PM Modi to lay foundation stone of Gurugram Metro Rail today: Check list of 27 stations, total length and more
Dwarka Expressway will also be connected to this metro route by creating a station near Sector 101.
Bharat Bandh today: What’s open, what’s closed, check full list here
The nationwide strike is aimed at voicing farmers’ concerns and ensuring that their demands are addressed at the earliest. The day-long protest is set to take place between 6 am to 4 pm on February 16.
Bharat Bandh today: Will banks, offices, schools remain closed due to farmer protest?
Today, February 16, 2024, farmer associations and unions such as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) have declared a Bharat Bandh.
Fani Willis’ testimony was ‘belligerent’ and could damage her credibility, former prosecutor says
A former Atlanta prosector says embattled District Attorney Fani Willis was “belligerent” in her testimony Thursday against allegations she had an “improper” affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. John Malcolm, a former assistant U.S. attorney in Atlanta, told Fox News Digital in a statement the “highlight” of the “wild” evidentiary hearing on Thursday was Willis’ testimony. “She has been belligerent and argumentative. It is hard to tell what impact this will have on Judge McAfee as he evaluates her credibility,” Malcolm said. Malcolm also said Wills’ claim she reimbursed Wade in cash for their shared vacations was “difficult to swallow.” HEARING UNDERWAY ON EVIDENCE AGAINST DA FANI WILLIS IN TRUMP CASE THAT COULD DISQUALIFY HER “One thing that seems difficult to swallow is her claim that she paid her paramour — Nathan Wade — in cash to reimburse him for expenses related to luxury trips they took together. Her testimony that she kept large amounts of cash in her house as a matter of practice and has no written record to back up her testimony seems hard to believe,” Malcolm said. Judge Scott McAfee held the hearing Thursday to hash out evidence related to allegations made by GOP political operative Michael Roman earlier this year. Roman is a co-defendant in the case Willis brought against former president Donald Trump. She is bringing sweeping charges related to alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election. Wade also took the stand earlier in the hearing. Craig Gillen, attorney for another Trump co-defendant, David Shafer, questioned Wade earlier about Willis’ repayments to him for vacations that were made in cash. HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBPOENAS FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS Wade admitted he did not have deposit slips or receipts to support his claims. “You don’t have a single solitary deposit slip to corroborate or support any of your allegations that you were paid by Ms. Willis in cash, do you?” Gillen asked. “No, sir,” Wade said. “Not a single solitary one?” Gillen pressed. “Not a one,” Wade said. EMBATTLED DA FANI WILLIS FACES 4TH ACCUSATION TO DISQUALIFY HER FROM THE TRUMP CASE Malcolm also told Fox News Digital the testimony of Robin Yeartie, a former Fulton County DA employee and self-described “good friend” of Willis, who said that Willis’ romantic relationship began with Wade prior to his appointment as special prosecutor, is also “pretty devastating.” “Although Wade and Willis have denied this, there may well be other evidence that supports Ms. Yeartie and contradicts their testimony,” Malcolm said. Yeartie said Thursday she has “no doubt” Willis and Wade were in a romantic relationship starting in 2019 to when she and Willis last spoke in 2022. This contradicts Willis’ claims in court that she and Wade “have been professional associates and friends since 2019,” and “there was no personal relationship” between her and Wade in November 2021 at the time of Wade’s appointment. “You have no doubt that their romantic relationship was in effect from 2019 until the last time you spoke with her?” Merchant questioned. “No doubt,” Yeartie said. Judge McAfee said earlier in the week that, depending on his findings after hearing the evidence presented from both sides, Willis could be disqualified from the case. “In studying the law that’s been filed up to this point, I think it’s clear that disqualification can occur if evidence is produced demonstrating an actual conflict or the appearance of one. And the filing submitted on this issue so far have presented a conflict in the evidence that can’t be resolved as a matter of law,” he said.
