News Roundup: House Progressive Leader Says She Won’t Vote for Reconciliation Bill if It Includes Hyde Amendment

BY JACK CROWE

October 04, 2021

Good morning and welcome to the News Editor's Roundup, a weekly newsletter that will ensure you're up to date on the developments in politics, business, and culture that will shape the week's news cycle — as well as those that might escape mainstream attention.

House Progressive Leader Says She Won't Vote for Reconciliation Bill if It Includes Hyde Amendment

Representative Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.), chair of the progressive caucus, said Sunday that she will not support Democrats' massive social-spending package if it includes the Hyde Amendment, a stipulation that prohibits taxpayer money from funding abortions.

Jayapal's comments came during an appearance on CNN's State of the Union days after Senator Joe Manchin (D., W. Va.) told National Review that the bill would be "dead on arrival" if the Hyde Amendment were not included.

"Yeah, we're not taking the Hyde Amendment off. Hyde's going to be on," he said Wednesday.

Activists Follow Sinema into Bathroom, Harass Her over Opposition to Reconciliation Package

During a visit to Arizona State University on Sunday, Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema was harassed by a group of students over her opposition to the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package.

Sinema, a guest lecturer at the university, was cornered by students while entering the bathroom. One of the students stood outside the stall videotaping while urging her to support the mammoth bill and threatening to vote her out of office if she refused.

"We knocked down doors for you to get you elected. And just how we got you elected we can get you out of office if you don't support what you promised us," a young Arizona immigrant, who claims she's undocumented, told the senator.

Sotomayor Declines to Block NYC Teacher-Vaccination Requirement

Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor declined on Friday to block a coronavirus vaccine mandate for all New York City public-school employees, following a petition by four teachers.

All New York City teachers and school staff members were required to present proof that they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by 5p.m. on Friday, or be placed on unpaid leave on Monday. The mandate was temporarily delayed by a lower court.

Sotomayor's decision comes over a month after Justice Amy Coney Barrett declined to block a vaccine mandate for students at Indiana University.

Democrats Need More Time for Infrastructure Deal, Pelosi Says

House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) sent a letter to colleagues Friday night saying that Democrats need more time to pass the $1 trillion infrastructure bill and $3.5 trillion budget resolution which together comprise President Biden's "Build Back Better" domestic legislative agenda.

"While great progress has been made in the negotiations to develop a House, Senate and White House agreement on the Build Back Better Act, more time is needed to complete the task," Pelosi wrote. "Our Chairs are still working for clarity and consensus. Clearly, the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill will pass once we have agreement on the reconciliation bill."

Pelosi released the letter hours after President Biden visited Capitol Hill to speak with the House Democratic Caucus regarding passage of the legislation. Biden tried to tamp down expectations for passing the legislation, saying the reconciliation package could be cut to $1.9 trillion to $2.3 trillion, according to Politico.

January 6 Committee to Issue 'Criminal Referrals' for Uncooperative Witnesses

The House select committee probing the January 6 Capitol riot will issue "criminal referrals" for uncooperative witnesses who reject subpoena requests and deadlines, Chair Bennie Thompson (D., Miss.) announced Friday.

A number of high-profile individuals believed to have played a role in organizing or promoting the pro-Trump rally that preceded the mob's storming of the Capitol have been subpoenaed to submit documents relevant to the investigation and appear for testimony.

"The committee will probably come for those who don't agree to come in voluntarily, we'll do criminal referrals and let that process work out," Thompson confirmed to reporters at the Capitol.

School-Board Group Asks Biden to Review Whether Parent Confrontations over CRT Constitute 'Domestic Terrorism'

In a letter to the White House, a group that represents school boards urged the Biden administration to consider whether confrontations by outraged parents over COVID restrictions and critical race theory (CRT) being incorporated into class curriculum violate the Patriot Act.

The letter contended that "the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes."

Kabul Mosque Bombing Kills 5 Civilians, Taliban Says

A bomb exploded in the entrance of a mosque in Kabul on Sunday, killing at least five civilians, a Taliban Interior Ministry spokesman told the Associated Press.

The blast ripped through a crowd outside the entrance of the Eidgah Mosque, where a memorial service was being held for the mother of Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. Mujahid said in a tweet that the attack had killed "a number of civilians."

Taliban Interior Ministry spokesman Qari Saeed Khosti confirmed the deaths. Bilal Karimi, Taliban official spokesman, said three suspects had been arrested.

American, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue Will Each Require Employees to Be Vaccinated against COVID-19

American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue have joined United Airlines in requiring that employees be vaccinated against COVID-19.

American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom announced the mandate in a letter to employees on Friday.

Parker and Isom said more than 100,000 U.S.-based employees will need to get vaccinated in response to President Biden's announcement last month that all federal workers, including contractors, would be required to receive a shot.