Category Archives: Republican

The ink had barely dried on the COVID relief package Democrats passed in the spring when some of the same Republicans who voted against the legislation began touting its benefits in their districts, an example of the partys efforts to have it both waysto reflexively bash Joe Biden and the Democrats while claiming credit for the popular parts of their agenda. Now, as they lambast the president for what they describe as out-of-control spending, theyre taking a similar tack: Decrying the American Rescue Plan and other initiatives in their attacks on Biden over inflation, even as they embrace the resources such plans have afforded.

As the New York Times reported Wednesday, Republican governors have made use of Bidens COVID stimulus money, even as they condemn it in public remarks as a giant handout. It would be spent somewhere other than South Dakota, said Governor Kristi Noem, who previously suggested she would turn down the nearly one billion dollars in federal funding but has since made plans to put the money toward water projects, housing, and daycare in the state. The debt would still be incurred by the country, and our people would still suffer the consequences of that spending.

Montanans are struggling with the Biden inflation tax, seeing their paychecks stretched thinner and thinner as inflation hits a high we havent seen in nearly four decades, Governor Greg Gianforte said last week, after Consumer Price Index numbers showed inflation soaring by 6.8% in November over the previous year. I urge President Biden and Democrats in D.C. to turn off the spigot of out-of-control spending and get inflation under control. Per the Times, that spigot has poured about $906 million into Gianfortes state, which has used the federal dollars for infrastructure projects and other measures.

This is not to suggest that these states do not deserve federal dollars or that governors critical of Biden shouldnt be making use of their portions. Residents of these states should benefit from the COVID bailout. But it is, of course, hypocritical to rail against these so-called handouts while they stretch their hands out to the administration.

Inflation has emerged as a significant challenge for Biden, whose otherwise solid economic rebound has been nagged by high consumer prices. Much of the issue appears to be driven by demand and a disjointed supply chain. But the American Rescue Plan has, indeed, seemed to contribute to the overheated economy, and criticizing the policy is by no means out of bounds. Missing from the GOP broadsides, though, are the very real benefits of the legislation, which theyve appeared willing to accept.

Ive had direct conversations with virtually all of the Republican governors or their top officials, Gene Sperling, who is leading the Biden administrations pandemic relief efforts, told the Times. And to the one, they have been constructive, nonpolitical, nuts and bolts conversations about how they can best use their American Rescue Plan funds for things like broadband, schools, water and work force development in a way that meets the needs of their state.

Republicans understandably turn to the government for assistance when their state needs it, as Kentucky Senator Rand Paul did in recently urging Biden to move expeditiously to approve the appropriate resources our state following the devastation from tornadoes; the president declared a federal disaster the next day. But as the Washington Post notes, the senators request conjured memories of Pauls own lengthy history of opposing congressional legislation written to address past disasters, including bills passed following hurricanes Sandy, Harvey and Maria directing billions of dollars of assistance to stricken Americans. Paul told the paper that critics were distorting his record. We should do all we can to help our Kentucky neighbors, Rep. Eric Swalwell tweeted. God be with themthey are hurting. But do not for one second forget that [Paul] has voted against helping most Americans most times theyre in need.

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Republican Governors Have No Problem Spending the COVID Relief Money They Opposed - Vanity Fair

Republicans may be about to take control in Richmond, but some of the changes Democrats put in place are just now taking effect. One of those changes might impact what you drive.

The market for new cars in Virginia is about to get a bit cleaner. Earlier this month, Virginia's Air Pollution Control Board voted to join about a dozen other states in making new demands on the market for automobiles mandating a certain percentage of new car sales be zero-emission vehicles. Stephen Haner at the Thomas Jefferson Institute says that's a mistake.

"I think the fact that they're going to ban all internal combustion engines is going to be a big change, and I also don't think it's ever going to happen," says Haner. "I think there's a limit to the market demand for the electric vehicles. I think that's kind of a pie-in-the-sky goal and it's just not going to happen."

The new mandate is that 8% of new vehicle sales must be zero-emission vehicles.

"That is leagues away from elimination of the internal combustion engine," says Harry Godfrey at Virginia Advanced Energy Economy.

