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Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) is trying to use Congress spending power as a way to force the Supreme Court to adopt a code of ethics, the Washington Post reported Monday, as the court has been widely criticized for not having a binding ethics code in light of justices perceived conflicts of interest.

Van Hollen, who oversees the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that controls the Supreme Courts budget, told the Post he plans to use a congressional spending bill to persuade the court to adopt a binding code of ethics.

While federal judges in lower courts are bound by a code of ethics that bars conflicts of interest and other potential issues, Supreme Court justices do not have any such restrictions, which has become heavily controversial.

Its not clear yet exactly how Van Hollens efforts would work, but the Post notes that similar efforts in the past have put language into spending bills that says part of the funding an agency receives can only be used if they do something that lawmakers want, like imposing a code of ethics.

Whether or not Van Hollens plan can pass remains to be seenit would also have to pass the Republican-controlled House, and the Post reports key GOP lawmakers are noncommittal on the proposal, including Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), who oversees the House subcommittee that controls the Supreme Courts budget in that chamber.

The Supreme Court has not yet responded to a request for comment.

The Supreme Courts refusal to adopt such standards has contributed to eroding public confidence in the highest court in the land, Van Hollen said in a statement to the Post. It is unacceptable that the Supreme Court has exempted itself from the accountability that applies to all other members of our federal courts, and I believe Congress should act to remedy this problem.

$200 million. Thats how much the Supreme Court has requested in federal funding from Congress for the 2024 fiscal year, the Post notes, which could be affected by Van Hollens efforts. The request includes the courts general operations, but also an additional $5.9 million in funding for security expenses as justices have faced increased threats following controversial rulings like overturning Roe v. Wade.

The 2024 fiscal year starts October 1 and lawmakers will likely start considering spending proposals in the next few months, the Post notes. In addition to the Appropriations Committee, Sen. Susan Collins (D-Maine) told the Post she believes this should be an issue for the Senate Judiciary Committee to take up, so moving forward may also depend on what that committee decides. Committee chair Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) expressed openness to the idea to the Post, however, saying he thinks the code of ethics is long overdue.

The Supreme Courts lack of a code of ethics has become a major point of contention in recent months, as the 6-3 conservative court has garnered widespread controversy for perceived ethical conflicts. Justice Clarence Thomas has sparked widespread criticism stemming from his wife Ginni Thomas right-wing political activism, which has presented potential conflicts of interest, and other justices have raised scrutiny by socializing with right-wing figures and appearing at conservative events, among other issues. The American Bar Association passed a resolution in February calling on the court to adopt a code of ethics, and more than two dozen legal ethics scholars previously wrote a letter in support of a code in March 2022. Justices have said in the past that they try to follow the code of ethics for lower judges, even if they arent legally bound by it, and the Post previously reported the court has been actively discussing imposing a code of ethics for at least four years, but still hasnt been able to impose one or decided if they will. Van Hollens efforts come as Democratic lawmakers have already tried to pass legislation that would force a code of ethics onto the court, but those efforts have so far failed.

Democrats weigh trying to force Supreme Court to adopt ethics rules (Washington Post)

Supreme Court Justices Reportedly Cant Figure Out How To Adopt Ethics Code Amid Controversies (Forbes)

Brett Kavanaugh Attends Conservative Holiday Party: Latest Supreme Justice Caught Cozying Up With Partisans (Forbes)

Ginni Thomas-Led Conservative Group Reportedly Raised $600,000But We Dont Know Who From (Forbes)

Chief Justice Roberts Wife Is Latest Supreme Court Spouse To Spark Ethics Concerns (Forbes)

I am a New York-based senior reporter covering breaking news at Forbes. I previously covered politics and news for Vanity Fair and Mic, and as a theater critic I serve as a member of the New York Outer Critics Circle. Follow me on Twitter @alisond64 or get in touch at adurkee@forbes.com.

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Democratic Senator Wants To Use Supreme Court Budget To Force Justices To Follow Code Of Ethics - Forbes

Tennessee Republican lawmakers took the first steps Monday to expel three Democratic members from the GOP-dominant House for their role in a recentgun control protest at the state Capitol.

Resolutions have been filed against Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson after they led chants from the House floor with supporters in the gallery last Thursday. The resolution declared that the three had participated in "disorderly behavior" and "did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives."

The House must now vote on the resolutions before the expulsion process can begin. Republican Reps. Bud Hulsey, Gino Bulso, and Andrew Farmer filed the resolutions.

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Hundreds of protesters packed the Capitol calling for the Republican-led Statehouse to pass gun control measures in response to theNashville school shootingthat resulted in the deaths of six people. As the chants echoed throughout the Capitol, Jones, Johnson and Pearson approached the front of the House chamber with a bullhorn.

As the three shared the bullhorn and cheered on the crowd, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican, quickly called for a recess. He later vowed the three would face consequences. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Karen Camper described their actions as "good trouble," a reference to the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis' guiding principal.

By Monday, Sexton confirmed that the three lawmakers had been stripped of their committee assignments and said more punishments could be on the way. A few hours later, House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison referred to Jones as the "former representative" during the evening session.

Pearson and Jones are both freshman lawmakers. Johnson has served in the House since 2019. All three have been highly critical of the Republican supermajority. Jones was temporarily banned from the Tennessee Capitol in 2019 after throwing a cup of liquid at former House Speaker Glen Casada and other lawmakers while protesting the bust of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest inside the Capitol.

Expelling lawmakers is an extraordinary action inside the Tennessee Capitol. Just two other House members have ever been ousted from the chamber since the Civil War.

