Happy Wednesday, OnPolitics readers!
Tuesday night’s primaries proved to be a good night for women, such as DC Major Muriel Bowser, who was renominated for a third term.
Bowser claimed the primary victory despite the headwinds of increased crime in the nation’s capital and two Democratic challengers from the city council who unsuccessfully tried to unseat her.
Her win is another ding against progressives during the June primaries, which have further revealed the stark differences between progressives and moderates on addressing violence.
No more Mo: Business executive Katie Britt claimed the Republican nomination for a US Senate seat in Alabama on Tuesday, easily winning a runoff over congressman Mo Brooks, who was a vocal advocate of Trump’s protests over the 2020 election.
Many eleven favored Brooks for the GOP nomination because he had the endorsement of Trump. But the former president pulled his support from Brooks in March after the latter began saying it was time for Republican voters to move past all the 2020 election disputes.
It’s Amy and Chelsea with today’s top stories out of Washington.
President Biden calls on Congress to pass federal gas tax holiday
President Joe Biden on Wednesday called on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax for the next three months in one of his administration’s most controversial efforts to give Americans immediate relief as gas prices soar above $5 a gallon in many states.
The proposal was met with widespread skepticism. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other top Democrats were noncommittal, signaling it could be doomed in Congress.
A three-month federal gas tax holiday would suspend a tax of 18.4 cents per gallon of gas and 24.4 cents for diesel that drivers pay when they fill their tanks. The White House billed the holiday as a way to provide some “breathing room” as it works to bring costs down over the long term. The pause, which Biden envisions lasting through September, would require congressional approval.
How much would consumers really save? While it might provide some short-term relief, the policy has plenty of criticism. Many economists argue a pause in the federal gas tax could drive up inflation once the holiday ends, deplete transportation funds and only reduce a fraction of the overall historic spike in gas prices.
A study from the University of Pennsylvania in April estimated the price of gas would decrease by 14.72 cents a gallon if 80% of the benefit were passed along to consumers. A federal gas holiday from March to December would lower average per capita gasoline spending by $47.
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Real quick: stories you’ll want to read
Seven lawmakers, seven abortion stories
Ahead of a Supreme Court ruling that could change the landscape of abortion rights throughout the country, seven lawmakers shared their own abortion stories as the right to guaranteed access is under threat.
The representatives are all Democrats, parents and supporters of Roe v. Wade, the high court ruling protecting the constitutional right to an abortion.
“The (leaked draft) opinion (overturning Roe) is so misogynistic that I can’t even begin to even put into words how vile I think the decision is,” Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., said of the leaked ruling inMay. Speier was the first sitting member to share her story about her in 2011.
Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Barbara Lee of California opened up about their abortions last September at a House Oversight Committee hearing on abortion rights. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters was encouraged to come forward about his ex-wife’s abortion after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2020. Ginsburg was an advocate of abortion rights.
Rep. Marie Newman of Illinois and Gwen Moore of Wisconsin went public with their stories after the draft ruling was leaked to the public.
Each lawmaker fought reservations to sharing their intimate experiences in light of what many fear is an anticipated reversal to abortion rights.
“I feel like it’s important for people to know I’m there with them and I’m gonna do everything I can do to help them once they make their own personal decision,” said Lee. “So as hard as it is for me still, I hope it’s helping other people.”
Abortion left up to the states: Women seeking an abortion will have to navigate a maze of individual state laws if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Within a year as many as 75,000 women won’t make it to a provideraccording to one estimate.
Quick thinking: A clever New York City woman was rescued from a hostage situation after including a message to call the police in her GrubHub order. –Amy and Chelsey
www.usatoday.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism