Let The Conyers Political Devouring Frenzy Commence!

Democratic Candidates for the 13th Congressional District
2018 Primary Election

For the last 50 years, the 13th Congressional Primary Race has always decided the outcome of the General Election, as the district has traditionally been Democratic.

Let the Conyers political devouring frenzy commence! 

DETROIT — Michigan’s Republican governor announced Friday that Democrat John Conyers’ congressional seat won’t be filled until the regularly scheduled November election, leaving it vacant for nearly a year.

Gov. Rick Snyder decided the post will effectively be listed twice on the Aug. 7 primary and Nov. 6 general election ballots. While unlikely, it is possible voters could choose one candidate to fill the vacancy until January 2019 and elect another to a full two-year term after that.

Snyder said he opted against having an earlier special election to give potential candidates ample time to decide about running, provide voters in the predominantly Democratic district more options and save money.

The 88-year-old Conyers, who was facing a House Ethics Committee investigation over claims by former staffers, cited health reasons for his resignation.

Michael Gilmore, a Detroit attorney who is running for the seat, said not having representation in the House for nearly a year is unfair to residents.

“I think it’s unfortunate that the governor thinks this is what we’re worth,” Gilmore said Friday.

The governor said the election would not occur until November in part to give potential candidates time to make a decision and reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers.[pullquote]

Snyder’s office said it consulted with Wayne County leadership before making a decision. The 13th Congressional District Democratic Party Organization backed the decision, too.

“In order to allow several months for that to take place and to reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers, the primary and general elections will be held when regularly scheduled elections are already occurring,” Snyder said in a statement.

The filing deadline is April 24 for both elections. Whoever wins the special election will serve next November and December, and — if he or she also wins the regular race — will serve a two-year term starting in 2019. A Snyder spokeswoman said it could have cost up to $2 million if the special elections were scheduled on non-regular election dates.

Detroit, a city of about 680,000, currently does not have any resident serving in Congress.

Former Michigan Department Party Chairman Mark Brewer tweeted that Snyder’s decision “continues to give the back of his hand to urban areas whether it’s emergency managers, poisoned water, and now being denied representation in Congress for nearly a year.”

But Jonathan Kinloch, chairman of the 13th Congressional District Democratic Party Organization, said earlier this week that having the elections on the regularly scheduled dates avoids the typical low turnouts associated with special elections.

“We want as many voters as possible to participate in the filling of the seat,” he said.

John Conyers retired Wednesday amid allegations by about a half-dozen women who once worked for him that they were harassed and touched inappropriately. He has denied the allegations. Conyers first was elected in 1964.

Some colleagues in the U.S. House had urged Conyers to resign. When he did, he endorsed his 27-year-old son, John Conyers III, to succeed him. The younger Conyers, a partner with a Detroit-based, minority-run hedge fund, posted on Twitter this week that he has not decided whether he wants to run for his father’s old seat. The Associated Press has been unable to reach him for comment.

[pullquote] Detroit, a city of about 680,000, currently does not have any resident serving in Congress.

The race for the seat in the district that includes parts of Detroit and some western Wayne County communities could become a free-for-all.

Gilmore said he began fundraising for his campaign in April and had planned to challenge John Conyers prior to the sexual harassment allegations.

Democratic state Sen. Ian Conyers, John Conyers’ grand-nephew, said earlier this week that he will run.

Fellow Democratic state Sent. Coleman Young II is expected on Monday to announce his intent to run, his spokesman said.

Young sought Detroit’s mayoral seat his late father, Mayor Coleman A. Young, once held, but lost to incumbent Mike Duggan in the November general election.

“He is battle-tested. This mayoral race has prepared him,” Young spokesman Adolph Mongo told The Associated Press. “He knows the issues in the 13th District. He’s been campaigning for 10 months on the issues.”

Conyers III never has been elected to a public post. Ian Conyers won a special election in 2016 for the state senate seat. Young was elected in 2010 to the Michigan Senate. He served in the state House from 2005 to 2010.

