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The Federal Tap: U.S. Senate candidates face off in debates around the country
From Ballotpedia
September 21, 2018Issue No. 131
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
The Senate Judiciary Committee canceled its planned Thursday, September 20 vote on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford were invited to testify before the committee on Monday, September 24, regarding an allegation by Ford that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the early 1980s when the two were in high school. Kavanaugh denied the allegation. On Friday evening, committee chairman Chuck Grassley postponed the Monday hearing. He also mentioned the possibility of a forthcoming committee vote. As of Tap publication, an official vote date has not yet been rescheduled. Stay tuned for updates.
Monday, September 17
36 Republicans endorse Democratic candidate in KS-02
- 36 Kansas Republicans, including Former Lt. Governor Gary Sherrer and Former Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, announced their support for Democratic candidate Paul Davis’ campaign for Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District.
- At a news conference in Topeka, several of the Republicans offered their reasons for endorsing Davis, ranging from his experience to the belief that Davis would bring civility and bipartisanship to Congress.
- Director of the Kansas State Republican Party Jim Joice said that the group included many of the same Republicans that endorsed Davis’ unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 2014. “If you want a Democrat Governor in 2014 and you want a Democratic Congress in 2018, I wonder how much you align with the beliefs of the Kansas Republican Party,” he said.
Brown, Renacci agree to first debate in Ohio Senate race
- Sherrod Brown (D) and Jim Renacci (R) agreed to meet in Toledo on October 14 for their first debate. The candidates also agreed to debate in Columbus and Cincinnati before November 6.
- A September 16 Baldwin University poll of 1048 likely voters showed Brown leading Renacci 49 percent to 32 percent.
- A Medium Buying analysis of spending in the race found that Brown accounts for 96% of total ad spending in the general election with $11.8 Million, while Renacci had spent $481,000 as of September 13.
Trump announces new tariffs on Chinese goods
- President Donald Trump announced that his administration would impose tariffs on nearly $200 billion of goods imported from China. A 10 percent tariff will take effect on September 24, 2018, and increase to 25 percent on January 1, 2019. Trump also warned China against imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by saying that his administration would impose tariffs on $267 billion of additional Chinese imports. In a statement, Trump said that the tariffs were a response to what he called China’s “unfair policies and practices relating to United States technology and intellectual property” and their unwillingness to change their policies.
- When the new tariffs take effect, nearly half of Chinese imports will be subjected to tariffs, totaling $505 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. Fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, metals, pet products, hair care products, luggage, gas grills, household appliances, and furniture are some of the goods that will be subjected to the tariffs.
- In response, China said that it would impose new tariffs on $60 billion of U.S. goods beginning on September 24, 2018.
Tuesday, September 18
Senate approves $854B minibus spending bill
- The Senate passed a $854 billion minibus spending bill by a vote of 93-7 that allocated funding for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education. It also included a short-term stopgap bill to fund departments that have not yet been funded through the appropriations process through December 7, 2018. The Senate has not approved funding for the Departments of Labor, HHS, or Education outside of an omnibus bill—a bill that includes funding for all of the federal government—since 2007, according to The Wall Street Journal.
- Six Republican senators—Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Mike Lee (Utah), Rand Paul (Ky.), David Perdue (Ga.), Ben Sasse (Neb.), and Pat Toomey (Pa.)—voted with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) against the bill. The House is expected to take up the legislation next week.
- The Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act of 2019, included increased funding for Pell Grants, the National Institutes of Health, the opioid epidemic, workforce development training, defense research, and a pay raise for members of the military. The bill also contained funding through December 7, 2018, for seven spending bills that have not yet been funded through the appropriations process. Legislators chose not to address funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including President Donald Trump’s request for border wall funding, until after the midterm elections.
- Last week, Congress sent a $147 billion minibus bill that included spending bills for military construction and veterans’ affairs, the legislative branch, and energy and water to Trump’s desk for signature. Legislators are working on a third minibus spending bill to fund the departments of Interior, Treasury, Agriculture, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development.
Friday, September 21
Cruz and O’Rourke face off in first Texas Senate debate
- Incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R) and U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D) debated domestic policy at Southern Methodist University in the first of three Texas Senate debates.
- Cruz and O’Rourke fought over the terms of the debates, including the number, location, and language. Cruz wanted five Friday evening debates over three months, while O’Rourke requested one debate be held in El Paso and two be conducted in Spanish.
- The final two debates will be held in Houston on September 30 and San Antonio on October 16.
- Three public opinion polls released this month show Cruz leading O’Rourke by 3 to 9 points. A Reuters/Ipsos/UVA Center for Politics released Wednesday showed O’Rourke leading for the first time in a major poll, by a margin of 2 points.
Congress is in session
The Senate will be in session Monday through Friday. The House will be in session Tuesday through Friday.
SCOTUS is out of session
The Supreme Court has finished its argument scheduled for the term. To learn more about this term, read our review.
WHAT'S ON TAP NEXT WEEK
Tuesday, September 25
Blackburn, Bredesen debate: U.S. Senate election in TN
- U.S. Senate candidates from Tennessee Marsha Blackburn (R) and Phil Bredesen (D) will participate in the first of two scheduled debates on September 25 at 6pm CT. The second debate is scheduled for October 10.
- The candidates, along with six independents, are vying to replace retiring Sen. Bob Corker (R). This is one of five battleground Senate races where the seat is currently held by a Republican (11 battlegrounds have Democratic incumbents).
- Three polls since early August have found either Blackburn or Bredesen leading within or near margins of error.
Where was the president last week?
- On Tuesday, President Donald Trump met with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the White House. He also met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
- On Wednesday, Trump visited North Carolina and South Carolina to survey the damage left by Hurricane Florence.
- On Thursday, Trump held a campaign rally in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- On Friday, Trump held a rally in Springfield, Missouri.
Federal Judiciary
- 141 federal judicial vacancies
- 72 pending nominations
- 26 future federal judicial vacancies
About
The Tap covered election news, public policy, and other noteworthy events from February 2016 to February 2022.
