Jose Garcia
Jose Garcia's JournalPolitico: Dems struggle over SCOTUS opposition strategy
The Democratic Party is splintering over its strategy for handling President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, with liberals upset that Senate Democrats aren’t taking a harder line and moderates fretting about appearing too obstructive.
In the middle is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who's facing one of the biggest moments in his career. Battles over Supreme Court nominees are epic struggles between the parties, and emotions are running hotter than normal this time around after Republicans blocked President Barack Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland from even getting a hearing for almost all of last year.
Some Democrats want to reprise those same hardball tactics. But Schumer and his allies are trying to convince all the factions in his party to move deliberately, and wait to mount any full-scale opposition until after a pick has been named and they've had a chance to dig into nominee's record.
Schumer, for his part, has repeatedly said he will fight any nomination that isn't "mainstream," declining to match McConnell's strategy of a unilateral blockade so early in the process.
more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-supreme-court-democrats-strategy-234441
Susan Brooks won't challenge Joe Donnelly for U.S. Senate seat
Source: The Indianapolis Star
WASHINGTON -- Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly may already be feeling the pressure from outside groups hoping to stop his 2018 re-election bid, but he won’t have to face one potentially formidable opponent.
Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Carmel, is passing on the challenge.
"Our country has many opportunities and challenges ahead, and I love and am focused on being a strong leader for the Fifth District in Congress,” Brooks said in a statement.
Other GOP members of the delegation, such as Reps. Luke Messer or Todd Rokita, still could announce a bid.
Read more: http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/behind-closed-doors/2017/01/31/brooks-wont-challenge-donnelly-us-senate-seat/97282986/
Gosar eyes primary challenge to Flake
Source: Arizona Capitol Times
Add Congressman Paul Gosar to the list of potential challengers U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake might face in next year’s Republican primary.
Gosar, a fourth-term representative from Arizona’s 4th Congressional District, said people have asked him to consider running against Flake, and he’s considering it.
“People are not happy. And you know, when people ask, I’m a dentist, and so I listen to what the problem is, I take in the information and make wise decisions. So I’ve made no decision, but that’s where we go,” Gosar told the Arizona Capitol Times.
Flake’s frequent clashes with President Donald Trump throughout his 2016 campaign and into the early days of his presidency have earned him the enmity of many in the Republican base. During a contentious meeting between Trump and Republican senators last year, Flake introduced himself to the then-nominee as, “Arizona’s other senator, the one who didn’t get captured,” in a reference to Trump’s criticism of fellow U.S. Sen. John McCain’s war record. Flake skipped the Republican National Convention, quipping that he couldn’t go because he had to mow his lawn.
Read more: http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2017/01/30/gosar-eyes-primary-challenge-to-flake/
GOP governor backs challenge to Trump executive order
Source: The Hill
The Republican governor of Massachusetts said Tuesday that he will support the state attorney general’s challenge to President Trump’s recent executive order on immigration.
"Massachusetts is a global community and we all benefit from the shared experiences of our partners from around the world to support our economy and educational institutions to make our state the best place to live, work and raise a family," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. “The recent executive orders puts this at risk, will not improve our security, and the lack of guidance associated with such an abrupt and overwhelming decision is problematic for all involved.
“Our administration has worked with the Attorney General’s office and supports her challenging this action. We look forward to the courts resolving this matter expeditiously."
Trump on Friday signed the executive order that imposes a 90-day ban on citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan entering the United States. The order also calls for a 120-day ban on admitting refugees and an indefinite halt on accepting refugees from Syria.
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/317139-gop-governor-backs-challenge-to-trump-executive-order
WH announces first picks for 'Skype seats' at press briefings
Source: The Hill
The White House has announced the first four people selected for the inaugural launch of "Skype seats," aimed at allowing individuals outside Washington, D.C., to participate in the daily White House press briefings.
