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Walker fires latest round in debate war of words with Warnock in Georgia Senate showdown

Walker fires latest round in debate war of words with Warnock in Georgia Senate showdown

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FIRST ON FOX: Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker is urging Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia not to “be scared” and accept a debate that Walker has agreed to attend in the latest verbal fireworks between the two candidates over debates in their crucial battleground state showdown.

Walker Tuesday night announced in an interview on Fox News’ “Hannity” that he’s agreed to take part in an Oct. 14 debate in Savannah, Georgia, in front of a live audience. The debate, proposed by Nexstar Media Group, would be televised on Fox 5 Atlanta and other local TV stations across Georgia and in neighboring states.

“Senator Warnock. Nexstar Media Group offered to host a debate for us in Savannah on Oct. 14 in front of the people. Don’t Be Scared!,” Walker says in his new video, which was shared first with Fox News on Wednesday .

Walker, in the video, charges that Warnock has “rejected previous offers I’ve made, but please consider this one. This debate is more than fair to you… and it’s for the people! It’s in your own backyard, Savannah! You will have hometown advantage. It’s being hosted by a respected third-party media group with multiple outlets in Georgia. It will be aired statewide on broadcast television. In primetime. So everybody will get a chance to watch it.”

FIRST ON FOX: WALKER SAYS HE CAN ‘TAKE THE HITS’ FROM WARNOCK AND DEMOCRATS

Warnock had previously committed to attending an Oct. 16 debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club, as well as two others later in October that are scheduled to be held in Macon and Savannah.

And Warnock’s campaign last week launched an ad criticizing Walker for not agreeing to take part in those three debates.

WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLL IN GEORGIA SHOWS

“Herschel Walker likes to talk tough,” the narrator in the Warnock ad emphasized. The spot then uses a clip of Walker from May saying, “Sen. Warnock. When he’s ready to debate, he calls the time, he makes the place. I’m ready to go.”

The narrator then charged that Walker “still refuses to agree to any debates” and accused Walker of “dodging” debates.

Walker responded on Tuesday, saying in a video that “I am not going to obey the demands of the elite press and the liberal establishment to stand in an empty room for a debate that’s supposed to be about the people.”

Warnock campaign manager Quentin Fulks, in a statement to Fox News, emphasized that “two months ago, Reverend Warnock accepted invitations to three well-established Georgia debates in Atlanta, Savannah and Macon to be broadcast statewide, after Herschel Walker said he would debate Reverend Warnock anywhere, anytime. Nothing has changed. Reverend Warnock remains committed to debating Herschel Walker and giving Georgians three opportunities to see the clear choice about who is ready to represent Georgia.”

Walker, who won a Heisman Trophy and helped steer the University of Georgia to a college football national championship four decades ago, jumped into the GOP race to face off against Warnock last summer after months of support and encouragement to run for the Senate by former President Donald Trump, his longtime friend.

WARNOCK AIMS TO MAKE WALKER HIS OWN WORST ENEMY

Thanks to his legendary status among many in Georgia and his immense, favorable name recognition in the Peach State, Walker instantly became the overwhelming front-runner for the GOP Senate nomination and basically ignored the field of lesser-known primary rivals, declining to take part in debates as he focused his campaign on Warnock.

Walker ended up trouncing his rivals in the May primary. But Republican strategists remain concerned that Walker is unprepared for the incoming fire that he’s now receiving during the general election campaign.

Georgia GOP Senate nominee Herschel Walker, left, and Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock

Georgia GOP Senate nominee Herschel Walker, left, and Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock
(Republican National Convention/Handout via Reuters | Tom Williams/Pool via Reuters)

Walker has taken fire from the Warnock campaign and allied Democratic groups over what they call his “bizarre or false statements.” And he’s also been targeted over numerous reports that he overinflated the success of his businesses and academic record and has been playing defense regarding a number of personal controversies — from allegations of past abuse and threats against his first wife to acknowledging children he fathered out of wedlock that he hadn’t previously publicly mentioned, despite criticizing absent fathers for decades.

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Republicans see Warnock — the senior pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. used to preach, and who defeated GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler by a razor-thin margin to capture the seat a year and a half ago — as very vulnerable as he runs for re-election to a full six-year term.

