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New Congress, New Ideas?

Posted on by Ashleigh Barber

The 117th Congress was sworn in on January 3, 2021.1 This is the most diverse Congress ever,2 with a record number of women and LGBTQ members, a slim Democratic majority in the House, and a Senate that is still up for grabs due to runoff elections taking place this week in Georgia.3

READ MORE: “Here’s A Look at Congress’ Incoming Freshman Class,” from NPR

CClearly, the new 2021 Congress members will be busy. The Senate will hold confirmation hearings for President-elect Joe Biden’s cabinet nominees for the first portion of the year,4 and both chambers will be consumed by legislation to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic harm it is causing.5

In a new Congress, no old business from the previous Congress is carried over. So, any bills that were introduced in the 116th Congress but did not pass must be introduced again if they are to be considered. It is not always clear which issues a new Congress will prioritize, but there are some signs that the 2021 Congress members will take up legislation to create jobs and to address environmental issues.

Lawmakers introduced several bills in the second half of 2020 to do just that. One bill, the 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps Act, aims to help rural areas by employing people to plant trees, engage in forest and rangeland management, and clean up waterways.6 A second bill, the RENEW Conservation Corps Act, is similar but more all-encompassing, focusing on urban and suburban greenspaces as well as rural communities.7

 

Both bills draw on ideas from the New Deal, specifically the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which began in 1933, ran until 1943, and employed over three million people in that ten-year span.8 On his campaign website, President-elect Biden endorses this approach, calling for a Civilian Climate Corps to “put a new, diverse generation of patriotic Americans to work conserving our public lands, bolstering community resilience, and addressing the changing climate, while putting good-paying union jobs within reach for more Americans, including women and people of color.”9

“This bill is a straightforward approach to creating one million jobs that can address maintenance and restoration of our greatest natural resources and recreation areas,” said Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on behalf of his bill, the RENEW Conservation Corps Act. “This is an investment to protect the beauty of America’s natural treasures. If we are to leave these natural gifts to the next generation, we have to take responsibility in protecting them.”10

Representative Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, said of a similar bill, “Members of the 21st Century CCC will engage in the prevention of forest fires, floods, and soil erosion; reforestation and eradication of invasive species and flora disease control; and modernize, redesign, and construct trails and facilities throughout our nation’s natural spaces. This is a commonsense proposal that will not only improve the lives of Ohioans, but also countless communities across the country.”11

“Rural communities are increasingly being impacted by COVID and many already have been devastated economically by the pandemic,” said Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., a cosponsor of the 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps Act. “Our bill will make urgent investments in rural communities at a time when they are needed most by creating new jobs and training programs, planting billions of trees, and investing in our farmers and ranchers as part of the solution to climate change.”12

While it is not clear exactly what form these Congress bill ideas will take, it does seem likely that legislation modeled on the CCC will be introduced and will have the support of Democratic leadership and the newly inaugurated president.

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you support programs such as these that would put Americans directly to work on large-scale government projects? Why or why not?
  2. Do you think the government has a role to play in combating unemployment? What about conserving natural landscapes? Why or why not?
  3. How highly would you rank each of the following priorities?
    1. Reducing unemployment
    2. Stimulating the economy
    3. Conserving nature
    4. Economic development in rural communities
    5. Combating climate change 

Further Reading:

  • Yes! Magazine: “Biden Needs to Go Big to Rebuild America”
  • Washington Post: “Young People Want to Do Something About Climate Change. Biden May Have an Answer”
  • Bloomberg News: “Biden Shows He Gets it On Clean Energy”

Extension Activities:

  • Students could call the Capitol switchboard phone number – (202) 224-3121 – or write their members of Congress to voice support or opposition to these ideas.
  • Students could research how the various bills would impact their communities. Questions to begin inquiry include:
    • How is my community contributing to climate change?
    • How is climate change impacting my community?
    • In what ways are environmental features of my community threatened? (i.e., deforestation, agricultural runoff, industrial pollution)
    • How has the pandemic impacted my community’s economy?
  • Students could conduct historical research about the CCC. Questions to begin inquiry include:
    • How did the CCC impact economic issues during the Great Depression?
    • How did the CCC impact the nation’s environment?
    • How did the CCC impact my part of the country?