5 explosive moments from Fani Willis’ heated testimony in Trump Fulton County case: ‘If this happens again …’
Sparks flew in a Fulton County, Georgia, courtroom Thursday afternoon when embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took the stand to testify against allegations she had an “improper” affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, which could derail her case against former President Trump. At one point, Willis was asked by a Trump lawyer, Ashley Merchant, in a heated moment if she had any “proof” that she reimbursed Wade for vacations because the payments were in cash. “The testimony of one witness is enough to prove a fact,” Willis responded. “Are you telling me I’m lying?” “I’m asking if you have any proof,” the lawyer responded. And Willis shot back, “The proof is what I just told you.” JUDGE WARNS FANI WILLIS OVER OUTBURSTS IN HEATED TESTIMONY “Has Nathan Wade ever visited you at the place you laid your head?” Merchant asked Willis in another question related to the timeline of her relationship with Wade. “When?” an exasperated Willis responded. “Has he ever visited you at the place you lay your head,” the lawyer repeated. JUDGE IN TRUMP GEORGIA CASE SAYS DA FANI WILLIS’ ALLEGED ‘IMPROPER’ AFFAIR ‘COULD RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION’ “So let’s be clear because you lied,” Willis said before picking up various piles of paper. “Right here, you lied right here,” Willis said, before shouting “No, no, no” when the lawyer interjected. “It is a lie,” Willis said while holding two piles of papers above her head. “It is a lie.” At that point, a five-minute recess was called. The situation became so heated at one point the judge issued a warning to Willis. “He never came there, OK. So, if you don’t come someplace, you can’t live there as well,” Willis said, prompting a response from Judge Scott McAfee. FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS ACCUSED OF LYING ABOUT TIMING OF AFFAIR WITH TRUMP PROSECUTOR “I’m gonna have to caution this,” McAfee said. “Listen to the questions as asked. If this happens again and again, I’m gonna have no choice but to strike your testimony.” Willis took issue with being characterized as a hostile witness during another moment. “I very much want to be here, so I’m not a hostile witness,” Willis said. “I very much want to be here.” “It’s not so much you’re a hostile witness, Ms. Willis. It would be an adverse witness,” McAfee responded. “Your interests are opposed to Ms. Merchant’s.” “Ms. Merchant’s interests are, contrary to democracy, your Honor, not to mine,” Willis responded. “I had some contact with Mr. Wade in 2021, one of the reasons your allegations are so preposterous, or Miss Merchant’s,” Willis said during another moment before being interrupted by Trump lawyer Steve Sadow and asked a question for a second time about the timing of a meeting with Wade. “I had very limited contact with him because Mr. Wade had a form of cancer that makes your allegation somewhat ridiculous,” Willis said. “I do appreciate the characterization,” Sadow said. “I’m not going to emasculate a black man,” Willis responded. “Did you understand that? I don’t think we should discuss further.” “You’re confused,” Willis said at another point in the trial. “You think I’m on trial? These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020. I’m not on trial no matter how hard you try to put me on trial.” Willis hired Wade in 2021 to help prosecute her sweeping racketeering case against Trump. Trump co-defendant Michael Roman alleged in court filings last month Willis should be disqualified from the case, claiming she financially benefited from hiring Wade because of their personal relationship. Wade took the stand earlier in the hearing. Craig Gillen, attorney for Trump co-defendant David Shafer, who also asked the court to disqualify Willis, questioned Wade earlier about Willis’ repayments to him for vacations that were made in cash. The defense is trying to prove the existence and extent of any financial benefit to Willis from Wade from their relationship, which is the crux of their argument that Willis should be disqualified. Wade said he “doesn’t recall” travel with Willis in 2021, the time he was hired by the DA’s office, but does remember traveling with her in 2022 and 2023. He testified that his relationship with Willis started in March 2022, and their trips together began in 2022. Wade testified that Willis paid him back for her half of their shared trips. Wade also testified that he was not paid by Fulton County as much as the defense claims. In 2022 specifically, Fulton County paid roughly $300,000 to his law firm. But Wade said he received roughly $100,000 because the payments were dispersed among the three people who worked at the firm, all of whom had contracts with the Fulton County DA’s office for various reasons. Wade’s testimony contradicts earlier bombshell revelations from a former “good friend” of DA Willis who testified Thursday she has “no doubt” Willis and Wade had a “romantic” relationship starting in 2019, contradicting Willis’ prior statements to the court. The court adjourned around 5 p.m. Thursday, and Willis is expected back to continue testimony Friday. Fox News Digital’s Brianna Herlihy and Matteo Cina contributed to this report
