Video & Transcript : 'Democrat' :
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TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting Aug 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- performance for Democrats, but will still strongly perform for Democrats.
- performance for Democrats, but will still strongly perform for Democrats.
- So right now, as it stands in Congress, there are 25 Republicans and 13 Democrats.
- Chairman, that when— Black folks and minorities tend to lean Democratic?
- So, you—you—you have no idea that Black and minorities tend to lean Democratic.
Summary:
The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting met to lay out House Bill 4, the House companion to Senate Bill 4, and no public testimony was taken at this hearing. Senator King explained that HB 4 was based on the House’s revised congressional map, which he said made only minor changes from SB 4 while aiming to comply with law, improve Republican political performance, and keep districts compact. He noted changes affecting several districts, including moving Fort Bliss into CD 16, placing all of Navarro County into CD 6, and moving Liberty County into CD 9, and said counsel had reviewed the map and found it legally compliant.
Several senators criticized the process and the substance of the map. Senators Alvarado, Miles, and Hinojosa objected that the House substitute had not been subject to a public hearing and argued that communities in Houston, El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, and South Texas were being split or paired with unrelated areas. They also questioned the compactness of the districts and raised concerns about racial effects, including changes in Black voting-age population in CD 9 and CD 18. Senator King responded that the committee had already heard extensive testimony on redistricting, that the Senate was following its usual companion-bill process, and that he had not relied on racial data but on historical voting patterns and legal review.
After debate, Senator Parker moved to report HB 4 favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be ordered not printed. The committee approved the motion by a 5-3 vote, with one absent, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- But thank you, Democrats leadership, for blocking that $5 million.
- The Democrats were able to get some things out of the budget.
- What did the Democrats demand?
- The Democrats fought to keep that money flowing.
- The governor, Democrats, they fought to put it all back.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- But thank you, Democrats' leadership, for blocking that $5 million.
- What did the Democrats demand?
- What did the Democrats demand?
- The Democrats fought to keep that money flowing.
- The governor, Democrats, they fought to put it all back.
Summary:
The meeting began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a guest introduction for Deputy Frank Sloop. The Senate then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, with most measures receiving do-pass recommendations after brief explanations and, in several cases, floor amendments. Topics included public records, capital outlay review, local government, taxation, state budget implementation, higher education appropriations, utility regulation, towing regulation, homeowners association disclosures, nursing board regulation, veteran services, criminal justice, human services, K-12 education, state property management, and the continuation of the Arizona State Board of Nursing.
Several bills were amended on the floor before receiving favorable recommendations. House Bill 2114 on motorcycle-related provisions was amended to require that at least one registered owner be legally licensed to operate a motorcycle in Arizona. House Bill 2397 on HOA/condominium disclosures was amended to change disclosure timing and fee rules and make other conforming changes. House Bill 2408 on nursing board regulatory action was amended to remove a clear-and-convincing-evidence burden in disciplinary matters and clarify complaint-sharing procedures. House Bill 2957 on driver’s license/handheld provisions, House Bill 2305 on towing regulation, and House Bill 2321 on DCS-related reporting also received amendments before do-pass recommendations.
The largest item was Senate Bill 1847, the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act. Senators offered extensive floor amendments affecting agriculture, corrections, criminal justice, school safety, law enforcement equipment, vehicle theft task force funding, liquor licensing, and other budget items. During third reading and debate on the budget, Democratic senators praised negotiated gains such as funding for aging services, food assistance, civil legal aid, school meals, heat relief, and a three-year moratorium on new data center tax incentives, while criticizing border-related funding, ESA/voucher policy, and cuts to higher education and adult education. One member’s remarks were ruled dilatory after repeated off-topic comments, and the ruling of the chair was sustained by a 16-12 vote. The transcript ends with additional budget-related explanation of votes continuing after the budget’s third reading.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- We're 60-40 states, 60% Republicans, 40% Democrats, excuse me, that's backwards. 60% Democrats, 40% Republican
- This is the Democrats response to what is happening.
- Now, Governor Newsom, Democrat party bosses, and Democrat lawmakers to take the power away from the voters
- I can't think of a more democratic process than that.
- Independents, Republicans, and Democrats.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee 5/13/26
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- This is today's Democrat party. The Democratic Party.
- This is today's Democrat party. The Democratic Party.
- This is today's Democrat party. The Democratic Party. The picture has The Democratic Party.
