Republicans fight back against business opposition to election law changes
No GOP support for Biden infrastructure plan
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Republicans irked as major companies oppose GOP election law changes. No bipartisan support for the Biden infrastructure plan. Fire Fauci. And a Florida Republican has a week to forget. This is “Regular Order” for April 2, 2021.
ELECTIONS. Wednesday it was Coca-Cola and Delta Airlines publicly opposing election law changes in Georgia. Thursday, it was Dell and American Airlines criticizing GOP voting plans in Texas. "Governments should ensure citizens have their voices heard," Michael Dell wrote about a Texas GOP proposal. "We are strongly opposed to this bill and others like it,” the airline announced.
REPUBLICANS. The public rebukes have angered GOP lawmakers, as some accused the CEO's of spreading misinformation. "To this point, you have not been truthful," Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA) told the CEO of Delta in a letter. “They should focus on flying instead of bowing to the woke mob,” said Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX).
CONGRESS. The political clashes continued Thursday in a U.S. House hearing, as voting activists like Debo Adegbile joined to denounce the GOP changes in Georgia and other states. "President Biden accurately described this law as “Jim Crow in the 21st Century,” Adegbile said of a new Georgia election law.
INFRASTRUCTURE. The next big legislative push for President Joe Biden topped the agenda for Thursday's Cabinet meeting at the White House. “I laid out my vision for rebuilding America with the American Jobs program,” Mr. Biden said of his sweeping infrastructure proposal, which tops $2 trillion.
SALES WORK. The President said five Cabinet officials would make the case in public and before Congress for the infrastructure plan: the Secretaries of Transportation, Energy, HUD, Labor, and Commerce.
NO REPEAT. The Associated Press noted something else about the Cabinet gathering: “the afternoon meeting did not include the over-the-top tributes to the chief executive that came to define Cabinet meetings held by President Donald Trump.”
REPUBLICANS. After sleeping on the Biden infrastructure plan, GOP lawmakers were even more opposed to it on Thursday. "I'm going to fight them every step of the way," Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters in Kentucky. "The only thing that Biden's plan will build is more debt," said Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA).
ROMNEY. “The President should live up to the bipartisanship he preached in his inaugural address,” said Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT). GOP lawmakers argue Mr. Biden and Democrats should not ‘go it alone’ and use budget reconciliation to avoid a Senate filibuster - as they did with the COVID relief package.
BIDEN SPEECH. There's still no date for when President Biden will address a Joint Session of Congress, in a State of the Union-type speech. Speaker Pelosi told reporters on Thursday that it's dependent on the Coronavirus outbreak, and how many people can gather safely in the House chamber. "We'll await the advice of the Capitol Physician," Pelosi said in a virtual news conference.
INFRASTRUCTURE. Pelosi also sidestepped the issue of when the House would act on President Biden’s big infrastructure proposal. The Speaker mentioned early May, but would not set any deadline. "When we're ready and we have the best possible bill, that's when we will go forward,” Pelosi said.
DRIVE THE NEWS. The strategy of the Biden White House this week reminds me of the 1990's. The Clinton White House was extraordinarily effective at dominating the news cycle during Congressional break periods - often by focusing on one issue a day.
THIS WEEK. Monday was about the Coronavirus. Tuesday, Mr. Biden signed an extension of the PPP aid program for small business. Wednesday it was infrastructure with a speech in Pittsburgh. Thursday was a Cabinet meeting. When Congress is gone, the President can drive the news more than usual.
WATERGAETZ. The troubles have continued on Friday for Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). His top spokesman quit, as more allegations surfaced about women. What was most notable to me was the near silence from fellow GOP lawmakers. Republicans weren’t deriding reports about Gaetz as ‘fake news.’ They weren’t out defending him at all costs. And Fox News hadn’t mentioned him in about 48 hours.
PELOSI. Hours before the CNN hula hoop story dropped, Speaker Nancy Pelosi sidestepped a question about whether Gaetz should resign, saying only that the Ethics Committee would look into the Florida Republican if necessary. Pelosi seemed surprised Gaetz was the topic of the first question asked by reporters.
GUNS. Over 100 House Democrats are asking President Biden to use executive powers to regulate smaller assault-style rifles which can be concealed, like the firearm used in the recent mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado. Lawmakers say the AK-47 'pistols' should be regulated by the National Firearms Act.
FIRE FAUCI. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has introduced a bill to get rid of Dr. Anthony Fauci. But according to materials she released about the legislation, it may have some issues. "It's time to FIRE FAUCI," Greene said on Twitter, blasting the government's top infectious disease expert over his work on the Coronavirus.
NO PAY. Greene wants to reduce Fauci's salary to $0, "until a new NIAID Administrator to replace Fauci is confirmed by the Senate." But Greene’s explanation was wrong - Fauci’s job does *not* require Senate confirmation.
SPEAKING OF MRS. GREENE OF GEORGIA. Taking a walk down the National Mall the other day, I happened to see this advertising truck, with a message about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO).
INFRASTRUCTURE. My column this week in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution looks at President Biden’s push on infrastructure. Once again - the only reason Mr. Biden is at this point is because of the double U.S. Senate victory of Democrats in Georgia back on January 5. That set the table for the $1.9 trillion COVID relief law as well.
RAP SHEET. The Capitol Arrests keep rolling in, some courtesy of digging by online groups like the ‘Sedition Hunters.’ That’s how the police nabbed this Florida man - along with the license plate readers at his apartment complex. The feds used a cell phone geolocation data search warrant to help nail a Washington State man. And a guy who looks like he was picking up papers on the floor not far from my work space.
AND ONE MORE. Almost three dozen people from Florida have now been arrested, including one man who posted on Instagram March 13, 2021: "I rushed the Capitol...I'LL FUCKIN DO IT AGAIN."
MUSE OF HISTORY. April 2, 1917. Summoned back to Capitol Hill by President Woodrow Wilson, the 65th Congress convened in an emergency situation on this date in 1917. Addressing Congress and the nation at 8:30 pm that night, the President called on lawmakers to formally enter what would become known as World War I. "I advise that the Congress declare the recent course of the Imperial German Government to be in fact nothing less than war against the government and people of the United States." After the speech that night, the Senate laid down S.J. Res. 1, 'declaring that a state of war exists' between Germany and the United States.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:
The House meets on Monday. Next votes are expected April 13.
The Senate meets on Monday. Next votes are expected on April 12.
President Biden goes to Camp David for the Easter weekend. Schedule link.
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