 

Sources

[1] Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/03/new-congress-begins-coronavirus-453060
[2] USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/03/congress-house-senate-members-sworn-covid-19-rages/6410063002/
[3] Los Angeles Times: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-01-03/house-democrats-small-majority-nancy-pelosi-challenges
[4] CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/22/politics/biden-cabinet-confirmation-senate-republicans/index.html
[5] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/02/new-congress-live-updates/
[6] Senator Ron Wyden’s Official Website: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-congress-negotiates-covid-19-relief-wyden-and-booker-lead-call-for-federal-support-for-rural-economies
[7] Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4538/text?r=1&s=1
[8] Congressional Research Service: https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/2020-09-03_R46513_42fae608f0b18de022fe5d96ab7200d21dbf5603.pdf
[9] whitehouse.gov: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/04/20/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-catalyze-global-climate-action-through-the-major-economies-forum-on-energy-and-climate/#:~:text=President%20Biden%20has%20set%20an,by%20no%20later%20than%202050
[10] WTTW News (PBS Affiliate): https://news.wttw.com/2020/09/11/proposed-21st-century-civilian-conservation-corps-could-benefit-chicago-s-economy
[11] Representative Marcy Kaptur’s Official Website: https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-introduces-legislation-reestablish-civilian-conservation-corps
[12] Senator Ron Wyden’s Official Website: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-congress-negotiates-covid-19-relief-wyden-and-booker-lead-call-for-federal-support-for-rural-economies

 

Behind the Scenes Look at the Iconic National Press Club

During this Close Up Conversations webinar Close Up’s, Joe Geraghty, discusses the iconic National Press Club with journalist, author and professor, Gil Klein.

The National Press Club (NPC) has been a meeting place in Washington, DC, for newsmakers and journalists for over a century.  Presidents, premiers, kings and queens, Cabinet secretaries, senators and House members, movie stars and sports heroes, titans of business and finance eager to share their views on current events with the media and the public have passed through its doors.  The Press Club is not only a place where news happens but it is a strong advocate for press freedom worldwide.  Hear from NPC’s former president and current historian, Gilbert Klein, as he shares stories from his new book, Tales from the National Press Club.

 

 

 

Norms, Rules, and Tradition

Posted on by Ashleigh Barber

As journalists, historians, and political commentators reflect on the administration of outgoing President Donald Trump, one word keeps coming up: norms. To his critics, this is cause for concern. But President Trump’s supporters sometimes see his norm-breaking actions as efforts to change the political culture of Washington. Here, we will offer definitions and examples of political norms, rules, and traditions that President Trump has broken, consider the possible consequences, and ask what, if anything, should be done to reaffirm those norms.

First Norm: The Relationship Between Private Interests and Governing

Some commentators and political rivals have pointed to President Trump’s connection to his personal business empire as a violation of the spirit of the Constitution, even if it that relationship does not violate the letter of the law. The Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, sometimes cited by those who question President Trump’s actions, states, “No Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”1 Critics point to the president’s use of Trump-owned properties, which have cost taxpayers at least $2.5 million, and to his encouraging of foreign governments to spend money at his properties, as evidence of the type of corruption that the founders feared. Because of the way in which the Emoluments Clause has been interpreted, it is not clear how enforcement works, so there have been no successful legal challenges.2 This has left some constitutional lawyers and scholars arguing that the law must be made clearer in the future.3

 

Second Norm: Family Involvement in the Administration

A second political norm that some Americans point to is the role that members of President Trump’s family played in his administration, both formally and informally. His two adult sons and oldest daughter were all visible spokespeople for his administration, although they did not have formal roles.4 Ivanka Trump’s husband, Jared Kushner, also played a significant role in many of the administration’s policy priorities. Kushner was tasked with developing a response to the opioid crisis, negotiating peace in the Middle East, taking the lead on diplomacy with Mexico and China, and several other high-profile initiatives.5 It is unusual to have family so closely intertwined with the administration, but it does not clearly violate any laws.6 Trump supporters note that President Bill Clinton, for example, appointed his wife, first lady Hillary Clinton, to head the Task Force on National Health Care, a centerpiece of his legislative agenda. But the actions of the Trump family raised questions about security clearances, as the administration overrode security clearance denials to grant clearance to Kushner, among others.7

Third Norm: Refusing to Concede

Since it became clear that President-elect Joe Biden won the 2020 election, President Trump’s team has filed several dozen lawsuits to overturn the results.8 As of December 14, these suits have not amounted to anything.9 In a significant departure from political tradition, many Republicans in Congress have refused to acknowledge President-elect Biden’s victory and are instead supporting President Trump’s lawsuits. They argue that election officials made unwarranted changes to electoral procedures without the approval of state legislatures, and that the integrity of signature vetting on mail-in ballots is questionable.10

