Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Formal and Informal Powers of the Senate
Formal powers of the Senate are impeachment, the power to approve treaties, expulsion of a member, and Conduct investigations. The informal powers of the Senate are Filibusters and Cloture. We know which ones are formal because they are stated in the constitution. Informal powers are not mentioned in the constitution.
Senate Sessions Research
- Jeff Sessions was first elected to the senate in 1996. He was recently elected in 2014 so his term will be over and up for reelection in 2020.
- Senate Committee on the Judiciary is one of the committees Jeff is on. He is a senior member of this committee and he is the chairman of the subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest. Another subcommittee is on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights, and Federal Courts. He is also apart the committee on Armed Service. Sessions is the chairman on the subcommittee on Strategic Forces. The other subcommittee is on Airland. Senator Sessions is also a ranking member of the committee on the Budget. He is also apart of the committee on Environment and Public Works, and he is a serves on the following subcommittee, which are, Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, and Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety.
- Jeff Sessions ranks 18th in seniority in the Senate. He is also the 9th ranked Republican for seniority in the Senate.
- Jeff Sessions top 5 major contributors are McWane Inc, Northrop Grumman, Parker Towing, Drummond Co, and Bradley, Arant et al.
- If Jeff Sessions resigns, the governor of Alabama will appoint a replacement. Then the state legislator will have to schedule a special election.
- The potential replacements for Senator Sessions are Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, Martha Roby a congresswomen for the 2nd district of Alabama, Robert Aderholt a congressman a representative of the 4th district in Alabama, and Mo Brooks a congressman a representative of the 5th district of Alabama.
- Nominating Senator Sessions as the Attorney General. The responsibilities of the Attorney General are represent the United States in legal matters, gives legal advice to the president and the cabinet, represents the USA government in the Supreme Court of the United States, and supervises and direct administration and operation of the offices, boards, divisions, and bureaus that compromise the department.
- Jeff being nominated has had some controversy because he has had a history of being accused of racism.
- In order to become the Attorney General, its a two step process in the senate. The first step is the Judiciary department the the majority of the senate has to vote on the nominee.
- The Attorney General for President Obama was Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, and Mark Filip(acting). The Attorney General for President Bush was Michael Mukasey, Peter Keisler (acting), and Paul Clement(acting). The Attorney General for President Clinton was Janet Reno.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Two police officers were shot in separate attacks
According to Politico, two cops were shot in two separate accidents and the authorities are calling it "targeted." One of the police officers died and the other was shot in the face, but is aspected to survive. In San Antonio, the detective was writing a traffic ticket to a motorcyclist when he got shot in his cop car Sunday morning. There has been no arrest made and the police don't believe the suspect has any relation to the motorcyclist. In St. Louis, a police officer was shot in the face and is in critical condition in the hospital. He is expected to survive. The police officer was shot twice in the face Sunday night in an "ambush" (that is what the police are calling it). The suspect was later killed in a shoot out with police.
Federal Regulators Block new Mining Claims near Yellowstone
CBS News says, that the Obama administration, in its final days, plan to keep industry out of environmentally sensitive areas, such as people wanting to mine near Yellowstone. The mining claims to about 30,000 acres north of Yellowstone would be banned for two years until a long-term ban in considered. Last week, interior officials canceled oil drilling in the Arctic and cancelled at least 25 oil leased in Colorado and about 15 in northwestern Montana. All these new environmental conscience things are happening, because Trump has made it very clear he doesn't believe in climate change and wants to use more coal and have more off shore oil drilling.
Transgender Americans Nervous after the Election
According to CBS News, many transgender Americans are worried about their civil-rights protection. Since the GOP won, many transgender Americans are worried they are going to have much more resistance when coming to what bathroom to use, and the new bill just passed about being open about being transgender in the military. According to Chase Strangio, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, says that transgenders "are concerned for their safety" involving legal rights in previous passed bills and laws. Their concerns are that the Trump administration will abandon the efforts to let transgender people use the bathroom of their choice at public schools, and that GOP governed states will limit and restrict transgender rights.
Trump's Popularity has Risen since the Election
According to the Politco/Morning Consult Poll of registered voters Trump's popularity has increased after the election. About 46% of voters have a favorable view of Trump since he has gotten elected. About 34% have a very unfavorable opinion on him. While the other 12% have a somewhat unfavorable view of him. Usually after the election the victor's popularity goes up, the "honeymoon" phase. Since becoming President-elected his popularity has reach new highs. About 19% of the people polled, think that he is more organized in the transition period, and about 34% think it is about the same.
Obama and Putin meeting Face to Face, possibly the Last time
From CBS News, they say that President Obama and Russian President Putin were meeting while they were at the economic summit in Peru. Their conversation was not able to be heard by journalist there, but the white house claims is was mostly talking about Syria. A White House official said that Obama encouraged Putin to keep his end of the deal in order to try to end the Ukraine Conflict. Obama and Putin met earlier this fall at the G-20 China Summit and discussed trying to end cease fire in Syria because they could not reach an agreement. According to president Obama, they could not reach an agree because there are "gaps in trust".
