Kerry Picket
Articles by Kerry Picket
RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel expected to win reelection; backers say she unites, builds the party
The prevailing chatter at the Republican National Committee's winter meeting is that RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel will easily win an unprecedented fourth term when the votes are tallied Friday. Published January 26, 2023
Rough-and-tumble race for RNC chair gives the party’s committeemen the willies
The race for chair of the Republican National Committee has turned into an acrimonious affair that has exposed lingering rifts and left some members wondering whether this family feud has been good for the GOP. Published January 25, 2023
Kevin McCarthy blocks Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell from Intel panel
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy officially rejected the appointments of Democratic Reps. Adam B. Schiff and Eric Swalwell to the Select Committee on Intelligence. Published January 24, 2023
Speaker McCarthy losing GOP support to strip Dems from committees
Some House Republicans have broken with Speaker Kevin McCarthy over plans to oust Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar, Adam B. Schiff and Eric Swalwell from committees. Published January 24, 2023
GOP keeps diversity and inclusion as priorities on House financial services committee
Republicans hold the reins of the House Financial Services Committee and have no plans to kill off a Democratic relic that prioritized diversity and inclusion on the panel. Published January 23, 2023
Jeffries prepares for fight with McCarthy after renominating Swalwell, Schiff to Intel Committee
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries formally nominated two California Democrats on the Select Committee on Intelligence and is expected to nominate another Democrat on the Foreign Affairs panel, all three of whom Speaker Kevin McCarthy pledged to block. Published January 23, 2023
Dems quick to blame ‘bigotry’ in California shooting before suspect identified
Democratic lawmakers blamed ethnic bigotry as the motivation behind Saturday night's mass shooting at a Los Angeles dance club before authorities released information about the suspect. Published January 22, 2023
Mayors insist they are addressing their cities’ crime problems that they attribute to pandemic, guns
When mayors from the nation's biggest cities gathered for a conference in Washington, they boasted about having a handle on the violent crime crisis that's exploded on their watch. Published January 19, 2023
Marjorie Taylor Greene, Paul Gosar are back on committees after two-year exile under Dem rule
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona have been given committee assignments for the new Congress, ending two years of being banished from committees by Democrats. Published January 17, 2023
Illegal immigration, migrant busing get closed-door treatment this week at U.S. Conference of Mayors
The immigration crisis that's being bused into big cities was on the agenda when the U.S. Conference of Mayors kicked off its winter meeting Tuesday in Washington, but the mayors' big discussion about border jumpers will happen in private. Published January 17, 2023
Rep. Jim Jordan says new subcommittee will probe ‘disparate’ treatment of Jan. 6 defendants
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said the new subcommittee on the weaponization of the federal government wants to investigate the alleged mistreatment of Jan. 6, 2021, defendants during their detainment. Published January 17, 2023
McCarthy says embattled Rep. Santos won’t have access to top-secret information
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says embattled first-term Rep. George Santos, New York Republican, is unlikely to have access to anything top secret. Published January 12, 2023
Kevin McCarthy prepared to release all Capitol footage of Jan. 6 protest
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Thursday he is willing to make public unreleased security footage from the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Published January 12, 2023
House Republicans pass first pro-life measures in post-Roe era
The new House Republican majority launched its pro-life legislative agenda on Wednesday, passing measures protecting infants born alive during an abortion and condemning recent attacks on anti-abortion facilities and churches that provide aid to pregnant women. Published January 11, 2023
More Republicans join in calls for George Santos to resign
Fellow New York Republicans and GOP officials in Rep. George Santos' home county have joined the chorus of calls for him to resign. Published January 11, 2023
House to vote on bills to protect infants in failed abortions, condemn attacks on pro-life centers
House lawmakers will vote Wednesday on a pair of abortion-related measures that would condemn the recent attacks on pro-life facilities and churches as well as protect infants born alive in failed abortion procedures. Published January 11, 2023
Democrats file complaint with House Ethics panel against freshman GOP Rep. Santos over campaign lies
Two House Democrats on Tuesday filed a complaint with the House Ethics Committee against freshman GOP Rep. George Santos, who admitted to falsifying much of his campaign resume in his successful bid to win his seat in Congress representing New York's 3rd District on Long Island. Published January 10, 2023
Day of reckoning: Republicans poised to block high-profile Dems from committee assignments
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is set to follow through with removing three Democrats from their committee assignments as Republicans lock in control of the lower chamber. Published January 10, 2023
Marjorie Taylor Greene transforms rebel image at McCarthy’s side
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene went from being an accused insurrectionist stripped of committee assignments as a freshman congresswoman to a key negotiator in the House Republican Conference who helped persuade fellow conservatives to vote to elect Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Published January 9, 2023
Kevin McCarthy elected House speaker on 15th vote as Matt Gaetz gives in
After four days and 15 ballots, Republican Kevin McCarthy finally secured enough votes to become the 55th speaker of the House after making concessions demanded by some of the most fiscally conservative members of Congress. Published January 6, 2023
