Peter Welch

Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Peter Welch of Vermont introduced a constitutional amendment last Thursday that would create 18-year term limits on the Supreme Court.Yes, that Joe Manchin—the Democrat-turned-independent who wants President Joe Biden to pardon Donald Trump to heal the nation and has accused both sides of being too partisan and extolled the virtues of the filibuster even as Republicans used it to thwart his party’s agenda—thinks the Supreme Court is so broken that it needs reforming.“The current lifetime appointment structure is broken and fuels polarizing confirmation battles and political posturing that has eroded public confidence in the highest court in our land,” Manchin said in a statement. "Our amendment maintains that there shall never be more than nine Justices and would gradually create regular vacancies on the Court, allowing the President to appoint a new Justice every two years with the advice and consent of the United States Senate."The 18-year term limit is the same number of years Biden said Supreme Court justices should be limited to.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (I) and Vermont Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) have introduced a resolution to impose 18-year term limits on Supreme Court justices, which would require some turnover on the high court every two years. Specifically, their resolution calls for a constitutional amendment to institute nonrenewable 18-year terms for new Supreme Court justices, [...]

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is making an attempt to block some U.S. arms to Israel over civilian deaths in Gaza.

Trump named Dr. Oz to lead the agency overseeing Medicare and Medicaid—as his team reportedly eyes cuts to Medicaid.

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray asking for “the complete evidentiary file” from the bureau's investigation into allegations of sex trafficking of minors against former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), whom President-elected Trump has tapped to become the next attorney general. The Democratic senators, led by Judiciary [...]

Congress returned to Washington this week with just five weeks left in this year’s legislative calendar. With a Continuing Resolution (CR) that expires December 20, 2024, either a year-end spending package or a new Continuing Resolution will need to be passed to continue funding the government. There are several health policies that may be included in this package, including policies expiring at the end of the year. Must-pass items, such as extensions for Medicare COVID-era telehealth flexibilities and policy changes that enjoy broad bipartisan, bicameral support, such as Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform and BIOSECURE, are on the docket for consideration. Must-PassTelehealth Extension: Medicare FlexibilitiesThe IssueMedicare telehealth flexibilities put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic will expire at the end of this year following a two-year extension in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Prior to the pandemic, telehealth coverage was only available with... Read the complete article here...© 2024 Foley & Lardner LLP

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will force votes on resolutions to block more than $20 billion in offensive aid to Israel next week, multiple sources told Axios.Why it matters: Sanders' resolutions will almost certainly be defeated on the Senate floor, but they will give a good snapshot of just how strong the sentiment against Israel's war effort in Gaza is amongst Senate Democrats.Sanders has long been a leading critic of the Israeli government and U.S. support for its war in Gaza.The resolutions that Sanders will raise next week would block the Biden administration from sending billions of dollars in offensive aid to Israel.The Biden administration has been reluctant to withhold arms, and announced Tuesday that it would not enforce its ultimatum to cut aid if humanitarian conditions in Gaza did not improve.The big picture: The Sanders resolution will give a good snapshot of just how strong the sentiment against the Israeli war in Gaza is amongst Senate Democrats.Sanders was joined by Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in introducing the resolutions to block the arms sales. The aid that would be blocked includes tank munitions, F-15IA aircrafts and mortars, if all the resolutions were to be passed.Sanders is forcing the vote at the same time that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is planning to pass a bill that would crack down on antisemitism on college campuses.Go deeper: Senate soundly rejects push to scrutinize Israel aid

'Those of us concerned about grassroots democracy and economic justice need to have some very serious discussions,' Sanders said.

BURLINGTON — U.S. Senator Peter Welch, D-Vt., is celebrating this week's 60th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Wilderness Act of 1964, legislation that established the National Wilderness Preservation System.

As the closure of Albany’s designated space for camping looms closer, many people still don’t know where they will go next.

The Harris campaign says she'd give families $6,000 when they have a new baby, and would restore the pandemic-era child tax credit, too. It's part of an economic plan focused on the cost of living.

Vice President Harris’ campaign on Thursday will roll out some of her housing policy proposals including that she supports efforts aimed at lowering the cost of rent and supporting renters struggling financially, according to details obtained by NBC News from a campaign official.

“I really don’t know what we are going to do or where we are going to go."

Montana Sen. Jon Tester and Vermont Sen. Peter Welch deserve credit as the only two Democratic senators, along with a handful of Democratic representatives, who had the courage to speak publicly about what average folks have believed for some while.

So close, yet so far.

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez plans to resign after being convicted on federal corruption charges.

Democrats quickly rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris as their likely presidential nominee Sunday after President Joe Biden ‘s ground-shaking decision to bow out of the 2024 race.

Democrats are quickly coalescing around Vice President Kamala Harris as their likely presidential nominee after President Joe Biden’s ground-shaking decision to bow out of the 2024 race

President Biden said he will not be running for reelection, a historic decision that comes after mounting pressure from many within his own party. Biden said he will serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in 2025. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” he said. [...]

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on the South Lawn of the White House on July 11, 2022.

It's a critical weekend ahead for President Joe Biden

President Joe Biden feels angry and betrayed by top Democrats who have privately expressed concerns about his ability to stay in the 2024 election.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), one of the most vulnerable frontline Democrats in November, said Thursday that President Biden should drop out of the presidential race.Why it matters: Tester is just the second Senate Democrat to publicly call on Biden to step aside, as support for the president further deteriorates on Capitol Hill."While I appreciate his commitment to public service and our country, I believe President Biden should not seek re-election to another term," Tester said in a statement Thursday.Tester is facing re-election in deep-red Montana, and his race could determine control of the Senate in November.The big picture: Pressure is continuing to build for Biden to get out of the race, with Democrats skeptical that he can defeat former President Trump.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), one of the most powerful voices in the party, told Biden in Delaware over the weekend that Senate Democrats have deep concerns about his viability in November.Schumer was told before Tester went public that this was coming, per a source familiar with the situation. Schumer told Tester to do what he thought was best.Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) is the only other Senate Democrat who has publicly said that Biden should get out of the race.The intrigue: Top Democrats told Axios that it is only a matter of time before Biden bows out of the race.It could happen as soon as this weekend, the sources said.The Biden campaign pointed Axios to a statement from Principal Deputy Campaign Manager Quentin Fulks on Thursday."He is not wavering on anything. The president has made his decision ... Joe Biden has said he is running for President of the United States," Fulks said.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who is locked in a tight reelection bid, on Thursday became the second Senate Democrat to call for President Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. “Montanans have put their trust in me to do what is right, and it is a responsibility I take seriously. I have worked with President [...]

Increasingly more Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

The editor who published the letter in Artforum was fired after the wealthy art patron Martin Eisenberg’s behind-the-scenes push. The post Bed Bath & Beyond Scion Pressured Artists to Retract Gaza Ceasefire Call in Artforum Letter appeared first on The Intercept.