Free Republic

The number of seats a state has is directly proportional to its population size. And when the population is determined via the census, all persons (including illegals) in a state are counted — not just all citizens.

A U.S. Senate committee approved legislation on Wednesday that would help set the stage for the United States to confiscate Russian assets and hand them over to Ukraine for rebuilding after the destruction of the nearly two-year-long war. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 20 to 1 in favor of the unprecedented "Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act." If it were to pass the full Senate and House of Representatives and be signed into law by President Joe Biden, as expected, the act would pave the way for Washington's first-ever seizure of central bank assets from a...

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) joined a crop of Tennessee Republicans endorsing former President Donald Trump's 2024 bid. Echoing her Senate counterpart, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), who backed Trump over the weekend, Blackburn lauded Trump's achievements on the economy and border on Monday, framing his election to a second term as the solution to stubbornly high inflation and the influx of illegal immigrants into the United States. She is the ninth senator to back Trump. HAGERTY BECOMES EIGHTH GOP SENATOR TO ENDORSE TRUMP IN 2024 PRIMARY"Under President Trump, our economy was booming, gas prices were low, and inflation was under control....

On Sunday, Sen, Bill Hagerty (R-TN) endorsed 45th President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.Hagerty is the eighth GOP Senator to endorse Trump for the presidency with other notable names including Sens. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Ted Budd (R-NC).“It is my honor to give my whole-hearted endorsement to Donald J. Trump to be the next President of the United States,” the Tennessee Republican wrote on Twitter. “I was honored to previously serve in his Administration.”“President Trump stood up against Communist China, brought an end to Obama’s failed approach of ‘leading from behind,’ and revived our military and law...

The Lindsey Lobby Seven Republican Senators voted on Wednesday to confirm Eric Garcetti, President Joe Biden’s nominee for ambassador to India and former Los Angeles mayor, despite his ties to individuals belonging to alleged Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intelligence front groups. Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Steve Daines of Montana, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Roger Marshall of Kansas and Todd Young of Indiana voted to confirm Garcetti following a delay of over 20 months arising from allegations that, while in office, he helped cover up sexual assaults committed by his...

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not the primary driver of inflation. In a Senate Banking Committee hearing Wednesday morning, Sen Bill Hagerty (R-TN) pointed out that inflation rose from 1.4 percent in January of 2021 to seven percent by the end of the year, months before Russia invaded Ukraine. It has since risen another 1.6 percentage points. “Given how inflation has escalated over the past 18 months, would you say the war in Ukraine is the primary driver of inflation?” Hagerty asked. “No,” Powell responded. “Inflation was high. Certainly, was high before...

The White House held a brainstorming session on how to combat climate “denialism and delay” even as the Russian invasion of Ukraine fueled pressure on President Biden to end his crackdown on domestic oil-and-gas production. The White House released Friday a readout from the previous day’s first-ever roundtable discussion held by the Office of Science and Technology Policy [OSTP] on “the scientific understanding of why arguments for delaying action on climate change are appealing and how they can be countered effectively.” “It’s clear that a variety of special interests have had a vested interest in sowing doubt on climate change...

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said Wednesday that he will oppose Rahm Emanuel’s nomination to be ambassador to Japan. “Black Lives Matter. Here in the halls of Congress, it is important that we not just speak and believe these words, but put them into action in the decisions we make,” Merkley said in a statement. “I have carefully considered Mayor Emanuel’s record—and the input of civil rights leaders, criminal justice experts, and local elected officials who have reached out to the Senate to weigh in—and I have reached the decision that I cannot support his nomination to serve as a U.S....

Lawmakers will tell Israeli leaders the GOP stands should-to-shoulder with the country Senators Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Bill Hagerty (R., Tenn.) landed in Israel on Sunday to assess the damage from the country’s most recent war with Hamas and meet with the Jewish state’s leaders. The lawmakers—both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—will tour Israel’s southern cities, which were heavily targeted by Hamas, and sit down with Israeli leaders to reaffirm the Republican Party’s unwavering support for the security alliance with America. The trip comes as Democrats in Congress are increasingly divided over U.S. support for Israel. Lawmakers...

For two consecutive elections, more Republicans than Democrats decided against running for reelection, and so far, 2022 is shaping up similarly. Five Republican senators and one congressman have already announced they won’t seek office again next year, compared with just one Democratic congresswoman, and their retirements could signal a change within the GOP. “You typically see higher retirements when there is some sort of party shift,” said Joshua Huder, a senior fellow at Georgetown’s Government Affairs Institute. Major party shifts in Congress can also be the result of a wave election that brings in new blood, or a large, older...

