New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand launches reelection bid
NEW YORK — (AP) — Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York is kicking off her reelection campaign. “Kirsten is running for reelection to the United States Senate in 2024.”Gillibrand has served as New York’s junior senator since 2009, taking over the seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. Her campaign announcement comes as Democrats are scrutinizing their performance in New York, usually considered a stronghold for the party. The senator has also been involved in a bipartisan push with Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., to regulate cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. Gillibrand was first elected to Congress in 2007, winning a House seat in a conservative part of upstate New York and toppling an incumbent Republican.
wftv.comBiden signs #MeToo law curbing confidentiality agreements
President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed legislation curbing the use of confidentiality agreements that block victims of sexual harassment from speaking publicly about misconduct in the workplace. The new law, among the workplace changes pushed in the wake of the #MeToo movement, applies to any nondisclosure agreements, also known as NDAs, signed before a dispute has occurred. The law would make existing nondisclosure agreements unenforceable. Any agreements signed after a dispute or regarding any other allegations, such as discrimination based on race or religion, would not be affected by the law. Both measures, coming five years after the #MeToo movement sparked a global reckoning against sexual misconduct, received rare, broad bipartisan support in Congress.
wftv.comSchumer overheard telling Biden that Georgia Senate race is 'going downhill'
At an airport in Syracuse, N.Y., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was overheard telling President Biden, along with Gov. Kathy Hochul and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, that the Senate race in Georgia between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker is “going downhill” for Democrats. Schumer said, “It’s hard to believe that they will go for Herschel Walker.”
news.yahoo.comSchumer caught on hot mic telling Biden that Georgia's Senate race is 'going downhill' for Dems
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was overheard Thursday telling President Biden that the potentially pivotal race for U.S. Senate in Georgia appears to be "going downhill" for Democrats.
news.yahoo.comUS Army misses recruiting goal; other services squeak by
The Army fell about 15,000 soldiers — or 25% — short of its recruitment goal this year, despite a frantic effort to make up the widely expected gap in a year when all the military services struggled in a tight jobs market to find young people willing and fit to enlist.
‘Total bulls***’: Anger boils over after Republicans block bill to help vets exposed to burn pits
REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstDemocratic lawmakers and activists, including Jon Stewart, expressed their anger and frustration on Capitol Hill Thursday over Republicans senators who blocked a bipartisan bill that would expand healthcare access for military veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. Because of a parliamentary glitch involving a tax provision, it was sent back to the House, where it easily passed. “And at the 11th hour, Sen. Toomey decides that he wants to rewrite the bill, change the rules and tank it. I mean, what the hell.”"Make no mistake about it," Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said on the Senate floor Wednesday shortly after the bill was blocked. They're sick and tired of us working for Democrats or working for Republicans and not working for the American people.
wftv.comLive updates | Supreme Court strikes down NY gun law
Supreme Court Guns FILE — A police officer guards the main entrance to the Supreme Court in Washington, Oct. 9, 2018. The Supreme Court, Thursday, June 23, 2022, struck down a restrictive New York gun law in a major ruling for gun rights. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) (Pablo Martinez Monsivais)The Latest on the Supreme Court ruling on New York's gun law:NEW YORK — New York's members of Congress reacted to Thursday's Supreme Court ruling that struck down a state gun law. ___NEW YORK — Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling that struck down a New York gun law requiring people to demonstrate a particular need for carrying a gun in order to get a license to carry one in public has no immediate impact on other laws, including rules on background checks and age requirements for gun purchases. That’s according to Alex McCourt, the director of legal research for the Center for Gun Violence Solutions at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
wftv.comAmid crypto turmoil, senators propose sweeping oversight
WASHINGTON — (AP) — A bipartisan pair of senators has unveiled what would be the most wide-ranging legislative proposal to regulate cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, following a series of high-profile busts and failures. The bill also comes as advocates for cryptocurrency have become bigger — and more free-spending — players in Washington. The legislation imposes disclosure requirements on digital asset firms to ensure that consumers can make informed decisions, delineates agency responsibilities over various digital assets — such as Commodity Futures Trading Commission jurisdiction over bitcoin — and requires a study on digital asset energy consumption, among many other proposals. Gillibrand said the bill establishes “a regulatory framework that spurs innovation, develops clear standards, defines appropriate jurisdictional boundaries and protects consumers." These developments have prompted lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to support legislation that more closely scrutinizes digital assets.
