Video & Transcript : 'Democrat' :
Page 45 of 312
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Ethics and Elections Mar 10th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- IS A CONSERVATIVE WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT A WORLD OF GOVERNMENT IS IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
- REQUIREMENT MAY BE WAIVED AGREE TO FINANCIAL BARRIER TO PETITIONING IN A FUNDAMENTAL ASPECT OF DEMOCRATIC
- THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE YOU TRULY SERVE BUT WORK IS NEGLECTED ADVOCATE FOR A VERY DEMOCRATIC
- INSTEAD OF RESPECTING THE SACRED DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, STATE LAWMAKERS LAUNCHED A SYSTEMATIC ATTACK ON
- IT CRIMINALIZES THE VERY THING THAT SHOULD BE THE SOLE OF THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nominations of David Fotouhi, of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator, and Aaron Szabo, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator, both of the Environmental Protection Agency. Mar 5th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Environment and Public Works Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- On January 31, First, along with all the Democrats on this dais, I wrote to Administrator Zeldin to request
- On February 24th, I again led all of the EPW Democrats in demanding answers about EPW's efforts to claw
- And on February 28th, all of us EPW Democrats again wrote to Administrator Zeldin asking him about reports
- And yet, because I and my fellow Democrats do respect the Constitution and the rule of law, here we are
- At OIRA, I had the opportunity to work with EPA career staff and both Democratic and Republican political
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 63 Jul 1st, 2026
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Chris dedicated his life to public service and to strengthening our democratic process.
- He served on a... ...to public service and to strengthening our democratic process.
- He served on the Democratic town committees in Norwell, Situate, Hull, and Weymouth, was an elected member
- of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, chair of the South Shore Democratic Caucus, and District
Summary:
The House opened with routine procedural actions, including suspension of Joint Rule 12 for two petitions and suspension of Rule 7A to take up several bills immediately. Members advanced multiple Ways and Means bills to third reading, including measures on campaign finance reporting for statewide ballot questions, tax-free medical devices, fairness for Massachusetts Water Resources Authority employees, releasing land use restrictions in Revere, and authorizing a land taking in Norwood. Several engrossed local and special bills were then passed to be enacted, including measures affecting Boston police age waivers, the Hudson charter, Plymouth’s land acquisition account, Falmouth sewer-related costs, and Randolph’s charter.
The House also considered Senate Bill 2916 on campaign finance reporting for ballot questions. Supporters said the bill would strengthen disclosure, close reporting loopholes, and improve transparency around ballot question committees and signature gathering, while also creating a commission to review the initiative petition process. Amendments were adopted, including changes to the commission’s membership and a separate amendment related to signature-gathering provisions. After debate, the bill passed to be engrossed by roll call vote 149-0.
Members then took up the fiscal year 2027 budget conference report, House No. 5555, totaling about $63.4 billion. Supporters highlighted funding for Chapter 70 education aid, local aid, Fair Share investments in education and transportation, MBTA and regional transit support, housing and homelessness programs, food assistance, and immigration legal aid. The conference report was adopted by roll call 142-6, the emergency preamble was adopted, and the budget bill was passed to be enacted by the same vote. The House also declined concurrence on Senate Bill 3064, “to build resilience for Massachusetts communities,” and appointed a committee of conference, and later appointed a conference committee on House Bill 4646, enhancing child welfare protections. The session ended with a moment of silence for community figures and adjournment to the next day.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 63 Jul 1st, 2026
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Chris dedicated his life to public service and to strengthening our democratic process.
- He served on a ...to public service and to strengthening our democratic process.
- He served on the Democratic town committees in Norwell, Scituate, Hull, and Weymouth, was an elected
- member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, chair of the South Shore Democratic Caucus, and
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Review of the Minnesota Senate’s 2026 Session | Senator Erin Murphy May 22nd, 2026
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It's something the Senate Democrats fought for all the way through.
