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Showing posts from February, 2023

19 states ask SCOTUS to keep Title 42 in place or risk border 'crisis of unprecedented proportions'

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A group of 19 Republican-led states on Monday asked the Supreme Court to stop the immigration restriction Title 42 from ending this week A group of 19 states on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and stop the immigration restriction Title 42 from ending this week -- contending that not doing so "will cause a crisis of unprecedented proportions at the border." "Getting rid of Title 42 will recklessly and needlessly endanger more Americans and migrants by exacerbating the catastrophe that is occurring at our southern b order ," Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said in a statement. "Unlawful crossings are estimated to surge from 7,000 per day to as many as 18,000." The policy known as Title 42 started in 2020, under President Donald Trump, in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic and has since been used to expel migrants from the southern b order more than 2.4 million times on the basis of public Health concerns. MORE: Texas Gov. Greg

Top incoming House GOP investigators say they have little interest in probing Jan. 6

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Top incoming House GOP investigators told ABC News they have little interest in probing Jan. 6. As Republicans gear up to retake power in the House next year, incoming chairs of the two top investigative committees in the House of Representatives have rolled out a laundry list of planned investigations – but top Republican investigators appear to have little ap Pet ite to use their newfound subpoena power in one area: Jan. 6. Despite pressure from far-right figures, and even signals from leadership and members inside the Republican caucus, incoming chairs of the House Oversight Committee and the House Judiciary Committee told ABC News they are more focused on probes into COVID-19 funding, the border, and President Joe Biden's family rather than relitigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol or investigating the investigators. "Right now that's not anywhere on my list," Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the incoming chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, t

Trump tax return-related documents to be released by congressional committee

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Documents related to former President Donald Trump's tax returns will be released by the Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee. The Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee voted Tuesday to make public some documents related to former President Donald Trump's tax returns -- a move Trump has long fought. The committee met for several hours behind closed doors Tuesday afternoon and then returned to vote 24-16 in open session to release the information related to Trump's tax returns from 2015-2020. It's not clear what documents will be released or ultimately included in the committee's report but there will be two days to redact sensitive information before anything is made public. Chairman Richard Neal, D- Mass., said after the vote, "This is not being punitive. This is not about being malicious." The committee earlier unanimously voted to have a transcript of the closed proceedings released when appropriate.  Before the commi

Lawmakers speak out as George Santos admits to lying about biography

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New York Rep.-elect George Santos is facing mounting criticism from his future Democratic colleagues for fabricating parts of his biography New York Rep.-elect George Santos is facing mounting criticism from his future Democratic colleagues for fabricating parts of his biography -- criticism that is coming from some of Santos' fellow Republicans as well, though many in his party have not commented on the controversy, and some have defended him. "GOP Congressman-elect George Santos, who has now admitted his whopping lies, should resign," Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., tweeted on Monday, pushing House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to call a vote to expel Santos if he does not step down. Texas Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro also tweeted that Santos should resign or Congress should expel him, which would require a two-thirds vote, and that his actions should be investigated by authorities. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the incoming House minority leader, spoke sharply of Santos last week

FDA says it will greenlight pharmacies to fill prescriptions for abortion pill

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The FDA is relaxing the rules on the abortion pill mifepristone, saying pharmacies can now fill prescriptions for the drug so long as they become certified to do so. The abortion pill mifepristone is safe enough that retail pharmacies can begin dispensing it so long as a certified Health care provider prescribes the drug and if that pharmacy meets certain requirements, according to new rules published Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If pharmacies jump on board, the FDA action could dramatically expand access to the drug in states where it's already legal. Doctors, for example, might be more willing to get certified to prescribe the drug because they would no longer have to stock it themselves and could write a prescription much as they would any other medication. The new rule also opens the door for a fresh round of legal challenges. Abortion rights supporters were expected to use the latest regulatory update to make the case that under the law, only the FDA --

After 3 failed speaker votes, McCarthy vows to fight on

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Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy was dealt one defeat after another on Tuesday but insists he will not back down from his bid to for Speaker of the House. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy was dealt one defeat after another on Tuesday but insists he will not back down from his bid to for House speaker as the fight spills into a what appears will be a second chaotic day on Wednesday. "Is it the day I wanted to have? No," he told ABC News Tuesday night. But he insisted he still feels "very good" and confirmed there is no scenario where he is dropping his bid for speaker. “Let's take a different perspective,” the California representative said. “You're sitting at 202 votes . So you need technically just 11 more votes to win. Is there anybody in the conference that can win? Okay, I don't think that's there. So, we can go round and round. It'll either turn out that someone will make a mistake and elect a Democrat or we're going to find a w

DeSantis asks state colleges for data on critical race theory, diversity courses amid 'Stop WOKE' legal battles

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Gov. Ron DeSantis has asked Florida universities and colleges for information on courses regarding diversity, equity, inclusion and critical race theory. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' office has requested data on courses and programs that include “ diversity , equity and inclusion” and “ critical race theory ” despite legal challenges to his law restricting such content. ABC News has obtained a copy of the Dec. 28 governor’s memo. In the memo, Office of Policy and Budget Director Chris Spencer asked State University System and Florida College System administrators to document “the expenditure of state resources on programs and initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion, and critical race theory within our state colleges and universities.” These public institutions are required to describe which programs and campus related activities are connected to these topics, and send how much these programs cost, how much state-funding is directed toward them, and how many employee

Biden expected to award Citizens Medal to officers who defended Capitol on Jan. 6: Sources

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President Joe Biden is expected to award the Presidential Citizens Medal to officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, multiple sources told ABC News. President Joe Biden on Friday is expected to award the Presidential Citizens Medal -- the nation’s second-highest civilian honor -- to officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, multiple sources told ABC News. Biden will present the awards during a ceremony at the White House. Friday marks the second anniversary of the Capitol attack. Protesters clash with police outside the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington. Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The recipients include Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges, Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, Capitol Police Officer Carolyn Edwards, retired Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, and retired Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone. Biden will also bestow the honor posthumously to Brian Sicknick, a C

Who are the alternatives to be House speaker if McCarthy withdraws? A look at possible names

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If McCarthy doesn't become House speaker, could Democrat Hakeem Jeffries be elected -- or Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan or others? House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy is still struggling to corral the necessary votes to become speaker as a minority of his conference puts up a series of protest nominees against him, insisting he grant their demands for more influence, reshaping how the House is run and what Republicans prioritize. The chamber cannot conduct any other other business until a speaker is chosen. Lawmakers resumed voting for a seventh time after returning from adjournment Thursday at noon. Across six rounds of voting over two days, neither McCarthy nor the alternatives -- Andy Biggs, Jim Jordan, Byron Donalds -- have so far unified the party in the House, where 218 votes are needed to win if every lawmaker votes. McCarthy has gotten no more than 203. The others no more than 20. McCarthy has vowed to fight on until he wins the support needed. His critics have called for him to st