: We will not default. Every leader has said that.

Meanwhile, McCarthy, during an interview with CNBC, said recent progress in negotiations has made averting a default with a deal by Sunday doable.

I think at the end of the day, we do not have a debt default, McCarthy said. Now we have a structure to find a way to come to a conclusion. The timeline is very tight. But were going to make sure were in the room and get this done.

Republicans, who control the House by a 222-213 majority, for months had been insisting that Democrats agree to spending cuts in exchange for a deal to raise Congresss self-imposed debt limit, a move needed regularly since the government spends more than it takes in taxes.

At particular issue has been Republicans desire to impose heightened requirements for individuals to work to receive support from some government programmes.

On Wednesday, Biden said there is a possibility that some work requirements which many Democrats strongly oppose will be included in a final deal.

The comments came after Biden and McCarthy met for about an hour at the White House on Tuesday with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

The US president spoke shortly before he departed for a Group of Seven summit of world leaders that will take place Friday through Sunday in Japan. He said he will remain in constant contact with top lawmakers by telephone while attending the meetings.

The White House had previously announced that Biden was cutting short his trip including canceling a visit to Australia to meet with the Quad grouping of Asia Pacific allies and what would have been the first presidential visit to Papua New Guinea in light of the standoff.

Negotiators are aiming to hammer out an agreement before Bidens scheduled return to Washington on Sunday.

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Biden, top Republican say confident debt default will be averted - Al Jazeera English

FILE PHOTO: Kentucky's Democratic Governor Andy Beshear looks on after a memorial service for those who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), held on the Capitol grounds in Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S., November 14, 2021. REUTERS/Jon Cherry/File Photo

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Daniel Cameron won the Republican primary for Kentucky governor on Tuesday, becoming the first major-party Black nominee for governor in the state's history and setting up a November showdown with Democratic incumbent Andy Beshear.

Cameron, the state's attorney general who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, claimed a convincing victory over a 12-candidate field that included Kelly Craft, who served as United Nations ambassador in the Trump administration, and state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles. Beshear easily dispatched two under-the-radar Democratic challengers in his own primary.

WATCH: A look at primary elections and battles over abortion rights at the state level

Cameron, the state's first Black attorney general, played up the historic nature of his nomination in his victory speech Tuesday, saying his campaign aims to "embody the promise of America, that if you work hard and if you stand on principle, anything is possible."

"To anyone who looks like me, know that you can achieve anything," Cameron told his supporters. "Know that in this country and in Kentucky, all that matters are your values."

The race now shifts to the general election, which will be one of November's most closely watched contests and could provide clues heading into next year's presidential race. Beshear, a popular Democratic governor, will face a tough reelection bid in a Republican-dominated state after a first term marked by a series of tragedies the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and a mass shooting that killed one of his closest friends.

Beshear on Tuesday touted his stewardship of Kentucky's economy pointing to record economic development successes in setting the stage for his fall reelection campaign. And he blasted the tone of the GOP gubernatorial primary after taking hits for months from the Republican candidates.

"Right now somewhere in America, there is a CEO deciding where to move their business and they're considering Kentucky," Beshear told a gathering of supporters. "Let me ask you: Is seeing people talk down our state and our economy, insult our people and stoke divisions going to help that next company choose Kentucky? Of course not."

The fall matchup between Beshear and Cameron conjures parallels from the state's last governor's race but with a reversal of roles for the governor. In 2019, Beshear used the attorney general's office as a springboard to the governorship. During his single term as attorney general, Beshear challenged a series of executive actions by then-governor, Republican Matt Bevin. Beshear narrowly defeated Bevin in a race that revolved around Bevin's combative personality.

Turnout was light in many locations as rain fell across much of the state during part of the day, the secretary of state's office said. Storm warnings were issued in some areas but there were no reports of voting disruptions. Election officials hoped for an upswing in turnout after the storms passed.

Cameron succeeded Beshear in the attorney general's office, and the Republican turned the tables on Beshear, mounting numerous legal challenges against state and national Democratic policies that endeared him to conservatives. Cameron led the successful challenge that essentially halted the governor's COVID-era restrictions, which Cameron said amounted to executive overreach. Beshear says that his actions saved lives and that he leaned heavily on guidance from Trump's coronavirus task force.

A former aide to Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, Cameron has risen through the political ranks to become one of the most prominent Black Republicans in the country. His victory Tuesday will play into Trump's efforts to solidify his status as the leader of the Republican Party heading into the 2024 presidential primary.

