Tag:

Senate

TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App? TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App?
TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App? Another sell-or-be-banned TikTok legislation is working its way up to the Senate. The House passed the sell-or-be-banned bill for the app (360-58) on Saturday, April 20 as part of a larger foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, giving Chinese TikTok owner ByteDance up to a year to sell the app. Otherwise, TikTok will be subject to a nationwide ban. According to Politico, the bill is expected to pass the Senate as it's considered "priority legislation" for Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. A previous, standalone bill was passed by the House in March over national security co…
Transgender Virginia Senator Misgendered By Lt. Governor (VIDEO) Transgender Virginia Senator Misgendered By Lt. Governor (VIDEO)
Transgender Virginia Senator Misgendered By Lt. Governor (Video) Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears issued a public statement after misgendering a transgender senator from Prince William County. The exchange between Earle-Sears and Danica Roem, of Manassas, happened on the Senate floor Monday, Feb. 26. Daily Voice Roem, a Democrat who worked in local news for the better part of a decade, asked a question about a piece of legislation, and was addressed by Earle-Sears as "sir" in her response, footage shows. Roem then left the chamber. After a recess requested by Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), Earle-Sears addressed the exchange, saying: "Let…
NJ Reps Aim To Keep AM Radio In Vehicles NJ Reps Aim To Keep AM Radio In Vehicles
NJ Reps Aim To Keep AM Radio In Vehicles Many automakers are removing AM radios from their new electrical vehicles. Some New Jersey congressmen want to change that. Rep. Josh Gottenheimer (D-NJ), who represents most of Bergen County and parts of Passaic and Suffex County is the lead sponsor on a bill in the House of Represenatives that would require automakers to maintain AM radios in their new vehicles at no extra charge to the consumer. The bill, the AM for Every Vehicle Act, has support in the Senate from Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Ted Cruz. (D-TX) Gottenheimer's bill comes in the wake of reports that BMW, Volkswagen, M…
Fire Destroys Million-Dollar Medford Home Owned By Sen Elizabeth Warren's Son: Report Fire Destroys Million-Dollar Medford Home Owned By Sen Elizabeth Warren's Son: Report
Fire Destroys Million-Dollar Medford Home Owned By Sen Elizabeth Warren's Son: Report Alexander Warren, son of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, lost his million-dollar home in the Greater Boston Area to an overnight fire this week, Boston25 reports.  Crews responded to the multi-alarm fire at 44 Terrace Road around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, March 21, the Boston Sparks Association said on Facebook.  Upon arrival, firefighters saw flames and heavy smoke coming from the home, which was empty at the time of the fire.  03/21/2023 City of Medford Box 3-182 At approximately 01:00 hrs., City of Medford Fire struck Box 182 for a reported... Posted by Boston Sparks Associatio…
Protesters Charged Amid Demonstration During Controversial Senate Vote In DC: Capitol Police Protesters Charged Amid Demonstration During Controversial Senate Vote In DC: Capitol Police
Protesters Charged Amid Demonstration During Controversial Senate Vote In DC: Capitol Police More than a dozen protesters were charged in Washington, DC after ignoring US Capitol Police commands to disperse as they were illegally blocking traffic, officials say. US Capital Police officers charged a total of 16 people for crowding, obstructing, and incommoding during a demonstration that started on First Street, NE and Constitution Avenue that began at approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8. It’s time to bring democracy home. This D.C. resident says #HandsOffDC! https://t.co/SxOHD3sVcB — Sandy Sorensen (@dcdirectorsandy) March 8, 2023 There was also one arrest for vandalism…
Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise
Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise New York State lawmakers have voted to give themselves a significant pay raise days before Christmas, a move that would make them the highest paid in the country. Meeting for a special session in Albany on Thursday, Dec. 22, the legislature approved a bill that raises member pay by $32,000, bringing their total annual compensation to $142,000, beginning in 2023. The final vote in the Senate was 33 to 23 in favor, and 81 to 52 in the Assembly, WRGB reports. Every Republican in the Assembly voted against the pay hike. If the bill becomes law, it would also cap how much legislators can make…
Obama Runs Ad Campaign For Fetterman Obama Runs Ad Campaign For Fetterman
