Two proposals in California would send stimulus checks to people left out of the past two federal payments, but they differ drastically in their amounts. One is looking at $600 payments and the other would triple that amount to $1,800. As part of his "Golden State Stimulus" plan, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed sending $600 stimulus checks to those with incomes below $30,000. However, the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) found that may not help those most adversely affected by the pandemic and the agency proposed sending out higher payments, but only to those who weren't eligible for federal aid. A report from the LAO, a nonpartisan government agency that provides fiscal and policy advice to the state legislature, suggested California send $1,800 payments to ITIN filers—resident and nonresident immigrants who cannot get a Social Security number—with incomes below $30,000. Costing about half the amount of Newsom's plan, the leftover funds could be used to help undocumented … [Read more...] about California Looking to Send Stimulus Checks as Congress Debates Biden’s Plan
Congress
Congress’ Patiala MP Preneet Kaur, Wife of Capt Amarinder Singh, Suspended
Over a year after being issued a show-cause notice, Congress leader and Patiala MP Preneet Kaur, wife of former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh, was on Friday suspended from the party. The party has asked Preneet Kaur to reply within 3 days as to why she should not be expelled. Congress’ disciplinary panel member secretary Tariq Anwar, in a statement, said the action comes after complaints against her from Punjab Congress President Amarinder Raja Warring and a few other state leaders that she was helping the BJP in Punjab. Warring had written to the disciplinary action committee of AICC regarding Preneet’s anti-party activities. After the disciplinary committee analysed the complaint, the decision to suspend her was taken. Party sources said that the Patiala MP’s suspension was aimed at sending a message to other leaders who were not falling in line ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections. “The Congress president has received a complaint from Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, … [Read more...] about Congress’ Patiala MP Preneet Kaur, Wife of Capt Amarinder Singh, Suspended
Karnataka Polls 2023: Congress Kickstarts Praja Dhwani Yatra Covering Northern and Southern Regions of State
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state Congress President D K Shivakumar on Friday embarked on separate bus tours as part of party’s ’Praja Dhwani Yatra’ ahead of the Assembly elections, which is about three months away. The team headed by Siddaramaiah will tour Assembly constituencies in north Karnataka region while Shivakumar will cover the southern districts. The Siddaramaiah-led team comprising 35 leaders started from Basavakalyan in Bidar district. He will visit ’Anubhava Mantapa’ to pay respects to the statue of 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara before addressing a public meeting there. The state Congress chief’s poll campaign started from Mulbagal in Kolar district after paying homage at the ancient Ganapati temple in Kudumalai. He later tweeted, ”Worshipped Maha Ganapati’s Saligram statue at Kudumalai in Mulbagal. I prayed that the Praja Dhwani Yatra should go on without any hassle in Kolar district.” Earlier, Shivakumar’s convoy arrived to a … [Read more...] about Karnataka Polls 2023: Congress Kickstarts Praja Dhwani Yatra Covering Northern and Southern Regions of State
Congress Defeats Term Limits Again
See the article in its original context from February 16, 1997 Section Page Buy Reprints View on timesmachine TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. The Founding Fathers considered -- and rejected -- the idea of term limits for Congress. On Wednesday the House of Representatives did, too. A bare 217-to-211 majority supported a Constitutional amendment setting a 12-year limit on service in the Senate or the House. But that was 69 votes short of the two-thirds required for amendments, and 10 votes fewer than in 1995. Factionalism among supporters was one reason for the defeat. Another was changing circumstances: more than half of the House has served fewer than three terms, so it is hardly the den of entrenched, out-of-touch politicians it seemed back in the endless era of Democratic control. ADAM CLYMER … [Read more...] about Congress Defeats Term Limits Again
‘Threats to Democracy’ Overtake ‘Cost of Living’ as Voters’ Top Issue: Poll
For the first time in recent months, registered voters in the U.S. say that the top issue on their minds is the threat facing democracy, according to a poll from NBC released Sunday. Previous NBC polls in March and May showed that the top issue on the minds of those surveyed was cost of living. The poll this time found that 21 percent of voters ranked "threats to democracy" as the most critical matter facing the country, while 16 percent chose "cost of living," which ranked as second. In third was "jobs and the economy," with 14 percent. The poll also asked voters about their opinion on the investigations into former President Donald Trump 's alleged misconduct: 57 percent of voters polled believe they should continue, while 40 percent said they should stop. Earlier this month, the FBI , with the approval of Attorney General Merrick Garland , carried out a search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago property in Florida as part of an investigation into whether the ex-president mishandled … [Read more...] about ‘Threats to Democracy’ Overtake ‘Cost of Living’ as Voters’ Top Issue: Poll