Appellate panel hesitant to overturn NC Senate districts in redistricting suit
An appeals court on Thursday weighed a plea to halt the use of two new North Carolina state Senate districts starting this year on arguments the boundaries approved by the Republican-controlled legislature illegally weaken the ability of Black voters in a large region to elect their favored candidate. But a majority on the three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that heard oral arguments sounded hesitant to reverse last month’s refusal by U.S. District Judge James Dever to issue a preliminary injunction and order new lines. Dever ruled in part that voting was not racially polarized at legally significant levels to justify new districts. There are no March 5 primaries for the 1st and 2nd Senate Districts being challenged, and an attorney for two Black voters who sued in November said no other districts would have to be disturbed if the panel sides with her clients. Election officials have said they could administer primary elections for retooled districts in mid-May, but legal resolution would have to come quickly. The panel didn’t say when they would rule. NEW YORK REDISTRICTING COMMISSION APPROVES NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP But lawyers for the Republican legislative leaders helping defend the boundaries have said redistricting rules under the state constitution would force a statewide redraw of the Senate map that would require new candidate filing and ballots. Courts often cite a legal principle discouraging voting rule changes close to an election to avoid confusion. Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson mentioned the state’s abundance of redistricting litigation — almost continuous since the early 2010s — as something to consider when examining Dever’s findings and conclusions. And at least three other redistricting lawsuits challenging congressional and legislative maps drawn in October for use through the 2030 elections are pending. “At some point, doesn’t North Carolina deserve a certain amount of stability in its electoral system, so that candidates will know what district they can run (in)?” asked Wilkinson, who was nominated to the Richmond, Virginia, court by President Ronald Reagan. He also said such decisions should be determined in light of successes for Black electoral candidates in the state since passage of the U.S. Voting Rights Act in the 1960s. But Elizabeth Theodore, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, said what her clients consider a clear violation of the Voting Rights Act can’t be ignored. The General Assembly broke up a politically cohesive unit known as the “Black Belt” region when it redrew the two northeastern districts. “They literally take the Black Belt and they slice it down the middle. I mean, it’s really reprehensible,” Theodore said during online arguments. “You can’t trade off the rights of Black voters in these districts because of the possibility that a Black voter somewhere else in the state may have an opportunity to elect a candidate of choice.” Theodore’s clients have proposed remedial districts, one of which would have a Black voting age population of nearly 50% or slightly above it, depending on the counting method. Wilkinson and Circuit Judge Allison Rushing, a nominee of President Donald Trump, sounded skeptical about findings from an expert that the plaintiffs used to build their case that Black voters would be unable to elected their preferred candidates under the new districts. Dever had expressed similar doubt. Circuit Judge Roger Gregory pushed back against arguments offered by Phil Strach, an attorney for the GOP legislators, including that it was already too late in the 2024 election cycle to act. A federal court is supposed to “protect statutes that are meant to help protect the rights many times of the dispossessed and those who are least able to protect themselves,” said Gregory, who was first appointed to the court by President Bill Clinton. Strach responded: “And the court also has an obligation to protect voters from disruption and confusion.” Republicans currently hold 30 of the Senate’s 50 seats, the minimum required to override vetoes if the GOP caucus stays united. The two current senators representing the region are white Republicans. A ruling ultimately favoring the plaintiffs likely would ensure a Democrat winning one of the seats, which could help break that GOP veto-proof majority.