Obama Runs Ad Campaign For Fetterman Barack Obama has faith in John Fetterman. The former US president recently rolled out an ad campaign for the Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who is up against Republican candidate Mehmet Oz in the Senate race. “When the fate of our democracy and a woman’s right to choose are on the line, I know John will fight for Pennsylvanians.” Honored to have President Obama on this team 💯 pic.twitter.com/npSw6hXcxG — John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) October 21, 2022 “When the fate of our democracy and a woman’s right to choose are on the line, I know John will fight for Pennsylvanians," Obama s…
House Agrees To Legalize Weed, But Don’t Fire One Up Just Yet House Agrees To Legalize Weed, But Don’t Fire One Up Just Yet
House Agrees To Legalize Weed, But Don’t Fire One Up Just Yet It was only 16 months ago that the U.S. House of Representatives approved the nation’s first attempted repeal of federal marijuana laws. Then nothing happened. Over in the Senate, then-Sen. Kamala Harris introduced a similar bill that metaphorically died on the vine. The House on April Fools' Day again agreed to legalize weed, taking the nation back to lawmakers' December 2020 attempt to toss the federal pot ban. Let's be blunt: The result will most likely be the same. Only a few Republicans joined the House majority in Friday’s 220-204 House vote to remove reefer from the 1970 Controlled…
Maryland First In The Nation To Officially Suspend Gas Tax Maryland First In The Nation To Officially Suspend Gas Tax
Maryland First In The Nation To Officially Suspend Gas Tax Maryland has became the first state in the county to officially enact an immediate suspension of the gas tax. Governor Larry Hogan signed a bill on Friday, March 18, suspending the fuel tax in the state in the wake of record high gas prices with the average being $4.21 per gallon. The bill suspends the collection of the tax, which is $0.36 per gallon, for up to 30 days.  "This bipartisan action will provide some relief from the pain at the pump and it is possible because of the prudent fiscal steps we have taken, which have resulted in a record budget surplus,” Governor Hogan said. “This i…
Fully Vaccinated PA Senator, Who Might Run For Governor, Tests Positive For COVID-19 Fully Vaccinated PA Senator, Who Might Run For Governor, Tests Positive For COVID-19
Fully Vaccinated PA Senator, Who Might Run For Governor, Tests Positive For Covid-19 A Pennsylvania state senator, who is supposedly about to announce a bid to run for governor, has announced he has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement released by his office. State Senator Jake Corman, a Republican representing Bellefonte, Centre County, is fully vaccinated and appeared on the Senate floor the day prior to testing positive, according to a release from his office and Senior Reporter for City and State PA, Justin Sweitzer. “In an overabundance of caution, Senator Corman has routinely been tested throughout the pandemic,” as stated in the release. “He will c…
Trucker Who Beat Powerful NJ Senator Slammed For Anti-Islam Tweet Trucker Who Beat Powerful NJ Senator Slammed For Anti-Islam Tweet
Trucker Who Beat Powerful NJ Senator Slammed For Anti-Islam Tweet A New Jersey truck driver who is projected to win a state Senate seat says he is sorry for tweeting anti-Islamic remarks, Philadelphia CBS television news reports.  The inflammatory tweet by Republican Edward Durr Jr. calls prophet Muhammed a pedophile and claims that Islam was “a false religion!” Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a union president, has led the 3rd District since 2002 -- making him one of the most powerful elected leaders statewide, the outlet states. Durr, from South Jersey, is a truck driver for the Raymour & Flanigan furniture company, Politico reports. In a …
COVID-19: Lamont's Emergency Powers Extended After Close State Senate Vote COVID-19: Lamont's Emergency Powers Extended After Close State Senate Vote
Covid-19: Lamont's Emergency Powers Extended After Close State Senate Vote Lawmakers in Connecticut narrowly approved a resolution to extend Gov. Ned Lamont’s emergency powers that were put in place at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic through the fall. The House voted to extend Lamont’s power through Thursday, Sept. 30 by a vote of 73 to 56, while the Senate vote was closer, ending with a 19 to 15 margin, making Connecticut one of the last states in the northeast to remain under a state of emergency due to COVID-19. Lamont first put Connecticut in a state of emergency in March 2020 when the virus first began rapidly spreading throughout the region. The govern…
Measure To Legalize Recreational Marijuana Use In CT Set For Lamont's Signature To Become Law Measure To Legalize Recreational Marijuana Use In CT Set For Lamont's Signature To Become Law
Measure To Legalize Recreational Marijuana Use In CT Set For Lamont's Signature To Become Law As soon as the ink is dry on Gov. Ned Lamont's pen, marijuana will be legal in Connecticut after the Senate gave its final approval for the growth and sale of marijuana The new legislation, approved on Thursday, June 17, would allow adults 21 or older to purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana beginning on Thursday, July 1.  Commercial sales of recreational marijuana in the state would not start until May 2022. Gov. Ned Lamont, who has favored the bill, said he looks forward to signing the bill. "It's fitting that the bill legalizing the adult use of cannabis and addressin…
