Page 2198 – Texas Weekly Online

Democrat frontrunner in tight Senate race drops racial slur during House hearing

The Democrat frontrunner in what could be one of the most closely watched Senate races this year uttered a racial slur during a Thursday House Budget Committee hearing, something he says was unintentional. Rep. David Trone, D-Md., dropped the disparaging term for Black people while speaking during the hearing about tax policy with Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Budget and Management, who was testifying before the committee. “So this Republican jigaboo that it’s the tax rate that’s stopping business investment, it’s just completely faulty by people who have never run a business,” he said. “They’ve never been there. They don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.” TOP DEMOCRAT IN TIGHT SENATE RACE BACKS CITIZENSHIP VOTING RIGHTS FOR MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS When reached for comment, Trone admitted to Fox News Digital he used the term, but said he misspoke while meaning to use a different word. “Today while attempting to use the word ‘bugaboo’ in a hearing, I used a phrase that is offensive. That word has a long dark terrible history. It should never be used any time, anywhere, in any conversation,” Trone said. “I recognize that as a White man, I have privilege. And as an elected official, I have a responsibility for the words I use — especially in the heat of the moment. Regardless of what I meant to say, I shouldn’t have used that language,” he added. HILLARY CLINTON WADES INTO CRUCIAL BATTLEGROUND SENATE RACE THAT COULD DETERMINE BALANCE OF POWER Earlier this week, Trone faced heat for other comments he made at a candidate forum earlier this month in which he declared his support for granting citizenship and voting rights to the millions of illegal immigrants residing in the U.S. He holds a fundraising and polling advantage among a crowded Democrat primary field. His closest challenger is Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who is Black. Fox News Digital has reached out to Alsobrooks for comment. He will likely face Maryland’s former Republican governor, Larry Hogan, in the general election. Early polls suggested a tight race between the two. However, a Washington Post/University of Maryland poll released Wednesday showed Hogan with a double-digit lead. Elections analysts rate the race as “likely” Democrat, but Hogan’s name recognition and high approval rating at the conclusion of his second term last year could further pose a challenge to Democrats’ hopes of maintaining control of the Senate. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Democrat frontrunner in tight Senate race drops racial slur during House hearing

SC to hear Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest today

In response to Kavitha’s arrest, the ED labeled Kejriwal as a conspirator in the purported liquor policy scam in a press release.

Ukraine aid could be saved by obscure congressional rules, Reagan-era politics, Boll Weevils and Gypsy Moths

