BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — America’s Democratic party must revitalize itself by paying attention to the people it represents all the time, not just during elections, the deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee said Thursday. U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, of Minnesota, and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, hammered home that message during a fundraiser … Continue reading
Tag Archives: republicans
Impeach Trump? House Dem offers resolution, sets it aside
WASHINGTON (AP) — A House Democrat offered a resolution Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump but let it die before action was taken, saying he would force a vote later. The move by Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, edged his party toward a confrontation craved by some of its most liberal supporters but opposed by many … Continue reading
Illinois governor agrees to allow Medicaid for abortions
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner ended months of speculation Thursday and signed legislation allowing state health insurance and Medicaid coverage for abortions, a reversal of the first-term Republican’s stance on the proposal last spring. The Legislature, which is run by Democrats, approved the measure in May but delayed sending it to Rauner until … Continue reading
McCain’s moment: Ailing senator plays spoiler again for GOP
WASHINGTON (AP) — John McCain faced a choice that balanced friendship, party loyalty and his convictions. He made the decision some of his closest advisers expected. Looking at the twilight of his career and a grim cancer diagnosis, the Republican senator from Arizona who prides himself on an independent streak could not be moved … Continue reading
House speaker promises aid for Puerto Rico hurricane victims
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Paul Ryan promised Monday that Washington will make sure that the people of hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico will “have what they need.” The Wisconsin Republican’s statement came as authorities struggle to provide adequate relief to the more than 3 million U.S. citizens on the island territory, which is without power and … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — With time growing short, President Donald Trump and Republican Senate leaders are engaged in a frantic search for votes in a last-ditch effort to repeal and replace the Obama health law. The outcome is uncertain in a Capitol newly engulfed in drama over health care. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, whose … Continue reading
The Latest: Trump tells GOP to start work on tax cuts
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump and Congress (all times local): 9:20 a.m. President Donald Trump is urging Republicans in Congress to start work immediately on a tax overhaul. On Twitter Friday, Trump tweeted: “Republicans must start the Tax Reform/Tax Cut legislation ASAP.” He added: “Don’t wait until the end of September. … Continue reading
Trump’s Cabinet struggles with whether to defend their boss
WASHINGTON (AP) — Some seek their distance, delicately taking issue with President Donald Trump’s most controversial remarks. Others decide it’s safer to stand by him. Most would rather say nothing at all. Under intense pressure, members of Trump’s Cabinet are struggling to walk the line between rebuking their notoriously thin-skinned boss and defending comments that … Continue reading
Senate Republicans claim progress on health care legislation
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and GOP leaders insisted Tuesday the Senate will vote soon on legislation to repeal and replace “Obamacare.” But even as senators headed toward the make-or-break vote before the Fourth of July, deep uncertainty remained about whether the emerging legislation would command enough support to pass. Meeting with Republican congressional … Continue reading
AP FACT CHECK: No Medicaid cuts in Trump budget? Really?
