Fox News Politics: Congressional fisticuffs

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What's happening:

- The House readies vote on a spending package to fund the government through the holiday season…

- Biden admin staffers revolt over president's calls for a ceasefire… 

- RFK receives endorsements from three all-star athletes… 

Congress has plenty of political battles, but Tuesday saw several incidents that nearly resulted in literal fights. 

Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin almost got in a physical altercation with Teamster President Sean O'Brien in a health, education and labor committee hearing. 

"Sir this is a time, this is a place, you want to run your mouth we can be two consenting adults, and we can finish it here," Mullin told O'Brien after reading a tweet where O'Brien said he could take the senator "any time" or "any place." 

"I would love to do it right now," O'Brien said, prompting Mullin to say, "Well, stand your butt up then."

"You stand your butt up, big guy," O'Brien said. Then Mullin, a former MMA fighter, rose from his chair and appeared ready to take on the union boss before committee Chairman Bernie Sanders told the pair to knock it off.

'CHEAP SHOT': On the other side of Capitol Hill, ex-Speaker McCarthy was accused of throwing an elbow into a Republican who helped oust him …Read more

SHUTDOWN LOOMING: Republicans talking with Democrats to gauge where votes may lie to pass spending bill, avoid shutdown …Read more

BLOCKED: Bid to impeach Mayorkas halted as eight Republicans join Democrats in opposition …Read more

JOHNSON'S FIRST TEST: House readies vote on new speaker's plan to avoid government shutdown …Read more

'WE NEED BOLD CHANGE': House Freedom Caucus comes out swinging against Johnson plan to avert shutdown …Read more

'MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE': These 8 Republicans joined with Dems to kill Mayorkas impeachment …Read more

'SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS': Turner, Stefanik call for DOJ probe into Michael Cohen after recent testimony …Read more

'REASSERT AUTHORITY': Freedom Caucus chair shares warning for Johnson as Republicans rebel on CR …Read more

'WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?': Distraught mother of American wrongfully on death row in China calls on Biden to confront Xi …Read more

'NOT GOING TO COMMENT': White House refuses to say it will support subpoena cooperation in Biden classified docs investigation …Read more

CLEAN UP FOR A DICTATOR: WH dismisses question about blue city's sudden makeover …Read more

DISSENT LETTER: Biden officials rebel against president on Israel-Hamas war …Read more

TROUBLE BREWING: Biden supports 'decent paying job' for 'average citizen in China'; won't surrender US trade secrets …Read more

UNSOLVED MYSTERY: Photo of the mysterious White House cocaine emerges …Read more

TIME'S ALMOST UP: GOP Presidential field keeps shrinking but Trump still leads the pack …Read more

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN': Vulnerable Dem attended Hollywood fundraiser with donors linked to corruption, discrimination scandals …Read more

TRIPLE THREAT: NFL Hall-of-Famer, mountain biking champion, NBA legend endorse RFK Jr for president …Read more

TICKING CLOCK: Kansas senator calls on Senate Dems to pass Israel funding bill …Read more

PAYBACK: Georgia man threatens to kill Marjorie Taylor Greene and her staff, now faces federal charges …Read more

ANOTHER RECORD: Migrant encounters broke prior October highs …Read more

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

Wisconsin Supreme Court weighs challenge to constitutionality of state-funded school choice programs

Supporters of Wisconsin's taxpayer-funded school choice and independent charter school programs urged the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to reject a lawsuit seeking to declare the programs unconstitutional, saying such a move would create chaos for tens of thousands of families with students currently enrolled.

Private schools, parents with students who attend them, advocacy groups and the state chamber of commerce argue in court filings that the 32-year-old program has benefitted families for a generation and the effort to undo it is politically motivated, after the Supreme Court's majority shifted to liberal control earlier this year.

"A mere change in membership should not create an opportunity to challenge precedent," supporters of school choice programs, being represented by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, contend. "A single election is not a mandate to radically change the law."

FORMER WISCONSIN CHIEF JUSTICE ORDERED TO TURN OVER RECORDS RELATED TO PROTASIEWICZ IMPEACHMENT ADVISEMENT

The lawsuit was filed two months after the state Supreme Court flipped to 4-3 liberal controlled. With that change, Democrats hope the court will rule in their favor in pending cases seeking to overturn Republican-drawn legislative electoral maps and undo the state’s ban on abortion.

The school choice lawsuit comes after decades of complaints from Democrats who have argued that the program is a drain on resources that would otherwise go to public schools.

The nation's first school choice program began in Milwaukee in 1990. Then seen as an experiment to help low-income students in the state's largest city, the program has expanded statewide and its income restrictions have been loosened, and it served more than 52,000 students at a cost of $444 million in the last school year.

Democrats including Gov. Tony Evers, who previously served as state superintendent of education, have been longtime critics of the program. But Evers this summer agreed to increase spending on the programs as part of a larger education funding package that was also tied to a deal sending more money to Milwaukee and local governments.

The first question for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to decide is whether to take the case directly or first have it work its way through lower courts. The plaintiffs want the high court to take it directly, which would mean a ruling could come in months rather than perhaps years if it had to go through the lower courts.

The lawsuit was brought by several Wisconsin residents and is being funded by the liberal Minocqua Brewing Super PAC. Kirk Bangstad, who owns the Minocqua Brewing Co., is a former Democratic candidate for U.S. House and state Assembly. His brewery produces beer with politically themed names that tout Democrats, such as "Evers Ale," a nod to the governor.

Bangstad's super PAC has funded previous lawsuits targeting Republicans.

The lawsuit asks the court to stop three state officials from continuing the choice programs: Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly and Secretary of the Department of Administration Kathy Blumenfeld.

All three of them faced a Tuesday deadline to file arguments.

The lawsuit argues that the state’s revenue limit and funding mechanism for voucher school programs and charter schools violate the Wisconsin Constitution’s declaration that public funds be spent for public purposes.

It also contends that vouchers defund public schools, do not allow for adequate public oversight and do not hold private schools to the same standards as public schools.

WISCONSIN SENATE APPROVES 3 NEW CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN ELECTION SECURITY PUSH

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that Milwaukee’s voucher program was legal. But the current lawsuit alleges that as the program has expanded, the situation has dramatically changed.

At the start of last school year, enrollment in choice programs was more than 29,000 in Milwaukee, 3,900 in Racine and 17,000 elsewhere in the state, according to the state Department of Public Instruction. Another 2,200 disabled students received vouchers under a special needs scholarship program.

Ending the programs now would cause "chaos," for tens of thousands of families, argued 22 parents of voucher-enrolled students, private schools and choice advocacy groups.

The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative activist law firm, on Tuesday released a report claiming that if the school choice program ended, the Milwaukee school district would have to open about 17 additional buildings to accommodate the influx of students. Statewide, more than 3,700 teachers would have to be hired in public schools, the report said.

GOP, Dem lawmakers get personal in testy exchange about Biden corruption allegations: ‘You look like a smurf’

A House Oversight Committee hearing turned into a contentious debate on Tuesday when Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida and Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky got into a heated exchange over personal finances.

"The Chairman mentioned something," Moskowitz said during the hearing, referring to Comer who serves as chair of the committee. "He said the Biden administration can't have it both ways. And I agree which is why I'm happy to yield you some of my time today."

Moskowitz said he would yield time to Comer to explain why he has drawn attention to loans as part of an alleged corruption scheme within the Biden family while Comer has also allegedly lent a family member money, according to a recent report, which Comer has denied.

"I would love it," Comer said, accepting the offer to have time yielded to him.

HOUSE OVERSIGHT SUBPOENAS HUNTER BIDEN, JAMES BIDEN, ROB WALKER FOR TESTIMONY AMID IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

"You retweeted that story, completely false, I've never loaned my brother one penny," Comer said, explaining that his dentist father owned farmland and Comer's brother wanted to keep it in the family so Comer bought it from him.

Comer said another accusation in the reporting, that he owned a shell company, is "bulls****" and that only "dumb and financially illiterate people" believed the report.

FBI RECEIVED 'CRIMINAL INFORMATION' FROM OVER 40 CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES ON JOE BIDEN, HUNTER, JAMES: GRASSLEY

"I went to the bank and I borrowed money I bought that land," Comer said. "I didn't get wires from Romania, China, my family doesn't get wires…but you and Goldman who is ‘Mr. Trust Fund’ try to discredit."

Moskowitz then interrupted and asked for his time back. 

GOP SEN. MULLIN, UNION BOSS ALMOST COME TO BLOWS IN SENATE HEARING: 'STAND YOUR BUTT UP'

"No, I'm not going to give you your time back, Comer said. "We can stop the clock, you all continue to, you look like a smurf here just going around and all this stuff."

The two then began talking over each other with Moskowitz asking for his time back and Comer accusing him of spreading "misinformation."

EXCLUSIVE: PERSON ALLEGING BIDEN CRIMINAL BRIBERY SCHEME IS 'HIGHLY CREDIBLE' FBI SOURCE USED SINCE OBAMA ADMIN: SOURCE

"You've have gone on TV and said something the president did is illegal, you're doing stuff with your brother," Moskowitz shouted as Comer continued to speak.

"You're welcome to investigate anything you want to do," Comer said, while Moskowitz asked if there are different rules for Kentucky Republican and Biden.

"We're supposed to take your word for it, but when the president says something, he's not telling the truth," Moskowitz said.

Comer then told Moskowitz that he's "already been proven a liar" to which Moskowitz replied, "By you? Your word means nothing."

"This seems to have gotten under your skin," Moskowitz said when Comer told him to go to his hometown if he wants proof that Comer's finances are in order. 

"I'll pay for your ticket," Comer said.

Moskowitz then said Comer should sit for a deposition and Comer said he would be "happy" to testify with the Biden family. 

