congress

Republican congressman says Green New Deal is ‘tantamount to genocide’

climate, congress, News, politics

House Republicans are ramping up their opposition to the Green New Deal, invoking increasingly dire rhetoric as the proposal gains prominence. In a press conference on Thursday, several top Republicans called for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to direct all House committees to hold hearings to discuss the details of the ambitious climate action proposal.

Calling the Green New Deal resolution a “fantasy-land proposal” and “tantamount to genocide,” House Republica...

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Trump’s 2020 budget would disproportionately hurt LGBTQ people

congress, lgbtq, News

President Donald Trump’s proposed 2020 budget would seriously harm the LGBTQ community, many of whom rely on the public programs the administration is intent on shrinking. Even the initiative to end HIV is deeply flawed, experts on LGBTQ policy say.

The 2020 budget includes a $8.6 billion cut for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and proposes eliminating the Community Development Block Grant program and capital improvement funds for public housing repairs.

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In an unprecedented Senate bill, Democrats try to get federal dollars to pay for abortion

congress, health, health care, News, reproductive-rights

For the first time ever, Senate Democrats will introduce a bill that guarantees every person has access to abortion coverage if they receive health care through the federal government.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will introduce the EACH Woman Act on Tuesday with support from at least nine other Democrats, including 2020 presidential candidates Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

On the other side of the chamber, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) will re-introduce,...

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Gazillionaire senators push to make it harder for non-rich people to serve in Congress

congress, News, politics

Let’s start this column off with a bold assertion. Paying lawmakers good salaries is one of our country’s most important progressive reforms because it means that they don’t have to be wealthy to serve. High congressional pay is a safeguard against corruption, not a sign of it.

Bear this assertion in mind as you consider this proposal.

This morning I co-sponsored a bill to end congressional pensions with @SenatorBraun.

Americans shouldn't...

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Dick Saslaw was the lone VA Democrat to rush to Northam’s defense. It could cost him re-election.

congress, News, politics

Virginia’s US senators Tim Kaine (D) and Mark Warner (D) late Saturday joined a growing chorus of politicians and organizations calling on Gov. Ralph Northam (D) to resign, after a racist photo from his 1984 medical school yearbook page was published by a right-wing website.

Yasmine Taeb, a progressive candidate for the Virginia State Senate, told ThinkProgress that it shouldn’t have taken them so long.

“The two highest officials in our state are older white men who w...

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