Latest news with #GOP-friendly
Axios
15-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
K Street vs. House Republicans on the IRA
The next phases of the IRA battle could pit GOP-friendly K Street players against House Republicans over the fate of major subsidies. Why it matters: It highlights how legacy fossil fuel companies and groups have branched into climate tech sectors like hydrogen, offshore wind and carbon capture. State of play: The National Ocean Industries Association — which reps offshore oil and renewables sectors alike — this week warned against "premature" repeal or phaseout of various credits. The group supports policies like clean energy production and investment tax credits, and incentives for supply chain manufacturing. Meanwhile, the American Petroleum Institute and National Association of Manufacturers both signed a letter urging against killing hydrogen credits. The big picture: Oil companies and manufacturers remain broadly and publicly supportive of the GOP deregulatory push and making more lands available for drilling. But they also want long-term certainty for their diversification plans. Catch up quick: The House Ways and Means panel approved a sweeping reconciliation bill Wednesday that either weakened or dismantled many IRA credits. What we're watching: Changes could in theory happen on the House floor as some GOP members gently argue Ways and Means went too far in various areas. Axios Pro's Daniel Moore reports that geothermal executives are reminding lawmakers that Energy Secretary Chris Wright is a fan of the tech. But attention is also shifting across the Capitol, where several GOP senators are already expressing misgivings about the House plan. The intrigue: The House plan to end "transferability" of key tax credits could also hinder sectors that have bipartisan support, House Axios Pro Deals' Katie Fehrenbacher reports. That includes nuclear power, biofuels and carbon capture. What they're saying: TD Cowen Washington Research Group, in a note, predicts the Senate will take a "hard look" at many House rollbacks. That includes removing electricity tax credit "transferability" and killing the hydrogen credits, to name just two.
Axios
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Scoop: Senate gears up for Trump 2.0 judge confirmations
Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is scheduling a June 4 hearing for the first slate of nominated judges of President Trump's second term — a push for speedy confirmations, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Trump and his allies, including Grassley, have railed against federal courts hamstringing the administration. Now, Senate Republicans aim to put more GOP-friendly judges on the bench. Trump took longer to nominate judges this time around than he did in 2017 or former President Biden did in 2021. Grassley is now setting the hearing for the earliest day possible. Committee rules require him to wait 28 days after receiving the nominations. What he's saying: "Far too many judges are attempting to play policymaker instead of plainly interpreting the law, as our Constitution requires," Grassley said in a statement provided to Axios. "It's clear the federal judiciary needs more constitutionalist judges, and that's what President Trump's judicial nominees will deliver." Zoom in: All five current nominees will be questioned in the same committee hearing. Trump has nominated Zachary Bluestone, Joshua Divine, Maria Lanahan and Cristian Stevens to serve on the U.S. District Court in Missouri. He also nominated Whitney Hermandorfer to serve on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. By the numbers: There are just 46 judicial vacancies for Trump to fill, right now — far fewer than at the start of his first term. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made judges a top priority when he was leader. He set a record of 234 confirmed judges in one presidential term, which included three Supreme Court justices. Then-Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) broke that record in late December, reaching 235 confirmed judges. It will be difficult for Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to beat his predecessors, barring a wave of retirements leading to more judicial vacancies.
Axios
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trump begins nominating judges
President Trump has begun the process of staffing judicial vacancies. The big picture: During his first term, Trump flipped the federal judiciary with the help of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), together setting a record on the number of judges confirmed. Trump 2.0 is having a slower start, though there are only 46 judicial vacancies to fill, compared to more than 100 at the start of his first term. Zoom in: Trump made first judicial nomination of his second term last week, naming Whitney Hermandorfer as his pick. The lawyer served under Tennessee's Republican attorney general. The president announced a series of nominations Tuesday for judges to serve on the U.S. District Court in Missouri, including Zachary Bluestone, Joshua Divine and Maria Lanahan. Bluestone serves as appellate chief in the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of Missouri, and Lanahan is the state's principal deputy solicitor general. Divine has clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas and previously served as chief counsel to Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). Between the lines: Trump can again nominate GOP-friendly judges to fill lifetime appointments across the country, especially as he questions the courts and tries to weigh the power of the executive branch against that of the judiciary. He and his allies have long railed against a justice system they view as unfair toward conservatives, with frequent rants against district judges and their ability to block executive actions nationwide, Axios' Stef W. Kight reports. Trump and his allies have recently pushed to have judges who did not rule in favor of the administration impeached. Zoom out: Republicans have so far been slower to begin the process of judicial confirmations compared to former President Biden and Trump in 2017. By this point in the first Trump term, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch had already been confirmed and a federal judge was in the pipeline for a May approval, Senate records show. At this point in Biden's term, the first batch of judges had been sent to the Senate and seven were confirmed in June.
