Politics
Kevin McCarthy Claims He Finally Has the Votes to Clinch Speakership
Republican Kevin McCarthy insisted he has the votes to be elected Speaker of the House of Representatives after persuading a large number of party rebels to back his bid. McCarthy had lost a record 13 ballots in his bid to become Speaker by Friday afternoon, spread out over four days.
McCarthy told reporters on Capitol Hill as the House voted to adjourn until late Friday night, “I’ll have the votes.” When asked why he was confident, the California congressman replied, “Because I count.”
McCarthy struck a bullish tone after making a series of concessions to his critics, including rule changes that would make it easier to call for a vote of no confidence in a future Speaker, as well as promises of top committee assignments for members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus.
Those efforts swayed more than half of the 20 Republicans who had opposed his speakership in previous rounds, including North Carolina’s Dan Bishop and Florida’s Byron Donalds. McCarthy, however, was still short of the simple majority required to seize the Speaker’s gavel after the 13th round of voting on Friday.
Kevin McCarthy Short by Six
Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, a previous holdout who switched to support McCarthy in the 12th vote, tweeted after the vote, “We’re at a turning point. I’ve bargained in good faith with one goal in mind: to return the People’s House to its rightful owners. The framework for an agreement is in place, so I voted for McCarthy in a good-faith effort to restore the People’s House.”
However, six members of his own party remained steadfast and defiant, sabotaging his chances of taking the gavel in the House in the first round of voting on Friday.
Bob Good, a Virginia Republican who has been among the dissidents, told the FT on Friday morning that he would not support McCarthy “at any time”.
“The whole reality is he doesn’t have 218, he’s not going to have 218, and the sooner he admits that, the sooner we can move forward as a conference and begin to debate, vet, and assess… [alternative] candidates,” he said.
Good expressed support for Ohio Republican Jim Jordan as Speaker, but suggested that other members suggest Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican and member of the House Republican leadership, as a possible candidate. “There are members who support him; I believe they should put forward his name, nominate him, and vote for him.”
Even though McCarthy had made significant concessions in recent days, Good said there was still a significant lack of “trust” in his willingness to follow through on them.
“He doesn’t believe in any of the things he’s agreeing to do, so he’d be doing them only under duress,” Good explained.
Republican infighting and tensions
The last time more than one round of voting was required to select a Speaker was in 1923, when nine ballots were cast. The House is required by law to select a Speaker and cannot proceed with legislative business until someone is given the gavel.
The Republican infighting has exposed long-simmering tensions in a party that is trying to figure out how to move forward after a relatively poor showing in the midterm elections in November.
McCarthy is in a difficult position, in part because the “red wave” predicted by McCarthy and others did not materialize, and Republicans now control the House by a razor-thin margin.
The gridlock in the House has also raised concerns about how Congress will operate over the next two years, and whether McCarthy or any other Speaker will be able to bring the party’s warring factions together to pass any legislation.
The possibility of a debt ceiling crisis later this year is one looming threat. Economists predict that the US economy will default in the third quarter if lawmakers do not agree to raise the borrowing limit.
Politics
Trudeau GST Tax Holiday to Cost Taxpayers $6.3 Billion
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a two-month GST break on some purchases and a one-time $250 rebate for all Canadians earning less than $150,000. The proposed GST break would last from December 14 to February 15.
The Liberals said it would cover various things, including children’s clothing and shoes, toys, diapers, restaurant meals, and beer and wine. It also refers to real and artificial Christmas trees, snack foods and beverages, and video game systems.
The move will cost taxpayers almost $4.7 billion, and the GST exemption will cost an additional $1.6 billion, totaling $6.3 Billion.
The federal government is now running a significant deficit. This raises the question of who will have to foot the $6.3 billion bill for today’s one-time payments. The government will have to borrow the money, and future taxpayers must either repay it or service the additional debt perpetually.
Critics argue that the GST credit is a collection of terrible ideas that will do little to lift Canada out of the long-term economic rut in which our economy is stuck.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre responded Thursday to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s pledge of a “GST Holiday” for Canadians, calling it a “tax trick.”
Poilievre stated that the temporary exemption from the Goods and Services Tax on various ordinary commodities “would not make up for the permanent quadrupling carbon tax on heat, housing, food, and fuel.”
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet stated he is “against any idea of a prime minister who says, ‘I will give you money in order for you to consider voting for me.'”
According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, temporary sales tax holidays will only increase confusion and administrative burden for small business owners.
A temporary sales tax decrease would help boost demand in some industries, including restaurants, Canadians, and companies, which require sustainable tax relief during the slow post-holiday season.
The changes amid an inflation-driven affordability crisis have left many dissatisfied with the Trudeau government. A federal election is scheduled for before next October, although it might happen sooner if the minority government falls before then.
