logo
House lawmakers are now getting $5,000 a month for personal security guards

House lawmakers are now getting $5,000 a month for personal security guards

If you're a lawmaker looking to purchase a new home security system, now's the time to do it.
The House Administration Committee announced on Tuesday that members of the House of Representatives can now spend $20,000 on home security improvements with public funds, up from $10,000 before.
They're also getting $5,000 a month to spend on personal security, including hired security guards, back in their home states. That's an increase from just $150 before, and it's set to last through September 30, the end of the fiscal year.
The change is coming days before the House heads home for the August recess, when many lawmakers will be back in their districts and interacting with constituents, including at town halls.
Politicians have been able to spend campaign funds on personal security, and many of them already do. Wealthier lawmakers may choose to hire security with their own money as well.
The changes come a month after two Minnesota state lawmakers were shot in their homes in what the Department of Justice has called "targeted political assassinations."
The speaker of the Minnesota House, Melissa Hortman, died of her injuries along with her husband Mark. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot, but survived.
Other lawmakers have faced threats to their lives in recent months.
The most recent was Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, whose Bronx office was vandalized after she voted against an amendment to a defense spending bill that would have struck funding for Israel's "Iron Dome" defensive missile system.
A spokesman for the congresswoman, Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben, said on X on Monday that her office had "received multiple threats on the Congresswoman's life and we are treating this seriously with our security partners to make sure she, our staff, and volunteers are safe."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

President Donald Trump endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan U.S. Senate race
President Donald Trump endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan U.S. Senate race

Yahoo

time23 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

President Donald Trump endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan U.S. Senate race

President Donald Trump endorsed former congressman Mike Rogers July 24 in his Republican bid for an open U.S. Senate seat. Trump announced the endorsement on his Truth Social media platform in a move that strengthened already strong expectations that Rogers, who lost narrowly to U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024, will again be the Republican nominee in 2026, this time for a seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township. 'I'm grateful to have President Trump's complete and total endorsement," Rogers said in a news release. 'He knows that we have what it takes to win this seat and deliver real results for hard-working families." On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, announced on X that he would not run for the U.S. Senate, after discussions with his family and "in consultation with President Trump." That announcement largely cleared the field of major potential challengers to Rogers. Huizenga did not say whether he would seek a ninth term in Congress, where he represents the 4th Congressional District and where Republicans hold a slim majority in the U.S. House going into the midterm elections. Rogers, a former FBI agent from Livingston County, served seven terms in Congress and became chair of the House Intelligence Committee before stepping down in 2015 to become a radio talk show host. Rogers also had Trump's endorsement in the 2024 U.S. Senate race. Republicans and Democrats will choose their respective U.S. Senate candidates in a primary election next year. Peters announced in January that he wouldn't seek a third six-year term, setting the stage for Michigan's second open seat U.S. Senate election in two years. A competitive race is developing on the Democratic side, where announced candidates include U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham; state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak; former state House Speaker Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit; and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed of Ann Arbor, a former Wayne County health director who sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018. Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate election in Michigan since former U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham won a single term in 1994. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: President Trump endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan U.S. Senate race

Cuomo: Mamdani has advantage as the Democrat on ballot
Cuomo: Mamdani has advantage as the Democrat on ballot

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Cuomo: Mamdani has advantage as the Democrat on ballot

New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo said in a Thursday interview that his opponent, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, has an advantage as the Democrat listed on the general election ballot this November. The former New York governor — who launched an independent bid after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary — said he fears voters will flock to the democratic socialist assembly member simply because he's listed as the Democrat. 'A multicandidate field favors Mamdani — because he's a socialist on the Democratic line. I'm a Democrat on an independent line,' Cuomo said in an interview on CNBC's 'Squawk Box.' 'Because politics is all upside down in this country right now,' he added. 'But you have a lot of people who knee-jerk go to the Democratic line, right? About 70 percent of the voters are Democrats in the general election, and he'll be on the Democratic line. So multicandidate field favors him,' Cuomo said. Cuomo formally announced he is running as an independent in New York City's mayoral race on July 14, shortly after losing the primary election to Mamdani. Mamdani defeated Cuomo by about 12 points, 56 percent to 44 percent, in the third round of ranked choice voting in the primary. Cuomo joins Mamdani, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the general election race. Mamdani's critics fear that a crowded general election could result in his opponents splitting the vote, easily handing Mamdani a victory. Cuomo has proposed an arrangement whereby he and Adams would agree that whoever is losing between the two would drop out of the race in mid-September and back the other, in order to consolidate support against Mamdani. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Philippine Supreme Court rules impeachment bid against vice president is unconstitutional
Philippine Supreme Court rules impeachment bid against vice president is unconstitutional