- So, I feel like the Senate came to this session, the Senate Democrats, um ready to work um to respond
- 04:36.760><c> session,</c><00:04:37.280><c> the</c><00:04:37.360><c> Senate</c><00:04:37.600><c> Democrats
- ,</c><00:04:38.560><c> um</c> this session, the Senate Democrats, um this session, the Senate Democrats
Summary:
The interview focused on the Minnesota Senate DFL’s end-of-session accomplishments and frustrations. The senator said the caucus entered the session expecting little to get done in a divided, election-year legislature, but instead passed a range of major measures, including emergency rental assistance, immigration enforcement, gun violence prevention, an independent Office of the Inspector General, consumer protections for homeowners associations, and a $1.2 billion bonding/infrastructure bill for water, roads, and bridges. He said the bonding bill was a success but criticized the limited funding for lead pipe replacement, noting only $15 million was included.
He also discussed affordability measures, especially a vehicle tab fee reduction negotiated in connection with the bonding bill, saying Democrats wanted the relief to take effect sooner but Republicans pushed implementation to January. He described other unfinished or blocked items, including a small business relief package tied to Metro Surge and efforts to protect Medicaid and SNAP from federal changes. He said many Senate proposals were developed through committee hearings and were meant to be negotiated publicly, but argued the House often failed to do comparable work, leading to last-minute deals and more party-line votes.
The senator was sharply critical of federal actions under the Trump administration, saying cuts and mandates were harming states, counties, Medicaid, and SNAP, and weakening the state-federal partnership. Looking ahead, he said interim work will likely focus on procedural changes and health care, including stabilizing HCMC and supporting rural hospitals. He said the session’s work was aimed at serving Minnesotans first, and expressed optimism about the upcoming election season and the possibility of changing legislative practices next session.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- know and understand that, that if their bill comes here without voter ID, every Republican, every Democrat
- Republicans vote by mail, and Democrats vote by mail.
- Democrats support this bill. Democrat politicians do not support this bill.
- With your permission, the Democratic Caucus will be meeting in HHR 2 at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nominations of Brian Burch, of Illinois, to be Ambassador to the Holy See, Brandon Judd, of Idaho, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Chile, and Nicole McGraw, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, all of t Apr 8th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Foreign Relations Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- As you know, Chile is a strategic security and economic partner whose democratic experiment has come
- counter this influence, I hope that you will help strengthen ties with Chile to keep our hemisphere democratic
- It drives us to work together to call out violations of democratic rights in the Western Hemisphere,
- those relationships with the United States and the Chilean government. us as being what we are, democratic
- How would you balance promoting U.S. investment and democratic values while competing with growing Chinese
Keywords:
legislative process, public involvement, community engagement, transparency, introductions
Summary:
The meeting was characterized by a series of introductions and personal anecdotes shared by the committee members, with a focus on the importance of community engagement and transparency in legislative processes. Members expressed their commitment to open hearings and the necessity for public involvement in discussions impacting constituents. Several members remarked on how personal experiences shape their legislative priorities, thus reinforcing the human element of governance. However, there was a noticeable absence of discussion regarding specific bills, indicating that the session may have been more exploratory or introductory in nature.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legalizing Sports Betting in Minnesota – Senator Jeremy Miller Feb 10th, 2025
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Let's put a proposal out there that Democrats and Republicans can get behind, and let's put a proposal
- Let's put a proposal out there that Democrats and Republicans can get behind, and let's put a proposal
- proposal let's put a proposal out there proposal let's put a proposal out there that<00:02:11.840><c> Democrats
- and</c><00:02:12.760><c> Republicans</c><00:02:13.400><c> can</c><00:02:13.560><c> get</c> that Democrats
- and Republicans can get that Democrats and Republicans can get behind<00:02:14.599><c> and</c><00:02
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- the rule of law, principles originating in ancient Hellenic civilization that continue to shape democratic
- And whereas Greece's commitment to democratic values, NATO partnerships, and regional dialogue make it
- culture, language, and traditions, and to reaffirm the enduring bonds of friendship and shared democratic
- culture, language, and traditions, and to reaffirm the enduring bonds of friendship and shared democratic
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
2026 Session preview with House DFL Caucus Leader Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) Feb 6th, 2026
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, Democrats and Republicans have been touring the state during the interim, doing the work of
- You know, uh Democrats<00:04:56.000><c> and</c><00:04:56.240><c> Republicans</c><00:04:56.800><c> have
- </c><00:04:56.960><c> been</c> Democrats and Republicans have been Democrats and Republicans have been
Summary:
House DFL leader Stevenson said the tied House will require cooperation, noting the caucus has tried to model bipartisan work through co-chairs and that he has a good working relationship with Speaker Damuth. He highlighted the three new DFL special-election winners—Xp Lee, Shelley Buck, and Meg Luger-Nikolai—as bringing health, tribal leadership, nonprofit, labor, and education experience to the chamber.