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Tennessee GOP members move to oust 3 Democrats from House after gun protest - CBS News

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Monday designated 33 districts as in play for next years elections.

The announcement comes weeks after the group named its Frontliners, or most vulnerable incumbents, and its GOP counterpart, the National Republican Congressional Committee, identified its own 2024 targets.

The DCCCs target list includes two open seats in California and Michigan, where Democratic Reps. Katie Porter and Elissa Slotkin, respectively, are running for Senate. It also includes Republicans who defeated Democratic incumbents in traditional swing districts last year, including GOP Reps. Zach Nunn of Iowa, Thomas H. Kean Jr. of New Jersey, Mike Lawler of New York and Jen Kiggans of Virginia.

The group is targeting six seats in New York, where Republicans won several open seats last year, in addition to Lawler ousting former DCCC Chair Sean Patrick Maloney. Democrats need a net five seats to win control of the House next year and are eyeing New York as a state where they can anchor that effort. The DCCC is also targeting eight total seats in California.

The list includes a handful of Republicans who are more aligned with former President Donald Trump, like Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, a far-right firebrand who narrowly won reelection in one of the closest races in the country last year. Her Democratic opponent, Adam Frisch, has already said he is running again.

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House Democrats targeting 33 GOP-held and open seats next year - Roll Call

All 10 Democratic members of the Missouri Senate signed a letter Monday urging Gov. Mike Parson to remove the chair of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights over his recent public statements in opposition to LGBTQ-rights legislation.

Timothy Faber, a lobbyist for the Missouri Baptist Convention, testified in a Senate committee hearing last week about a bill that would amend Missouris Nondiscrimination Act to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Faber used biblical references to argue that the bill infringed on religious liberty. He did not disclose his position as chair of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights until he was asked directly about it by a Senator.

During his testimony, he referred to the commission as they while arguing that the legislation would lead to more lawsuits that the commission would have to handle.

This would create an even greater backlog of cases for the Missouri Commission on Human Rights staff than they already have, Faber testified.

Are you not the chair of the Human Rights Commission? asked Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton.

Faber said he did not come to testify on behalf of the commissions but confirmed his position as chair.

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The letter, sent by Becks office, said Fabers attempt to obfuscate his position erodes the trust Missouri legislators require from members of Missouris boards and commissions.

The commission has 11 spots for governor-appointed commissioners. Only four of the positions are filled, meaning it cant conduct business because it does not have a quorum.

Faber often testifies on behalf of the Missouri Baptist Convention, including during a hearing about the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

Im taking that your stance is that LGBTQ folks shouldnt have the same rights as I have not to be discriminated against, Beck asked him during his testimony. Is that what youre saying, based on the Bible? Or what exactly are you saying?

Im saying that an employer or a landlord should also have rights in how they conduct their business, Faber answered.

They can discriminate against someone based on a number of factors, he said. Thats their right.

According to current state law, it is illegal to discriminate against Missourians because of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex or age, as it relates to employment, disability, or familial status as it relates to housing.

It is not illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The letter from the senators said Fabers lobbying job interferes with his duties on the commission.

The commission says its role is to eliminate discrimination through the enforcement of the Missouri Human Rights Act and prevent social inequality through education and outreach on its webpage.

The Missouri Commission on Human Rights has an incredibly important duty to investigate complaints of alleged discrimination in employment, public accommodations and housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, age and familial status, the senators letter says. This duty cannot be fulfilled with confidence when its chairman has lost the trust of elected leaders.

The Independent contacted the commission, which did not have a comment at the time of publication. Faber did not respond to attempts to contact.

The governors office did not return a request for comment.

I do not speak for the Human Rights Commission. Thats not my role, Faber told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. That was not my intent. And I dont even have the legal right to do so, especially considering that the commission has not addressed these issues. Thats why I did not identify myself as a commissioner.

Read more here:
Democrats call for the removal of Missouri Commission on Human ... - Missouri Independent

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Democrats in Palm Beach County had mixed feelings Monday about former President Donald Trump's impending arraignment this week.

They believe it sends the right message, but there are some concerns about how this may further divide the country.

Democrats said the indictment has been a long time coming, but they are not celebrating because many also believe it does not improve the morale of the country.

RELATED: Poll shows support for Trump remains strong despite indictment

The Box Gallery located in West Palm Beach is a place where art meets advocacy, often a stage to highlight big issues in the Legislature.

Owner Rolando Chang Barrero, the president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus in Palm Beach County, thinks Trump's indictment has had enough of the spotlight.

"I think Trump has gotten his money's worth out of that hush money," Barrero said. "I think it's time to put it to rest."

Barrero believes many Democrats feel the indictment was long overdue.

"I think it's going to be a boon to confront apathy," Barrero said. "People have gotten very apathetic, thinking that nothing gets done, that politics are just outside of the reach."

Other voters said they're more interested in what's in the indictment rather than the spectacle of a surrender.

"Everybody has their opinion," voter Matthew Martino said, "but once you get to the court, the facts matter, so the facts will speak for themselves."

Voter Amy Jordan said this isn't a Democrat versus Republican issue. She hopes Trump and all elected officials are held accountable if they're suspected of wrongdoing.

"Taking no responsibility, I would say that if he was a Democrat. I'm so tired of the sides," Jordan said. "This is about an incompetent leader who wants attention, which the media has given him."

Palm Beach County Democratic Party chair Mindy Koch released the following statement on Trump's upcoming arraignment:

"We have faith in the American justice system and know that through this process our democracy will be strengthened," Koch said.

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Donald Trump's indictment brings mixed emotions for Democrats amid fears of more division - WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm