Biden judicial nominee says she no longer believes Christian Coalition member are 'bigots' when pressed by GOP

A Biden nominee for a District Court in California told senators Wednesday that says she no longer believes members of the Christian Coalition are "bigots," something she asserted in an essay when she was a senior at Harvard.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings for six of President Joe Biden’s nominees for judgeships and other positions in his administration. Several GOP members drilled into the nominees’ records, including Sen. John Kennedy , R-L.A., who questioned Judge Rita F. Lin about her college writings in which she called members of a Christian political organization "bigots." Lin has been nominated to be a judge in Northern District Court of California.

Read more: Biden judicial nominee says she no longer believes Christian Coalition member are 'bigots' when pressed by GOP

‘When You Granted Him Bond, Did You Think He Had Shot His Girlfriend In The Head?'

At today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) questioned DeAndrea Gist Benjamin, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit.

Polls show Kennedy coasting to another term in Louisiana U.S. Senate race

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy is a slam dunk for reelection, significantly outpacing all competitors in both fundraising and public support.

While Kennedy’s Democratic challengers are predicting a runoff following the Nov. 8 primary, an October poll and Kennedy’s massive fundraising advantage ultimately make a Democratic Louisiana senator a highly unlikely prospect.

A Public Policy Polling survey of 633 likely voters conducted Oct. 10-11 found 53% planned to vote for Kennedy "if the election was today." Former fighter pilot Luke Mixon, a Democrat supported by Gov. John Bel Edwards, was backed by 16%, while communications consultant Gary Chambers garnered 8%. Democrat Syrita Steib received 6% support, and 14% were undecided.

Read more: Polls show Kennedy coasting to another term in Louisiana U.S. Senate race

John Kennedy: If you want something screwed up, Biden's your man

Kennedy meets with Baton Rouge Rotary: “I believe in what we accomplished. We can do it again.”

BATON ROUGE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) spent the morning with the Baton Rouge Sunrise Rotary Club, taking questions from Louisianians on issues related to the economy, federal regulation and appropriations that the senator and delegation have secured for Louisiana.

“I believe in what we accomplished—and I participated in that—when my party had control of the House and the Senate and the presidency . . . We cut taxes. We increased wages. People at the lower end of the wage scale saw their wages go up twice as fast as those at the upper end of the wage scale, but all wages went up,” said Kennedy.

“We delivered out of that four-year period 3.4 percent unemployment. We had the lowest unemployment out of the history of our country for African Americans and for Hispanic Americans. . . . We created 8 million new jobs pre-COVID—and those were real jobs, brand new jobs, not jobs that were lost because the government shut down our economy and then the jobs came back. Those were new jobs,” he continued.

Kennedy also addressed education, saying, “I believe that no parent—no parent—should be required to send their child to a failing school, where violence is common and learning is rare.”

The senator outlined the hope he sees for the state by recalling the successes of just a few years ago under Republican leadership.

“We deregulated the economy. We beat back ISIS. We completely revamped veterans’ health care to give them the health care they deserve. We secured the border. We secured our streets. We controlled inflation. During those four years, we strengthened the military. For the first time in my lifetime, we stood up to China . . . and we can do it again.”

KENNEDY: Democrats and White House Started the Defund and Disrespect the Police Movement

Sen. John Kennedy, LA, has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration and Democrats, in general, regarding the “defunding the police” movement. Just last month, his office released the following:

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today addressed rising crime rates Americans are experiencing in the wake of Pres. Biden’s soft-on-crime policies.

Kennedy outlined the four steps needed to reduce crime in Louisiana and American communities:

- Hire more police officers.

- Keep police officers on the force.

- Get rid of prosecutors whose attitude is, “Hear no evil. See no evil. Prosecute no evil.”

- Stop disrespecting the police.

Key excerpts from Kennedy’s statement include:

“Long term, we can debate the solutions to crime, but short term, in my judgment, we have to do three things. Number one: We've got to hire more cops.”

“Number two: We're going to have to stop the retirements among our police officers. They're retiring in droves.”

“The third thing we need to do to get control of crime [won't] cost any money, but it may be the most difficult of all three of the things we have to do. We have to improve the morale of our cops, and that starts with our elected officials.

“But I think that if you talk to most moms and dad in this country, and ask them what are they worried about when they lie down to sleep at night and can’t, I don’t think they’re worried about proper pronoun usage. I don’t think they’re worried about the president’s war against oil production in America. I think they’re more worried about their job and the economy and inflation, and I think they’re worried about crime.”

“And you’re not going to get control of crime until you keep the cops you have, you add more cops and you stand behind your cops when they’re right, which is 99.9 percent of the time. And folks, that doesn’t cost money.

“…We have sent a breathtaking amount of money to state and local government. I mean, they’ve got more money now than they’ve ever had in their entire histories, adjusted for inflation. They’ve got the money to do this.”

View Kennedy’s complete remarks here.

Yesterday, while on Fox News, Kennedy continued on his focus on this issue by reiterating his stance on defunding and disrespecting of law enforcement.

