Video & Transcript : 'Democrat' :
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US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine optimizing longevity from research to action. Feb 12th, 2025 at 02:30 pm
Aging (Special) Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So I think they will become important tools and with their democratization, we can expect the prices
Committee:
Senate Aging (Special) Committee
Summary:
The committee meeting was marked by discussions surrounding health policies aimed at enhancing the lifespan and quality of life for the community members. The chairperson initiated the session with personal reflections on the importance of extending not just the years of life but also the quality of those years, especially from the perspective of parents and grandparents. Members engaged in thoughtful dialogue regarding potential legislative measures that could address public health in a more holistic manner, emphasizing the need for community outreach and effective health education programs.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- Your participation today is what makes this process truly democratic, and we appreciate your continued
- have for being engaged in the political process, but also acting in a way in which we uphold our democratic
- values by doing things like peaceful protests. ...in which we uphold our democratic values by doing
- advocacy group with chapters around the state, fighting for a more equitable, just, sustainable, and democratic
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Summary:
The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing.
Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides.
Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Since 2021, 26 states governed by both Republicans and Democrats have cut individual income tax rates
- Republicans</c><00:34:29.600><c> and</c> governed by both Republicans and governed by both Republicans and Democrats
- <c> cut</c><00:34:31.040><c> individual</c><00:34:31.520><c> income</c><00:34:31.840><c> tax</c> Democrats
- have cut individual income tax Democrats have cut individual income tax rates,<00:34:33.120><c> corporate
Committee:
House Taxes
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 4/14/26
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- And again, Republicans and Democrats, this should not be partisan, but it ended up being kind of a thing
- 59.880><c> again,</c><00:56:00.720><c> Republicans</c><00:56:01.440><c> and</c><00:56:01.600><c> Democrats
- ,</c> And again, Republicans and Democrats, And again, Republicans and Democrats, this<00:56:02.480><
Keywords:
child welfare, African American children, racial disproportionality, family preservation, reunification, foster care, kinship care, relative placement, noncustodial parent, guardian ad litem, ombudsperson, Department of Human Services, county social services, active efforts, reasonable efforts, child protection, placement, out-of-home placement, Northstar kinship assistance, data disaggregation
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 4/14/26
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- think one of the things we have to ask ourselves at the legislature, because I've been here in a Democratic
- > in</c><00:30:09.880><c> a</c><00:30:10.320><c> in</c><00:30:10.440><c> a</c><00:30:10.680><c> Democratic
- </c> I've I've been here in a in a Democratic I've I've been here in a in a Democratic trifecta,<00:30
Committee:
House Energy Finance and Policy
Keywords:
Public Utilities Commission, PUC, energy regulation, utility regulation, electric utility, public utility, rate case, multiyear rate plan, decoupling, rate decoupling, greenhouse gas, social cost of carbon, environmental cost, resource planning, certificate of need, distributed renewable energy, interconnection, budget billing, electronic filing, contested case
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- Democrats, Republicans, Independents support this issue overwhelmingly.
- polls overwhelmingly in the state of polls overwhelmingly in the state of Maryland.<00:14:51.000><c> Democrats
- Democrats, Republicans, Maryland.
- Democrats, Republicans, Independents<00:14:53.680><c> support</c><00:14:54.240><c> this</c><00:14:54.440
Summary:
The House met in Annapolis on February 27, 2026, with 128 members present. After a prayer, the chamber adopted the previous day’s journal and recognized a resolution honoring Brunswick High School’s first Tech Challenge team, Minerva’s Mechanics, for winning the FTC Regional Championships and qualifying for the World Championship in Houston. The resolution was read and adopted with applause.
The main legislative item was House Bill 355, concerning the Education, Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program and human and sex trafficking; the House adopted the favorable committee report and ordered the bill printed for third reading. The next bill, House Bill 534 on nonpublic school transcripts and prohibiting punitive measures related to student debt, also received a favorable report. Debate then centered on an amendment offered to HB 534 that would have tied school funding to student choice for students in repeatedly one-star-rated schools and allowed parents of habitually violent or disruptive students to consider military boarding school options. The sponsor argued Maryland’s public schools, especially in Baltimore City, were failing students despite heavy spending, citing low literacy, violence, and the book Failure Factory; several members echoed concerns about school performance, bureaucracy, and the need for educational freedom.
