WGXC-90.7 FM
WGXC Congressional Report: 20200106
Jan 06, 2020 12:01 am
This is WGXC's Congressional Report, tracking the votes, words, and actions of Rep. Antonio Delgado, a Democrat from Rhinebeck representing the 19th Congressional District, and Paul Tonko, a Democrat from Amsterdam from the 20th Congressional District. The Fivethirtyeight.com website reports that, so far, the first-term Congressperson Delgado votes with Donald Trump's positions 4.9 percent of the time. Since Democrats took over the House of Representatives Tonko also votes with Trump's positions 1.6 percent of the time. In the previous Congressional session, Tonko voted with Trump 22.6 percent of the time. Delgado voted with Trump on the Mexico/Canada trade agreement in the final legislative week of 2019, while Tonko voted against the measure. Click here to play or download an audio version of this report.
• Democrats in the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump Dec. 18, on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The vote was 230-to-197 on abuse of power and 229-to-198 on obstruction, with presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard voting "present." In the Hudson Valley Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik voted against both articles of impeachment, and Democrats Reps. Antonio Delgado, Paul Tonko, and Sean Maloney voted in favor of impeaching the president. New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand will now sit on the trial in the U.S. Senate. "Each senator has a Constitutional duty to consider the evidence marshaled by the House to make a fair, dispassionate judgement on whether or not to convict the president," Gillibrand wrote on Twitter. "I'm deeply troubled by what I’ve heard from the House hearings. It appears President Trump put our national security at risk in order to obtain political favors. There also appears to be strong evidence of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power."
• U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, January 3, released a statement following the U.S. drone strike in Iraq that killed Iranian military commander Qassim Soleimani. “Gen. Soleimani was directly responsible for the deaths of many Americans and our allies. But rather than making America and the world safer, President Trump’s impulsive actions have instead moved us closer to war. Without seeking congressional authorization or presenting any coherent or clear strategy, President Trump ordered military action that may precipitate another armed conflict in the Middle East..." In an email to WGXC late January 3, U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado called for Congress to be briefed immediately on the situation. He said, “Qassem Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of American service members and innocent civilians throughout the Middle East — he met the fate he deserved. That said, last night the Administration took an enormous and escalatory step in a volatile area of the world without clear coordination with our allies, Congress, or stakeholders in the region, and with no explanation for how it will manage the inevitable repercussions. Moving forward, I have serious questions about how the Administration plans to keep our men and women in uniform and diplomats serving across the region safe, and avoid the march to another costly war in the Middle East. ...” Chris McKenna is reporting at The Fray U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney said, "As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I will be seeking a classified briefing at the soonest opportunity to better understand the President’s rationale for ordering this killing as well as the Administration’s planning for the inevitable repercussions, the potential for a major conflict, and the immediate threats to our personnel and partners in the region.” Congressman Paul Tonko likewise issued a statement saying he was deeply disturbed the action taken. “...The American people do not want another costly and unnecessary conflict in the Middle East, but this drone strike brings us closer to that outcome. The Administration should immediately brief Congress on its long-term strategy, including its plan to protect Americans, in the region," the Amsterdam Democrat said.
• Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said Jan. 3 that he will not run for Congress. Molinaro plans to serve out his third term in office instead of challenging Antonio Delgado for the 19th congressional district seat. “I am focused on the work before us here in Dutchess County,” he told Spectrum News. “I am focused on serving out my third term as county executive and I’m focused and very dedicated to a family that deserves to have their husband and dad around.”
• Paul Tonko does list any public events this week on his website. Antonio Delgado lists public appearances on his website only if his staff organizes the events. He has none listed this week.
• Democrats in the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump Dec. 18, on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The vote was 230-to-197 on abuse of power and 229-to-198 on obstruction, with presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard voting "present." In the Hudson Valley Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik voted against both articles of impeachment, and Democrats Reps. Antonio Delgado, Paul Tonko, and Sean Maloney voted in favor of impeaching the president. New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand will now sit on the trial in the U.S. Senate. "Each senator has a Constitutional duty to consider the evidence marshaled by the House to make a fair, dispassionate judgement on whether or not to convict the president," Gillibrand wrote on Twitter. "I'm deeply troubled by what I’ve heard from the House hearings. It appears President Trump put our national security at risk in order to obtain political favors. There also appears to be strong evidence of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power."
• U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, January 3, released a statement following the U.S. drone strike in Iraq that killed Iranian military commander Qassim Soleimani. “Gen. Soleimani was directly responsible for the deaths of many Americans and our allies. But rather than making America and the world safer, President Trump’s impulsive actions have instead moved us closer to war. Without seeking congressional authorization or presenting any coherent or clear strategy, President Trump ordered military action that may precipitate another armed conflict in the Middle East..." In an email to WGXC late January 3, U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado called for Congress to be briefed immediately on the situation. He said, “Qassem Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of American service members and innocent civilians throughout the Middle East — he met the fate he deserved. That said, last night the Administration took an enormous and escalatory step in a volatile area of the world without clear coordination with our allies, Congress, or stakeholders in the region, and with no explanation for how it will manage the inevitable repercussions. Moving forward, I have serious questions about how the Administration plans to keep our men and women in uniform and diplomats serving across the region safe, and avoid the march to another costly war in the Middle East. ...” Chris McKenna is reporting at The Fray U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney said, "As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I will be seeking a classified briefing at the soonest opportunity to better understand the President’s rationale for ordering this killing as well as the Administration’s planning for the inevitable repercussions, the potential for a major conflict, and the immediate threats to our personnel and partners in the region.” Congressman Paul Tonko likewise issued a statement saying he was deeply disturbed the action taken. “...The American people do not want another costly and unnecessary conflict in the Middle East, but this drone strike brings us closer to that outcome. The Administration should immediately brief Congress on its long-term strategy, including its plan to protect Americans, in the region," the Amsterdam Democrat said.
• Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said Jan. 3 that he will not run for Congress. Molinaro plans to serve out his third term in office instead of challenging Antonio Delgado for the 19th congressional district seat. “I am focused on the work before us here in Dutchess County,” he told Spectrum News. “I am focused on serving out my third term as county executive and I’m focused and very dedicated to a family that deserves to have their husband and dad around.”
• Paul Tonko does list any public events this week on his website. Antonio Delgado lists public appearances on his website only if his staff organizes the events. He has none listed this week.