KENNEDY: Bankers 'Should Buy a Spine' and Push Back Against the Woke

GOP Sen. John Kennedy gives 'The Story' the latest on his party's pushback against big 'woke' corporations and banks after testimony from Wall Street CEOs like Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase this week on Capitol Hill.

Kennedy Questions Big Bank CEOs in Banking

“Capitalism has done more to lift people out of poverty than all the social programs put together”

Kennedy calls on Garland to extend special counsel authority for Hunter Biden investigation

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and 30 Republican colleagues in urging U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to extend special counsel protections and authorities to U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss to conduct the Hunter Biden investigation.

“As you know, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware—led by U.S. Attorney Weiss—has been investigating Hunter Biden. There is no way of knowing the entire scope of the investigation, but evidence seems to be mounting that Hunter Biden committed numerous federal crimes, including, but not limited to, tax fraud, money laundering, and foreign-lobbying violations,” the senators wrote.

“Given that the investigation involves the President’s son, we believe it is important to provide U.S. Attorney Weiss with special counsel authorities and protections to allow him to investigate an appropriate scope of potentially criminal conduct, avoid the appearance of impropriety, and provide additional assurances to the American people that the Hunter Biden investigation is free from political influence,” they continued.

“Given the politicization of the DOJ under your watch and the importance of avoiding any appearance of impropriety, the undersigned request that you provide U.S. Attorney Weiss the full protections and authorities of a special counsel. This is one important action that you can take that will go a long way in restoring faith in our governmental institutions,” concluded the lawmakers.

Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Dan Sullivan (R-Ark.), Shelley Moore-Capito (R-W.Va.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) also signed the letter.

The full letter can be found here.

KENNEDY: Good Things

“Good things come to those who work their butts off………………………..”

Kennedy receives awards for fighting for small businesses, jobs

WASHINGTON – The National Federation of Independent Business has given Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) the Guardian of Small Business Award, its most prestigious legislative title. The Small Business Investor Alliance has also named Kennedy a Champion of Small Business Investing. These awards recognize lawmakers who consistently advocate for small businesses through their legislative voting records.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I’m thankful for the jobs they create and sustain. The National Federation of Independent Business and the Small Business Investor Alliance work hard for small and independent businesses, and I’m honored to receive these awards.”

Kennedy is a member of the Small Business Committee and has worked to protect small businesses from tax increases and unwarranted IRS audits.

During the 117th Congress, Kennedy also voted in support of the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act of 2021.

Kennedy, Grassley introduce commonsense reforms to combat violent crime

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in introducing the Combatting Violent and Dangerous Crime Act to fight the surge in crime by reforming the criminal code and clarifying existing law. The legislation aims to help law enforcement better prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes.

“Murder, carjacking, kidnapping and other violent crime are on the rise in major cities across our country. We cannot afford to let criminals off the hook when they choose crime and violence. This bill would help law enforcement get dangerous predators off our streets and away from innocent Americans,” said Kennedy.

“Crime is skyrocketing in communities across the country. Carjackings, homicides, attacks on law enforcement are all up. We have a duty to ensure that penalties for federal offenses serve as a deterrent and that any ambiguity from split court decisions is rectified so that perpetrators can be held accountable. This bill includes a number of small fixes that will go a long way in improving justice and preventing future crimes. Unfortunately, we don’t yet have bipartisan support to advance these modest, but meaningful, reforms. American communities are suffering under a scourge of lawlessness, so I hope we get some cooperation soon and I’ll keep reaching across the aisle to get it,” said Grassley.

Notable reforms in the bill include:

• Bank robbery

  • Updates the definition of “attempted bank robbery” to clarify that the statute punishes ordinary “attempts” at bank robbery. This means that the offender intended to commit bank robbery and took a “substantial step” toward carrying out that intent.

  • Adds a new “conspiracy” offense to allow for the prosecution of criminals who conspired with others to commit bank robbery.

• Deadly crimes

  • Removes the common law year-and-a-day limitation on indictments for federal crimes that result in the death of the victim since many victims survive their attacks thanks to modern medicine yet still succumb to their injuries more than one year later.

• Vehicular homicide (carjacking)

  • Reduces the burden for prosecutors who can prove the offender took the vehicle by violence or intimidation by striking the “intent” requirement.

  • Creates a conspiracy to commit carjacking offense, which applies the same penalty as offenders who carry out the offense.

  • Increases the statutory maximum imprisonment term for carjacking from 15 to 20 years as well as the penalty for offenders who use dangerous weapons to carry out a carjacking.

• Candy-flavored drugs

  • Enhances penalties for marketing candy-flavored controlled substances to minors.

• Kidnapping

  • Clarifies that federal kidnapping charges can apply to non-violent abductions, including abductions by deception.

Text of the legislation is available here. 

Watch Kennedy’s remarks here.

Kennedy cosponsors bill to close loophole that allows China to exploit U.S. military expertise

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has cosponsored the No People’s Liberation Army in Logistical Operations and Other Pertinent Humanitarian Operations Leading to Endangered Security (NO PLA LOOPHOLES) Act to close a loophole in U.S. law that allows the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) access to vital U.S. military training and expertise.