Opponents and procedural speakers said the amendment was not germane to HB 534, which they described as a narrow bill about transcript access for students leaving nonpublic schools with unpaid fees, often students with disabilities. The floor leader urged the body to resist the amendment and stick to the bill’s actual subject. Despite multiple members explaining their votes in support of school choice and criticizing the Blueprint and school outcomes, the House ultimately took a roll call on the amendment after a voice vote was challenged. The transcript cuts off during the roll call and does not show the final recorded result on the amendment.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 3/3/26
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I've handed the gavel to my Democrat co-chair and I have my friend Representative Craft sitting next
- I've handed the gavel to my Democrat co-chair and I have my friend Representative Craft sitting next
- I've handled the gavel to my Democrat co-chair and I have my friend Representative Craft sitting next
- I've handled the gavel to my Democrat co-chair, and I have my friend Representative Craft sitting next
Committee:
House Housing Finance and Policy
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- 19.840><c> Minneapolis,</c> Senator Tuscowski said, "riots in Minneapolis, riots in Minneapolis, Democrats
- should also, if we're going to be fair, talk about all the ways in which this legislature, led by Democrats
- should also, if we're going to be fair, talk about all the ways in which this legislature, led by Democrats
- should also, if we're going to be fair, talk about all the ways in which this legislature, led by Democrats
Committee:
Senate Taxes
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 02/25/26
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- But it seems to me if we could somehow cajole the Republican congressman to talk to the Democratic Congress
- to<00:43:32.400><c> talk</c><00:43:32.480><c> to</c><00:43:32.640><c> the</c><00:43:32.800><c> Democratic
- </c><00:43:33.440><c> Congress</c> to talk to the Democratic Congress to talk to the Democratic Congress
Committee:
Senate Health and Human Services
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 2/25/26
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- session is over, and I can tell you the human services team in the House of Representatives for the Democratic
- the House of Representatives<01:26:04.639><c> for</c><01:26:04.880><c> the</c><01:26:05.040><c> Democratic
- </c><01:26:05.520><c> side</c> Representatives for the Democratic side Representatives for the Democratic
Bills:
HF3378
Committee:
House Human Services Finance and Policy
Keywords:
human services, Optum reports, data privacy, transparency, legislative oversight, 1183, house
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Democrats to four. Thank you.
- people, and to go in there and just say what's on your mind is a useful thing, welcoming them to the democratic
- understanding of how campaign finance laws affect candidates, organizations, and the public's trust in our democratic
- understanding of how campaign finance laws affect candidates, organizations, and the public's trust in our democratic
Committee:
Senate Elections
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/26
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- , with the chairs and with senior staff, on this I don't think ever once we've said Republicans, Democrats
- :06.560><c> this</c> ever once we've said Republicans this ever once we've said Republicans this Democrats
- 12:07.920><c> what</c><00:12:08.160><c> is</c><00:12:08.320><c> good</c><00:12:08.560><c> for</c> Democrats
- that we say what is good for Democrats that we say what is good for Minnesota<00:12:09.839><c> what<
Committee:
House Commerce Finance and Policy
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 003 Jan 17th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And I just have to believe that all of us, if all of us, young and old, Republicans and Democrats, do
- and old, us, if all of us, young and old, Republicans<00:34:01.039><c> and</c><00:34:01.279><c> Democrats
- do</c><00:34:02.320><c> all</c><00:34:02.480><c> we</c><00:34:02.640><c> can</c> Republicans and Democrats
- , do all we can Republicans and Democrats, do all we can to<00:34:02.880><c> live</c><00:34:03.039><c
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (10/08/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm sure that Democratic leadership will be more than willing to give guidance on that.
- I'm sure<00:57:47.760><c> that</c><00:57:48.000><c> Democratic</c><00:57:48.559><c> leadership</c><00
- :57:49.040><c> will</c><00:57:49.200><c> be</c> sure that Democratic leadership will be sure that Democratic
Summary:
The committee first took up an insurance-related chronic pain bill and an amendment modeled on language from Massachusetts and Maine. The sponsor explained the amendment was developed after stakeholder meetings because the original bill would have created an unaffordable insurance mandate in New Hampshire. The amendment was intended to improve access to non-opioid therapies by limiting prior authorization and step-therapy barriers so they are not more restrictive than for other treatments, including opioid therapies. After questions, the committee took a straw vote and advanced the amendment.
The next item was a department-sponsored bill involving the state’s all-payer claims database. Insurance Department officials explained that the bill would encourage self-funded employer plans to opt in voluntarily by giving them aggregated, deidentified claims information in return. They said self-funded plans cannot be required to report data because of federal law, but the bill would provide an incentive while protecting employee privacy. Members asked detailed questions about who would see the data, whether individual employees could be identified, and how privacy would be enforced; the department said access would be aggregated and deidentified, and employer privacy issues would be governed by ERISA and the U.S. Department of Labor.
The committee also discussed a glucose-monitoring bill. Members debated whether the bill was aimed at type 1 diabetes coverage or broader access to continuous glucose monitors, and whether it would amount to an unnecessary insurance mandate that could raise premiums. Department testimony estimated the equipment cost and said the annual impact per member would be modest, but also noted that non-insulin therapies have not consistently shown clinically significant A1C reductions. The chair and some members emphasized that the bill should be considered on its own terms as a CGM coverage issue, not as a general diabetes mandate. The committee discussed the bill’s cost implications and asked the department for any prior cost analysis.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Make America Healthy Again Kentucky Task Force (8-20-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'm all for American, you know, go and have a democratic society and make your money.
