2 days ago | By

House Republicans are already facing defections over a leadership push to oust Rep. Ilhan Omar from her committees. Democrats plan to make the vote even more painful. The Minnesota Democrat and her caucus allies have begun to mount a robust defense of the progressive “squad” member, who Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his allies have repeatedly threatened to kick off committees once the GOP took over the House. While they've focused on Omar's past comments about Israel - some of which divided her own party at the time - Republicans loudly protested last Congress when Democrats booted a pair of...
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Lawmakers pushing for MBTA to electrify Commuter Rail by 2035

2 days ago | By

State lawmakers are making another push for Commuter Rail electrification, now that a new governor is in office.
Legislation was filed in both the House and Senate that calls for the MBTA and its rail contractor, Keolis, to operate a fully electric Commuter Rail system by Dec. 31, 2035, and “ensure sufficient zero-emission infrastructure is in place” to meet that timeline.
Three lines that serve environmental justice populations - Newburyport/Rockport from North Station to Beverly, Fairmount from South Station to Readville and the entire Providence/Stoughton Line - would be electrified...
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New GOP senator irks colleagues with Judiciary committee push

3 days ago | By

Eric Schmitt is already ruffling feathers, two days into his first work week of the new Senate. The first-term Missouri senator is pushing for a slot on the coveted Senate Judiciary Committee as Republicans finalize their decisions on panel rosters. He's even going so far as to make calls to his new colleagues, Sens. Thom Tillis and Marsha Blackburn , to see if they'll give up their spots to allow him on the panel, an unusual move for a Senate newcomer, per two sources briefed on the matter. The recipients have not welcomed his entreaties. “This is something the Missouri senators need to...
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