Connecticut's 'Best Pizza' Bill Gets Sliced By Lawmakers Connecticut's 'Best Pizza' Bill Gets Sliced By Lawmakers
Connecticut's 'Best Pizza' Bill Gets Sliced By Lawmakers The push by lawmakers in Connecticut to make pizza the official “State Food” has officially run out of gas. House representatives voted last month to designate pizza as Connecticut’s state food, bringing it to the Senate, though the bill is now dead after it did not get a vote after failing to make it into a series of laws for Gov. Ned Lamont to review and sign into law. The legislation, Proposed House Bill 5656, would have amended chapter 33 of the Connecticut general statutes to “recognize the contribution of pizza to the state’s cuisine and economy.” Earlier story - Pie In The Sky: CT …
Member Of Trump Family Who Lives In Northern Westchester Hired By Fox News Member Of Trump Family Who Lives In Northern Westchester Hired By Fox News
Member Of Trump Family Who Lives In Northern Westchester Hired By Fox News Westchester resident Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of the former president and former advisor to his campaign has taken a position as a paid on-air contributor for Fox News. Trump made it official on Monday, March 29 during an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” where she was welcomed with open arms by the network that led to newfound infamy for the former president. “Well I’m so excited, first of all, to be joining the Fox family,” Lara Trump, who is married to Eric Trump, said during her initial appearance. “I sort of feel like I’ve been an unofficial member of the team for so long. R…
Billions In New Taxes On Wealthy New Yorkers Proposed Billions In New Taxes On Wealthy New Yorkers Proposed
Billions In New Taxes On Wealthy New Yorkers Proposed New York’s lawmakers have proposed budgets that include nearly $7 billion in new and increased taxes on businesses and the rich. Over the weekend, both houses of the state legislature proposed the tax hike on New York’s wealthiest to help close the record $15 billion financial shortfall the state faces due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though New York is due to receive an influx of cash from President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 relief bill, legislators believe that the gap still needs to be closed and that the tax on the rich could aid that effort. New York is expected to receive approximately $23.5…
COVID-19: CT House Extends Lamont's Emergency Declarations COVID-19: CT House Extends Lamont's Emergency Declarations
Covid-19: CT House Extends Lamont's Emergency Declarations House Democrats in Connecticut voted to keep Gov. Ned Lamont’s emergency powers in place, and the measure now moves to the Senate. On Thursday, March 25, House representatives voted 90 to 50 to extend 93 executive orders put in place by Lamont during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the governor reminded lawmakers that Connecticut is still in a state of emergency. The vote was split along party lines. “Infections are no longer going down, plateaued, and in fact picking up a little bit. We're not out of this yet,” Lamont said. Lamont’s orders are set to expire on Tuesday, April 20. Democrats are …
IT'S OFFICIAL: Dr. Rachel Levine Confirmed As U.S. Senate's First Openly Transgender Official IT'S OFFICIAL: Dr. Rachel Levine Confirmed As U.S. Senate's First Openly Transgender Official
IT'S Official: Dr. Rachel Levine Confirmed As U.S. Senate's First Openly Transgender Official The former Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine was confirmed Wednesday as the US Assistant Health Secretary --  making her the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Wednesday's 52-48 vote broke down along partly line with only two exceptions, Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Pa. Senator Republican Pat Toomey did not vote to confirm Dr. Levine. Toomey says, "Levine Has Not Earned a Promotion to Help Lead HHS” “In Pennsylvania, the pandemic struck seniors in nursing homes disproportionately h…
COVID-19: Nursing Home Scandal Fallout Increases As More Dems Turn On Cuomo, Feds Launch Probe COVID-19: Nursing Home Scandal Fallout Increases As More Dems Turn On Cuomo, Feds Launch Probe
Covid-19: Nursing Home Scandal Fallout Increases As More Dems Turn On Cuomo, Feds Launch Probe The heat is on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo as he attempts to counter the fallout from both sides of the aisle over his handling of COVID-19 cases in the state’s nursing homes. Some state Democrats have joined in the cacophony of Republican voices expressing outrage over Cuomo’s administration underreporting and subsequent coverup of COVID-19-related nursing home deaths in New York. The federal government is now planning to launch a probe into the scandal that has turned Cuomo from an Emmy award-winning national figure touted for his daily COVID-19 briefings complete with power-point slides …