For months, the Conservatives have held a double-digit lead over the Liberals in public opinion polls, with Leader Pierre Poilievre promising to cut taxes and government spending to restore affordability.
High inflation has also pressured the Liberals to avoid proposing policies that would boost spending and raise fuel prices.
According to the Fraser Institute, The Trudeau government got one thing fundamentally right: Lowering the tax burden on Canadians has benefits. Unfortunately, the policy package it has proposed to deliver tax relief is completely wrong.
It lowers the incorrect taxes, moves taxes temporarily rather than lowering them, does little to improve economic incentives, and punishes future taxpayers. With the holiday season approaching, this attempt at a gift for Canadian taxpayers is the economic equivalent of a lump of coal in the stocking.
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Politics
Matt Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General
Congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s candidate for Attorney General, citing concerns about a federal sex trafficking probe that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed.
Gaetz resigned after failing to persuade the Senate to endorse his contentious candidacy. Shortly after Gaetz’s unexpected departure, the president-elect issued a statement applauding his former AG nominee’s choice to seek Senate confirmation.
“I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all the great things he will do!” the president-elect wrote on Truth Social.
Gaetz had earlier stated that he was retiring from his current seat in Congress and would not take the oath of office for the upcoming session, which begins in January. Now that he has withdrawn from consideration for AG, his future in Washington is uncertain.
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Concerned About Matt Gaetz’s Campaign, Senate Republicans Call for a House Ethics Investigation.
Politics
Eric Hovde Concedes The United States Senate Race To Tammy Baldwin.
(VOR News) – Eric Hovde, the Republican candidate for the United States Senate, has acknowledged that he was defeated by Tammy Baldwin, the Democratic candidate for the same seat on the ballot.
Baldwin acknowledged Hovde’s defeat and consented to it. Furthermore, he released a statement in which he contends that the election results are not only inaccurate, but also devoid of any factual foundation.
Eric Hovde experienced this two weeks after the election.
Baldwin emerged as the unofficial victor of the Senate campaign in Wisconsin, a race that was closely monitored by a significant number of individuals. Baldwin was awarded the title of victor on November 6th. Baldwin emerged victorious by a razor-thin margin.
According to the data provided by the Associated Press, Baldwin emerged victorious by a margin of 29,116 ballots, which is approximately equivalent to 0.9 percent of the total votes cast. Baldwin emerged victorious by a substantial margin, as indicated by the results.
Hovde issued his public apology subsequent to the conclusion of the canvassing of the results by the majority of county clerks throughout the state. This process will ultimately result in the results being recognized as official. Publication of Eric Hovde’s decision. Not only were the results announced at this time, but they were also proclaimed in an official capacity.
The exact phrase of the announcement, “Thank you for your support,” was included in a post by Eric Hovde on Monday and published on the social networking site X.
The public was notified of this announcement. The announcement was public on Monday. It has drawn a lot of attention. “It is time to begin moving on.”
In contrast, Eric Hovde’s film began with a somewhat less inclusive tone, which persisted throughout. He made this assumption without offering any evidence to back it up, and his claims that there were “many troubling issues” with absentee ballots tabulated late on election night were factually incorrect. His claims were not supported by empirical evidence.
His claims were unsupported by any proof. Not a single piece of evidence could possibly prove that his allegations were correct. He stated in the statement that “numerous supporters” had demanded that he challenge the election results. He acknowledged receiving the request.
Eric Hovde acknowledged receiving these demands.
In particular, Eric Hovde asserts, “However, a request for a recount would serve no purpose if it were not for a detailed review of all the ballots and their legitimacy, which will be difficult to obtain in the courts.”
Subsequently, you would recount the identical ballots, regardless of their authenticity. This is the reason, as elucidated in this article. This is the rationale for the current state of affairs.
Hovde and his campaign refrained from issuing any public statements subsequent to Baldwin’s disclosure that Eric Hovde had emerged victorious in the election, which transpired over a week after Baldwin’s initial announcement.
The previous week, he uploaded a video to social media platforms that expressed his “deeply concerned” sentiments regarding the election results in Milwaukee.
The election was conducted in Milwaukee. While the film was being screened, there was a discussion regarding the results of the election in Milwaukee. As the ballots were still being counted in the largest city in Wisconsin on the evening of the election, he expressed his “shock” at the sequence of events that had transpired.
Eric Hovde was emphasizing the occurrence of specific events.
In addition, he declared that ballots were still being tallied at the time of the election. Eric Hovde made this declaration during the voting period, while ballots were still being tabulated.
Baldwin’s team referenced her victory speech, which she delivered the week prior to the election, in response to a request for comment that was submitted on Monday.
In response to the campaign’s request, this action was implemented.
A representative of Baldwin’s team has verified that “Hovde has not called,” which is consistent with the information that was disclosed on Monday morning. The representative who provided these details has worked in a variety of capacities throughout their career.
SOURCE: WPR
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