Warnock’s seat comes into focus amid battle over voting laws and filibuster rules
By Manu Raju, Ali Zaslav and Ted Barrett, CNN Freshman Sen. Raphael Warnock, whose surprise victory in Georgia helped give Democrats the narrowest of majorities, now finds himself squarely in the center of an intensifying battle over tightening election laws and protecting the Senate’s filibuster — a debate that could directly affect his own chances of keeping his seat next year. Republicans in Georgia are moving quickly to pare back many of the rules that eased access for voters in the 2020 election, with GOP lawmakers in the state pushing to finalize new restrictions before week’s end to ensure they
Warnock slams GOP-controlled Georgia Legislature for bill that would restrict voter access
By Daniella Diaz, CNN Georgia US Sen. Raphael Warnock, in his first Sunday show interview since being elected to Congress in January, slammed the Republican-controlled Georgia Legislature for a massive voting bill that would restrict voter access. “I think it’s unfortunate that some politicians have looked at the results and, rather than changing their message, they’re busy trying to change the rules,” the Democrat said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Warnock was referring to a key committee in the Georgia Legislature, which began work this week on a massive new voting bill that would give the state broad powers over
Biden moves rapidly to shore up Obamacare and erase Trump’s changes
By Tami Luhby, CNN President Joe Biden is wasting no time establishing his vision for the Affordable Care Act and reversing many Trump-era measures aimed at weakening it. In his first two months in office, Biden has taken several steps to bolster the landmark health reform law, which marks its 11th anniversary on Tuesday, and to embed it even more firmly in the nation’s health care system. Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to speak Monday about how the Affordable Care Act has benefited Americans and how the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion relief package, which Biden signed into law earlier this
Julia Letlow makes history in Louisiana’s 5th District special election while 2nd District goes to runoff
By Adam Levy and Ethan Cohen, CNN Republican Julia Letlow won the special election in Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District Saturday night, becoming the first Republican woman elected to Congress from the state. Letlow will take the seat that her late husband Luke, who won last year’s election but died in December after being diagnosed with Covid-19, was never able to hold. The first-time candidate avoided a runoff by securing a majority of the vote among the 12-person field, which means she’ll soon bolster the already record-breaking 30 Republican women in the House this year. A number of prominent Republicans had
Here’s how Biden wants to raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations
By Tami Luhby and Katie Lobosco, CNN Now that he’s signed the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion Covid relief package, President Joe Biden is turning to the next items on his legislative agenda — and laying the groundwork for raising taxes on wealthier Americans to pay for them. Biden doubled down on vows he made as a candidate in an ABC News interview Wednesday, saying that those earning more than $400,000 “will see a small to significant tax increase.” However, he pledged that those under that threshold “won’t see one single penny in additional federal tax” — and he is already working
Biden and Harris to visit Georgia, a battleground that paved way for agenda
By Jeff Zeleny, Chief National Affairs Correspondent Democratic voters in Georgia may have helped deliver Joe Biden‘s long quest to win the White House, but they take even prouder ownership of their critical role in cementing an early chapter of his legacy through the passage of the American Rescue Plan. “You still just feel the relief in the air,” said Mariama Davis, who logged countless hours volunteering for the President and Vice President Kamala Harris. “We actually are about to head back to somewhat of a normal situation that we were used to before. So, honestly, I’m satisfied.” Davis is
‘Unapologetically progressive’: Karen Carter Peterson fights to become first Black woman Louisiana sends to Congress
By Jasmine Wright and Annie Grayer, CNN Karen Carter Peterson wants to make history. The longtime Louisiana state senator is vying for the open seat once held by Cedric Richmond — one that would propel her to become the first Black woman to represent the state in Congress. “When women are not at the table and seated, we are typically on the menu,” Peterson, 51, told CNN in an interview. “I don’t like that we’ve never had an African American woman serve from Louisiana in our congressional delegation. That needs to end.” Peterson is one of 15 candidates running to
House votes to award Congressional Gold Medal to Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department
By Annie Grayer and Kristin Wilson, CNN The House of Representatives passed legislation in rare bipartisan fashion Wednesday to award the Congressional Gold Medal to officers of the US Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department for their work protecting the Capitol on January 6. The legislation provides for a third gold medal to be given to the Smithsonian to be displayed and for research purposes. The final vote was 413-12 to award the law enforcement agencies for what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has previously called “a moment of extraordinary heroism.” Twelve Republicans voted against the bipartisan legislation: Louie Gohmert
Man arrested outside Vice President Kamala Harris’ official residence and had rifle and ammunition in car
By Whitney Wild and Rashard Rose, CNN Washington, DC, police arrested a Texas man outside Vice President Kamala Harris’ official residence, the US Naval Observatory, in the nation’s capital on Wednesday and he’s now facing weapons and ammunition charges. A spokesperson for Washington’s Metropolitan Police said officers responded “at approximately 12:12 pm, to the 3400 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW in reference to a suspicious person based on an intelligence bulletin that originated from Texas, who was detained by US Secret Service.” Law enforcement contacted the man after a region-wide intelligence bulletin had been issued for the suspect. DC police
House to vote to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act
By Clare Foran and Jessica Dean, CNN The House of Representatives is expected to vote on Wednesday to renew the lapsed Violence Against Women Act, landmark legislation championed by President Joe Biden. A bipartisan bill to reauthorize the VAWA, as it is known, was introduced in the House earlier this month by Democratic Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas and House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler of New York and Republican Rep. Brain Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. “Domestic violence has surged in this nation. And we now have a moment in history,” Jackson Lee told CNN Wednesday ahead of the vote. “This