McConnell Threatens Filibuster Changes Will Lead to Scorched Earth Senate As Debate Heats Up By Spectrum News Staff Nationwide UPDATED 8:50 PM ET Mar. 16, 2021 PUBLISHED 3:45 PM ET Mar. 16, 2021 PUBLISHED 3:45 PM EDT Mar. 16, 2021
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The battle over the legislative filibuster, the 60-vote threshold by which debate can be brought to a close in the Senate, is heating up as progressive Democrats call on leadership to abolish the rule.
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) warned in a floor speech Tuesday that Democrats changing filibuster rules would lead to a “completely scorched earth Senate
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said of McConnell’s threat to shut down the Senate that “he has already done that. He’s proven he can do i
PUBLISHED 9:02 AM ET Mar. 17, 2021 PUBLISHED 9:02 AM EDT Mar. 17, 2021
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New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine announced that the Assembly has retained the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP to lead the impeachment investigation into the mounting allegations against Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“Since Thursday, Chairman Lavine led a vigorous search for a top-flight firm to assist with the investigation. I have the utmost faith that Assemblymember Lavine and our Judiciary Committee will conduct a full and fair investigation,” Speaker Heastie said. “Hiring Davis Polk will give the Committee the experience, independence, and resources needed to handle this important investigation in a thorough and expeditious manner.”
PUBLISHED 8:32 PM ET Mar. 15, 2021 PUBLISHED 8:32 PM EDT Mar. 15, 2021
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The NYS Senate and Assembly passed their one house budgets on Monday, each proposing more than $200 billion in spending. These one house budgets will not be finalized as is, but if enacted would be one of the largest spending plans in New York’s history.
To put it in perspective, California’s state budget for 2020-2021 was $202.1 billion and California has nearly double the population.
In contrast, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal outlines $178 billion in spending.
At the same time, despite slight differences, the Senate and Assembly budget proposals are very similar, potentially giving Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins more bargaining power in the budget process when they go into a (perhaps virtual) room with Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Changing Face of North Carolina: The Economy
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NORTH CAROLINA For decades in North Carolina, tobacco was king. Textile and furniture manufacturing also provided a good living for generations of working families, but the state is changing.
Tobacco fields are unused or farmers have transitioned to other crops. Factories that used to house machinery now serve as apartment homes for upscale families.
It wasn t all that long ago that tobacco reigned supreme here. The state s dry, sandy soil is ideal for the plants to grow.
Also, in the mid 20th century, furniture making flourished, and 60% of furniture made in the country was made within a 150 mile radius of High Point. Looking as far back as the 1920 s, hundreds of textile mills were found around the state as well, employing tens of thousands of people.
What s Next in the Cuomo Impeachment Investigation PUBLISHED 9:26 PM ET Mar. 12, 2021 PUBLISHED 9:26 PM EST Mar. 12, 2021
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In 1913, after only 10 months in office, William Sulzer, otherwise known as “Plain Bill,” was impeached.
Out of New York’s 56 governors, Sulzer is the only one, so far, that holds this distinction.
However, the reasons Sulzer was removed from office are much different than the scandals Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing.
The State Assembly Judiciary Committee has now launched an impeachment investigation as Cuomo is battling calls for his resignation for a growing number of sexual harassment allegations and his administration’s handling of nursing home data.