Electoral Count Act set to deliver another blow to Trump
The House isn’t the only congressional chamber taking steps this week to counteract former President Trump, as legislation to overhaul how Congress counts electoral votes is one step closer to becoming law. Less than a day after a House panel investigating Jan. 6, 2021, issued four criminal referrals for the former president, the Senate unveiled…
news.yahoo.comImages from Newtown right after Sandy Hook
The images here are just some of the hundreds I took with my phone while I was reporting on the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, shuffling from press briefing to press briefing, makeshift memorial to makeshift memorial, funeral to funeral. When schools reopened, children arriving on buses waved to the hundreds of reporters, television trucks and camera crews that had descended on Newtown. "Newtown was a private, quiet place before the shooting," Sen. Chris Murphy, one of the first lawmakers to arrive at the firehouse that day, once told me. Newtown is not a place you move to if you want to be showy, if you want to lead a big public life. It was the mother of Josephine Gay, one the children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
wftv.comSen. Chris Murphy regrets not working on gun control before Sandy Hook
“I was the same age as those parents in Sandy Hook,” Murphy said. So you know, I felt Sandy Hook, first and foremost as a human being and as a parent and secondarily as an incoming senator. "Days after a shooter walked into a grocery to gun down African American patrons, we have another Sandy Hook on our hands. “Why do you spend all this time running for the United States Senate?” Murphy said. “I was among those who thought Sandy Hook would change everything,” he said.
wftv.comDemocrats press for assault weapons ban, other gun laws after new mass shootings
“The idea we still allow semi-automatic weapons to be purchased is sick. Just sick,” President Biden said after recent mass shootings at an LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs and a Walmart in Chesapeake, Va.
washingtonpost.comEmboldened Biden, Democrats keep pushing assault weapons ban
... We need to enact an assault weapons ban to get weapons of war off America’s streets.”Such a move is still far off in a closely divided Congress. But Biden and the Democrats have become increasingly emboldened in pushing for stronger gun controls — and doing so with no clear electoral consequences. The Democratic-led House passed legislation in July to revive a 1990s-era ban on assault weapons, with Biden's vocal support. And the president pushed the weapons ban nearly everywhere that he campaigned this year. About half of Republicans want gun laws left as they are and only one-quarter want to see gun laws be made less strict.
wftv.comEmboldened Biden, Dems push ban on so-called assault weapons
When President Joe Biden speaks about the “scourge” of gun violence, his go-to answer is to zero in on so-called assault weapons. America has heard it hundreds of times, including this week after shootings in Colorado and Virginia: The president wants to sign into law a ban on high-powered guns that have the capacity to kill many people very quickly. “I’m going to try to get rid of assault weapons.”
news.yahoo.comDemings talks gun violence in South Florida campaign stop
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Val Demings visited a Coral Springs community center Thursday, calling for passage of “common sense” gun control laws and calling out her challenger, incumbent Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, for not supporting them.
Dem. Senator calls on Biden to cut off sales of anti-missile systems to Saudi Arabia
"There are two really important anti-missile systems that we provide to Saudi Arabia," mentioning the RAMand Patriot systems, both of which are made by Raytheon. “The United States has a relationship with Saudi Arabia. The president of the United States should be able to talk to the crown prince. Frankly, I think the United States should be talking to our adversaries too. I think the United States should be talking to the Iranians.
wftv.comSen. Chris Murphy: Why aren't more Republicans condemning Alex Jones?
"I mean, Alex Jones is a clown. “But I guess I want the focus to be much more broadly than on Alex Jones. Somebody will replace Alex Jones because there's a market there for it. To make his case that Republicans have given credence to Jones, Murphy pointed to Ohio Senate candidate J.D. Vance who last year tweeted, "Alex Jones is a far more reliable source of information than Rachel Maddow.
wftv.comGraham warned to follow decorum rule after he attacks Democratic colleague
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) received a warning early Sunday morning to follow the Senate’s decorum rules after he accused Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) of being “deceitful” and “dishonest” and vowed “we’re going to call you out.” “This gives phony and cynical a bad name,” Graham exclaimed when Hassan introduced her amendment. Graham’s outburst at Hassan…
news.yahoo.comSorrow in Choco Taco town after summer treat is discontinued
Choco Taco Discontinued This undated photo provided by Unilever shows the Choco Taco. But so far, Klondike isn't budging from its plan to discontinue the Choco Taco. Klondike confirmed Tuesday that the summer treat is being pulled from ice cream trucks, convenience stores and grocery shelves. The Choco Taco, invented in 1983 by a former ice cream truck driver, is a waffle cone shaped like a taco shell filled with fudge-swirled ice cream. In February, the restaurant chain announced a collaboration with Klondike, testing Choco Taco sales at 20 locations in Los Angeles and Milwaukee.
wftv.comSenate approves gun reform bill, here’s what’s next for the bill
WASHINGTON — In a late-night vote, the U.S. Senate approved a gun reform bill. Fifteen Republicans sided with Democrats to pass the first major gun safety legislation since 1994. On Friday morning, the House Rules Committee will meet and vote on the bill. If the House approves it, it will go to the president for his signature. “Making America safer, especially for kids in school, without making our country one bit less free,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell.
