Latest news with #MikeTurner
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's cuts to NPR, PBS and foreign aid clear Congress
WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled House voted 216-213 to give final passage to a bill cutting $9 billion in spending that had already been approved, sending it to President Donald Trump to become law. The cuts aimed at public media and foreign aid passed in another middle-of-the-night vote on Capitol Hill, one day after the Senate voted 51-48 after 2 a.m. Thursday to approve the measure. Two Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing the package in the House: Reps. Mike Turner of Ohio and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. The measure cuts $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funding for NPR and PBS. It cuts $8 billion more from foreign aid, including to the U.S. Agency for International Development and programs to promote global health and refugee assistance. But planned cuts to PEPFAR were removed from the package in recent days, leaving funding for the popular Bush-era foreign aid program to combat HIV/AIDS intact. The package, which was requested by the White House, passed both chambers with only Republican votes through a rarely used 'rescissions' process that can bypass the 60-vote threshold in the Senate. GOP leaders touted it as a bid to slash 'woke and wasteful' spending by the government. 'This bill tonight is part of continuing that trend of getting spending under control. Does it answer all the problems? No. Nine billion dollars, I would say, is a good start, and hopefully we do more things like this,' said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. Democrats unified to oppose the package, slamming the cuts as cruel, detrimental to American leadership and a cynical attempt by the GOP to appear fiscally responsible after it added $3.3 trillion to the debt in its party-line megabill that passed Congress this month. Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, said in a statement that the bill would have "profound, lasting, negative consequences for every American." "For nearly six decades, public media has served families in every corner of America, especially rural and tribal communities, providing extraordinary vital content and services free of charge," she said. The cuts would lead to many local public radio and television stations shutting shut down, meaning "millions of Americans will have less trustworthy information about their communities, states, country, and world," she added. NPR in a statement after the vote condemned it as "an unwarranted dismantling of beloved local civic institutions, and an act of Congress that disregards the public will." Katherine Maher, president and CEO of NPR, said rural communities will feel the brunt of the negative impacts. "Public radio is also a lifeline, connecting rural communities to the rest of the nation, and providing life-saving emergency broadcasting and weather alerts," Maher said. "Nearly 3-in-4 Americans say they rely on their public radio stations for alerts and news for their public safety." The House voted after Republican leaders quelled a rebellion from their members on the Rules Committee who wanted a vote on requiring the government to release files relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an issue that has divided the MAGA wing of the party in recent days. They placated those GOP lawmakers by approving a separate 'rule,' setting up a vote as soon as next week on a symbolic resolution calling for the release of certain Epstein documents. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who has proposed a separate Epstein-related measure that would carry the force of law, called the move by his party's leaders a stunt. 'Congress thinks you're stupid,' Massie said on X. 'The rules committee passed a NON-BINDING Epstein resolution, hoping folks will accept it as real. It forces the release of NOTHING.' Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said the Massie proposal, co-authored by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., has 'teeth.' By contrast, he said, the version Republicans are advancing is 'a meaningless, hortatory, fig leaf, Swiss cheese resolution that has no teeth at all.' 'It doesn't even have dentures. It's all cavities,' Raskin said. (Democrats, eager to fan the flames of Republican infighting, have embraced to push to release Epstein documents.) Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, called the domestic cuts an attempt to 'defund left-wing state sponsored outlets.' Other Republicans — most notably Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who voted against the measure — warned that the NPR and PBS cuts could be damaging to rural areas that rely on public broadcasting. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., said, 'The public will remember who stood with Big Bird and who strangled him.' The bill had to return to the House after the Senate trimmed it from $9.4 billion, removing $400 million in proposed cuts to PEPFAR, which numerous Republicans said they support. Before the vote, top Democrats in both chambers warned that the GOP was strangling the bipartisan nature of government funding by undoing previously approved spending on a partisan basis. They also said the rescissions package cedes too much power to the executive branch. 'I am deeply fearful that, at a time when appropriators must come together to defend our power of the purse, the path the majority has chosen will only survive to degrade the efficacy and credibility of what we are doing in this room,' Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the ranking member on the Appropriations Committee, said before the House vote. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nurses rally against ‘Big Beautiful Bill' Medicaid cuts