wftv.comBiden poised to sign into law bill ending forced arbitration in sexual assault, harassment cases
A bill that was passed with strong bipartisan support seeks to nullify forced arbitration clauses for workplace sexual assault cases, allowing survivors to file lawsuits in court against perpetrators.
washingtonpost.comCongress approves sex harassment bill in #MeToo milestone
Congress Sexual Harassment FILE - Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 28, 2021. Congress on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, gave final approval to legislation guaranteeing that people who experience sexual harassment at work can seek recourse in the courts. Gillibrand, who has focused on combating sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the military, originally introduced the legislation in 2017 with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “If you could ever say any legislation was long overdue, this is it,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Defenders of the arbitration process, including business groups, have contended it is a faster and less costly way to resolve disputes than through lengthy courtroom proceedings.
wftv.comCongress moves to end forced arbitration for sex misconduct
An estimated 60 million American workers have the clauses in their employment contracts, Gillibrand said, but she noted the practice is not just used in employment contracts. Binding arbitration clauses can be tucked into agreements for other services, barring lawsuits against nursing homes and massage parlors from residents and patients who claim they were sexually assaulted. “It’s not something that people read in their employment contracts. Business groups and other defenders of arbitration argue it is a faster and less costly way to resolve disputes. Some companies, including Facebook, Uber and Microsoft have on their own decided to end the practice forced arbitration for sexual misconduct claims.
wftv.comCongress moves to end forced arbitration for sex misconduct
The U.S. House has passed legislation barring contracts that force people to settle sexual assault or harassment cases through arbitration rather than in court, a process that often benefits employers and keeps misconduct allegations from becoming public.
Congress set to change military sexual assault prosecutions
Military Justice FILE - Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Sept. 16, 2020, in Washington. After years of debate, Congress is poised to change how the U.S. military handles sexual assault cases, by taking some authority out of the hands of commanders and instead using independent prosecutors. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) (Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON — (AP) — After years of debate, Congress is on track to change how the U.S. military handles sexual assault cases, by taking some authority out of the hands of commanders and instead using independent prosecutors. The key problem, Gillibrand said on Wednesday, is that commanders still will play a key role in sexual assault cases. In his first directive after taking office in January, Austin gave senior leaders two weeks to send him reports on sexual assault prevention programs.
wftv.comDemocrats warn against family leave cuts from spending bill
Congress Budget Paid Leave In this Sept. 28, 2021 file photo, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. More than a dozen Senate Democrats are imploring President Joe Biden and congressional leaders to keep a national paid family leave program in his sweeping social services and climate change package. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool) (Patrick Semansky)More than a dozen Senate Democrats are imploring President Joe Biden and congressional leaders to keep a national paid family leave program in his sweeping social services and climate change package. Gillibrand said the proposal needs to be gender neutral, offering all workers paid leave for things like the birth of a child or caring for a sick or dying family member. In a meeting at the White House on Tuesday with a small group of progressive House Democrats, Biden told lawmakers he wants to include money to create four weeks annually of paid family leave, down from his 12-week proposal.
wftv.comCourt indicates it may wait to rule on Georgia abortion law
Abortion Georgia FILE - In this May 16, 2019 file photo, abortion rights supporters stand during a news conference by Presidential candidate Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta to discuss abortion bans in Georgia and across the country. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Friday on whether it should overturn a lower court ruling that permanently blocked a 2019 Georgia law that would have banned most abortions once a "detectable human heartbeat" is present. Circuit Chief Judge William Pryor asked lawyers for both sides whether the case should be stayed until the Supreme Court rules in the Mississippi case. Brian Kemp signed the law in May 2019, The ACLU, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights sued on behalf of Georgia abortion providers and an advocacy group to block the law. Not only did the Supreme Court recently announce its intention to hear arguments in the Mississippi case, earlier this month it allowed a restrictive Texas abortion law to take effect.
