Jaishankar provides big update on disengagement issues along LAC with China, says…
External Affairs Minister also underlined how India and China never had an easy relationship in the past
Ahead of SC verdict on Delhi CM Kejriwal’s bail plea today, AAP leader Raghav Chadha says party remains ‘hopeful’
According to the cause list of September 13 uploaded on the apex court website, a bench headed by Justice Surya Kant is slated to pronounce the verdict.
Trump promises to end taxation of overtime pay: ‘Your overtime hours will be tax-free’
Former President Trump promises to eliminate taxes on overtime pay as part of a series of proposed cuts he said would mean more disposable income for workers. “That gives people more of an incentive to work. It gives the companies a lot,” Trump told a crowd Thursday at a campaign rally in Tucson, Arizona. “The people who work overtime are among the hardest-working citizens in our country. And for too long, no one in Washington has been looking out for them. TRUMP PLEDGES TO ELIMINATE TAXES ON TIPS FOR SERVICE WORKERS DURING LAS VEGAS RALLY “Those are the people, they really work. They’re police officers, nurses, factory workers, construction workers, truck drivers and machine operators.” The pitch came as Trump seeks to turn Arizona, a state President Biden won by just a few thousand votes in 2020, red again. REPUBLICANS BLAST BIDEN ADMIN OVER PLAN TO CRACK DOWN ON WAITERS’ TIPS “So, that’s why we will be saying that if you’re an overtime worker when you’re passed 40 hours a week, think of that,” he added. “Your overtime hours will be tax-free.” Trump has also promised to get rid of taxes on Social Security benefits and the taxation of tips for service workers, a pledge Vice President Kamala Harris has made, as well as raising the minimum wage. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated that eliminating taxes on tip income, as well as increasing the minimum wage, could add between $100 billion and $200 billion to the nation’s deficits over a 10-year window.
Fox News Politics: Trump Shooting Interim Report
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest political news from Washington, D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. Here’s what’s happening… – House GOP blasts Harris’ 2019 position on transgender migrants… – Gavin Newsom’s wife’s relatives hosting Trump fundraiser… – Nikki Haley slams PAC using her name… Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., predicted that Americans will be “shocked” and “appalled” when lawmakers release their interim report on the assassination attempt on former President Trump and the security failures of those involved in protecting the GOP presidential nominee. Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe provided senators with an update Thursday on the investigation into the failed assassination in a closed-door meeting. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., predicted that Americans will be “shocked” and “appalled” when lawmakers release their interim report on the assassination attempt on former President Trump and the security failures of those involved in protecting the GOP presidential nominee. Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe provided senators with an update Thursday on the investigation into the failed assassination in a closed-door meeting.…Read more PLAN FOR DELAYS: Biden admin pushes to put off enforcement of ID rules for boarding planes, entering federal buildings after 9/11 anniversary …Read more COLD SHOULDERS: Slain jogger’s mom calls out Biden-Harris for ignoring them after migrant murder …Read more ‘TERROR AND MISERY’: Harris’ support for Palestinian state rewards terrorism, experts warn …Read more ‘STOP WEIRD’: House GOP knocks Harris’ controversial 2019 position on transgender migrants …Read more ‘FAILED POLICIES’: James Comer ratchets up pressure on Harris with weeks until Election Day …Read more AMERICA FIRST: GOP bill targeting critical ‘loophole’ helping top US adversary passes after clash with Dems …Read more RIOT CONTROL: Secret Service to ramp up security on Jan. 6, 2025, to avoid another riot at the Capitol …Read more ORGANIZED CRIME: More than 75 lawmakers press DHS on organized retail theft …Read more FOLLOW THE LEADER?: Rep. Jared Moskowitz says Trump should consider dropping out of race following debate …Read more FAMILY TIES: Newsom’s wife’s relatives reportedly hosting Trump fundraiser in California …Read more ‘TIRED’ LINE OF ATTACK: Democrats brush off concerns of Kamala Harris’ policy flip-flops, call criticisms ‘overblown’ …Read more FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: Trump loses his edge as we brace again for post-debate impact …Read more BUSH AG FOR HARRIS: Alberto Gonzales becomes latest Bush alum to endorse Harris …Read more TESTER TUMBLES: Top