But Warnock has dramatically outraised Walker to date and holds a mid-single digit edge over his GOP challenger in the latest public opinion surveys, including a four-point advantage in a Fox News poll released last week. The showdown is one of a handful of races in battleground states that will determine if the GOP wins back the majority in the chamber in November’s midterms.

Paul Steinhauser is a political reporter based in New Hampshire.

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Alex Jones attorneys accidentally gave up his phone’s contents, Sandy Hook lawyers say

Alex Jones attorneys accidentally gave up his phone's contents, Sandy Hook lawyers say

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The legal team representing Infowars founder Alex Jones inadvertently sent the contents of his cellphone to a lawyer representing the parents of a child killed in the Sandy Hook mass shooting, the parents’ lawyer said in court Wednesday.

The apparent blunder, revealed by attorney Mark Bankston as Jones was on the stand in the damages phase of his defamation trial, unearthed previously undisclosed texts about the massacre and financial information about Infowars. Bankston, who represents Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, parents of 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, told the far-right conspiracy theorist that his attorneys had “messed up and sent me an entire digital copy of your entire cellphone.”

“And that is how I know you lied to me when you said you didn’t have text messages about Sandy Hook,” Bankston said.

“This is your ‘Perry Mason’ moment,” Jones responded, a reference to the fictional lawyer famed for his stunning 11th-hour courtroom reveals. “I gave them my phone.”

Bankston noted Jones had testified under oath that he personally searched his cellphone for Sandy Hook text messages and was unable to find any. Bankston asked, “You know what perjury is, right? I just want to make sure you know before we go any further.”

Jones denied lying, saying, “I’m not a tech guy.”

The dramatic moment came as Bankston cross-examined Jones, shortly before closing arguments in the damages phase of the defamation trial that began last week in an Austin courtroom. Heslin and Lewis sued in 2018 over the far-right media personality’s relentless false claims that the Sandy Hook school shooting was a “giant hoax.”

Sandy Hook parents confront Alex Jones, say hoax claims created ‘living hell’

After Jones’s years-long refusal to comply with court orders and hand over documents and evidence in lawsuits, District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble of Travis County, Tex., in September found Jones responsible for all damages. She issued a default judgment against Jones, blasting him and his website’s parent company, Free Speech Systems, for having “intentionally disobeyed” the court’s requests by refusing to turn over documents related to the various lawsuits against him.

While confronting Jones about the newly discovered text messages in court Wednesday, Bankston displayed one of them, in which an editor who worked for Jones sent him a screenshot of an Infowars article claiming a hospital was using dummies in a coronavirus ward. The editor, Paul Watson, wrote that it “makes us look ridiculous” and added, “Sandy Hook all over again.” Jones texted back, “I get it.”

Bankston also asked about his emails. I have noted that Jones had testified he did not have any about Sandy Hook because he doesn’t use email. Jones said in court, “Yes. I personally do not get on the internet and sit there and use email. I’ve never sent emails myself. Because I don’t like it. I can’t stand it. There’s too many of them.”

The attorney then displayed emails he said Jones had sent to lawyers, staff and others about business operations.

He zeroed-in on messages about Infowars financial information, which he said contradicted Jones’s previous statements about the amount of money he made. Bankston pointed out that Jones had claimed he had lost millions because of deplatforming and made up to $200,000 a day. But, he said, messages on Jones’s phone suggested Infowars brought in as much as $800,000 on some days. If he kept up that pace, he said, it would add up to about $300 million a year.

Jones claimed the numbers were cherry-picked. At one point, as Bankston went over the contents of the phone, he scoffed, “This is ridiculous.”

Gamble told jurors that what the lawyers say is not evidence, adding that without evidence, it is not yet known whether the contents of the phone were given to the Sandy Hook parents’ attorney by accident.

“But what we do know,” the judge said, “is that it wasn’t properly turned over when it should have been.”

Despite conceding in testimony Wednesday that the 2012 shooting was not a hoax but “100 percent real,” Jones throughout the trial has continued to defend himself from critics of his broadcast program while seeking to protect his financial assets from potentially devastating damages that could be awarded to the plaintiffs.

Jones last week made an emergency bankruptcy filing for Free Speech Systems, just months after filing for bankruptcy protection for Infowars and two other business ventures.

