Latest news with #GOP-controlled
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Senate Declines to Block Weapons for Israel as Gaza Hunger Worries Grow
WASHINGTON—Senators rejected an effort to block U.S. arms sales to Israel, sticking with the increasingly isolated government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even as lawmakers of both parties expressed growing concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The votes took on new prominence following an international outcry over images of malnourished babies and children. Global food-insecurity experts have said famine is unfolding in the enclave, where at least 16 children under age 5 have died of hunger-related causes since mid-July, according to a U.N.-backed report. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) led the effort late Wednesday on two resolutions to block the sale of weapons to the Israeli military over its conduct in the war against Hamas. In debate on the Senate floor before the vote, he held up a stack of papers that he said contained the names of children in Gaza who have died during the war and asked to put their names into the congressional record. 'The time is long overdue for Congress to use the leverage we have—tens of billions in arms and military aid—to demand that Israel end these atrocities,' he said. Sen. Jim Risch (R., Idaho), who leads the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, spoke against the resolutions. 'The solution to all of this isn't to deprive Israel of the weapons it needs. The solution is in the hands of Hamas,' he said. Sanders's proposals would prohibit the $676 million sale of two types of 1,000-pound bombs and guidance kits that direct them, along with tens of thousands of assault rifles. The resolution to block assault rifles failed with 27 in favor and 70 opposed. The resolution to block bombs failed 24-73. No Republican in the GOP-controlled chamber supported either measure. Democratic support has grown since April, when Sanders forced similar votes. Notable Democrats who voted to block weapons sales after rejecting earlier measures to do so included Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.) this week became the first Republican lawmaker to say that Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. President Trump said Tuesday the U.S. would partner with Israel on new food centers in Gaza but stopped short of providing further details or clarifying how any new efforts would differ from existing distribution sites. Earlier this week, Trump also appeared to reject Netanyahu's claim that there was no starvation in Gaza by citing images of children on television who 'look very hungry.' U.S. allies are stepping up pressure on Israel. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.K. would join France in recognizing a Palestinian state, unless Israel takes 'substantive steps' to end the war in Gaza, among other moves. Canada said it intends to recognize a Palestinian state, if conditions including a new election are met. Only 32% of Americans currently approve of Israel's military action in Gaza, a 10 percentage point drop since September, according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday. Democrats have long grappled over how to navigate the divide between pro-Israel members and progressives who criticize the country's treatment of Palestinians. But cracks were also showing among Republicans, who have largely stood firmly behind Israel's actions following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.), long a skeptic of aid to Israel, this week became the first Republican lawmaker to say that Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. She also sparred online with one of Israel's top supporters in the House, newcomer Florida Rep. Randy Fine. In a social-media post earlier this month, Fine said: 'Release the hostages. Until then, starve away,' casting reports of hunger as Hamas propaganda. Greene shot back in a tweet that questioned how Fine's constituents feel about his 'calls for starving innocent people and children.' Pro-Palestinian activists said the Senate votes were a litmus test for whether lawmakers are willing to pair sharper rhetoric with meaningful action. 'We are at the tipping point of the famine,' said Beth Miller, the political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, the political arm of a group that has been protesting U.S. support for Israel since the beginning of the war. 'Senators who keep voting to send weapons to Israel are acting against the will of the American people,' she said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), the highest-ranking Jewish U.S. elected official, condemned 'the devastating levels of hunger, starvation, suffering and death' being documented in Gaza, calling them 'wholly unacceptable.' He has been an outspoken critic of Netanyahu. Still, he voted against the Sanders resolutions on Wednesday. Schumer signed a letter led by Sen. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, saying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is 'unsustainable and worsens by the day.' The letter urged the Trump administration to use diplomatic efforts to end the fighting. Write to Katy Stech Ferek at and Sabrina Siddiqui at
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
North Carolina lawmakers approve stopgap spending measure amid budget impasse
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina legislators gave final approval Wednesday to a stopgap spending measure to boost state government spending to prepare for fall classes, cover Medicaid expenses and continue construction projects while a Republican agreement on a comprehensive budget still remains distant. The GOP-controlled General Assembly took a break five weeks ago with House and Senate negotiators far apart on working out a two-year, $66 billion budget for the ninth-largest state that should have been in place by July 1. North Carolina is one of a few states that have not yet enacted a budget this fiscal year. Teacher and state employee pay, the expansion of previously approved future tax cuts and the extent of vacant position eliminations were among the top disagreements in the competing plans each chamber approved in the spring. These and other issues remain pending. 'It takes time to negotiate a good budget,' GOP Rep. Donny Lambeth, one of the House's top negotiators, told colleagues on Wednesday. 'We have the option of moving fast for the sake of being agreeable and pass something quickly that hits a fabricated deadline. Or we work intensely to stand on the basic needs within our state.' State law already preempts the threat of a government shutdown. But Republicans who reconvened the legislature this week largely to consider overrides of Democratic Gov. Josh Stein's vetoes also worked out a 'mini-budget' they say would allocate $2.3 billion over two years to address agreed-upon pressing needs. 