Pelosi takes first step to quell budget rebellion
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is proposing a procedural vote this month that would set up future passage of two economic measures crucial to President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda, a move Democratic leaders hope will win must-have votes from unhappy party moderates.
In a letter Sunday to Democratic lawmakers, Ms. Pelosi, D-Calif., suggested the House will take a single vote that would clear an initial hurdle for both a budget resolution and a separate infrastructure bill. The budget blueprint would open the gate for Congress to later consider a separate, $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill for health, education and environment programs.
Nine centrist Democrats said Friday they would oppose the budget resolution until the House first approves a $1 trillion package of road, railway and other infrastructure projects. In the face of solid Republican opposition, Democrats can lose no more than three defectors to pass legislation through the closely split chamber.
The infrastructure measure, which the Senate approved last week with bipartisan support, is the top priority for moderates, who want to bank a quick win by sending it to Mr. Biden for his signature. Democrats are calling the House back from summer recess on Aug. 23 for votes.
By forcing the House to vote on moving both measures an initial step forward together, Democratic leaders hope moderates will be forced to abandon their threat — at least for now — and join the rest of the party in edging its economic and social agenda toward eventual passage.
Israel condemns Poland restitution law
Israel on Saturday condemned Poland’s approval of a law that restricts the rights of Holocaust survivors or their descendants to reclaim property seized by the country’s former communist regime and announced it was recalling its top diplomat in protest.
The move ignited a diplomatic crisis between Israel’s new government and the nationalist conservative government in Poland. After years of close ties under former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s new government, which includes top officials who are the children of Holocaust survivors, has taken a far more confrontational approach.
Polish President Andrzej Duda earlier in the day signed the law, which addresses appropriations done by the communist government that ruled Poland from the end of World War II until 1989.
The law itself says nothing about the Holocaust or World War II. Instead, it establishes any administrative decision issued 30 years ago or more can no longer be challenged, meaning property owners who had their homes or business seized in the communist era can no longer get compensation.
It is expected to cut off for all time the hopes of some families — both Jewish and non-Jewish — of reclaiming property seized during that era.
Both the U.S. and Israeli governments had strongly urged Poland not to pass the law, and Israel had warned it would harm ties.
Opposition leader takes lead in Zambia poll
Veteran Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema appears on the verge of clinching the southern African country’s presidency, with a commanding lead in votes.
The 59-year old businessman, contesting the presidency for the sixth time, has more than 2.3 million votes to President Edgar Lungu’s 1.4 million votes, according to results announced Sunday by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
Mr. Hichilema narrowly lost two previous elections to Mr. Lungu in 2015 and 2016. Mr. Lungu won by a margin of just 100,000 votes in 2016.
The winner of the election held Thursday must garner more than 50% of the votes cast to avoid a second round of voting, and Mr. Hichilema appears close to the 2.5 million estimated to be more than half of those who voted. The electoral commission has announced results for more than 100 of the country’s 156 constituencies.
“With victory in sight, I would like to ask for calm from our members and supporters. Let us be the change we voted for,” tweeted Mr. Hichilema, whose United Party for National Development is in an alliance with more than 10 smaller parties.