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Antisemitism Concerns Spark Congressional Inquiry into Largest U.S. School Districts

In Washington D.C., leaders of some of the largest public school districts in the United States are under scrutiny for incidents of antisemitism. The Republican-led House education subcommittee has summoned school district officials from Berkeley, New York City, and Montgomery County to address the issue. Following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools have escalated, prompting concerns about the safety and well-being of Jewish students, teachers, and faculty members. Rep. Aaron …

Cuts to Social Security and Medicaid Proposed by Ohio Congressional Candidate Kevin Coughlin

Columbus, Ohio – During a recent on-air candidate forum in February, Ohio Republican congressional candidate Kevin Coughlin advocated for cuts to Social Security and Medicaid as a means to address the national debt. Hosted by Chris Long of the Ohio Christian Alliance, the forum delved into Coughlin’s views on how Congress can tackle the issue of national debt plaguing the country. Coughlin emphasized the necessity for entitlement reforms, pointing out that a significant portion of …

Democratic Candidates for Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District Vie for Blumenauer’s Seat with Visions of Positive Change

Portland, Oregon – The race to succeed influential U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer in Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District features three progressive Democrats whose policy positions are closely aligned. However, each candidate distinguishes themselves through their track record and leadership style. Eddy Morales, a Gresham city councilor, emphasizes affordable housing and immigration reform. Susheela Jayapal, a former Multnomah County Commissioner and corporate lawyer, prioritizes federal investment in housing, homelessness services, and climate change. State Rep. Maxine Dexter, …

Health Insurers Benefit as Biden Administration Forces Termination of Short-Term Health Plans Defying Congressional Intent

Washington, D.C. – The Biden administration’s recent move to terminate short-term health plans has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it benefits insurance providers at the expense of patients. These new rules could leave sick patients without coverage in the middle of their illness, potentially increasing the number of uninsured individuals by 500,000. The decision to crack down on short-term limited-duration insurance, which offers comprehensive coverage at a lower cost than Obamacare plans, has drawn …

Pharmacy Benefit Managers Lobbying Pays Off as Congressional Reform Stalls

Washington, DC – Lobbying efforts by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) saw success as Congress failed to impose any regulations on their operations this spring. The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, the largest trade group representing PBMs, significantly increased its lobbying spending by 71% in the first quarter of the year, from $2.8 million to $4.8 million. Despite the initial push for transparency and reforms in the PBM industry, the House passed a bill advocating for more …

Social Security Trust Fund Exhaustion Looms: Congressional Report Urges Immediate Action amid Financial Threats

Washington, DC – A report for Congress suggests that immediate changes in income increases and benefit reductions could help strengthen Social Security’s financial outlook. The report warns that waiting until the trust fund is depleted in about 10 years would necessitate more drastic measures to sustain the program. The report, from the Congressional Research Service, addresses the imminent depletion of the fund that has accumulated over decades, leading to a projected scenario where the program …

Comstock Law Could Potentially Be Used to Ban Abortion Nationwide Without Congressional Approval

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Comstock law, with its roots dating back 151 years, has resurfaced in the public eye as a potential tool to restrict abortion access on a national scale. This law, which prohibits the mailing of “obscene” or “indecent” materials, has not been enforced for over a century. However, amidst ongoing debates over reproductive rights, some anti-abortion activists and GOP officials see it as a means to potentially ban abortion nationwide without relying …

HHS Receives Slight Boost in Funding with Congressional Agreement

Washington D.C., In a tight vote, the House passed a budget that provides a slight boost to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for fiscal 2024. The increase in funding, totaling $116.8 billion, represents only a small bump from the previous enacted level. Despite this nominal increase, the budget was constrained by previously agreed-upon budget caps, resulting in essentially flat growth for the department. Lawmakers managed to avoid an across-the-board 1% sequester cut …

Trone, Senate Hopeful, Apologizes for Racial Slur in Congressional Hearing

Bethesda, Maryland – A comment made by Maryland Senate hopeful Rep. David Trone has stirred controversy after he used a racial slur during a congressional budget hearing, prompting a swift apology from the Democratic candidate. Trone, seeking to succeed retiring Sen. Ben Cardin, expressed regret for his use of offensive language, stating that he misspoke and was unaware of the term’s derogatory nature. During the House Budget Committee hearing, Trone, a leading Democrat in the …