If Beshear follows his campaign formula from 2019, he will avoid talking about Trump or dwelling on polarizing national issues that could risk further energizing his opponent's conservative base.

He is also expected to draw on his family's strong political brand his father, Steve Beshear, is a former two-term Kentucky governor who spoke at his son's primary victory celebration Tuesday and lean into his role of leading through adversity after a multitude of crises during his first term.

Through it all, Beshear emerged as the front man, holding daily pandemic briefings for months and then leading relief efforts to help those left devastated by tornadoes and floods.

Last month, Beshear publicly and emotionally grieved the loss of a close friend who died when a Louisville bank employee opened fire with an assault-style rifle, killing five coworkers. He has frequently invoked his Christian faith as a cornerstone of his efforts to lead the state through tough times.

In addition to Craft and Quarles, Cameron also defeated state Auditor Mike Harmon and Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, among others.

But it was the combative rivalry between Cameron and Craft that dominated the primary campaign. Cameron endured an advertising blitz by Craft's campaign backed by her family's fortune and an outside group supporting her campaign. The pro-Craft group portrayed Cameron as an "establishment teddy bear" in claiming he wasn't tough enough as attorney general. A pro-Cameron group swung back with attacks against Craft, who nabbed a last-minute endorsement from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Cameron's handling of an investigation into the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police in 2020 could come under renewed scrutiny as he campaigns as the GOP nominee. Taylor's death and the police-related killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests.

In announcing a grand jury's findings in Taylor's death, Cameron said jurors "agreed" that homicide charges were not warranted against the officers, because they were fired upon. Three of the jurors disputed Cameron's account, arguing that Cameron's staff limited their scope and did not give them an opportunity to consider homicide charges against the police in Taylor's death.

Cameron's immediate attention will turn toward building party unity for the fall campaign slog, a task for which he has demonstrated skills in the past. He bridged the gulf between Trump and McConnell despite a growing rift between the two GOP heavyweights. Cameron worked as the senator's legal counsel and made a high-profile pitch for Trump's unsuccessful reelection campaign at the 2020 Republican National Convention.

The gubernatorial campaign topped primary races for other constitutional offices in Kentucky.

Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams, who pushed successfully for expanded voter access, won his primary against two candidates, including one who cast doubt on the integrity of elections. He faces Democrat Charles "Buddy" Wheatley in November in his reelection bid.

Other primary winners included Republican Allison Ball, who is running for state auditor after two terms as state treasurer, and now will face Democrat Kimberley Reeder, who ran unopposed. Garrard County Attorney Mark Metcalf won the GOP primary for state treasurer and faces Democrat Michael Bowman in November. The general election race for agriculture commissioner pits Republican Jonathan Shell against Democrat Sierra Enlow, who won their respective primaries. The fall campaign for attorney general will feature Republican Russell Coleman against Democrat Pam Stevenson. Both were unopposed in the primary.

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Trump-backed candidate wins Republican primary to face Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear in November - PBS NewsHour

As negotiating teams for President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy work on hammering out a deal to raise or suspend the debt ceiling with under two weeks untila possible U.S. default each side has demands, and so-called red lines have been drawn.

Democrats want "clean" legislation, a debt ceiling increase without conditions. They reason that negotiations on spending and the budget can be undertaken after the debt ceiling is resolved. That's not a solution Republicans like much.

Republicans are holding out for spending cuts and other provisions. Here are some of them and how they're being received.

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Republicans want to see work requirements added and tightened for able-bodied adults who apply for entitlements and benefits, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. The across-the-board work requirement would apply to those who do not have dependents.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday that this is a red line for him. TANF, formerly known as food stamps, already has some work requirements, as does SNAP. Currently, childless, able-bodied adults 18 to 49 are required to work 20 hours a week or enroll in a work training program to be eligible for SNAP benefits.

Republicans want to add work requirements for Medicaid, too, and toughen existing work requirements.

Mr. Biden on Tuesday didn't rule out the possibility of additional work requirements, but he rejected work requirements that could negatively affect Americans' health outcomes.

"I'm not going to accept any work requirements that's going to impact on medical health needs of people," the president said, adding that he wouldn't accept work requirements "much beyond what is already" in place.

Republicans are also adamant that spending caps or spending cuts need to be a part of any agreement. They're unlikely to make a deal without them.

