Peltola faces Palin, Begich, Bye in Alaska House debate
Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola of Alaska in a televised debate called partisanship a threat to the country as she sought to make the case for reelection to the seat sheโs held since September against challengers including Republican Sarah Palin.
Alaska high court reverses ruling that roiled House election
The Alaska Supreme Court has reversed a lower court decision that barred state elections officials from certifying the results of Saturdayโs special U.S. House primary amid concerns about ballot accessibility for voters with visual impairments.
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House approves pro-union bill despite dim Senate odds
But it faces an all-but-certain Republican blockade in a narrowly divided Senate and is unlikely to become law. AdโIโve heard Democrats argue that itโs the unions that built the middle class,โ said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the senior Republican on the House labor panel. And what this bill does is take away their freedom.โLabor unions have long been a bedrock of Democratic support. โThis far-reaching legislation is nothing more than an union boss wish list,โ said Foxx, who led Republican debate on the bill. Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Good excoriated the bill, saying it would effectively โfunnel money to Democratsโ by allowing unions to collect additional dues.
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Senate energy panel backs Haaland for interior secretary
FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, file photo, Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., listens during the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on her nomination to be Interior secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Jim Watson/Pool Photo via AP, File)WASHINGTON โ A key Senate committee on Thursday approved the nomination of New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland to be interior secretary, clearing the way for a Senate vote that is likely to make her the first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved Haaland's nomination, 11-9, sending it to the Senate floor. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the lone Republican to support Haaland, who won unanimous backing from committee Democrats. The committee vote follows an announcement Wednesday by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, that she will support Haaland in the full Senate.
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Manchin says he'll vote for Haaland for interior secretary
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., speaks during a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the nomination of Rep. Debra Haaland, D-N.M., to be Secretary of the Interior on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. Manchin, a moderate from West Virginia, had been publicly undecided through two days of hearings on Haaland's nomination by President Joe Biden. By contrast, Manchin said Haaland had earned his vote, despite disagreements over drilling on federal lands and the Keystone XL oil pipeline. AdโI believe Deb Haaland will be a secretary of the Interior for every American and will vote to confirm her,'' Manchin said in a statement. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican who is not on the energy panel, called Haaland โa neo-socialist, left-of-Lenin whack job.''
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The Latest: Conn. extends pandemic jobless benefit to 38,000
State health officials decline to identify which hospitals have expressed interest, but say there is need statewide. Hospitalizations have not yet reached their summer heights in Georgia, but beds are filling rapidly with COVID-19 cases. ___HARRISBURG, Pa. โ States faced a deadline on Friday to place orders for the coronavirus vaccine as many reported record infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Ukraine, which is facing a rapid rise in coronavirus cases, tightened weekend restrictions last month but lifted them this week. ___ATLANTA โ Vice President Mike Pence is trying to boost Americansโ confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines that are awaiting regulatory approval and distribution.
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Sen. Grassley returns to Senate after coronavirus isolation
FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2020, file photo Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa arrives for a meeting at the Capitol in Washington. Grassley, 87, isolated after finding out he had been exposed to the virus and tested positive shortly after that. As pro tempore, Grassley opens the Senate each day. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., announced that he had tested positive two days after Grassley. Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who is competing in a Senate runoff in Georgia, later announced that she had tested positive and then negative.
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Florida's Sen. Scott has coronavirus, 'very mild symptoms'
Scott, 67, has been quarantining at home all week after coming into contact in Florida on Nov. 13 with someone who subsequently tested positive. Scott, a Republican, said he was โfeeling goodโ despite the mild symptoms and would be working at his home in Naples. โI want to remind everyone to be careful and do the right things to protect yourselves and others,โ Scott said in a statement. House members could be regularly tested in the Capitol starting this week, but there is still no testing protocol for senators. Ashley Hinson, 37, said she would participate in this week's House orientation virtually as she quarantined with her family in Iowa.