It’s a little late in 2024 to compose an “in and out” list. Baby reveals are apparently in. Swag is in. So are press-on nails. The outs? Supposedly podcasts. (Really?) Mullets (I thought they already were). Vaping. Congress is usually behind the times. So, that’s why it took Capitol Hill until spring to craft an “in and out” list. It’s a pretty short list. SPEAKER JOHNSON TELLS REPUBLICANS CAMPAIGNING AGAINST EACH OTHER IN PRIMARIES TO ‘COOL IT’: REPORT Let’s start with what’s out: “Discharge petitions.” And, if you’re cutting edge, what could soon be in? “Defeating the previous question.” I know. This is going to require some explaining. Especially if you are not a creature of Capitol Hill — and even if you are a creature of Capitol Hill. But why are we thinking about a “discharge petition” and “defeating the previous question?” These are obscure, but critical parliamentary tools in the House of Representatives lawmakers might use to either fund the government or send money to Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has been dubious about sending aid to Ukraine — even after the Senate adopted a bill with 70 members voting yes in February. Both a “discharge petition” and “defeating the previous question” are methods for a majority of House members to bypass the House speaker and either put a bill on the floor against his or her wishes or seize control of the floor. Both gambits are rarely successful. The House has only successfully gone over the head of the speaker with a discharge petition twice in the past 23 years. For a defeat of “moving the previous question,” one must reel back to the 1980s. We might usually dismiss such esoteric, enigmatic parliamentary ploys to go around the speaker. But not in present circumstances. The House Republican majority has dwindled to a svelte two seats. Johnson struggles to get GOP members to even put Republican-authored legislation on the floor. The only time anything of consequence gets done in the House during the 118th Congress is when a chunk of Democrats team up with a smaller cluster of Republicans. This oddball, congressional clump has approved multiple bills to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling over the past several months. Democrats have carried most of the weight each time. Thus, we find ourselves in a unique position where things are ripe to possibly bypass the speaker’s office. You can discharge yourself of the notion that a discharge petition is the only route to go to pass a bill to assist Ukraine. A discharge petition requires a solid figure of 218 House members — regardless of the size of the House. If you get 218 co-signers, you can bring up a bill on the floor without the blessing of the leadership. JOHNSON SUGGESTS NEXT CONGRESS WILL CHANGE MOTION TO VACATE RULES There are two active discharge petitions in the House now. One is from Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. Her plan would compel the House to act on the Senate’s foreign aid bill from February. The other discharge petition is from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. Fitzpatrick’s measure includes a more narrow spending package for Ukraine but includes border security. Some Republican lawmakers are reluctant to consider either discharge petition. They believe it looks bad to undercut the GOP leadership. But in late February, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., told CBS there was “a 40-45% shot” to go around the leadership another way. That’s the “defeating the previous question” gambit. “Defeating the previous question is something like a nuclear device,” said McHenry. “It is a vast act of war.” So what is “defeating the previous question?” The House must often take an initial vote to compel a second vote on the issue at hand. Kind of voting to agree to take a vote. This often comes up when the House is considering a “rule” to manage floor debate. That primary vote is called “ordering the previous question,” or a “PQ” in congressional shorthand. If the House adopts the PQ, it has “voted to have the next vote.” That almost always happens. But things get a little weird if the House defeats the previous question. The minority — or whoever is trying to defeat the PQ — then marshals control of the House floor for an hour. They can bring up anything they want. In this potential case, a “rule” to set the parameters of debate on a bill to aid Ukraine. In short, if the House approves the rule, then it’s on to debate on the Ukraine bill. And then a vote on the bill. But “defeating the previous question” is rarely successful. The last successful defeat of a previous question came in 1988. Before that, 1981. But what happened in 1981 was of historical significance. Democrats controlled the House back in the 1980s. However, there was a bloc of conservative Democrats who broke with late House Speaker Tip O’Neill, D-Mass., and voted with Republicans to get a massive tax cut plan by President Ronald Reagan onto the floor. How did they do it? The rump group of Democrats voted with late House Minority Leader Bob Michel, R-Ill., to “defeat the previous question.” The Republicans and conservative Democrats teamed up to bypass O’Neill and get a vote on “Reaganomics.” The tax cuts passed the House — all with the assistance of Democrats. What did they call those Democrats? Boll weevils. A look at the political taxonomy: The boll weevil is an invasive pest that infests cotton plants in the South. Conservative, southern Democrats were sometimes called Boll Weevils in the 1930s and 1940s. They backed much of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s economic agenda. But they opposed desegregation. Late Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Texas, was one of those Boll Weevils in the 1980s. He embraced the moniker, suggesting that, like the beetle, it was hard to eradicate southern, conservative Democrats from the party. Thus, they emerged as a key part

Pro-Palestinian protest breaks out inside Senate office building, interrupts interview with cease-fire chants

