Congress & Federal Issues

Pearce describes ‘very traumatic’ scene of shooting at congressional baseball practice

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Steve Pearce, a Republican congressman from southern New Mexico, was present at a congressional baseball practice that ended with gunshots as someone opened fire on those practicing. Pearce described it as “very traumatic.”

One congressman, Republican Steve Scalise of Louisiana, was shot and underwent surgery. At least four others were wounded, though none were killed. Scalise is the House Majority Whip. I was present at this mornings GOP baseball practice, but am alright.

John Boehner

NM delegation reacts to Boehner resignation

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Speaker of the House John Boehner announced on Friday that he would resign from Congress on October 30. The Republican from Ohio has had a tough time as Speaker, attempting to control an increasingly fractious Republican majority even as that majority seemingly became more permanently ingrained thanks to redistricting. Boehner had planned to only serve as Speaker through the end of last year, but in his statement announcing his resignation said, “I stayed on to provide continuity to the Republican Conference and the House.” Eric Cantor, the likely heir apparent to Boehner, was ousted in a shock primary election loss in 2014. “It is my view, however, that prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution,” he wrote.

Abortion Access

Pearce: Shut down the government if Planned Parenthood not defunded

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If Congress fails to defund Planned Parenthood, Rep. Steve Pearce is among 18 conservative members of the House who vows to shut down the government again. This comes from a report from The Hill on a letter sent to Republican leadership in the House. The Hill says the letter was sent to Speaker of the House John Boehner of Ohio, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana. All are, of course, Republicans. From The Hill:
“We must act to fully defund Planned Parenthood,” they wrote in a letter obtained by The Hill.

Congress & Federal Issues

Pearce kicked off GOP whip team

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Rep. Steve Pearce was kicked off the whip team of the Republican caucus following votes on rules for a trade proposal last week. Pearce, the lone Republican member of New Mexico’s delegation, voted against rules that House leadership pushed and he so he was punished by House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La. The National Journal reported on Pearce’s removal form the team:
Reps. Cynthia Lummis, Steve Pearce and Trent Franks have been removed from the whip team after they sided with GOP rebels to vote against a rule governing debate on a trade bill, according to sources close to the team. Lummis, a deputy whip and a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, was perhaps the whip team’s highest-ranking bridge to the conference’s most intransigent members.