NH Gov. Sununu delivers final State of the State address
Republican Gov. Chris Sununu delivered his final state-of-the-state address Thursday, urging lawmakers to continue on the path of fiscal prudence and limited government that he said has made New Hampshire “a beacon of success.” “Continued success is not inevitable. We must continually challenge ourselves, putting individuals before the system, to strive to be better stewards of taxpayer dollars and more accountable to the people of the state,” he said. “Over these last seven years, New Hampshire has stood out as a beacon of success and a safe haven for freedom and opportunity. We have all put in the hard work, and this has always been a true team effort.” Sununu, who is only the second governor in New Hampshire history to serve four terms, has just under a year left in the corner office. After flirting with running for U.S. Senate and president, he announced in July that he wouldn’t seek another term as governor, though he joked about that decision Thursday. NH SENATE KILLS PRO-ABORTION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT “The filing period to run again isn’t until June, so you never know!” he said, before quickly adding, “Just kidding!” The son of a former governor, Sununu was the youngest top executive in the country when he took office in 2017 at age 42. Now 49, he has seen control of the Legislature flip from Republican to Democrat and back again, with a near-even split in the 400-member House during his fourth term. At times he’s had a rocky relationship with members of his own party thanks to the growing influence of libertarian-leaning members bent on severely limiting state government. But he gave lawmakers credit Thursday for what he deemed one of the state’s greatest achievements during that time: the bipartisan budget that sailed through the Legislature last year. “It didn’t come with any gimmicks or any promises. It was achieved with a lot of hard work,” he said. Senate Minority Donna Soucy, a Democrat from Manchester, said she was pleased to hear that praise, while noting one topic Sununu didn’t bring up. “I think it was most notable that the governor’s greatest accomplishment was the Legislature’s accomplishment,” she said. “The one thing I thought was an omission on his part was the fact that he’s the first governor in New Hampshire’s history to sign an abortion ban. Clearly it must be something he’s not very proud of.” Sununu signed a state budget in 2021 that included a ban on abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy, saying the alternative would have been a veto that would have shut down state government during the coronavirus pandemic. The current Legislature is considering at least half a dozen bills aimed at either further restricting the procedure or enshrining abortion rights in state law. His speech Thursday lasted less than half an hour, barely four minutes for each year in office. He highlighted investments in affordable housing, education and mental health, using the latter as a springboard to discussion of the state’s opioid crisis. Sununu described successful programs that connect those struggling with addiction with services and recovery-friendly workplaces. Sununu then segued into his recent plan to join other states in sending National Guard soldiers to Texas to control illegal crossings on the U.S.-Mexico border. “The fentanyl supply over America’s southern border is increasing daily,” said Sununu, who will ask the Legislature’s fiscal committee for $850,000 on Friday to send 15 Guard members to Texas. “This is not a Texas problem. This is a national crisis, and New Hampshire has the chance to provide specialized support, follow the laws of the land and keep our citizens safe.”
Fani Willis raises eyebrows with wink on the stand, labels former lover Nathan Wade a ‘southern gentleman’
Embattled Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis called her former lover, special prosecutor Nathan Wade, a “southern gentleman” when she took the stand Thursday in a court hearing. As Willis took the stand, she appeared to wink at the audience and smirked at the lawyers and spectators in the room. Willis, who was notably adverse to defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, said she “had some choice words about some of the things” Merchant and her client, Michael Roman, said in their motion, calling it “dishonest.” Roman alleged in court filings last month that Willis should be disqualified from the case, claiming that she financially benefited from hiring Wade because of their personal relationship. Willis, in describing her discussions with Wade about the motion, called him a “southern gentleman.” EMBATTLED DISTRICT ATTORNEY TAKES THE STAND IN COURT TO TESTIFY AGAINST ALLEGATIONS OF ‘IMPROPER’ AFFAIR “I don’t know that it was a conversation. As you know, Mr. Wade is a Southern gentleman. Me, not so much,” she said. Willis also called Merchant’s interests “contrary to democracy.” At one point, Willis held up a printed copy of the allegations against her and turned to the judge, yelling, “This is a lie!” JUDGE IN TRUMP GEORGIA CASE SAYS DA FANI WILLIS’ ALLEGED ‘IMPROPER’ AFFAIR ‘COULD RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION’ Judge Scott McAfee, presiding over the proceeding, told lawyers to stop “talking over each other” and cautioned Willis, saying, “We have to listen to the questions as asked. And if this happens again and again, I’m going to have no choice but to strike your testimony.” FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS ADMITS PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH PROSECUTOR BUT DENIES CONFLICT OF INTEREST Willis took the stand following several witnesses, including Wade and Willis’ former friend, Robin Yeartie, who testified that she had “no doubt” Willis and Wade had a “romantic” relationship that started in 2019, contradicting Willis’ prior statements to the court.
