Sovereign

Name: Senate Majority Leader Alex Fakhouri Media/Outlet: The Joe Rogan Experience Reason: Watford Nomination Just a year ago, Mitch McConnell and Cliff Fleming said popular sovereignty should decide this Supreme Court through the 2016 election when they believed the McCord/Walker ticket was a winner. Now, today, Cliff and Charles Walker think a loud minority of Republicans should not only block the President's nominee, but crown their own pick. This is a shameless, cynical partisan plot to politicize our nation's highest court, and Americans should take note on how easily Republican leaders are willing to bend our basic constitutional principles for cheap political wins. Judge Paul Watford is easily the most popular Supreme Court nominee in American history. He's been given the thumbs up from the American Bar Association, which is the most liberal left institution the country has ever seen if you ask Jesse Waters. Just don't ask how they rated John Roberts and Samuel Alito. Everyday more Republicans are joining in support of Judge Watford. Right now, he has the most bipartisan support he's ever had up to this point. Are you really going to tell us Henry Patterson is a "RINO?" The mandate has never been more clear, and that is why I will say here that this fight is far from over. It's going to show in Wisconsin this spring when Republicans watch our majority grow as Americans reject their daily soap opera. We are putting them on notice, and sending a clear message that we will back down and let them grind government to a halt. The debate will continue, and we will vote until the people's consensus is understood as GOP leaders promised with crossed fingers from the very beginning.

ALEX FAKHOURI Senate Majority Leader

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A Warning for the GOP: How the Paul Watford Nomination Destroyed Mitch McConnell By Alex Fakhouri

Alexander S. Fakhouri United States Senate Majority Leader

Name: Alex Fakhouri (D-MI) Media: This Week on ABC Reason: Croft and Stewart Attack Jobs As we enter the new Congress, radical Republicans have wasted no time attacking blue-collar workers. Just today, in a motion that unsurprisingly blocked bills pertaining to LGBT rights and women's health, Senator Will Croft tried to sneak in a hold on a bill meant to protect millions of American jobs projected to be lost to automation. There wasn't a word on it. Thank God Democrats caught him with his hands in the cookie jar and Senator Croft ultimately rescinded the motion, but Americans should not forget the dangers of this sneaky and reckless maneuvering against their interests. In this same bill, we saw Senator David Stewart discuss outsourcing, which has affected a great many Americans and I'm glad to see bipartisan discussion taking place here. The problem lies a little deeper beneath the service, where Senator Stewart believes the best way to uplift American workers is by completely undoing NAFTA without a replacement. It's a strategy Republicans have employed before, and it's the political equivalent of cutting off your nose to spite your face. What this proposes is millions of jobs gone in a blink of an eye and untold inflation, and the hardest hit will be the farmers all across the Corn Belt - including Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and so on. Americans can't afford this wild, shoot-at-the-hip approach when their jobs are on the line - and the economy sure can't handle the instability. The challenges we face require thoughtful solutions that address the needs of blue-collar workers, while also understanding the important role these policies play in keeping consumer prices down. We've seen leadership here from Senator Clarke's job training programs and Senator Carlsen's tax credit reform for outsourcers. These are solutions. Playing chicken with the global market is not.

Name: Alex Fakhouri (D-MI) Media/Outlet: The Lead with Jake Tapper on CNN Reason: Republican Leadership Showdown Paul Ryan is far from a liberal politician. He was backed by the Freedom Caucus just a little over a year ago. How are we in a position where he's now suddenly too liberal for them? What we are seeing today is GOP lawmakers doubling down on the same tired rhetoric that lost them the presidency, lost them seven Senate seats, and lost them ten more seats in the House. Americans rejected this brand of extremism resoundingly, and they'll reject it again. Charles Walker and Cliff Fleming have fanned the flames of hatred, but are quickly realizing that the wildfire can be turned against you. Despite having the support of virtually all Republican leaders across the board, almost every member of the House leadership conference got wiped out. This kind of chaos is indicative of a total failure of leadership, and should worry everyone about their ability to govern effectively. This should be a wake up call for Paul Ryan and Republican leaders. It wasn't the Freedom Caucus that held onto the Republican majority. Those were your traditional rank-and-file Republicans. The Freedom Caucus did not contribute to your success, and they will not reward you for your success. Is this really who you want to rely on to maintain your ability to govern? There's a way out here, and the solution is moderation and compromise.

ALEX LOOKS TO GREAT LAKES FISHERIES AS SESSION CONVENES WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a significant move to safeguard the ecological health and economic vitality of the Great Lakes, Senator Alex Fakhouri has introduced two pivotal pieces of legislation today as Congress returns to work: the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act and the Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2017. These bills aim to enhance fishery management practices and bolster scientific research and data collection efforts, ensuring the sustainability of the Great Lakes' natural resources for future generations. Under the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service will be tasked with expanding present fish stocking and marking efforts. By implementing a comprehensive mass marking program for all trout and salmon stocked in the Great Lakes, this legislation will enable more accurate assessments of fish populations, migration patterns, and the overall success of stocking efforts. This critical information will support improved management decisions, aiding in the preservation of the Great Lakes' fishing industry, which remains a cornerstone of the region's economy and cultural heritage. The Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2017 aims to authorize funding for the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct essential scientific research on the Great Lakes' fishery resources. This research will focus on invasive species control, habitat restoration, and the impacts of climate change on the Great Lakes ecosystem. By securing the necessary resources for cutting-edge research, this act ensures that policymakers and fishery managers have the knowledge needed to protect and sustain the Great Lakes' complex ecosystem effectively. The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total area and second-largest by total volume. Containing 21% of the world's surface fresh water, the Great Lakes support a rich ecosystem with over 3,500 species of plants and animals, including 170+ fish species. In 2015, American fisherman in the Great Lakes brought in nearly 15 million pounds worth of fish to shore. Altogether, the Great Lake's fisheries are worth an estimated $7 billion, support more than 75,000 jobs, and attract about 1.8 million recreational anglers a year.