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Registered nurses are teaming up across the nation to push for change. National Nurses United is the nation's largest union of registered nurses. On Tuesday, they planned rallies at lawmakers' offices in eight different states, urging lawmakers to vote against proposed Medicaid cuts in the GOP reconciliation package. Senate passes big, beautiful bill 2 NEWS visited Congressman Mike Turner's office, where dozens of registered nurses showed up to protest against a decision they say could cost thousands of lives. There are almost 80 million Americans enrolled in Medicaid as of March 2025. Medicaid provides healthcare coverage to all types of Americans, including vulnerable populations like the elderly, disabled and children. 'We all know someone who depends on Medicaid, and for many families, this is life or death,' said Irma Westmoreland, National Nurses United vice president. 'For our friends, for our community, for our relatives, Medicaid and Ohio Medicaid provides necessary resources to many, so that they can live a full, productive life.' Specifically, these registered nurses showed up to ask Rep. Turner to vote against the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' Act. They said his initial condemnation of attacks of federal works and co-sponsoring the Protect America's Workforce Act gave them hope that he would stand by them. However, in light of his latest votes and the Senate decision today to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill, nurses are now asking him to make a critical choice. 'We've seen you do what's right, and we need you to stand up with us now more than ever. Representative Turner, do you want to be on the side of billionaire donors, or do you want to support the patients and the loved ones that we care for each and everyday?' said Westmoreland. 2 NEWS reached out to Turner's office for comment and are waiting to hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Telegraph
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Pentagon has plan to take Greenland ‘by force if necessary'
Pete Hegseth revealed the Pentagon has drafted plans to take Greenland and Panama 'by force if necessary'. The defence secretary let slip the existence of the contingency plans during a heated exchange with Democrat Representative Adam Smith. During a congressional hearing on Thursday, Mr Smith asked Mr Hegseth if it is 'the policy of the department of defence that we need to be prepared to take Greenland and Panama by force if necessary'. 'I don't think the American people voted for President Trump because they were hoping we would invade Greenland,' the Democrat added. In response Mr Hegseth said: 'Our job at the defence department is to have plans for any particular contingency. 'Any contingency, we've got. We've got a building full of planners, and we're prepared to give recommendations whenever needed.' Representative Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican, then pressed Mr Hegseth to make it clear if he was confirming the existence of plans to invade Greenland telling him that he was a lawyer and 'I just want to help you out because people try to twist your words.' 'You are not confirming in your testimony today that at the Pentagon, there are plans for invading or taking by force Greenland, correct? That is not your testimony today?' Mr Turner asked. The defence secretary did not clarify his statement further, responding: 'All my testimony is is that the Pentagon has plans for any number of contingencies.' He also said that he looks forward to helping protect Greenland from 'potential threats'. Drawing up contingency plans for potential conflicts is not unusual at the Pentagon, although the revelation comes after repeated assertions by Donald Trump that he would like to make Greenland part of US territory, and has not ruled out using military force to make that happen. In fact, Mr Trump tried to bounce Denmark into selling Greenland, which is geographically in North America, during his first presidency – but was rebuffed. Mr Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr visited the territory earlier this year, and was pictured with Maga hat-wearing locals. At the time, the US president posted to Truth Social: 'I am hearing that the people of Greenland are 'MAGA'. 'Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation. We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!' When JD Vance, the vice-president, visited in March he told US soldiers at Pituffik Space Base: '[America] can make [Greenland] much more secure. We can do a lot more protection, and I think they'll fare a lot better economically as well. 'This has to happen, and the reason it has to happen, I hate to say it, is because our friends in Denmark have not done their job in keeping this area safe.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$1.8 million awarded to Dayton airport for runway rehab
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — More than $1.8 million in federal funds will go toward the Dayton International Airport. Congressman Mike Turner announced that $1,812,000 has been awarded to the James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY). This funding is provided through the FAA's Airport Improvement Program. Funding will go toward refurbishing taxiway lighting at the Dayton Airport, as well as rehabilitate parts of the taxiway to minimize debris and to extend the life of the taxiway. 'This federal investment for Dayton International Airport underscores the critical role our airport plays in the economic impact to the Miami Valley region,' said Turner. 'The funding from the FAA will allow DAY to make the necessary renovations to extend the longevity of its taxiways for years to come.' Turner also announced $462,560 will go to the Greene County Lewis A. Jackson Regional Airport (GDK) to reseal parts of the airport terminal and tiedown apron to extend the useful life of the facilities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Diplomatic discussions with Balkan leaders held during NATO assembly
The Dayton NATO Parliamentary Assembly masked top-secret negotiations to ensure the pace in the Balkans is maintained. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] News Center 7's Mike Campbell was at Sinclair College, where those talks were being held. He will have the latest information LIVE on News Center 7 at 5:00. Congressman Mike Turner made it clear that the Dayton Accords have held the peace and stopped the bloodshed for 30 years. With seven heads of state from places like Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo all in Dayton, it was an opportunity that couldn't be passed up. 'The dialogue that happens means they will leave here with a to-do list for follow-up,' Turner said. We will continue to update this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
