All articles tagged with #mike lee
A bipartisan bill to prevent the demolition of presidential memorials, including the Kennedy Center, failed in the Senate after Republican Sen. Mike Lee objected to a unanimous consent vote. The measure, led by Democrats and Republicans, would have required congressional approval for any such demolition. Supporters plan to reintroduce the legislation in both chambers of Congress.
A bipartisan bill to prevent the demolition of presidential memorials, including the Kennedy Center, was blocked in the Senate by a single objection from Utah Republican Mike Lee. The measure, introduced by Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley and Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski, sought to require congressional approval before any presidential memorial could be demolished. Lee objected to the fast-track unanimous consent vote without providing a statement. This action follows recent threats from President Donald Trump to demolish the Kennedy Center after failing to rename it, and comes amid ongoing legal battles over the building's status and condition.
A bipartisan bill to prevent the demolition of presidential memorials without congressional approval was blocked in the Senate by a single Republican objection. The Protecting Presidential Memorials Act, co-authored by Democrats and Republicans, would have protected the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial. Senator Mike Lee of Utah objected to the unanimous consent vote, citing concerns about the bill’s process. The move comes amid ongoing legal battles over the Kennedy Center, where the Trump administration has sought to rename the venue and has threatened demolition if its demands are not met.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) demanded action on the SAVE America Act after a Reuters report revealed that over 30,000 noncitizens were mistakenly registered to vote in the U.S. since 2000. Lee argued that current laws against noncitizen voting are impossible to enforce under the current 'honor system,' while Reuters attributed the errors to software glitches and clerical mistakes rather than organized fraud.
An all-night Senate session failed to advance Trump's SAVE America Act after Sen. Mike Lee's promised objection to recess never materialized, as budget maneuvers and a large NIL bill dominated the night; Republican resistance, led by Cruz and Schmitt, delayed key parts of the package, Trump urged passage of the Protect College Sports Act, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was confirmed in a narrow 50-49 vote, with major items pushed to September.
Senate conservatives led by Sen. Mike Lee want to cancel the August recess to debate and pass the SAVE America Act, an election reform measure President Trump has prioritized. Other GOP senators, including Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and Jim Banks, say the Senate should stay in session to move the bill forward, which has failed to attract any Democratic support and is described by some as dead ahead of the 2026 midterms. The bill would require citizenship documentation to vote registration, photo ID to vote, and would place limits on mail ballots.
Posner argues that the Pentagon’s overhaul of religious-affiliation codes—dropping a Christian label and omitting explicit Christian categorization—reveals evangelical influence within MAGA politics. The piece centers on Sen. Mike Lee pressing to have the LDS Church labeled Christian, treats the outcome as a symbolic win for Christian supremacy inside defense policy, and notes the broader constitutional tensions around recognizing faith in the military.
The Pentagon revised its list of recognized religious affiliations for service members after backlash that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was excluded from Christian designations; the updated codes remove the generic Christian label from several faiths to better respect believers and streamline chaplain support, criticized by Mormon lawmakers including Sen. Mike Lee and prompting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to overhaul the military chaplain system.
Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican Mormon, condemned a Defense Department policy overhaul that condensed religious affiliation codes and left The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints off the official Christian group listings used by the U.S. military. Utah colleague Sen. John Curtis echoed the criticism. Pentagon officials say the change is administrative—meant to streamline data for chaplains and resources—not a judgment on faith.
The Defense Department narrowed its registry of servicemember religious identities from more than 200 to 31, omitting Mormonism, a move that triggered outrage from Utah Republicans including Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. John Curtis who urged a reversal. Pentagon officials said the change is intended to streamline support for chaplains and avoid implying any faith is more legitimate, while critics argued it marginalizes LDS believers and misportrays the church.
Sen. Mike Lee's aggressive online campaign to pass the SAVE America Act has strained the Senate GOP, with colleagues accusing him of self-promotion and risky tactics that threaten party unity and the bill's chances, even as leadership attempts to keep debate alive and some supporters argue the move pressures Democrats to negotiate.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to bring the GOP’s SAVE America Act to a vote next week using the standard 60-vote threshold, abandoning a so-called talking filibuster that some Republicans wanted. With Democrats united in opposition, the bill is expected to fail, but Thune intends to allow amendments and extended debate to highlight intra-GOP divisions as Trump pushes for action on the elections overhaul.
Senator Mike Lee is attempting to include a provision in a Republican budget bill to sell public lands, facing strong opposition from Democrats, environmental groups, and some Republicans, who argue it threatens conservation efforts and public access. Despite some modifications to narrow the scope, the proposal remains controversial and is unlikely to pass easily in the House.
Senator Mike Lee's proposal to sell 3.3 million acres of public lands for housing was blocked by the Senate parliamentarian for violating rules on extraneous measures during budget reconciliation, facing backlash and requiring a 60-vote majority to pass.
Sen. Mike Lee faced backlash for posting conspiracy theories and inflammatory content on social media, which has sparked calls for accountability from Utah Democrats and increased opposition efforts, though his strong Republican base and Utah's political landscape make his vulnerability limited. Democrats are strategizing to challenge him in future elections, but the state's deep Republican lean and historical voting patterns pose significant hurdles.