'The funding that's in this version of a limited budget will get us to the next step in our negotiations,' House Speaker Destin Hall told reporters. But neither Hall nor Senate leader Phil Berger had a good read this week on if and when a broader budget agreement would be reached. The General Assembly's schedule allows lawmakers to reconvene monthly into early 2026. with the next potential meeting Aug. 26. Berger suggested to reporters that additional 'mini-budgets' were possible in the months ahead: 'We will continue to have conversations between the House and the Senate to see if there are other matters that we would be able to agree to take up.' The stopgap plan includes money to cover anticipated enrollment changes for K-12 schools and community colleges, as well as for experience-based pay raises already in state law for teachers and some state employees. There's also $600 million more to meet the increasing costs of Medicaid. It's a common adjustment made annually. But the amount is getting more attention as the spending reduction law passed by Congress this month contains Medicaid reductions that threatens future enrollment levels in North Carolina. The plan also includes over $800 million for state construction projects, $197 million for state employee retirement and health care and money to hire additional driver's license examiners and build more Division of Motor Vehicles offices to address long lines. But it also directs three state departments to cut millions of dollars in spending by eliminating vacant positions. Current and future budget bills go to Stein. His office was reviewing Wednesday's bill, which despite some complaints from Democratic lawmakers passed by wide House and Senate margins. As override votes began at the General Assembly on Tuesday, Stein held a news conference urging lawmakers to focus on passing a complete budget that provides items to his liking, instead of trying to enact over his objections bills that in part loosened gun regulations and eliminated a greenhouse gas reduction mandate. 'That is the wrong priority,' Stein said. 'We need to focus on what matters and not these sideshows, which are distractions.' Republicans are one House seat shy of a veto-proof majority at the General Assembly, giving some leverage to Stein seeking legislation more to his liking. But as seen on Tuesday, when eight of Stein's 14 vetoes this year were overriden, GOP leaders have been able to persuade some Democrats to side with them on certain issues. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
North Carolina lawmakers approve stopgap spending measure amid budget impasse
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina legislators gave final approval Wednesday to a stopgap spending measure to boost state government spending to prepare for fall classes, cover Medicaid expenses and continue construction projects while a Republican agreement on a comprehensive budget still remains distant. The GOP-controlled General Assembly took a break five weeks ago with House and Senate negotiators far apart on working out a two-year, $66 billion budget for the ninth-largest state that should have been in place by July 1. North Carolina is one of a few states that have not yet enacted a budget this fiscal year. Teacher and state employee pay, the expansion of previously approved future tax cuts and the extent of vacant position eliminations were among the top disagreements in the competing plans each chamber approved in the spring. These and other issues remain pending. 'It takes time to negotiate a good budget,' GOP Rep. Donny Lambeth, one of the House's top negotiators, told colleagues on Wednesday. 'We have the option of moving fast for the sake of being agreeable and pass something quickly that hits a fabricated deadline. Or we work intensely to stand on the basic needs within our state.' State law already preempts the threat of a government shutdown. But Republicans who reconvened the legislature this week largely to consider overrides of Democratic Gov. Josh Stein's vetoes also worked out a 'mini-budget' they say would allocate $2.3 billion over two years to address agreed-upon pressing needs. 'The funding that's in this version of a limited budget will get us to the next step in our negotiations,' House Speaker Destin Hall told reporters. But neither Hall nor Senate leader Phil Berger had a good read this week on if and when a broader budget agreement would be reached. The General Assembly's schedule allows lawmakers to reconvene monthly into early 2026. with the next potential meeting Aug. 26. Berger suggested to reporters that additional 'mini-budgets' were possible in the months ahead: 'We will continue to have conversations between the House and the Senate to see if there are other matters that we would be able to agree to take up.' The stopgap plan includes money to cover anticipated enrollment changes for K-12 schools and community colleges, as well as for experience-based pay raises already in state law for teachers and some state employees. There's also $600 million more to meet the increasing costs of Medicaid. It's a common adjustment made annually. But the amount is getting more attention as the spending reduction law passed by Congress this month contains Medicaid reductions that threatens future enrollment levels in North Carolina. The plan also includes over $800 million for state construction projects, $197 million for state employee retirement and health care and money to hire additional driver's license examiners and build more Division of Motor Vehicles offices to address long lines. But it also directs three state departments to cut millions of dollars in spending by eliminating vacant positions. Current and future budget bills go to Stein. His office was reviewing Wednesday's bill, which despite some complaints from Democratic lawmakers passed by wide House and Senate margins. As override votes began at the General Assembly on Tuesday, Stein held a news conference urging lawmakers to focus on passing a complete budget that provides items to his liking, instead of trying to enact over his objections bills that in part loosened gun regulations and eliminated a greenhouse gas reduction mandate. 'That is the wrong priority,' Stein said. 'We need to focus on what matters and not these sideshows, which are distractions.' Republicans are one House seat shy of a veto-proof majority at the General Assembly, giving some leverage to Stein seeking legislation more to his liking. But as seen on Tuesday, when eight of Stein's 14 vetoes this year were overriden, GOP leaders have been able to persuade some Democrats to side with them on certain issues.
