Partisan

• De resultaten van een nieuwe Politico-peiling brengen in detail in kaart wat Amerikanen bedoelen met zorgen over een 'gestolen verkiezing', waarbij er een scherpe scheiding is per partij. • Democraten uiten angsten voor tactieken om kiezersonderdrukkend te werken, terwijl Republikeinen hun zorgen richten op plannen voor verkiezingsfraude. • De bevindingen zijn van belang voor het begrijpen van de motivaties voor de opkomst bij de tussentijdse verkiezingen en het vertrouwen in electorale processen.

• Het Amerikaanse Hooggerechtshof heeft vorige maand geoordeeld dat kiesdistricten onder de Voting Rights Act van 1965 niet langer op basis van रassenlijnen kunnen worden getrokken, waardoor de focus verschuift naar partijpolitieke overwegingen. • De wet, in 1965 ondertekend door president Lyndon B. Johnson, was oorspronkelijk bedoeld om barrières voor zwarte kiezers weg te nemen, maar de beslissing staat staten nu toe om kaarten te hertekenen op basis van politieke affiliaties. • De uitspraak heeft geleid tot snelle pogingen in verschillende staten om kiesdistricten te herconfigureren, wat de vertegenwoordiging in het congres voorafgaand aan toekomstige verkiezingen potentieel kan hervormen.

• Senator Lisa Murkowski leidt een bipartisan effort in de Senaat om een onafhankelijke herindelingscommissie op federaal niveau op te richten, met als doel partijpolitieke gerrymandering bij congressional elections te verminderen. • De voorgestelde wetgeving zou staten verplichten om onafhankelijke commissies te gebruiken in plaats van partijpolitieke wetgevende lichamen om House-districten te trekken, met een focus op het vergroten van het aantal competitieve races en de vertegenwoordiging van kiezers. • Voorstanders stellen dat de wet de politieke macht in sterk verdeelde staten kan hervormen, terwijl tegenstanders waarschuwen dat het inbreuk kan maken op de bevoegdheid van staten over verkiezingen.

• Een nieuwe enquête van POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab, gepubliceerd op 8 mei 2026, wees uit dat grote meerderheden in beide partijenquele prefereren dat een onafhankelijk panel de grenzen van de House-districten bepaalt. • De peilingsgegevens suggereren dat kiezers over het hele politieke spectrum gefrustreerd zijn geraakt door partijdige gerrymandering en hervormingsmaatregelen steunen die het partijpolitieke voordeel bij de herindeling beperken. • Dit bipartisane sentiment staat in contrast met de voortdurende strijd over de herindeling op staatsniveau, waarbij de Republikeinse en Democratische partijen blijven vechten over de grenzen van de congresdistricten.

• Florida is de nieuwste staat geworden die een partijdig gerrymandered congreskaart heeft goedgekeurd, wat de voortdurende inspanningen weerspiegelt om kiesdistricten te hertekenen voor politiek voordeel. • De beslissing over de herindeling zet de nationale strijd over gerrymandering voort, waarbij staten concurreren om congresdistricten zo te structureren dat specifieke politieke partijen worden bevoordeeld. • De goedkeuring illustreert de hardnekkige uitdaging van partijdige gerrymandering in de Amerikaanse electorale politiek en de impact daarvan op de vertegenwoordiging en competitieve races.

• Een nieuwe enquête van POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab onthult dat sterke meerderheden in zowel de Republikeinse als de Democratische partij steun betuigen aan onafhankelijke panels die de grenzen van de districten van het Huis van Afgevaardigden bepalen. • Deze bipartisane bevinding suggereert een publieke behoefte aan hervorming van het politiek beladen proces van herindeling. • De enquête benadrukt de frustratie van kiezers over gerrymandering en roept op tot institutionele veranderingen om een eerlijke vertegenwoordiging te garanderen.

• Een nieuwe enquête van POLITICO‑Citrin Center‑Possibility Lab, vrijdag gepubliceerd, laat zien dat grote meerderheden onder zowel Republikeinen als Democraten voorstander zijn van een onafhankelijke commissie om de grenzen van de districten van het Amerikaanse Huis van Afgevaardigden te trekken, wat de argumenten tegen het beëindigen van partijpolitieke gerrymandering verzwakt. • De Trump-administratie overweegt voorstellen om onafhankelijke herindelingspanels wettelijk vast te leggen door federale fondsen te koppelen aan staten die dergelijke commissies adopteren, een strategie die strijdige districten in 2026 en daarna zou kunnen hervormen. • Burgerrechtenorganisaties en stemactivisten juichten de resultaten van de peiling toe en voerden aan dat onafhankelijke commissies de partijpolitieke manipulatie van kaarten, die momenteel in het voordeel van beide partijen werken, zouden verminderen.

