Latest news with #GOP
22 minutes ago
- Business
Arizona governor caps off quarrelsome legislative session with budget approval
PHOENIX -- Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed on Friday a bipartisan budget that boosts pay for first responders and increases spending on social services, capping a quarrelsome session of the Republican-led Legislature that brought the state to the brink of a government shutdown. The first-term Democrat broke her veto record, sparred with Republicans over agency leadership nominations and got on board with bipartisan proposals that ruffled the feathers of some members of her party. The session unfolded while Hobbs' 2026 bid to hold the reins of the battleground state loomed large. Hobbs began the session with an uphill climb, confronting expanded Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Arizona is one of eight states where the governor's office and legislature are controlled by opposing parties. Hobbs' office chose to negotiate on just a handful of issues this session, including water policy, funding for some of Arizona's most vulnerable residents and renovations to a stadium used by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Legislature sent the governor a $17.6 billion budget after GOP lawmakers traded barbs with each other and Hobbs' office. The Senate approved one version, but it lacked votes in the House, leaving lawmakers in that chamber to introduce a measure meant to keep state operations running while negotiations continued. On Wednesday, Hobbs vetoed the proposal favored by House Republicans and the continuation measure, calling them partisan and reckless. House Speaker Steve Montenegro introduced amendments to the budget proposal Thursday, and the chamber passed it that night, clearing the way for the Senate to sign off. 'Our principles haven't changed. We've led responsibly in a divided government, fought to preserve conservative priorities, and made this budget better than it would have been without us,' Montenegro said in a statement Friday. Hobbs indicated last fall that she was willing to work with President Donald Trump's administration on border security issues like stopping fentanyl trafficking and followed up in January calling the Laken Riley Act 'an important step forward" in a post on the social platform X. The act requires detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crime. Hobbs' stance drew praise from GOP Senate President Warren Petersen, while members of her own party criticized the measure. She signed an executive order in February to create a task force that would oversee expanded operations at the border, but she later vetoed a measure that would have required local and state officials to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Senate Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan, a Democrat, said her caucus pushed Hobbs to limit spending on border support, saying it had 'drawn a hard line' and planned to withhold votes on the state budget until the border funding was reduced. Democratic Senate Assistant Minority Leader Sen. Catherine Miranda, who voted against the budget, said last week that she could not support a budget that has language that opens the door to immigration enforcement. 'And while I know that Gov. Hobbs has promised she will not use the Local Border Support Fund to enforce immigrant laws, the language included in a bill has as much impact as the actual policy implementation,' Miranda said. Progressive lobbyist Marilyn Rodriguez said she would have liked to see Hobbs take a less hawkish posture on border security. Despite some frustrations, House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos said the budget delivers on priorities that include public education, Medicaid and expanded health care for certain patients. 'We also make big investments to bring down the cost of childcare and make college tuition free for Arizona's students from working families,' he said in a statement. Hobbs is no stranger to the veto pen, which she has wielded to knock down what she considers proposals that are out of touch with the state's purple electorate. This year, she vetoed about 170 bills, including an attempt to speed up the counting of ballots. She's repeatedly accused state Sen. Jake Hoffman, who chairs the Legislature's Freedom Caucus, for politicizing the confirmations of her agency head nominees. Her fight with Republicans over funding for a state agency that provides services for some of Arizona's most vulnerable residents led to a moratorium on bill signing, and she has criticized Republicans for hitting the breaks on a proposal that could have led to increased regulation of groundwater pumping in rural areas of the drought-stricken state. Hobbs has said she'd take action on the water front in the absence of a legislative deal, which could set up another round of sparring with Republican lawmakers as she prepares to seek another term. endorsed by the president.
