Northeast

'Squad' faces final primary challenge as 4 states go to polls Tuesday

Published

3 hours ago

August 15, 2024

Press Room

'Squad' faces final primary challenge as 4 states go to polls Tuesday

Join Fox News for access to this content

You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading.

By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive.

Please enter a valid email address.

After a tough summer at the ballot box for members of the so-called “Squad,” the group of progressive and diverse House Democrats is facing its final intraparty challenge on Tuesday as four states in the Midwest and New England hold primary elections.

Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota faces voters one week after her fellow Squad member, Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, lost her bid for re-nomination and nearly two months after another Squad member, Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, fell to his primary challenger.

But Omar, who made history as the first Somali American in Congress and the first woman of color to represent Minnesota on Capitol Hill, is the favorite as she faces three primary challengers in the Democrat primary. Omar is seeking a fourth two-year term representing the Minneapolis-anchored 5th Congressional District.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKING IN THE 2024 ELECTION

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images)

Bush and Bowman faced well-funded challengers and millions in outside spending by United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. While Omar is also a very vocal critic of Israel, she hasn’t been targeted by any ads from the United Democracy Project.

And Omar is considered to be in a much better political position than she was two years ago when she narrowly defeated Don Samuels, who for a second straight cycle is her top challenger.

But Samuels, in an interview Monday on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” said he’s seen a surge in his fundraising and in volunteers to his campaign in the week since Bush’s defeat. And he said Omar is “divisive and combative. She picks a side including, simply trying to divide her, her constituency, and ignores the other side.”

Minnesota’s primary comes a week after Vice President Harris named the state’s governor, Gov. Tim Walz, as her running mate on the Democrat 2024 ticket. And an old clip of Walz praising Omar has gone viral in recent days.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris is welcomed by Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz

Vice President Harris greets Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in Eau Claire, Wis., on Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Arguably the highest-profile Squad member, three-term Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, easily crushed her primary challenger in June.

The only other Squad member with a primary yet to come this cycle is Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, who is unchallenged in her September contest.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the overwhelming favorite in a five-candidate Democrat Senate primary as she seeks a fourth six-year term representing Minnesota in the chamber. Eight candidates are running in the GOP Senate primary.

In neighboring Wisconsin, Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin is unopposed in her party’s primary as she seeks a third term. Republican businessman Eric Hovde, a real estate developer who’s loaned his campaign $13 million and who is backed by former President Trump, faces nominal opposition in the GOP primary.

Two Democrats are running in their party’s primary in western Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, with the winner taking on Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a staunch Trump ally, in November.

And in northeast Wisconsin’s heavily red 8th Congressional District, all eyes are on the GOP primary in the race to fill the seat of former Rep. Mike Gallagher, who left Congress in April. Taking place alongside the primary is a special election for the remainder of Gallagher’s current term, which expires at the end of the year.

In Connecticut, the spotlight is on Republican primaries to challenge two longtime Democrat members of Congress: Sen. Chris Murphy and Rep. Jim Himes.

In Vermont, two Democrats are vying for their party’s gubernatorial nomination, with the winner challenging Republican Gov. Phil Scott in November.

Scott, a moderate Republican and GOP Trump critic, is unopposed in his party’s primary as he seeks a fifth two-year term steering Vermont. Even though Vermont is a reliably blue state. Scott remains popular and grabbed nearly 70% of the vote in his 2022 re-election.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Read the full article from Here

Vermont

Medicare prescription drug price negotiation closely watched in Vermont

Published

12 mins ago

August 15, 2024

Press Room

Medicare prescription drug price negotiation closely watched in Vermont

Vermont’s Health Care Advocate says a decision by the federal government to negotiate Medicare drug prices with pharmaceutical companies could help reduce health insurance premiums.

When Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, it included a provision to allow Medicare to negotiate prices with the drug companies.

The Biden administration has just released the first 10 drugs under this plan, which it says will reduce costs between 40% and 80% beginning in 2026. Another 50 drugs will be added in the coming months.

About 19,000 Vermonters use at least one of the drugs on the initial list that was announced Thursday, Peter Welch’s office said in a news release.

Michael Fisher, who is Vermont’s health care advocate, says the program could have a major impact in Vermont because lawmakers this year asked the Green Mountain Care Board to study a plan to use these negotiated prices for all consumers in the state.

“Pharmaceuticals are every year a significant factor in the costs of care,” Fisher said.

The board is expected to release its initial findings to the Legislature in January.

More from Vermont Public: Amid proposed health insurance rate hikes, Vermont businesses say health costs are slowing growth

Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message.

Source link

Boston, MA

Springfield’s Peter Pan Bus Lines takes over Megabus service from Boston to D.C.

Published

4 hours ago

August 15, 2024

Press Room

Springfield’s Peter Pan Bus Lines takes over Megabus service from Boston to D.C.

SPRINGFIELD — Peter Pan Bus Lines is taking over Megabus routes in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states stretching from Boston to New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and points in between.

“It’s a big deal for us,” Peter A. Picknelly, chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines.

The move doubles Peter Pan’s operations along the busy northeastern corridor, Picknelly said. Before the changes, Peter Pan offered 14 trips each way every day between Boston and Washington, D.C. Starting at midnight Thursday into Friday, that becomes 28 trips.

In the past, Peter Pan has operated only from about 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Starting Friday, it’s a 24-hour operation, said Picknelly, who is the third-generation leader of the company.

The expansion also requires new drivers and 45 new buses at $635,000 each.

“We’re modernizing our fleet, which is what our consumers want: They want a nice, clean, modern bus. We listen to our customers — where they want to go — and expand where it makes sense. We’re hiring drivers left and right,” Picknelly said.

With the expansion, the company has hired 35 driver and has plans to add even more. Also, Picknelly said Peter Pan will add more mechanics and maintenance people along the corridor to support the new operations.

“It’s a great opportunity for Peter Pan,” he said.

Megabus owner Coach USA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June, according to published reports.

Peter Pan had already taken over Megabus routes in Boston, Picknelly said.

In preparation, Peter Pan has reduced fares by close to 40%.

Megabus’ parent company will continue to operate commuter lines in and around New York City.

The Megabus website will still be active selling tickets, Picknelly said. But starting Friday those tickets will be for Peter Pan-run buses.

Most of the destinations are places Peer Pan has long served, he said. But Peter Pan is adding two new cities: one in the Philadelphia suburbs and White Marsh, Maryland, in the Baltimore suburbs where Megabus had a major presence.

“It’s a substantial opportunity for us,” Picknelly said. “We’re looking forward to many customers riding with us for the first time.”

Picknelly said travelers are choosing buses because of their cost and frequent service.

Source link