Friday, November 11, 2016
Howard Dean Announces Run for Democratic Party
According to U.S. News, Howard Dean has announced his bid to head up the Democratic Party. He held this post during the Bush administration and wants to hold it against since of Donald Trumps presidential win. The party's liberals have been trying to find power since of Hialry's defeat. The party is blaming her lose on her reluctancy to fully focus on economic equality and tougher Wall Street regulations. Since the Interim Chairwoman Donna Brazile is ending early next year, and without a democratic president to a successor, the committee will hold elections for this post.
More People are Signing up for ObamaCare since Trump got elected
According to CBS News, over 100,000 people signed up for health care coverage on Wednesday, the day after election day. The Obama administration announced that this has been the highest number of people signing up since Open Enrollment began. Americans have till January 31, 2017 to enroll in or change their health care plan. Donald Trump says he is going to "immediately repeal and replace ObamaCare" once he gets into office. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday that repealing ObamaCare is "pretty high on our agenda."
Climate Scientist worried about Trump's Presidency
According to an article from the Huffington Post, climate scientist are very worried how Trump's presidency will affect against climate change. Donald Trump does not believe in climate change, he believes it it a Chinese Hoax. Trump wants to end spending on climate change initiatives and wants to get the US out of the climate agreement made in Paris last year. Most of the climate scientist are very worried for the climate and "I fear this may be game over for the climate" said Dr. Michael E. Mann, a professor of atmospheric science at Pennsylvania State University. Sine Trumps victory many people are thinking that Asia and Europe will have be to be the leaders, without America, against climate change.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
House race of Florida's 26th District
Carlos Curbelo, the republican incumbent, won re-election for the house seat of Florida's 26th district. He beat Joe Garcia (D) and Jose Peixoto (I). Curbelo won 52.9% of the votes for the general election, while Joe Garcia had 41.2% of the votes and Jose Peixtoto had 5.9% of the votes. Since, Carlos was the incumbent he had more contributions given to help his campaign. This is his second time holding the House office for the 26th district of Florida. His first time back in 2014 he won against the former incumbent Joe Garcia. This general election was a rematch for the two politicians. This election Curbelo won by a wider margin against his competitors. In 2014, Curbleo had 51.5% of votes, but this year he has 52.9% of the votes.
State Voting Results about Recreational Marijuana Legalization
Right now in America, medical marijuana is available in 25 states and the District of Columbia. By the end of Election day more states maybe legalized recreational marijuana. On the ballot of California, Massachusetts, Maine, Arizona, and Nevada is the legalization of recreational marijuana. In Florida, Arkansas, and North Dakota are deciding whether or not they should permit the use of medical use of marijuana.
Monday, November 7, 2016
The Top Five Election Ads of the 2016 Cycle
The first election ad is "Background Checks" for US Senator Jason Kander in Missouri. This ad provided a creative way for the topic of gun control. In the ad Jason Kander, a former Army intelligence officer in Afghanistan, assembles a military-grade rifle blindfolded. The second election ad is "Please re-elect Gerald" for Gerald Daughtery. This ad is having Gerald's wife, Charly Daughter, she is saying to his voters to please re-elected him because all he wants to do is help people. Also, she says "he doesn't have any hobbies." This campaign ad is playing for the people that are tired of the election ads. I think its really funny because he is bothering her with all the ways he wants to help his community. The third election ad is a heart wrenching video called "Captain Khan". It is for Hilary Clinton, but the Father of Captain Khan is talking about his son, who is a muslim, and his heroic action and the one question that Khizr Khan, the father of Captain Khan, has for Donald Trump. "I want to ask Mr. Trump, would my son have a place in your America?" The fourth top election video is Carly Fiorina's "Faces". This campaign ad was about all the women faces that make up America and women can be business leaders just as well as men. The fifth campaign ad is "Kristi's Story". This campaign ad is for Donald Trump against gun control. Kristi's story is her about being attacked but luckily she had her pistol on her to help defended herself. According to the ad since Hilary Clinton is for gun control she would have not able to have that gun on her to protect herself.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Overseas Votes Raise the Risk for Hacked Election
Many voters overseas including military and overseas americans, are risked for their ballots being hacked. If their votes get hacked with a virus it could effect state and local election offices. More than 30 states allow different types of online voting. State officials keep saying that they will count the ballots with out any serious problems. There is still a threat because no online votes can be completely safe because "today's everything-is-hackable environment." Many states want their troops, stationed overseas, to vote. A statement from Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan said in an interview "We'll take military votes however they are able to get them to us." This statement shows that the people want the Americans overseas to vote it just a scary time since anything now is hackable.
Paul Ryan is Going to Vote for Trump
According to an article from Politico, Paul Ryan is going to vote for Trump. He told Fox News that he voted for him in the early voting. Ryan and Trump have had their difference but Ryan still has to publicly said he voted for Trump. Ryan keeps reiterating "I am supporting our entire Republican ticket. I have been all along." According to the article, Paul can has many moderate Republicans that can't support Trump or they will lose their seats so Paul can't endorse Trump or it will put their political positions in jeopardy.
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