New York redistricting commission approves new congressional map
New York’s bipartisan redistricting commission approved a new congressional map Thursday that makes modest changes to three competitive districts but does not substantially change the rest of the state’s lines. The map proposal now moves to the Democrat-dominated Legislature, which can approve the plan or reject it and draw its own lines. It’s unclear exactly when lawmakers would meet to vote on the commission’s map. New York’s congressional redistricting process has been closely watched this year as suburban races in the state could have outsize influence on which party controls the House after the November elections. NY ELECTION LAW THAT ‘NATIONALIZES’ LOCAL POLITICS FLIES UNDER THE RADAR DESPITE BEING ‘MONUMENTAL’: EXPERT The redistricting commission was tasked with coming up with new districts after the state’s highest court in December threw out the map used in the 2022 elections. Democrats had sued to nix the old map after their party lost a handful of suburban seats in a series of bruising defeats that helped Republicans win a narrow House majority. The panel’s new map plan leaves the most of the current congressional districts largely in place, a move that could help head off legal challenges against the proposal. It also could act to sooth at least some concerns from Republicans that the new plan would leave them with a radically gerrymandered playing field for the fall. The most major change appears to be in the upstate district currently held by Republican Rep. Brandon Williams. The commission would shift the district, which is situated over Syracuse, to include the cities of Auburn and Cortland. The other big adjustments would be in the neighboring districts held by Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro and Democrat Rep. Pat Ryan. The plan would stretch Ryan’s district north to include Woodstock, while Molinaro’s district would expand to include sections of the state east of Albany. The state’s Independent Redistricting Commission was supposed to draw the districts used in 2022 but failed to reach a consensus, kicking the process to state lawmakers. Democrats who control the Legislature then drew their own map, which was intended to give Democrats an edge by stuffing Republicans into a few super districts to dilute GOP voting power across the state. A lawsuit eventually stopped the Democrats’ map from being used and a legal challenge delayed the congressional primaries. The state’s highest court then appointed an outside expert to come up with a map for 2022. Republicans performed well under those congressional lines, flipping seats in the New York City suburbs and winning a narrow House majority. After the defeats, Democrats sued to throw out the 2022 map. The case eventually reached the state’s high court, which in December ordered a new map to be drawn in a ruling that said the commission should have another chance to craft district lines. This time around, the state’s redistricting commission was able to reach a consensus on a map proposal, approving a plan that did not dramatically shift district lines in an apparent effort to avoid another legal challenge that could disrupt campaigning. The panel approved the map by a vote of 9-1 during a brief hearing in Albany. The proposal leaves congressional boundaries on Long Island, where races are expected to be hotly contested, mostly unchanged, including the district formerly held by George Santos, who was expelled from Congress, and won this week by Democrat Tom Suozzi in a special election. New York City’s lines also appeared largely unchanged. “It was important for us not to enter into the process of confusing people out there over where they were going to vote,” said redistricting commission Vice Chair Charles Nesbitt. The Independent Redistricting Commission was created under a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2014. The panel is made up of an equal number of Republicans and Democrats.
