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These days, Silicon Valley occupies a fraught place in the American psyche, one far bigger than the slice of California it fills geographically. It's at once a hotbed of innovation, a threat to democracy easily exploited by Russia and others, a gobsmackingly powerful economic engine, a privacy-gobbling leviathan, a factory churning out our cherished digital tools, a social-division-exacerbating menace, and also, just maybe, the United States' last best hope.
House Democrats have backed off a proposed rule that would have made it more difficult for them to raise taxes and pass their most ambitious goals, an early victory for the left-flank of the party that is about to take control of the House.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), incoming chair of the House Rules Committee, told lawmakers Tuesday he will not advance "supermajority" rules requiring three-fifths majorities to approve tax hikes for most taxpayers, according to Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
A bipartisan pair of congressmen is trying again to force a vote on U.S. support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen's civil war before the end of the year, as the Senate is poised to take similar action.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) recently reintroduced a War Powers Resolution that would remove U.S. forces from hostilities in Yemen except to fight terrorism as allowed by the 2001 war authorization.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus Nov. 29 announced its newly-elected leadership heading into the 116thCongress, with Indian American U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Ro Khanna named among the leaders.
In addition to being elected to the caucus, Jayapal was chosen as a co-chair for the caucus.
With the Republican monopoly on power in Washington broken, the new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives can now advance a bold agenda for the country. To do so, progressives inside and outside the House will need to force hearings and floor votes on signature reforms, from Medicare for All to a Green New Deal.
For politically-minded interns, a gig in Rep. Ro Khanna's congressional office just got better. Khanna said he will pay his incoming class of interns a $15 an hour wage.
"The House has a new fund for internships. This is a welcome change & long overdue. Like many other offices, we will be paying our interns at least $15 an hour," Khanna tweeted Wednesday. "This will ensure that young people of different economic backgrounds will be able to pursue public service internships."
In 1973, as President Richard M. Nixon escalated an unauthorized bombing campaign in Cambodia, Sen. J. William Fulbright (D-Ark.) asked, "Does the President assert — as kings of old — that as Commander in Chief he can order American forces anywhere for any purpose that suits him?" Later that year, Congress answered unequivocally that he could not, overriding a presidential veto to authorize the War Powers Act.
Kudos to Ro Khanna for
award, peace leadership
Congratulations to Ro Khanna, our District 17 Congressman, for receiving the Friends Committee on National Legislation's annual Edward F. Snyder Award for National Legislative Leadership in Advancing Disarmament and Building Peace.
FCNL honored Representative Khanna for his work to prevent war with North Korea, his strong call to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen and his work to strengthen U.S. diplomacy abroad.
Government agencies would have to create better digital services for citizens under legislation passed Thursday in the House by voice vote.
The bipartisan 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA) broadly aims to update the government's digital footprint by requiring that public-facing agency websites have a "consistent look" and are compliant with the web standards developed by the Technology Transformation Services of the General Services Administration. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced the legislation in May.
Washington, DC – Following today's passage of the IDEA Act in the House Rep. Khanna issued the below statement:
"The 21st Century IDEA will modernize government agencies. It's time our government agencies adopt the innovative technologies of the 21st Century," Rep. Khanna said. "Government exists to serve citizens, and this bill ensures government leverages available technology to provide the cohesive, user-friendly online service that people around this country expect and deserve."