COVID-19: Here's Who's Expected To Qualify For Third IRS Stimulus Check COVID-19: Here's Who's Expected To Qualify For Third IRS Stimulus Check
Covid-19: Here's Who's Expected To Qualify For Third IRS Stimulus Check Relief may be coming for millions of Americans after the Senate and House of Representatives took a major step forward by approving a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 package that includes a third round of stimulus checks. President Joe Biden has proposed sending $1,400 to every person who received stimulus checks during the first two rounds of payments, though it could be weeks until money starts showing up in bank accounts. The approvals by Congress will now lead to a “reconciliation” process in which congressional committees will draft a bill based on Biden’s sweeping proposal. Every adult taxpay…
New Capitol Riot Arrest Made On Long Island New Capitol Riot Arrest Made On Long Island
New Capitol Riot Arrest Made On Long Island A Long Island man has been arrested by FBI agents on a charge of illegally being part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol. Justin McAuliffe, age 39, of Bellmore, was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 28, for taking part in the riotous insurrection at the capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, according to a complaint filed in federal court.  The complaint filed in Central Islip on Jan. 28, shows a picture of McAuliffe, an accountant on Long Island, sitting in the office of either an unidentified member of the Senate or the House and holding up two fingers in a "Victory" sign.  The FBI was led to McA…
Westchester Native Tony Blinken Sworn In As Secretary Of State Westchester Native Tony Blinken Sworn In As Secretary Of State
Westchester Native Tony Blinken Sworn In As Secretary Of State A prominent politician from the Hudson Valley will serve as America’s top diplomat after being sworn in as President Joe Biden’s Secretary of State. Yonkers native Antony "Tony" Blinken, age 58, a longtime confidant and aide of the new president, was approved by the Senate with a 78-22 bipartisan vote this week and will return to the White House following time spent as a top member of the Obama administration. From 2009 to 2013, Blinken was the Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to the Vice President, where he was tasked with helping to craft foreign policy in t…
Ex-NY HS Wrestling Standout Who Smoked Pot In Senator's Office Says He Has No Regrets For Riot Ex-NY HS Wrestling Standout Who Smoked Pot In Senator's Office Says He Has No Regrets For Riot
Ex-NY HS Wrestling Standout Who Smoked Pot In Senator's Office Says He Has No Regrets For Riot A 26-year-old former high school wrestling standout in New York who went to community college in the Hudson Valley said he has “no regrets” after rioting at the U.S. Capitol and smoking weed in Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley’s office. After seeing a tweet from President Donald Trump, upstate New York resident Brandon Fellows - who attended Hudson Valley Community College - was one of the hundreds to flood the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 6 when protesters stormed the building, according to a new report by Bloomberg. Fellows, a standout high school wrestler at Niskayuna High School near Albany, …
Trump Becomes Only President To Be Impeached Twice, This Time For 'Incitement Of Insurrection' Trump Becomes Only President To Be Impeached Twice, This Time For 'Incitement Of Insurrection'
Trump Becomes Only President To Be Impeached Twice, This Time For 'Incitement Of Insurrection' Donald John Trump is now the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives. On Wednesday, Jan. 13 - just a week before the inauguration of president-elect Joe Biden and a week after the deadly pro-Trump riot at the Capitol building - the U.S. House voted to impeach Trump, a Republican, by a margin of 232-197 on one charge of incitement of insurrection. View the impeachment resolution here The vote was bipartisan. All 222 Democrats voted to impeach while 10 Republicans also did so, including GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney of Wyoming, daughter of form…
Capitol Hill Chaos: Lockdown Halts Electoral College Confirmation As Protesters Storm Building Capitol Hill Chaos: Lockdown Halts Electoral College Confirmation As Protesters Storm Building
Capitol Hill Chaos: Lockdown Halts Electoral College Confirmation As Protesters Storm Building The United States Capitol is in lockdown after pro-Trump protesters swarmed into the building just after the Electoral College confirmation process got underway on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 6, Protesters waving Confederate and American flags as well as pro-Trump merchandise, moved past police and into the Capitol Building to disrupt the Senate’s confirmation of votes Joe Biden’s election to the presidency, according to the New York Times and multiple media reports. A clash between police and protesters broke out around noon on Wednesday.  The chaos disrupted the proceedings and force…