Most Republicans in the House of Representatives signed letters of support for a lawsuit brought by the state of Texas, although Senate Republicans did not.11 Some Trump supporters have latched on to the president’s defiance as well. They note that in the 2000 presidential election, Vice President Al Gore waited to concede to Governor George W. Bush until December 13, the day after the Supreme Court ordered a stop to the recount in Florida. On December 12, groups supporting President Trump, including the male chauvinist organization Proud Boys, clashed with protesters in Washington, D.C.; at least four people were stabbed (the political allegiances of both the stabbing suspect and the victims is presently unknown).12 Several Black churches were also targeted and vandalized.13

WATCH: “Supreme Court Denies Texas Attempt to Overturn the Election Results,” from PBS NewsHour

Conclusion

Some observers are concerned about the long-term impacts of President Trump’s norm-breaking behavior. Two former governors, Jennifer Granholm, D-Mich., and Christine Todd Whitman, R-N.J., have argued that the attempts to overturn the election may have significant impacts in the future. “He is setting a precedent, suggesting that it is OK to violate these norms that have made our country great,” said Granholm.14 Activist and author Amy Siskind, creator of The Weekly List, wrote: “Experts in authoritarianism advise keeping a list of things changing, subtly, around you, so you’ll remember. Days after the 2016 presidential election, I started a list. Each week, I chronicle the ways Donald Trump has changed our country.”15

Further Reading

Discussion Questions 

  • How important are the norms mentioned in this post? Which is most important? Least?
  • Are there norms and conventions that you think no longer matter?
  • Do you think the Trump administration will change the way future administrations use executive power? If so, in what ways?
  • How do you think policymakers should respond to the changes brought in by the Trump administration? Are new laws needed?

 

Sources

[1] Connecticut Mirror: https://ctmirror.org/2020/10/13/supreme-court-rejects-blumenthal-appeal-in-trump-emoluments-case/; Congressional Research Service: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R45992
[2] Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2020/10/27/report-us-government-paid-over-25-million-to-trumps-businesses/?sh=54f526751a62; Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/2016/11/18/9da9c572-ad18-11e6-977a-1030f822fc35_story.html; Congressional Research Service: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R45992
[3] Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/12/massachusetts-ag-maura-healey-on-prosecuting-a-president
[4] Slate: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/11/goodbye-donald-trump-jr.html; Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/21/ivanka-suburban-women-11th-hour-430784; Salon: https://www.salon.com/2020/12/11/eric-trump-mocked-for-begging-people-to-praise-his-dad-on-a-record-day-for-covid-deaths-_partner/
[5] Think Progress: https://archive.thinkprogress.org/7-jobs-jared-kushner-is-now-doing-for-the-united-states-of-america-6f0a799462ed/; Time: https://time.com/5766186/jared-kushner-interview/
[6] American Oversight: https://www.americanoversight.org/investigation/ivanka-trumps-role-in-the-administration
[7] Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/us/official-trump-team-overruled-25-security-clearance-denials
[8] Time: https://time.com/5908505/trump-lawsuits-biden-wins/
[9] ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/wisconsin-supreme-court-tosses-trump-election-lawsuit-74717684
[10] USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/12/11/more-house-republicans-sign-on-to-lawsuit-aimed-at-overturning-election/6510763002/
[11] Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/11/republicans-lawsuit-overturn-election-444601
[12] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trump-dc-rally-maga/2020/12/11/8b5af818-3bdb-11eb-bc68-96af0daae728_story.html
[13] PBS NewsHour: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics
[14] KPRC2 News: https://www.click2houston.com/news/politics/2020/12/06/trump-tactics-to-overturn-election-could-have-staying-power/
[15] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/outlook/siskind-list-trump-norms/

 

COVID-19 Pandemic

How should the government respond to the COVID-10 pandemic? 

Consider six proposals the government could incorporate, or has incorporated, into its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Building Bridges – Dr. Frank Smith and the Civil Rights Movement

Podcast Host: Joe Geraghty  |  Podcast Contributors: Dr. Dan Wallace and Dr. Frank Smith

This episode of Building Bridges looks at the history of the Civil Rights movement in the United States with one of its original leaders, Dr. Frank Smith, the Founder and Executive Director of the African American Civil War Soldiers Museum and a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).  We explore first-person accounts that bring to life the iconic Civil Rights’ leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Representative John Lewis and Fanny Lou Hamer.