Hamilton Spectator

timean hour ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Philippine Supreme Court rules impeachment bid against vice president is unconstitutional

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine Supreme Court ruled Friday that an impeachment case filed against Vice President Sara Duterte violated the country's constitution due to a key technicality, a decision that blocks her upcoming trial over a raft of criminal allegations including her threat to have the president assassinated. The House of Representatives, which impeached Duterte in February and sent the case to the Senate for trial, violated a rule that only one impeachment case could be processed by the lower chamber against an impeachable official in a single year, court spokesperson Camille Ting said. The House received at least four separate impeachment cases against Duterte between December and February but only one was transmitted to the Senate, which would have served as an impeachment tribunal. The other three impeachment cases were placed in the House's order of business but were archived with no action and 'effectively dismissed,' according to the ruling. The ruling was 'immediately executory,' the court said. 'It is not our duty to favor any political result,' the court said in a statement, suggesting it did not pass judgement on the array of allegations. 'Ours is to ensure that politics are framed within the rule of just law.' Duterte's lawyers welcomed the decision, which they said upheld the rule of law. 'We remain prepared to address the allegations at the proper time and before the appropriate forum,' the attorneys in a statement. Duterte, 47, became the first vice president of the Philippines to be impeached by the House in February over an array of alleged high crimes. The accusations were led by her threat during a November online news conference to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife and cousin, then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez, killed by an assassin if she were killed herself during her high-profile disputes with them. The daughter of Marcos' controversial predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte , she also has been accused of large-scale corruption, sedition, terrorism and failing to openly support Philippine government efforts to oppose and denounce China's aggressive actions against Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea . Duterte allegedly backed her father's brutal crackdowns against illegal drugs that led to extrajudicial killings in their southern home city. Her impeachment trial was set to begin either next week or early next month by the 24-member Senate, which has convened to hear the case. If the Supreme Court ruling becomes final, the vice president's opponents could file another impeachment case after a year. Duterte ran as Marcos's running mate in 2022 on a campaign battle cry of unity in their deeply divided and poverty-stricken Southeast Asian country. Both were scions of strongmen accused of human rights violations, but their strong regional bases of political support combined to give them landslide victories. Their whirlwind political alliance, however, rapidly frayed when they took office. Duterte's father openly accused Marcos of being a weak leader and a drug addict even during the campaign, allegations the president denied. The vice president later resigned from her then-concurrent Cabinet post as educations secretary as the rifts between the two political families deepened. She later accused Marcos, his wife and Romualdez of corruption, weak leadership and attempting to muzzle her because of speculation she may seek the presidency in 2028 when Marcos's six-year term ends. Duterte made the comment about killing Marcos and his family members during a Nov. 23 news conference, a threat she warned wasn't a joke. Faced with the prospects of criminal lawsuits, Duterte later said she wasn't threatening him but was expressing concern for her own safety. Still, her statements set off a criminal investigation and national security concerns and prompted calls for her impeachment. Among the impeachment complaint signatories was the president's son, Rep. Sandro Marcos, and Romualdez. The petition urged the Senate to shift into an impeachment court to try the vice president, 'render a judgement of conviction,' remove her from office and ban her from holding public office. 'Duterte's conduct throughout her tenure clearly displays gross faithlessness against public trust and a tyrannical abuse of power that, taken together, showcases her gross unfitness to hold public office and her infidelity to the laws and the 1987 Constitution,' the complaint said. Last month, senators voted to send the raft of complaints back to the House due to legal questions, sparking street protests demanding Duterte's immediate trial. Then-Senate President Chiz Escudero said the move led by Duterte's allies in the Senate did not mean the impeachment complaint was being dismissed and issued a summons for Duterte to appear when the trial proceeds. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store