Name: John Holcomb Turner, Jr. Seat: Michigan, Class 2 Political Party: Democratic Caucus: New Democrats Place of Birth: Bentonville, Arkansas Residence: Washington, D.C. Avatar: Mark Udall Gender: Male (0 points) Age: 63 (0 points) Sexuality: Straight, divorced, with or without children (15 points) Race: White/Caucasian (0 points) Religion: Mainline Protestant (0 points) Educational History: Juris Doctor, University of Texas at Austin (10 points) Socioeconomic History: Upper Class (-5 points) Career History: Attorney, Pulaski County Public Defender's Office, 1979 to 1983 (10 points) Legal Counsel, Little Rock Prosperity Project, 1983 to 1985 Senior Advisor, Arkansas Democratic Party, 1985 to 1991 (5 point) Political Experience: Arkansas State Senator, 1991 to 1995 (2 points) Arkansas Secretary of State, 1995 to 2003 (10 points) Democratic Nominee for Governor of Arkansas, 2002 National Campaign Chair, Wesley Clark for President, 2004 (10 points) Governor of Arkansas, 2007 to 2015 (40 points) Chair of the Democratic Association of Governors, 2011 to 2012 President of the Brookings Institute, 2015 to present TOTAL POINTS: 97/100

ALEX ELECTED MAJORITY LEADER OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a historic vote today, Senator Alex Fakhouri has been elected to serve as Senate Majority Leader. His ascension comes in a year of historic firsts as he becomes the first Muslim American to assume the role. He previously served as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which saw the largest victory for Senate Democrats since 2008. He will assume the office immediately, succeeding outgoing senator Harry Reid (D-NV) who has led the Democrats since 2005. In remarks to John King on CNN prior to his election, Senator Fakhouri called for moderation and bipartisanship, while emphasizing common-sense economic goals that include investing in small business, raising the minimum wage, and expanding tax breaks for working-class families. He also praised Obama-era policies that led to the economic recovery, as well as progress made on social issues and the world stage, indicating a continuation of these successful policies. Following the closed-door vote, Alex spoke with the press just outside of the DNC HQ. His full remarks can be read below:

Name: Alex Fakhouri (D-MI) Media/Outlet: Inside Politics on CNN Reason: Cooperation in the New Term The American people have spoken this past election, and they've chosen a forward-thinking agenda of inclusivity, unity, and common-sense solutions. We remain a divided government, that's true, but there is no reason we need to remain a divided country. We've just elected the first woman to serve as President of the United States in the history of our country, just under a hundred years from the passage of women's suffrage. That's something to celebrate and come together on, as we enter the new Congress. Astounding progress was made under President Obama. There's no reason to downplay it. We reached under 5% unemployment and added 10 million new jobs to the economy. We can expand on that. That doesn't just mean more jobs, that means better jobs. That means addressing poverty, and building up our communities. We can do that by expanding the Child Tax Credit, investing in small business, and raising the minimum wage. These aren't radical policies; they have widespread appeal, and I welcome my colleagues across the aisle to join us in uplifting the middle class and working class. We are prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century head on, both foreign and domestic. It is easy to look at the headlines and believe it's all doom and gloom, but look at what we've already accomplished. On the world stage, we've championed policies of peace that have disarmed America's adversaries. At home, we've gotten big government out of the business of people's private lives and bedrooms with landmark decisions and legislation. These are values that conservatives and liberals nominally agree on, and this is only from the 2010s - not far in the past at all. When we really break it down, there is far more that we agree on than disagree.

Class 3 is open. They just secured a Republican hold!

Name: Alex Fakhouri Media: The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC Reason: Supreme Court Vacancy I said before, and I'll say it again: Americans must ask themselves why the Senate GOP is pursuing this now. Why are they denying this President's nominee before we even know their name, when every virtually single Supreme Court pick has at least got their day at a hearing? Why are Republicans basing this claims on a comment from 25 years ago that could be compared to idle chitchat in the backroom at room? Well, we only need to look at Majority Leader McConnell's own words back in 2010, when he brazenly admitted to the National Journal that he intended to make President Obama a one-term president. This is nothing more than unprecedented partisan gamesmanship aimed at politicizing our nation's highest court, and it's nothing short of inappropriate. Since 2012, we have seen landmark decisions protecting same-sex marriage, United States v. Windsor in 2013 and Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015. The timing of this is not a coincidence. Meanwhile, we have seen a growing trend in hate crimes against the LGBT community these past few years. From 2013 to 2014 alone, the FBI reported hate crimes related to gender identity grew by more than 200%. Clearly, there is rabid fomenting of hatred out there, and the GOP is in the center of it. You better believe if they get their Supreme Court pick, it will lead to the overturning of Windsor, Obergefell, and, ultimately their long-stated target, Roe v. Wade. Because of this stunt, the Supreme Court will be without a key vote for nearly a year. This is not a Court that can function, and several high-level decisions are being left on the backburner as a result. The question of the birth control mandate from the Affordable Care Act is on the table. The Supreme Court is also set to discuss President Obama's expansion of DACA and deferment of five million undocumented immigrants. Perhaps the biggest elephant in the room is a challenge to a Texas law that may well shut down nearly 75% of reproductive clinics in the state. These are all very important, yet oft-not discussed decisions, that need to be addressed by the Court.