Part 1: Early days of SNCC (01:33)
Part 2: Dr. King and John Lewis (15:00)
Part 3: Fanny Lou Hamer and Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party 35:25)

 

COVID-19 Vaccines, A Harsh Winter, and Economic Relief

Posted on by Ashleigh Barber

Public health officials are offering good long-term news about the prospects of making a COVID-19 vaccine widely available during the first half of next year,1 but they are also cautioning Americans that this winter could be very “rough.”2 In addition to having worries about illness, death, and social isolation, many people are also feeling significant financial pain.3

The Race Toward a Vaccine

The United Kingdom recently approved a vaccine manufactured by Pfizer and will begin administering doses in the weeks ahead.4 In the United States, regulators are meeting on December 10 to discuss the same vaccine;5 they will meet again on December 17 to discuss a vaccine produced by Moderna.6 The vaccines could be administered in the United States before the end of this year; they will likely become available to the broader public on the basis of highest need by April.

LISTEN: “When and How You’ll Get a Vaccine,” a New York Times podcast

COVID-19 cases and deaths are surging around the United States7 and are returning rapidly in Europe.8 Health experts are warning against holiday travel, cautioning Americans to stay away from large groups and to avoid spending time with older family members.9 However, data suggests that a significant number of people ignored those cautions over the Thanksgiving holiday.10

 

Financial Struggles During COVID-19

Many Americans are experiencing serious financial impacts from COVID-19. Large numbers of people are unemployed or underemployed,11 small businesses are losing money or being forced to close,12 and increasing numbers of Americans, struggling to pay their bills and rent, report dipping into retirement savings and/or turning to food banks to feed their families.13 While the government has provided some economic relief and stimulus, it has been months since Congress addressed the financial harm of the virus.

However, Congress may be close to reaching a deal.14 A $900 billion economic relief package has gained bipartisan support in the Senate as well as the support of the House Democratic leadership.15 The proposal does not include stimulus checks, but it does include more aid to small businesses, restaurants, hotels, airlines, and other severely impacted industries. The bill also includes an extension of unemployment aid and funding for state and local governments that have seen their tax revenues shrink during the pandemic.16 Congress has limited time to act before going into the winter recess.

READ: “Stimulus Bill Proposal: Unemployment Help Is There; Stimulus Checks Are Not,” from Cox Media Group

Discussion Questions

  1. How has the pandemic impacted your daily life? What about the lives of friends and family?
  2. How has the pandemic impacted your community?
  3. Are there businesses in your community that have closed during the pandemic?
  4. Do you think Congress should pass the current proposal as is? Why or why not?
  5. What else, if anything, do you think governments should do in response to the pandemic?

 

Sources

[1] New York Magazine: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/what-we-know-about-u-s-covid-19-vaccine-distribution-plan.html
[2] Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-usa/cdc-chief-warns-americans-face-rough-winter-from-covid-19-surge-idUSKBN28C20R
[3] The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/04/us-unemployment-jobs-covid-19-surge
[4] BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55184849
[5] NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/when-will-americans-actually-get-covid-vaccine-officials-offer-different-n1249768
[6] CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/30/health/moderna-vaccine-fda-eua-application/index.html
[7] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html
[8] Science: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/europe-locking-down-second-time-what-its-long-term-plan
[9] Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/02/cdc-recommends-postponing-holiday-travel-as-covid-surges-442208
[10] NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/12/03/940893224/smartphone-data-many-americans-ignored-thanksgiving-travel-warnings-from-the-cdc
[11] USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/12/04/jobs-near-me-chronic-unemployment-stigma-even-during-pandemic/3804962001/
[12] Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-is-crushing-small-businesses-thats-bad-news-for-american-innovation-11602235804
[13] Pew Research Center: https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/09/24/economic-fallout-from-covid-19-continues-to-hit-lower-income-americans-the-hardest/
[14] The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/528697-lawmakers-pressure-leaders-to-reach-covid-19-relief-deal
[15] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/03/business/coronavirus-stimulus-bill.html
[16] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/12/03/what-is-in-congressional-bailout-deal-stimulus-checks/

A Bumpy Transition: Where Do We Go From Here?