wftv.comFor Biden, questions about Cuomo grow harder to ignore
Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., speaks during a virtual meeting of the National Governors Association, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Washington. But what President Biden said is, ‘We should do an investigation.’ I agree with him on that. When asked repeatedly about the allegations, White House press secretary Jen Psaki has recited the response that the women should be heard and the investigations should continue. But the constant drip of allegations from Albany has become harder for Biden to ignore. Their orbits are intertwined; a number of Democrats have worked for both men in their roles as senator, vice president, governor and housing secretary.
Biden: Cuomo should resign if investigation confirms claims
Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations reached the White House on Tuesday, with President Joe Biden saying Cuomo should resign if the state attorney general's investigation confirms the claims against him. When asked by anchor George Stephanopoulos whether Cuomo should resign if the investigation confirms the women’s claims, Biden said “yes” and added, “I think he’d probably end up being prosecuted, too.”“It takes a lot of courage to come forward so the presumption is it should be taken seriously," Biden said. James last week named a former federal prosecutor, Joon Kim, and employment discrimination attorney Anne Clark to lead the Cuomo investigation. The sexual harassment investigation is in addition to scrutiny that Cuomo is facing from federal prosecutors who are looking into how his administration handled data on COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes. Biden has denied her claims, and multiple current and former Biden staffers have said they have no recollection of such an encounter.
Biden declines to call for Cuomo to resign, awaits probe
President Joe Biden speaks to the gathered media members upon arrival at the White House in Washington from a weekend trip to Wilmington, Del., Sunday, March 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Sunday passed up an opportunity to join other Democrats calling for the resignation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is under investigation after multiple allegations of sexual harassment. However, his comments reflect the wait-and-see position the White House has taken regarding Cuomo's future. On Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki would not say whether Biden believes Cuomo should resign.
Reports: Cuomo vaccine czar’s loyalty calls raise concerns
Andrew Cuomo leading the state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been calling county executives to gauge their loyalty to the Democratic governor amid a sexual harassment investigation, according to reports in The Washington Post and The New York Times. Andrew Cuomo leading the state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been calling county executives to gauge their loyalty to the Democratic governor amid a sexual harassment investigation, according to reports in The Washington Post and The New York Times. The executive feared the county’s vaccine supply could suffer if the executive did not indicate support for Cuomo, the Post reported. AdSchwartz served as secretary to the governor from 2011 until 2015 and has advised Cuomo off and on since then. Schwartz told the Post that the calls he made to assess political support for Cuomo were distinct from the role he plays in the vaccination effort.
How Cuomo investigation, possible impeachment could play out
Leaders in the state Assembly announced an impeachment investigation against Cuomo over allegations of sexual harassment, if successful, Hochul would would take over as governor. Leaders in the state Assembly on Thursday announced an impeachment investigation, a first step toward potentially removing Cuomo from office. The committee's work could result in the drafting of articles of impeachment against Cuomo, though that outcome is far from certain. There are seven appeals court judges and 63 senators, though not all would serve on the impeachment court. If Cuomo were to be acquitted in an impeachment court, he would return to office.
Top Dems call on Cuomo to resign amid harassment allegations
FILE - This Monday, March 8, 2021, file photo shows New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo confronted a stunning series of defections Friday amid allegations of sexual harassment that left the high-profile Democrat fighting for his political survival, angry and alone. “Governor Cuomo should resign.”AdThe escalating political crisis has spawned an impeachment inquiry in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, and threatens to cast a cloud over President Joe Biden’s early days in office. Biden, a longtime ally of Cuomo and his father, former New York Gov. “The victims of sexual assault concern me more than politics or other narrow considerations, and I believe Governor Cuomo must step aside," Maloney said.
