Kerry Picket
Articles by Kerry Picket
Rep. Jim Cooper becomes 29th House Democrat to announce retirement
Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection this year, making him the 29th House Democrat to leave Congress after this year's mid-term election cycle. Published January 25, 2022
GOP lawmakers call on Biden to end database for religious exemptions
More than 40 House Republicans are calling on President Biden to direct his administration to stop tracking federal employees who applied for religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine. Published January 25, 2022
Top House Dem gets tax break he sponsored, pays $213 property tax on NYC condo
House Democratic Conference Chairman Hakeem Jeffries has been enjoying a tax break that cuts the property tax on his Brooklyn condo to $213 a year, according to newly revealed records. Published January 24, 2022
GOP states’ election laws will suppress medically vulnerable’s right to vote, Coons says
Sen. Chris Coons said allowing Republican-led states to eliminate election measures such as ballot drop boxes would suppress the vote of the medically vulnerable as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. Published January 23, 2022
Jan. 6 committee chair says panel spoke to Trump AG William Barr
The chairman of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol said Sunday that former Attorney General William P. Barr has spoken with investigators about a draft executive order that would have directed the Trump Defense Department to seize voting machines. Published January 23, 2022
House Democrat suggests states don’t need another COVID relief package
One of the most vulnerable House Democrats this election cycle suggested Sunday that another COVID relief package is not necessary and that state legislatures should spend the money they already have received from previous relief packages. Published January 23, 2022
Bernie Sanders applauds Arizona Democrats’ censure of Kyrsten Sinema
Sen. Bernard Sanders applauded Arizona Democrats who formally censured Sen. Kyrsten Sinema for her vote to keep the filibuster rule. Published January 23, 2022
Sarah Palin fights New York Times ‘crosshairs’ editorial in court
Sarah Palin and The New York Times will face off Monday in court over an editorial she said falsely tied her to the 2011 Arizona shooting that left six dead. Published January 23, 2022
California Gov. Newsom apologizes for referring to train thieves as gang members
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has apologized for referring to the criminals looting packages from Union Pacific freight trains as "gang" members. Published January 21, 2022
White House in cleanup mode after Biden’s slip-ups spread fear of invasion, bogus elections
The White House went to work on cleanup duty Thursday after President Biden's press conference remarks rattled both sides of the Atlantic by questioning the legitimacy of U.S. elections and the West's resolve against Russian aggression. Published January 20, 2022
Pelosi pivoting to health care in a piecemeal approach to Biden’s agenda
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said expanding Obamacare will be a top priority when breaking up President Biden's $1.75 trillion social welfare bill and climate bill to try to pass it in pieces. Published January 20, 2022
Law enforcement groups set to challenge Biden’s expected executive action to set new policing rules
President Biden's decision to use executive action to deliver a racial justice overhaul of the country's policing policies is drawing protests and lawsuit threats from law enforcement officials. Published January 20, 2022
FBI raids home of Rep. Henry Cuellar
FBI agents raided the Laredo residence of Rep. Henry Cuellar, Texas Democrat, Wednesday night, the congressman's office confirmed. Published January 19, 2022
Democratic senators insist mail-ballots and drop boxes fight racism
Senior Senate Democrats are insisting that universal mail-in ballots and voter drop boxes, measures included in their election overhaul legislation, help to fight racism. Published January 19, 2022
Mayor Bowser unconcerned vaccine passport will drive business away from D.C.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Tuesday she is not worried that her administration's new vaccine passport mandate will hurt city businesses by driving customers into Virginia and Maryland. Published January 18, 2022
Democrats backing away from Manhattan DA’s new soft-on-crime approach
Congressional Democrats from New York are distancing themselves from the Manhattan district attorney's "stay out of jail free" policy that downgrades some felonies and abandons prison sentences for other crimes, a move that is wildly unpopular with city police and business leaders. Published January 17, 2022
House GOPers demand answers from Twitter CEO about censorship, suspension of vaccine researcher
More than a dozen House Republicans sent a letter Friday to Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal threatening to hold social media companies accountable for censoring conservative voices. Published January 14, 2022
Republicans prepare their wish list for filibuster-free Senate
Democrats may be paving an eventual path to stiffer ballot standards if they trigger the "nuclear option" to carve out a special exception to Senate filibuster rules to approve voting rights legislation. Published January 14, 2022
Republicans reintroduce bill to require Senate confirmation of Bureau of Prisons director
A House Republican reintroduced legislation late Thursday that would require the director of the Bureau of Prisons to be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Published January 14, 2022
GOP senators demand answers from Miguel Cardona on ‘domestic terrorists’ letter
Republican senators sent a letter Thursday demanding answers from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona about reports that he played a key role in soliciting the National School Board Association (NSBA) to write a letter to President Biden that labeled parents as "domestic terrorists." Published January 13, 2022