Alex Jones’s media company files for bankruptcy during Sandy Hook trial

The families have said admissions and apologies from Jones are not enough; they are seeking at least $150 million in damages.

A pricey damages payout would add to the string of legal losses for Jones and Infowars since parents of Sandy Hook victims began to file defamation suits in 2018, after Jones made repeated claims on his show that the shooting was a hoax and the victims were “crisis actors.” Judges in Connecticut and Texas have issued default judgments against Jones in multiple suits.

Jones has been sued by at least nine Sandy Hook families.

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Suspect in the July 4 parade shooting pleads not guilty : NPR

Suspect in the July 4 parade shooting pleads not guilty : NPR

Robert E. Crimo III, leaves the courtroom after a hearing Wednesday, in Waukegan, Ill. Accused of killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago, Crimo pleaded not guilty on Wednesday.

Nam Y. Huh/AP


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Nam Y. Huh/AP

Robert E. Crimo III, leaves the courtroom after a hearing Wednesday, in Waukegan, Ill. Accused of killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago, Crimo pleaded not guilty on Wednesday.

Nam Y. Huh/AP

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — The man accused of killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, a week after prosecutors announced he faces 117 felony counts in the attack.

Robert E. Crimo III appeared for a brief hearing Wednesday in Lake County’s circuit court to enter a formal plea to the charges — 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery representing those killed and wounded during the parade in Highland Park.

The Highland Park shooting suspect is indicted on 117 charges

Crimo wore a COVID-19 face mask throughout the 10-minute arraignment and repeatedly told Judge Victoria Rossetti that he understood the charges and potential penalties he faces, including life imprisonment. As Crimo shuffled into court, chains jangling around his ankles, several relatives and friends of at least one victim turned to look at him from across the room, some keeping their eyes fixed on him throughout hearing.

Lake County prosecutors in late July announced that a grand jury had indicted Crimo on the charges. The prosecutors had previously filed seven murder charges against the 21-year-old in the days following the shooting.

The multiple first-degree murder charges allege Crimo intended to kill, caused death or great bodily harm and took action with a strong probability of causing death or great bodily harm on the seven people who died.

Why the Highland Park suspect represents a different kind of violent extremism

A representative for the county public defenders office, which is representing Crimo, has said the office does not comment publicly on any cases. An attorney with the office entered Crimo’s not guilty plea during Wednesday’s court appearance.

Prosecutors have said Crimo admitted to the shooting once police arrested him following an hourslong search for the gunman who opened fire from the rooftop of a building along the parade route.

Authorities have said the wounded range in age from 8 to their 80s, including an 8-year-old boy who was paralyzed from the waist down when the shooting severed his spine.

In comments delivered after the hearing, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart declined to say whether Crimo could face additional charges and said he would not comment on whether Crimo’s parents could be charged.

A victim of the Highland Park parade attack is remembered for his kindness

Some in the community have questioned why Crimo’s parents apparently supported his interest in guns only months after he reportedly threatened suicide and violence.

George Gomez, an attorney representing Crimo’s parents, said Wednesday that they are not concerned that criminal charges could be filed against them. Both attended Wednesday’s hearing where they sat quietly behind their son.

Speaking with reporters afterward, Gomez described his clients as “devastated” and “heartbroken” for Highland Park and he said they are cooperating with authorities.

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Biden signs executive order paving way for Medicaid to pay for out-of-state abortions

Biden signs executive order paving way for Medicaid to pay for out-of-state abortions

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday that paves the way for Medicaid to pay for abortion services for people having to travel out of state.

Speaking from the White House virtually, Biden continued to criticize the Supreme Court’s June 25 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

“Today, I’m signing the second executive order that responds to the healthcare crisis that has unfolded since the Supreme Court overturned Roe, and that women are facing all across America,” he said.

The executive order comes just one day after abortion rights activists secured a major win in Kansas, where voters on Tuesday rejected removing the right to abortion from the state constitution.

Biden said the Supreme Court “practically dared women in this country go to the ballot box and restore the right to choose that the Court just ripped away after 50 years.”

“The voters of Kansas sent a powerful signal that this fails the American people will vote to preserve and protect the right and refuse to let it be ripped away from politicians,” Biden said.

