Latest news with #BrianFitzpatrick
Fox News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
DNC vice chair slams Trump as 'punk,' 'would-be dictator' in fiery Pa. town hall
A Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice chairman fired up a crowd outside Philadelphia on Saturday after calling President Donald Trump a "punk" and accusing his administration of modern-day book burning for adjusting content on government websites. "There is a strategy of authoritarians and would-be dictators and punks like Donald Trump," Malcolm Kenyatta said at a town hall in Levittown that was officially targeting swing-district Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. As part of that "strategy," Kenyatta said, "one of the first things they go after is history." "We know that before, they used to take the books, put them in a little pile and burn them. Now they try to delete stuff off of our federal websites. But the effect is the same. They want us to forget what we are made of," he went on, in a clip circulated by the left-leaning outlet "The Keystone." Since taking office, Trump has overseen agencies that have altered or removed content relating to DEI, climate change and gender ideology. "Donald Trump is not the first bully or would-be authoritarian that Americans have taken on. We know it here in Pennsylvania. We don't have a good relationship with kings," he said, as Penn's Woods was founded by Quakers and other religious exiles fed up with European authoritarians. "I'm not bowing to a king." Kenyatta is also the state representative for the Temple University area of North Philadelphia, and the first openly gay person of color to serve in Harrisburg. He added that "people like Fitzpatrick" lack the "guts" to stand up to Trump. At another recent appearance in Berks County – which includes Reading and Hamburg – Kenyatta railed against the arrest of Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka at an ICE detention facility there. "He was peacefully protesting and speaking up for his constituents and his neighbors. He wasn't inciting an insurrection… because if he was doing that, they might have offered him a position in the Cabinet," Kenyatta said. Kenyatta notably finished third in the 2022 Pennsylvania Senate primary won by Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and unsuccessfully ran for auditor general in 2024 against GOP incumbent Timothy DeFoor. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields responded Monday, telling Fox News Digital that Kenyatta is a "no-name state representative who was trounced in the Pennsylvania Senate primary due to his radical and unserious positions." "The prominence the Democrat Party affords him reflects the party's disarray and desire to satisfy its radical base," Fields said. Fox News Digital reached out to Fitzpatrick for comment.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gallego headed to Pennsylvania amid talk of White House bid
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is heading to Pennsylvania this week to participate in a town hall in the swing county of Bucks County, according to the Democratic National Committee, driving speculation over whether he might be harboring presidential ambitions. Gallego will appear at a state party-hosted town hall Saturday as a part of a broader 'Fight to Save Medicaid' initiative as Democrats ramp up pressure on Republicans over the reconciliation package. Medicaid is one of the key issues in the debate over the reconciliation bill. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has been tasked with finding cuts that would save $880 billion that are part of GOP efforts to achieve their budget priorities. The panel has jurisdiction over Medicaid, which is likely to be impacted in the spending cuts and has become a source of Democrat-led attacks on the party and has put Republicans in swing districts on the defensive. Gallego will be visiting Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick's (R-Pa.) district, which is in Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates his seat as 'likely Republican.' DNC Chair Ken Martin called Gallego a 'critical voice' for the party in a statement. 'We're thrilled that he will headline the Bucks County 'People's Town Hall' during our 'Fight to Save Medicaid' month of action,' Martin said. 'Brian Fitzpatrick has the opportunity to do the right thing and vote 'no' to save Medicaid for millions of Americans, including those in his district. As Fitzpatrick continues to bow down to Trump and the billionaire class, Democrats like Senator Gallego are taking the fight directly to their districts across the country.' But Gallego's visit is also raising questions around whether the Arizona Democrat may be considering a presidential bid as he visits a key swing county in a battleground state. Gallego was elected to the Senate in November, defeating Republican Kari Lake. His election was seen as a bright spot for Democrats in the state given former Vice President Kamala Harris's loss in Arizona. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
