Kerry Picket
Articles by Kerry Picket
Virginia’s economic growth in McAuliffe’s term as governor trailed peer states
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe boasts that he presided over booming economic growth in the Commonwealth during his time as governor, but the numbers show a different story. Published October 1, 2021
Pelosi looks to guide congressional Dems through midterms, 2024 election
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has signaled to party leaders that she plans on sticking around through the 2024 election and is praying the lingering shadow of former President Trump will help Democrats defend their slim House majority in the midterm elections next year. Published October 1, 2021
Biden asks House Dems to lower price tag of social welfare bill, pass with infrastructure measure
President Biden urged progressive House Democrats Friday to scale back his proposed $3.5 trillion social-welfare package by one-third, a move that would align more closely with the demands of two moderate Democratic senators who are resisting the higher price tag. Published October 1, 2021
Pelosi delays $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill for a second time
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threw in the towel on getting the Thursday floor vote that she had hoped would deliver a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill to President Biden. Published September 30, 2021
Biden failing to unite party around massive infrastructure and welfare spending packages
President Biden, long known as a sophisticated negotiator among his congressional peers, was failing Thursday to overcome a legislative impasse within his party centered around his $3.5 trillion social-welfare package and a $1.2 trillion Senate bipartisan infrastructure bill. Published September 30, 2021
Pelosi scrambles for last-minute support on infrastructure bill
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to move forward Thursday on the $1.2 trillion infrastructure vote in hopes of nailing down a legislative victory for President Biden, but remained coy about the bill's support in her Democratic House caucus. Published September 30, 2021
Manchin ends Democrats’ hopes of a quick deal on infrastructure
Sen. Joe Manchin III said there's no chance of reaching a framework on President Biden's $3.5 trillion social welfare package Wednesday, ending his party's hopes of a double-victory on the budget and a separate $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. Published September 29, 2021
Pelosi braces for another delay on promised vote on Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has signaled that she is open to again delaying vote now set for Thursday on President Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. Published September 29, 2021
House progressives poised to sink Biden’s infrastructure bill with help from Republicans
The odds for President Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill are getting worse with each passing hour. Published September 28, 2021
Republicans whipping against infrastructure bill to keep GOP support as ‘low’ as possible
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise told reporters Tuesday that the Republican leadership is whipping against the upcoming vote on the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill as a tax and spend package amid hopes that Democratic progressives will kill the bill. Published September 28, 2021
Jan. 6 committee chair: House panel to issue ‘good number’ of subpoenas
The chairman of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol says the panel plans to issue more subpoenas this week. Published September 28, 2021
Senate Republicans block debt limit, government funding bill
Senate Republicans Monday blocked a measure to temporarily fund the government and suspend the debt ceiling, pushing Congress even closer to the brink in a shutdown and default showdown. Published September 27, 2021
House rules foil Marjorie Taylor Greene’s bid to block debate on $1.2T infrastructure bill
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Monday attempted to call for a motion to adjourn the House, a tactic the firebrand conservative has used in the past to delay votes, but this time House rules derailed her effort. Published September 27, 2021
House GOP ad targets vulnerable Dems, stokes rift to topple Biden’s $4.7T agenda
House Republicans' campaign arm launched new ads on Monday that hit 17 vulnerable Democrats with President Biden's tax hike plans, attempting to further drive the wedge between moderates and progressives that threatens to derail Democrats' massive spending bills. Published September 27, 2021
Pelosi’s backroom arm-twisting ratchets up on Dems ahead of votes on big spending bills
The thin margins in Congress and the high stakes for muscling through $5.7 trillion of new spending put House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in one of the tightest binds of her long political career. Published September 25, 2021
Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley seeking reelection for 8th term
Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican, announced Friday morning that he will run for reelection. Published September 24, 2021
Pelosi rips archbishop’s ‘child sacrifice’ comment about abortion bill
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out Thursday at comments by the Archbishop of San Francisco, who said Catholics backing legislation to codify Roe v. Wade are supporting nothing more than "child sacrifice." Published September 23, 2021
Uyghur refugee: U.S. must stop buying Chinese slave labor products
A Uyghur refugee is advocating passage of bipartisan legislation that would prevent Chinese goods made by Uyghur slave labor from entering the U.S. market. Published September 23, 2021
Congressional Black lawmakers support NYC vaccine passport mandate amid racial conflict
Congressional Black lawmakers say they support New York City's passport vaccine mandate despite a recent local Black Lives Matter protest claim that the policy is too often used to deny services to Black patrons. Published September 22, 2021
Travel and tourism execs ask lawmakers to help revive industry post-pandemic
Representatives from the U.S. travel industry urged a Senate panel Tuesday to pass bipartisan legislation to help the industry, over a year after it was ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Published September 21, 2021
