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  1. #26
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    Bernie is leverage in a good way. He will keep the dems honest on progressive issues and I think that is a good thing. Joe Manchin is on the other side of the spectrum as he is very conservative. For example, he is opposed to the $2k stimulus check that Biden wants to pass.

  2. #27
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    Isn't Angus King the other Ind? (Oops, me)

    Do you think they will get PP to have state status and the ensuing representation?


    My problem with Bernie is that he calls himself an Ind, yet uses the Dem platform, uses it all to his advantage to the extent of running for president under it.

  3. #28
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Senate Democrats approve budget resolution, teeing up coronavirus bill

    Senate Democrats approved a budget resolution early Friday morning that will allow them to pass coronavirus relief without GOP support.

    The budget passed the Senate in a 50-50 party-line vote with Vice President Harris breaking the tie. Because senators made changes to the resolution, it now bounces back to the House where lawmakers will need to pass it for a second time as soon as Friday.

    The budget resolution doesn’t get signed into law, but it's the first step for being able to pass a subsequent coronavirus relief bill that can bypass the 60-vote legislative filibuster in the Senate.

    "We have moved forward. Many bipartisan amendments were adopted. ...This was a giant first step," Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said after the vote. "We will keep working as hard as we can to pass this legislation through the House, through the Senate as we go through the reconciliation process and hopefully put it on the president's desk."

    The budget, effectively a shell bill, authorizes a $1.9 trillion coronavirus bill and includes instructions to congressional committees on drafting the legislation under reconciliation, the tool Democrats are using to sideline Republicans in the Senate.: Senate Democrats approve budget resolution, teeing up coronavirus bill | TheHill - Senate approves budget to sideline GOP on Biden’s $1.9T stimulus - POLITICO
    Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

  4. #29
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Can't be long before the old republican wankers start banging on about the debt again.

    Tax Hikes for the rich will fix that.

  5. #30
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Both chambers pass budget resolution, paving the way for Biden's relief plan - Axios



    • House passes budget resolution, paving way for Biden's COVID-19 relief plan


    The House on Friday approved the Senate-amended budget resolution, setting in place the process to pass President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan without the need for GOP support.

    The bill passed 219-209.

    Rep. Jared Golden (Maine) was the only Democrat to join every Republican in voting against the measure. Golden cited a preference for passing a standalone vaccine bill immediately instead of embarking on the lengthier reconciliation process.

    “Our work to crush the coronavirus and deliver relief to the American people is urgent and of the highest priority,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a letter to Democrats ahead of the vote. “With this budget resolution, we have taken a giant step to save lives and livelihoods.”: House passes budget resolution, paving way for Biden's COVID-19 relief plan | TheHill

    • Biden signals he'll move forward on COVID-19 relief without GOP


    “If I have to choose between getting help right now to Americans who are hurting so badly and getting bogged down in a lengthy negotiation or compromising on a bill that’s up to the crisis, that’s an easy choice,” Biden said. “I’m going to help the American people that are hurting now.”: Biden signals he'll move forward on COVID-19 relief without GOP | TheHill

  6. #31
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    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    "We have moved forward. Many bipartisan amendments were adopted. ...
    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    every Republican in voting against the measure
    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    The bill passed 219-209.
    It seems the 'bipartisan' amendments weren't enough to make it a bipartisan-supported bill

  7. #32
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    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    "We have moved forward. Many bipartisan amendments were adopted. ...
    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    every Republican in voting against the measure
    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    The bill passed 219-209.
    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    50-50 party-line vote
    It seems the 'bipartisan' amendments weren't enough to make it a bipartisan-supported bill

  8. #33
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    It seems the 'bipartisan' amendments weren't enough to make it a bipartisan-supported bill
    Who cares. The GOP would have done the same thing, so now it is their turn to feel the pain.
    Last edited by bsnub; 06-02-2021 at 11:51 AM.

  9. #34
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    Quote Originally Posted by bsnub View Post
    How cares. The GOP would have done the same thing, so now it is their turn to feel the pain.
    Absolutely. I was alluding to the amendments taking int account issues from across the aisle and they're still cvnts

  10. #35
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    You'd just better accept that fact that the Republicans have no interest in "Bipartisan" unless they benefit from it, and when they are next in power they will resume the same shitty fucking policies they practised before and fuck the Democrats.

  11. #36
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Puerto Rico governor expects movement on statehood next month


    Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi told "Axios on HBO" that "Congress is morally obligated to respond" to the island's recent vote in support of statehood, and said he expects a bill to be introduced in the House by mid-March.

    Why it matters: Although statehood has been discussed for years, advocates say it is more likely now because Democrats control the House, Senate and White House — and because President Biden has publicly supported it.


    • Pierluisi campaigned on statehood for Puerto Rico along with other issues, like getting the coronavirus pandemic under control and lifting the U.S. territory out of its financial crisis.


    What he's saying: While the vote for statehood was a narrow one (52% support to 47% against), the governor told "Axios on HBO" it's the best way for Puerto Ricans to receive equal treatment as Americans citizens.


    • "We need a game changer in Puerto Rico. And one game changer would be that we get equal treatment in key federal programs," Pierluisi said, citing programs like Medicaid and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which aren't available to those living in the U.S. territory.
    • People who live in Puerto Rico don't have representatives in Congress with full voting power, and they cannot vote for the U.S. president.
    • "Statehood is not a panacea," Pierluisi said. "Of course we have to do better. But there's no question that having two senators and four representatives in Congress batting for us when needed would make a difference."


    Reality check: Congress isn't obligated to take up the issue of statehood for Puerto Rico.