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) sent a letter on Wednesday to President Joe Biden expressing his opposition to the White House ending Trump administration immigration policies that protect Americans. “I have serious concerns regarding reports that you are planning to terminate the Trump Administration’s Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) policy and return to a catch-and-release policy with respect to persons crossing the border,” Hagerty posted on social media with a copy of the letter attached. Hagerty praised the U.S.-Mexico Joint Declaration negotiated by the Trump administration that kept asylum seekers in Mexico until their status could be adjudicated. That agreement included Mexico...

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) told Breitbart News exclusively that the Chinese Communist Party is “singing all the way to the bank” thanks to President Joe Biden’s various policies in his first two weeks in office. Hagerty, in an exclusive interview on Breitbart News Saturday on SiriusXM 125 the Patriot Channel, said that Biden’s orders closing down the Keystone XL pipeline and shutting down leases for drilling on federal lands embolden China and undermine the United States. “Broadly look at what the Biden Administration is doing on energy,” Hagerty said. “By canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, Biden is giving a huge...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Senators-Elect Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) issued the following statement in advance of the Electoral College certification process on January 6, 2021: "America is a Republic whose leaders are chosen in democratic elections. Those elections, in turn, must comply with the Constitution and with federal and state law. "When the voters fairly decide an election, pursuant to the rule of law, the losing candidate...

Jon Ossoff “may be a security risk,” according to Sen-elect Bill Hagerty (R-TENN). Hagerty, former US Ambassador to Japan, told Breitbart he made the assessment after learning Ossoff's film company made money off a company tied to the CCP. He is “certainly not an acceptable choice for senator.” In a July financial disclosure, Ossoff admitted that his 2013 investment in Insight TWI, made more than $5,000 in two years from the Hong Kong-based telecoms firm PCCW, a subsidiary of China Unicom, w/ close ties to the CCP. “China has proven it will brazenly leverage any relationship to gain influence in...

President Donald Trump offered one more virtual boost Wednesday on the eve of Election Day for Bill Hagerty,...The president showered Hagerty with praise, calling him a "stalwart defender of our conservative values” on topics ranging from gun rights to abortion opposition. He said Hagerty was one of Trump's “strongest supporters in 2016," praised his work on the presidential transition team..."He's a Trump conservative. He's a friend of mine. He’s a great guy," Trump said...Trump stopped short of mentioning Sethi at all.

The Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development operates like a closely held, family-owned business hiring family members of friends and friends of friends, but whose salaries are paid by state taxpayers. Former commissioner Bill Hagerty established this culture which was maintained by Randy Boyd. Shortly after taking office in 2011, Governor Haslam appointed Bill Hagerty as Commissioner of Economic & Community Development (ECD). One year later, in 2012, Hagerty promoted Sen. Lamar Alexander’s son Will Alexander, from assistant commissioner for strategy to ECD’s chief of staff. That same year, Hagerty hired Samar Ali and Alice Rolli. “Samar Ali is...

But Sethi’s narrative began crumbling after a Breitbart News investigation uncovered that his entire senior campaign staff was comprised of Never Trump political consultants. His campaign’s general consultant, his campaign manger, and his campaign chairman—as well as his highest-profile in-state endorsement former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN)—are all devout Never Trumpers. Sethi has never addressed this and refused, with the exception of providing a generic statement to Breitbart News from a low-level press staffer, to cooperate with the story or answer any questions about it.

.... He took a few minutes to make his short stump speech about his parents coming to this country legally and how he has lived the American dream. He then addressed two issues, with the first being the COVID crisis, which he said is real and serious. “But this Fauci guy,” said Sethi obviously connecting with his audience, “I’ve had about enough of this guy.”Over the cheering and applauding crowd, Sethi continued, “It’s time for the president to bring him into the board room and say ‘You’re fired!’” With regard to hydroxychloroquine, Sethi said we’re not sure, but it saved...

GOP candidate blames wife, sleepwalking for donation to far-left Dem A Republican Senate candidate blamed his wife and sleepwalking for a past donation to a far-left Democrat as he woos conservative voters in Tennessee. Orthopedic surgeon Manny Sethi, who is running to replace retiring senator Lamar Alexander (R., Tenn.), faced criticism in July for a campaign contribution he made to former Democratic congressman Tom Perriello. Sethi gave $50 to Perriello's campaign in April 2008, prompting an advertisement from primary opponent and former ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty. While Sethi has dismissed the attack as "baseless," his campaign has offered contradictory...

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – Sen. Rand Paul, who was in Knoxville Saturday for a town hall event in support of Dr. Manny Sethi for U.S. Senate, said he has never seen a more sincere opponent of Obamacare. “I guess that’s what sort of bothers me is that people would lie about that,” said Paul. “Obamacare has really messed up healthcare. I think it’s been a disaster for the country.” Paul’s comments were in response to The Tennessee Star’s question about when he decided to support Sethi when the pair met with the press after the more formal event. Paul’s response was...