This Week in Politics - Week of Feb. 6

Post date: Feb 13, 2017 3:43:11 PM

Published 2/13/17

By Nick Robertson, '19

Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) was confirmed as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services on Friday after little debate from Senate Democrats compared to Trump’s other cabinet positions. Office of the President-elect // Wikimedia Commons

Welcome to This Week in Politics, the recurring column on what happened this week in politics worldwide. Over the weekend, more backlash appeared against the travel ban President Donald Trump enacted last week.

Saturday, Feb. 4 - Sunday, Feb. 5

• • Tech Companies Protest Travel Ban

    • Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Uber and Intel, among others, say that the order “violates the immigration laws and the Constitution” in a filing to the US Court of Appeals.

  • White House Backs off Plan to Reopen ‘Black Site’ Prisons

    • A leaked executive order contained language to reopen the CIA’s ‘Black Site’ prisons, which were used to interrogate prisoners through torture.

      • After backlash from both parties, this order appears to be abandoned, overriding one of Trump’s campaign promises to use torture and other advanced interrogation techniques.

  • Delays on Obamacare Replacement

    • In an interview with Fox News’ Bill O'Reilly, Trump said about replacing Obamacare: “Maybe it’ll take till sometime into next year, but we’re certainly going to be in the process”.

      • This represents a major shift in the plans of the president and the Republican party, who promised a replacement ‘as soon as possible’.

Monday Feb. 6

• • Trump Hits Record Lows in “Fake” Polls

    • Trump broke the record for the highest disapproval rating of any new president, a 49 percent disapproval, according to a Politico poll released Wednesday.

      • A Public Policy Polling poll from Feb. 1 shows that 40 percent of Americans want him impeached, and odds stand at 2:1 in Las Vegas for his impeachment.

      • Trump tweeted Sunday: “Any negative polls are fake news, just like the CNN, ABC, NBC polls in the election. Sorry, people want border security and extreme vetting.”

        • This came after more polls showed that a majority of Americans are against his signature policies of building a wall and enacting a travel ban.

Tuesday Feb. 7

• • Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Secretary of Education

    • The vote ended in a 50/50 tie, the first cabinet confirmation to tie in American history.

      • Tie broken by Vice President Mike Pence, who voted in her favor

      • Two Republican senators voted against her confirmation, along with all of the Senate’s Democrats and Independants.

    • DeVos has been criticized for her lack of experience by members of both political parties.

      • DeVos’ experience in education includes experience as a major philanthropist in her home state of Michigan, mostly for school choice vouchers and charter schools. She was the chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1996-2000 and 2003-2005 and was one of Trump’s most financially prolific supporters.

  • Sen. Elizabeth Warren Silenced During Sen. Jeff Sessions’ Confirmation Hearing

    • Warren (D-MA) was silenced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for an attack on the character of Sessions (R-AL), who was in the process of being confirmed for Attorney General.

      • Rule 19 originated in 1902 to prevent unruly conduct in Congress, specifically after two congressmen got into a fight on the Senate floor. It allows the Senate Majority leader to shut down a speech when it impugns the character of another Senator.

      • Warren was not allowed to speak for the remainder of the session.

Wednesday Feb. 8

• • Sessions Confirmed as Attorney General

    • Sessions was confirmed as Attorney General after rigorous debate that resulted in the Rule 19 silencing of Warren.

      • The Attorney General is responsible for prosecution and defense on behalf of the U.S. Government, and is the head of the US Federal Court system and therefore the entire Judiciary Branch below the Supreme Court.

Thursday Feb. 9

• • Appeals Court Upholds Halt on Travel Ban

    • The U.S. Appeals Court has upheld a ruling by a federal judge in Washington, continuing the halt of Trump’s travel ban executive order.

    • Trump replied to the news on Twitter: “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!”

      • The White House plans on appealing again to the Supreme Court

  • Gorsuch Calls Trump’s Attack on Judiciary “Demoralizing”

    • Neil Gorsuch, Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, made statements Wednesday and Thursday to multiple people in private conversations on Trump’s attack on the judiciary.

      • Trump called the Seattle Federal Court Judge that originally halted his travel ban a “so-called judge”, as well as attacked the integrity of other judges that have ruled over his cases.

      • Gorsuch said to Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) that Trump’s actions have been “demoralizing” and “disheartening”. Two other sources have confirmed this quote.

      • Trump responded by denying that Gorsuch said anything about him, and attacking the credibility of Sen. Blumenthal on twitter.

Friday Feb. 10

• • Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) Confirmed as Head of Health and Human Services

    • Price was confirmed after a 2 a.m. vote Friday morning. He will likely be responsible for dismantling Obamacare, and overhauling the country’s healthcare system.

    • Price is a licensed doctor, and plans to use his experience in the healthcare system to enact reforms to make the healthcare process easier for all involved