Politico
39 minutes ago
- Business
- Politico
Trump pushes Thune to crack down on wind and solar in megabill
President Donald Trump is urging Senate Majority Leader John Thune to crack down on tax credits for wind and solar energy as part of the GOP megabill, siding with House conservatives who want to phase out those credits more quickly, according to three people familiar with the negotiations. The late-stage effort has involved direct conversations between Trump and Thune over the past two days. The intervention from Trump centers around a technical provision that could determine whether hundreds of planned projects are able to qualify for the wind and solar incentives, according to the people granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the conversations. The president's involvement has emerged as a complicating factor as Republicans aim to start voting on the megabill as soon as Saturday. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a close Trump ally, confirmed that Trump is directly involved in the push to further temper the Inflation Reduction Act credits. 'I talked to POTUS about it this morning and he certainly wants the renewables out ASAP,' Cramer said Friday. The approach pushed by Trump would match restrictive language in the House-passed reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, that would determine eligibility for wind and solar investment and production tax credits based on when those projects enter into service. It's a departure from Senate Finance Committee language backed by moderates allowing projects to receive credits based on when they begin construction. It's unclear whether Thune plans to include the so-called 'placed in service' standard in the final bill text. Doing so would put moderate senators who have pushed a slower schedule for sunsetting those incentives in a major bind, forcing them to choose between rejecting Trump's agenda or allowing the gutting of tax credits that could lead to canceled projects, job losses and higher electricity prices in their states. Thune's office and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday. Trump's new push follows his Truth Social post last weekend declaring, 'I HATE 'GREEN TAX CREDITS' IN THE GREAT, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL.' Renewable energy industry officials and advocates argue that a 'placed in service' requirement is difficult for energy project developers because their timelines could be derailed by permitting delays, snags in connecting projects to the grid and other factors outside their control. Such a requirement would functionally end the credits for many planned projects, they say. Reverting to more restrictive placed in service language would likely see pushback from moderate senators such as Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who said Thursday that such a move would be 'disastrous in my state.' Another moderate who has pushed back on IRA rollbacks, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), declined to say Friday night whether he had heard about a decision on placed in service language, but called the Senate Finance Committee's approach 'a more rational way of doing it.' 'There are lawsuits, regulatory hurdles and other things that would make it virtually impossible to get [projects] in service' even if they are essentially complete and would otherwise qualify, Tillis said. Some Senate conservatives have backed the change, which they said will help keep Republicans' campaign promise to end the Inflation Reduction Act subsidies. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said earlier this week 'there is a strong commitment to end the Green New Deal subsidies by the end of President Trump's term' — an objective, he said, 'that we're working hard to accomplish.' The effort has been supported by outside conservative voices in recent days, including Alex Epstein, a vocal opponent of wind and solar subsidies who has met with Senate Republicans in recent weeks. Epstein said Friday night that Trump is 'aware that the Senate had watered down in some significant way what the House did.' But he said moving to a placed in service standard is not a done deal and he is 'not letting up myself until I see a law with this in it.' Leading Trump officials like Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who also chairs the National Energy Dominance Council, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, have also repeatedly criticized wind and solar energy, arguing those intermittent resources are unreliable and overly reliant on tax subsidies. In a post to X Friday night, Burgum wrote that Trump 'promised to reverse the Biden administration's disastrous energy policies, and the One Big Beautiful Bill delivers on this promise by ending the Green New Scam and investing in reliable, affordable baseload power!'