handicapper gives GOP candidate Tim Sheehy edge against Sen. Jon Tester in Montana …Read more MOVING NUMBERS: Over 330,000 people clicked Taylor Swift’s voter registration link after her Kamala Harris endorsement …Read more ‘DECEPTIVE AND WRONG’: Nikki Haley slams PAC using her name to support Harris in swing states …Read more ‘BEHIND THE SCENES’: Flashback: In 2019 Harris boasted of helping ‘every’ trans inmate in California get access to gender surgery …Read more ‘NO EATING DOGS OR CATS’: President Biden drew laughs from Pa. crowd while donning Trump hat, cracking odd joke …Read more FLIP-FLOP: Border wall spotlighted in Texas Dem’s Senate ad after he called it a ‘racist wall’ …Read more NEXT STOPS: After the presidential debate, here’s where Trump and Harris are campaigning next …Read more SIZE MATTERS: Harris campaign and Democrats aim to tweak Trump again over crowd size …Read more HAND OUTS: CA commission to vote on giving phone subsidies to illegal immigrants …Read more ‘RADICAL TRANS AGENDA’: Riley Gaines stars in new Hawley ad against Dem opponent …Read more NEW QUESTIONS ARISE: Virginia Democrat’s military resume under scrutiny amid concerns over his campaign finances …Read more UNRELIABLE: Majority of Americans don’t trust AI election info: poll …Read more ‘COMPLETELY LEFT OUT’: 9/11 survivors say federal gov should do more to reach out to victims …Read more TRACKED DOWN: Illegal immigrant charged with several crimes was released at US border last year …Read more Subscribe now to get the Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Delhi excise policy case: SC to deliver verdict on CM Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea today
CM Arvind Kejriwal has filed two separate petitions challenging the denial of bail and against his arrest by CBI in the corruption case filed by the central agency.
Biden admin faces mounting pressure to allow Ukraine to strike inside Russia with US missiles
President Biden is facing mounting pressure to lift the ban on Ukraine using U.S. weapons to strike deep inside Russia and appeared to admit on Tuesday that his administration is moving in that direction. “We’re working that out right now,” he said when asked by reporters whether he would allow Ukraine to use the long-range Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, to target sites inside Russia. Support for lifting the ban has come from all sides. A group of high-level House Republicans wrote to the president this week arguing that such restrictions “have hampered Ukraine’s ability to defeat Russia’s war of aggression and have given the Kremlin’s forces a sanctuary from which it can attack Ukraine with impunity.” RUSSIA, CHINA HOLD BIGGEST WARGAMES SINCE SOVIET ERA The House GOP letter was signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul, House Intelligence Committee Chair Michael Turner, House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers and other committee leaders. It critiques the Biden administration but contrasts statements from top Republicans like Donald Trump, who have suggested he could bring a diplomatic end to the war. On Wednesday, a group of liberal and progressive former high-level national security officials authored a letter calling on the U.S. and U.K. to allow unrestricted use of their weapons to strike Russian territory. A bipartisan group of House and Senate members sent another letter arguing that with the ban, Russia “is far too comfortable in its ability to focus on its offensive operations rather than defending itself.” “Easing the restrictions on Western weapons will not cause Moscow to escalate,” they wrote. “We urge you to listen to your partners in Kyiv this week and allow Ukraine to strike all legitimate targets in Russia with the weapons the U.S. and U.K. have provided. Let Ukraine defend itself.” ROMANIA AND LATVIA CONFIRM RUSSIAN INCURSIONS INTO NATO TERRITORY Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has implored U.S. officials to lift the ban they placed to avoid escalation of U.S. involvement in the war. Washington in recent months has partially done so, allowing Ukraine to use U.S. weapons for defensive strikes “within sovereign Ukraine territory.” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Kyiv on Wednesday with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and were expected to gather information on how such long-range strikes would factor into Ukraine’s broader battlefield strategy. The U.K. is also considering whether to allow Ukraine to strike deeper inside Russia with its own long-range system, the Storm Shadow. Asked about the “green light” to target inside Russia on Thursday, Blinken did not indicate any change in policy but restated a desire to keep adapting to Russia’s aggression. Blinken said he expects Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss the topic when they meet Friday in Washington. Last week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pushed back on the notion that lifting restrictions and allowing Ukraine to hit deeper into Russia would change the tides of the war. “There’s no one capability that will, in and of itself, be decisive in this campaign.” “There are a lot of targets in Russia, a big country, obviously,” Austin said at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany on Friday. “And there’s a lot of capability that Ukraine has in terms of (unmanned aerial vehicles) and other things to address those targets.” The debate about whether to remove the restrictions comes amid the worrying beginning of transfers of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia. Some worry the U.S. has a limited number of ATACMS to offer Ukraine without affecting U.S. readiness and that using the weapons to strike deep into Russia could deplete their supply for other parts of the military campaign, like inside Crimea. But advocates of lifting the ban argue Ukraine is already using ATACMS on territory that Russia sees as its own in Crimea.
Dems run on border bill Republicans say ‘was never designed to solve the problem’
The immigration bill being used by vulnerable Democrats as evidence of their commitment to border security has been trashed by Republican senators, who claim the measure would have actually exacerbated the crisis at the southern border. “That bill was awful. It killed itself,” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told Fox News Digital on Thursday of the bill that was negotiated by Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and James Lankford, R-Okla. “I’m not aware of anybody that Trump called,” he added, with another GOP senator seconding this. After former President Donald Trump himself came out against the measure, Democrats accused him of being responsible for its ultimate demise, and he further welcomed their blame. But several Republican senators said the bill was essentially dead on arrival, with or without Trump’s input. TOP HANDICAPPER GIVES GOP’S TIM SHEEHY EDGE AGAINST DEMOCRAT JON TESTER IN MONTANA RACE SHIFT Republican senators prompted by Fox News Digital in the spring about Trump’s involvement in lobbying against the border bill also denied that the former president was making calls. On Thursday, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital the bill was terrible. “Chuck Schumer drafted it. He drafted it with the objective of keeping the current open borders open in perpetuity,” he claimed. Cruz listed concerns with the measure, including that it “codified catch and release. The bill provided immediate work permits to illegal aliens when they came here. The bill provided taxpayer-funded attorneys to illegal aliens. The bill gave billions of dollars to sanctuary cities and NGOs that are aiding with human-traffickers and the bill normalized 5,000 illegal immigrants a day.” “It was never designed to solve the problem,” he said. As the Texas senator referenced, the bill would have expanded what are known as alternatives to detention (ATD) for those who enter the country illegally, make work permits immediately available for those who pass initial asylum screenings, provide funding for attorneys to represent some unaccompanied minors, and would have established a threshold of an average of 5,000 border crossings a day for one week before ushering in a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emergency authority that would bar illegal immigrants from entering the country between ports of entry. He also pointed to the fact that chief Democrat negotiator, Murphy, wrote of the bill on X that, “The border never closes, but claims must be processed at the ports.” TEXAS DEM’S SENATE AD FEATURES BORDER WALL HE ONCE BLASTED AS ‘RACIST’ Murphy didn’t respond to Republican suggestions that his bill would have made the border worse and said it was false that it would have codified catch and release or that it would not actually ever shut down the border. “Those are not true,” he told Fox News Digital on Thursday. The bill faced its first procedural vote in February as part of a supplemental spending deal that also included funding for aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The vote was 49-50, failing to garner the necessary 60 votes to move forward. A supplemental foreign aid package ultimately passed without the border measure. “There were a lot of good things in that bill, but in the end, we did not address the one thing that I think is a legitimate argument: That’s trust in this administration to implement it,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told reporters on Thursday. ROGERS ADDRESSES ABORTION AMID SLOTKIN ATTACKS: ‘MICHIGAN VOTERS HAVE ALREADY DECIDED’ Lankford, along with Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, were the only Republicans to vote in favor of the negotiated bill in February. Senate Democrats revived the bill for a second procedural vote in May, which failed again by a worse margin. Two of the three negotiators, Sinema and Lankford, voted against it in the ultimate 43-50 vote. Both Romney and Collins also voted against advancing it in the second vote. Collins told Fox News Digital on Thursday, “I don’t think it was the be all and end all, but I think it would have helped.” Democrats running for Senate have panned their Republican counterparts for coming out against the negotiated bill, and have used their support for it during their respective campaigns to demonstrate that they will work to address the border. For example, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who is embroiled in what is considered one of the most competitive races in the country, referenced his support of the measure in an April ad that said, “Jon Tester worked with Republicans, fighting to shut down the border, target fentanyl traffickers, and add hundreds of new border patrol agents.” Democrats in Senate races are not the only ones using this bill to their advantage. Vice President Kamala Harris is campaigning on signing the bill into law if she is elected president in November. As for whether Democrats’ advocacy for the bill will resonate with voters, Collins told Fox News Digital it won’t. “The president did absolutely nothing by way of executive orders or of really pushing that bill for years. He created the crisis,” she said of President Biden. TOP 5 MOMENTS DURING TRUMP-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: ‘I’M TALKING NOW’ Tillis noted that Biden and Harris “conveniently leave out how they haven’t enforced existing laws.” He characterized Republican discussions regarding the negotiated bill, explaining, “There were people that were saying, ‘I don’t mind the policy. I just don’t think you’ll execute.’” Romney reiterated his disagreement with some of his conference members on the measure, suggesting they are doing their “best to provide an excuse for a very unfortunate vote.” According to him, Trump was “of course” responsible for its failure. Lankford’s office declined to provide comment to Fox News Digital. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
GOP bid to remove polling sites from Tarrant County college campuses fails
County Judge Tim O’Hare said he proposed the cuts to save costs. Critics accused Republican leaders of suppressing the vote of young people who back Democrats.
Biden administration imposes sanctions against Venezuelan President Maduro’s ‘cronies’
The Biden administration imposed sanctions Thursday against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and several of his associates for undermining the electoral process and violating the civil and human rights of its citizens. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the sanctions while speaking to reporters during a briefing Thursday. “President Biden’s approach to foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere has been based on his belief that democracy is fundamentally vital for sustained economic prosperity and security,” she said. “Now, Venezuela is no exception, and the blatant electoral fraud following the July 28 presidential elections must continue to be condemned and those obstructing democracy held accountable. “And that is why, to that end, today we took two important actions to hold Nicolás Maduro and his cronies accountable for their blatant electoral fraud, obstruction of a competitive and inclusive election and violation of the civil and human rights of the people.” MADURO CRACKDOWN ON POLITICAL OPPONENTS FOLLOWING RIGGED ELECTION: ‘CHILLED PEOPLE INTO SILENCE’ Jean-Pierre said U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen placed sanctions on 16 of Maduro’s affiliated officials along with visa restrictions on a number of his allied officials who “undermined” the electoral process in Venezuela and “are responsible for acts of repression.” The press secretary also said the U.S. has, to date, sanctioned over 140 current and former Venezuelan officials while also taking steps to impose visa restrictions on about 2,000 individuals. Critics contend the real problem lies with allowing the Maduro regime continued access to lucrative oil contracts. “The current approach appears to be overly focused on a single tactic. What is the point of imposing sanctions if, at the same time, oil licenses continue to be renewed? Feeding kleptocracy $20B per year,” Isaias Medina III, a former U.N. Security Council diplomat and Harvard Mason fellow, told Fox News Digital Thursday. “Real pressure comes from taking decisive actions, such as issuing a red notice from Interpol, intercepting every drug shipment and blocking the coast to prevent the movement of oil. Instead of simply warning them, concrete steps should be taken to expose their involvement in drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption and human rights violations. This includes pushing for their removal from the United Nations due to their illegitimacy and compelling the international community to take a unified stance against them.” Venezuela’s July 28 election saw Maduro claiming victory by more than 1 million votes. Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, was seeking a third six-year term. Meanwhile, the main opposition coalition, Vente Venezuela, has accused him of trying to steal the vote. The Vente Venezuela campaign has released records showing opposition candidate Edmundo González winning by a more than 2-to-1 margin. The main leader of the opposition, González, and opposition leader María Corina Machado have gone into hiding since the vote. The opposition suffered a further setback when Venezuela’s controversial Supreme Court reasserted Maduro as the winner of the disputed elections. Maduro’s hand-picked court declared the voting tallies showing any reports of his loss were fabricated. US, BRAZIL FLOAT NEW VENEZUELA ELECTION DESPITE GOVERNMENT, OPPOSITION REBUFFS The U.S., European Union (EU) and a slate of Latin American countries have categorically rejected the Venezuelan high court’s certification. Maduro and his government have refused to release official tally sheets from last month’s election. Maduro’s claim of victory ignited protests across Venezuela, prompting his regime to engage in a wave of violent repression. Security forces have apprehended more than 2,000 demonstrators, many of whom were taken to torture camps. Earlier this month, the U.S. seized a plane owned by Maduro in the Dominican Republic. US SEIZES VENEZUELAN LEADER MADURO’S PLANE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) flew Maduro’s personal plane back to the United States Monday morning, when it landed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is now in U.S. custody, a U.S. official told Fox News following an initial report by CNN. The plane, described by officials as Maduro’s version of “Air Force One,” is used for Maduro’s state visits around the world and was seized in the Dominican Republic after it was purchased through a straw company in violation of sanctions laws and export controls, the official said. U.S. authorities cited a specific violation of U.S. Executive Order 13884, signed by former President Trump in 2019. The plane, valued at $13 million, is a Dassault Falcon 900-EX. The seizure was a result of a joint investigation between HSI and the U.S. Department of Commerce. In August 2019, Trump issued Executive Order 13884, which prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with persons who have acted or purported to act directly or indirectly for or on behalf of, the government of Venezuela, including as a member of the Maduro regime. To protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, the Department of Commerce has also imposed export controls for items intended, entirely or in part, for a Venezuelan military or military-intelligence end user, according to the Department of Justice. Fox News’ Kyra Colah, Danielle Wallace and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
A Decision to Make: House Speaker Mike Johnson’s government funding bill divides Republicans
It was just minutes after the House finally ended a three-week battle, culminating in the election of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., last fall. The House voted to dethrone former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. But not before burning through three other Speaker candidates. I asked a senior House Republican aide what would be different with Johnson at the helm. The response? Different Speaker. Same members. CONTINGENT ELECTIONS: WHAT THEY ARE, AND WHAT TO EXPECT IF 2024 TRIGGERS ONE Which brings us to where we stand nearly a year later amid the annual gymnastics to avert a government shutdown by October 1. On late Wednesday morning, Johnson yanked his plan which would fund the government until late March – and mandate that people prove they are citizens in order to vote. Some lawmakers opposed the lengthy interim spending plan, renewing all spending at current levels for another six months. But others had issues with latching the citizenship provision to the spending package. It’s believed that Johnson was 20–30 votes shy to pass the measure. It’s not an emergency – yet. Congress has two-and-a-half more weeks before the deadline. So what did Congress accomplish this week? Nothing. In fact, the week only emphasized deep divides among Republicans. Different Speaker. Same members. “We’re going to continue to work