The Hill
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
Planned Parenthood Medicaid funding restored, as Dems seek BBB rollback
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani on Monday expanded a decision she handed down last week in which she issued a temporary injunction restoring Medicaid for 10 Planned Parenthood affiliates. Talwani found the law retaliated against Planned Parenthood in violation of its First Amendment rights. 'Patients are likely to suffer adverse health consequences where care is disrupted or unavailable,' Talwani wrote in the Monday ruling. 'In particular, restricting Members' ability to provide healthcare services threatens an increase in unintended pregnancies and attendant complications because of reduced access to effective contraceptives, and an increase in undiagnosed and untreated STIs.' Separately, Democrats, spearheaded by Reps. Laura Friedman (Calif.), Nikema Williams (Ga.), Chris Pappas (N.H.) in the House and Sens. Tina Smith (Minn.) and Patty Murray (Wash.) in the Senate, plan to introduce legislation that would repeal that provision of the law. The measure won't advance in the GOP-controlled Congress, but it highlights how Democrats are continuing to mobilize and message around reproductive rights. 'We're fighting to ensure people can continue getting the essential care they count on, no matter who they are or where they live,' Friedman said in a statement shared with The Hill. Trump's tax and spending package includes a provision that bars health care providers from being able to reimburse Medicaid for a year if they provide abortions and received more than $800,000 in federal funding in 2023. The lawsuit challenges that provision, because there's almost no other organization that meets the $800,000 threshold. Talwani ruled it is 'easily ascertainable' that Planned Parenthood was specifically targeted, despite the law not mentioning the organization by name. The Trump administration already appealed a temporary restraining order that Talwani imposed just after the lawsuit was filed. But pending any action from the appeals court, Monday's ruling will stand while the case plays out. Taxpayer money is already prohibited from covering most abortions. Instead, the new law cuts reimbursement for other health services provided by Planned Parenthood and other health centers, such as cancer screenings and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. For more legal coverage, sign-up for The Hill's courts newsletter The Gavel, written by Ella Lee and Zach Schonfeld. It publishes every Wednesday. Click here to sign up & get it in your inbox.