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Republican to Retire as Democrats Eye Potential House Seat: Reports
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Nebraska Republican Representative Don Bacon is set to retire, according to numerous media outlets on Friday, setting the stage for Democrats to go all in on the competitive House seat. Newsweek reached out to Bacon's office in Washington, D.C., via phone Friday night and left a voicemail. Why It Matters Republicans currently maintain a slim majority in the House of Representatives, after taking control of Congress, the Senate and the White House following the 2024 elections. Bacon's decision not to run again underscores growing tensions and internal divisions within the Republican Party, particularly as moderates like Bacon have voiced concerns over the GOP's direction and the influence of its far-right faction. With Democrats looking ahead to the midterms next year, on the heels of a presidential loss and amid their own party's uncertainty, the opening of Bacon's seat presents a key opportunity. What To Know According to several media outlets on Friday, Bacon will not seek reelection. Axios reports that he will make the announcement on Monday, citing two sources familiar with the matter. The news website based in Arlington, Virginia, also says, citing a source close to the issue, that Republicans have two potential contenders to fill Bacon's seat: Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson and former Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert. Bacon has served Nebraska in Congress since 2017, winning multiple competitive races in the state's 2nd Congressional District, an area that has seen increasingly close contests between Republicans and Democrats in recent election cycles. The district seat encompasses the city of Omaha, among others, and was won by both former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and ex-President Joe Biden in 2020. Bacon has distinguished himself by criticizing both the far-right faction in the House and President Donald Trump. The Nebraska Republican has publicly opposed the president on key issues like questioning his tariff powers. Margins this close in the House mean that any vacancy, particularly in a swing district like Bacon's, could significantly impact the party's legislative agenda and ability to pass bills. Republican leadership, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, has emphasized the stakes, saying that this Congress represents a mandate handed down by Trump's decisive election win. Punchbowl News was the first to report Bacon's impending plans. GOP Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska arrives for a House Republican conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 6 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by) GOP Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska arrives for a House Republican conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 6 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by) What People Are Saying Madison Andrus, spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in a statement on Friday: "The writing has been on the wall for months. Nebraskans are tired of the false promises that Republicans are trying to sell and they want real results." Andrus added, "Don Bacon's decision to not seek reelection in 2026 is the latest vote of no-confidence for House Republicans and their electoral prospects. Next November, Nebraskans are going to elect a Democrat who will actually deliver for them." What Happens Next The contest to replace Bacon is expected to attract significant national attention and funding from both major parties. Democratic and Republican candidates are likely to contest the newly open seat in a high-profile, expensive race. The official field of candidates will form over the coming months, ahead of the 2026 primary and general elections. Further leadership and committee shifts in the House may follow, as the composition of Congress changes with each new vacancy.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Key House GOP centrist will not seek reelection, opening up major swing seat battle
GOP Rep. Don Bacon, who represents one of House Republicans' toughest battleground districts, has decided not to run for reelection next year, according to three people familiar with his plans – opening up a critical seat in Nebraska for Democrats in the 2026 midterms. Bacon will formally make the announcement next week, likely on Monday, those people said. Bacon did not return a immediate request for comment from CNN. The departure of the centrist Republican will be a major loss for House GOP leaders, who will need to hang onto every GOP seat to maintain their narrow majority in the upcoming midterms. But his decision does not come as a shock to many House Republicans, who believe the retired Air Force officer has been telegraphing his plans to leave Congress, including through his voting record. Bacon, who was first elected in 2016, has long been weighing whether to seek reelection, making little secret of his frustration with Washington. His victory last fall was seen as one of the biggest Republican surprises in the country, given that he outperformed Donald Trump and overcame stiff Republican headwinds in his Omaha-area district. The outspoken Nebraskan has been one of the few Republicans willing to challenge Trump on key decisions in his second term, particularly on foreign policy issues like Ukraine. Some privately believe he could seek a run for the presidency in 2028. House Democrats were already feeling upbeat about their chances of retaking the majority, which would only require flipping a handful of seats next November. The party's campaign officials point to the long-time historical trends that show new presidential administrations enduring steep losses in their first midterm – as Trump did during his first term in the 2018 wave. Some Republicans, too, privately fear a blue wave, but they also point to key factors in their favor, including redistricting battles in red states like Ohio that will easily favor the GOP. They also believe Trump's personal involvement in 2026 – including his fundraising – will be crucial to turning out his voters that largely sat out the 2018 midterm. CNN's Manu Raju contributed to this report.
