WESTPORT — Though he began the night expressing hope in the fight against Republican efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, fear worked its way to the forefront later in the evening as several successive speakers asked questions about crisis in government.
Jim Himes
Jim Himes, a Democrat, has served as the U.S. representative for Connecticut’s fourth congressional district since 2009.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers react in horror to shootings at GOP baseball practice
Updated at 3 p.m.
Washington – Connecticut lawmakers, for whom gun violence has a personal edge because of the Newtown shootings, reacted with shock and horror at a gunman’s attack on a Republican congressional baseball practice early Wednesday. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., the House majority whip, was among those shot. The gunman, who was identified as James Hodgkinson of Illinois, also was shot and later died.
Posted inJustice
Blumenthal calls Comey’s tale ‘chilling;’ Murphy says Trump should testify
WASHINGTON – This city was transfixed Thursday by former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony to Senate Intelligence Committee and Sen. Richard Blumenthal was among those had a front-row seat during the riveting three hours of questioning. He said Comey painted a “chilling picture” of his contacts with President Donald Trump.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Himes: Comey testimony raises questions about Trump’s ability to enforce the law
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Himes said former FBI Director James Comey’s prepared testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee “should have us all asking a fundamental question about whether we can trust this president to uphold and enforce the laws of the United States.”
Posted inMoney, Politics
U.S. House ready to gut Dodd-Frank Wall Street reforms
WASHINGTON — When Congress returns from its Memorial Day break next week, the U.S. House will take up a massive bill that will repeal much of the Dodd-Frank Act, a law aimed at reforming Wall Street after the 2008 collapse of the housing market that set off a free-fall in the stock market.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Himes: Trump ‘is not acting like an innocent party’
WASHINGTON – Rep. Jim Himes’ job as a minority member of the House Intelligence Committee usually wasn’t a path to the political spotlight – but all that changed with the election of Donald Trump and allegations his campaign may have colluded with the Russians to influence U.S. elections.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers call for special prosecutor after Comey firing
Updated on May 10 at 12:06 p.m.
Stunned members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation joined demands for a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation of Russian influence on the 2016 election after President Donald Trump fired James Comey as FBI director Tuesday. “The need for a special prosecutor is now crystal clear,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT Dems decry House GOP victory on health bill that may stumble in Senate
WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Thursday finally won approval for a health care bill aimed at repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, but the legislation faces an uncertain future in the Senate, which may not be able to take it up for weeks. Connecticut Democrats called the health care bill “appalling” and “immoral” and said the GOP would pay a political price.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers: Trump must ask Congress for authority for Syria campaign
WASHINGTON — As they did when President Obama took action against ISIS in Syria, Connecticut’s Democratic lawmakers are calling for President Donald Trump to seek Congress’approval before taking any further military action against Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad. But Congress isn’t likely to take action.
Posted inPolitics
Himes: GOP wants to keep Congress’ Russian probe from public
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Himes, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said the GOP head of the panel wants to hide its probe of any ties between the Trump campaign and Russia behind closed door. “It’s a naked attempt to shut down an open hearing,” Himes said.
Posted inPolitics
Himes: Manafort, Stone likely witnesses in Congress’ Russia probe
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Himes on Monday said Connecticut natives Paul Manafort, a former Trump campaign manager, and Roger Stone, a self-described Trump campaign consultant, are likely to be key witnesses as the House Intelligence Committee continues its investigation of Russian hacking and the U.S. elections.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers grow louder in criticisms of Sessions
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Jeff Sessions has agreed to recuse himself in any Justice Department investigation of ties between Russia and the Trump campaign, but that’s not good enough for Rep. Jim Himes, who on Friday joined other Connecticut lawmakers in calling for Session’s resignation.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers’ guests for Trump’s speech intended to send message
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers have joined other Democratic colleagues in inviting guests to President Donald Trump’s first address to Congress Tuesday — people who will serve as symbolic rebukes to the new president’s policies. Among them: Constituents from seven Muslim countries that were subject to a presidential travel ban and advocates for public schools and the Affordable Care Act .
Posted inHealth, Politics
GOP gives House members proposal to repeal, replace the ACA
WASHINGTON — The proposal, which will be considered later this month in a series of hearings, includes replacement of the law’s subsidies that help people buy insurance with tax credits based on a person’s age, not income, and elimination of federally mandated basic benefits in an insurance plan.
Posted inPolitics
‘Spy ship’ off Groton fuels Democratic calls for probe of Trump Moscow ties
WASHINGTON — As news of the Russian “spy ship” loitering 30 miles from Groton made the rounds of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, Democrats wove the incident into their demands for investigations of President Trump’s relationship with Russia.