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CONYERS: After Trump Attacks DOJ, All 17 Judiciary Democrats Demand Immediate Hearings

Judiciary Dems: Failing to Act Now Will Allow Others to Inflict Lasting Damage to the Department of Justice

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, in an interview with the New York Times, President Donald Trump indicated his contempt for the leadership of the Department of Justice.  The President directly attacked the credibility and fairness of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller.  President Trump also warned Special Counsel Mueller that there would be “a violation” if his investigators attempt to scrutinize his family’s finances.

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

Led by Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr., all seventeen Democrats on the House Committee on the Judiciary wrote to Chairman Bob Goodlatte to demand oversight hearings as soon as practicable, below. 

Although the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary all continue to do work in this space, the House Committee on the Judiciary has not held a single oversight hearing related to the Russia investigation, allegations of obstruction of justice, or the President’s treatment of Department of Justice personnel.

The House Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It also has jurisdiction over the Foreign Agents Registration Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Judiciary Democrats Letter to Chairman Goodlatte Demanding Immediate Oversight Hearings On Trump Administra... by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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Judiciary Democrats Release Background Fact Sheet on H.R. 372, the “Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2017”

Prepared by Democratic staff of the Committee on the Judiciary

H.R. 372, the “Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2017,” would partially repeal the limited Federal antitrust exemption for the business of insurance established by the McCarran-Ferguson Act in 1945. H.R. 372 would only permit federal antitrust enforcement with regard to health insurers.

House Democrats have previously supported a full repeal of McCarran-Ferguson’s antitrust exemption for all insurers, not just health insurers. In 2010, House Democrats also passed more limited legislation to repeal McCarran-Ferguson’s antitrust immunity for health insurers by a vote of 406 to 19. House Republicans had not previously expressed any interest in moving any version of this legislation.

While there has been and continues to be bipartisan support for the repeal of McCarran-Ferguson with regard to health insurers, the Majority has made a series of overstated claims regarding H.R. 372 as part of the so-called “third phase” of their health care “reform” efforts. As such, we do not endorse the Majority’s exaggerated claims that passage of H.R. 372 will somehow create major new competition, significantly improve the affordability and availability of health insurance, or encourage health insurers to sell insurance products across state lines. In reality, this legislation:

·         Will Not Significantly Improve Healthcare Affordability or Coverage. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the effect of H.R. 372 on health insurance premiums “would probably be quite small,” and enacting the bill will have “no significant net effect on the premiums that private insurers would charge for health or dental insurance.”Consumers Union states that the application of the antitrust laws to some health insurance activity is simply not enough to create a vibrant insurance market because our “long experience shows you can’t expect a health care system to run effectively on competition alone.”

·         Does Not Enable Health Insurers to Sell Insurance Across State Lines. Enabling the Federal antitrust agencies to police certain forms of anticompetitive conduct will not in and of itself incentivize health insurers to offer products across state lines. In fact, current state and Federal law, including the Affordable Care Act, already allows states to agree with each other to provide for cross-state insurance sales.

·         Does Not Protect Consumers Against Discrimination or Premium Growth. H.R. 372 only applies to certain anticompetitive conduct and does not change the regulation of health insurance. For example, it does not prohibit discrimination based on preexisting conditions, reduce premium growth, or require health insurers to be accountable for price increases.

·         Does Not Provide the Antitrust Agencies with Necessary Resources to Enforce the Law. If the Administration truly wanted to encourage more vigorous antitrust enforcement in the health insurance market, they would fully fund and appoint heads to the antitrust agencies. Instead, the President Trump’s recently issued budget blueprint would reduce DOJ funding overall, to the likely detriment of antitrust enforcement.