"Ultimately it creates a virtuous cycle because then you're creating more market certainty these cars will be on lots, our dealers will be trained to sell them. We will go about actually moving them forward," explains Godfrey. "That gives them more certainty than a pure market dynamic."

Critics of the new clean car standard are hoping Republicans can pass a new law ditching Virginia's participation in a program they say allows California to set the agenda here in Virginia.

This report, provided byVirginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from theVirginia Education Association.

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Clean cars: Will the new mandate remain under Republican leadership? - WVTF

John W. Carlin

This past week has been a time of reflection with the passing of Sen. Bob Dole. I was fortunate to be able to work with Sen. Dole, during my eight years as governor of Kansas.

He always was there to listen to the evolving challenges facing the state and ready to reach out a hand to support moving Kansas forward. My being a Democrat was not even a consideration. His values and commitment to getting things done and working through partisan differences repeatedly delivered what was needed for the American people and his fellow Kansans.

Perhaps Sen. Dole is most remembered for his fierce advocacy on behalf of disabled people. Himself disabled from injuries in WWII, he was the key to passing the 1990 Americans with Disability Act.

Protecting and supporting the rights of disabled Americans from discrimination on its face seems right, but the legislation had languished. It was in 1989 when Dole, along with Sen. Ted Kennedy and Sen. Tom Harkin (sponsor of the legislation), both liberal Democrats, came together as a team to get the legislation passed.

Reaching across the aisle was a hallmark of Sen. Dole's service.

I think of the millions of Americans who over the years have benefited from the federal food stamps program. That legislation assured the poor access to basic food and improving their overall health. That was only possible because our Sen. Bob Dole worked tirelessly with the then very liberal Democratic senator from South Dakota, George McGovern, to successfully get the legislation passed.

The passage had two dramatic impacts. It addressed food scarcity for people below the poverty level and simultaneously increased demand for agricultural products. Both served the interests of his constituents in Kansas.

I also think of all recipients of Social Security who have and will continue to have benefits secured by his work on the Social Security Commission that he chaired with Democratic Sens Daniel Moynahan, of New York.

In 1983, it was Sen. Dole who managed the Senate bill establishing Martin Luther King Day as a federal holiday. Many Republicans adamantly opposed the legislation to which he responded, No first-class democracy can treat people like second class citizens.

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Can you picture any Republican leader today (exception maybe Liz Cheney) saying anything comparable?

But for me the moment that stands out the most was when Dole, long retired, returned to the Senate floor in a wheelchair in 2012. He came to support final approval of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities treaty. In an embarrassing rebuke of Dole, the Republicans defeated the resolution, with both of the Kansas senators (Pat) Roberts and (Jerry) Moran joining in the defeat.

After the vote, he sat by the door and let each senator know they had not done the right thing that day. This was, for me, the time when partisan politics veered off the track.

Do not misunderstand, Bob Dole was also very partisan. I remember clearly in the mid-1970s helping Congressman Dr. Bill Roy campaign against Dole seeking his first re-election to the Senate. Dr. Roy lost that very bitter race when the Dole campaign launched a late abortion attack.

There is no question he was a passionate Republican, and a very partisan one bringing him much success. As the chair of the Republican National Party from 1971 to 1973, he led the charge for the Republicans during Nixons re-election in 1972.

Sen. Dole often said that after an election we had 18 months to do the peoples business and then six months for partisan actions before the next election.

Today, we do not have even seconds between one election and the next. Sen. Dole's legacy of serving the people and reaching across the aisle to secure the best interests of the country has been missed.

These values and traits, unfortunately, have not been carried forward by the Republican leaders who succeeded him in the Congress. The results are painful and threaten our democracy and the future. Sen. Bob Dole fought for both in war and peace time.

John W. Carlin was governor of Kansas from 1979-1987.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Former Kansas Gov. John Carlin remembers Bob Dole as Senate giant

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Bob Dole was a Republican giant in the Senate. His ability to work across the aisle is unmatched today. - Yahoo News

Steve Bannon voiced his hope that supporters of former President Donald Trump will govern the country for a century, saying he hopes they will "reign for 100 years."

