03/05/2021 | Press release | Archived content
White House Announces Additional Policy Staff
Today, President Biden and Vice President Harris announced the appointments of additional policy staff who will serve with the White House COVID Response Team, Domestic Climate Policy Office, Domestic Policy Council, and National Economic Council. These qualified, impressive, and dedicated individuals reflect the diversity and strength of America and will play critical roles advancing the Biden-Harris Administration s commitment to tackling the crises we face and building back our country better.
Biographies of the appointees are listed below in alphabetical order and by White House office:
COVID Response Team
Charles Anderson, Director of Economic Policy and Budget for the COVID-19 Response Team
An aide implicated in embattled New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s nursing home scandal taught an "ethics in government" class at the New York University School of Law.
2021/03/05 06:23 In this image taken from video from the Office of the N.Y. Governor, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, March 3, 2. In this image taken from video from the Office of the N.Y. Governor, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Albany, N.Y. Besieged by sexual harassment allegations, a somber Cuomo apologized Wednesday, saying he learned an important lesson about his own behavior around women, but he said he intended to remain in office. (Office of the NY Governor via AP) ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York’s attorney general has promised a thorough investigation of allegations that Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed at least two women.
March 4, 2021
A Shawnee County Election Office volunteer drops a ballot into a dropbox on Oct. 20, 2020. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)
The U.S. House passed sweeping voting rights, redistricting, campaign finance and ethics reform late Wednesday night along party lines in a 220 to 210 vote, but the historic package will face an uphill battle in the Senate as no Republicans currently support the bill.
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Even though Democrats control Congress and the White House, their slim majority in a 50-50 Senate is not enough to enact into law a massive package that tackles dark money in campaigns, voter suppression and election security that requires 60 votes rather than a simple majority. The push to end or reform the Senate filibuster is growing among Democrats who are aiming to get the package on President Joe Biden s desk in the hopes that some of those changes can be enacted before midterm and gubernatorial races in 2022.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL S REVIEW
Attorney General Letitia James said her office will hire a private law firm to investigate Cuomo s conduct and issue a public report. Details, like the scope and length of the investigation are unclear.
The inquiry could just focus on the two members of Cuomo’s administration who said they felt harassed. Or investigators could seek out other women who were made to feel uncomfortable, even those outside the administration.
Former Cuomo adviser Lindsay Boylan says the governor commented about her appearance, summoned her to an uncomfortable private meeting in his office after a holiday party and gave her an unwanted kiss at a meeting in 2018. Boylan also says the administration leaked her personnel files to reporters after she accused him of harassment.