Judiciary Democrats Release Background Fact Sheet on H.R. 372, the “Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act... by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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All House Judiciary Democrats Call For DOJ To Issue Statement Refuting Trump Wiretapping Claim

Democrats Also Call On White House & DOJ To Release Information On White House & DOJ Communications

Washington, D.C. – Today, all House Judiciary Committee Democrats sent a letter to Acting Deputy Attorney General Dana J. Boente, asking the Department of Justice to address the accuracy of assertions made by President Trump accusing President Obama of wiretapping his phones prior to the election—in the wake of widespread reports that FBI Director Comey had asked DOJ to reject such claims.  Judiciary Democrats also asked the Department to provide information about possibly improper contacts between the White House and DOJ concerning efforts by the Russian government to unlawfully influence the U.S. presidential election in favor of Mr. Trump.  A similar letter has been sent to White House Counsel Donald McGahn.

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“Today, it was reported that Director Comey was “incredulous” at the President’s claim.  We call on the White House Counsel to tell us about their contact with DOJ and we ask the Acting Deputy Attorney General to set the record straight about the facts of any inquiry,” said Ranking Member Conyers.   “Given Attorney General Sessions’s recent decision to recuse himself from the Russian influence investigation, we have directed the letter to the Acting Deputy Attorney General.  It would be highly inappropriate to say the least if the Attorney General was involved in any decision to not respond to the FBI Director’s request. President Trump’s irresponsible and baseless tweet over the weekend charging that President Obama wire-tapped Trump have led to troubling reports of efforts by the White House Counsel to contact the Department of Justice about investigations and reported requests by the FBI Director that the Justice Department refute Trump’s assertion.”  

Both letters were signed by every Democratic member of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, including: Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Karen Bass (D-CA), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), David Cicilline (D-RI), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Brad Schneider (D-IL). 

U.S. House Judiary Democrats Letter to Acting Deputy Attorney General Boente 3-6-17 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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Judiciary Democrats To Call for Release of Information on White House & DOJ Communication

Tomorrow, House Judiciary Committee Democrats will send a letter to White House Counsel Donald McGhan, asking him to provide information about contacts between the White House and the Department of Justice.  Judiciary Democrats will also send a similar letter to FBI Director James Comey.

Current signers include: Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD).

Full text of the letter is below. The text of the letter is for immediate release.

A signed copy of the letter along with a complete list of Members who signed on, will be released tomorrow.

Judiciary Democrats Letter for Release of Information on White House & DOJ Communication (3.5.17) by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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Judiciary Committee Democrats Release 15 Myths vs. Facts On Trump Administration Conflicts

Washington, DC – Today, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Ranking Member Steve Cohen (D-TN) released a document entitled “Alternative Facts” v. Reality: Ethics, Conflicts of Interest, and the Emoluments Clause. This document highlights 15 facts rebutting the myths President Trump has perpetrated regarding the applicability of ethics laws to the Executive Office of the President, his conflicts of interest, his plans to address those conflicts of interest, and his claims regarding the application of the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause. 

The release of this document comes after House Judiciary Committee Republicans voted to kill a resolution of inquiry yesterday, introduced by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), which would have directed the Justice Department to provide the House of Representatives with information relevant to President Trump’s conflicts of interest, his potential violations of the Emoluments Clause, and ties between his campaign advisors and the Russian regime. It also comes after a Congressional Black Caucus forum on President Trump’s potential conflicts of interest, ethics violations and Russia ties.     

Ranking Member Conyers and Subcommittee Ranking Member Cohen released the following joint statement:

“To safeguard our democracy, Congress must act in accordance with its constitutional oversight duties because the ethical dilemmas presented by the Trump Administration have the potential to undermine the American people’s trust in government.  Since winning his election, President Trump has flouted the ethical norms established by his predecessors. President Trump has failed to take adequate steps to address conflicts of interest and to ensure he does not run afoul of the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause.  House Republicans refuse to perform the most basic oversight that might shed light on these pressing issues surrounding President Trump’s administration.”

Ethics experts from across the political spectrum have condemned the President’s unwillingness to separate from his business interests in any meaningful way.  According to a recent poll from McClatchy-Marist, nearly six in ten Americans believe that President Trump’s conflicts of interest are illegal, unethical, or both.  According to that same poll, 58 percent of the country is embarrassed by Donald Trump’s conduct as President of the United States.