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump’s budget director insists the administration’s spending plans won’t cut Medicaid money, but by any conventional measure of federal financing the health care program for families and the poor is clearly on the chopping block. Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, while introducing the budget Tuesday: “There are … Continue reading
GOP lawmakers to meet with leaders of black colleges
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are planning to meet with leaders of historically black colleges and universities in the nation’s capital to discuss ways to help the schools survive in challenging times. The meeting, spearheaded by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Rep. Mark Walker of North Carolina, will bring leaders from the nation’s 100-plus HBCUs … Continue reading
Senate GOP silences Warren over criticism of Sessions
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans silenced Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren for criticizing colleague and Attorney General-designate Jeff Sessions with the words of Coretta Scott King from three decades ago. Warren, whose name has been prominent in speculation about the 2020 presidential race, was given a rare Senate rebuke Tuesday night for impugning a fellow senator … Continue reading
Ayotte, Hassan to meet for New Hampshire Senate radio debate
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan are getting ready for another Senate debate. Ayotte, a Republican seeking her second term in Washington, is being challenged by Hassan, a Democrat. They will meet on Friday for a debate that will air on WGIR radio. During a debate last … Continue reading
Lawmakers to hold meeting to discuss upcoming election
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia lawmakers are planning to hold a meeting to discuss the upcoming election with the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections and local registrars. The joint meeting of the Privileges and Elections Committees will be held Oct. 13. Republican lawmakers say some local registrars are concerned about a backlog of … Continue reading
GOP’s $2M TV ad buys in Illinois legislative race most in US
CHICAGO (AP) — Republicans who are trying to keep their sole legislative seat in Chicago have spent more on television advertising there — $2 million — than for any other statehouse district race in the nation as they seek to loosen the Democrats’ grip on Illinois. The figures, highlighted in a report released Thursday by … Continue reading
GOP seeks review of claim NFL tried to sway concussion study
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Thursday called for an independent review of allegations that the National Football League sought to improperly influence a government study into the link between football and brain disease. In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general, GOP leaders of the Energy and Commerce Committee … Continue reading
Aides: Congress makes progress on Zika, spending
WASHINGTON (AP) — A long impasse that has delayed money to combat Zika for months neared an end Thursday as congressional aides said Republicans would relent and let Planned Parenthood affiliated clinics share in new funding to fight the virus. The potential deal would ease the way for Congress to quit work until after the … Continue reading
GOP gains ground on Dems in voter registration in key states
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have gained ground on Democrats in registering voters in three battleground states and kept their razor-thin advantage in Iowa — encouraging news for Donald Trump eight weeks before Election Day. Republicans added hundreds of thousands of voters to the rolls since 2012 in states including Florida and Arizona, and narrowed the … Continue reading
House Republicans offering proposals for health care changes
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are unveiling new proposals to repeal and replace President Barack Obama’s health care law, as Speaker Paul Ryan sought to showcase a GOP governing agenda amid the tumult of the presidential campaign. The plan, revealed Wednesday, relies on individual tax credits to allow people to buy coverage from private insurers, and includes … Continue reading
Comic’s party wins Italy mayoral races, eyes national power
ROME (AP) — An anti-establishment party founded by a comic has triumphed in Italian mayoral runoff elections, trouncing Premier Matteo Renzi’s candidates in Rome and another key city and turning its sights Monday, June 20,2016 toward its next goal — national power. The 5-Star Movement candidate in Rome, Virginia Raggi, a lawyer with a three-year … Continue reading
Clinton: Trump could ‘bankrupt America’ like his companies
DETROIT (AP) — Hillary Clinton said Monday that Donald Trump’s economic policies would lead to lower wages, fewer jobs and more debt — warning unionized workers that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee could “bankrupt America like he’s bankrupted his companies.” “Ask yourself,” the likely Democratic nominee told thousands at the Service Employees International Union international … Continue reading
Sanders wins Oregon, battles Clinton in Ky.; Trump wins Ore.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bernie Sanders won Oregon’s presidential primary and battled Hillary Clinton to a razor-thin margin in Kentucky, vowing to stay in the race until the end as Clinton aimed to blunt his momentum and prepare for a fall campaign against Republican Donald Trump. Tuesday’s primary in Kentucky was too close to call with … Continue reading
House to debate scaled-back Zika bill despite veto threat
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans controlling the House are ignoring protests from Democrats and a White House veto threat as they speed legislation funding the battle against the Zika virus toward a vote this week. The $622 million GOP plan would provide one-third of the resources requested three months ago by President Barack Obama to combat … Continue reading
Republicans to pick delegates at state convention
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Republicans will pick 16 delegates this weekend Apr 29 -30,to send to the national convention, delegates that could help decide the GOP presidential nominee. While Republican front-runner Donald Trump has declared himself the “presumptive nominee,” U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is hoping to push the race to a contested convention decided … Continue reading
The Latest: Cruz says New York values is Trump’s term
NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on campaign 2016 a day before New Yorkers vote in their state’s crucial primary (all times Eastern Daylight Time): 9:00 a.m. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz says his controversial criticism of “New York values” was a comment that originated from his rival Donald Trump in an interview on partial … Continue reading