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Wisconsin Examiner
Chaos, backstabbing and the butt-crack debate: The week in politics
Republican dysfunction reached a new low this week in Washington with the crackup of the GOP caucus and the history-making ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. To their credit, none of Wisconsin’s Republican members of Congress voted to fire McCarthy — a move led by eight far-right nihilists and merrily joined by every House Democrat. […] The post Chaos, backstabbing and the butt-crack debate: The week in politics appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
A murky outlook for Ukraine aid with U.S. House leadership in turmoil
WASHINGTON — Additional military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine was on shaky ground earlier this week, before U.S. House Republicans evicted Kevin McCarthy from the speaker’s office. The revolt by eight members of the House GOP Conference, largely spurred by bipartisan deals McCarthy struck on the debt limit and a short-term government funding bill, complicated […] The post A murky outlook for Ukraine aid with U.S. House leadership in turmoil appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Public outpouring at hearings on bills targeting transgender youth
Wisconsin lawmakers heard testimony on Wednesday on a set of Republican bills that would bar minors from receiving gender affirming medical care and bar transgender girls and women from participating in women’s sports. During the hearings that ran into the night, lawmakers at times had heated disagreements and attendees were reminded to not make disturbances […] The post Public outpouring at hearings on bills targeting transgender youth appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
How does a ‘frozen’ U.S. House function without a speaker? Everyone’s got an opinion.
WASHINGTON — The stunning ouster of U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday — the first time a speaker has been removed in Congress’ 234-year history — created a leadership vacuum in the chamber and left multiple questions about how legislative business would proceed. North Carolina Republican Patrick McHenry ascended to the role of speaker pro tempore […] The post How does a ‘frozen’ U.S. House function without a speaker? Everyone’s got an opinion. appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Louisiana’s Steve Scalise and Ohio’s Jim Jordan jump into race for U.S. House speaker
WASHINGTON — Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio announced Wednesday they will seek the U.S. House speaker’s gavel after Kevin McCarthy’s unprecedented ouster brought the lower chamber into uncharted territory. Eight dissident Republicans joined Democrats to unseat McCarthy Tuesday, leaving a vacuum of GOP leadership and bringing an abrupt […] The post Louisiana’s Steve Scalise and Ohio’s Jim Jordan jump into race for U.S. House speaker appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Evers to GOP committee chair: Schedule hearing for workforce, child care bill
Gov. Tony Evers has reached out directly to the Republican senator whose committee has been assigned the governor’s sweeping bill to provide support for child care and other workforce-related measures. On Tuesday, Evers sent a letter to Sen. Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac), who two weeks ago stated he would hold a hearing on the […] The post Evers to GOP committee chair: Schedule hearing for workforce, child care bill appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Mandela Barnes: The Freedom to Vote Act safeguards our democracy at a critical moment
Wisconsin has long been a symbol of progress. Our state motto, Forward, commits us to building a better future. When I first ran for office I promised to fight for every Wisconsinite – no matter their age, zip code, religion, identity, or skin color. I’m proud to be from here; however, as threats to democracy […] The post Mandela Barnes: The Freedom to Vote Act safeguards our democracy at a critical moment appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
McCarthy abandons another bid for U.S. House speaker, votes on spending bills canceled
WASHINGTON — California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy announced Tuesday evening he will not try to become speaker for a second time, ending his tenure holding the gavel after eight GOP lawmakers and Democrats voted to remove him from leadership. “I will not run for speaker again. I’ll have the conference pick somebody else,” McCarthy said. […] The post McCarthy abandons another bid for U.S. House speaker, votes on spending bills canceled appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Senate election committee denies appointment of Dem election commissioner over administrator vote
Republicans on the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection voted Tuesday to deny the appointment of Joseph Czarnezki, a Democrat, to the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) because of his participation in an effort to keep WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe in her job. The committee’s 3-2 vote against Czarnezki’s appointment took place […] The post Senate election committee denies appointment of Dem election commissioner over administrator vote appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
U.S. House votes to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker
WASHINGTON — Dissident Republicans in the U.S. House voted with Democrats on Tuesday to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker, a historic move that came just nine months after he secured the gavel following days of negotiating with the GOP’s right flank and 15 rounds of voting. It wasn’t immediately clear after the vote how the […] The post U.S. House votes to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Next battle in Congress over Ukraine aid, as Biden presses House speaker for vote
WASHINGTON — Republican and Democratic lawmakers are searching for a way to clear more aid for Ukraine, after Congress approved a short-term spending bill that didn’t include any additional money for the country. President Joe Biden on Sunday said that U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy agreed to find the votes needed to pass a supplemental […] The post Next battle in Congress over Ukraine aid, as Biden presses House speaker for vote appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Rural America a focus for bipartisan health caucus formed in U.S. House
