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House Cleaning #30: Ryan Costello (R-PA-6)
Welcome to House Cleaning, 2018 edition. This series explores House of Representatives members who have either left Congress early or have decided not to seek re-election. This series covers what a Representative has accomplished in Congress from 2016 until they either resigned, decided not to seek re-election, or decided to seek higher office.
Ryan Costello (R-PA) is a former Republican Representative from the 6th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. He announced that he would not seek re-election to the House on March 25th, 2018.
During his time in office, he was concerned about Obamacare, President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA, referred to as the “illegal amnesty order” by Republicans), and also celebrated Public Schools Week.
He also cast several votes in the House.
On Abortion, Costello voted for HR 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act on October 3rd, 2017. This bill would make it a crime for anyone to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the fetus was 20 weeks or older, with exceptions being made to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. The 20-week mark is when many pro-life Republicans believe that the fetus can feel pain, hence the name of this act. The bill passed the House by a 237-189 vote. The bill died in the Senate.
On the Economy, Mr. Costello voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The bill passed the House, 227-205, and was signed into law by the President.
Ryan Costello voted for an aid package for Hurricane Harvey victims, called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017. This bill passed the House 316-90, and was signed into law by President Trump.
On Finance, Ryan Costello voted for the Financial CHOICE Act, which would change provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The bill passed the House, 233-186, largely on partisan lines.
On Foreign Policy, Representative Costello did not vote on the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. The bill passed, 419-3, on July 25th, 2017.
On Health Care, Rep. Costello supported the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. This explains his “no” vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) of 2017, which would essentially turn Obamacare into Trumpcare. The bill passed the House, 217-213, along partisan lines. The law eventually died in the Senate.
On Immigration, he voted for Kate’s Law on June 29th, 2017. This bill would provide an increase in penalty severity for illegal immigrants who are convicted of certain crimes, are deported, and then re-enter the U.S. illegally. The law’s namesake is Kate Steinle, who was allegedly shot and killed by an illegal immigrant who had seven felonies. This law passed the House 257-167, but died in the Senate. The alleged murderer was later acquitted after the vote, which essentially removes any legal connection it would have had with the illegal immigrant.
He also voted for the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act on June 29th, 2017. This bill would withhold federal funds from states and localities that are “sanctuary cities/states” for illegal immigrants. The bill passed the House, 228-195. The law died in the Senate.
During his time in office from 2016-2018, he also made several enemies, the most prominent of which was EMILY’s list, who put him “On Notice” in a message to supporters on December 7th and 19th, 2017.
Rep. Costello left because of the redistricting in his state, which left him vulnerable to losing to Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA). The official reason that he gave was because of the current political climate:
It was a combination of factors. It has been a deeply personal decision and evaluation. But those who love me agree and those who I love agree with it. I will not be running for re-election … Whether it’s [President Trump’s rumored affair with porn star] Stormy Daniels, or passing an omnibus spending bill that the President threatens to veto after promising to sign; it’s very difficult to move forward in a constructive way today. Plus I think there is a lot of hate out there, from the left especially, and it’s a very angry environment. It is a sad commentary on the state of our culture and political environment. It’s not me doing it, but I am the one who gets the brunt of it.
Costello’s successor is Chrissy Houlahan. She served in the US Air Force and the Air Force Reserves. She has also worked as the chief operating officer of AND1, which is a clothing and apparel company.
House Cleaning #29: Bill Shuster (R-PA-9)
Welcome to House Cleaning, 2018 edition. This series explores House of Representatives members who have either left Congress early or have decided not to seek re-election. This series covers what a Representative has accomplished in Congress from 2016 until they either resigned, decided not to seek re-election, or decided to seek higher office.
Bill Shuster was the Republican Representative from Pennsylvania’s 9th District. He was the chair of the House Transportation Committee.
He consulted with Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) before Murphy left office and controversially hosted fundraisers at the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C. Vice President Mike Pence contributed $5,400 to his campaign in 2018.
His key legislative priority from 2017-2018 was to privatize the air traffic control system. In fact, President Trump (R-NY) later proposed this, but it did not get off the ground. This is because there was no inherent benefit of this policy for home districts.