Over a dozen pro-Palestine demonstrators were arrested at the Russell Senate Office Building on Thursday afternoon. The pro-Palestine demonstrators were heard repeatedly chanting, “We call for a permanent cease-fire,” in the rotunda of the government building, which is connected to the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. In one video, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was seen attempting to go on-air for a TV news interview as protesters loudly chanted below him in the rotunda. “Will that disrupt the audio,” the Republican is heard asking the reporter. “Yeah, we can’t hear you,” the reporter replied, as protesters are heard chanting, “We call for dignity, not for inhumanity,” and “Food not bombs.” FDNY FIRE COMMISSIONER JEERED DURING PARADE AFTER PROMISING TO ‘HUNT’ BOOING FIREFIGHTERS: ‘YOU SUCK’ “We are Christians for cease-fire,” they yelled. According to U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), approximately 13 demonstrators were arrested. WATCH PROTESTERS: Authorities said that they first warned the protesters, who were seen waving signs that read, “Ceasefire Now,” that they would be arrested if they did not stop demonstrating. A majority of the protesters began filing out, but around 13 stayed behind and were promptly arrested by USCP. Photos from the scene captured one of the protesters being ushered out of the rotunda by a USCP officer. Officers used zipties to restrain the protesters. PROTESTER CHARGES AT DC MAYOR BOWSER, CALLS FOR CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA The USCP said that the arrested protesters were charged with D.C. Code § 22–1307 – Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding. The protests highlight the growing animosity President Biden faces within his own party from demonstrators calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. Recent Fox News polling showed that support for Palestinians among Democrats has increased 17 points since October. That shift among Democrats leads to a starker party divide now (43% siding with Israelis vs. 42% siding with Palestinians) than in October (59% vs. 25%). Fox News has reached out to Rubio’s office for comment. Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.

Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez says he won’t file for Democratic primary, may run as independent: ‘I’m innocent’

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., on Thursday said he would not be filing for the Democratic primary and signaled he was open to running as an independent, despite facing federal corruption charges. In a video address, Menendez said the “present accusations” he now faces prevent him from meaningfully engaging with his political opponents who “have already made it the cornerstone of their campaign.” “New Jerseyans deserve better than that. You deserve to hear from those who wish to represent you about what they would do for you and your families in the future. Therefore, I will not file for the Democratic primary this June,” Menendez said. “I am hopeful that my exoneration will take place this summer and allow me to pursue my candidacy as an independent Democrat in the general election.” Running an independent campaign, Menendez said, would grant him time to “remind New Jerseyans of how I have succeeded in being your champion [and] how we will secure our financial futures.” TOP DEMOCRAT IN TIGHT SENATE RACE BACKS CITIZENSHIP, VOTING RIGHTS FOR MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS “I know many of you are here and disappointed in me with the accusations I’m facing. Believe me, I am disappointed at the false accusations as well. All I can ask of you is to withhold judgment until justice takes place,” Menendez said. HILLARY CLINTON WADES INTO CRUCIAL BATTLEGROUND SENATE RACE THAT COULD DETERMINE BALANCE OF POWER The video comes as the Democratic Senator is fighting federal bribery charges, along with his wife, Nadine, and three business associates. Menendez and his spouse are charged with taking bribes of gold bars, cash and a Mercedes-Benz in return for the senator’s help with projects pursued by three New Jersey businessmen. In return, Menendez helped one of the men get a lucrative meat-certification deal with Egypt, taking actions favorable to the Egyptian government, prosecutors said. An additional indictment said Menendez helped another associate get a deal with a Qatari investment fund. Menendez has denied any wrong-doing. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

NY court to snoop on Trump Organization finances for 3 years, judge orders

The judge in former President Trump’s New York civil fraud case has ordered the court to monitor the Trump Organization’s finances for three years. Judge Arthur Engoron, who ruled on the civil fraud case that ultimately slapped Trump with his $464 million judgment, made the order to monitor the Trump Organization on Thursday. “Based on the Court’s findings in its February 16th Order, the Court ordered the continued monitoring of Defendants’ financial and accounting practices and disclosures, including and enhanced role for the Monitor, for a period of no less than three years, as well as the appointment of an Independent Director of Compliance,” Engoron wrote in the Thursday order. NY AG ASKS COURT TO IGNORE TRUMP CLAIM THAT POSTING $464M BOND IS ‘PRACTICAL IMPOSSIBILITY’ Retired federal Judge Barbara Jones, who has monitored the Trump Organization’s finances as part of a preliminary injunction in 2022, will continue in her role for the next three years. NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL TAUNTS TRUMP ABOUT INTEREST HE OWES ON CIVIL FRAUD JUDGMENT The monitor will allow reviews of the organization’s internal accounting records, recordkeeping, financial reporting policies and more. The Trump Organization will be required to provide the monitor with monthly bank statements, notify the monitor at least five business days before major cash or asset transfers, and inform the monitor about debt restructuring or payment. Most relevant to the case, the organization must also disclose efforts to obtain surety bonds. Quarterly reports on these and other financial data points will be prepared for the court. “Defendants shall not evade the terms of this Monitorship Order by transferring assets, reincorporating existing business entities in other forms or jurisdictions, modifying entity ownership, or any other form of restructuring or change in corporate form,” the order from Engoron states. Jones will also be able to advise the court on orders to change operations within the Trump Organization.