Bannon, a former Trump adviser, made the remark during an episode of his War Room podcast on Wednesday. The comment came as he and former Trump adviser Jason Miller discussed the upcoming 2022 midterms as well as the presidential election in 2024.

"I would say as far as Biden, I don't see any way that he stands for re-election in 2024," Miller, the CEO of Gettr who served on Trump's 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, told Bannon. He predicted that Democratic "elites" would tell Biden he needs to step aside after the 2022 midterms. He projected that Republicans will win big in those races.

"Best-case scenario for Democrats is that Republicans have a 60-seat landslide. I'm even hearing things like a historic 90-, even 100-seat, landslideone of the biggest, if not the biggest in history," Miller said.

Bannon quickly responded, "Yeah, 100 seats, we reign for 100 years. I gotta tell you, this is the key."

Trump formally pardoned Bannon right before he departed office in January. The former president's ally had been charged with fraud related to a crowdfunding campaign he launched in an effort to fund a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Bannon was then indicted last month for criminal contempt of Congress after he refused to comply with a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Bannon, like many other Trump loyalists, has become a key promoter of the former president's baseless theory that the 2020 election was "rigged" or "stolen" in favor of President Joe Biden. He has regularly promoted the claims on his War Room podcast while also touting pro-Trump Republicans' efforts to take back control of Congress and the White House.

"This is Trumpism in power. That's when we went to the 4,000 shock troops we have to have that's going to man the government," Bannon said during an episode of his podcast earlier this month. He called on Trump supporters to prepare to take control.

"Get them ready now. Right? We're going to hit the beach with the landing teams and the beachhead teams and all that nomenclature they use when President Trump wins in 2024or before," he said.

Historical precedent and recent polling suggest that Republicans will take control of the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate, during the 2022 midterms. The party of the president in power generally loses a significant number of seats in Congress during the midterms of their first term. Because the Democrats control the House and Senate only by the narrowest of margins, even just a few seats flipping in Republicans' favor would shift the balance of power in the legislative chambers.

Polling conducted this month by CNBC found that Republicans are preferred by voters over Democrats, by a double-digit margin, to control Congress. While just about a third (34 percent) of respondents said they prefer Democrats controlling the legislative branch, 44 percent said they prefer Republicans. That's a 10-point lead for the GOP less than a year before the midterms will take place.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to tease the possibility of a presidential run in 2024although he has not announced his intentions. Biden has said that he plans to seek another term. But with a sagging approval rating and concerns about his age (79), many political observers speculate that the president will step aside and let another Democrat run in 2024.

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Steve Bannon Hopes for Century of Pro-Trump Republican Rule: 'We Reign for 100 Years' - Newsweek

Welcome to our last biweekly edition of The Heart of the Primaries. Catch us weekly on Thursdays in the new year, starting Jan. 6!

Fourteen candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Ohio so far. The current incumbent, Sen. Rob Portman (R), is retiring. Candidates and satellite groups have been running ads since the first few months of 2021. Here are some highlights.

This month, candidate Bernie Moreno released an ad comparing inflation under President Joe Biden (D) to inflation during Jimmy Carters (D) presidency. In another ad, Moreno refers to himself as a pro-Trump legal immigrant. Moreno immigrated to the U.S. from Columbia as a child.

Also this month, investment banker Mike Gibbons released an ad opposing candidate J.D. Vance, highlighting Vances past criticisms of former President Donald Trump (R). Gibbons discussed his stances on immigration and election security in another ad. Gibbons ran for Senate in 2018, placing second in the GOP primary behind Jim Renacci 32% to 47%.

The Club for Growth and the USA Freedom Fund have also released ads criticizing Vance, the author of Hillbilly Elegy, over his previous statements on Trump. Both groups have endorsed former state Treasurer Josh Mandel, who was the Republican nominee for Senate in 2012. He lost to Sherrod Brown (D) 45% to 51%. A USA Freedom Fund ad also criticizes Jane Timken and Gibbons.

Vance said in July, I ask folks not to judge me based on what I said in 2016, because Ive been very open that I did say those critical things and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy [Trump]. I think he was a good president.

Mandel says in an ad titled Faith that his grandmother was saved from the Nazis by a network of courageous Christians, who risked their lives to save hers. Without their faith, Im not here today.