On Abortion, Shuster voted for HR 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act on October 3rd, 2017. This bill would make it a crime for anyone to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the fetus was 20 weeks or older, with exceptions being made to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. The 20-week mark is when many pro-life Republicans believe that the fetus can feel pain, hence the name of this act. The bill passed the House by a 237-189 vote. The bill died in the Senate.
On the Economy, Mr. Shuster voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The bill passed the House, 227-205, and was signed into law by the President.
Bill Shuster voted for an aid package for Hurricane Harvey victims, called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017. This bill passed the House 316-90, and was signed into law by President Trump.
On Finance, Bill Shuster voted for the Financial CHOICE Act, which would change provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The bill passed the House, 233-186, largely on partisan lines.
On Foreign Policy, he voted for the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. This act would allow for Congress to review and counter acts of aggression by the governments of Iran, Russia, and North Korea. The bill passed almost unanimously, 419-3, on July 25th, 2017. It was later signed into law by the President.
On Health Care, Rep. Shuster was against the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. This explains his “yes” vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) of 2017, which would essentially turn Obamacare into Trumpcare. The bill passed the House, 217-213, along partisan lines. The law eventually died in the Senate.
On Immigration, he voted for Kate’s Law on June 29th, 2017. This bill would provide an increase in penalty severity for illegal immigrants who are convicted of certain crimes, are deported, and then re-enter the U.S. illegally. The law’s namesake is Kate Steinle, who was allegedly shot and killed by an illegal immigrant who had seven felonies. This law passed the House 257-167, but died in the Senate. The alleged murderer was later acquitted after the vote, which essentially removes any legal connection it would have had with the illegal immigrant.
He also voted for the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act on June 29th, 2017. This bill would withhold federal funds from states and localities that are “sanctuary cities/states” for illegal immigrants. The bill passed the House, 228-195. The law died in the Senate.
Rep. Shuster announced that he would not seek re-election on January 2nd, 2018. Little is known about why he resigned. However, a competitive primary with Art Halvorson (R-PA) may have shown him that his time in office was limited. In an official statement, he said that he wanted to focus on his last year as Transportation Chairman, and would not have been Transportation Chairman if Democrats took over.
His successor is Dan Meuser (R-PA), who was the head of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue under Gov. Tom Corbett (R-PA). He was also the former president of the Pride Mobility Corporation, a motorized wheelchair manufacturer.
In his victory speech, Mr. Meuser stated, “We’re going to be there in Washington being a strong voice for the people of the 9th and doing the things that they want and it absolutely includes President Trump’s America First agenda. We won’t stop until every American feels proud of their country.”
Presidential Map – Monthly Update – the 2020 Election from 4 Perspectives.
Presidential Map – Monthly Update – the 2020 election from 4 perspectives.
IN A NUTSHELL – SIX KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Democrats are assured of at least 90 electoral votes
• The most loyal states to Trump in the United States are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming
• The states most loyal to Democrats in the United States are California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maryland, plus Washington, D.C.
• Trump is vulnerable in Indiana, Kansas, Texas, and Utah. Democrats are vulnerable in Florida and North Carolina.
• Democrats gain Alaska and Nebraska. Trump loses Alaska and Nebraska and gains Georgia and Missouri.
What Kind of President Would Julian Castro (D-TX) Be?
Welcome to our “What Kind of President” series. In this series, we examine what type of President a candidate for the presidency would be if they were elected. We are proceeding in the order in which the candidates declared.
Julián Castro (D-TX) is the twin brother of Joaquin Castro (D-TX). His grandmother was an immigrant who fled Mexico during the Mexican Revolution in 1920. His mother was a political activist and teacher. His dad served in the military and was also a teacher. Castro’s mother and father separated when he was young.
His book, An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up from My American Dream details all of the life lessons he has learned and informed him to make a decision to run for President. It speaks to what Castro will be like as the next President of the United States. Specifically, he is running on immigration, a “21st Century Marshall Plan” for Central America, education, police reform, and the elimination of lead exposure.
(more…)
Monthly Trump Update: Trump regains Georgia and Missouri
Presidential Map – Monthly Update – the 2020 election from 4 perspectives.
IN A NUTSHELL – SIX KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Democrats are assured of at least 90 electoral votes
• The most loyal states to Trump in the United States are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming
• The states most loyal to Democrats in the United States are California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maryland, plus Washington, D.C.
