“Paul Ryan makes noises about going back to Janesville.” More …
Legislature
U.S. House of Representatives or U.S. Senate
Ex-Con Coal Baron Don Blankenship Is Running for U.S. Senate
“Blankenship’s candidacy is big news in West Virginia, where he is a well-known and deeply polarizing figure who spent decades as a ruthless advocate for the coal industry. If people in the rest of the country know Blankenship, it’s likely because of his 2015 conviction for conspiring to break mine-safety laws, leading to the 2010 disaster at the Upper Big Branch Mine. Twenty-nine men died in an explosion there, but Blankenship refused to shoulder any of the blame. While in prison, he wrote a 67-page booklet in which he claimed to be an “American political prisoner” and arguing that the deadliest mine disaster in four decades was caused by natural factors.” More …
“No Kin In the Game”: Study Finds Members of Congress Without Draft-Age Sons Were More Hawkish
“A new study finds that members of Congress who didn’t have draft-age sons were significantly more likely to support hawkish, pro-conscription policies over the course of four major U.S. wars.” More …
GOP Senator Corker’s Obsession With Preventing Catastrophe Irks GOP
“GOP Senator Bob Corker is so concerned that Donald Trump’s erratic behavior could lead to a war causing millions of deaths that he has spoken out about the issue publicly. Corker’s fellow Republican are extremely upset. At Corker, not Trump.” More …
An Old-School Pharmacy Hand-Delivers Drugs to Congress: Includes Alzheimer’s Prescriptions
“‘At first it’s cool, and then you realize, I’m filling some drugs that are for some pretty serious health problems as well. And these are the people that are running the country,’ Kim said, listing treatments for conditions like diabetes and Alzheimer’s.” More …
The Myth of Mitch McConnell, Political Super-Genius
“The Senate majority leader has been coasting on an inflated reputation for too long. This week exposed just how little he has achieved.” More …
The Political Travesty of Puerto Rico
“Like all U.S. territories, Puerto Rico has no real representation in its own national government.” More …
In Surprise Vote, House Passes Amendment to Restrict Asset Forfeiture
“The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved an amendment to the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act that will roll back Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s expansion of asset fortfeitures. Amendment number 126 was sponsored by a bipartisan group of nine members, led by Michigan Republican Rep. Justin Amash. He was joined by Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna of California; Oregon’s Pramila Jayapal, a rising progressive star; and Hawaii’s Tulsi Gabbard.” More …
Trump team goes to bat for NRA-backed bill, deleting Park Service concerns
“The National Park Service has several big problems with NRA-backed legislation that would restrict the agency from regulating hunting and fishing within park boundaries. But according to a leaked memo obtained by McClatchy, the Trump administration has so far prevented the parks from voicing such concerns.” More …
Republicans Want More Hunting on Federal Lands
Freedom Means Shooting Bear Cubs While They’re Hibernating More …