Maine Democrats regroup after election losses
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Payne Calls on House Republicans to Join Democrats to Pass Clean DHS Funding Bill
On the House floor, Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) urged House Republicans to work with Democrats to pass a clean funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security to keep America ...
By: Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr.
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Payne Calls on House Republicans to Join Democrats to Pass Clean DHS Funding Bill - Video
Democrats Push Business Background
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (CBS2/FOX28) ?????? Iowa????s First District House Representative Rod Blum and his colleagues have had less than 30 work days in Washington and already, there are two ...
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Democrats Push Business Background - Video
Almost two dozen liberal Democrats on Thursday asked House Speaker John Boehner to postpone Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint meeting of Congress next month.
"It appears that you are using a foreign leader as a political tool against the President," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Boehner.
Netanyahu's speech is controversial because it comes as the Obama administration is negotiating with Iran over that country's nuclear program negotiations that Netanyahu says could put Israel at risk. The speech is also set just two weeks before Netanyahu faces voters at home for re-election.
Republicans are pushing tougher sanctions on Tehran. Boehner did not consult with the White House before inviting Netanyahu.
"This appears to be an attempt to promote new sanctions legislation against Iran that could undermine critical negotiations," the Democrats wrote.
Generally speaking, the lawmakers who signed the letter are among the most left-leaning Democrats, representing 12 percent of their party's House membership. It was written by Democratic Reps. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Steve Cohen of Tennessee and Maxine Waters of California and signed by 20 others.
"Support for the State of Israel in Congress has always been bipartisan, and it should remain so," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said.
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Liberal Democrats Ask Boehner to Postpone Netanyahu Address
Three progressive House Democrats -- Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Rep. Maxine Waters of California and Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee -- have been circulating a letter to fellow Democrats for weeks, but on the final letter delivered on Thursday they secured support from just a small fraction of the 188 House Democrats. Those who signed are among the most liberal members of the Democratic caucus.
"The timing of this invitation and lack of coordination with the White House indicate that this is not an ordinary diplomatic visit. Rather this appears to be an attempt to promote new sanctions legislation against Iran that could undermine critical negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran," the letter states.
Congressional Democrats have tried to focus their ire on Boehner, who invited Netanyahu before consulting first with the White House. The letter does not say these members are planning to boycott the speech, but some of those who signed on -- such as Ellison and Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer -- have already announced they won't attend if Netanyahu does speak on the House floor.
The speech presents a dilemma for congressional Democrats. Most emphasize they are strong supporters of Israel, but feel it's inappropriate for a foreign leader to deliver such a high profile address just two weeks before an election in his home country.
Iran sanctions legislation has passed the House with an overwhelming bipartisan vote in the last Congress, but many Democrats say the negotiations could be put at risk if sanctions were pursued now. The low number of members willing to go on the record on the speech signals that the majority of Democrats, although critical of Boehner's invitation and the timing, will likely attend.
Boehner's office says plans for the speech are moving forward.
"Support for the State of Israel in Congress has always been bipartisan, and it should remain so," Boehner's spokesman Michael Steel told CNN.
Earlier this month Israeli officials acknowledged that they were considering changing the plans for the speech before Congress, and discussed the possibility of relocating it to another venue in Washington, D.C. But soon after those discussions surfaced Netanyahu announced in a televised event he remained committed to coming to the U.S. Capitol, and that he planned to discuss his concerns with the U.S. negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.
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Small group of House Dems press Boehner to postpone Netanyahu speech