• Trump is vulnerable in Indiana, Kansas, Texas, and Utah. Democrats are vulnerable in Florida and North Carolina.
• Democrats gain Alaska and Nebraska. Trump loses Alaska and Nebraska and gains Georgia and Missouri.
House Cleaning #28: Tim Murphy (R-PA-18)
Welcome to House Cleaning, 2018 edition. This series explores House of Representatives members who have either left Congress early or have decided not to seek re-election. This series covers what a Representative has accomplished in Congress from 2016 until they either resigned, decided not to seek re-election, or decided to seek higher office.
Tim Murphy (R-PA) is a former Republican Representative from Pennsylvania’s 18th District. He is also a Roman Catholic and was beloved by his supporters for his staunch pro-life views.
The former Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations within the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he held office for fourteen years before resigning on October 21st, 2017.
During the final year-and-a-half, Mr. Murphy’s chief focus was on cybersecurity. First, he held a hearing on the sharing of information about cyber threats in the healthcare sector. At the hearing, he stated: (more…)
House Cleaning #27: Tom Garrett (R-VA-5)
Welcome to House Cleaning, 2018 edition. This series explores House of Representatives members who have either left Congress early or have decided not to seek re-election. This series covers what a Representative has accomplished in Congress from 2016 until they either resigned, decided not to seek re-election, or decided to seek higher office.
Tom Garrett (R-VA) from the Virginia’s 5th District was a freshman Republican Representative, meaning he was serving his first two-year term. A member of the House Freedom Caucus, he was one of the subjects of the documentary series “The Swamp,” which covered the activities of the House Freedom Caucus. He announced his resignation on May 28th, 2018.
Monthly Trump Update: June 2019
Presidential Map – Monthly Update – the 2020 election from 4 perspectives.
IN A NUTSHELL – SIX KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Democrats are assured of at least 90 electoral votes
- The most loyal states to Trump in the United States are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming
- The states most loyal to Democrats in the United States are California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maryland, plus Washington, D.C.
- Trump’s approval numbers are now even in Georgia and Missouri.
- Trump is vulnerable in Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah. Democrats are vulnerable in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.
- Democrats take back Florida. Trump takes back Alaska.
What Kind of President would Andrew Yang (D-NY) be?
Welcome to our “What Kind of President” series. In this series, we examine what type of President a candidate for the presidency would be if they were elected. We are proceeding in the order in which the candidates declared.
Andrew Yang (D-NY) is running for President. An entrepreneurial millionaire, Yang’s career began when he was a corporate lawyer for Davis Polk & Wardwell. He quit that job within five months and became the cofounder of an internet fund-raising company, Stargiving.com, that went bankrupt Then, he was an employee of a healthcare software startup, MMF Systems, and was its Vice President.
Yang’s career became a success when he was the CEO of Manhattan Prep, and made it big when it was bought in 2009 by the Kaplan division of the Washington Post Company.
Monthly Trump Update: Trump pulls even in Florida
Presidential Map – Monthly Update – the 2020 election from 4 perspectives.
IN A NUTSHELL – FIVE KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Democrats are assured of at least 90 electoral votes
- The most loyal states to Trump in the United States are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming
- The states most loyal to Democrats in the United States are California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maryland, plus Washington, D.C.
- Trump’s approval numbers are now even in Alaska and Florida.
- Trump is vulnerable in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas, and Utah. Democrats are vulnerable in North Carolina and Ohio.
- Democrats lose Florida. Trump loses Alaska.
What Kind of President Would John Delaney Be?
Welcome to our “What Kind of President” series. In this series, we examine what type of President a candidate for the presidency would be if they were elected. We are proceeding in the order in which the candidates declared.
John Delaney (R-MD) is running for President. The former three term Representative from Maryland’s 6th Congressional District is a multi-millionaire, but prefers to be called a “progressive businessman.” He is an Irish-Catholic from Jersey City (NJ) and is the son of a union electrician. He has been married for 27 years and has four daughters.
Delaney is also a philanthropist. He funded the Delaney Family Fund through the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, gave to Catholic Charities, and worked both with Vision to Learn and the Center for Urban Families. He also sits on the boards of various organizations, including Georgetown University, the National Symphony, the Potomac School, and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington. (more…)