Senate voted in favor of $95 billion international spending bill, there may be another around the corner
Members of the House and Senate usually like to gab. But word of a cryptic, major national security threat against the U.S. cast a pall on Congress this week. Loggorrheic lawmakers suddenly turned mute when they were sworn to secrecy considering the gravity of Russia potentially deploying a weapon in outer space. “I can’t discuss this. I’m sorry,” lamented Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla. “Absolutely no comment,” said Rep. Richie Torres, D-N.Y. WARNING ABOUT ‘THREAT’ TO US HAS ‘SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUTER SPACE’: CHAD PERGRAM “We should be concerned. It’s serious,” offered. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., “That’s all I can say right now.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was practically verbose when he chatted up reporters about the threat. “I’m going to be very precise and I’m not going to take questions,” said Johnson. But Johnson lent little detail into the disconcerting reports. “Steady hands are at the wheel,” said Johnson. “There’s no need for alarm.” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, said the White House “confirmed that, in their view, the matter was ‘serious.’” This consternation is cast against the backdrop of the Senate approving a $95 billion international security bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. In other words, if there’s a pressing threat from Russia, this could impact Ukraine. An eye-popping 70 senators voted in favor of the bill just before daybreak Tuesday morning. Twenty-two Senate Republicans voted yes. Three senators who caucus with the Democrats voted nay. HOUSE VOTE ON FOREIGN AID FUNDING IN LIMBO Twenty-two GOP yeas is not quite half of the 49 member Senate Republican Conference. But that’s still a substantial showing. And 70 votes is a robust figure from the Senate. Seventy yeas would make the bill hard to ignore in the House – under other circumstances. “I think the House will face a moment of truth. This is a historical moment,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. “You can also be sure our allies are watching, whether in NATO or East Asia, to see whether the United States surrenders, or betrays a partner.” Democrats demanded that Johnson take up the foreign aid bill. But he immediately resisted. “We are not going to be forced into action by the Senate who in the latest product they sent us over does not have one word in the bill about America’s border. Not one word about security,” said Johnson. Even though Johnson – and Senate Republicans – mauled a bipartisan Senate compromise for the border. “What is he afraid of to put national security first to help our country, to push back and push back against (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin, and to make sure that our country is protected?” asked House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. It’s not often that House members can bypass the leadership and deposit a bill on the floor. But there is a way to do it. The gambit is called a discharge petition. Here’s how it works: A discharge petition requires a solid number of 218 House members to sign up to go over the head of the Speaker. The number is locked in at 218, regardless of the side of the House. The House has 435 members at full population. It’s currently at 431 members. Thus, the discharge petition provision wants at least half of the body to favor sidestepping the leadership. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee said he was “absolutely” for a discharge petition. When asked if most Democrats would sign on, Nadler replied, “yeah, I do.” But not so fast. Many Democrats might push to advance the foreign aid package. But there are plenty of progressives who aren’t in favor of the bill at all because of concerns for Palestinians. RUSSIAN NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES IN SPACE COULD THREATEN INTERNATIONAL SATELLITES, US MILITARY COMMS: SOURCES “I can’t support that bill with aid to Israel,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. “There’s also a lot of concerns about the restrictions on the aid to Gaza that the Senate put into the bill, including suspending aid to UNRWA, which is the only agency that can deliver aid in Gaza.” Moreover, Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., thought it was “premature” to execute a discharge petition. He wanted the House to try to work through the issue and get it on the floor another way. So certainly more Democrats favor of a discharge petition. But no one knows what might constitute that particular universe of votes. Therefore, a discharge petition certainly needs substantial GOP support. A successful discharge petition will require the support of advocates for Ukraine and moderate Republicans. Someone in that wheelhouse is Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. When asked if he was open to signing a discharge petition, Bacon replied “not now.” He added he wouldn’t “lean too far forward” just yet. The Nebraska Republican said “one or two” Democrats talked to him about signing the discharge petition. But he added a caveat. “I’m interested in finding something we could all agree on,” said Bacon. But that’s just the start. “I’d never sign a discharge petition when we are in the majority,” said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., suggested that that signatories weren’t team players for the GOP. “A discharge petition would be a betrayal on the part of anyone signing it,” said Gaetz. This is why there have only been two successful discharge petitions in the House in the past 22 years. One was on the House’s version of the famous “McCain-Feingold” campaign finance law, named originally after late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and former Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., in 2002. The other was on a measure to renew the Export-Import Bank. So, this enterprise is challenging. And while it’s an intriguing parliamentary maneuver, the odds – and history – work against discharge petitions. The House is now out of session until February 28. The Senate is done until the week after next. Another (yes, another) deadline to avert a government shutdown looms on March 1. A bigger one is