Timken, a former state Republican Party chair, has released ads about her opposition to critical race theory, mask and vaccine mandates, and Bidens immigration policy.

The primary is scheduled for May 3. Four Republican primary candidates have filled out Ballotpedias Candidate Connection survey. Click their names below to read their responses.

On Dec. 8, the North Carolina Supreme Court issued an order postponing the states primary election from March 8 to May 17. The change comes as a result of two lawsuits that originated in Wake County Superior Court challenging the newly enacted congressional and state legislative district maps that the state legislature passed. Both lawsuits allege partisan and racial gerrymandering.

The court also suspended the Dec. 17 candidate filing deadline for those elections and ordered the trial court to make whatever changes to the election schedule necessary. The trial court has until Jan. 11 to make a final ruling.

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R), a named defendant in both lawsuits, said the order moving the election date leaves North Carolinians with uncertainty, adding, Despite this delay, we are confident that we will prevail at trial. Gov. Roy Cooper (D) said the courts order restores faith in the rule of law and it is necessary for the Court to rule on the constitutionality of these unfair districts before the next election.

All states have been engaged in redistricting after the 2020 census. This is the only primary date changed during the 2022 election cycle (so far). Well follow up with North Carolinas filing deadline and any news on changes to the primary timeline in other states.

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) told Politico that she is planning to run for re-election but hasnt decided which House district shell run in. According to Politico, Illinois new congressional map splits her downstate district in two, leaving her in the undesirable spot of choosing between challenging GOP Reps. Mike Bost or Rodney Davis, two well-funded and popular incumbents who have both declared 2022 bids. Miller, first elected in 2020, represents Illinois 15th Congressional District.

First elected in 2014, Bost represents Illinois 12th Congressional District and is running for re-election. Bost said of his chances after redistricting, If you look at the largest citiesthe first five largest cities are in my old district.

Davis, who was first elected to the House in 2012, currently represents Illinois 13th Congressional District and will run in the new 15th District. Davis said, We didnt ask for the gerrymandered mess that is the Illinois map. But Im going to run in the district that I live in, which is always where I will run. And my job is to make sure that we hold that seat for Republicans.

CNNs Melanie Zanona and Manu Raju reported that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has encouraged Trump to endorse Miller and that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has asked Trump not to get involved. Zanona and Raju wrote, A Trump endorsement would turbocharge the intraparty battle and potentially make things even stickier, something GOP leaders are eager to avoid.

Illinois lost one U.S. House district following the 2020 censusdown to 17 from 18. The state enacted its new congressional map on Nov. 24. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, The new map drawn by state Democrats includes three very safe GOP districts, down from five. The filing deadline is scheduled for March, and primaries are scheduled for June 28.

Former Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) announced on Dec. 6 he is running for governor of Georgia, setting up a primary challenge to incumbent Brian Kemp. The primary is scheduled for May 24.

In a video announcing his candidacy, Perdue said, Unfortunately, today, we are divided, and Brian Kemp and Brad Raffensperger are to blame. Look, I like Brian. This isnt personal. Its simple. He has failed all of us and cannot win in November. Kemp and RaffenspergerGeorgias Republican secretary of stateclashed with Trump over the legitimacy of Georgias 2020 presidential election results. Trump and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) endorsed Perdue, each saying Kemps conflict with Trump meant he could not win the general election.

On Dec. 10, Perdue filed a lawsuit in state court asking for an inspection of the 2020 elections absentee ballots in Fulton County.

Kemp spokesman Cody Hall said, Perdue is best known for ducking debates, padding his stock portfolio during a pandemic, and losing winnable races. The political action committee Georgians First Leadership Committee released six ads between Dec. 6 and Dec. 14 criticizing Perdue for stock trades at the start of the pandemic, losing his Senate re-election bid, and his business record. The group also launched an opposition website.

Perdue was first elected to the Senate in 2014 and lost to Jon Ossoff (D) 49.4% to 50.6% in the January 2021 Senate runoff. Kemp defeated Stacey Abrams (D) 50.2% to 48.8% in the 2018 gubernatorial election. Abrams is running again in 2022. Before serving as governor, Kemp was secretary of state from 2010 to 2018.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) is seeking re-election. Since Ivey announced her bid in June, several other Republicans have launched primary campaigns.

