11/08 Weekly Legislative Update

You can make a difference:

Help Democrats flip the Senate by helping get out the vote in Georgia for the two Senate seats that will be decided at the polls January 5:

Write letters with Vote Forward: https://votefwd.org/

Join the November Call to Action: https://indivisible.org/

NATIONAL

On the 48th anniversary of the day Joe Biden was first elected to the Senate, the race for the White House was finally called. Joe Biden will be our 46th President and Kamala Harris our 49th Vice President. She will be the first woman and the first person of color to hold the position in this country. Their ticket received the most votes ever cast in a Presidential election. Celebrations took to the streets across the country and around the world in a collective sigh of relief and joy.

Actions in Congress

Congress has adjourned until Nov. 9 for the Senate and Nov. 16 for the House. For legislation that is trending and of interest, particularly in terms of election law and changes to the courts, see govtrack.us

To find and contact your Members of Congress:  https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials 

In Other News

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have won the White House, an analysis from Politico. (Siders, David, Anita Kumar and Christopher Cadelago. “Biden Wins.” Politico. 07 November 2020: https://cutt.ly/QgKH8hr.)

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris gave victory speeches Saturday night. Transcripts of these important speeches can be found here. (“U.S. election: Full text of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden’s victory speeches.” Global News, 08 November 2020: https://globalnews.ca/news/7449739/us-election-joe-biden-kamala-harris-speeches/)

In the weeks ahead Democrats will seek to explain why they lost Congessional seats they expected to win. (“3 scholars explain Senate results in South Carolina, Iowa and Arizona – and what they say about voters.” The Conversation. 05 November 2020: https://cutt.ly/cgKGfu3.)
The Conversation: “3 scholars explain Senate results in South Carolina, Iowa and Arizona – and what they say about voters.” https://cutt.ly/vgHD6hr

What is the timeline of vote counts and certification of results in the run-up to Inauguration Day? (Wolf, Zachary B. and Will Mullery. “What happens between now and Inauguration Day.” CNN Politics. 07 November 2020: https://cutt.ly/DgKGFue)

Trump has urged that counting stop in states he anticipates losing, charging fraud and more. He is willing to take our democracy down with him. His petulant displays have been shameful, hurtful, and destructive. Some republicans who are retiring have rebuked him mildly, others, including Indiana’s Todd Young have been mute. Still other congressional republicans, including Indiana’s Mike Braun, have spoken out in support of Trump’s ranting baseless charges. Our democracy depends upon Republicans standing against this president and for democracy and the lawful count of mail in ballots that is ongoing. (Barrett, Ted, manu Raju and Clare Foran. “Top Republicans defend Trump on baseless voter fraud claims as concerns grow in the ranks.” CBS. 06 November 2020: https://www.cbs58.com/news/few-congressional-republicans-publicly-back-trumps-charges-of-election-fraud,)

From The Conversation: “Trump’s Pennsylvania lawsuits invoke Bush v. Gore – but the Supreme Court probably won’t decide the 2020 election.” https://cutt.ly/ygHDUl0

From Politifact: “Fact-checking Trump’s election fraud falsehoods in White House remarks.” https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/nov/06/fact-checking-falsehoods-trumps-nov-5-election-rem/

Trump’s legal team has filed a number of lawsuits in an effort to reverse the results of the election. They are not expected to succeed. (Abramson, Alana and Abigail Abrams. “Here Are All the Lawsuits the Trump Campaign Has Filed Since Election Day—And Why Most Are Unlikely to Go Anywhere.” Time. 08 November 2020: https://time.com/5908505/trump-lawsuits-biden-wins/)

Read Indiana Senator’s Todd Young’s comments in his efforts to raise money for the Georgia Senate Run-Offs in January. Young, who is chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, promised that a “a Republican-held Senate will oppose all of the “radical, socialist” Democratic agenda.” (“Fox Anchor Helps Promote GOP Senate Runoff Fund: ‘Everybody Should Visit And Contribute.” Newhound. 07 November 2020: https://www.newshounds.us/fox_anchor_promote_gop_senate_runoff_fund_110720.)

Indiana

2020 General Election results in Indiana from NWI Times

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb withstood criticism over his use of state emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic, cruising to a resounding reelection victory.  Holcomb will likely face a similar debate again soon — this time from fellow Republicans when they return to the Statehouse for the upcoming legislative session.  (AP Indiana)

Indiana has gone for President Donald Trump again as the state remained in the Republican presidential column.  (WFYI)

Indiana Dems have a lot of work to do to create a more balanced state ideologically and politically. (Wren, Adam. “Importantville: Indiana Democrats Remain In The Wilderness.” 06 November 2020: https://cutt.ly/dgKVMvn)

Republicans won continued control of the Indiana governor’s office and kept the state in the GOP’s presidential column as voters cast the final ballots Tuesday, with Democrats falling short in other races they targeted in hopes of clawing back to political relevance in the state.  (AP Indiana)

Indiana Democrats took a swing at breaking up the Republican supermajority in the state legislature, but instead ended up with fewer representatives than before the general election.  (The Statehouse File)

Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody does not plan to seek another term as the leader of the party after years of tough election losses.  (IBJ)

Indiana’s Libertarian Party didn’t come close to winning the governorship, but the real prize is two years away.  (WIBC)

Three of the four school referendums on the ballot in Indiana this election passed, according to results available Wednesday.  (WFIU) 

Indiana receives more than $5600000 from Justice Department

Department of Justice

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that agencies in the Southern District of Indiana were awarded more than $5.6 …

Healthy Indiana Plan Extended by 10 Years
Building Indiana
Indiana has received approval to continue its successful alternative to traditional Medicaid expansion—the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP)—for ten more …

Coronavirus In Indiana: Record 5007 COVID-19 Cases; November Cases Already Surpass All Of …
CBS Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) — Indiana Saturday recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases in the state for the fourth day in a row. In the first six days of …
Indiana continues to set daily highs in new virus cases – WKRC TV Cincinnati
Indiana reports 43 more coronavirus deaths, 5007 new cases – WNDU-TV
Indiana Hits 200000 Confirmed Cases, Outpaces Increase In Testing – WFYI

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana hospitals are seeing the highest number of COVID-19 patients since the pandemic. For the third day in a row, the state set a …
Indiana Reports More Than 4000 New Daily Cases, Sets 10th New Record Since Moving To Stage 5
Indiana Public Radio

In 74 of Indiana’s 92 counties, state recommendations would have schools “strongly consider” moving to a hybrid schedule for their older students – if they’re not already operating that way – at a minimum, based on the coronavirus spread those communities are seeing.  (Indy Star)

No Indiana COVID-19 Policy Changes Post-Election, Holcomb Says
NBC Chicago

To find and contact your Indiana legislators: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/