The debt ceiling bill House Republicans recently passed along party lines contains their proposed cuts. McCarthy wants to cap future spending and grow federal spending by just 1% each year.

The White House isn't willing to come close to the spending constraints in the House-passed bill. But they are likely to make some concessions here.

Still, many Democrats won't like it.

"There will be a huge backlash if we do something like institute work requirements or cut spending more broadly," Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a progressive Democrat from Washington, told CBS News. "All of these things disproportionately affect poor people, people in rural areas, Black, Brown, indigenous folks. Those are the people that are going to feel the burden of spending cuts of work requirements. That is not in line with our democratic values at a time when hunger is at a very high rate across the country."

Republicans also want to claw back funds appropriated for COVID-19 relief but that have not yet been spent, pointing out that even the administration has declared the pandemic emergency is over.

Congress passed six large spending bills to manage the fallout from the pandemic, totaling $4.6 trillion. By January, the about $4.2 trillion of that had already been spent, according to the Government Accountability Office, leaving billions still unspent.

The president said of the funding last week that "we don't need it all," although he added that he still needed to "take a hard look at it" to assess what obligations remained. Still, "it's on the table," he said.

Reforming and streamlining federal infrastructure permitting rules is another item on the GOP's list of demands. And it's an area of possible compromise that the White House hasn't publicly shot down.

Republicans also want to tie any debt ceiling increase to cuts to clean-energy incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act. Those incentives include things like credits for energy-efficient HVAC system installations. Slashing those incentives is not something the White House wants to do, but it remains to be seen whether there's room for compromise.

Last week, Mr. Biden said he was "considering" invoking the 14th Amendment to circumvent Congress and raise the debt ceiling unilaterally. But he also appeared to express doubt about the practicality of such a move, saying it would "have to be litigated," and in the meantime, without an extension on the debt ceiling, it could still cause financial instability.

Five Senate Democrats are nonetheless circulating a letter urging the president to invoke the 14th Amendment.

"Republicans have made it clear that they are prepared to hold our entire economy hostage unless you accede to their demands to reduce the deficit on the backs of working families. That is simply unacceptable," the letter reads.

The president also has not ruled out the possibility of a short-term debt ceiling increase, although neither side thinks that's an ideal solution.

All parties hope that the decision this week to narrow the negotiations to the White House and House speaker's representatives will help them reach a deal more quickly. Before he left for Japan Wednesday morning, the president said he's"confident" the nation "will not default."

Jack Turman contributed to this report

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Kathryn Watson is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital based in Washington, D.C.

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Debt ceiling demands and red lines for the White House and Republicans - CBS News

The expansion of basic scientific research enshrined in a 2022 bipartisan law, funded through the National Science Foundation, is at pretty serious risk, Atkinson said in an interview. Biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health and clean energy programs at the Energy Department also are at risk, he said.

After signing the legislation, which authorized $81 billion for the National Science Foundation over five years to advance research in several critical areas, President Joe Biden called it a once-in-a-generation investment in America itself.

Lawmakers from both parties called it a long overdue response to Chinas growing strength in high-tech areas including artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotech.

The legislation also separately appropriated $52 billion in federal grants to U.S. semiconductor manufacturers to rebuild domestic chip production that has moved abroad over the years.

House Republicans, faced with a vote to raise the national debt limit, are using it to put pressure on Biden and congressional Democrats to cut spending. The House passed a bill last month that would reduce the deficit by $4.8 trillion in exchange for lifting the debt limit until the first quarter of next year.

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House Republican deficit plan seen as shift in thinking on China - Roll Call

House Republicans frustrations with the Biden administrations education policies and embrace of the culture wars over education were on full display Tuesday when Education Secretary Miguel Cardona testified before the House Education and the Workforce Committee.

What color is your suit? asked Michigan representative Lisa McClain, a Republican, during a heated exchange. Im just trying to figure out if we can answer a question.

The nearly five-hour hearing, which became contentious at times, featured questions, talking points and discussion about a wide range of higher educationrelated topics from the administrations budget proposal to the influence of the Chinese government on American universities to student loan policies.

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This was Cardonas first appearance before the committee since Republicans took over the House.

Cardona repeatedly defended his departments work to improve the student loan system and help students recover from the pandemic, among other issues, echoing his press statements and comments at recent budget committee meetings. He also tried to steer clear of debates about culture war topics.