- </c> government under successive Democrat government under successive Democrat administrations<00:55:
- </c><00:56:35.280><c> administrations</c> the Democrat administrations the Democrat administrations has
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting Aug 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- performance for Democrats. but will still strongly perform for Democrats.
- Okay, so right now as it stands in Congress, there are 25 Republicans and 35 Democrats. 13 Democrats,
- Historically, they have been Democrat or Republican in performance.
- You have no idea that black and minorities tend to lean Democratic?
- Republican and Democrat.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Republican Press Conference 2/20/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Minnesota to know what's going on in our government so that we can hold our government officials democratically
- I have been told twice on the record by Democrats that every single Democrat in the Minnesota House is
- </c><00:03:00.040><c> that</c><00:03:00.599><c> uh</c> twice on the record by democrats that uh twice
- on the record by democrats that uh every<00:03:01.159><c> single</c><00:03:01.519><c> Democrat</c><00
- </c><00:12:46.880><c> party</c> transparency where the Democratic party transparency where the Democratic
Summary:
House Majority Leader Harry Niska discussed House File 20, a bill he said would amend Minnesota’s Data Practices Act by adding the words “on individuals” to clarify that the private-data exemption applies only to information actually tied to an individual person. He argued the bill would overturn a 2022 Minnesota Supreme Court decision in Energy Policy Advocates v. Allison that, in his view, allowed the Attorney General’s office to withhold policymaking and closed investigative data even when no individual privacy interest was involved. Niska framed the measure as a transparency and democracy issue, saying the Attorney General’s office should not have a special secrecy privilege that other state agencies and prosecutors do not have.
In response to questions, Niska said the Attorney General opposed the bill, citing concerns about the cost and burden of data practices requests and raising a broader question about whether some businesses might have privacy interests similar to individuals. Niska said the bill is not meant to eliminate legitimate privacy protections for actual individuals, including sensitive investigative information, but to prevent the office from using the private-data category to shield non-personal information. He also said the issue arose in part from information about outside influence on the Attorney General’s office, including funding for positions through NYU and the Bloomberg Foundation.
Niska said the bill had been introduced by Republicans two years earlier but did not receive a hearing, and he expected it to come to the House floor because Republicans now control committees. He said Democrats were expected to vote as a bloc against it, and he suggested the vote would show where members stand on transparency. He also said other GOP priorities may move through committees and to the floor as they are ready, mentioning permitting reform, repeal of the nuclear moratorium, and an OIG-related bill, but he did not provide a detailed schedule. No vote on the bill was taken during the exchange.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House/Senate Press Conference 4/15/26
Transcript Highlights:
- Democrat and Republican members on the Democrat and Republican members on the Tax<00:08:12.240><c> Committee
- Especially in the Democrats on the bill.
- Where are the Democrats? house. Where are the Democrats?
- </c> Yeah, Democrats? Yeah, Democrats?
- [laughter] "Where's your Democrat?" And I said, "Oh, you can't find a Democrat?"
Summary:
Senator Steve Drazkowski and Representative Anderson held a press event promoting the bipartisan, bicameral “Take It Back Act,” a bill aimed at recovering taxpayer money lost to government fraud. They cited major Minnesota fraud cases, including medical assistance fraud, CCAP, and Feeding Our Future, and argued that the state has become a destination for fraud. They said the bill would impose a 100% tax or excise tax on money obtained through fraud, with proceeds deposited into a tax relief fund for income and property tax relief.
The sponsors said the measure is intended to create a stronger deterrent and to recover money even when criminal restitution or prosecutions do not fully recoup losses. They discussed examples of unrecovered funds, said the Department of Revenue could use criminal findings, data analytics, and IRS-sharing data to identify fraud, and noted that the bill includes an appeal process through tax court. They also said the current draft focuses on convicted fraudsters and people or organizations determined by the commissioner to have obtained money by fraud, while trying to avoid sweeping in innocent employees or others who were unaware of wrongdoing.
Anderson said the bill already has significant bipartisan support, including 11 House Democrats and Senator Rest, and that the House Tax Committee hearing is scheduled for April 30. He said the sponsors are working with the Department of Revenue on implementation and may revise the bill to make administration easier. The sponsors said they hope to move the bill through the House and Senate this session, and they closed by encouraging the press to review the fraud website they referenced, mnfraudfiles.com.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session procedural debate on a safe schools revenue program bill 3/26/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It's the Democrat way or no way.