wftv.comSetting gridlock aside, Congress set to OK gun violence bill
Congress Guns Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who has led the Democrats in bipartisan Senate talks to rein in gun violence, pauses for questions from reporters, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Senate bargainers reached agreement on a bipartisan gun violence bill yesterday, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer predicting Senate approval later this week. After weeks of closed-door talks, Senate bargainers from both parties produced a compromise taking mild but impactful steps toward making such mayhem less likely. Top House Republicans urged a “no” vote in an email from the No. “This is not a cure-all for the all the ways gun violence affects our nation,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., whose party has made gun restrictions a goal for decades.
wftv.comSenate OKs landmark gun violence bill, House passage is next
Senate bargainers reached agreement on a bipartisan gun violence bill yesterday, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer predicting Senate approval later this week. “This is not a cure-all for the all the ways gun violence affects our nation,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., whose party has made gun restrictions a goal for decades. Hours earlier, senators voted 65-34 to end a filibuster by conservative GOP senators. While the Senate measure was a clear breakthrough, the outlook for continued congressional movement on gun curbs is dim. Less than one-third of the Senate's 50 GOP senators backed the measure and solid Republican opposition is certain in the House.
wftv.comGun bill on road to passage as Senate overcomes GOP delays
Thursday's roll call ending the blockade by conservative GOP senators was 65-34, five more than the 60-vote threshold needed. Final passage of the $13 billion measure was expected by week's end with a House vote to follow, though timing was uncertain. “This is not a cure-all for the all the ways gun violence affects our nation,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., whose party has made gun restrictions a goal for years. “They want both of those things at once, and that is just what the bill before the Senate will have accomplished.”Yet while the Senate measure was a clear breakthrough, the outlook for continued congressional movement on gun curbs is dim. The measure expands the use of background checks by rewriting the definition of the federally licensed gun dealers required to conduct them.
wftv.comGhastly shootings, political forces align to prompt gun deal
Congress Guns Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who has led the Democrats in bipartisan Senate talks to rein in gun violence, talks to reporters, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Senate bargainers reached agreement on a bipartisan gun violence bill yesterday, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer predicting Senate approval later this week. Bargainers produced a bipartisan gun violence bill that the Senate is moving toward approving later this week, with House action expected sometime afterward. Their accord is Congress' most important gun violence measure since the now-expired assault weapons ban enacted in 1993. But congressional approval would be a GOP win by hindering Democrats from using gun violence in their campaigns, said Republican pollster Neil Newhouse.
wftv.comSenators reach bipartisan compromise on gun violence bill
Lawmakers released the 80-page bill nine days after agreeing to a framework for the plan and 29 years after Congress last enacted major firearms curbs. Resolving one final hurdle that delayed the accord, the bill would prohibit romantic partners convicted of domestic violence and not married to their victims from getting firearms. An offender’s ability to own a gun could be restored after five years if they’ve not committed another serious crime. “Thirty years, murder after murder, suicide after suicide, mass shooting after mass shooting, Congress did nothing," Murphy said. Congress’ prohibited assault-type firearms in 1993 in a ban that expired after a decade, lawmakers’ last sweeping legislation addressing gun violence.
wftv.comSenators say agreement on gun violence compromise is at hand
The legislation lawmakers have been working toward would toughen background checks for the youngest firearms buyers, require more sellers to conduct background checks and beef up penalties on gun traffickers. It also would disburse money to states and communities aimed at improving school safety and mental health initiatives. “I think we’ve reached agreement,” Murphy said. What’s uncertain is whether the Senate agreement and its passage would mark the beginning of slow but gradual congressional action to curb gun violence, or the high water mark on the issue. Momentum in Congress for gun legislation has a history of waning quickly after mass shootings.
wftv.comGOP, Dem Senate bargainers divided over gun deal details
Lawmakers said they remained divided over how to define abusive dating partners so they could be legally barred from purchasing firearms. “A deal like this is difficult," Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a lead Democratic negotiator, said when the meeting ended later. Even so, it would be Congress’ most robust move against gun violence since 1993. Top bargainers — Murphy, Cornyn and Sens. The agreement has been endorsed by Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
wftv.comGun talks will continue after Senate negotiators miss Thursday deadline
Negotiators left Washington on Thursday without coming to an agreement on key details underpinning a bipartisan deal on potential new federal gun laws. The impasse threatens to upend a handshake deal reached earlier this week.
washingtonpost.comHere’s what’s in the gun violence framework – and how both sides are responding
VIDEO: Here’s what’s in the gun violence framework – and how both sides are responding Here’s what’s in the gun violence framework – and how both sides are respondingORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — On the day Orlando marked the 6th anniversary since the Pulse Nightclub massacre, one of the deadliest mass shootings in the nation’s history, a glimmer of hope emerged out of Washington that something would finally be done to curb gun violence. From the gun control advocate’s perspective:Patti Brigham’s first reaction to the framework was mild disappointment. READ: Central Florida remembers Pulse nightclub victims 6 years after mass shootingBrigham, currently the leader of Prevent Gun Violence Florida, has spent years in the political arena in different capacities. More funding for mental health. Only if America were to fully fund a world-class mental health system that reached everyone who needed it, and shootings continued to rise would he be open to looking at gun policies, he said.
wftv.comFormer Rep. Giffords tells Congress 'be bold' on gun reform
Eleven years after her own life was massively altered by gun violence, former congresswoman Gabby Giffords stood in front of the Washington monument and once again lobbied for stricter gun laws after yet another string of mass shootings in America.
Energy secretary: US offshore wind jobs should be union jobs
The U.S. energy secretary and Danish wind developer Orsted say they want American union workers to build offshore wind farms to dot the U.S. coastlines — the building trades workers who could otherwise be left out of a transition to renewable resources.