Poli Alert Politics & Civics

Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams U.S. Rep. Chip Roy’s introduction Friday of a bill to make federal bureaucratic personnel at-will employees further stoked fears that marginalized workers will suffer discriminatory firings under a future Republican administration or even GOP-controlled Congress. The Public Service Reform Act “will empower federal agencies to swiftly …

Jacob Fischler, Alaska Beacon The U.S. House approved, 218-199, on Friday a massive package of bills to address the growing threat of wildfire and drought in the West. The measure includes 49 standalone bills from both Democrats and Republicans. It includes provisions to make permanent an increase in wildland firefighter …

Jacob Fischler, Florida Phoenix Environmental advocates largely praised the climate provisions in Senate Democrats’ massive taxes, health care, and energy bill released Wednesday night, saying even with provisions to help the fossil fuel industry the measure represents a historic step toward addressing the climate crisis. The 725-page bill — made …

As horror stories abound of the impact his Dobbs ruling is having on pregnant people across the United States, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito used his keynote address Thursday at Notre Dame’s Religious Liberty Summit in Rome to mock critics of the opinion, which ended constitutional protections for abortion and …

When We All Vote released a video today encouraging Americans to get registered and ready to vote in the 2022 midterm elections Washington, DC: Today, 100 days from the midterm elections, When We All Vote released a video message from Co-Chair and Founder Michelle Obama calling on all Americans to …

The White House announced that President Joe Biden tested positive again for COVID-19 late Saturday morning in what his physician said represented “rebound” positivity. “The President has experienced no reemergence of symptoms, and continues to feel quite well,” his physician, Dr. Kevin C. O’Connor, said in a letter to press …

Robert Reich, RobertReich.org The truth about inflation is getting covered up by countless myths spewed by corporations and their political lackeys. Here are the facts: Fact #1: Inflation is not being driven by wage increases Although wages have been rising, they’ve been rising more SLOWLY than prices. Hourly wages grew by …

Ariana Figueroa, Pennsylvania Capital-Star More than 100 congressional Democrats are urging the White House to extend the pause on student loan repayment beyond the Aug. 31 deadline. In a Thursday letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, U.S. Senate and House Democrats argue that due to inflation and …

The House of Representatives passed the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 by a vote of 217-213 on Friday, two decades after Congress allowed such restrictions to lapse. Two Republican lawmakers — Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Chris Jacobs of New York — voted in support of the bill, while 5 …

Jennifer Shutt, Virginia Mercury Two months after doctors diagnosed the first case of monkeypox in the United States, Congress has yet to hold a hearing or give any significant attention to the painful and debilitating virus that’s spread to more than 4,600 people. Public health officials in the Biden administration …

Jacob Fischler, Georgia Recorder Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer struck an agreement Wednesday for a Democrats-only reconciliation package that would allow negotiations on some Medicare prescription drugs, end corporate tax loopholes and address climate change as well as invest in energy projects. President …

Jennifer Shutt, Missouri Independent Veterans and their advocates gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday for what was supposed to be a celebration, one day after a crucial Senate vote on bipartisan legislation that would expand health care and benefits to 3.5 million veterans exposed to burn pits during their …

Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor A Pennsylvania mortgage company owned by billionaire Warren Buffett deliberately discriminated against Black and Latino homebuyers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, federal officials said Wednesday while announcing a $20 million settlement with the firm. A U.S. Department of Justice investigation found Trident Mortgage Company, one of …

Progressive leaders in Congress and activists on Wednesday came together to call on U.S. President Joe Biden to declare a climate emergency, which would give his administration more resources to take on the global crisis. “It couldn’t be clearer that the climate crisis is here and needs to be addressed …

Jennifer Shutt, Missouri Independent U.S. Senate Democrats tried to pass legislation Wednesday that would guarantee women can continue using contraception if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the long-standing precedent, the way it did with abortion. But Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst blocked their efforts by objecting to Massachusetts Democratic Sen. …