Ivey assumed office in 2017 after serving as the states lieutenant governor. Ivey is running on what she says is a record of job creation, signing pro-life and anti-critical race theory legislation, and pushing back against the Biden administration.

Among Iveys challengers is Lynda Blanchard, who served as Trumps ambassador to Slovenia from 2019 to 2021. Blanchard originally declared her candidacy for the Alabama U.S. Senate race before entering the gubernatorial race. Blanchard said she is running because people made it unmistakably clear to me that they wanted a conservative outsider, not just in (Washington) D.C. but here in Montgomery, a leader who will run our state boldly.

Another challenger is correctional officer Stacy George. George has criticized Iveys COVID-19 emergency orders and supports a state lottery to fund mental health services.

Candidate Tim James is a toll road developer and the son of former Alabama Gov. Fob James. James has criticized Ivey for supporting a 2019 increase in the gas tax. His platform includes working to ban same-sex marriage.

Dean Odle, a pastor, said he is running because he thinks Ivey mishandled the states response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also criticized Iveys handling of the states prisons and support for the gas tax increase.

Candidate Jim Zeigler is the current Alabama auditor. Zeigler said, Governor Ivey is not running the Governors office. We have a Joe Biden situation in Montgomery. So Joe Biden is not running the Presidents office. In Alabama, our former congressman, Jo Bonner, is the chief of staff, and he is running things. He is the acting governor of Alabama.

The primary is scheduled for May 24.

Former Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown announced he would run for Kansas secretary of state on Dec. 7, challenging incumbent Scott Schwab in the Republican primary. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 2.

Brown said, Kansans trust in our elections has been broken. I fix problems and I want to restore their faith in our broken election system. Anything less than 100% confidence in our elections should never be enough for the Kansas Secretary of State.

A spokeswoman for Schwab, Lydia Meiss, said, While others would rather play partisan politics with our elections, Scott is working hard to defend your right to vote securely and safely. To Scott, this is not about politics its about protecting your vote and your rights.

Brown served as county commissioner for one term before Shirley Allenbrand defeated him in 2020. Schwab is a former Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives. He was elected secretary of state in 2018.

The filing period for Texas U.S. House and state legislative races ended on Dec. 13. Texas has next years first primaries on March 1. We reviewed the list of candidates that filed with the secretary of states office to identify the number of contested primaries. The numbers below were current the morning of Dec. 15. Note that the state may not have processed all candidates at that time.

U.S. House of Representatives

The current partisan composition of Texas U.S. House districts is 13 Democrats and 23 Republicans. The state gained two additional districts after the 2020 census.

State Senate

The current partisan composition of the Texas Senate is 18 Republicans and 13 Democrats.

State House of Representatives

The current partisan composition of the Texas House is 85 Republicans and 65 Democrats.

The Potter County Republican Party in Texas announced it would conduct its own primary in March rather than contract the primary to the county election board. The county election board is still expected to handle absentee and early voting. State law allows county parties to conduct their own primary elections. According to The New York Times, the vast majority have contracted with local boards of election for decades.

Daniel Rogers, the county party chair, said he made the decision because voters in his party had concerns about electronic vote counters and that paper ballots were more secure. Rogers said, The voters are smarter than our elected officials, than administratorsthey dont trust the voters. I do.

Potter County is located in the panhandle of Texas and had a population of 118,525 as of the 2020 census. There are approximately 57,000 registered voters in the county. Its largest city and county seat is Amarillo. Trump received nearly 70% of the vote in Potter County in 2020.