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Newsom responds to Trump's gutter politics
SACRAMENTO — In fighting President Trump, Gov. Gavin Newsom reminds me of actor Gene Hackman's hard-nosed character in the movie 'Mississippi Burning.' Hackman plays a take-no-prisoners FBI agent, Rupert Anderson, who is investigating the disappearance of three young civil rights workers in racially segregated 1964 Mississippi. His partner and boss is stick-by-the-rules agent Alan Ward, played by Willem Dafoe. The 1988 film is loosely based on a true story. The two agents eventually find the victims' murdered bodies and apprehend the Ku Klux Klan killers after Anderson persuades Ward to discard his high-road rule book in dealing with uncooperative local white folks. 'Don't drag me into your gutter, Mr. Anderson,' Ward sternly tells his underling initially. Anderson shouts back: 'These people are crawling out of the SEWER, MR. WARD! Maybe the gutter's where we oughta be.' And it's where they go. Only then do they solve the case. Newsom contends Trump is playing gutter politics by pressuring Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the GOP-controlled Legislature to redraw the state's U.S. House seats in an effort to elect five additional Republicans in next year's midterm elections. House seats normally are redrawn only at the beginning of a decade after the decennial census. Democrats need to gain just three net seats to retake control of the House and end the GOP's one-party rule of the federal government. Trump is trying to prevent that by browbeating Texas and other red states into gerrymandering their Democrat-held House districts into GOP winners. Republicans currently hold 25 of Texas' 38 House seats. Democrats have 12. In California, it's just the opposite — even more so. Out of 52 seats, Democrats outnumber Republicans 43 to 9, with room to make it even more lopsided. 'We could make it so that only four Republicans are left,' says Sacramento-based redistricting guru Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data Inc. Mitchell already is crafting potential new maps in case Newsom follows through with his threat to retaliate against Texas by redrawing California's districts to help Democrats gain five seats, neutralizing Republican gains in the Lone Star State. Newsom and the Legislature would be seizing redistricting responsibility from an independent citizens' commission that voters created in 2010. They took the task away from lawmakers because the politicians were acting only in their own self-interest, effectively choosing their own voters. As they do in Texas and most states, particularly red ones. But the governor and Democrats would be ignoring California voters' will — at least as stated 15 years ago. And Newsom would be down in the political gutter with Trump on redistricting. But that doesn't seem to bother him. 'They're playing by a different set of rules,' Newsom recently told reporters, referring to Trump and Republicans. 'They can't win by the traditional game. So they want to change the game. We can act holier than thou. We could sit on the sidelines, talk about the way the world should be. Or we can recognize the existential nature that is the moment.' Newsom added that 'everything has changed' since California voters banned gerrymandering 15 years ago. That's indisputable given Trump's bullying tactics and his inhumane domestic policies. 'I'm not going to be the guy that said, 'I could have, would have, should have,'' Newsom continued. 'I'm not going to be passive at this moment. I'm not going to look at my kids in the eyes and say, 'I was a little timid.'' Newsom's own eyes, of course, are on the White House and a potential 2028 presidential bid. He sees a national opportunity now to attract frustrated Democratic voters who believe that party leaders aren't fighting hard enough against Trump. Newsom continued to echo Hackman's script Friday at a news conference in Sacramento with Texas Democratic legislators. Referring to Trump and Texas Republicans, Newsom asserted: 'They're not screwing around. We cannot afford to screw around. We have to fight fire with fire.' But yakking about redrawing California's congressional maps is easy. Actually doing it would be exceedingly difficult. 'Texas can pass a plan tomorrow. California cannot,' says Tony Quinn, a former Republican consultant on legislative redistricting. Unlike in California, there's no Texas law that forbids blatant gerrymandering. California's Constitution requires redistricting by the independent commission. Moreover, a 1980s state Supreme Court ruling allows only one redistricting each decade, Quinn says. Trying to gerrymander California congressional districts through legislation without first asking the voters' permission would be criminally stupid. Newsom would need to call a special election for November and persuade voters to temporarily suspend the Constitution, allowing the Legislature to redraw the districts. Or the Legislature could place a gerrymandered plan on the ballot and seek voter approval. But that would be risky. A specific plan could offer several targets for the opposition — the GOP and do-gooder groups. In either case, new maps would need to be drawn by the end of the year to fit the June 2026 primary elections. Mitchell says polling shows that the independent commission is very popular with voters. Still, he asserts, 'there's something in the water right now. There's potential that voters will not want to let Trump run ramshackle while we're being Pollyannish.' 'The reality is that a lot of Democrats would hit their own thumb with a hammer if they thought it would hurt Trump more.' Mitchell also says that California could out-gerrymander Texas by not only weakening current GOP seats but by strengthening competitive Democratic districts. Texas doesn't have that opportunity, he says, because its districts already have been heavily gerrymandered. Democratic consultant Steve Maviglio says Newsom is 'trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube' and doubts it will work. 'Unilaterally disarming was a mistake. 'But Newsom's not wrong. They play hardball. We don't.' Newsom and California Democrats should fight Trump and Texas Republicans in the MAGA gutter, using all weapons available. As Hackman's character also says: 'Don't mean s— to have a gun unless you (sic) ready to use it.' The must-read: Texas Republicans aim to redraw House districts at Trump's urging, but there's a risk The TK: The Age-Checked Internet Has Arrived The L.A. Times Special: Trump's top federal prosecutor in L.A. struggles to secure indictments in protest cases Until next week,George Skelton —Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
