Where the Senate stands before recess
Plus: Kamlager-Dove moves to impeach Vought, progressives propose AI tax to fund jobs and new Democratic poll shows Jackson ahead in Maine.
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THE LINEUP
Where the Senate stands before recess
Kamlager-Dove moves to impeach Vought
Progressives propose AI tax to fund jobs
New Democratic poll shows Jackson ahead in Maine
THE LEAD
👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.
Today is the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, a remembrance marked by urgent civil rights warnings because the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais effectively dismantled Section 2, the law’s primary remaining tool against racial gerrymandering.
Lawmakers and civil rights organizations and legal experts are using today’s milestone to highlight how the landmark 1965 legislation has been hollowed out, leaving minority voting power highly vulnerable.
“Republican extremists are determined to turn back the clock,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said on X this morning. “House Democrats will not rest until the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is the law of the land. And we end the era of voter suppression once and for all.”
Senate state of play: The Senate remains in a holding pattern as Republican leaders work toward a comprehensive time agreement on a series of legislative measures Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) hopes to clear before senators leave Washington for a five-week August recess.
Without unanimous consent, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told reporters the Senate could remain in session through this weekend and into next week to finish the GOP’s agenda.
“Also my best guess, based on our conversations, is that in order to get an agreement with the Democrats, as opposed to just doing stuff by regular order, they’re going to insist on we not take care of all of our business.”
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) told me the burden of governing falls on Republicans, who control the Senate.
“They’re in charge. They set the agenda,” she said. “I hope they get something figured out so that we can take the necessary votes and move on.”
Here’s where the major items under consideration stand…
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THE POWERS THAT BE
Kamlager-Dove moves to impeach Vought: Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) introduced articles of impeachment against Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, accusing him of abusing his power by withholding congressionally appropriated funds and failing to execute federal law faithfully…
THE POLICY DESK
Progressives propose AI tax to fund jobs: Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (D-Texas), joined by Reps. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), introduced legislation that would tax large AI companies and use the revenue to create a new federal Work Protection Administration aimed at offsetting AI-driven job losses…
THE TRAIL
New Democratic poll shows Jackson ahead in Maine: A new Senate Majority PAC survey of 802 likely Maine voters finds Democratic nominee Troy Jackson leading Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) 49% to 45%, with 6% undecided, while Collins’ job approval sits underwater at 46% approve to 52% disapprove…