WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Alliance for Justice issued the following statement: Following today's party-line vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance the nomination of Neomi Rao for the D.C. Circuit Court, AFJ President Nan Aron released the following statement: "The friction that was evident at today's committee vote on Neomi Rao shows a Republican party desperate to rack up as many extreme-right judicial confirmations as possible, to counteract President Trump's epic failures on pol  more

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Common Cause issued the following news release: * * * - Common Cause v. Rucho could end partisan gerrymandering nationwide * * * Common Cause filed its final brief with the U.S. Supreme Court today, three weeks in advance of oral arguments in Rucho v. Common Cause. The challenges an extreme Republican gerrymander in North Carolina that was found to be unconstitutional twice by a federal district court. Common Cause is joined as an appellee in the case by the North Car  more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Rep. Denver Riggleman, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, the Virginia Republican Congressional Caucus, Virginia Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Ryan McDougle, Virginia House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert, and Republican Party of Virginia jointly issued the following statement in condemnation of anti-Semitism: "All that is required for evil to prevail is for men and women of goodwill to stand by and do nothing." "Anti-Semitism is on the rise througho  more

WASHINGTON, March 8 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following weekly digest: Commission meetings and hearings No executive sessions or open meetings were scheduled this week. Advisory Opinions Request Received Advisory Opinion Request 2019-04 (Prytany LLC) On March 4, 2019, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2019-04. The requestor, Prytany LLC, asks several questions regarding whether its online contribution processing platform is permissible under the Federa  more

LANSING, Michigan, March 8 -- The Michigan Republican Party issued the following news: Last night on Fox 2's "Let it Rip" State Representative Jon Hoadley gave an impassioned full-throated defense of Governor Whitmer's 41% Small Business tax hike. This defense came despite the fact that similar policies under the Granholm Administration led to massive job loses, and small business closures during Michigan's lost decade. In the interview, Hoadley pointed to two of the nation's largest S-corpora  more

CONCORD, New Hampshire, March 7 -- The New Hampshire Republican Party issued the following statement by Chairman Stephen Stepanek regarding multiple proposals before the New Hampshire House and Senate: "CACR 6, relating to elections. Providing that any inhabitant who so desires may vote by absentee ballot in primary and general elections and HB 611-FN, allowing voters to vote by absentee ballot. "This constitutional amendment and house bill seek the same outcome: voting by mail in any and all   more

MADISON, Wisconsin, March 5 -- The Wisconsin Republican Party issued the following news: Last week, the MacIver News Service reported that Governor Evers will be giving double-digit salary increases to many of his key appointees. The Democratic Governor's cabinet members will be earning significantly more than their predecessors under Republican Governor Scott Walker. This news comes just one day before Evers announced his plan to raise taxes on Wisconsinites by more than $1 billion over the ne  more

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Ripon Society issued the following news release: The Republican leader of the Ways & Means Committee appeared before a breakfast meeting of The Ripon Society last Thursday, delivering remarks in which he introduced two of his panel's newest GOP members, and discussing some of the key issues they plan to address in the coming year. The leader is U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (TX-8). First elected to the House in 1996, Brady served as Chairman of the Ways & Means Chairman for   more

NEW YORK, March 8 -- The American Society of Magazine Editors issued the following news release: Sid Holt, chief executive of the American Society of Magazine Editors, today announced that the 54th annual Ellie Awards will be hosted by John Avlon, a senior political analyst at CNN and the former editor in chief of The Daily Beast. More than 500 magazine editors and publishers are expected to attend the awards presentation at Brooklyn Steel, a music venue in Williamsburg, New York, on Thursday,   more

RICHMOND, Virginia, March 4 -- The Virginia Republican Party issued the following news: Mark Herring is (still) a liar. In an interview that rivaled Ralph Northam's infamous infanticide interview for bad judgement, Mark Herring today flip-flopped on his call for the Governor's resignation, and lied about the events that led to him confessing his own racist past. Herring would have the people of Virginia believe that he had some sort of epiphany about his racist past, leading him to confess th  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, March 8 -- The Virginia Republican Party issued the following news: Democrat Senator Mark Warner called for Ralph Northam's resignation in no uncertain terms when it was revealed that the Governor had worn blackface in his medical school yearbook. But Senator Warner has flip-flopped (as he is wont to do) on his call for Northam's resignation. In a recent interview Warner said "When I called for his resignation along with Tim Kaine, we said the governor had lost the faith of  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 9 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party issued the following news, dated March 7: Today, the North Carolina Democratic Party, Democratic Women of North Carolina, and a House Democratic leader called for Representative Cody Henson to resign from his position after a judge found that he committed acts of domestic violence against his wife. Last week, Rep. Henson was served with a year-long Domestic Violence Protection order for repeated harassment and abusive behav  more

CONCORD, New Hampshire, March 6 -- The New Hampshire Republican Party issued the following statement: NHGOP Chairman Stephen Stepanek released the following statement regarding HB 560-FN, relative to single-use carryout bags and HB 558-FN, restricting the distribution of plastic straws. "Well folks, here we have it: further proof that New Hampshire Democrats are more in line with New York and California elites than they are the people of the Granite State. Now, they are coming for your plastic  more