Quoting Dr. Seuss, ‘Just go, Go, GO!’ federal judge dismisses Blagojevich political comeback suit

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Rod Blagojevich, the ex-governor and ex-con who often dusted off ancient and sometimes puzzling quotations to emphasize his positions, found himself at the other end Thursday when a federal judge dismissed his lawsuit attempting to return to public life by quoting Dr. Seuss: “Just go.” The Chicago Democrat, impeached and removed from office by the General Assembly in 2009, then sentenced to federal prison for political crimes, filed suit in federal court to reverse a ban accompanying his impeachment that prohibits his return to public office. BLAGO HOLDS COURT: EX-GOV GIVES DRAMATIC ACCOUNT OF LIFE BEHIND BARS, DECLARES HE’S A ‘TRUMP-O-CRAT’ On Thursday, in a colorful, 10-page smackdown dismissing the action from Chicago, U.S. District Court Judge Steven Seeger debunked the former governor’s claims issue by issue, then relied on Dr. Seuss’ 1972 book, “Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!” to suggest what Blagojevich should do: “The time has come. The time has come. The time is now. Just Go. Go. GO! I don’t care how. You can go by foot. You can go by cow. Marvin K. Mooney, will you please go now!” Mark Vargas, a Blagojevich spokesperson, said the ruling was no surprise. “The people should be able to decide who they want or don’t want to represent them,” Vargas wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “not federal judges or establishment politicians who are afraid of governors who fight for the people.” He did not say whether Blagojevich, 67, would take further action. As Illinois governor from 2003 to 2009, Blagojevich was fond of quoting Greek philosophers, Roman statesmen and the Bible (particularly John 8:32: “The truth will set you free.”) He was impeached and removed from office in 2009, then convicted of 17 counts of corruption in 2011, including attempting to sell or trade for political gain the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama upon his election as president. He served eight years behind bars of a 14-year sentence before his sentence was commuted by then-President Donald Trump in 2020. The Illinois Supreme Court also revoked his law license. Blagojevich, who routinely joked while governor that he had received a “C” in constitutional law at Pepperdine University Law School, filed the lawsuit in 2021, representing himself. Accompanied by a gaggle of news reporters, cameras and microphones outside the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago, the always impeccably coifed Blagojevich declared, “I’m back.” The federal civil rights complaint sought to reverse the state Senate’s impeachment ban on his holding office again, arguing the ban violates the Constitution’s Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments and the First Amendment’s protection of the people’s fundamental right to vote. “And by that,” Seeger explained, “Blagojevich apparently means the fundamental right to vote for him.” “The complaint is riddled with problems,” Seeger began. “If the problems were fish in a barrel, the complaint contains an entire school of tuna. It is a target-rich environment. The complaint is an Issue-Spotting Wonderland.” First off, Seeger said that civil rights complaints must be filed against a person, which neither the state of Illinois nor its General Assembly is. Next, Seeger discussed at length why a federal court cannot intervene in a legislative impeachment proceeding because of the Constitution’s separation-of-powers provision. The judge then pointed out that even if the impeachment ban was reversed, Illinois state law still prevents a convicted felon from holding “an office of honor, trust or profit.” The Sixth Amendment, Seeger wrote, applies to criminal trials, not civil trials: impeachment “took away his job, not his liberty,” he said. Further, Blagojevich can’t sue to protect the rights of voters. They need to speak for themselves, Seeger said, and “no voter is here hoping to cast a vote for Blagojevich.” Finally, the judge said, Blagojevich might not even have a reason to proceed because when he filed the lawsuit, he said he might want to run again, but hadn’t decided. Seeger noted that a legal claim is not “ripe” if it depends on “contingent future events that may not occur.” “The case started with a megaphone, but it ends with a whimper,” Seeger concluded. “Sometimes cases in the federal courthouse attract publicity. But the courthouse is no place for a publicity stunt. “He wants back. But he’s already gone. Case dismissed.”