House Judiciary Committee Alternative Facts v Reality Fact Sheet 3.1.17 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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Candidate For DNC Chair U.S. Representative Keith Ellison In Detroit

Reverend Brian Ellison of the Church of the New Covenant Baptist Church of Detroit introducing his brother, U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, candidate for the Democratic National Committee Chair.

"We've got to stand up tall for small. Beyond a 50 state strategy, we need a 3,141 county strategy. We need a precinct strategy. We need to make sure our party is putting voters first." said U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, candidate for the Democratic National Committee Chair.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Brandon Dillon

This is the first time in history that a candidate for the DNC chair has actually traveled the country, going into the congressional districts and precincts to advocate for voting rights in the Democratic Party.

U.S. Representative Keith Ellison

Representative Thomas Stalworth III and
Debbie Williams of Families and Children Justice

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EMMETT TILL UNSOLVED CIVIL RIGHTS CRIMES REAUTHORIZATION ACT PASSED BY CONGRESS

Washington, DC—During its final session of the 114th Congress, the Senate passed the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016 (S.2854/H.R.5067).  In the Senate, the bill was led by Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO).  In the House, original sponsors were Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI). The bill now heads to the President to be signed into law.

BACKGROUND

Before the passage of major civil rights legislation in the 1960s, hundreds of racially suspicious crimes were committed in this country, and few attempts to prosecute them were ever pursued.  Tuskegee Institute once kept a record of verified lynchings in the United States from 1877 to 1950.  The institute documented that nearly 4000 mainly unprosecuted civil rights crimes occurred during that period.  Many American families continue to pass down stories of loss and disappearance even today without knowing the truth about what actually happened to their loved ones. 

PRIMARY GOALS OF THE BILL

The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act represents a critical opportunity to right these wrongs committed, primarily against African Americans, but also against people of diverse backgrounds.  In some cases, individuals still remain who were witnesses to these crimes or who can help provide evidence regarding these incidents.  This bill reauthorizes and updates the original legislation that was signed into law in 2008.  It seeks to respond to the concerns of victims' family members and strengthen collaboration between the Justice Department, the FBI, State and local law enforcement, and advocates to pursue these cold cases.  There is a collective goal to seek the truth about this long-standing tragedies and hold the perpetrators and orchestrators of these atrocities accountable.   This reauthorization also seeks to respond to the concerns of advocates regarding the implementation of the original legislation. 

BI-PARTISAN and BI-CAMERAL STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

"As we work to address current questions about racial violence and civil rights, we should be mindful of our history and why so many in the African-American community raise the issue of whether black lives matter.  Passage of the original Emmett Till Act represented a commitment to resolving the unanswered questions from one of the darkest periods in modern American history.  This bipartisan reauthorization represents further investment in our history and will allow the Department of Justice to resolve remaining issues."  Rep. John Conyers, Jr.  - MI

"When this bill was signed into law, family members, academics, historians, lawyers, advocates began working to develop a full accounting for these long-standing, gross human and civil rights atrocities.  The reauthorization passed by Congress is a response to their appeals to make the law a better tool in their quest for justice. We also worked across the aisle and across the Dome to develop a bill that fulfills our promise to remain committed to the pursuit of truth on behalf of victims and their families.  I am very pleased that Congress has passed this legislation and I look forward to the signature of President Barack Obama."  Rep. John Lewis - GA

“I am pleased that this bill is now finally heading to the President’s desk. Investigators can now work to discover the truth and to seek justice under our legal system for the families of these victims. Every American is worthy of the protection of our laws. I want to thank the Till family, Alvin Sykes, Congressman John Lewis, and all of the civil rights activists who helped make this law a reality. Today’s victory is theirs.”  Sen. Richard Burr - NC