• A politically ambitious Connecticut Democrat abandoned bipartisan negotiations on government funding amid party pressure for inclusion. • The walkout escalates tensions over federal budget priorities and spending cuts. • This could delay funding bills critical for upcoming fiscal deadlines.

• A majority of Americans express concern over rising healthcare costs and support increased federal tax spending to address these challenges, according to the Axios/Ipsos American Health Index released March 17, 2026. • The poll demonstrates bipartisan support for government action on healthcare affordability, reflecting widespread concern among the U.S. public about escalating medical expenses. • Americans also show increased trust in government handling of childhood vaccination decisions, signaling broader public confidence in health policy interventions.

• The latest POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey reveals strong majorities in both parties favor an independent panel for drawing House district lines. • Over 70% of Democrats and Republicans support the nonpartisan approach to prevent gerrymandering ahead of midterms. • This consensus could pressure Congress to reform redistricting processes and reduce partisan map battles.

• The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved five bipartisan bills on March 25, 2026, providing tax relief to natural disaster victims, sexual assault survivors, and pre-school teachers while enhancing IRS customer service and whistleblower protections. • Key measures include the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act (H.R. 5366, passed 41-0) and the Supporting Early-childhood Educators’ Deductions Act (SEED Act, H.R. 5334, passed 43-0), allowing up to $350 annual deductions for classroom expenses for standard deduction filers. • The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act (H.R. 7959) strengthens protections for tax fraud informants; all bills received strong bipartisan support amid ongoing tax proposal discussions.

• Reps. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) and Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) introduced the Preventing Real-time Exploitation and Deceptive Insider Congressional Trading Act on March 25, 2026, prohibiting members of Congress, the president, vice president, spouses, dependents, and senior executive branch employees from trading in prediction markets on political events or policy decisions. • The bill imposes civil penalties of 10% of the violating transaction's value plus full disgorgement of profits to the U.S. Treasury, amid rising bipartisan concerns over platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi. • 'The American people are tired of politicians using their influence for personal gain, and the rise of prediction markets has made those concerns even more relevant,' Budzinski stated.

Bill was introduced in the Senate on Monday as prediction market companies face greater scrutiny on state levelPrediction markets are facing fresh bipartisan scrutiny in the US Senate as companies like Kalshi and Polymarket continue to battle state-led efforts to regulate online betting.A bill was introduced in the US Senate Monday that would ban federally regulated platforms from allowing wagers on sporting events, what would be a huge blow to marketplaces where billions of dollars have been traded on major events like the Super Bowl and the NCAA’s March Madness. Continue reading...

• Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) announced a tentative agreement with White House officials Friday on cryptocurrency legislation addressing the clash between banks and digital asset firms over stablecoin yield payments. • The agreement aims to bar yield payments 'on a passive balance' to prevent deposit flight from traditional bank accounts to cryptocurrency platforms, addressing Wall Street concerns about customer capital migration. • The breakthrough could unblock landmark crypto regulatory legislation stalled in Senate Banking Committee since January and represents potential progress toward comprehensive digital asset framework.

• Nearly three weeks after the first strikes on Iran, GOP lawmakers are resisting the idea of calling top officials to testify before Congress, according to reporting from the New York Times. • The resistance reflects Republican Party divisions over the administration's Iran military operations and broader foreign policy strategy. • Democratic efforts to investigate the strikes face obstacles as the Republican-controlled Congress shows reluctance to pursue official inquiries into the military action.

• The American Podiatric Medical Association announced strong support for the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act, bipartisan legislation introduced in the House on March 13 and Senate on March 17, 2026. • The bill aims to improve health outcomes for approximately 1 in 3 Medicare patients and 1 in 7 Medicaid patients living with diabetes by modernizing outdated policies affecting foot and ankle care. • Lead sponsors include Reps. John Joyce (R-PA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Mike Rulli (R-OH), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Mike Kennedy (R-UT), and Darren Soto (D-FL) in the House, and Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in the Senate.