The choice we face now is whether were going to build on the common ground that we have to invest in our children or protect the broken status quo thats failed too many of our schools, Cardona said in his opening remarks. Now is not the time to break down in partisan or divisive culture wars.

North Carolina representative Virginia Foxx, the Republican who chairs the committee, outlined a series of concerns about the departments actions under President Biden in her opening remarks.

Mr. Secretary, I wish this hearing was an endorsement of your departments cooperation with our requests, so we could then proceed in good faith to the FY 2024 budget request, she said. Instead, your department has engaged in disingenuous and misleading actions while being minimally responsive to congressional oversight.

Virginia representative Bobby Scott, the committees ranking Democrat, and other Democrats used their time to show support for student loan forgiveness and other policies as well as to detail how the budget cuts proposed in the House debt-ceiling bill would affect the department and students.

Scott credited Cardona with helping to restore the departments commitment to supporting students and educators.

These investments would be transformational for our education system, Scott said of the departments budget proposal. Regrettably, my Republican colleagues have chosen to use their time in the majority to pursue policies that harm students and roll back the clock on our progress.

Foxx and other committee members voiced frustration repeatedly over the departments pace in responding to oversight and data requests.

Foxx said the department has largely ignored requests for documents and not yet responded to some of the committees 11 oversight letters. When the agency did respond, she said the responses were minimal and nearly all were late.

We will continue to press for the answers to the questions that were asking and the information that well need, she said.

Near the end of the hearing, after Foxx asked for a clear commitment to respond to the oversight letters, Cardona said the department will respond to letters and provide the information we can provide to you in good faith.

As the hearing progressed, Republicans increasingly criticized Cardona for what they said was dodging their questions as they grew more annoyed with the secretarys answers.

Ive been listening to you evade yes-or-no questions all day, said Representative Kevin Kiley, a California Republican.

Cardona defended his departments work in responding to oversight and Freedom of Information Act requests.

We provided over 2,400 pages of documents in this Congress alone, Cardona said. Weve responded to 45 letters this Congress alone. Were going to continue to take that very seriously.

Foxx questioned Cardona on whether the department was prepared to restart student loan payments and whether he would commit to no further extensions of the payment pause. Foxx asked the department last month for more details on its plan.

After the Supreme Court decision is made, we plan to start payments within 60days, he said, reiterating a commitment he made at a Senate budget hearing last week.

Democrats on the committee said they were concerned about the impact of resuming payments after a three-year pause and asked if the agency had the resources to pull off the operation.

Were geared up and ready to go, Cardona said.

However, if the administrations budget proposal is not supported, that would significantly impact the departments ability to serve borrowers, he said.

We look forward to making sure that you have the resources that you need, Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, said.

Throughout the hearing, Cardona repeatedly defended the departments student loan policies, including proposed reforms to the income-driven repayment program, which offers borrowers more generous terms to help them pay back their loans.

Income-driven repayment is going to open access to college for many more students, Cardona said. The goal is for them to pay their debt based on their income. As their income increases, their debt payment increases. Ive seen too many studentsintelligent students, students who have tremendous potentialrule out college because of fear of the cost Imagine the talent in this country thats going untapped.

Not all committee members liked Cardonas explanations.

You are implying that if you didnt go to college, your ability is untapped, Wisconsin representative Glenn Grothman, a Republican, said. I think thats a little bit snobby.

Cardona replied that some of his best and most influential teachers never went to college.

Kentucky representative James Comer, the top Republican on the House Oversight Committee, asked for more information about the departments enforcement of Section117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which requires colleges and universities to, twice a year, disclose all foreign gifts and contracts totaling $250,000 or more. Comer and others said they were concerned about the influence of the Chinese government on American universities and worried that the department was backtracking on efforts to require colleges to report the foreign gifts and contracts.

Cardona said the administration is improving the system for reporting and on track to make more filings public.

Weve got a problem with our universities, Comer said. According to multiple university presidents Ive spoken with, we have Chinese students that are stealing our intellectual property. They are essentially serving as spies for the Chinese Communist Party. We have certain universities that are receiving enormous anonymous gifts from the Chinese government. This is a concern for the House Oversight Committee.

Republicans also repeatedly criticized the proposed rule amending the TitleIX of the Education Amendments of 1972 regulations to prohibit blanket bans on transgender students participating in sports teams consistent with their gender identity.