On policy, Stevenson said DFLers want to push back against certain federal immigration enforcement tactics, including masked officers and warrantless entries, and tied the issue to the murder of former Speaker Melissa Hortman. He also said the caucus will pursue gun restrictions such as bans on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, binary triggers, and ghost guns, while acknowledging that Republican leadership would need to allow a floor vote for any bill to advance. He added that DFLers are open to and will lead on fraud prevention, especially in programs serving vulnerable Minnesotans, and said those who steal public funds should face prison.
Looking ahead to the second year of the biennium, Stevenson said he hopes for a large bonding bill focused on statewide infrastructure needs, but warned he will not support using bonding as leverage for unrelated policy concessions. He also said affordability will be a major focus, especially food, energy, housing, and health care costs, and argued Minnesota should try to counter rising premiums and hold insurers and pharmaceutical companies accountable.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- In 1985, and none of us were here, but there were 25 Democrats and six Republicans in the Texas Senate
- There were 95 Democrats and 55 Republicans and a Democrat governor, Mark White.
- goes for the advocacy efforts from associations. ...to nonprofits, who exist to support the same democratic
Bills:
SB 10, SB 8, SB 15, SB 12, SB 6, SB 13, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB10, SB8, SB15, SB12, SB6, SB13, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4
Keywords:
sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code, election laws, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, criminal prosecution, jurisdiction, hemp, consumable hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- filed a map for proposed redistricting that would, if the votes hold from 2024, eliminate five Democratic
- And I hope when it comes to THC it can be a first step for Republicans and Democrats to come together
- So I wanted to send several Democrats wanted to send a message that we do need to address this.
- So I wanted to send several Democrats. Wanted to send a message that we do need to address this.
Summary:
Senator Nathan Johnson presented a pair of bills he described as a comprehensive cannabis reform package for Texas. He said one bill would regulate hemp-derived THC with a 21-and-over purchase age, a 5 mg THC threshold, testing, labeling, licensing, packaging, and marketing standards, an advisory committee to report to the Legislature, and a tax structure that would direct revenue to public health, law enforcement, testing, and the Texas Compassionate Use Program. He also said the legislation reflects work by Chairman Ken King and is intended as an alternative to a total ban, which he argued would be unenforceable and undesirable.
Johnson said the second bill would decriminalize possession and personal use of up to 2 ounces of marijuana, allow limited home cultivation, and create a path to expunction for people convicted of conduct that would no longer be illegal. He argued current Texas THC laws are inconsistent, harmful, and disproportionately affect communities of color, while also diverting law enforcement resources. He said the bills aim to create a more consistent and enforceable framework and to support medical THC use.
Supportive testimony came from Shawn Salvahi, a veteran and Texas Cannabis Collective representative, who said decriminalization and homegrow would help veterans and first responders and that leaders should correct mistaken policy. Senator Molly Cook, an ER nurse, also backed Johnson’s approach and opposed SB 5, saying prohibition has failed, worsened safety, and created criminal and economic harms. In questions, Johnson said the Senate is likely to move SB 5, that the House could still change the outcome, and that he has been consistent in opposing a ban since 2018. The discussion also briefly touched on redistricting, with participants urging attention to flooding and criticizing proposed maps, but the main action was the presentation and defense of the THC bills ahead of floor consideration.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- That decision-making is vital to our democratic process.
- It was in the Democratic primary where someone was attempting to re-register all the members of a church
- So we spent more time doing voter fraud in the Democratic primary, quite frankly, than we did anywhere
- You also had in the Democratic primary where the lady was re-registering illegals.