CNN
an hour ago
- Business
- CNN
Senate barrels toward weekend vote on Trump agenda as GOP support still in limbo
President Donald Trump's push to pass his massive agenda in the Senate is hanging by thread as GOP leaders barrel toward a critical vote this weekend that, as of Friday night, is still short of the support to pass. Just hours after Senate Majority Leader John Thune informed senators they would take a critical first vote on Saturday, a key GOP centrist senator warned he would vote against proceeding to the package unless there are major changes – and several other holdouts are uncertain on how they'll land. That warning shot came from Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who is up for reelection next November and has been one of the most vocal critics of the Medicaid cuts used to help pay for Trump's tax cuts and spending cuts package. Speaking to reporters Friday, Tillis again raised concerns over the bill's 'fundamentals' and cuts to Medicaid and suggested his vote wouldn't change unless the measure 'transforms radically overnight.' Losing Tillis on Saturday's expected procedural vote – which will be closely watched by Trump – would be a major blow to Senate GOP leaders, who can only afford to lose three Republican votes to advance the bill. Thune and GOP leaders have spent months building to this moment, racing to draft the bill as quickly as possible in an effort to ensure Trump's agenda is on his desk by the Fourth of July. If the bill fails its first procedural vote on Saturday, GOP leaders will have to retool the package, amounting to a huge setback for Trump. And it's not just about that Independence Day timeline: GOP leaders fear that any delay in passing Trump's agenda would embolden the party's critics to seek more changes – which could lead their fragile coalition to fall apart. Already, outspoken fiscal hawk Sen. Rand Paul is planning to vote against it over the plan's inclusion of a $5 trillion debt-limit increase. And Tillis is not the only Republican threatening to oppose the bill over the proposed cuts to Medicaid. Sens. Josh Hawley, Lisa Murkowski, Jerry Moran and Susan Collins have all made similar remarks as they've worked with leadership to trim those provisions. But simply restoring that Medicaid funding may not be enough to win Thune those votes on the floor – it could also cost him votes among Senate GOP hardliners. Sen. Ron Johnson has railed on how the bill is projected to balloon the budget deficit, and another fiscal hawk, Sen. Mike Lee, has suggested he and Johnson along with Sen. Rick Scott could vote as a bloc on Saturday. None have yet to say how they'll vote on the key initial procedural vote Saturday. If all goes to plan, Senate leaders will land the 51 GOP votes to formally begin debating Trump's agenda and then tee up one of the chamber's storied traditions: a series of round-the-clock amendment votes known as vote-a-rama. Democrats will use this overnight session to push on any number of GOP weak points on the bill, particularly Medicaid and other safety net programs. The Senate could then vote on final passage sometime in the middle of the night Saturday or Sunday morning. And if successful, the House would return mid-week to take up the bill with the hope of Trump signing it at the White House on July 4. One of the biggest hurdles for Republicans is the race to rewrite text in compliance with the Senate's complex budget rules, which are governed by the nonpartisan parliamentarian. In recent days, the parliamentarian has ruled against key GOP provisions – from the so-called provider tax, which helps states fund their Medicaid programs to some provisions of a government spectrum auction. That forces the Senate GOP to dial back those provisions, or else Trump's bill would be subject to a Democratic filibuster. Several Republicans said Friday night they need to see the final bill text – which has not been released – before judging whether they would open debate on the sweeping measure. 'I don't have the bill, how can I vote on something I don't know' what's in it, Johnson said. Hawley, who has been deeply concerned about Medicaid cuts, also said the vote hinges on what's in the bill: 'Got to see the text.' Senate GOP leaders hope to release a mostly final version of the bill Friday night or Saturday morning, but the full version may not be ready before the anticipated Saturday vote to open debate, since the Senate Finance Committee is still furiously working to make sure its language complies with the budget rules. The Finance provisions are key because of both tax and health provisions – specifically, Medicaid. 'I still don't have final language from Finance yet, which obviously is of tremendous concern to me given the Medicaid provisions,' Collins said. Multiple GOP senators dismissed concerns about speeding ahead with the vote without final text in hand. 'We discussed this thing ad nauseam,' Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno said, estimating that Republicans have met on this bill for 'thousands' of hours so far this year. 'The final tax is not out. But we know where we are going.' Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri added: 'When you have legislation like this, you're going to have things you need to work through until the very end.' This story has been updated with additional details.