- American, you know, go and and<00:41:40.400><c> have</c><00:41:40.480><c> a</c><00:41:40.720><c> democratic
- </c><00:41:41.280><c> society</c><00:41:41.520><c> and</c><00:41:41.760><c> make</c> and have a democratic
- society and make and have a democratic society and make your<00:41:42.160><c> money.
Summary:
The task force met for its third meeting, approved the minutes, and heard testimony from Dr. Jack on behalf of the American Beverage Association and Kentucky Beverage Association. Dr. Jack argued that the “totality of the science” supports low- and no-calorie sweeteners as safe and useful tools for reducing sugar and calories, citing FDA and other domestic and international reviews, clinical trials, and the FDA’s recent healthy-label rule. He also described the industry’s transparency efforts, including a “Good to Know” database compiling ingredient and safety information, and said the beverage industry has voluntarily worked to offer more choices with less sugar.
Members questioned him about whether beverage ingredients are restricted in other countries, possible health effects beyond weight and cancer, concerns about metabolic issues and gut microbiome effects, whether sweeteners are addictive, and why companies do not simply remove sweeteners. Dr. Jack responded that most ingredients are permitted in many jurisdictions, that broad food-safety reviews have looked at multiple endpoints and found the ingredients safe, that the gut microbiome is still being studied, and that recent clinical evidence does not show increased sweetness preference. He also said business decisions about formulations are up to companies and noted that cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are metabolically similar.
The committee also discussed consumer apps and ingredient-scoring tools; Dr. Jack said the industry’s website presents facts without interpretation and is based on food-safety agency assessments. At the end of his testimony, the chair accepted additional fact sheets for the committee. The meeting then moved on to introduce Dr. Gary Huber, who began testimony by emphasizing integrative medicine, metabolic syndrome, and the role of diet, exercise, sleep, and stress in health, but his full presentation was not included in the excerpt.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 4/21/25
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- She reflected that in the last two years, when Democrats included inflation back into the budget forecast
- ><01:36:12.639><c> two</c><01:36:12.800><c> years</c><01:36:13.040><c> when</c><01:36:13.360><c> Democrats
- </c> the last two years when Democrats the last two years when Democrats included<01:36:14.679><c> inflation
Bills:
HF2312
Committee:
House Higher Education Finance and Policy
Keywords:
higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 4/2/25
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- “So I just want to be clear that this is not something that just blue states or Democrats are trying
- The speaker added that this is not just something blue states or Democrats are trying to do; it is bipartisan
- The speaker added that this is not just something blue states or Democrats are trying to do; it is bipartisan
- The speaker said that this is not just something blue states or Democrats are trying to do.
Committee:
House Public Safety Finance and Policy
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 4/1/25
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I would just like to remind the Higher Education House Democrats that we'll be caucusing in the caucus
- Higher I would just like to remind the Higher Education<01:35:45.600><c> House</c><01:35:45.920><c> Democrats
- /c><01:35:46.400><c> that</c><01:35:46.560><c> we'll</c><01:35:46.800><c> be</c> Education House Democrats
- that we'll be Education House Democrats that we'll be caucusing<01:35:47.440><c> in</c><01:35:47.600
Committee:
House Higher Education Finance and Policy
Keywords:
North Star Promise, scholarship, higher education, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in-demand jobs, workforce development, career training, job market, high-demand occupations, high-demand industries, college aid, state financial aid, FAFSA, student eligibility, program of study, degree program, certificate program, community college, university, labor market data
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- if we would be very good points being brought up, be concise, because we'll have Republican and Democrat
- c> up be concise because we'll have up be concise because we'll have Republican<01:45:48.320><c> Democrat
- bills</c><01:45:49.320><c> coming</c><01:45:49.599><c> up</c><01:45:49.760><c> on</c> Republican Democrat
- bills coming up on Republican Democrat bills coming up on Thursday<01:45:51.520><c> so</c><01:45:51.880
Committee:
House Taxes
Keywords:
property tax, exemption, leased land, public use, commercial property, HF632, Minnesota property tax, conservation easement, conservation restriction, assessed value, property valuation, tax assessment, real property, land conservation, farmland preservation, natural areas, riparian buffer, water quality, water quantity, county assessor
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- After being here for too long, 14 years, I've seen a lot of these bills from Republicans and Democrats
- bills from seen a lot of these bills from Republicans<00:36:03.760><c> and</c><00:36:03.840><c> Democrats
- </c><00:36:04.280><c> to</c><00:36:04.360><c> evaluate</c> Republicans and Democrats to evaluate Republicans
- and Democrats to evaluate programs,<00:36:05.560><c> yeah,</c><00:36:06.160><c> put</c><00:36:06.280
Keywords:
children, youth programming, needs assessment, community engagement, state funding, education, funding, school districts, state budget, rural schools, food support, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, food shelves, grant funding, Minnesota FoodShare, early childhood, Head Start, education funding, developmental programs, literacy