Axios
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Senate awaits Trump judges
Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are ready to start cranking out a new class of conservative judges — but they're waiting on the White House to send them some nominees. Why it matters: Compared to President Biden four years ago — and Trump in 2017 — Republicans will be slower to start on judicial confirmations. As his whirlwind second term approaches its 100-day mark, Trump has yet to nominate a single federal judge. Trump is expected to start making judicial picks in the coming days or weeks, according to sources familiar with his plans. Still, by this point in Trump 1.0, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch had already been confirmed, and the first Trump federal judge was in the pipeline for a May approval, according to Senate records. What to watch: Grassley has had ongoing conversations with White House officials letting them know he's ready to move when they are, according to sources familiar with the talks. White House spokesperson Liz Huston told Axios that "nominating courageous, constitutionalist judges to the federal bench is more critical than ever" and signaled nominations were in the works. "President Trump has already reviewed a slate of well-qualified judicial nominees and further announcements will be made in due time," Huston said. Zoom out: Trump and his allies have long railed against a justice system they view as unfair toward conservatives, with frequent rants against district judges and their ability to block executive actions nationwide. In a new escalation, the FBI arrested a Wisconsin judge Friday, and she was charged in federal court with allegedly helping an unauthorized immigrant evade ICE. Even though he's got the power again to nominate GOP-friendly judges to fill lifetime appointments across the country, he's yet to send any picks to the Hill. Zoom in: At this point in 2021, the first batch of Biden judges had been sent to the Senate — and seven were confirmed in June. After receiving a nominee, the Judiciary Committee must wait 28 days before moving forward. That effectively means any slate of Trump nominees could not start getting floor votes before June. By the numbers: There are 46 judicial vacancies for Trump to fill, compared to over 100 at the start of his first term. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made judges a top priority when he was leader. He worked with Trump and a network of conservative groups to push through 234 judges — including three Supreme Court justices — in four years. Then-Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) broke the Trump-McConnell record in late December when he and the Democrats confirmed their 235th judge. Now it's Thune's turn, although Schumer's record will be almost impossible to beat unless a wave of retirements washes over the courts.
New York Post
23-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Ex-Giants, Jets kicker Jay Feely reveals how Trump assassination attempt inspired him to run for Congress
He's got a leg up on the competition. Former NFL kicker Jay Feely — whose career included stints with the New York Giants and Jets — announced Tuesday that he'll run as a Republican for Arizona's 5th District seat in the House of Representatives. 'I'm excited about this next chapter of my life,' Feely told ESPN. 'I think that I feel God's calling pressing me into service, and that's really what I believe it is, is the civil service. 'I don't believe we have enough politicians that get into political office not for self-serving measures and that get into political office and don't want it to be a career, and that's what I believe,' he added. 'I believe it is very much a civil service.' 3 Feely describes himself as a conservative and supporter of President Trump. AP Feely, 48, is running in the 2026 election for the congressional seat currently occupied by former House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) — who announced in January that he's running for governor in the Grand Canyon State. Arizona's 5th District is considered a safe Republican seat, with Biggs and President Trump both winning the district by a 20 percentage point margin last November. Feely is the third major GOP candidate to announce a bid for the 5th District. Former state Rep. Travis Grantham and Army veteran and Trump 2020 campaign field organizer Alex Stovall announced their candidacies earlier this month. Feely, who describes himself as 'a proud conservative and staunch supporter of President Donald Trump,' has already secured at least one notable endorsement, from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). 'I'm honored to have the endorsement of Congressman @Jim_Jordan, a fearless conservative and unwavering champion of the America First agenda,' Feely wrote on X. 'His support is deeply meaningful as we launch this campaign to defend our freedoms and deliver real, lasting results for the East Valley.' 3 Feely, who was a New York Jet from 2008-2009, is running in Arizona's GOP-friendly 5th Congressional District. Paul J. Bereswill Feely told ESPN that Jordan and Trump both asked him to run for Congress in 2022, but he declined because his children were still in high school at the time. He indicated that his kids being out of the house and the July assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pa., played a significant role in influencing his decision this time around. 'The lawfare that Democrats did against President Trump and you watched him get shot. That was a big moment for me. I remember starting to really think about running for office the day that he got shot,' Feely told Fox News Digital. Feely, a former University of Michigan Wolverine, retired from the NFL in 2014 after a 14-year career, which saw him play for seven teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants and New York Jets. He's spent the last 10 seasons in the booth, broadcasting NFL games for CBS. 'I'm so grateful for my 10 years at @CBSSports,' Feely wrote on X. 'They took a chance on a kicker and allowed me to be in the booth calling NFL games (Only the 2nd K ever to do that after the legendary Pat Summerall) I enjoyed every minute and I will miss the people I worked with the most.' 3 Feely kicked in the NFL for 14 seasons, including for the New York Giants from 2005-206.. Charles Wenzelberg The former kicker also served as a rep on the NFL Players Association, the league's union, and spent time on the body's executive committee, fighting for players' rights to insurance. F Feely told ESPN that the high-pressure situations he's experienced as an NFL kicker — where he made 332 out of 402 field goal attempts — and his broadcasting gig will serve him well Congress. '[I] think that's one of your biggest jobs as a congressman is to be able to communicate to your constituents, be able to talk about the issues of the day and why you believe the way you believe and to be able to do it in a way that people can understand it,' he explained.