08-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Some congressional Republicans oppose defunding Planned Parenthood in Trump's ‘big, beautiful' bill
Some centrist Republican lawmakers have signaled opposition to including provisions defunding Planned Parenthood in sweeping legislation intended to advance President Trump's second-term agenda. A GOP aide familiar with the House deliberations surrounding Trump's 'one, big beautiful' bill told the Post that moderate members of the caucus are opposed to language directing cuts to the abortion and reproductive healthcare provider that other lawmakers hope to include in the massive reconciliation package. Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) were among the lawmakers that voiced opposition to Planned Parenthood cuts during a closed-door meeting Tuesday that included House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), NOTUS reported on Wednesday. Advertisement 3 Some centrist Republican lawmakers appear to oppose provisions defunding Planned Parenthood. REUTERS 'I think there's other policy areas that we need to focus on,' Fitzpatrick told the outlet ahead of the meeting, noting that he planned to bring up the rumblings around cuts targeting abortion providers. 'We need simplicity in this bill,' he added. Advertisement Lawler expressed concern that potential cuts to the nonprofit and conservative lightning rod would impact the ability of women to access health care. 'Obviously, Planned Parenthood does provide a lot of services outside of abortion-related services,' the congressman noted, telling NOTUS that he is 'not for taking away people's health care.' A Kiggans spokesperson told the outlet that the congresswoman 'is proudly pro-life and firmly opposes any federal funding for abortion.' '[Kiggans] attended a closed-door policy discussion with House leadership and Republican colleagues focused on Medicaid reform within the broader reconciliation process. The Congresswoman supports thoughtful, targeted Medicaid reforms that strengthen the program, preserve its integrity, and ensure it serves those who it was originally intended to help,' the spokesperson added. Advertisement 3 Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) was reportedly one of the lawmakers opposed to Planned Parenthood cuts. AP Meanwhile, Johnson contended that defunding Planned Parenthood 'was not on our agenda.' The House speaker, however, told a conservative audience last week that 'big abortion' would be targeted for cuts in the megabill. 'In the weeks ahead, the House is gonna be working on the one big, beautiful bill,' Johnson said during a speech at the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America gala. 'We're absolutely making it clear to everybody that this bill is going to redirect funds away from big abortion and to federally qualified health centers.' Advertisement 3 'We're absolutely making it clear to everybody that this bill is going to redirect funds away from big abortion,' House Speaker Mike Johnson said. Michael Brochstein/ZUMA / The Hyde Amendment already prevents taxpayer dollars from being directly used to cover the cost of abortions. Federal money Planned Parenthood receives to cover other services – through the Medicaid program, for example – could be targeted in an effort to indirectly deliver a blow to the abortion provider's bottom line. The reconciliation bill is expected to include provisions extending Trump's first-term tax cuts, increasing funding for border security and raising the nation's debt ceiling. As part of the scramble to pass the legislation by the Fourth of July, House lawmakers are looking for ways to cut between $800 million to $1.5 trillion in spending to offset the cost of Trump's priorities.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gallego headed to Pennsylvania amid talk of White House bid
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is heading to Pennsylvania this week to participate in a town hall in the swing county of Bucks County, according to the Democratic National Committee, driving speculation over whether he might be harboring presidential ambitions. Gallego will appear at a state party-hosted town hall Saturday as a part of a broader 'Fight to Save Medicaid' initiative as Democrats ramp up pressure on Republicans over the reconciliation package. Medicaid is one of the key issues in the debate over the reconciliation bill. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has been tasked with finding cuts that would save $880 billion that are part of GOP efforts to achieve their budget priorities. The panel has jurisdiction over Medicaid, which is likely to be impacted in the spending cuts and has become a source of Democrat-led attacks on the party and has put Republicans in swing districts on the defensive. Gallego will be visiting Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick's (R-Pa.) district, which is in Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates his seat as 'likely Republican.' DNC Chair Ken Martin called Gallego a 'critical voice' for the party in a statement. 