The new directive allows the secretary of health and human services to “invite states to apply for Medicaid waivers, so that states where abortion is legal could provide services to people traveling from a state where abortion may be illegal to seek services in their state,” the official said. Technically, these states would apply through what’s known as a “Medicaid 1115 waiver,” according to a senior administration official.

The official noted that when the White House looked into declaring a public health emergency for abortion and what that would allow the federal government to do, this change to Medicaid — an assistance program for low-income patients’ medical expenses — was one of the options. But the White House realized the president could also do it through an executive order instead, which he plans to do Wednesday, the official said.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks virtually during the first meeting of the interagency Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access at the White House complex in Washington, DC, Aug. 3, 2022.

President Joe Biden speaks virtually during the first meeting of the interagency Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access at the White House complex in Washington, DC, Aug. 3, 2022.

Susan Walsh/AP

But the timeline for these changes remains unclear.

ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega pressed White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday for more details on the implementation of the executive order for women who want to seek abortion care soon.

“Are we talking about days, are we talking about weeks, are we talking about six months?” Vega asked.

Jean-Pierre said the administration didn’t “have the details to share today but [Health and Human Services] will soon have more on what a waiver could look like and the timeline.”

Biden’s order also directs the health and human services secretary to make sure “health care providers comply with federal non-discrimination laws so that women receive medically necessary care without delay,” according to the White House. That could include “providing technical assistance for health care providers who may be confused or unsure of their obligations in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs,” or providing other info and guidance to providers about their obligations and consequences of not complying with non-compliance. -discrimination laws.

The order also directs the health and human services secretary to improve research and data collection on maternal health outcomes, according to the White House.

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CDC expected to ease Covid-19 recommendations, including for schools, as soon as this week

CDC expected to ease Covid-19 recommendations, including for schools, as soon as this week

A preview of the plans obtained by CNN shows that the updated recommendations are expected to ease quarantine recommendations for people exposed to the virus and de-emphasize 6 feet of social distancing.

The agency is also expected to de-emphasize regular screening testing for Covid-19 in schools as a way to monitor the spread of the virus, according to sources who were briefed on the agency’s plans but were not authorized to speak to a reporter. Instead, it says it may be more useful to base testing on Covid-19 community levels and whether settings are higher-risk, such as nursing homes or prisons.

The changes, which may be publicly released as early as this week, were previewed to educators and public health officials. They are still being deliberated and are not final.

In a statement to CNN, the agency said, “The CDC is always evaluating our guidance as science changes and will update the public as it occurs.”

As part of the expected changes, the CDC would also soon remove a recommendation that students exposed to Covid-19 take regular tests to stay in the classroom. The strategy, called “test to stay,” was recommended by the agency in December, during the first Omicron wave, to keep unvaccinated children who were exposed but didn’t have symptoms in the classroom instead of quarantining at home.
Millions of US children remain unvaccinated as BA.5 spreads and new school year looms

Test-to-stay was resource-intensive for schools, and some districts had voiced concerns about having enough money to continue, one source said.

In schools and beyond, the agency will no longer recommend staying at least 6 feet away from other people as a protective measure. Instead, the new guidelines aim to help people understand which kinds of settings are riskier than others because of things like poor ventilation, crowds and personal characteristics like age and underlying health.

The CDC is also set to ease quarantine requirements for people who are unvaccinated or who are not up to date on their Covid-19 vaccines. Currently, the agency recommends that people who aren’t up to date on their shots stay at home for at least five days after close contact with someone who tests positive for Covid-19. Going forward, they won’t have to stay at home but should wear a mask and test at least five days after exposure.

Most US public schools plan to keep masks optional for starting classes

People who are sick with Covid-19 should still isolate, the agency is expected to say.

The agency also plans to re-emphasize the importance of building ventilation as a way to help stop the spread of many respiratory diseases, not just Covid-19. It plans to encourage schools to do more to clean and refresh their indoor air.

Sources say the tweaks reflect both shifting public sentiment toward the pandemic — many Americans have stopped wearing masks or social distancing — and a high level of underlying immunity in the population. Screening of blood samples suggests that as December, 95% of Americans have had Covid-19 or been vaccinated against it, reducing the chances of becoming severely ill or dying if they get it again.

The CDC’s recommendations are not legally binding. Many cities, states and school districts will review them but may ultimately follow different strategies.