We should be focusing on what the American people are asking us for, Cardona said. They are not asking for divisive comments. They are asking us to work together. Student safety is a primary one. Making sure that students are accepted in schools and acknowledged for who they are is critically important.

Some Democrats on the committee asked Cardona for more information about the departments plans to oversee the online program managersthe outside companies that colleges and universities contract with to run their online offerings. Several committee members have criticized the outside companies and want the department to do more to hold them accountable.

Cardona said that theres an increased demand for flexibility in higher education, but the department wants to ensure greater oversight as well.

So that it doesnt result in what weve experienced with borrower defense and having almost $14billion in loans discharged because students were taken advantage of by certain online, predatory practices, he said.

Florida representative Aaron Bean, a Republican, said that proprietary schools are under attack by the department and asked Cardona, Why are you at war with proprietary colleges?

I dont think were at war, Cardona said. Were fixing a broken system.

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House Republicans clash with Cardona over student loans, other ... - Inside Higher Ed

The U.S. Capitol is seen on July 6, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON A House appropriations panel advanced a spending bill Wednesday for the Department of Veterans Affairs that Republicans touted as proof of their commitment to veterans but Democrats dismissed as an empty promise.

The House Appropriations Committee's VA and military construction subcommittee agreed to move the legislation to the full committee over the loud objections of Democrats who say the Republican-led plan does not fully fund toxic exposure benefits.

Republicans, in turn, argued their bill supports fiscal responsibility while still meeting the Biden administrations $143 billion budget request for the VA for fiscal 2024, which begins Oct. 1.

We kept our promise, and we did it responsibly, said Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, chairman of the subpanel.

The bill is the latest showdown between House Republicans and Democrats over funding for veterans health care and benefits following the passage of a controversial measure last month to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for slashing federal spending.

Democrats, the VA and veterans groups criticized the Republican proposal for failing to carve out protections for spending on veterans and said it would result in a 22% budget cut to the VA.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the top Democrat on the VA appropriations subcommittee, accused Republicans on Wednesday of continuing a disturbing trend of underfunding veteran services.

I cannot in good conscience support this bill, and it saddens me, the Florida congresswoman said. Ive been in a leadership role on this subcommittee since 2014, and I have never felt more sickened and sad about the product that we are producing today.

The main point of contention is the Toxic Exposures Fund, a dedicated reserve set up by last years sweeping Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT, Act to cover the treatment costs of veterans exposed to burn pit smoke and other toxins. The fund is considered mandatory spending and is not subject to the annual congressional spending process.

The Republican spending bill proposes putting $5.5 billion into the fund nearly $15 billion less than the VA requested and supplementing the difference with discretionary spending that can be adjusted annually.

Democrats said Wednesday that the move breaks the promise made to veterans under the PACT Act to guarantee health care and benefits and puts the fund at the mercy of future political fights.

The Republicans in Congress are now proposing we toss that guarantee in the garbage and put funding at risk on an annual basis, said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of California, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. That goes beyond morally reprehensible, it is just plain cruel.

Carter said Republicans did not accept the shift of nearly $15 billion to the mandatory side of the budget.

We utilized the Toxic Exposure Fund as intended: to cover the incremental costs above the fiscal year 2021 baseline to implement the PACT Act, he said.

Democrats said Republicans were also seeking to remove dedicated funding for military installation climate change and resilience projects, oversight of privatized housing and the cleanup of toxic PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

They slammed the bill for failing to provide adequate funding for military construction though the bill proposes spending $1 billion more on barracks and other facilities than the $17 billion that the White House had requested.

Committee chairwoman Kay Granger, R-Texas, said the Republicans budget plan, the first of 12 appropriations bills that will be introduced by the House committee in the next few weeks, demonstrates how were able to reduce overall spending without impacting our committee commitment to veterans, national defense and homeland security.

In addition to budgeting, the bill advances a conservative agenda that takes aim at several liberal initiatives. It includes a ban on implementing executive orders on diversity, equity and inclusion and prohibits the use of funds to promote or advance critical race theory, which examines structural racism and inequality.

The bill also notably eliminates funding for the VAs public affairs office in response to what Republicans described as inaccurate and politically motivated press releases making false claims about budget cuts.

More than 50 House Republicans lashed out at the VA earlier this month for publicizing the potential impact to veterans of a debt ceiling bill that returns federal spending to 2022 levels. The bill narrowly passed the Republican-led House but lacks support in the Democrat-led Senate. The VA budgeting bill in its current form is also unlikely to gain traction in the upper chamber.

