More Fireworks in Congress Than in the Skies – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - July 4, 2021
Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™
More Fireworks in Congress Than in the Skies – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - July 4, 2021
“Check and Checkmate!” – After the defeat of a bill that would have created an independent commission to investigate the Capitol riot on January 6, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) CA promised to appoint her own Congressional commission. Today, she did just that. Pelosi gets to appoint eight members and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy gets to appoint five members. But Pelosi trumped McCarthy by appointing Rep. Liz Cheney (R) Wyoming. Cheney was stripped of her leadership role in the GOP for criticizing former President Donald Trump for his role in encouraging the assault on the U.S. Capitol.
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“What Say You, Congresswoman Cheney?” - "What happened on January 6 can never happen again. Those who are responsible for the attack need to be held accountable and this select committee will fulfill that responsibility in a professional, expeditious and nonpartisan manner," said Cheney, a fighter like her famous political mom and dad. I don’t think she will stand silent. She certainly won’t bolt the GOP and become a Democrat, but she’ll be a thorn in many political sides. We will see if McCarthy will appoint any members.
“Trump Troubles” – Former President Donald wants a “third bite at the apple,” so I fully expect he is in the 2024 presidential mix. But are he and his companies damaged goods? I ask because on Wednesday a grand jury returned a 15-count indictment against the Trump Organization and Allen Weisselberg, its chief financial officer. The indictment suggests the company and Weisselberg ran a scheme to give at least $1.7 million in untaxed "indirect employee compensation" to the Trump executive as of 2005. Prosecutors said the Trump group failed to properly report the payments for tax purposes. Will this reach all the way to Trump himself? Stay tuned!
“Pay to Play?” - "It was orchestrated by the most senior executives, who were financially benefiting themselves and the company, by getting secret pay raises at the expense of state and federal taxpayers," said Carey Dunne, an assistant district attorney prosecuting the case. Even if Trump is not charged, but others in his organization go to prison, it just looks bad. Having a dark cloud hanging over your head is not a way to sway undecided voters. Ex-President Trump said, "They will do anything to stop the MAGA movement (and me), even if it involves prosecutorial misconduct and harassment of a political opponent, which they are using at levels rarely seen before."
“So, What About Our Roads and Highways?” – The competing infrastructure bills are still all over the map in Washington, DC. President Biden’s $2 trillion dollar plan is toast. It isn’t going to happen. On Thursday House Democrats passed a $715 billion dollar plan, but that’s not likely to get the green light either. The third option is the bipartisan Senate bill sponsored by 21 Senate Republicans and Democrats, with a $1.2 trillion dollar price tag. "This is a tremendous piece of legislation. The largest investment in infrastructure in the nation's history,” said Sen. Joe Manchin (D) West Virginia. “The largest investment in the history. We've got the worst bridges in the country," Manchin added.
“Does the High Court Reign Supreme?” – In its final rulings of the 2020-21 session, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its last opinions of the current term Thursday. On a 6-3 vote, the High Court rejected challenges that the Arizona voter registration and ID laws were racially biased. Of particular interest was the court’s ruling that laws against so-called “ballot harvesting” pass Constitutional muster. Having someone stop by the county clerk’s office with a whole box full of ballots collected elsewhere ought to raise concerns in both parties. The potential for abuse on either side of the aisle raises red flags.
“In Memoriam” – This week’s column is dedicated to two of my news directors and mentors who passed away this past week. Fred Zehnder was my first News Director at KTVU in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I spent 20 years on the airwaves. He was killed by a suspected drunk driver as he took his nightly walk last Sunday. Then on Wednesday of this week, my current News Director, Rod Jackson at WOWK-TV13, died of cancer here in Charleston, WV. Rod was a loyal weekly reader of this column. I have had many news directors in 45 of broadcasting, but these were two of the best. They let me cover my passion: politics! May God rest their souls.
Tell me what you think constitutes infrastructure? It is just roads, bridges, rails, and airports? Or is it social infrastructure such as child-care and home health care? Weigh-in by clicking the comment button.