 “Too many families suffer from the unsolved murders of their loved ones during the civil rights era without receiving justice.  The way to best serve these families is to provide our Federal government with the tools it needs to investigate these unsolved crimes, and to hopefully, bring some sense of closure for these families.  I thank Congressman Lewis for his tireless work on behalf of the families of these victims of unsolved murders from the civil rights era and I am proud to stand with him on this effort.”   Sen. Patrick Leahy - VT

“This legislation brings justice and closure to the families and communities affected by the heinous acts of violence and hatred that are a stain on our nation’s history. The bill will help us continue the critical work of better investigating and solving these crimes, no matter how long ago they occurred, and I’m thrilled we’ve finally been able to carry it across the finish line.” Sen. Claire McCaskill - MO

“The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act sets out to investigate racially-motivated murders. Sadly, there is still more work to be done and it’s important that we reauthorize this bill so that the FBI and DOJ can continue investigating unsolved crimes.”    Sen. Roy Blunt - MO

“As an original cosponsor of the Emmett Till Reauthorization Act, I’m pleased to see my colleagues came together and supported this important bill. This bipartisan legislation will provide for a sustained, well-coordinated effort to investigate and prosecute unsolved civil rights-era crimes. There are hundreds of cold cases from the civil rights era that have never been solved and it is my hope that we are able to bring justice to the victims’ families.”  Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner - WI

MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE LEGISLATION

·         This bill requires the Department of Justice and FBI to consult with civil rights organizations, universities, and other entities that have also been gathering evidence in these cold cases;

·         Provides clearer direction and improved coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement and the activists, advocates, and academics working on these issues;

·         Strengthens the Department of Justice’s reporting requirements;

·         Expands the time span of cases to be considered by ten years, to include all cases that occurred not later than December 31, 1979;

·         Eliminates the sunset provision in the original bill;

·         Encourages the Department of Justice to review specific closed cases that warrant further investigation;

·         Maintains the previous investigation structure and funding levels; and

·         Clarifies the law’s intent.

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House Judiciary Committee Democrats To Hold Press Conference Calling On DOJ To Investigate Trump Foundation Donations To Florida AG Pam Bondi

Stay informed and connected: Democrats.Judiciary.House.Gov/ @HouseJudDems

Washington, DC - Democratic Members of the House Judiciary Committee, led by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL), and Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) will hold a press conference on Wednesday, September 14th at 11:30am following their call for an immediate investigation by the Department of Justice of allegations of bribery and other criminal misconduct concerning the $25,000 donation from the Donald J. Trump Foundation to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.  Following a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch on September 13th by the Democratic Members of the Judiciary Committee, Representatives Nadler, Deutch and Conyers, will be joined by Members from the New York and Florida delegations to discuss the allegations and insist on an immediate investigation into possible criminal conduct.

WHEN:       Wednesday, September 14 @ 11:30 AM ET

WHERE:    House Radio and TV Gallery

                    HVC Studio A

WHO:        Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10)

                   Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21)

       Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13)

                   NY Democratic Members of Congress

                   FL Democratic Members of Congress

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CONYERS: Lame duck TPP vote could be disastrous for Dems—and America

By John Conyers, Jr.

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

In terms of style and substance, tenor and tone, the two parties’ conventions could not have differed more dramatically.  Whereas the Republican gathering focused on fear and division, the Democratic convention called forth hope and constructive action.   

And yet, almost paradoxically, there was a common message reverberating through the convention halls in Cleveland and Philadelphia: The system is rigged. 

While the causes and consequences of the public perception are many, there’s one hot-button issue in this campaign that exemplifies what people see as wrong with the system: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Negotiated in secret under the advisement of multinational corporations, the TPP gives handouts to the multinational corporate class at the expense of the middle class.  It pits workers here against those abroad, boosting profits of multinational corporations while our workers see downward pressure on wages. It allows fossil fuel corporations to sue governments in private tribunals to overturn policies that protect our families and our environment.  It gives the pharmaceutical industry monopoly protections while consumers endure skyrocketing prices for medicine.