Keywords:
SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty
Summary:
The Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1065, which would require government property contracts to prohibit contractors from barring licensed handgun holders from carrying firearms on leased or owned public property, with civil penalties and attorney general enforcement for violations. Senator Hall and invited witnesses from the Texas State Rifle Association, NRA, and Texas Gun Rights argued the bill would close a loophole exposed by the State Fair of Texas gun ban and protect law-abiding Texans’ self-defense rights. Opponents, including Moms Demand Action/Everytown, said the bill would undermine event organizers’ ability to set site-specific safety rules and could increase liability and insurance costs. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending.
The committee next took up Senate Bill 2742, which would create civil penalties for independent school districts and officials who use public resources for electioneering, waive immunity defenses, and expand attorney general enforcement. Senator Hagan-Bood said current law bans the conduct but lacks meaningful penalties, making injunctions the only remedy. No public testimony was heard, and the bill was left pending.
Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2743, also by Senator Hagan-Bood, which would allow a court to disqualify local prosecutors who refuse to prosecute election offenses and appoint the attorney general to handle the case, with a committee substitute adjusting the removal process through an adjacent-county judge. Opponents from the Texas Civil Rights Project argued the bill would undermine prosecutorial discretion and was vague and open to abuse, while a Harris County election official described past instances where alleged voter fraud cases were not pursued. After testimony, public comment was closed and SB 2743 was left pending.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee 2/20/25
Rules and Legislative Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- the people of Minnesota if, in fact, $30 million of savings is something that can't get a single Democrat
- savings is something that can't get a savings is something that can't get a single<00:06:59.639><c> Democrat
- ><c> vote</c><00:07:00.400><c> I</c><00:07:00.479><c> think</c><00:07:00.599><c> it's</c> single Democrat
- vote I think it's single Democrat vote I think it's important<00:07:01.160><c> that</c><00:07:01.280
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, May 7, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- More than 200 Democrats filed an is.
- More than 100 Democrats have signed on.
- Speaker, House Democrats language. Mr.
- Democrats claim these according to FGA.
- </c><08:20:16.398><c> protect</c> Democrats are fighting to protect Democrats are fighting to protect
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, February 10, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Sincerely, Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Leader.
- Democrats cannot sit here and have an honest debate about this policy.
- Democrats cannot sit here and have an honest debate about this policy.
- </c> of the world and overseen by democratic of the world and overseen by democratic government government
- It doesn't care if you're a Republican or if you're a Democrat.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 3/26/26
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- And combined, those two folks, since 2009, have donated mostly to Democrats, I think exclusively Democrats
- , I think exclusively mostly Democrats, I think exclusively Democrats, Democrats, Democrats, a<01:13:
- governor, do they have to Democratic governor, do they have to take<01:20:09.800><c> party</c><01:20
- And whether it's a Republican governor, a Democrat governor, or, as we had with Ventura, an independent
- And whether it's a Republican process, a Republican governor, a Democrat governor, or, as we had with
Keywords:
undocumented, financial aid, state policy, higher education, noncitizen eligibility, state grants, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Session - Senate Floor Session - Part 1 - 06/09/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I think both Republicans and Democrats in the House and the Senate and the governor to an extent saw
- 01:52:32.400><c> Republican,</c> negotiation between Republican, negotiation between Republican, Democrats
- :34.639><c> work</c><01:52:34.880><c> hard</c><01:52:35.040><c> on</c><01:52:35.280><c> this</c> Democrats
- and uh work hard on this Democrats and uh work hard on this bipartisan.<01:52:36.159><c> So</c><01:52
- </c><01:57:16.000><c> and</c><01:57:16.159><c> the</c> Republicans and also Democrat and the Republicans
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Confidence in our democratic system is essential to the legitimacy of governance.
- You're supposed to have one Democrat and one Republican.
- The Democrats and the Republicans both balanced out.
- But I also represent Democrats. So I'm involved in a South Texas election contest.
- Now, the way things are, every single election judge is a Democrat.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, July 17, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Well, Democrats do.
- Well, Democrats do.
- Well, Democrats and of interest, right?
- ,</c> No one, not a Republican or a Democrat, No one, not a Republican or a Democrat, should<02:32:32.720
- </c><02:44:06.720><c> leadership</c> worked under both Democratic leadership worked under both Democratic