One example of this is masks in schools.

More than 200 million people — about 60% of the total population — live in a county with a “high Covid-19 community level” where the CDC warns of a risk of strain on the health care system and recommends universal indoor masking.
Yet most schools have kept masks optional for students this year. Among the top 500 K-12 school districts, based on enrollment, about 98% do not require masks, according to the data company Burbio’s school policy tracker.

Still, the agency’s guidance continues to be important as a baseline. When cities or states try to go beyond what the CDC recommends, they may face pushback.

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Jackie Walorski, Indiana Congresswoman, Is Dead at 58

Jackie Walorski, Indiana Congresswoman, Is Dead at 58

WASHINGTON — Representative Jackie Walorski, Republican of Indiana, was killed in a car accident in her district on Wednesday, according to her office. She was 58.

Ms. Walorski’s husband, Dean Swihart, was informed of her death by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, her office said in a statement. “She has returned home to be with her de ella Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” the statement said ella. “Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Ms. Walorski was traveling with two aides who were also killed in the crash, when a passenger car and a sport utility vehicle collided head on: Zachery Potts, 27, her district director, and Emma Thomson, 28, her communications director, according to the Elkhart County sheriff.

The House is in its summer recess, a period when lawmakers often return to their district to meet with constituents.

“Jackie was an instrumental member of our conference, serving as a member of my deputy whip team for several years,” Representative Steve Scalise, Republican of Louisiana, said in a statement. “Jackie and her staffers died serving her constituents. They will be missed, and our nation will miss their service.”

First elected to Congress in 2012, Ms. Walorski served on the House Ways and Means Committee and as the top Republican on the House Ethics Committee.

Before she was elected to Congress, she served three terms in the Indiana State House, spent four years as a missionary in Romania and worked as a television reporter in South Bend, Ind.

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Jackie Walorski, Indiana Republican congresswoman, is killed in car accident

Jackie Walorski, Indiana Republican congresswoman, is killed in car accident

“I am devastated and saddened to learn about the tragic passing of my dear friend Jackie Walorksi and two of her staffers,” House Minority Whip Steve Scalise announced in a statement.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced Walorski’s death, sharing a statement from the family.

“Dean Swihart, Jackie’s husband, was just informed by Elkhart County Sheriff’s office that Jackie was killed in a car accident this afternoon. She has returned home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers We will have no further comment at this time,” read a message from the congresswoman’s office that McCarthy tweeted.

A statement released by the congresswoman’s office said that two staffers had also died. “In addition to the devastating loss of Congresswoman Walorski, it is with a broken heart that I announce the passing of two dedicated members of her staff, Zach Potts and Emma Thomson. They were the epitome of public servants who cared deeply about the work they performed,” said the statement from Tim Cummings, the congresswoman’s chief of staff.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff in response to the death of the congresswoman, Pelosi deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill announced Wednesday afternoon.

News of the congresswoman’s death and the death of two of her staffers came as a major shock on Capitol Hill and immediately sparked an outpouring of grief and remembrances from lawmakers and aides who paid tribute to their lives and careers.

The congresswoman was viewed inside the House Republican conference as someone who could one day ascend to the ranks of GOP leadership, and her name had been batted around for the position of conference chairwoman in the past. She had been a member of the House GOP’s deputy whip team.

Walorski, who was 58, represented Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District and had previously served as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives. She began serving in Congress in 2013.

The congresswoman served as the top Republican on the House Ethics Committee, a spot that put her in line to become chair of the panel if the GOP retakes the House majority in the upcoming midterm elections. She also served as the ranking GOP member for a subcommittee of the powerful House Ways and Means committee.

GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming tweeted in reaction to the news, “There was no more dedicated or effective member of Congress than Jackie,” adding, “I was proud to be her friend.”

This story has been updated with additional developments Wednesday.

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Kyrsten Sinema raises concerns about proposed tax in Democrats’ bill

Kyrsten Sinema raises concerns about proposed tax in Democrats' bill

And in a private call with business groups on Tuesday, Sinema asked a question about the bill’s proposed 15% minimum tax on corporations that gave them some hope for optimism.

“Is this written in a way that’s bad?” Sinema asked, according to Danny Seiden, president of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, who relayed the call to CNN.