Natalie Herbick of Fox-8 in Cleveland, conservative radio talk show host Lars Larson of "The Lars Larson Show," Jeff Jobe of Jobe Publishing in Kentucky and Kimberly Kalunian of WPRI in Providence, R.I., will all be joining the Wednesday press briefing via video conferencing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday.
Kalunian interviewed Spicer, a Rhode Island native, shortly after he got the press secretary job.
"Not sure how she snuck in there," Spicer joked.
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/media/317145-wh-announces-first-picks-for-skype-seats-at-press-briefings
Miami developer Jorge Prez calls his friend Trumps border wall idiotic, report says
Source: The Miami Herald
Billionaire Miami developer Jorge Pérez — a friend and former business partner of President Donald Trump — thinks the plan for a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico is “idiotic,” according to a Bloomberg report.
Pérez told Bloomberg that Trump asked him if he would be interested in working on the project, an offer the Related Group honcho declined.
“The wall is the most idiotic thing I’ve ever seen or heard in my life,” Pérez said in a Tuesday interview with Bloomberg. “A wall for what? You think a wall is going to stop people that are hungry? Good employment in Mexico, economic growth in Mexico, equality is going to stop people from coming over the border.”
Related worked on several South Florida condo projects with Trump. As Miami’s luxury real estate market cools down, Pérez is launching new developments in Mexico.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article129787664.html
Dems delay Sessions vote
Source: The Hill
Senate Democrats used a procedural move Tuesday to stall a committee vote on Sen. Jeff Sessions’s nomination to be attorney general, one day after the growing controversy surrounding President Trump’s travel ban on seven Muslim nations led to the firing of an acting attorney general for insubordination.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will reconvene at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday to vote on Sessions’s nomination, Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said.
The announcement came after the committee took a break to allow members to vote on the floor confirmation of Elaine Chao as Transportation Secretary.
When the meeting reconvened, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) told Grassley that Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) intended to invoke the two-hour rule against holding committee meetings beyond the first two hours of the Senate's day.
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/317135-dems-delay-sessions-vote
Pelosi aide apologizes after accusing Ryan of cursing reporters
Source: The Hill
A top aide to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) apologized to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Tuesday after wrongly alleging that the Speaker had cursed reporters on a hot mic for being a “waste my f---ing time.”
Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, tweeted a video of Ryan leaving a press conference on Capitol Hill. After Ryan falls off screen in the video, a voice can be heard venting frustration with the proceedings.
Hammill tweeted the video claiming it was Ryan who made the incendiary remark. The video quickly spread across social media.
Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong ripped Hammill over Twitter, saying it was clear from the video that Ryan was not the person who made the offending remark.
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/317107-pelosi-aide-apologizes-after-accusing-ryan-of-cursing-reporters
GOP senator: DeVos 'has not yet earned my full support'
Source: The Hill
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is still undecided on whether she’ll support President Trump’s Education secretary pick, Betsy DeVos, when her nomination comes up for a floor vote.
During Tuesday’s executive session of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, DeVos was approved 12-11, along party lines. Her nomination will now go to the Senate floor for full consideration, though a date for a vote on the controversial pick has yet be set.
While she voted to advance DeVos's nomination out of the committee, Murkowski said she remains on the fence going forward.
“Do note that she has not yet earned my full support,” Murkowski said at Tuesday’s session. “I would not advise yet that she count on my vote."
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/317122-gop-senator-on-devos-she-has-not-yet-earned-my-full-support
Senate easily confirms Trumps Transportation pick
Source: The Hill
President Trump’s nominee for Transportation secretary easily won confirmation on Tuesday, even amid fallout from the administration’s temporary ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations.
In a 93-6 vote, the Senate endorsed Elaine Chao to lead the Transportation Department, where she is expected to be a crucial ally in helping Trump move a massive infrastructure package through Congress.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D- Mass.) all voted against her.
Chao, who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and is a veteran Cabinet member, was unanimously approved by voice vote during committee consideration.
Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/317105-senate-confirms-trumps-transportation-pick
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