COVID-19: One In Three CT Businesses Have Closed, Many For Good COVID-19: One In Three CT Businesses Have Closed, Many For Good
Covid-19: One In Three CT Businesses Have Closed, Many For Good Since March, when the COVID-19 pandemic descended upon American businesses in full force, about one in three Connecticut businesses have closed, according to the Wall Street Journal.  Although businesses throughout the country have been adversely affected, Connecticut stores have been especially hard-hit—in New York, New Jersey and the country as a whole, only a quarter of businesses have been forced to close their doors.  Restaurants have been hit the hardest—about 600 have shut down, temporarily or permanently, and all are currently limited to 50 percent capacity by the state's …
CDC: Face Masks 'More Guaranteed' Than Vaccine To Prevent COVID-19 CDC: Face Masks 'More Guaranteed' Than Vaccine To Prevent COVID-19
CDC: Face Masks 'More Guaranteed' Than Vaccine To Prevent Covid-19 The director for the Centers for Disease Control trusts face masks to protect more people from COVID-19 than a vaccine. Emphasizing the importance of the medical equipment, on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at a Senate hearing, CDC Director Robert Redfield said that wearing a face mask is more guaranteed to protect someone from COVID-19 than taking an eventual vaccine. Vaccines don’t work in 100 percent of people, he noted, but a face mask offers at least some protection for everyone. “We have clear scientific evidence they work,” Redfield said about face masks. “I might even go so far as to say tha…
Isaias: Latimer Blasts Response By Utility, Telecom Companies At Joint State Hearing Isaias: Latimer Blasts Response By Utility, Telecom Companies At Joint State Hearing
Isaias: Latimer Blasts Response By Utility, Telecom Companies At Joint State Hearing Westchester County Executive George Latimer was the latest elected official to come down on utility and telecom companies for their poor response to Tropical Storm Isaias. Latimer spoke this week during a joint Senate and Assembly public hearing on the power and communication failures caused by the winds and rain Isaias brought as it ripped through the East Coast. Latimer made note that the region is still dealing with the fallout of the COVID-19 crisis, and the outages came in the midst of a heatwave that saw temperatures approach 100 degrees. “(This is) outrageous in any time, but today,…
Cuomo, Ocasio-Cortez, Clintons Among Democratic National Convention Speakers Cuomo, Ocasio-Cortez, Clintons Among Democratic National Convention Speakers
Cuomo, Ocasio-Cortez, Clintons Among Democratic National Convention Speakers Some prominent New York politicians are among the speakers announced for the virtual Democratic National Convention. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Clintons, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are all on the list of speakers scheduled for the convention, which will run from Monday, Aug. 17 through Thursday, Aug. 20. Cuomo is scheduled to speak on the first night of the convention along with Sen. Bernie Sanders, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican. This is the second time Cuomo will speak at the conven…
Eversource Customers Hit With Increase On Their Electric Bills Eversource Customers Hit With Increase On Their Electric Bills
Eversource Customers Hit With Increase On Their Electric Bills Eversource has drawn the ire of its Connecticut customers who have just seen a sudden uptick in the price of their electric bills. There was an uproar from customers after seeing a rate increase earlier this month due to what Eversource says is a state-mandated agreement with the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant to purchase power. The rate increase took effect as of Wednesday, July 1. According to reports, some customers have seen their bill increase by more than $100. As part of a deal to keep the Millstone Nuclear Plant from closing early and taking one-third of the state's electric supply…
COVID-19: 'Who's Bailing Out Whom?' Says Cuomo, Taking On Republican Senators COVID-19: 'Who's Bailing Out Whom?' Says Cuomo, Taking On Republican Senators
Covid-19: 'Who's Bailing Out Whom?' Says Cuomo, Taking On Republican Senators New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is taking on Republican lawmakers who have made comments about “blue state bailouts” during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. During his daily COVID-19 briefing, Cuomo again took on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) and added first-term Sen. Rick Scott (Florida) to his line of fire. Both said providing federal aid to states hit hard by the crisis would amount to a bailout and some states should file for bankruptcy. Related - COVID-19: 'I Dare You,' Says Cuomo, Firing Back At Mitch McConnell Over State Bankruptcy Cuomo again made note tha…