The House has introduced articles of impeachment against President Trump accusing him of “incitement of insurrection”. Votes could occur as early as Wednesday. Even if the articles pass in the House, it is unlikely that the Senate would convene a trial, or vote to convict, before the President’s term ends. Read more.
Category: On the Hill
UW President’s Statement on Violence at the US Capitol
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce released the below blog post following yesterday’s events in Washington, DC. You can read her blog here.
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Misinformation, disinformation and the assault on democracy
The peaceful transition of power based on the results of our electoral process, whether we like those results or not, is the cornerstone of representative government.
That’s what makes today’s insurrection at the United States Capitol so outrageous. As U.S. senators and representatives counted the Electoral College votes, extremists stormed the Capitol. While holding American flags, they undermined the very values and ideals the flag stands for by forcing elected officials to stop the electoral counting process and go into hiding, as the insurrectionists broke into congressional offices and the House and Senate chambers.
This is appalling. But sadly, it is the result of months and years of lies and misinformation spread too often by others in positions of power. As Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a Republican and Air Force veteran, said of today’s attack, “When you don’t tell people the truth, you end up getting people to believe the conspiracies and the false proof, and you get Capitol storms like the one today.”
As a University, we are dedicated to the pursuit of the truth – no matter how uncomfortable that truth is, or what power structures or belief systems it challenges. Our Center for an Informed Public and countless faculty across the UW are advancing truth around issues ranging from the election and the coronavirus to the continuing scourge of racial inequities. Our duty in pursuing truth is to serve all members of our society by shedding light on reality, rationality and possibility.
A second major responsibility we have in higher education is to provide students not only with the knowledge and credentials to get good jobs, but also with the intellectual tools and ethical values that will allow them to constructively carry out their civic duties and obligations. And while our students will pursue their paths in a society where we may not always agree on solutions, it is crucial they be part of encouraging our society to again embrace a shared commitment to facts, rational discourse, and respect for intellectual and scientific pursuits.
We must denounce violent extremism and condemn this “assault on the citadel of liberty” and the continued assault on our democracy. It is long past time to acknowledge the results of our free and fair election so that we can tackle the immense challenges we face, which can only be overcome through shared action.
I took my oath as a U.S. citizen at the age of 18, well aware that our country has too often not lived up to its ideals, but with a sincere belief in its promise. Despite all our challenges, I still believe in that promise – and that we all have a role to play in making it real.
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Congress Affirms Biden’s Win After an Unbelievable Day
After Congress reconvened, it affirmed President-elect Biden’s electoral victory during the early hours of Thursday.
Even after the historic violence earlier in the day, more than 100 House Republicans objected to the electoral votes of Pennsylvania and seven Republican Senators voiced their support for the move when Congress resumed the counting. When the Capitol was attacked, both chambers were in the middle of a debate about the votes from Arizona. After debates restarted, more than half of the House Republicans– more than 120– objected to the votes from Arizona while six Senate Republicans voted that way. A handful of Republican Senators changed their minds about objecting to the votes after the day’s events.
Needless to say, what is normally a routine event every four years was anything but yesterday/this morning.
You can read more about the developments here, here, and here.
Waiting on the Senate
As of Wednesday, the US Senate has still not voted on whether to override President Trump’s veto of the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). A final vote, and eventual passage, is expected by this weekend after Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) objected to unanimous consent today. The House already voted to override the veto with bipartisan support.
Sanders’ objection was an attempt to push Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to schedule a vote on the increased, $2000 stimulus payments. The increased payments already passed in the House, and have the backing of President Trump. In a statement, Senator McConnell said the increased payments have “no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate.”
The clock is ticking to finish remaining agenda items before the 117th Congress is sworn in at 12:00pm on Sunday, January 3rd, 2021.
Read more here.
House Approves Bigger Checks, Overrides Defense Veto
Today the US House of Representatives voted, by a 2/3 majority, to increase COVID-relief stimulus checks from $600 to $2000 per individual. The President has signaled support of this, however it is unclear if it can pass in the Senate.
The House also voted, with significant bipartisan support, to override the President’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an annual piece of legislation setting broad defense policy. If the Senate also votes to override, the legislation can become law without the President’s signature.
Read more here.