    • And former President Trump's charges of corruption in its leadership further highlighted Puerto Rico's history of managing federal aid, particularly after Hurricane Maria, several earthquakes, and a historic bankruptcy.
    • While Pierluisi said Trump's worries about Puerto Rico's corruption were overblown, his pitch for why the U.S. should take this up is simple: "The U.S. could be expanding by admitting Puerto Rico into the union. It would be telling the world that it is embracing diversity because this would be a truly, completely Hispanic state."


    The other side: Those against statehood instead advocate for independence or self-determination, as proposed last year in a bill by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nina Velazquez, both Democratic Puerto Rican representatives of New York.

    And some Republicans argue that they believe all of Puerto Rico's representatives in Congress would be Democrats if they're admitted as the 51st state.

    Pierluisi says he believes Puerto Rico would be a swing state with a "mixed" congressional delegation, though it "would probably lean Democratic."

    At the same time that advocates for Puerto Rico's statehood believe now is their best chance to achieve it, many are also pushing for D.C. to become a state with full and equal representation in Congress.

    "I don't want to compete with D.C. I'm all for D.C. statehood," Pierluisi said. "So I just want the star [on the American flag]. I don't care about the number. So long as it happens and it happens soon, I'll be more than pleased.": Puerto Rico governor expects movement on statehood - Axios

  12. #37
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    Pierluisi says he believes Puerto Rico would be a swing state with a "mixed" congressional delegation, though it "would probably lean Democratic."
    ...lean, fall over and completely face-plant Democratic...a fine balance against ultra-conservative south Florida Cubans...

  13. #38
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    a fine balance against ultra-conservative south Florida Cubans.
    Indeed.

  14. #39
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Historic LGBTQ rights bill passes — after exposing GOP divisions

    The House passed sweeping legislation on Thursday to ban discrimination against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity, delivering a major victory to the LGBTQ community — while exposing an ugly rift in the GOP.

    The Equality Act, which would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to provide protections for LGBTQ individuals, garnered unanimous support from House Democrats on its way to approval on a 224-206 vote. Three Republicans crossed party lines to join Democrats to endorse the bill, less than half of the number of GOP votes the measure got the last time it came to the floor.

    But some Republicans worry that this week's controversial antics from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who harassed Rep. Marie Newman (D-Ill.) over her transgender daughter, have stomped on their attempts to sensitively communicate why they are opposed to the LGBTQ rights bill. Most Republicans say they oppose the measure due to its perceived infringement on religious freedom, not out of discriminatory sentiment toward LGBTQ people -- a fine line that Greene has effectively erased.

    Yada, yada, batchit crazy person

    “When you tell people that in a majority of states in this country, you can either be kicked out of your apartment, fired from your job, or denied service in a restaurant because you're gay or in the LGBTQ community, people think that can't be true,” Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), the lead House co-sponsor of the bill, told POLITICO in an interview.

    The LGBTQ rights bill would ban discrimination in various areas, including the workplace, housing and education, in addition to federally funded programs. The legislation also would expand the 1964 bill to cover public accommodations to include places like shopping malls, sports arenas, and even websites.: Historic LGBTQ rights bill passes — after exposing GOP divisions - POLITICO

  15. #40
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    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    But some Republicans worry that this week's controversial antics from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who harassed Rep. Marie Newman (D-Ill.) over her transgender daughter, have stomped on their attempts to sensitively communicate why they are opposed to the LGBTQ rights bill. Most Republicans say they oppose the measure due to its perceived infringement on religious freedom, not out of discriminatory sentiment toward LGBTQ people -- a fine line that Greene has effectively erased.
    Yea . . . nah . . . nothing to do with religious freedom, just plain old bigotry


  16. #41
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    Yea . . . nah . . . nothing to do with religious freedom, just plain old bigotry
    No, when they talk about "religious freedom" they mean their freedom to impose their stupid fucking space fairy nonsense on everyone else.

  17. #42
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Democrats offer bill on Puerto Rico statehood

    Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Rep. Darren Soto (Fla.) announced on Tuesday they would be introducing legislation to set out a plan to make Puerto Rico a state.

    The bill would set up a process to admit Puerto Rico as the nation's 51st state if such a plan is approved by the island's voters in a referendum.

    Axios first reported on the proposal, which is also backed by the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico, Del. Jenniffer González-Colón (R).

    Heinrich noted his own state's path to statehood was decades long.

    "My home state of New Mexico had a similar struggle to achieve statehood. It took 50 New Mexico statehood bills and 64 years before we were finally admitted to the United States," Heinrich said.: Democrats offer bill on Puerto Rico statehood | TheHill - Sen. Heinrich to unveil Puerto Rico statehood plan - Axios

  18. #43
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    The last criterion might be a problem for Puerto Rico...

    • The inhabitants of the proposed new state are imbued with and are sympathetic toward the principles of democracy as exemplified in the American Constitution.
    • A majority of the electorate wish statehood.
    • The proposed new state has sufficient population and resources to support state government and carry its share of the cost of Federal Government.

  19. #44
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Senate nixes Trump rule limiting methane regulation

    The Senate voted Wednesday to undo a Trump administration rule that rescinded methane emissions limits and made it harder to regulate releases of the greenhouse gas from the oil and gas sector.

    In the 52-42 vote, three Republicans voted with Democrats to get rid of the rule; Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio), Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Sen. Susan Collins (Maine).

    The methane rule is the first Trump-era rule that Democrats will take on using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a tool that lets them eliminate regulations completed in the prior 60 legislative days with a simple majority vote.

    “The fact that we are using our first CRA on the methane rule shows how important it is and shows the difference in having a Democratic majority when it comes to climate change,” Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a press conference ahead of the vote.

    The New York Democrat called it “one of the most important votes, not only that this Congress has cast but has been cast in the last decade, in terms of our fight against global warming.”

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