As strange as it may seem now, California’s state Senate was once a bastion of bipartisan — almost nonpartisan — comity. Although Democrats were in the majority, they willingly shared power with Republicans. A bipartisan rules committee gently controlled the flow of legislation and committees were just as likely to...
After Impeachment, House Bestows Big Trade Victory on Trump
WASHINGTON — One day after its historic impeachment votes, the Democratic-led House gave President Donald Trump an overwhelming bipartisan victory Thursday on a renegotiated trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. By a 385-41 vote, the House approved a bill that puts in place terms of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The legislation passed...
Will Congress Embrace Ag Labor Bill With Path to Legalized Status?
A farm labor bill that would make undocumented workers eligible for visas and provide a path to long-term residency has won the support of Valley lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act was introduced in the House on Wednesday. The bipartisan list of co-sponsors includes...
Trump Says Gun Negotiations Going 'Very Slowly'
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday poured cold water on prospects for a bipartisan compromise on gun legislation, even as Attorney General William Barr circulated a draft plan on Capitol Hill to expand background checks for gun sales. In a Fox News interview that aired Thursday, Trump said no...
Valley’s ‘Climate Kids’ to Push Congress on Saving Earth
The world is still waiting to see if a climate case brought by 21 young plaintiffs in 2015 (Juliana vs United States ) will be allowed to continue to trial. Meanwhile, I will have the honor of traveling to Washington, D.C. this week, with three of the Central Valley’s student climate advocates. As...
Rep. Omar Apologizes for Tweets on AIPAC's Influence
WASHINGTON — Freshman Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar "unequivocally" apologized Monday for tweets suggesting that members of Congress support Israel because they are being paid to do so, which drew bipartisan criticism and a rebuke from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Minnesota Democrat said she had no intention offending anyone, including...
Opinion: Bipartisan Bill Promises Climate Policy Breakthrough
They said it couldn’t be done. They said Republicans and Democrats could never work together in Congress to impact the climate change crisis. But last week, three Republicans and three Democrat members of Congress did just that. On November 27, Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Rep. Frances Rooney (R-FL), Rep. Charlie...
Trump Wants Prison Reform. Can Sen. McConnell Deliver Votes?
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is supporting the first major rewrite of the nation's criminal justice sentencing laws in a generation, but it remains to be seen whether the proposal can pass Congress. Trump said earlier this month that the bill "will make our communities safer and give former inmates...
Bipartisan Success by Valley Lawmakers Could Lift California Dairies
After many challenging years, California dairies have reason for optimism thanks to a bipartisan effort by Rep. David Valadao and other House members from the Valley. On Thursday, the California Federal Milk Marketing Order Act took effect. The marketing order is intended to make dairies in the Valley and throughout...
McCain Helped Build Country That No Longer Reflects His Values
Arizona Sen. John McCain – scion of Navy brass, flyboy turned Vietnam war hero and tireless defender of American global leadership – has died after a year of treatment for terminal brain cancer. “With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he...