Double standard? Gillibrand in spotlight after Cuomo scandal
Gillibrand became the first Democratic senator to call for her colleague Al Frankens resignation amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct in 2017. But Gillibrand and other top Democrats have stopped short of calling on New York's governor, Democrat Andrew Cuomo, to resign amid accusations of offensive behavior. Gillibrand paid a political price for her role in the Franken resignation and her tone toward Cuomo may reflect that. "They elected me.”A spokesman for Gillibrand declined to comment on whether the senator considered calling on Cuomo to resign. But Gillibrand has promoted herself as a feminist leader and champion of women's rights, and the Cuomo scandal concerns her state.
Agriculture secretary nominee Vilsack endorses biofuels push
FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2020, file photo former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who the Biden administration chose to reprise that role, speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)WASHINGTON – Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden's nominee for secretary of agriculture, pledged Tuesday to focus on climate change initiatives and work to address racial inequities in agricultural assistance programs. Vilsack, who testified before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, would bring much on-the-job experience to the position. In addition to serving two terms as the governor of Iowa, he spent eight years as President Barack Obama's Agriculture Secretary. But if you don’t have a grocery store, what then?”AdVilsack seems to enjoy bipartisan support and faced no serious criticism from Republicans on the committee.
Defense chief orders review of military sex assault programs
He had vowed to immediately address the problems of sexual assault and harassment in the ranks. “We will lead.”Senator after senator demanded to know what Austin planned to do about the problem, which defense and military leaders have grappled with for years. Reports of sexual assaults have steadily gone up since 2006, according to department reports, including a 13% jump in 2018 and a 3% increase in 2019. He was in the Pentagon again Saturday, making calls to defense counterparts around the world, and he signed the memo. The directive calls for each leader to submit a summary of the sexual assault and harassment measures they have taken in the last year that show promise, and an assessment of those that didn't.
Booker, Democratic lawmakers introduce NCAA reform bill
The College Athletes Bill of Rights is sponsored by U.S. The College Athletes Bill of Rights is sponsored by Sens. Booker and Blumenthal's bill, however, goes way beyond NIL rights for athletes and is not nearly as NCAA-friendly. Bohannon said during the pandemic college athletes, who are tested multiple times a week for COVID-19, have become essential workers. — Establish a nine-member Commission on College Athletics, appointed by the president, that would include at least five former college athletes and individuals with legal expertise.
Biden facing growing pressure over secretary of defense pick
WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden is facing escalating pressure from competing factions within his own party as he finalizes his choice for secretary of defense. And facing massive governing challenges once he takes office on Jan. 20, Biden can perhaps least afford to lose the backing of the Democratic Party’s fiery progressive base. Nearly 100 House Democrats belong to the Progressive Caucus, which may wield significant influence over Biden's policy agenda as Democrats cling to their narrowest House majority in a century. Flournoy, meanwhile, had been seen as the leading candidate for defense secretary under a Democratic president since Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 campaign. Biden has promised both to fight for big, bold policy changes and to compromise with Republicans.
Biden facing growing pressure over secretary of defense pick
WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden is facing escalating pressure from competing factions within his own party as he finalizes his choice for secretary of defense. And facing massive governing challenges once he takes office on Jan. 20, Biden can perhaps least afford to lose the backing of the Democratic Party’s fiery progressive base. Nearly 100 House Democrats belong to the Progressive Caucus, which may wield significant influence over Biden's policy agenda as Democrats cling to their narrowest House majority in a century. Flournoy, meanwhile, had been seen as the leading candidate for defense secretary under a Democratic president since Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 campaign. Biden has promised both to fight for big, bold policy changes and to compromise with Republicans.
Ginsburg is first woman to lie in state at US Capitol
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., left, talks with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., right, before a ceremony to honor Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she lies in state at National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. Ginsburg died at the age of 87 on Sept. 18 and is the first women to lie in state at the Capitol. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP)