U.S. Politics

[Rick Plant]

2 new polls have come out from key races in Pennsylvania with both showing large leads for Democrats.

Pennsylvania Senate:
Fetterman (D) 49% (+9)
Oz (R) 40%

Pennsylvania Governor:
Josh Shapiro (D) 51% (+12)
Doug Mastriano (R) 39%

https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1552010828307636224   

[Rick Plant]

GOP 'working hand in hand with big pharma' to kill drug price reform behind closed doors



Republican lawmakers are working behind closed doors to convince the Senate parliamentarian—the chamber's unelected rules arbiter—to tank Democrats' impactful proposal to require Medicare to negotiate the prices of a small number of prescription drugs directly with pharmaceutical companies.

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a major beneficiary of pharmaceutical industry campaign cash, admitted as much in remarks to reporters on Tuesday, saying that he and his GOP colleagues are "going through line by line, literally, making objections" in private meetings with the Senate parliamentarian, who is tasked with offering advice on whether reconciliation provisions comply with chamber rules.

"Folks in Idaho need to know he's not working for them—he's working for Big Pharma."

Under the Senate's Byrd Rule, every provision of a reconciliation package must have a direct, not "merely incidental," impact on the federal budget. Democrats contend their Medicare proposal meets that requirement, citing the Congressional Budget Office's recent estimate that the plan would save the federal government $290 billion over 10 years.

But Crapo insisted Tuesday that "there are many Byrd objections," and Politico reported that Democrats are currently "making tweaks" to the legislation to ensure it survives the parliamentarian's scrutiny—even though the official's opinions are nonbinding and can be overruled.

"Republicans are working hand in hand with Big Pharma to try to block Democrats from lowering drug prices," warned Social Security Works, a progressive advocacy group.

The GOP's efforts come as the pharmaceutical industry is mobilizing its huge army of Capitol Hill lobbyists in a last-ditch campaign to defeat Democrats' plan, which would require Medicare to directly negotiate the prices of a subset of prescription drugs—an idea that is overwhelmingly popular with the U.S. public.

Advocates and experts say the Democrats' bill could have a significant effect on prices for seniors and people with disabilities, given that a small number of medicines account for a major portion of Medicare's prescription drug spending.

"Sen. Mike Crapo is proud that he's trying to gut legislation to lower drug prices supported by more than 70% of Americans," said David Mitchell, the founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs. "Legislation to improve health and save Americans money. Folks in Idaho need to know he's not working for them—he's working for Big Pharma."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is aiming to get the Medicare proposal as well as a plan to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies through the chamber before the August recess, which is set to begin next week.

In the face of unanimous Republican opposition, Democrats will need the support of all fifty senators in their caucus to pass the reconciliation package, which is exempt from the 60-vote filibuster.

"Republicans are going to use every tool they have to keep drug prices high and drug industry profits higher," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) warned Tuesday.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) added that "every single elected Republican in the Senate is about to vote against reducing the cost of prescription drugs for those on Medicare."

"This is not a show vote or a symbolic thing—we are going to make a new law," Schatz wrote. "It will save seniors thousands of dollars a year."

https://twitter.com/brianschatz/status/1551981523347410944

[Rick Plant]

BREAKING: The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would provide subsidies for the production of semiconductor chips, technology the Biden administration says is critical to the United States' economy and national security.

Senate passes Chips Act to subsidize semiconductor chip production



The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would provide subsidies for the production of semiconductor chips, technology the Biden administration says is critical to the United States' economy and national security. The final vote was 64-33.

The bill still needs to pass the House before it can go to President Biden's desk for his signature. Democrats hope to pass the legislation through both chambers before August recess. The House passed a similar bill to support semiconductor chip production earlier this year, but Democrats have since negotiated further to reach an agreement that could pass both chambers.

"As Americans are worried about the state of the economy and the cost of living, the CHIPS bill is one answer: it will accelerate the manufacturing of semiconductors in America, lowering prices on everything from cars to dishwashers," Mr. Biden said in a statement. "It also will create jobs – good-paying jobs right here in the United States. It will mean more resilient American supply chains, so we are never so reliant on foreign countries for the critical technologies that we need for American consumers and national security. I want to thank senators in both parties for their hard work on this legislation."

The CHIPS for America Act, short for the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act, would designate $52 billion in subsidies and offer an investment tax credit to encourage semiconductor companies to boost manufacturing in the U.S. Mr. Biden held a virtual meeting Monday with CEOs and labor leaders to discuss the bill, to send the message that the U.S. relies too heavily on China for chips that power electronics, medical supplies and defense equipment. The president wants to sign the bill as soon as possible. At the time, the president also made the case that increasing semiconductor production "here at home" will help fight inflation.

"One-third of the core inflation last year in 2021 — one-third of it — was due to the high price of automobiles," he said. "You know why that's driven? That's driven by an inability to manufacture more automobiles. Why? The shortage of semiconductors."

National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons lauded the bill's passage in the Senate.

"The CHIPS-Plus Act will deliver a powerful boost to manufacturers' competitiveness," he said in a statement. "Manufacturers across all sectors rely on access to chips, so this bill will help strengthen American supply chains thanks to its investments in domestic semiconductor production—as well as its funding for programs to support the STEM workforce, advanced technology development, excavation of critical minerals, clean energy and more. Manufacturers have worked with lawmakers for more than a year to advance many provisions of this bill, and we urge the House to pass it as quickly as possible and get it to President Biden's desk."

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo pointed out during an interview with CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that the U.S. currently doesn't make any of the "leading edge" semiconductors, the sophisticated chips needed for military equipment and high-end computing. "We buy almost all of them from Taiwan ... 90% we purchase from Taiwan," she told moderator Margaret Brennan. The U.S., she argued, needs American companies to expand their production. Other European countries also provide incentives, Raimondo noted.

On Sunday, Raimondo was confident the bill would reach Mr. Biden's desk. "This will be a big bipartisan vote in the House and the Senate," she predicted.

She also pushed back against criticism from both the left and the right. Senator Bernie Sanders has called the bill a blank check for the the microchip industry. Raimondo said the bill clearly has bipartisan support.

"I fully dispute Sen. Sanders' characterization of this. It isn't a blank check," Raimondo said on Sunday. "There are many strings attached. Strings attached — companies can't use this money to build facilities in other countries. Companies who accept this money can't then turn around and be building facilities in China for leading edge technology. There's a lot of strings attached around the quality of jobs that have to be created, working with small contractors and minority-owned contractors. There are labor protections. So to say it's a blank check is just dead wrong."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-chips-act-subsidize-semiconductor-chip-production/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&linkId=174986862

[Rick Plant]

President Biden @POTUS

The CHIPS for America Act is about more than just semiconductors.
 
It unlocks significant investments in American science and technology that will power our economy and national security for decades to come.

I took a moment today to watch the Senate pass the CHIPS and Science Act, a bipartisan bill that will accelerate semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S.

It will lower prices, create jobs, and – critically – decrease our reliance on imported chips.

The House should pass it ASAP.



https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1552346838229032960

[Rick Plant]

Bill Pascrell, Jr. @Bill Pascrell

Mcconnell republicans tonight blocked veteran cancer care. The republican party is a disgrace.

55-42: Senate BLOCKS the House-passed bill expanding access to VA healthcare and disability benefits for veterans exposed to toxins during their military service (PACT Act) from advancing to final passage. 60 votes were needed.



https://twitter.com/BillPascrell/status/1552459780446470144

[Rick Plant]

President Biden @POTUS

My statement on the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.



https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1552420233578700800

[Rick Plant]

This woman is a disgusting liar. 20 Republicans voted against combating human trafficking. These 20 Republicans are the lowest of the low.

Marjorie Taylor Greene votes against human trafficking bill hours after accusing Democrats of doing nothing
 


United States Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) joined 20 House Republicans on Tuesday afternoon in voting against a bill aimed at combating human trafficking.

The other lawmakers to say "nay" were Brian Babin (Texas), Andy Biggs (Arizona), Lauren Boebert (Colorado), Mo Brooks (Alabama), Ken Buck (Colorado), Andrew Clyde (Georgia), Louie Gohmert (Texas), Paul Gosar (Arizona), Andy Harris (Maryland), Jody Hice (Georgia), Thomas Massie (Kentucky), Tom McClintock (California), Mary Miller (Illinois), Troy Nehls (Texas), Ralph Norman (South Carolina), Scott Perry (Perry), Chip Roy (Texas), and Van Taylor (Texas).

Greene, however, cast her vote mere hours after accusing Democrats of not doing enough to protect the lives of victims.

"How can anyone who voted for Democrats not be offended by this? Dems said they care about children in cages & migrants, yet migrants are dying everyday, women are raped, and kids are being trafficked. All while Dems send $54+ billion to defend Ukraine’s border and NOT our own," she tweeted early Tuesday morning.

The proposal, which was passed by the House of Representatives, calls for allocating $1.1 billion over five years to renew and strengthen the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.

On Wednesday, The Hill reported that "according to the measure, local educational agencies operating in a high-intensity sex trafficking area or a location with significant child labor trafficking would be prioritized for Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking Prevention Education Grants. Local educational agencies that work with nonprofit organizations focused on human trafficking prevention education and partner with law enforcement would also be prioritized, among other groups."

The outlet added that "the legislation would also reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security’s Angel Watch Center, which is meant to prevent international sex tourism travel perpetrated by child sex offenders, and improve trafficking prevention education for children by including parents and law enforcement in child trafficking and online grooming prevention. Additionally, it would allocate $35 million each fiscal year for housing options that would help women living with their abusers separate themselves."



Read More Here: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3576150-gaetz-among-20-house-republicans-who-voted-against-anti-human-trafficking-bill/