Wisconsin Gov. Evers vetoes GOP voting, election audit bills; greenlights political AI crackdown

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday vetoed Republican proposals that would have allowed election observers to get closer to poll workers and required a new post-election audit, while signing into law a bill requiring that political TV ads using artificial intelligence come with a disclaimer. Evers, a Democrat, also signed a bipartisan bill exempting purchases of precious metal, such as gold and silver, from the state sales tax. The exemption does not apply to jewelry and other personal property, including works of art and scrap metal. But it would exempt from the sales tax coins, bars, rounds or sheets containing at least 35% of gold, silver, copper, platinum, or palladium. The AI bill also passed with bipartisan support. Backers said the disclaimer is needed for ads that use the rapidly evolving AI technology so viewers get help in determining the difference between fact and fiction. WI SUPREME COURT SETS DEADLINE IN RECALL CASE AGAINST SPEAKER VOS Evers also signed a bill allowing for children to occasionally sell crafts and other non-food items in public places, such as a park, without having to get permits. Current law already allows children to operate lemonade stands on private property without fear of being shut down by the government for lack of permits. The new law expands where people under 18 can sell items in public spaces such as parks. Evers vetoed four Republican election-related bills. One would have required a post-election audit, which Evers said he vetoed because he objects to Republicans’ “ongoing efforts to interfere with and usurp control over election administration and undermine Wisconsin’s election administration system.” Existing post-election audits already ensure that the state’s elections are fair and run properly, Evers said. Another vetoed bill would have allowed election observers to be within three feet of election workers. Current law bars them from being any closer than three feet from workers. Republicans have pushed for years to give observers more power while watching people vote. But Evers, in his veto message, said allowing them to get closer would increase the risk of interference and voter intimidation. He vetoed two bills that would have tightened the rules for casting and collecting absentee ballots in nursing homes. Republicans introduced them after criticizing how voting was conducted in nursing homes during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Evers also vetoed a bill that would have required a special election or Senate approval of his appointments when there is a vacancy for the positions of secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general and secretary of the Department of Public Instruction. Republicans pushed the measure after Evers named Sarah Godlewski as secretary of state after the elected office holder, Doug La Follette, resigned. Evers said he objected to the Legislature trying to infringe on his powers of appointment. He said if enacted, the proposal could lead to long vacancies in the positions.

How the Ukraine aid debate could bring back a House infestation of weevils and moths