CONCORD, New Hampshire, March 6 -- The New Hampshire Republican Party issued the following statement: NHGOP Chairman Stephen Stepanek released the following statement regarding HB 690-FN, removing the work requirement of the New Hampshire Granite Advantage Health Care program: "New Hampshire Democrats love to make it clear that they are thinking in-line with ridiculous proposals being pushed on the national stage. "This time, we have New Hampshire Democrats fighting to provide a benefit, heal  more

CONCORD, New Hampshire, March 5 -- The New Hampshire Republican Party issued the following statement by Chairman Stephen Stepanek regarding legislation (H.B. 687-FN), relative to extreme risk protection orders: "This is yet another bill that seeks to encroach upon constitutional rights here in New Hampshire. "This bill, HB 687-FN, sponsored entirely by Democrats, is a model of so-called "Red Flag" legislation - allowing anyone to utilize the New Hampshire judicial system to limit the rights o  more

CONCORD, New Hampshire, March 5 -- The New Hampshire Republican Party issued the following statement by Chairman Stephen Stepanek regarding legislation (S.B. 10), establishing the state minimum hourly rate based on whether an employer offers paid sick days to an employee: "New Hampshire Democrats would rather have self-service computer terminals replacing teenagers and low-skilled workers throughout the state. That is the only way to infer their actions with establishing a burdensome minimum wa  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, issued the following statement after the Commerce Department announced that the U.S. posted an $891.2 billion trade deficit in 2018, the largest in 243-year history: The Commerce Department also announced the trade deficit with China hit a record $419 billion. Economists have agreed that the record trade deficit has been exacerbated by President Trump and the Republican Party's $1.5 trillion corporate tax cut, which was signed into law in 2017.   more

RICHMOND, Virginia, March 5 -- The Virginia Republican Party issued the following news: There has been much talk of a picture of Mark Herring in blackface existing in a UVA Sigma Chi fraternity yearbook from his time there. Herring stated that he spoke with "college friends" about his appearance in blackface and double checked if anyone had photo evidence of his indiscretions. Herring claims to not know if there is a photo, but does anyone really believe him? The Republican Party of Virginia   more

JOHNSTON, Iowa, March 4 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the following remarks by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo at Johnston High School: SECRETARY POMPEO: "Well, good afternoon, everyone." AUDIENCE: "Good afternoon." SECRETARY POMPEO: "Are you ready to have some fun?" AUDIENCE: "Yes." SECRETARY POMPEO: "I have a rule, no boring speeches, so you let me know if I get it or if I don't, all right? "Chase, Grace, thank you so much for those great introductions. I get a chance to gi  more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued the following floor remarks regarding the Democrat Politician Protection Act: "This week, Democrats in the House are expected to pass the sweeping legislation I call the Democrat Politician Protection Act. It aims to give Washington D.C. vast new control over elections, give tax dollars to political campaigns, and give election lawyers more opportunities to determine the outcome of elections. Today I want to discu  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on March 7, on the Green New Deal: Mr. President, for all of the Senate's vaunted traditions about grand debates, we very rarely practice the actual art--the real back and forth, the exchange of ideas. For weeks now, we have heard our Republican colleagues come to the floor and rail against the Green New Deal, as the leader just did. Democrats have simply b  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on March 7, on voting rights: Mr. President, on another matter, voting rights, today marks the 54th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the protest march in Selma, AL, that led ultimately to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. It was one of the most noble acts in American history. The courage of those who marched across that bridge, including our colleague, Jo  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- The District of Columbia Republican Party issued the following news: The DC Republican Party's Chairman Jose Cunningham called upon the DC Council to convene a special committee in order to investigate the alleged wrongdoings of Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2). Cunningham noted, "News reports indicate that Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans inappropriately used his government position to conduct private business. DC Councilmembers should not be enriching themselves on t  more

SOMERVILLE, Massachusetts, March 5 -- Tufts University issued the following news release: * * * - March 12 event is part of the Tisch College Distinguished Speaker Series * * * The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University will host former U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, for a conversation about the Senate, presidential politics and the current state of the Republican Party. The event, part of the Tisch College Distinguished Speaker Series, will take place on Tuesday, Marc  more

TRIANGLE, Virginia, March 8 -- The United Mine Workers of America issued the following statement by International President Cecil E. Roberts: "A rogue group of members of the West Virginia House of Delegates has introduced resolutions to remove or censure Del. Mike Caputo for actions taken during a protest against a racist display sponsored by the West Virginia Republican Party last week. These resolutions serve to only ratify the racism so clearly demonstrated in the Capitol Rotunda. "Mike ha  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, March 7 -- The Virginia Republican Party issued the following news: Today, the Republican Party of Virginia, the Virginia Republican Congressional Caucus, Virginia Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Ryan McDougle, and Virginia House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert jointly issued the following statement in condemnation of anti-Semitism: "All that is required for evil to prevail is for men and women of goodwill to stand by and do nothing. Anti-Semitism is on the rise throughout   more

LANSING, Michigan, March 7 -- The Michigan Republican Party issued the following news: Since announcing her highly controversial 45-cent gas tax hike, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has repeatedly told the people of Michigan that she was not aware of the severity of Michigan's road issues; thus, necessitating the tax hike. She has also claimed that her lack of knowledge on the issue is the reason why she called Bill Schuette's allegation that she would raise the fuel tax by 20-cents "ridiculous". Ho  more