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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 28 February 2023
Harris promotes broadband in South Carolina as 2024 looms

By MEG KINNARD in the South. Former Presi-
Associated Press dent Donald Trump held
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — a campaign event in the
Vice President Kamala Statehouse last month, and
Harris promoted the Biden former Gov. Nikki Haley an-
administration’s achieve- nounced her candidacy
ments on broadband in- in Charleston a few weeks
ternet access during a visit later. Sen. Tim Scott is also
to South Carolina, recently mulling a potential bid.
minted as the site of Demo- Equalizing access to high-
crats’ first presidential votes speed internet has been
of the 2024 campaign. a priority for Biden, who in
In Monday’s trip, her fourth 2021 signed into law a $1
to the early-voting state trillion infrastructure pack-
since becoming vice presi- age that, alongside tradi-
dent, Harris lauded more tional public works projects
than $175 million being like building roads and
spent to help improve high- bridges, included $65 billion
speed internet infrastruc- for broadband expansion.
ture at historically Black Expanding broadband in-
colleges and institutions, ternet availability also has
which she called “centers been a top priority for Rep.
of academic excellence.” Vice President Kamala Harris gives remarks on broadband internet expansion on Monday, Feb. Jim Clyburn, one of the
“Many of those that we 27, 2023, at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C. Associated Press White House’s top Capitol
focus on currently do not Hill supporters and South
have reliable access to Biden has repeatedly ac- begun selling buttons, mugs his intent to seek reelection, Carolina’s lone congres-
high-speed internet on knowledged the state’s piv- and apparel flaunting the Biden has yet to make it of- sional Democrat. Clyburn,
campus,” said Harris, her- otal role in his nomination state’s new status with the ficial, struggling to dispel the chamber’s assistant
self a graduate of an HBCU. as well as the significance tagline “South Carolina questions about whether Democratic leader, has
“This means that more stu- of its heavily Black Demo- Democrats Pick Winners.” he’s too old to continue long advocated for more
dents will be able to use the cratic electorate. During But Harris’ appearance serving as president. In widespread internet ac-
internet for their everyday remarks at a fundraiser last also comes as a debate an exclusive interview last cess nationwide, pushing
needs.” year, Harris thanked South swirls over whether Biden week with The Associated for affordable, high-speed
Harris’ remarks to a room of Carolina Democrats, who — who, at age 80, is the Press, first lady Jill Biden networks in rural communi-
at least 100 supporters and “set President Joe Biden nation’s oldest president gave one of the clearest ties.
student leaders from Bene- and me on a path to the — should seek a second indications yet that her hus- Last week, Clyburn ap-
dict College, an HBCU in White House.” term in office, as is widely band will run in 2024, saying peared alongside Republi-
Columbia, came as Dem- Late last year, Biden asked expected. According to that there’s “pretty much” can Gov. Henry McMaster
ocrats’ national attention the Democratic National a poll released this month nothing left to do but figure to announce the formation
hones in on South Carolina, Committee to move the from The Associated Press- out the time and place for of a program — funded by
where a landslide 2020 pri- state to the top of the presi- NORC Center for Public Af- the announcement. the bipartisan infrastructure
mary win gave Joe Biden dential primary voting cal- fairs Research, just 37% of The Republican candi- package — designed to
the momentum to notch endar, which party officials Democrats said they want- date field is already form- identify the areas of great-
Super Tuesday wins and did this month. Via its email ed Biden to seek a second ing, with a focus on South est need in South Carolina
bounce several opponents lists, South Carolina’s Dem- term. Carolina, home to the first and invest in broadband
from the race. ocratic Party has already Though he’s long said it’s GOP presidential primary infrastructure.q

Supreme Court to hear challenge to

consumer agency

By JESSICA GRESKO when the court begins its mense legal and practical
Associated Press next term. Late last year, harms on the CFPB, con-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The a federal appeals court — sumers, and the nation’s fi-
Supreme Court said Mon- the U.S. Court of Appeals nancial sector,” the admin-
day it will take up a Re- for the 5th Circuit — ruled istration said.
publican-led challenge to that the agency’s fund- Since the bureau was cre-
the Consumer Financial ing structure is unconstitu- ated more than a decade
Protection Bureau, a case tional, threatening its abil- ago by the Dodd-Frank
that could threaten how ity to function. The Biden Act, it has varied in its ag- Light illuminates part of the Supreme Court building at dusk on
the consumer watchdog administration asked the gressiveness. During the Capitol Hill in Washington, Nov. 16, 2022. Associated Press
agency functions. It is the high court to review that Obama administration, it
second time in three years decision, which it has now used its muscle to collect checked power. The case funded directly by the Fed-
that the justices will be ex- agreed to do. fines from banks and credit the justices agreed to hear eral Reserve. The agency’s
amining the federal agen- The administration said the card companies; during centers on the agency’s budget is capped at 12% of
cy, which was created in lower court’s ruling “calls the Trump administration, funding. Unlike a majority the total operating expens-
the wake of the 2008 finan- into question virtually every it drastically scaled back of agencies, the CFPB does es of the Federal Reserve
cial crisis. action the CFPB has taken” enforcement actions. Re- not get its funding from the System. In the 2022 fiscal
The case will not be heard since its creation. The deci- publicans have argued annual budget process year, the agency received
before October. That’s sion “threatens to inflict im- that the agency has un- in Congress. Instead, it is about $640 million.q