It’s a little late in 2024 to compose an “in and out” list. Baby reveals are apparently in. Swag is in. So are press-on nails. The outs? Supposedly podcasts. (Really?) Mullets (I thought they already were). Vaping.Congress is usually behind the times. So that’s why it took Capitol Hill until spring to craft an “in and out” list. It’s a pretty short list. NATIONAL SECURITY HAWKS WARN CONGRESS THROWING PENTAGON ‘UNDER THE BUS’ WITH ‘INADEQUATE’ SPENDING BUMP Let’s start with what’s out: “Discharge petitions.” And, if you’re cutting edge, what could soon be in? “Defeating the previous question.” I know. This is going to require some explaining. Especially if you are not a creature of Capitol Hill. And even if you are a creature of Capitol Hill. But why are we writing about a “discharge petition” and “defeating the previous question?” These are obscure, but critical parliamentary tools in the House of Representatives which lawmakers might use to either fund the government or send money to Ukraine. SENATE STRIKES DOWN BIDEN MOVE ALLOWING POTENTIALLY DISEASED BEEF INTO US House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has been dubious about sending aid to Ukraine – even after the Senate adopted a bill with 70 members voting yes in February. Both a “discharge petition” and “defeating the previous question” are methods for a majority of House members to bypass the House Speaker and either put a bill on the floor against his or her wishes – or seize control of the floor. Both gambits are rarely successful. The House has only successfully gone over the head of the Speaker with a discharge petition twice in the past 23 years. For a defeat of “moving the previous question,” one must reel back to the 1980s. We might usually dismiss such esoteric, enigmatic parliamentary ploys to go around the Speaker. But not in the present circumstances. The House Republican majority has dwindled to a svelte two seats. Johnson struggles to get GOP members to even put Republican-authored legislation on the floor. The only time anything of consequence gets done in the House during the 118th Congress is when a chunk of Democrats team up with a smaller cluster of Republicans. This oddball, Congressional clump has approved multiple bills to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling over the past several months. Democrats have carried most of the weight each time. Thus, we find ourselves in a unique position where things are ripe to possibly bypass the Speaker’s office. You can discharge yourself of the notion that a discharge petition is the only route to go in order to pass a bill to assist Ukraine. A discharge petition requires a solid figure of 218 House members – regardless of the size of the House. If you get 218 co-signers, you can bring up a bill on the floor without the blessing of the leadership. There are two active discharge petitions in the House now. One is from Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. Her plan would compel the House to act on the Senate’s foreign aid bill from February. The other discharge petition is from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn. Fitzpatrick’s measure includes a more narrow spending package for Ukraine – but includes border security. Some Republican lawmakers are reluctant to consider either discharge petition. They believe it looks bad to undercut the GOP leadership. But in late February, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., told CBS there was “a 40 to 45 percent shot” to go around the leadership another way. That’s the “defeating the previous question” gambit. WHY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DECIDE THEY ‘GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE’ “Defeating the previous question is something like a nuclear device,” said McHenry. “It is a vast act of war.” So what is “defeating the previous question?” The House must often takes an initial vote to compel a second vote on the issue at hand. Kind of voting to agree to take a vote. This often comes up when the House is considering a “rule” to manage floor debate. That primary vote is called “ordering the previous question,” or a “PQ” in Congressional shorthand. If the House adopts the PQ, it has “voted to have the next vote.” That almost always happens. But things get a little weird if the House defeats the previous question. The minority – or whoever is trying to defeat the PQ – then marshals control of the House floor for an hour. They can bring up anything they want. In this case – a “rule” to set the parameters of debate on a bill to aid Ukraine. In short, if the House approves the rule, then it’s on to debate on the Ukraine bill. And then a vote on the bill. But “defeating the previous question” is rarely successful. The last successful defeat of a previous question came in 1988. Before that, 1981. But what happened in 1981 was of historic significance. Democrats controlled the House back in the 1980s. However, there was a bloc of conservative Democrats who broke with late House Speaker Tip O’Neill, D-Mass., and voted with Republicans to get a massive tax cut plan by President Ronald Reagan onto the floor. How did they do it? The rump group of Democrats voted with late House Minority Leader Bob Michel, R-Ill., to “defeat the previous question.” The Republicans and conservative Democrats teamed up to bypass O’Neill and get a vote on “Reaganomics.” The tax cuts passed the House – all with the assistance of Democrats. What did they call those Democrats? Boll Weevils. A look at the political taxonomy: The boll weevil is an invasive pest which infests cotton plants in the South. Conservative, southern Democrats were sometimes called Boll Weevils in the 1930s and 1940s. They backed much of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s economic agenda. But they opposed desegregation. Late Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Tex., was one of those Boll Weevils in the 1980s. He embraced the moniker, suggesting that like the beetle, it was

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