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Heart of the Primaries 2022, Republicans-Issue 3 (December 16, 2021) Ballotpedia News - Ballotpedia News

**The following resolution was passed by the SREC during their 4th Quarter 2021 meeting, held December 4th 2021.

WHEREAS, the 2020 State Republican Convention established Rule 32(a) pertaining to the Certified List of Delegates, allowing the SREC to specify a standard format and method of submission for the lists, resolutions, and other records from the 2022 County and Senatorial District conventions; and

WHEREAS, accurately processing the large volume of data collected from the County and Senatorial Conventions 287 in 2020 is a monumental task; and

WHEREAS, the entry of documents that are not entirely in digital format with selectable text is needlessly time-consuming for staff and volunteers, creates a potential for errors, and delays both convention planning and the work of the State Convention Committees; and

WHEREAS, implementing a uniform format would greatly facilitate and expedite the work of Republican Party of Texas and the State Convention Committees; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that pursuant to RPT Rule No. 32(a), the SREC authorizes RPT staff to specify a standard format and method of submission of all reports and exhibits originating from the 2022 County and Senatorial District conventions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the SREC requests that RPT staff work with the County and Senatorial District permanent convention chairs in submitting their reports using the specified format within the required deadlines; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the SREC commits to work with RPT staff to help educate County and Senatorial District Convention Chairs about the specified format, and offer to assist the Convention Chairs with compliance, if necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be distributed to Republican County Chairs in Texas.

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Resolution on Uniform Submissions of County and Senatorial District Convention Reports - Republican Party of Texas

For the second time in two weeks, a Republican lawmakerimplied Tennessees top medical licensing board could be dismantled during an ongoing dispute over the boards efforts to discipline doctors who spread misinformation about coronavirus vaccines.

The Board of Medical Examiners unanimously adopted a policy in September establishing doctors who spread falsehoodsabout the vaccines could have their medical licenses suspended or revoked. Last week, board members voted to delete the policy from their website but not rescind the policy itself to appease apowerful lawmaker.

The issue rose again on Wednesday at a hearing of the Joint Government Operations Committee, which wields some authority over the medical board. During the hearing, several lawmakers asked for more information on how board members defined misinformation.

But only one board member was present, so no answer was immediately available. Instead, Elizabeth Foy, a Department of Health attorney who was representing the board, said she would check with board members.

Id be happy to take that back to the Board of Medical Examiners and determine if they have any interest in defining that specifically," Foy said.

That response hit a nerve with one lawmaker.

Im probably not the only one up here that was extremely offended by that response about seeing if the board had any interest in bringing this definition back, said Rep. Kent Calfee, R-Kingston, a committee member.

I think the chairman has an ask that it be sent back to him in writing. I dont think its up to the board to decide … And I for one will remember that comment when you come up for sunset, Calfee added, leaning back in his chair and shaking his head.

Calfee was referencing the boards upcoming sunset hearing, which is a legislative process that weighs the possibility of dissolving government agencies or boards every few years. The hearings are intended as a failsafe for outdated or redundant government entitiesbut are sometimes used by lawmakers to pressure agencies with the possibility of dissolution.

The Board of Medical Examiners is expected to facea sunset hearing in 2022, likely in the first half of the year.

Calfee, reached on his cell phone after Wednesday's hearing, said he raised the possibility of dissolving the boardto make it clear members should take lawmakers request for a misinformation definition seriously. Calfeesaid he did not necessarily intendto vote to end the board at the upcoming sunset hearing.

If thats their attitude, Ill definitely remember that when it comes to sunset, Calfee said. Now Im not saying that Id vote to shut them down.

MORE: Rep. Kent Calfee goes viral for drinking out of a chocolate syrup bottle

The Board of Medical Examiners, which is responsible for licensing and disciplining doctors throughout Tennessee, unanimously approved its misinformation policy in September.

The policy, a single paragraph written to mirror the stance of the Federation of State Medical Boards, established that doctors have an ethical and professional responsibility to share factual information about the coronavirus vaccines and could face consequences if they did not.

Board members also in September instructed the Department of Healthinvestigate doctors who were spreading misinformation to patients or social media, prioritizingextreme cases involving conspiracy theories, outlandish lies or false claims that were easily disprovable.

Lawmakers responded with three bills that prohibited the board from disciplining doctors for how they treat or what they say about coronavirus. The spirit of these bills was eventually folded into a new law saying the board could notdisciplineCOVID-19 misinformation without prior approval from the Joint Government Operations Committee.

Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, who co-chairs that committee, insiststhat even before the new law the board did not have authority to create itsmisinformation policy on its own. He sent three letters demanding the board remove the policy from its website which Ragan argues makes the policy void but the board did not take action.

