Welcome to Wednesday, October 30th, impeachers and acquitters... What will you be chanting at the ballot box? How do you want your reps voting
 
 
The Daily Countable
 
 

Welcome to Wednesday, October 30th, impeachers and acquitters...

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What will you be chanting at the ballot box? How do you want your reps voting?

If the House eventually considers articles of impeachment, it would be the fourth time since 1776 that the lower chamber has made such a move.

It’s time to be a part of history. It’s time to use Countable to hold your reps accountable.

Click here to find out if your reps support an impeachment inquiry.

Then tell them:

Do you want your reps supporting or opposing impeachment?

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On the Radar On the Radar icon

Formalizing the Impeachment Inquiry

House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a resolution that would formalize procedures for the impeachment inquiry targeting President Donald Trump that’s expected to receive a vote on the House floor before the end of the week.

The resolution (H.Res. 660) was introduced by House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA) and outlines a process for six House committees (Intelligence, Judiciary, Oversight, Foreign Affairs, Ways & Means, and Financial Services) to continue their impeachment inquiry. Some highlights of the resolution:

  • The House Intelligence Committee is authorized to hold public hearings, call witnesses, issue subpoenas, and release deposition transcripts after any classified information is redacted.
  • The House Judiciary Committee will conduct proceedings of its own and will be responsible for producing any recommendations, resolutions, or articles of impeachment it deems necessary.
  • Minority members of the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees will be able to request witness testimony or the production of documents via subpoena, but will require the concurrence of the committee chairman.
  • The Judiciary Committee will be responsible for creating procedures to allow the participation of the president and his legal counsel.

Do you support this bill to outline the House's impeachment inquiry process?

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Top Ukraine Expert Reported Concerns About Trump-Zelensky Call

The National Security Council's top Ukraine expert, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, testified before the House Tuesday. Vindman, an Iraq War veteran, is the first impeachment witness who listened, firsthand, to the July 25 phone call between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.

“I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the U.S. government’s support of Ukraine,” Vindman said in his opening statement. 

“I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained.”

 Vindman was awarded a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq. He was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the U.S. when he was 3.  

 Trump took to Twitter early Tuesday to disparage Vindman, who’s served in the president’s National Security Council post since 2018.

"Supposedly, according to the Corrupt Media, the Ukraine call “concerned” today’s Never Trumper witness. Was he on the same call that I was? Can’t be possible! Please ask him to read the Transcript of the call. Witch Hunt!"

Are you concerned about the Trump-Zelensky phone call?

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Under the Radar

Endorsement Income for Student-Athletes

The National Collegiate Athletics Association’s (NCAA) Board of Governors on Tuesday voted unanimously to start a process that will ultimately allow student-athletes to earn endorsement income through the use of their name, image, and likeness. The NCAA had long resisted efforts to allow student-athletes to earn such income, arguing that it undermined the values of amateurism and professionalized college sports.

Board chair and president of The Ohio State University, Michael Drake, said in a statement:

“We must embrace change to provide the best possible experience for college athletes. Additional flexibility in this area can and must continue to support college sports as a part of higher education."

Each of the NCAA’s three divisions have been instructed to consider updates to relevant bylaws and policies.

Should student-athletes be able to earn income from their name, image, and likeness?

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The ‘Gig Economy’ 

The gig economy can be broadly understood to refer to work done by freelance and contract workers for a limited time or on a flexible schedule. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently published the first federal study of the gig economy and utilized a narrower definition that focused on workers who find jobs and are paid by technology platforms, like Uber or TaskRabbit.

The BLS found that there are 1.6 million full-time gig economy workers who fall under that definition, and they account for about 1% of the U.S. workforce.

The majority of gig economy workers, 72.4%, work full-time (defined as 35 hours per week), while 27.6% work part-time as this chart from USAFacts shows:

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Have you worked in the gig economy?

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Your Gov't At a Glance Your Gov't At a Glance icon

The White House: President Trump in D.C.

  • At 12:45pm EDT, the president will have lunch with the vice president.
  • At 5:00pm EDT, the president will present the Medal of Honor.

The House: In

  • Voting on a bill to permanently ban mining and geothermal leasing in lands near the Grand Canyon.
  • Voting on a bill to prohibit mining & gas development within 10 miles of Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

The Senate: In

 
     
 

What You're Saying

Here's how you're answering Should the House Call for the U.S. Government to Officially Recognize the Armenian Genocide?

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UGC3

 
     
 

Also Worth a Click

And, in the End...

It's National Candy Corn Day.

It's also Create a Great Funeral Day.

Let's say we combine the two and finally bury that awful, awful waxy triangle. (I won't dignify the confection by calling it "candy.")

I grew up in Michigan. I would have left even earlier had I known of its favorite Halloween candy:

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May you only get your favorite, full-sized candy tomorrow,

—Josh Herman

 
     
 
 
 

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