56 years after the Voting Rights Act of 1965, lawmakers struggle to find common ground
By Shawna Mizelle President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law on August 6, 1965. The legislation served to protect and enforce the 14th and 15th Amendments of the Constitution. It was enacted in response to voter suppression in the 1960s by state governments, local governments and law enforcement, and prohibited states from denying a person the right to vote based on race or color and banned discriminatory literacy tests. The monumental law was prompted by a series of civil rights movements and events. Most notably, the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March in Alabama, which
Senate Republicans block effort by Democrats to advance voting and election bill
By Clare Foran and Daniella Diaz, Senate Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats to advance their signature voting and elections overhaul bill in the early hours of Wednesday morning. This was an effort by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats in the chamber to put Republicans on the record on the voting rights package and to demonstrate that they are still trying to pass it despite stiff GOP opposition, a priority for the party and the Biden administration. Democratic senators have argued that the legislation is a necessary counter to state-level efforts to restrict voting access, but Republicans have decried it as
Harris to promote ‘America is back’ message in Singapore and Vietnam
By Betsy Klein Vice President Kamala Harris is set to travel to Singapore and Vietnam later this month, becoming the highest-ranking Biden administration official to visit Asia so far. “Her trip will build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s message to the world: America is back,” her office said in a statement. The statement continued, “Our Administration sees Asia as a critically important region in the world. The Vice President’s visit will emphasize the importance of comprehensive engagement and strategic partnerships — key components of our Administration’s approach to foreign policy.” During meetings with government officials, the private sector, and civil society leaders,
Biden celebrates a bipartisan win after Senate passes massive infrastructure bill
By Maegan Vazquez President Joe Biden celebrated the Senate’s passage of a historic, sweeping $1.2 trillion bipartisan package on Tuesday, a step toward fulfilling a key item in his legislative agenda that also amounts to the biggest bipartisan win of his presidency so far. “The death of this legislation was mildly premature,” Biden said during a speech at the White House Tuesday afternoon. “After years and years of ‘Infrastructure Week,’ we are on the cusp of an infrastructure decade that I truly believe will transform America.” Biden, standing alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, said that he “never believed” critics who have characterized his calls
Judge signs order temporarily blocking arrest of quorum-busting Texas Democrats
By Dianne Gallagher, Wesley Bruer and Jade Gordon Texas Democrats who left the state last month in an attempt to stop the passage of restrictive voting bills can now return home to continue their protest without fear of being arrested, after a judge on Monday issued a temporary restraining order. The order, signed by Travis County State District Judge Brad Urrutia, keeps Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan from “issuing any warrant or other instrument” and “detaining, confining, or otherwise restricting a Texas House Democrat’s movement without his or her consent.” It also prevents them from “commanding
Schumer sets up final vote on $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill for Tuesday
By Clare Foran, Ali Zaslav and Paul LeBlanc The massive $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package is poised for a final vote in the Senate on Tuesday morning after clearing the last procedural hurdle following months of furious negotiations. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday evening that Republicans and Democrats have reached an agreement for final passage of the bill on Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET. Once the bill passes the Senate, it will go to the House of Representatives. “This is a very good day,” Schumer said in floor remarks on Monday night. “We have come to an agreement after all
Senate heads toward final vote on bipartisan infrastructure package this week
By Paul LeBlanc The massive $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package is poised for a final vote in the Senate this week after clearing the last procedural hurdle following months of furious negotiations. The chamber on Sunday evening voted 68-29 to invoke cloture on the underlying legislation, setting up a final vote after the 30-hour post-cloture time expires early Tuesday morning, unless there’s an agreement to speed up the process. Following the vote on Tuesday, the Senate will quickly shift their attention to the budget resolution, which needs to pass both chambers of Congress first before Democrats can move on their separate $3.5
Freshman Rep. Cori Bush in national spotlight for her activism to fight eviction
By Sunlen Serfaty and Clare Foran Freshman Democratic Rep. Cori Bush has captured national attention for her high-profile activism after she slept on the steps of the US Capitol for several days to protest a lapse in the federal eviction moratorium amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Missouri lawmaker’s actions culminated in a major victory for progressives on Tuesday when the Biden administration announced a 60-day eviction ban in areas of the country with high or substantial transmission of Covid-19. “I’m elated and I’m overwhelmed because just the thought that so many people right now, millions of people, will not be forced out on the
Shontel Brown will win Ohio Democratic special primary.
By Eric Bradner, Ethan Cohen and Jennifer Agiesta Cuyahoga County Council member Shontel Brown will win the Democratic special primary in Ohio’s 11th Congressional District, CNN projects. Brown’s defeat of Nina Turner, the former state senator and close ally of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, is a flexing of the Democratic establishment’s muscle, after South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn and the Congressional Black Caucus stepped in to campaign for Brown. Turner conceded to Brown Tuesday night. “Tonight my friends, we have looked across the promised land, but for this campaign, on this night, we will not cross the river,” Turner said. It
White House moves to highlight key piece of bipartisan deal as some allies question whether it goes far enough
By Phil Mattingly The White House, fresh off securing a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal, plans to move in the coming days to highlight one of the thorniest pieces of that negotiation, according to a White House official: the $39 billion in new transit funding. It’s part of a push to break out and emphasize specific pieces of President Joe Biden’s cornerstone bipartisan agreement — pieces White House officials see in polling as largely popular across the country. But it also signals the most direct effort to counter questions and criticism from corners of their own party about an area of the agreement that is viewed