Dick Durbin, a Democrat, is the senior US senator from Illinois. He is chairman of the US Senate Judiciary Committee. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion articles on CNN. (CNN) It's Tuesday, November 8, 2022. A nurse in Georgia just finished a 12-hour shift. It's 6:15 p.m. She rushes to the polling site she's voted at every election year, only to discover that a long line awaits her. Parched and hungry after a long day, she won't find any assistance from good Samaritans offering water or food to voters in line -- because under Georgia's new restrictive voting law , such an offer would risk a criminal charge. Dick Durbin Her neighbors, an elderly couple, had hoped to vote early to avoid the long lines. They had planned to vote after church, but Georgia's new law allows counties to choose not to open for early voting on Sundays. As an alternative, they requested absentee ballots, but they didn't realize that they … [Read more...] about As states attack voter rights, Congress has to step in
John lewis
Politico: John Cornyn Willing to Find ‘Common Ground’ on Gun Control
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is reportedly talking to Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and is willing to search out “common ground” for gun control. Politico noted Cornyn was not comfortable supporting the current universal background check gun control proposals Democrats have put forward but could be open to more narrow offers. Cornyn mentioned having “quiet conversations” with Murphy for the purposes of “[finding] common ground.” Murphy also reached out to Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN). Politico observed Braun “said that he’d be open to a narrower attempt, but not the kind of comprehensive legislation Democrats want.” WAVE 3 TV indicated Braun came out in favor of “better background checks” and a red flag law in August 2019. His support for the gun control measures came after Indiana adopted a red flag law at the state level. Despite the red flag law, Indiana witnessed a high profile, mass public attack at a FedEx facility on April 15, 2021. Colorado has a red flag law and … [Read more...] about Politico: John Cornyn Willing to Find ‘Common Ground’ on Gun Control
Former GOP lawmaker calls idea of ‘America First’ caucus ‘racism in a jar’
Former Rep. Denver Riggleman Denver Riggleman Former GOP lawmaker calls idea of 'America First' caucus 'racism in a jar' Trump the X-factor in Virginia governor race Ex-Trump press secretary criticized for stirring up QAnon on Twitter MORE (R-Va.) blasted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Marjorie Taylor Greene Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she's meeting with Trump 'soon' in Florida QAnon site shutters after reports identifying developer Republicans head to runoff in GA-14 MORE (R-Ga.) for a now-scrapped plan to organize an "America First" caucus in the Republican party focused on Anglo-Saxon values and political philosophy. “It was sort of gobsmacking,” Riggleman said Monday on CNN's "New Day." “You read the first seven pages ... and it sounds like what happened to me in my district with the same sort of vile language, like racism in a jar.” Riggleman lost his seat in the U.S. House last June after being defeated in a GOP primary by … [Read more...] about Former GOP lawmaker calls idea of ‘America First’ caucus ‘racism in a jar’
15 Senate Republicans pledge to oppose lifting earmark ban
Fifteen Senate Republicans have signed a ‘Dear Colleague’ letter pledging to oppose lifting the earmark ban that has been a Senate GOP conference rule since 2010. Republican senators are expected to vote by secret ballot on the issue Wednesday. Senate Republicans will take up the issue after the House Republican Conference voted in March to lift the earmark ban it adopted in March of 2010, which effectively put a stop to lawmakers putting pet projects into spending bills. ADVERTISEMENT Sen. Mike Lee Michael (Mike) Shumway Lee Hillicon Valley: Apple approves Parler's return to App Store | White House scales back response to SolarWinds, Microsoft incidents | Pressure mounts on DHS over relationship with Clearview AI 15 Senate Republicans pledge to oppose lifting earmark ban Apple approves Parler's return to App Store MORE (Utah) and 14 other Senate Republicans on Monday informed colleagues they “stand committed to the ban on earmarks.” “We will not … [Read more...] about 15 Senate Republicans pledge to oppose lifting earmark ban
Miners union to back Biden on green energy if it retains jobs
The nation’s top miners union on Monday said it will back the White House’s plan to transition fossil fuel industries to renewable energy production if the Biden administration can guarantee the preservation of jobs. “There needs to be a tremendous investment here,” United Mine Workers of America President Cecil E. Roberts told The New York Times on Monday. “We always end up dealing with climate change, closing down coal mines. We never get to the second piece of it.” Roberts made the announcement Monday at an event with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Joe Manchin Joe Manchin On The Money: Treasury creates hub to fight climate change | Manchin throws support behind union-backed PRO Act | Consumer bureau rolls out rule to bolster CDC eviction ban Miners union to back Biden on green energy if it retains jobs Manchin throws support behind union-backed PRO Act MORE (D-W.Va.), whose vote will almost certainly be required for any major … [Read more...] about Miners union to back Biden on green energy if it retains jobs