- ><c> had</c><00:14:25.680><c> the</c> The Minnesota Democrats have had the The Minnesota Democrats have
- I but the Minnesota Democrats refuse.
- So when the Democrat way or no way.
- </c> because it's not achieving the Democrats because it's not achieving the Democrats goals<00:18:52.160
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Special Session 2026 May 8th, 2026
Alabama House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- You talked about the 1983 that the Democrats did. So, please tell me what that is.
- You said that each of the parties in 1983, the Democrats went behind closed doors.
- You talked about the 1983 that the Democrats did. So, please tell me what that is.
- You said that each of the parties in 1983, the Democrats went behind closed doors.
- You talked about 1983, that the Democrats did that.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: Minority Leader End-of-Session Media Availability - 05/18/26
Transcript Highlights:
- fought us tooth and because Democrats fought us tooth and nail<00:02:57.480><c> in</c><00:02:57.600>
- </c> And so Democrats have said in front of this microphone that when they get back, they're going to
- c><00:04:47.160><c> Senate</c> when you have House Democrats and Senate when you have House Democrats
- </c><00:04:49.160><c> they're</c> Democrats working against you, they're Democrats working against you
- Republicans and Democrats on both the House and the Senate got that bill across.
Summary:
A Minnesota Senate Republican leader reflected on the just-ended session, saying the caucus focused on affordability and fraud while operating with limited leverage in the minority. He highlighted a $254 million reduction in tab fees, saying it would keep money in Minnesotans’ pockets, and said Republicans also advanced anti-fraud measures, including tighter payment processes and provisions to prevent fraudsters from benefiting after being caught. He also noted support for infrastructure investments in roads, bridges, drinking water, and wastewater.
The leader said Republicans were disappointed that many priorities were left on the table, especially because Democrats and the governor controlled the process. He criticized the late-session handling of bills, saying members did not have enough time to read or digest measures that appeared at the end. He also said the tax bill included a property tax measure and that Republicans would take their affordability and anti-fraud message into the fall elections.
On health care, he explained his no vote on a bill tied to Hennepin County Medical Center, saying the package was too centered on one Minneapolis hospital and did not do enough for outstate and critical access hospitals. He said the session did include the bipartisan OIG bill and other tightening measures, but argued the administration had not been aggressive enough in pursuing fraud. He closed by agreeing that more transparency and compromise would be preferable, and said he hoped future sessions would be more open, especially if Republicans gain the majority.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: Republicans Announce Student’s First Legislation - 04/07/25
Transcript Highlights:
- In 2023 the Democrats our schools.
- </c><00:21:14.960><c> How</c> the Democrats have have put in. How the Democrats have have put in.
- You guys have any conversations with any Democrats in the Senate about this legislation?
- You guys have any conversations with any Democrats in the Senate about this legislation?
- You guys have any conversations with any Democrats in the Senate about this legislation?
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Yeah, thanks a lot, Democrats.
- Democrats, it does a lot.
- <01:04:26.799><c> form</c><01:04:27.039><c> of</c> democratic form of democratic form of government<01
- And I've been told, and I was just told by the floor leader for the Democratic Party, that the Democrats
- </c><01:06:24.079><c> are</c> Democratic party that the Democrats are Democratic party that the Democrats
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Workforce Development Fund subcommittee 3/23/26
Transcript Highlights:
- Democrats. Democrats.
- The Democrat trifecta nutrition program.
- passed by the Democrat trifecta.
- </c> by a Democrat passed by the Democrat by a Democrat passed by the Democrat trifecta. trifecta. trifecta
- To my Democrat colleagues on the To my Democrat colleagues on the Workforce<00:28:02.240><c> and</c><
Summary:
The House debated a motion to suspend the rules so House File 3843 could be recalled from committee and given second and third readings for final passage. The bill, carried by Representative Baker and supported by Representative Niska, would create a subcommittee of the governor’s workforce development board to vet nonprofit and other applicants for workforce development dollars, with the legislature retaining final authority. Supporters argued the proposal would add an extra layer of scrutiny, reduce fraud risk, and help prevent problems like those highlighted in recent reporting and past nonprofit funding scandals.
Supporters repeatedly tied the bill to concerns about fraud in state grantmaking, citing the Feeding Our Future scandal and other nonprofit cases as examples of why more oversight is needed. Representative Baker said the committee process can be overwhelmed by many direct-appropriation requests at the end of session, and that a board-based vetting process would help identify red flags. Representative Enen and Representative Schultz also backed the motion, saying the bill would improve accountability and protect taxpayer dollars.
Representative Pinto opposed the urgency motion, saying he supports moving toward more competitive grants but not adding another layer of bureaucracy without a fiscal note or fuller committee process. He argued the bill would not do what supporters claimed and that the legislature already makes funding decisions. After debate, the House took a roll call vote on the motion to suspend the rules. The motion failed by one vote, 67 yeas to 66 nays.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: Republican Media Availability to Discuss Special Session - 06/09/25
Transcript Highlights:
- We want to prioritize motans, but Democrats are only prioritizing state government.
- ><c> only</c><00:01:46.680><c> prioritizing</c> but Democrats are only prioritizing but Democrats are
- Democrats wanted to raise us last session.
- but again the priority for Democrats is but again the priority for Democrats is always<00:09:37.040><
- Uh so here we have Democrats that it.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: Senate Republicans Respond to Governor’s Comments - 02/27/25
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:03:45.000><c> governor</c> treatment when the Democratic governor treatment when the Democratic
- were saying I don't know and Democrats were saying I don't know that<00:04:33.479><c> we're</c><00:04
- I don't say Democrats are doing something bad; I'll say this Democrat's idea is bad.
- are doing something bad I'll Democrats are doing something bad I'll say<00:07:01.080><c> this</c><00
- Yet people say these things all the time, Republicans and Democrats.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House DFL Media Availability 1/24/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is what Democrats have been saying since the election: that we need to work together in order to
- Democrats continue to stand by, ready to work with Republicans to get our work together in St.
- The response was that Democrats need to work with Republicans to determine how to move forward.
- Democrats are not tense; we want to go to the Capitol.
- </c><00:04:50.280><c> we're</c> to tension uh you know Democrats we're to tension uh you know Democrats
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: Update on Special Session Negotiations - 09/30/25
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Education Committee Sep 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Clara County Democratic Central Committee.
- Clara County Democratic Central Committee.
- Democratic Club, Davis Jews for Justice, Defending Rights and Dissent, Democratic Socialists of America
- East Bay, Democratic Socialists of America Santa Barbara, Democratic Socialists of America San Francisco
- Coalition of the Bay Area; Jewish Democratic Coalition of the Bay Area; Jewish Democratic Coalition
Summary:
The Assembly Education Committee held an informational hearing on AB 715, followed by discussion of SB 48. AB 715 was presented by Assembly Members Zbur and Addis as a response to rising anti-Semitism in California schools. They described incidents involving harassment, swastikas, biased classroom materials, and students feeling unsafe, and said the bill would create an Office of Civil Rights with coordinators to address anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination, provide prevention resources, and support school districts. Witnesses in support, including a rabbi and a student who described personal experiences with anti-Semitic harassment, urged immediate action to protect Jewish students.
Opposition testimony came from the California Teachers Association, county superintendents, school board groups, labor organizations, civil liberties advocates, ethnic studies educators, and many community members. Their main concerns were that the bill was rushed, had not been fully vetted in the Assembly Education Committee, and could chill classroom speech or create constitutional problems, especially around language requiring instruction and materials to be “factually accurate” and not based on advocacy, bias, or partisanship. Several opponents argued that anti-Semitism should be addressed through education, training, and restorative practices rather than new statutory restrictions. Some witnesses also raised concerns about the bill’s impact on ethnic studies and free speech.
Committee members then debated the bill’s process and substance at length. The authors said the bill had been narrowed through negotiations with education stakeholders and the Senate, that some disputed provisions would be revisited in cleanup language, and that the urgency of anti-Semitic incidents required action now. Several members expressed support for the bill’s goal but criticized the late release of the final language and the lack of consultation with the Assembly committee. Others emphasized the need to protect Jewish students immediately and argued the bill was a necessary response to a real crisis. The transcript does not show a final vote on AB 715 in the portion provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Republicans Members Announce New Ethics Complaints Against Senator Nicole Mitchell - 02/18/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Unfortunately, Democrats have shielded Senator Mitchell and the serious consequences to advance their
- </c> reality is that the Senate Democrats reality is that the Senate Democrats have<00:16:15.040><c>
- "Have you talked to any of the Senate Democrats who have called on her to resign and had interactions
- well it certainly does I mean Democrats well it certainly does I mean the<00:19:50.520><c> reality</
- "Have you talked to any of the Senate Democrats who have called on her to resign and had interactions