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan congressional caucus aims to improve accessibility to quality health care and services in rural U.S. communities. The Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus had its first meeting Sept. 20 and serves as a forum for U.S. representatives to promote legislation and policy actions regarding rural health. Members came together to discuss the issues […] The post Rural America a focus for bipartisan health caucus formed in U.S. House appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Forget about ‘wokeness’: Republicans must wake up to the climate crisis
Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui is not the first U.S. city to be laid waste by wildfires. It also isn’t the first incident in which scientific consensus points to climate change as a major cause. Yes, typhoon-induced winds contributed, but climate change made the confluence of those events so deadly. And climate change […] The post Forget about ‘wokeness’: Republicans must wake up to the climate crisis appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Legislature’s rules committee kills new building standards that advocates said would save money
On a party-line vote, members of the Legislature’s administrative rules committee have blocked a proposed Wisconsin commercial building code update that advocates said would save energy, improve safety and lower insurance costs. The update would have brought Wisconsin commercial building standards in line with the 2021 standards of the International Code Council, including the International […] The post Legislature’s rules committee kills new building standards that advocates said would save money appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Student debt relief scams on the rise. Here’s what borrowers need to know.
Complaints about student debt relief scams are increasing as the date approaches for borrowers to restart payment on their student loans after more than a three-year pause. Consumer protection advocates say that the Biden administration’s student debt relief efforts, the subsequent halting of those policies by the courts, and the restart of student loan payments […] The post Student debt relief scams on the rise. Here’s what borrowers need to know. appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Congress clears bill to avert shutdown, with vote promised later on Ukraine aid
First posted 9/30/2023, 5:01 p.m.; updated 8:19 p.m. and 10/1/2023, 8:30 a.m. WASHINGTON — Congress approved a bill Saturday night that would stave off a government shutdown until at least mid-November, though the measure doesn’t include Ukraine aid backed by both Republicans and Democrats. The bipartisan 88-9 vote in the U.S. Senate, just hours before […] The post Congress clears bill to avert shutdown, with vote promised later on Ukraine aid appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Shutdown would mean even more delays in overwhelmed U.S. immigration courts
WASHINGTON — A looming partial government shutdown will put added pressure on an already strained system — U.S. immigration courts. Canceling or rescheduling court cases that many immigrants have awaited for years will cause even more backlogs, immigration attorneys and judges have warned. “Where we’ll really kind of see the backlog continue to build will […] The post Shutdown would mean even more delays in overwhelmed U.S. immigration courts appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Government shutdown nears: U.S. House GOP fails to pass one-month spending plan
WASHINGTON — A sweeping government shutdown appeared inevitable on Friday, with the U.S. Senate stuck in a procedural holding pattern on its bipartisan stopgap bill and divided U.S. House Republicans unable to pass their short-term spending bill. Both chambers of Congress must approve and President Joe Biden must sign government funding legislation before midnight on […] The post Government shutdown nears: U.S. House GOP fails to pass one-month spending plan appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Nearly all national park sites to close during government shutdown
Almost all National Park Service sites will be inaccessible during a partial federal government shutdown likely to start this weekend, the U.S. Interior Department said Friday. The agency will bar access to most of the nation’s 425 parks, recreation areas, national historic sites and other units, according to a fact sheet from the Interior Department, […] The post Nearly all national park sites to close during government shutdown appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California dies at 90
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein died Thursday night in her home in Washington, D.C. The California Democrat was 90 and had announced in February she would not run for reelection in 2024. “She left a legacy that is undeniable and extraordinary,” her chief of staff, James Sauls, said in a statement. “Senator Feinstein was […] The post U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California dies at 90 appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
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The Wisconsin Examiner is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site offering a fresh perspective on politics and policy in our state. As the largest news bureau covering state government, the Examiner will offer investigative reporting and daily coverage dedicated to the public interest. In Wisconsin’s great progressive tradition, we aim to hold the powerful accountable to the people, follow the money, and dig out the truth. Although we give you the inside scoop, we are not a publication for “insiders.” Instead, we cover stories and voices that too often go unheard. We take our inspiration from the motto emblazoned on a ceiling in our state Capitol: “The Will of the People Is the Law of the Land.” The Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. We retain full editorial independence.
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