Despite these concerns, it is an open secret that an overwhelming number of Republicans and a few of their Democratic counterparts are quietly seeking to push TPP through during the lame duck session of Congress. That period after the November elections is when legislators are least accountable.  With a lame duck vote, Members of Congress who lost their November elections would still able to throw their weight behind the extraordinarily unpopular deal. Newly-elected Members would not have a voice.  And reelected legislators would feel free to take a controversial vote that would please their corporate benefactors, confident that voter anger over their decision will subside in the two years before their next election.

In short, a lame duck consideration of the unpopular TPP would be undemocratic, and would wildly exacerbate frustrations about a rigged system.  

As a representative of one of America’s great manufacturing cities and a lifelong advocate for corporate accountability, I believe strongly that the TPP should never be approved.  But even those lawmakers and officials who support the deal should recognize that lame duck consideration of such a highly controversial deal would create a crisis of legitimacy in American politics and actually undermine trust in the system of global commerce they’re trying to support.  Finally, the specter of a lame duck TPP push could also be the campaign gift to Donald Trump that he and his donors couldn’t buy.

Opposing TPP is the right thing to do.  But it is also the politically smart thing to do.  Hillary Clinton is running for President in opposition to TPP—it is time for Democrats to unify and help her provide a clear choice for voters opposed to unfair trade rules.

I’ve known Hillary Clinton personally for four decades, and I appreciate her strong opposition to the TPP “before and after the election.”   The Hillary Clinton that I know has been a dedicated lifelong fighter for causes—including quality healthcare, environmental protection, and full employment—that are antithetical to the TPP.  In voting against the Central American Free Trade Agreement as a Senator, she demonstrated discretion on trade deals. She required Tim Kaine to make a strong statement of opposition to the TPP as a precondition for joining the Democratic ticket. Most importantly, she wants to go even further than stopping new corporate trade deals, promising the United Auto Workers that she would seek to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement as well.

Trump has managed to exploit the trade issue for political gain, as former Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania Ed Rendell has warned, and hopes to convince voters that Hillary’s TPP opposition is insincere.  This is despite his utter unwillingness to address the hypocrisy on his side of the aisle and in his own life.  He picked one of the foremost corporate ideologues and TPP cheerleaders as his own vice presidential candidate. He’s entirely failed to address the fact that corporate trade deals rely on the overwhelming support of Congressional Republicans—who, by and large, remain wedding to their Wall Street and Big Oil contributors more than to the public interest. Trump himself, of course, personally outsourced countless jobs overseas with his own companies (and first-hand accounts indicate that he never expressed any concern about denying jobs to American workers). If Donald Trump will not sacrifice a couple dollars to make his ties in America, what makes us think he’ll make sacrifices to block Congressional Republicans on TPP?

Hillary Clinton, by contrast, has shown her strong capability to lead on trade throughout the campaign.  She's gone well beyond words, working with the foremost critics of TPP, including Sen. Sherrod Brown, labor leaders, environmental groups, and other key stakeholders fighting for fairer trade.  Trump has done the exact opposite, and will cede authority to Congressional Republicans who prioritize the pro-corporate trade agenda above all else.

It’s now up to President Obama and the very small number of pro-TPP Democrats in Congress to follow Hillary’s lead.  Allowing the possibility of a lame duck TPP vote to remain on the table wouldn’t just undermine trust in government and validate perceptions of rigged system—it could play into Donald Trump’s small and unsteady hands, with potentially disastrous consequences for the country.

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Congressman John Conyers Speaks at 2015 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner

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CONYERS AND 115 HOUSE DEMOCRATS URGE PRESIDENT OBAMA TO USE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO TAKE EXECUTIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION REFORM

WASHINGTON – Today at a press conference led by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL-04), Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) joined many House Democratic Colleagues in urging President Obama to use his broad legal authority to implement administrative reforms to improve key aspects of America’s broken immigration system.