“The Chinese military is more than happy to take advantage of American altruism to boost its combat abilities, and we can’t allow Beijing’s ruthless regime to do that. The NO PLA LOOPHOLES Act would help ensure Communist China can’t exploit American military strengths to advance its oppressive, genocidal agenda,” said Kennedy.  

The NO PLA LOOPHOLES Act would prevent China from using a legal loophole to improve the PLA’s combat abilities. Under current law, the U.S. military cannot engage in military-to-military exchanges with the PLA in any way that would give the PLA access to vital U.S. military training and expertise. The law, however, permits U.S.-Chinese military cooperation on search-and-rescue and humanitarian missions and exercises. The PLA has gained access to traditional U.S. military training under the guise of engaging in these humanitarian exercises. 

The bill would ban this form of cooperation.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) Helps Pass Once-In-A-Generation Tax Cuts For The American People

“This bill will help every single Louisiana family, and I am proud to be a part of this historic moment.” –said Sen. Kennedy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) voted today to pass a once-in-a-generation series of tax cuts.  By voting for the bill, Sen. Kennedy made sweeping reforms to America’s antiquated tax code while delivering on his campaign promise to lower taxes and help get the economy moving again. 

“This bill helps every single Louisiana family by putting more dollars into their paychecks instead of federal coffers.  New jobs get created when families spend those dollars.  It’s Economics 101,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “We doubled the standard deduction.  We more than doubled the child tax credit.  We lowered tax rates.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: This bill is about tax cuts, jobs, and more jobs.  We have delivered on both.  We’ve finally given families and businesses meaningful tax cuts.  We’re giving them the tools to dream and to build and to prosper. ”

Highlights from the legislation:

• Increases Take-Home Pay: The typical family of four will receive a tax cut of $2,059.

• Lowers Tax Brackets: The new tax brackets are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%.

• Doubles the Standard Deduction: For an individual, the standard deduction goes from $6,350 to $12,700.  For a married couple, it goes from $12,000 to $24,000.

• Doubles the Child Tax Credit: The child tax credit is doubled from the current $1,000 to $2,000, and more parents are allowed to claim the credit.

• Repeals Obamacare’s Individual Mandate: Repealing this unpopular tax will help provide additional relief to low- and middle-income families.

  • 135,510 people in Louisiana paid the individual mandate tax penalty in 2014 rather than purchase insurance.

  • Builds Families: The Adoption Tax Credit is preserved, which ensures that the adoption process remains accessible and affordable.

  • Supports Teachers: The Educator Expense Deduction is retained, allowing teachers to claim a deduction for money they spend out of pocket on their classrooms.  This tax deduction helps teachers who selflessly spend their own money on school supplies.

  • Preserves Historic Tax Credit: By preserving the Historic Tax Credit (HTC), Louisiana’s historic properties and communities will continue to be revitalized and create new economic opportunities.

  • Provides A Two Year Boost In GOMESA Funding: Under current estimates, Louisiana will receive an additional $100 million in revenue under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act until 2020 and 2021.  This would allow our state to invest in priorities such as coastal restoration and hurricane protection.

Kennedy, Republican senators introduce resolution calling on Biden to fight crime, secure border

Photo source: Senate

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined more than 15 other Republican senators in introducing a resolution highlighting rising crime rates in the U.S. and calling on President Biden to combat crime and secure the southern border.

“The Biden administration seems to think that when a criminal commits a crime, it’s not really the criminal’s fault. Under President Biden’s watch, crime rates have gone up, drugs are pouring across the border and criminals are murdering cops. The White House must do something to keep American communities safe,” said Kennedy.

The resolution points out that the murder rate in America rose by 30 percent from 2019-2020, the largest single-year increase in more than a century. In addition, there was a 59 percent increase in the number of police officers murdered last year. At least 16 American cities set record for the number of murders in 2021.

More than 2.5 million illegal immigrants have been caught trying to cross the U.S. southern border since January 2021, and overdose deaths have reached an all-time high as the flow of illegal drugs across the southern border is putting communities at risk across America.

Text of the resolution is available here.

'I'm Not Trying To Trick You': John Kennedy Grills Ex-Twitter Employee

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) questioned Twitter whistleblower Peiter “Mudge” Zatko.

'I'm Not Against Big -- I'm Against Dumb': John Kennedy Gives Frank Take On Social Media Companies

Blake Miguez Is With Senator John Kennedy!

Blake Miguez has thrown his support behind Sen. John Kennedy

KENNEDY: POTUS Is About as Popular as Scurvy

President Biden is as unpopular as scurvy. The President has a blind spot for the lives and concerns of ordinary Americans. Americans are worried about their jobs, inflation, crime, and their kid’s education. Instead, Biden’s more concerned with gender-neutral pronouns. pic.twitter.com/BUTYVF37h8

— John Neely Kennedy (@JohnKennedyLA) September 7, 2022

KENNEDY: Biden's Speech Was A Cynical Attempt To Fill Our Heads With Stupid