• Congress introduced a bipartisan bill on March 19, 2026, to establish guidelines scrutinizing AI use in U.S. federal courts amid growing Capitol Hill concerns. • Clear federal AI standards for judiciary remain absent; the measure addresses broader technology risks in government operations. • Related updates include Senate panel vote on DHS Secretary nominee Markwayne Mullin and Sen. Bernie Sanders forcing votes on $658 million Israel arms sales.

• Stagwell's Harris Poll found 88% of Republicans and 92% of Democrats view rigorous science as essential for progress, with 80-90% crediting US scientists for quality-of-life improvements. • Only 19% believe US leads China in research, 33% say falling behind; 90%+ across parties want US global leadership role. • If government funding lags, Americans favor businesses (23%) and nonprofits (19%) to fill gaps.

• Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced legislation to accelerate federal funding for next generation 9-1-1 systems nationwide. • The bill supports states and localities in deploying digital, interoperable 9-1-1 infrastructure to enhance public safety and first responder capabilities. • Industry leaders like Intrado and National Association of State 911 Administrators praised it as vital for protecting against cyberattacks and saving lives.

• Both Republicans and Democrats signaled strong opposition to cutting National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in the 2027 budget request expected within two weeks, following President Trump's failed 40 percent cut request for the prior year. • Last month Congress approved a $415 million increase for the NIH, allocating $48.7 billion to the agency for biomedical research, with bipartisan lawmakers encouraging NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya to distribute funding to their districts and projects improving American health. • Appropriations ranking member Rosa DeLauro stated lawmakers would "continue to reject cuts to NIH research, because what you do is life-saving," underscoring commitment to maintaining research support.

• The Senate passed H.R. 6644, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, on March 12, 2026, with a bipartisan vote of 89 to 10, combining housing supply and community investment measures. • The bill includes provisions to raise caps on bank community development investments, update the definition of manufactured housing to include modular and prefabricated homes, and restrict large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes. • The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a statement strongly supporting the Senate amendment and indicating the president's advisors would recommend signing it into law if presented in its current form.

• Two key Democratic lawmakers have raised national security concerns about the Trump administration's approval for exports of Nvidia chips to China, warning that the move risks harming U.S. technological leadership. • The legislators are calling for bipartisan legislation to prevent American technology from reaching Chinese hands and being used improperly, echoing broader concerns about technology transfer and competitive advantages in AI computing. • Nvidia has pushed back against criticism of the Trump administration's export approval decision, defending the company's position on international trade and technology availability.

• Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) released the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, merging House H.R. 6644 and Senate S. 2651. • Provisions restrict large institutional investors from single-family home purchases, prohibit Federal Reserve digital dollar, and expand manufactured housing via HUD standards. • Bill reflects Trump administration priorities, eliminates chassis requirements for manufactured homes, and reauthorizes PRICE grants for community preservation.

• The U.S. Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on Thursday designed to make U.S. housing more accessible and affordable, marking a rare bipartisan legislative effort to address the nation's growing housing shortage. • The bill represents a significant policy shift aimed at tackling housing affordability challenges facing American families across multiple income levels. • Congressional support for housing reform reflects bipartisan recognition of the critical need to expand housing supply and reduce barriers to homeownership and rental access.

The US Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on March 12, 2026, aiming to increase construction and limit institutional ownership of single-family homes. The White House endorsed the measure on March 2, highlighting its potential to address affordability challenges. Its path in the House remains uncertain amid midterm pressures. Lawmakers from both parties cite high home prices as a top voter issue, with implementation depending on state and local policies.

The US Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on Thursday, March 12, 2026, aiming to boost construction and limit institutional ownership of homes amid affordability crisis. The measure responds to median home prices at $398,000, five times median income, pressuring both parties before midterms. Its path in the House remains uncertain despite White House support announced March 2. Implementation could take time due to state and local regulations.

The US Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on March 12, 2026, aimed at increasing construction and curbing institutional home purchases amid affordability woes. The bill's path in the House remains uncertain despite White House support announced March 2. Complementing President Trump's recent executive orders, it addresses voter concerns over home prices five times median income heading into midterms. Implementation hinges on state policies and market rates, with potential construction boosts eyed for relief.