“Republicans have refused every effort in Congress to fix our broken immigration system despite countless opportunities.  In the face of Congressional inaction, like those before him, the President must act,” said Rep. John Conyers. 

Spearheaded by Rep. Gutierrez and House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Rep. Conyers and over 115 House Democrats issued a letter to President Obama urging him to exercise his power under existing law to prevent the separation of undocumented family members of U.S. citizens, lawful permeant residents, and deferred action beneficiaries.  The letter also encourages the President to recognize undocumented farmworkers that face exploitation and abuse.   

Last year, after substantial negotiations between a bipartisan group of 4 Democratic and 4 Republican Senators, the Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation that would have overhauled U.S. immigration law.  If enacted, the bill would establish a fair pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants after undergoing several security measures before obtaining a green card, further secure our borders, and ensure that our nation’s economic needs could be met through improved visa programs.  House Republicans have repeatedly blocked progress of this critical legislation by refusing to allow a vote on the bipartisan immigration reform bill.

“At this time, it is clear to me that the only path forward on immigration policy is through Executive action.  I encourage the Obama Administration to move forward with bold, Executive action because it’s the right thing to do for the country,” added Rep. Conyers.

# # #

Text of the letter to President Obama urging him to take “bold and meaningful” executive action is below:

November 13, 2014

Dear Mr. President:

It is most unfortunate that Republican leaders in the House refused to allow a vote on the bipartisan immigration reform bill the Senate passed last year.  Even today, if Republican leaders allowed a vote, the bill would pass.  But they won’t.

When Republicans blocked legislation, your pledge to use Presidential power under existing law to improve our immigration system gave us hope. Without such changes, our economy will continue to suffer and families in our communities will continue to be torn apart.

Although we were very disappointed when you postponed action until after the November election, we were encouraged last week when you reaffirmed your promise to act before the end of the year.

We hope that your actions will prevent the separation of undocumented family members of U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and DACA beneficiaries and offer protection to others who have long worked in the United States and have established strong ties with our communities.  We similarly hope that you will recognize that undocumented farmworkers are “essential for agriculture” and that our country would benefit greatly if they were permitted to work in our fields without fear.  We further hope that you will reform our immigration enforcement efforts to make them more sensible and humane.

Bold and meaningful executive action will provide a boost to our national and local economies.  It will strengthen communities and promote family unity.  It will help the government focus limited enforcement resources on those who pose a true danger to the public.  And by providing an opportunity for millions of undocumented immigrants to register with the government—provide detailed biographic information, undergo criminal background checks, demonstrate continuing compliance with tax laws—it will protect American and immigrant workers alike by reducing the threat of exploitation and abuse.

The legal authority for taking executive action is clear and substantial.  Just two years ago, the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts reaffirmed that the administration retains “broad discretion” to decide “whether it makes sense to pursue removal at all.”  Arizona v. United States, 132 S.Ct. 2492, 2499 (2012).  And executive action in this area is anything but unprecedented.  In fact, every past President starting from President Dwight D. Eisenhower more than half a century ago has used such authority when dealing with similar issues regarding the national interest.

Like us, you have heard Republicans warn that any actions you take will “poison the well” and prevent them from using their upcoming majority in the Senate to address our broken immigration system. However, for the past two years it was not Senate Democrats that blocked much-needed legislation, it was House Republicans. That obstacle to sensible immigration reform still remains. Let us also not forget that congressional Republicans previously blocked reform in 2006 and 2007.

As you said last week, “What we can’t do is just keep on waiting. There’s a cost for waiting.” That cost is measured in the tens of thousands of parents of U.S. citizen children who are deported each year. It is measured in the emotional price children and DACA recipients pay worrying about whether their parents will come home at the end of the day. Our national security suffers whenever we spend precious enforcement resources on hardworking immigrant families, rather than on criminals and those who mean our communities harm.  And American workers’ wages and working conditions are consistently undermined as long as millions of immigrant workers are working in the shadows and off the books. We agree with you, Mr. President. We can no longer afford to wait.