"We can go over our LLCs," Comer said. "Let's do that."

The two continued to go back and forth with Moskowitz saying that Comer "may" have done wrong and Comer responding "but you tweeted that I did."

Eventually, Moskowitz's time ended and the hearing proceeded. 

"Rep. Moskowitz continues to spew disinformation and is attempting to distract the American people from Biden family corruption," a Comer spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Chairman Comer will not be deterred as he works to uncover the facts about President Biden’s involvement in his family’s influence peddling schemes."

"The chairman needs a mental health day, so I have nothing further to add," Moskowitz said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

These 8 Republicans voted against Rep Greene’s Mayorkas impeachment push: ‘Not a high crime or misdemeanor’

House Democrats, with the help of a eight Republicans, voted down an effort led by GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in the House of Representatives to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a straight up or down vote.

The eight Republicans who joined Democrats in the 209-201 vote killing the effort included Reps. Ken Buck, R-Colo., Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Tom McClintock, R-Calif., Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., John Duarte, R-Calif., Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., and Mike Turner, R-Ohio. 

Additionally, 11 Democrats and 12 Republicans did not vote on the measure.

Greene voiced her displeasure in a video posted on X, saying that the eight Republicans voted to "protect" Mayorkas from impeachment, which she called, "unbelievable."

HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY GOP REPORT ACCUSES MAYORKAS OF CEDING BORDER CONTROL TO CARTELS

"We had eight Republicans vote with the Democrats to send my articles of impeachment back to committee where articles of impeachment go to die," Greene said. 

Rep. McClintock's office directed Fox News Digital to a press release explaining that the "grounds for impeachment are explicitly laid out in the Constitution" and that the allegations against Mayorkas do not meet the threshold even though Mayorkas is "the worst cabinet secretary in American history."

"Yes, Alejandro Mayorkas must be held accountable for his egregious failures – there’s no doubt about that. By giving the Judiciary Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Jordan, the opportunity to conduct a full-scale impeachment inquiry the right way, House Republicans are fulfilling the commitments we made to the American people and rising to a level that Democrats could never do," Rep. Foxx said in a press release after her vote.

"Secretary Mayorkas has not committed an impeachable offense," Rep. Buck told CNN on Monday night. "I disagree strongly with how he’s handling the border, I think the border is porous, I think it’s a threat to this country, but it’s not a high crime or misdemeanor, it’s not treason, it’s not bribery, it’s not the crimes or issues our founders set forth in the Constitution." 

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Rep. Turner denied that Republicans voted to "kill" an impeachment and that the motion was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security for proper fact finding.

"No one voted to kill an impeachment inquiry – there is currently an ongoing investigation into Secretary Mayorkas in the House of Representatives. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resolution was referred to the ongoing Homeland Security Committee’s investigation under Chairman Mark Green," Turner said. "When his investigation is complete, he can at any time refer fully documented Articles of Impeachment to the House, which will pass overwhelmingly."

Rep. Issa released a statement saying that Mayorkas "deserves to face an impeachment trial" and posted on social media that he "can't wait to testify."

"We didn’t kill a Mayorkas impeachment," Issa told Fox News Digital. "We voted to start impeachment hearings the entire country will watch. If we impeach Mayorkas today, Senate Democrats will feel free to reject it today. We want hearings where Democrats are forced go on the record and finally have to defend Biden’s historic border disaster. That’s the last thing they want."

Greene introduced the resolution to impeach Mayorkas on Thursday, which would have forced a vote on impeachment without a hearing or a committee markup. If voted on and passed, it would have sent his impeachment straight to the Senate for trial.

JOSH HAWLEY CALLS OUT MAYORKAS FOR HAVING 'NO ANSWERS' ON DHS EMPLOYEE PRAISING HAMAS: 'TOTALLY INEXCUSABLE'

The Department of Homeland Security responded to the vote with a statement accusing Congress of "wasting time," and calling on it to "do its job by funding the government, reforming our broken immigration system, reauthorizing vital tools for DHS, and passing the Administration’s supplemental request to properly resource the Department’s critical work to stop fentanyl and further secure our borders."

Mayorkas has faced intense scrutiny from Republicans over his record, which includes presiding over record levels of illegal immigration that includes more than 600,000 "gotaways" at the southern border in fiscal year 2023 and over 900,000 illegal immigrants released into the interior of the United States by the Border Patrol in FY 2023.

"The fact is he's just not living up to his oath," GOP Rep. Anthony D’Esposito told Fox News Digital in June. "Not only is he failing the administration, he is failing the American people. And that's my biggest concern." 

Fox News Digital’s Brandon Gillespie and Chad Pergram contributed to this report

House blocks Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s impeachment resolution against DHS chief Mayorkas 

House lawmakers rejected an effort to force a vote on impeaching Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday, instead referring the resolution introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to the House Homeland Security Committee.  Eight Republicans joined all Democrats in the 209-201 vote to send the impeachment resolution to the House panel,...
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