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VA spending bill approved by Republican-led House subcommittee ... - Stars and Stripes

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) on Tuesday issued some embarrassing reminders to Republicans during their House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on crime in Washington.

Im so excited that my colleagues across the aisle care about sexual abuse considering that the front-runner right now for the presidency has just been found liable of sexual abuse, said Crockett, in an apparent response to election denier Rep. Anna Paulina Lunas (R-Fla.) comments about rising cases.

A Manhattan jury earlier this month found former President Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in advice columnist E. Jean Carrolls civil lawsuit against him. Carroll alleged Trump in the 1990s raped her in a department store dressing room.

So, Im excited because this may mean that, finally, some folk will back off from supporting him because we dont support sexual abusers in this chamber, Crockett added. So, Im happy about this.

Crockett also appeared to swipe at Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) and Republicans continued defense of the serial liar congressman, who earlier this month was charged on 13 federal counts including allegations he pocketed campaign donations and unlawfully received unemployment benefits. Santos has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

My Republican colleagues want to talk about keeping the streets of D.C. crime-free but they cant even keep the halls of Congress crime-free, said Crockett, who has co-sponsored a bill to expel Santos from Congress.

My freshman colleague has just been indicted on 13 felony counts. But have they exhibited any courage to say, You know what, we will not allow this in our body. We will disallow this in our body. We will make sure that we expel this individual? she asked.

They have not, Crockett answered her own question. So, what I dont want to hear is that they care about crime because if they did they would start by cleaning up our own house and mind our own business instead of coming after D.C.

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Freshman Democrat Hits Republicans With 2 Painful Truths In House Hearing On Crime - Yahoo News

The News

Denying the results of the 2020 election and casting doubts about the nations voting system cost statewide Republican candidates 2.3 to 3.7 percentage points in the midterms last year, according to a new study from States United Action, a nonpartisan group that promotes fair elections.

Even at the lowest end of the spectrum, 2.3 percentage points would have been enough to swing several critical midterm races that Republicans lost, including the contests for governor and attorney general in Arizona and the Senate elections in Nevada and Georgia.

In each of those races, the Republican nominee had either expressed doubts about the 2020 election or outright rejected its legitimacy.

And as former President Donald J. Trump illustrated at a town-hall event last week, election denialism is very much alive within the Republican Party.

But spreading such conspiracy theories again could hamper Republicans as they look to take back the Senate in 2024.

The problem for a lot of Republicans right now is that the gap between what the base wants and what swing voters will tolerate has gotten very long, said Sarah Longwell, an anti-Trump Republican strategist.

In the midterms, a slate of election-denying candidates ran together as the America First coalition. These candidates, organized in part by Jim Marchant, the Republican nominee for secretary of state in Nevada, sought to take over critical parts of the nations election infrastructure by running for secretary of state, attorney general and governor in states across the country.

But in every major battleground state, these candidates lost.

What we found was lying about elections isnt just bad for our democracy, its bad politics, said Joanna Lydgate, the chief executive of States United Action.

The group arrived at the 2.3 to 3.7 percentage-point penalty number by comparing election-denying candidates in 2022 with Republicans who did not espouse similar views, and then comparing the 2022 performance to that of 2018.

On the whole, 2022 was a better year for Republicans than 2018 was. As expected, in statewide races with no election denier, Republicans did much better in 2022 than in 2018 on average, but the same did not hold true for election-denying candidates.

Several candidates who were a core part of the election denial movement have signaled an intent to run again in 2024, including Mr. Marchant in Nevada. Others, including Kari Lake and Doug Mastriano, who lost races for governor in Arizona and Pennsylvania, are reportedly considering bids for Senate.

And as Mr. Trump continues to demand fealty to such beliefs and hold sway over Republican primaries, the issue is likely to linger in G.O.P. politics.

Most battleground states are not holding contests for governor and secretary of state until 2026, but several marquee Senate races next year will determine control of the chamber.

Whats really interesting is that the results there are different from the results for congressional races and state legislative races, Ms. Lydgate said. We think thats because in these statewide races for governor, state attorney general, secretary of state, voters really came to understand that those are the people who oversee voting. Those are the people who are in charge of your freedom to vote.

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How Much Did Election Denial Hurt Republicans in the Midterms? - The New York Times