“It gave me hope that she’s willing to open this up and maybe make it better,” Seiden said.

Sinema’s office declined to comment on the call. But she has expressed concerns about other tax provisions as well — namely on raising taxes on so-called carried interest, which would impact private equity and hedge fund managers, and raise $14 billion in the Democrats’ bill. Sinema has relayed to top Democrats that she wants that provision out of the bill, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Sinema, the lone holdout among the 50-member Senate Democratic Caucus and who was blindsided by news of the deal last week, has refused to tip her hand one way or the other on the bill — giving conservative critics of the bill reason to believe they could convince her to change her mind. Democrats are still confident that they can win her over from her but also acknowledge that they may have to make some changes – particularly over the tax provisions – to get her to “yes.”

But as she’s been in talks with Democrats who have touted the bill’s benefits, Republicans like Senate Minority Whip John Thune have expressed concerns to her about the taxes on companies and the proposal to hire new IRS agents to bolster tax enforcement.

“She’s analyzing it,” the South Dakota Republican said of Sinema. “Ella Keeps her own counsel, I think as most of you know, and usually comes to her own decisions de ella, pretty independent of any pressure that she might get from either side. So you know, I think she’s going through that process right now.”

At a conference news on Wednesday, where Republican senators railed against the proposed tax hikes, Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo said senators were privately making the same case to Sinema.

“We are making this case that we’ve made here to you today as aggressively as we can,” Crapo said.

On Wednesday, Sinema indicated to CNN that she was in no hurry to announce her position on the bill. “Taking my time,” she said. Her spokesperson reiterated that Sinema was waiting for the review by the Senate parliamentarian to be completed before announcing her position.

What's in the Manchin-Schumer deal on climate, health care and taxes

But last fall, Sinema indicated her support for a corporate minimum tax, saying at the time that it’s a “common sense” proposal to ensure that “highly profitable corporations” pay their share of taxes. The proposal was developed last fall with her input from her after she rejected calls to raise corporate income tax rates, a Democratic aid said Wednesday.

In the private call with Sinema on Tuesday, Seiden expressed the business community’s opposition to the 15% tax provision, noting it would particularly hit manufacturers that take advantage of an accelerated depreciation tax deduction that lowers their tax burden. (Seiden said National Association of Manufacturers president Jay Timmons was also on the call; A NAM representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

Seiden told CNN that Sinema did not “tip her hand” on any particular provision, asked for more information on how the bill affects Arizona, but asked that question, which gave him hope that she would be open to somehow amending the bill’s tax proposals.

“She did not tip her hand, tip her hat, in any way, shape or form,” Seiden said. “It was a pure listening moment for her, collecting information, soliciting information, just like any good representative would do.”

In the meantime, she’s hearing arguments from both sides. On the Senate floor Tuesday night, a number of senators from both parties approached the senator, including Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, GOP Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state and Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia.

Democratic leaders acknowledge they are uncertain where she will come down.

“She didn’t tell me or give me any signals as to where she’s going on this bill,” Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the Democratic whip, said of a recent conversation he had with the senator. “We need her, we need every single vote, so I hope she’ll be with us.”

While Democrats say the bill would ensure large corporations don’t avoid paying taxes, instilling “fairness” into the tax code, the Arizona Chamber president argued that a minimum corporate tax makes the code “overly complicated.” Seiden said that raising taxes during a recession is particularly unpopular and would inject more uncertainty into the marketplace.

“The meeting went great,” said Seiden of his call with Sinema. “She knows that our businesses are struggling, because of inflation, because of supply chain issues. So anything that will impact or make that worse or halt the economic growth that we’ve seen, she’s very sensitive towards that.”

Seiden thanked Sinema for her work on the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the recent legislation boosting semiconductor manufacturing, but said the “the celebration of the Chips Act is short-lived” if some of the tax provisions remain untouched in the bill negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin.

Seiden said he would like to see some of the energy and environmental pieces go through without the “poison pill” tax provisions, acknowledging that some elements of the energy sector support provisions like the tax credits for electric vehicles. Nikola Corporation and Lucid Group, two electric vehicle manufacturers, have operations in Arizona.

Corporations are hoping that Sinema, the crucial vote in the 50-50 Senate, will make changes to the bill, pointing to her previous statements.