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Sen. Grassley, 87, says he tested positive for coronavirus
(Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON โ Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the longest-serving Republican senator and third in the line of presidential succession, said he has tested positive for the coronavirus. Grassley, 87, had announced earlier Tuesday that he was quarantining after being exposed to the virus and was waiting for test results. At least three members of the House have tested positive in the last week, and several more are quarantining. Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida was also absent as he is in quarantine after an exposure. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer also took their masks off when speaking on the Senate floor Monday.
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The Latest: Connecticut governor is self-quarantining
Ned Lamont is self-quarantining after his chief spokesperson tested positive for COVID-19, his administration announced late Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. Ned Lamont is self-quarantining after his chief spokesperson tested positive for COVID-19. Another governor, Democrat Steve Sisolak of Nevada, announced Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19. DeWine tested positive using a rapid test before testing negative later that day after using a more sensitive laboratory-developed test. The latest state health department figures also show hospitalizations have edged back up statewide โ hitting 684 after dipping to 676 a day earlier.
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Alaska's sole member in US House tests positive for COVID-19
Young announced Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, on Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)ANCHORAGE, Alaska โ U.S. Rep. Don Young announced Thursday that he has tested positive for COVID-19, a day after the 87-year-old won his 25th term in the U.S. House. โMy friend and colleague Congressman Don Young is a fighter. Young's positive test came after he was campaigning for re-election in Alaska, which is experiencing a surge of cases. Young was first elected in 1973, and is Alaska's sole representative in the House.
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The Latest: NZealand mulls masks on Auckland public transit
Health officials had asked workers in central Auckland to stay home on Friday while they investigated the case but say they can now return to work. โ Surge of coronavirus cases appears to be slowing in Germany and France, but still straining hospitals. Alaska has had over 20,000 cases, including 477 new cases reported Thursday. She is scheduled Friday to address the situation and is expected to announce new public health restrictions aimed to curbing spread. Thatโs the impassioned message that dozens of parents and school administrators are sending to public health officials in Pennsylvaniaโs third-most populous county.
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Republican Dan Sullivan reelected in Alaska Senate race
Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, won re-election in Alaska, defeating independent Al Gross. (Al Drago/Pool via AP, File)JUNEAU, Alaska โ Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan has won reelection in Alaska, defeating independent Al Gross in a race that attracted outside attention with control of the Senate at stake. The result in Alaska means control of the Senate wonโt be decided until January Senate runoffs are held in Georgia. Sullivan campaign manager Matt Shuckerow was muted in his response Wednesday, noting ballots still were being counted in Alaska. The Gross campaign did not immediately indicate plans to concede after The Associated Press called the race for Sullivan on Wednesday.
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Pelosi out to block Trump if disputed election ends in House
Under election law the House would intervene if the Electoral College gave no presidential candidate the majority Jan. 6. โThere ain't no light at the end of the tunnel in the House of Representatives,โ Pelosi said at a recent press conference. The president can be selected by a House majority โ 26 states โ if the Electoral College deadlocks or is unable to agree on the winner. Another is Montana, where Democratic state Rep. Kathleen Williams and Republican state Auditor Matt Rosendale are vying for the state's lone at-large seat. Veteran GOP election lawyer Ben Ginsberg said thereโs a long ways to go from election day Nov. 3 and a potential House vote on Jan. 6.
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Veteran House incumbents cling to seats as districts evolve
But thereโs a smaller category of lawmakers like Peterson and GOP Rep. Steve Chabot of Ohio who also merit attention: long-term incumbents of both parties fighting to preserve their careers. Over 90% of House incumbents are usually reelected, thanks to name recognition and campaign fundraising advantages. โThere are people who traditionally voted Republican who don't identify with the current Republican Party," Schroder, 43, a businesswoman and local public health official, said in an interview. Democratic and Republican campaign committees and other organizations allied with party leadership are aiming the bulk of their spending at each others' softest seats and defending vulnerable incumbents. The Congressional Leadership Fund, aligned with House GOP leadership, planned to spend $3.3 million more, which Republicans said could grow.