Eventually, Ragan threatened to dissolve the board entirely if the policy was not deleted, according to a letter a health department attorney sent to board members that was obtained by The Tennessean.

Ragan told the Tennessean he did not recall making such a threat and insisted he did not have the authority to dissolve the board on his own.

Im flattered that you and they think I have that much power. I cant do that by myself, Ragan told The Tennessean last week. However, it is within the authority of the General Assembly, acting through the government operations committee, to dissolve them if we so desire.

During the committee hearing on Wednesday, two Nashville-area physicians Dr. AmyGordon Bono and Dr. Katrina Green attempted to give public comment in opposition to lawmakers micromanaging the medical board, but Ragan shut down both comments by insisting they were not directly related to the committee's agenda.

Ragan permitted a comment from a thirdphysician, Dr. Kristen Miller of Memphis, who questioned how doctors were supposed to follow the medical board's misinformation policy if it was no longer online and accessible to the public.

It is difficult even for a long-time practicing physician in the state of Tennessee, let alone someone thats not familiar with what these regulations are in our state, to know what the definition of COVID-19 misinformation is, Miller said.

Brett Kelman is the health care reporter for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 615-259-8287 or at brett.kelman@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter at @brettkelman.

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Another Tennessee Republican implies medical board could be dissolved - Tennessean

Youngkin focused on public safety and schoolsin particular1619 Projectandcritical race theorynarratives that the Republic was founded to perpetuate slavery andparents right to define what their children learn.

School officials sayCRT is not formally part of the curriculumbut itstenets have become deeply embedded in teacher training. In Fairfax County, just outside Washington, social studies teachers are told that it is a frame for their work.

Parents are complaining nationwideandrunning opposition slates in school board elections, and attacking CRT could prove a winning issue for Republicans in the midterms.

We should offer childrena reasonable account of the nations founding, theshortcomings of our past and progress toward greater equality, but Youngkin and others will find thecultural movement in the education establishment difficult to root out.

Still, Republicans should not genuflect to the racism and sexism peddled by radicals among progressives, feminists and Black activists. Aspects ofculture in some minority communitiesand thecancel culture impulsesof thewoke executive classneed as much fixing as white middle-class structural racism.

Youngkin promised toban critical race theory from schoolsbut also talked aboutgenerally failing schools, rising crime, the high cost of living and inflation and faltering economic growthand tax relief.

Defunding the police is morally bankruptrising murder ratesinAmerican citiesare terrorizing minority communities.

TheGeorge Floyd tragedycompels focus on better trained police officers, not handcuffing or taking them off the streets. Racial disparities in enforcement are not addressed byrefusing to enforce shoplifting lawsand other misdemeanors. Those policies just provide street academies for young criminals anddeny the elderly reasonable access to groceries, drugstores and prescription services.

College admissions without objectively applied academic standards do a disservice to childrenbright or ordinary, black or white. Requiring that college admissions and credentialing return to sound evaluations of aptitude and achievement and abandoning gender, transgender and racial quotasand whatever else progressive intellectuals can dream up to fuel the injustice industrywould force elementary and high schools to better prepare students or be deemed failures themselves.

Republicans need to address that colleges are producingtoo many ill-prepared graduatesand get behind alternatives likeapprenticeshipsthat provide shorter and less costly paths to rewarding careers.

Reckless spending in Washingtonin particular, thecorrupting$1.9 trillionAmerican Rescue Planrequires the Federal Reserve to print too much money to enable too much borrowing.

Printing-press monetary policy, as practiced by a politically compromised Federal Reserve chairman, Jerome Powell, does nothing to create new chipmaking capacity, unlock overcrowded ports, or otherwise unclog supply chains.

The stimulus package has left ahuge overhang of unearned purchasing powerthat drives up the prices foreveryday essentialslike gasoline, groceries and restaurant meals, as doBiden administration policies that curb oil and gas productionand drive upagricultural fertilizer and transportation costs.

No-work-requiredchild tax creditchecks,bigger food stampsandhealth insurance subsidiesmake America the first civilization with a leisure class at the bottom and chronically short of workers.