'We're thrilled that he will headline the Bucks County 'People's Town Hall' during our 'Fight to Save Medicaid' month of action,' Martin said. 'Brian Fitzpatrick has the opportunity to do the right thing and vote 'no' to save Medicaid for millions of Americans, including those in his district. As Fitzpatrick continues to bow down to Trump and the billionaire class, Democrats like Senator Gallego are taking the fight directly to their districts across the country.' But Gallego's visit is also raising questions around whether the Arizona Democrat may be considering a presidential bid as he visits a key swing county in a battleground state. Gallego was elected to the Senate in November, defeating Republican Kari Lake. His election was seen as a bright spot for Democrats in the state given former Vice President Kamala Harris's loss in Arizona. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
House votes to overturn California clean truck rules
The House on Wednesday voted to axe California's clean truck rules — defying Congress's own internal watchdog in doing so. The House voted to nix the Biden administration's approval of the California rules, which aim to cut pollution and planet-warming emissions from trucks, using a using a tool known as the Congressional Review Act (CRA). One of the truck rules the House voted to overturn explicitly seeks to make more trucks electric, while the other seeks to limit emissions of nitrogen oxides, which can form smog and also contribute to asthma and respiratory infections. The measures passed 231-191 and 225-196. Thirteen Democrats voted with Republicans for the resolution on the first vote, and 10 did the same on the second vote. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) was the only Republican to vote with Democrats against the measures. The CRA allows Congress, with just a simple majority in both chambers and presidential approval, to reverse recent regulations, evading the Senate filibuster's 60-vote threshold. It's sometimes used at the start of a new administration to eliminate regulations put forward by the previous one. However, the votes come in defiance of the Government Accountability Office — a nonpartisan congressional watchdog that sometimes issues legal opinions. That office has determined that because the Environmental Protection Agency's approval came in the form of a waiver rather than a rule, it is not subject to the CRA. By holding the votes anyway, House Republicans are demonstrating they are willing to carry out their agenda regardless of whether the nonpartisan arbiter deems them legal. Rachel Weintraub, executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, a group that supports environmental and other regulations, described the decision to defy the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as a violation of congressional norms. 'The system has been in place since [the] CRA was established,' she said. 'The unprecedented nature of ignoring the GAO …is profound.' Republicans, meanwhile, celebrated the vote. 'The Biden Administration left behind comply-or-die Green New Deal mandates that threaten to crush our trucking industry and drive up costs for hardworking Americans,' said Rep. John James (R-Mich.), who sponsored one of the resolutions, in a written statement. Senate Republicans, who also want to go after California's rules, are facing a similar challenge. The Senate parliamentarian, a rules authority for the upper chamber, has also said the waivers allowing the rules to go forward are not subject to the CRA. Senate Republicans have signaled they could seek to defy the parliamentarian but have not yet said definitively whether they actually plan to do so. If they do, they could be setting up a legal and procedural kerfuffle — especially as the parliamentarian also sets the rules for what provisions can go into a high-stakes budget package that also evades the filibuster. Sean H. Donahue, an environmental lawyer with the firm Donahue, Goldberg & Herzog, said a legal challenge could be expected if the resolution is ultimately signed into law. 'We'd be in uncharted territory, but I think you'd have an illegal action … I would expect that there would be pushback,' said Donahue, not to be confused with a Trump EPA appointee of the same name. The House was initially slated to also vote to axe California's phaseout of gas-powered cars, but postponed that vote until Thursday. California is allowed to set its own vehicle pollution rules — with the approval from the EPA — because of a clause in the Clean Air Act that comes in response to historic smog problems in Los Angeles. That provision allows the EPA to waive laws that typically preempt states from setting regulations that go beyond the scope of those set at the federal level. More than 10 percent of the U.S. population lives in California, giving it a significant share of the auto and trucking markets. And its rules are also adopted by some other states, making them even more impactful. —Updated at 7:04 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