As you have said, it is ultimately the job of Congress to reform our broken immigration system by enacting legislation. But by failing to do their job—and repeatedly interfering with your efforts to do your job—congressional Republicans threaten to take our immigration system hostage and preserve a status quo that everyone agrees is unacceptable. Their failure to act must not inhibit your commitment to governing.

We will stand with you as you take bold and meaningful action, consistent with existing law and historical precedent, to protect American families, strengthen local communities and grow the economy.

Sincerely,

1.         Karen Bass

2.         Earl Blumenauer

3.         Suzanne Bonamici

4.         Tony Cárdenas

5.         Joaquin Castro

6.         Judy Chu

7.         David Cicilline

8.         Katherine Clark

9.         Yvette Clarke

10.       Wm. Lacy Clay

11.       Emanuel Cleaver

12.       James Clyburn

13.       Steve Cohen   

14.       John Conyers, Jr.

15.       Jim Costa

16.       Joseph Crowley

17.       Elijah Cummings

18.       Danny Davis

19.       Susan Davis

20.       Diana DeGette

21.       Rosa DeLauro

22.       Suzan DelBene

23.       Theodore Deutch

24.       Lloyd Doggett

25.       Tammy Duckworth

26.       Donna Edwards

27.       Keith Ellison

28.       Eliot Engel

29.       Anna C. Eshoo

30.       Sam Farr

31.       Chaka Fattah

32.       Bill Foster

33.       Marcia Fudge

34.       Joe Garcia

35.       Alan Grayson

36.       Al Green

37.       Gene Green

38.       Raul Grijalva

39.       Luis Gutierrez

40.       Janice Hahn

41.       Alcee Hastings

42.       Ruben Hinojosa

43.       Rush Holt

44.       Michael Honda

45.       Steny Hoyer

46.       Jared Huffman

47.       Sheila Jackson Lee

48.       Hakeem Jeffries

49.       Hank Johnson

50.       Marcy Kaptur

51.       Robin Kelly

52.       Joseph P. Kennedy, III

53.       John B. Larson

54.       Barbara Lee

55.       Sander Levin

56.       John Lewis

57.       Zoe Lofgren

58.       Alan Lowenthal

59.       Ben Ray Luján

60.       Carolyn Maloney

61.       Doris O. Matsui

62.       Betty McCollum

63.       Jim McDermott

64.       James P. McGovern

65.       Jerry McNerney

66.       Gregory Meeks

67.       Grace Meng

68.       George Miller

69.       Gwen Moore

70.       James P. Moran

71.       Jerrold Nadler

72.       Grace Napolitano

73.       Gloria Negrete McLeod

74.       Eleanor Holmes Norton

75.       Beto O’Rourke

76.       Frank Pallone

77.       Bill Pascrell

78.       Donald Payne, Jr.

79.       Ed Perlmutter

80.       Scott Peters

81.       Pedro Pierluisi

82.       Chellie Pingree

83.       Mark Pocan

84.       Jared Polis

85.       Mike Quigley

86.       Charles Rangel

87.       Lucille Roybal-Allard

88.       Bobby Rush

89.       Linda Sanchez

90.       Loretta Sanchez

91.       Janice Schakowsky

92.       Adam Schiff

93.       Bradley S. Schneider

94.       Kurt Schrader

95.       Allyson Y. Schwartz

96.       Robert C. “Bobby” Scott

97.       Jose Serrano

98.       Terri A. Sewell

99.       Albio Sires

100.     Adam Smith

101.     Jackie Speier

102.     Eric Swalwell

103.     Mark Takano

104.     Mike Thompson

105.     Dina Titus

106.     Paul Tonko

107.     Chris Van Hollen

108.     Juan Vargas

109.     Nydia Velazquez

110.     Marc A. Veasey

111.     Filemon Vela

112.     Maxine Waters

113.     Henry Waxman

114.     Peter Welch

115.     Frederica Wilson

116.     John Yarmuth

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