on this,” said Johnson Wednesday after pulling the bill. “I want any Member of Congress in either party to explain to the American people why we should not ensure that only U.S. citizens are voting in U.S. elections.” So, no vote this week. And whether Johnson is able to massage the issue in a way that the bill passes is anyone’s guess. Earlier in the week, Johnson flashed confidence that he could avoid a government shutdown, claiming “there is no fallback position. This is a righteous fight.” Had Johnson taken the bill to the floor Wednesday, it would have gone down to defeat. After all, there was “no fallback position.” Then the Senate may have stuck Johnson with a short-term bill which runs until November or December. Johnson would have no bargaining chip. By delaying the fight, Johnson hopes to prove to his right flank that he’s fighting. And, he’s also trying to impress former President Trump. On Tuesday, Mr. Trump posted to Truth Social that the GOP should “close it down” unless they received “absolute assurances on Election security.” But some conservatives wondered just how committed Johnson was to the combo funding/proof of citizenship bill. Johnson archnemesis and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., generally opposes the concept of a temporary spending plan, known as a “Continuing Resolution “or “CR.” SENATE TO SWEAR IN MENENDEZ SUCCESSOR FOLLOWING NJ LAWMAKER’S CONVICTION, RESIGNATION “What is Speaker Johnson going to do? Is he willing to fight for this? And if he’s not willing to fight for it, why would we vote for it?” asked Greene. “Otherwise, it’s pointless. It’s really a waste of everyone’s time.” Many conservatives expected a two-step from Johnson. Put out a spending plan with a poison pill which would delight the right – and maybe even former President Trump. But face doom in the Senate. The question then is would Johnson get jammed with a “clean” bill from the Democratically-controlled Senate? Or would he eventually team up with Democrats to pass a bill to avert a government shutdown? Those options are anathema to many on the right. The fact that former President Trump waded into the fight worries some House Republicans. “I disagree with President Trump on the shutdown. We have a very slim margin in the House of Representatives. And I will tell you, I do think that a shutdown of the government has the potential to shift enough seats in the House of Representatives races that we have the potential to lose the House,” said Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., on Fox Business. “If we lose the House of Representatives, if you have a Democrat Speaker with President Trump as president, and we’ve seen what happens with that. The Democrats would simply sabotage his presidency.” Democrats believed the stumble was emblematic of how Republicans struggled to run the House – be it under the tutelage of Johnson or McCarthy. “I think this Republican majority is, has demonstrated over the last two years that they are unable to govern. They are unable to keep their party together. They’re unable to hold power together. And they’re not even able to compromise amongst themselves. Let alone with Democrats,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Some Republicans viewed Johnson’s strategy as a fig leaf. It would constitute a “show” vote with no real ramifications for this fall’s elections. Especially with early voting starting now. “There’s no implementation that could be made in the next 53, 54-plus days that’s going to impact our federal election laws. So to say that this as an attachment to CR is somehow going to do something is a farce,” fumed Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: WHY FOREIGN POLICY MIGHT MATTER Bipartisan defense hawks opposed the plan because it freezes all spending until March. The Pentagon scores more than half of all money Congress allocates annually. So the biggest benefactor of Congressional appropriations gets hit the hardest under this scheme. “(The military) can’t start programs. They can’t end programs. It’s just a horrible idea to put DoD in that position,” said Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the ranking Democrat on Armed Services Committee. Republicans appear divided into multiple camps: Those who want a longer interim spending bill and the proof of citizenship provision attached. Those who want a shorter spending bill, but maintain the proof of voting mandate. Then there are the defense hawks who worry about how a lengthy Band-Aid spending plan imperils the military. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., shares the same concerns as Adam Smith. There are others like Cory Mills who believe the voting language is a smokescreen and not practicable. Some like Greene believe the voting provision is mere camouflage – and Johnson will