Posted on by Ashleigh Barber

 

 

On Saturday, November 7, most major media outlets declared Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election.1 While the Biden team has already begun its informal transition, it has not yet been granted access to intelligence briefings, office space, or other elements of a formal transition.2 This formal transition cannot happen until the General Services Administration issues a “letter of ascertainment.”3 President Donald Trump has not formally conceded the election, as his campaign is continuing to file lawsuits, so far unsuccessfully, around the country.4

WATCH: “What Is the GSA, and What Role Does It Play in the Presidential Transition?” from CBS News

Biden’s inauguration will take place on January 20, 2021.5 While the outcome of the election is all but certain,6 much can still happen between November and January to shape the early months of the Biden administration. The presidential transition to a new administration is a significant undertaking, involving every federal agency, staff members in the current administration, and staff members in the incoming administration. In the midst of an economic downturn, the COVID-19 pandemic, and an effort to develop, produce, and distribute a vaccine, a smooth transition may be even more difficult and necessary in 2020.7

What Happens During a Transition?

In order to be ready to hit the ground running, there are many things that a president-elect must accomplish during the transition. According to the nonpartisan Center for Presidential Transition, these are the primary goals of a new president during this important time:

  • Staffing the White House and the Executive Office of the President.
  • Making more than 4,000 presidential appointments, more than 1,200 of which require Senate confirmation.
  • Getting up to speed on more than 100 federal agencies and organizing and training leadership teams for each one.
  • Building a policy platform for the new administration based on campaign promises, and planning executive actions, a management agenda, a budget proposal, and potential legislation.
  • Preparing a 100-to-200-day plan for executing the policies laid out during the campaign to help the new administration get off to a quick start.
  • Developing a strategy for communicating with the American people, Congress, the media, political appointees, the federal agencies, and other stakeholders.8

While this list seems manageable, it relies heavily on the cooperation of the outgoing administration. Dr. Anthony Fauci and other public health officials are raising alarms over the decision by the Trump administration to block or delay transition efforts.9 Some experts are also concerned that the Trump administration’s behavior could harm national security.10 However, President Trump’s national security advisor has promised a professional transition.11

LISTEN: “How Presidential Transitions Usually Happen and What Could Be Different This Time,” from NPR

The weeks ahead may be pivotal to ensuring a smooth transition from the Trump administration to the Biden administration. The transition is an aspect of government that many people take for granted, and, except for the appointment of officials who require Senate confirmation, transitions take place largely out of the public eye. However, it seems that this transition will be closely watched for evidence of cooperation between political rivals.

Discussion Questions

  1. What was your personal reaction to the news that Biden won the election? What did your friends and family think?
  2. What discussions have you had with others about the election since Election Day?
  3. What issues do you hope the Biden administration prioritizes after the inauguration? What would you like to see done?
  4. How involved/engaged were you during the election? Did you read/watch the news? Talk with friends, family, and classmates? Post on social media? Volunteer for a campaign?
  5. How will you stay engaged after the election?

Further Reading:

Sources

[1] Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-wins-presidency-trump-fox-news-projects
[2] Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-transition-team-charging-ahead-but-calls-for-more-access-for-president-elect
[3] NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/live-blog/2020-11-13-trump-biden-transition-n1247607/ncrd1247740#blogHeader
[4] BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54724960
[5] USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/12/joe-biden-barrels-toward-inauguration-trump-mounts-legal-challenges/6236070002/
[6] Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-election-result-wont-be-overturned-11605134335
[7] Center for Presidential Transition: https://presidentialtransition.org/blog/pandemic-impact-transition/
[8] Center for Presidential Transition’s The Presidential Transition Guide: https://presidentialtransition.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2018/01/Presidential-Transition-Guide-2020.pdf
[9] Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/15/fauci-coronavirusbiden-transition-team-436588
[10] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/opinion/sunday/transition-national-security.html  NPR: https://www.npr.org/2020/11/14/934920708/the-rocky-transition-of-power-between-biden-and-trump-may-affect-national-securi CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/12/politics/transition-pentagon-chaos-intelligence-national-security-threat/index.html
[11] The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/526112-trump-national-security-adviser-there-will-be-a-professional

US Foreign Policy in the Next Four Years

During this Close Up Conversations webinar Close Up’s, Joe Geraghty, discusses ‘US Foreign Policy in the Next Four Years’ with Ambassador Richard Schmierer, Chairman of the Board, Middle East Policy Council.

Foreign policy is consistently one of the biggest issues going into any election, and there are implications whether there is an administration change or not. During this webinar you will hear about America’s role in the Middle East and throughout the world, and how foreign policy changes as we move through not only a presidential election, but shifts in Congress as well. Learn information on US Foreign Policy with Close Up Foundation.