The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi
WAMU 88.5Join Kojo and resident analyst Tom Sherwood on Fridays at noon for our weekly review of the politics, policies and personalities in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Each week Kojo and Tom help make sense of legislation, hold elected officials accountable and provide in-depth analysis of local issues and elections. The Politics Hour is also a vital forum for Washingtonians to engage directly with their local leaders.
Join Kojo and resident analyst Tom Sherwood on Fridays at noon for our weekly review of the politics, policies and personalities in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Each week Kojo and Tom help make sense of legislation, hold elected officials accountable and provide in-depth analysis of local issues and elections. The Politics Hour is also a vital forum for Washingtonians to engage directly with their local leaders.
The Politics Hour: Sen. Tim Kaine voted to end the shutdown, drawing fire from some Democrats
Congress voted on Wednesday to end the longest federal shutdown in the nation's history. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine joined a handful of Democrats to broker a deal with Senate Republicans. The deal included reversing some federal layoffs and guaranteeing payment for furloughed workers.
What it did not include was an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits, a provision many Democrats insisted Republicans needed to add before they'd approve a funding bill. Sen. Kaine joined the show to explain why he voted to end the shutdown, despite pushback from many in his own party.
Kain said on the Politics Hour that there was no path forward on healthcare subsidies without reopening the government. He said he voted only after securing federal worker protections from the White House, including back pay, rehiring workers who were fired during the shutdown, and an end to mass layoffs.
"I'm getting some holy hell, but I'm getting a lot of thanks from Virginians," the Senator said. "There were bad options, and so I have no judgment about anybody who resolved this question differently than me."
He also said he’s optimistic about a December vote to extend healthcare subsidies, given the growing pressure on Congress to come up with a fix.
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who represents one of the largest number of federal workers in the country, voted against the deal. Sen. Van Hollen took the mic to explain why he believes the funding agreement won't address rising healthcare costs and will continue to allow President Trump to ignore the law.
Sen. Van Hollen also voiced his support for Maryland Governor Wes Moore's redistricting efforts.
"I believe we should have national nonpartisan line drawing, but Republicans tried to tip the playing field in Texas, and Maryland should maximize its opportunity to protect our Democracy and the Constitution in redistricting," Senator Van Hollen said.
Politicos are speculating that At-Large D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie is considering a run for mayor. With D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser still undecided about running for a fourth term, he's among several potential candidates reportedly weighing runs of their own.
Councilmember McDuffie also commented on D.C. residents raising questions after recent incidents where D.C. police have collaborated with federal immigration agents. He said the ICE raids need to stop. "There's no deal that I would sign that would permit our law enforcement to work with ICE, and I would want to be unequivocal about that," he said.
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