Wissam Melhem
Politics Reporter, Washington, D.C.Latest from Wissam Melhem
Arizona veterans of 1998 impeachment see similarities, deeper divides
WASHINGTON - No one in Arizona's congressional delegation has been through an impeachment vote before, but lawmakers who were in Congress for the 1998 impeachment of President Bill Clinton remember angry phone calls from sharply divided voters - much like the situation today.
Grijalva, House Democrats demand probe of troops deployed to border
WASHINGTON - Dozens of House Democrats renewed calls Friday for the Defense Department to investigate the legality of President Donald Trump's decision to deploy thousands of active-duty and National Guard troops to the U.S-Mexico border.
Arizona lawmakers split by party, as House OKs next impeachment steps
WASHINGTON - Arizona lawmakers split on party lines Thursday as the House passed a resolution that lays out the framework for the next public phase of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.
Arizonans among House Republicans who stormed impeachment hearing
WASHINGTON - Arizona lawmakers were among dozens of Republicans who stormed the House impeachment hearings Wednesday to protest the closed-door meetings and demand that Democrats open the proceedings.
Fundraising shows Schweikert down, but analysts say he’s not out yet
WASHINGTON - Rep. David Schweikert's fundraising is down, he has a well-funded Democratic challenger and his office is dogged by ethics complaints. All that combines to make the 6th District competitive, but it doesn't mean the Schweikert should be counted out yet, analysts say.
Breakfast and a side of bipartisanship: Lawmakers revive get-together
WASHINGTON – It's a contentious time in Washington, but – for an hour a month at least – Arizona Democrats and Republicans sit down to chat over breakfast.
Town hollow: Report says lawmakers had few town halls; GOP had none
WASHINGTON - Arizona lawmakers have held just 28 town halls this year - 19 of those by Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Sedona. Neither of the state's senators have had a town hall this year and no Republicans in the state's House delegation had done so, a new report says.
Biggs take reins of Freedom Caucus at tough time for conservatives
WASHINGTON - Democrats have a 38-seat majority in the House and are pressing an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, but as Rep. Andy Biggs takes over the conservative Freedom Caucus the Gilbert Republican says he's ready for the fight.
Barrett nomination, despite hiccup, expected to proceed through Senate
WASHINGTON - Arizona businesswoman Barbara Barrett's nomination to be Air Force secretary is expected to proceed without incident when the Senate returns from its two-week recess, despite concerns of one Senate Democrat who had threatened to hold it up.
Congress again voids Trump’s border emergency declaration; veto likely
WASHINGTON - Arizona lawmakers split on party lines this week as Congress voted again to terminate President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the border, which he has cited to justify use of Pentagon funds for border construction.
Lawmakers agree Trump should turn over documents, disagree on end goal
WASHINGTON - Arizona lawmakers agreed Wednesday that President Donald Trump must turn over documents in the latest probe of his administration, even as they disagreed on what those documents mean and how the investigation should proceed.
‘We have to live with it’: Students demand climate action today to ensure a greener tomorrow
PHOENIX – With the U.N. climate summit Monday, thousands of people around the world took part in a global climate strike. And students played a major role.
Giffords report claims gun violence in Arizona costs state billions
WASHINGTON - A new report claims that Arizona loses as much as $1.9 billion every year to costs directly associated with gun violence, from lost wages to expenses on everything from health care to police and criminal justice.
Air Force nominee Barrett gets gentle treatment at confirmation hearing
WASHINGTON - Arizona businesswoman Barbara Barrett might have been the subject of a Senate hearing Thursday on her nomination to be the next Air Force secretary, but it was President Donald Trump who was often the focus.
House panel’s votes on gun bills give likely preview of battles to come
WASHINGTON - A House panel worked late into the night in a sometimes heated, sometimes emotional hearing on gun-control bills Tuesday, a potential preview of congressional debates to come in the weeks after a string of mass shootings.
Ethics panel releases details of new probe of GOP Rep. David Schweikert
WASHINGTON - Potential challengers to Rep. David Schweikert were quick to jump on new ethics revelations Friday that there was "substantial reason to believe" the Fountain Hills Republican may have used congressional staff and resources to benefit his political campaigns.
Arizona officials fear fallout as new tariffs on Chinese goods start
WASHINGTON - Arizona business leaders said they worry that a 15% tariff on $300 billion in Chinese goods that takes effect Sunday will backfire and end up hurting economic growth at home. The new tariffs target consumer and electronic goods heading into the holiday season.
Arizona joins other states calling on Supreme Court to overturn DACA
WASHINGTON - Arizona joined 12 other states this week that asked the Supreme Court to roll back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which they say has caused "irreparable harm" to their states.
The tough gets tougher: McSally again faces primary race in Senate bid
WASHINGTON - Arizona's Senate race, already expected to be one of the toughest in the nation, got tougher this week when Phoenix businessman Daniel McCarthy announced a Republican primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Martha McSally in her 2020 re-election bid.