In April, Sinema told the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, “I am unwilling to support any tax policies that would put a break on that type of economic growth, or stall business and personal growth for America’s industries.”

“You all know, the entire country knows, that I am opposed to raising the corporate income tax,” Sinema said. “That was true yesterday and it is true today.”

Sinema already has effectively pushed back on raising personal and corporate tax rates in President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better bill, one reason she is being attacked by the left.

If she doesn’t back the bill, a potential 2024 challenger warned it would come back to haunt her.

“I think there’s going to be some consequences at the ballot box for her,” said Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, who has expressed interest in possibly mounting a primary campaign against Sinema.

John LaBombard, a former Sinema spokesperson, said that Sinema is looking for “good, effective policy that is not going to carry any unintended consequences” and would be “impervious” to political considerations.

“I’ve not met someone more impervious to political pressure than Kyrsten Sinema,” LaBombard said.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments Wednesday.

CNN’s Jessica Dean and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.

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Orlando murder-suicide: Family of 5 identified

Orlando murder-suicide: Family of 5 identified

Orlando police have identified the family of five found dead from an apparent murder-suicide. Officers were called to a home on Lake District Lane in the East Park neighborhood of Lake Nona Tuesday afternoon around 1 pm The father, Donovan Michael Ramirez, 45, has been identified as the suspect. The victims have been identified as Stephanie Renee Ramirez, 39; Alyssa Berumen, 22; Sunny Ramirez, 11; and Shelby Rose Ramirez, 7. A firearm was found at the scene. However, the medical examiner’s office will determine the cause of death. The crime scene was upsetting to responding officers, with at least one becoming sick and needing to step outside. Neighbors said the family of five recently moved into the house from out of state and that the home had been unusually quiet for days. “I think it’s like a worst nightmare truly,” Heather Collins said. “I don’t even know what happened exactly. My heart goes out to the family. I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around any of this, especially if there were family involved.”Collins and her fiancé, Justin Rossilini, live across from the family involved.”They seemed like they were a normal family. the dad, seen the mom, and two little girls,” Rossilini said.Rossilini said the family, a middle-aged couple, their adult daughter, and their two young girls had just moved into the home a few months ago.He hadn’ t seen or heard any activity at the house for several days until late this morning when police arrived.”There was an officer who was looking through the car window and asked me if I’d seen them today. I said no, I haven’t seen them for a few days, actually. Last time I saw them was five days ago when they were checking the mail,” Rossilini said.”I didn’t hear anything, I wish I did. I definitely would have liked to have been that concerned neighbor that did something in this situation ,” Collins said.Members of the surrounding community were visibly shaken.”Scary, scary for something like this to happen right next to you,” Claudia Galeas said.”See them out in the yard when I do my walks in the morning. Say hi, nothing out of the ordinary or anything strange,” Jose Sanchez said. “Shocking. First thing I thought was like about the kids, that’s the first thing you think is the poor kids, you know, small children.” I saw them a couple of times and waved, but it’s just unbelievable that something like that could happen here because this is a real quiet, nice neighborhood,” Marco Aguero said.A couple of neighbors have left remembrances in front of the home. ‘re told the family recently moved in and were quiet and somewhat private.Neighbo rs who have lived in the area a good length of time were clearly impacted by the tragic nature of what happened.“Who would have thought something like that could happen here?” Aguero said.“It’s just nerve-wracking to have something like this happen in your community,” Galeas said.“Been here seven years in this neighborhood and first time we’ve seen something like this happening. You don’t know how to react, really,” Sanchez said. Neighbors said the family who lived in the house where the murder-suicide occurred had a small dog.Chopper 2 spotted a dog being removed from the home alive and Animal Control was present at the home.If you or someone you know is struggling, there are resources available: Harbor House of Central Florida 24-hour confidential crisis hotline: (407) 886-2856 Victim Service Center of Central Florida 24/7 helpline: (407)-500-HEALNational Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 and in English and Spanish : 1-800-799-7233United Way of Central Florida 2-1-1 services: Call or text 211 for confidential domestic abuse support, and other services.

ORLANDO, Fla.—

Orlando police have identified the family of five found dead from an apparent murder-suicide.

Officers were called to a home on Lake District Lane in the East Park neighborhood of Lake Nona Tuesday afternoon around 1 pm

The father, Donovan Michael Ramirez, 45, has been identified as the suspect.