George Santos mocked for old karaoke recordings of Disney, Leonard Cohen
George Santos has been mocked on social media, after clips of what appears to be him performing karaoke on singing app Smule resurfaced on the internet. Four songs were performed on the app by a user named georgedevolder, a variant on the New York Republican's full name of George Anthony Devolder Santos, in the mid-2010s. Uncovered by Rolling Stone magazine , the man identified as Santos can be heard performing "Let It Go" and "Friends Like Me" from Disney hits Frozen and Aladdin , Leonard Cohen's iconic "Hallelujah" and "Cups," as sung by Anna Kendrick in the 2012 movie Pitch Perfect . He also performed a number of duets with other Smule users, including songs from Disney hits such as The Lion King , Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid . Clips of Santos singing were shared on Twitter , sparking mockery from other users of the social media platform. Harry Sisson, a self-described Democrat with 71,500 Twitter followers, tweeted: "It's been … [Read more...] about George Santos mocked for old karaoke recordings of Disney, Leonard Cohen
Inside the Democratic Strategy on the GOP’s New COVID Origins Panel
In the new House GOP majority, subcommittees are all the rage, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his conference creating three in the past month alone: one on U.S. competition with China, one to investigate the “weaponization” of the federal government, and one with the especially pointed ambition of investigating the origins of the COVID-19 virus. By most accounts, that last subcommittee could be an outright trainwreck. The coronavirus has been incredibly politicized—with deadly results —and questions on the origin of COVID-19 have led to wild conspiracies and dangerous anti-Asian rhetoric . Democratic policies on masking, testing and vaccine requirements have been admonished by Republicans, and eliminating them have been among House Republicans’ first priorities this term. But instead of bracing for a disaster, Democrats are hoping they can actually work with Republicans on a sensitive subject. Their strategies to potentially counter Republican-led narratives are … [Read more...] about Inside the Democratic Strategy on the GOP’s New COVID Origins Panel
Kevin McCarthy Shores Up the Right By Pissing Off the Left
With mostly morbid fascination, Democrats have so far watched Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) take increasingly drastic steps to shore up his credentials with his far-right detractors. He’s installed once-banned Republicans on plum committees, established powerful new committees out of thin air to appease his most conspiratorial-minded members, and handed the keys to the House floor over to the right-wing Freedom Caucus. This week, however, McCarthy’s internal management strategy reached into the Democratic side of the aisle—sparking not schadenfreude, but seething anger among members of the minority party. On Thursday, House Republicans voted to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, over unanimous Democratic objection. The stated reason was Omar’s past comments invoking antisemitic tropes and criticisms of the U.S. But for Republicans, Omar’s comments were largely an excuse to pursue something else: vengeance against Democrats. … [Read more...] about Kevin McCarthy Shores Up the Right By Pissing Off the Left
Republicans Revive a Debate on Term Limits
WASHINGTON — In grabbing control of the House, Republicans promised a vote on a proposition that always strikes a chord with frustrated voters: imposing term limits on members of the House and Senate to finally depose those entrenched, out-of-touch lawmakers. Within months of taking power, the new majority put the idea on the floor, where it flopped spectacularly . That episode was in 1995, when Republicans, led by newly installed Speaker Newt Gingrich, pledged a vote on term limits as part of their vaunted Contract with America, only to have the proposal rejected by some of the same folks who signed off on the contract. Voters get much more excited about term limits than do those who would be bound by them. Now the new House Republican majority is again pursuing limits on how long members of Congress can serve, and the result is likely to be the same: failure to garner the votes needed to send a constitutional amendment to the states for approval. But that won’t deter the … [Read more...] about Republicans Revive a Debate on Term Limits
Political Briefing; Term Limits? What Term Limits?
See the article in its original context from March 10, 2002 Section Page Buy Reprints View on timesmachine TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Speaking of term limits . . . George Nethercutt, Republican of Washington, ran for Congress in 1994, and defeated Speaker Thomas S. Foley, a Democrat, with the argument that Mr. Foley had been entrenched inside the Beltway for too long. Mr. Nethercutt promised that if the voters sent him to Capitol Hill, he would serve no more than three terms. But when Election 2000 rolled around, Mr. Nethercutt broke that promise, saying he felt he could be of greater service to his state by remaining inside the Beltway. He was re-elected, despite strong opposition from local and national groups that advocate term limits. Now Mr. Nethercutt wonders whether he might be of greater service to his state in some other, bigger job, perhaps as governor or United States senator. He still plans to … [Read more...] about Political Briefing; Term Limits? What Term Limits?