Republicans should affirm thatthe transition to a carbon-free economy at midcentury requires adequate sources of fossil fuels todayand for all Americans to pitch in and work.

The progressive wing of the Democratic Party is defining the agenda in Washington and casts a negative narrative about America. Whites are endemic racists, markets and society are rigged, and American power in the world is a negative force.

Thehorrific conditions that will beset Afghanistan this winteris a stain on the souls ofPresident Joe Bidenand theprogressive foreign policy establishmenttheyknew what would happenandwithdrew American forces anyway.

The world is a nasty place. Open borders will only overwhelm and impoverish Americans who must compete for jobs and educational resources with a mass migration of unskilled workers that flood labor markets.

At every opportunity Republicans should pound Democrats for theirirresponsibledefenseandopen-borderpolicies. Those self-serving progressive peddlers of national doubt, guilt, weakness and appeasement deprive the world of some shield against evil and Americans of the security and opportunities for the decent lives they deserve.

Peter Morici is an economist and emeritus business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist.

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Virginia lights a path for Republican success in the midterms - MarketWatch

Kudos to the Sunday Republican and Stephanie Barry on the Father Jim Scahill piece, Firebrand priest still harbors anger, Dec. 12, page A1. As a former member of the St. Michaels Parish Council I remember well working with Father Scahill.

One memory I have is him discussing career ambitions, becoming a lawyer or a priest. He would of course have been an outstanding counselor but Gods plan was for him to be a courageous abuse fighting warrior against one of the worlds most corrupt organizations. Jim once quoted clergyman and reformer John Haynes Holmes from the pulpit, Priests are no more necessary to religion than politicians to patriotism.

Only later in life do you discover that your own life involves dealing with greats, near greats and reprobates. Reprobates usually referred to as con artists or guardians of the brand name. In the current Catholic Church the phalanx of reprobates spans centuries of blind obeisance to those so anointed by the church hierarchy. It has not stopped by any means and is worthy of Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) prosecutions were it not for church/state separation in the U.S.

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Republican article brings back memories of Father Jim Scahill (Letters) - masslive.com

For the first two years of Trumps presidency, Republicans controlled both the House and the Senate. They werent very interested in looking into wrongdoing by Trump or other members of his administration, even when there were numerous indications that it was taking place. One area where some members readily used their oversight powers, however, was to go after the Russia investigation and those who had set it into motion. Most of these actions took place through the House Intelligence Committee; its then-chairman, Devin Nunes, is retiring from Congress after this term to join Trumps new media operation.

Its doubtful that Republicans would take a similarly laissez-faire approach to executive branch oversight if they win next November. To the contrary, they have expressed interest in a wide range of issues already. Some arent completely without merit: Lawmakers from both parties have demanded answers about the chaotic nature of the Afghanistan withdrawal over the summer. But others have a more partisan sheen. In September, a group of GOP members of the House Oversight Committee requested documents from an art gallery owner about his role in the sale of Hunter Bidens paintings.

The younger Biden is no stranger to bad-faith GOP inquiries. Trumps first impeachment, in 2019, came after Congress learned he had pressured the Ukrainian government to smear the elder Biden with corruption allegations related to his son, a Ukrainian energy company that Hunter had worked for while his father was vice president, and Joe Bidens own role in pressuring Ukraine on an investigation into that company. The Burisma allegations never made much sense because Biden was pressuring a Ukrainian prosecutor to go harder, not easier, on the company. Even the GOP-led Senate Homeland Security Committee failed to turn up any evidence of wrongdoing on Bidens part when it released a report on the matter last September.

So it would be unsurprising that the GOP might want to take another whack at the presidents troubled son after 2022, or go after any high-ranking Biden administration officials, or even try to target prominent people in the Democratic orbit. Top Republican lawmakers havent exactly hidden their ambitions to use congressional investigations to inflict political damage on their Democratic opponents. After four Americans died in a terrorist attack on a U.S. consulate in Libya in 2012, GOP lawmakers spent the next four years holding hearings and launching probes into the attack. Congress couldnt be faulted for launching inquiries into an incident in which a U.S. ambassador died, of course, but it soon became obvious that its real target was thenSecretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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Republicans Warn of Reprisals if They Win Back the House in 2022 - The New Republic