The victims have been identified as Stephanie Renee Ramirez, 39; Alyssa Berumen, 22; Sunny Ramirez, 11; and Shelby Rose Ramirez, 7.

A firearm was found at the scene. However, the medical examiner’s office will determine the cause of death.

The crime scene was upsetting to responding officers, with at least one becoming sick and needing to step outside.

Neighbors said the family of five recently moved into the house from out of state and that the home had been unusually quiet for days.

“I think it’s like a worst nightmare truly,” Heather Collins said. “I don’t even know what happened exactly. My heart goes out to the family. I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around any of this, especially if there were family involved.”

Collins and her fiancé, Justin Rossilini, live across from the family involved.

“They seemed like they were a normal family. I saw the dad, saw the mom, and two little girls,” Rossilini said.

Rossilini said the family, a middle-aged couple, their adult daughter, and their two young girls had just moved into the home a few months ago.

He hadn’t seen or heard any activity at the house for several days until late this morning when police arrived.

“There was an officer who was looking through the car window and asked me if I’d seen them today. I said no, I haven’t seen them for a few days, actually. Last time I saw them was five days ago when they were checking the mail,” Rossilini said.

“I didn’t hear anything, I wish I did. I definitely would have liked to have been that concerned neighbor that did something in this situation,” Collins said.

Members of the surrounding community were visibly shaken.

“Scary, scary for something like this to happen right next to you,” Claudia Galeas said.

“See them out in the yard when I do my walks in the morning. Say hi, nothing out of the ordinary or anything strange,” Jose Sanchez said. “Shocking. First thing I thought was like about the kids, that’s the first thing you think is the poor kids, you know, small children.”

“Maybe I saw them a couple of times and waved, but it’s just unbelievable that something like that could happen here because this is a real quiet, nice neighborhood,” Marco Aguero said.

A couple of neighbors have left memories in front of the home. We’re told the family recently moved in and were quiet and somewhat private.

Neighbors who have lived in the area for a good length of time were clearly impacted by the tragic nature of what happened.

“Who would have thought something like that could happen here?” Aguero said.

“It’s just nerve-wracking to have something like this happen in your community,” Galeas said.

“Been here seven years in this neighborhood and first time we’ve seen something like this happening. You don’t know how to react, really,” Sanchez said.

Neighbors said the family who lived in the house where the murder-suicide occurred had a small dog.

Chopper 2 spotted a dog being removed from the home alive and Animal Control was present at the home.

If you or someone you know is struggling, there are resources available:

Harbor House of Central Florida 24-hour confidential crisis hotline: (407) 886-2856

Victim Service Center of Central Florida 24/7 helpline: (407)-500-HEAL

National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 and in English and Spanish: 1-800-799-7233

United Way of Central Florida 2-1-1 services: Call or text 211 for confidential domestic abuse support, and other services.

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Indiana GOP Rep. Walorski, three others die in auto accident

Indiana GOP Rep. Walorski, three others die in auto accident

First elected in 2012, the 58-year-old Walorski was also an advocate for children and families and an influential voice for women in the House GOP conference, helping to grow their ranks over time.

She’d been set to take on a leadership role on the Ways and Means Committee if Republicans took back the House in November. She would have overseen the worker and family support subcommittee.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy confirmed her death “with a heavy heart.” House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) Called the congresswoman, who had been a member of his whip team, “a champion for the people of Indiana.”

“Jackie and her staffers died serving her constituents. They will be missed, and our nation will miss their service,” Scalise said in a statement.

Fellow Indiana Republican, Sen. Todd Young said he was “truly devastated.”

“Jackie loved Hoosiers and devoted her life to fighting for them,” he wrote. “I’ll never forget her spirit from her, her positive attitude from her, and most importantly her friendship from her.

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), a close colleague of Walorski’s, called her “incredibly caring.”

“She always had a warm smile and a word of advice, and I will miss her friendship,” Hinson wrote.

Another GOP member, Georgia Rep. Drew Ferguson, added that he was “at a loss for words.”

“Jackie was a kind soul with a huge heart. She was a trusted colleague and good friend,” Ferguson wrote. “There was no one who fought harder for her constituents than Jackie. I’m going to miss her terribly.”

Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.