MORNING MESSAGE
Progressive Caucus Budget Defeated, But Wins Majority of Democrats
The
Progressive Caucus People’s Budget, as expected, went down to defeat on the
House floor today, but not before it picked up 96 Democratic votes, a majority
of Democrats ... a larger share of Democratic votes than it did in previous
years ... Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), co-chair of the Progressive Caucus ...
pointed out that the Progressive Caucus budget specifically promises to produce
8.4 million new jobs through a specific set of policies. The Republican budget,
he noted, makes no similar job-creation commitment.
TPP Draft Leaks
Classified
TPP draft released by WIkileaks to NYT: “[The draft accord] would allow
foreign corporations to sue the United States government for actions that
undermine their investment ‘expectations’ and hurt their business … Backers …
say that it is in line with previous agreements that contain similar provisions.
But critics, including many Democrats in Congress, argue that the planned deal
widens the opening for multinationals to sue in the United States and
elsewhere…”
Sen.
Ron Wyden risks primary challenge if he supports fast-track. The Hill: “The
Oregon chapter of MoveOn.org on Wednesday released a poll that found more than
79 percent of its members would back a primary challenge to Wyden if he supports
the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which it calls a ‘dangerous trade
agreement.’ … Wyden and Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) haven’t
reached an agreement yet on legislation that would let the TPP move through
Congress in an up-or-down vote. Hatch said he has sent the Democrat a new
legislative proposal, and wants to introduce something after lawmakers return in
April from a two-week recess.”
House Passes Budget
Defense
hawks beat fiscal hawks as budget clears House. The Hill: “House Republicans
adopted a 2016 budget in a 228-199 vote on Wednesday that represents a major
victory for GOP leaders after a rocky start to their year. The budget would
increase defense spending next year by boosting the Pentagon’s war fund to $96
billion … The provision won over dozens of defense hawks … Only 17 Republicans
voted against the budget … The Senate is expected to vote on its GOP budget by
the end of the week … While the two GOP budgets are similar, important
differences will make it difficult to reconcile them.”
Obama
backs bipartisan House Medicare bill, squeezing Senate Dems. NYT: “Leaders
of both parties in the House expressed confidence on Wednesday that their
chamber would soon approve sweeping changes in Medicare … President Obama
endorsed the legislation. ‘I’ve got my pen ready to sign a good bipartisan bill,
which would be really exciting,’ he said … The bill would extend the popular
Children’s Health Insurance Program for two years. Senate Democrats would
strongly prefer a four-year extension.”
More
welfare = more entrepreneurship. The Atlantic’s Walter Frick: “A series of
more recent studies challenge the view that larger or more activist government
necessarily threatens entrepreneurship … Entrepreneurs are actually more likely
than other Americans to receive public benefits, after accounting for income ..
in many cases, expanding benefit programs helps spur new business creation.”
Top Lawyers Debunk Coal Defense
Harvard
law profs Jody Freeman and Richard J. Lazarus debunk coal industry attorney
Laurence Tribe’s brief against EPA climate regs, in Politico Magazine: “In
200 years of precedent, there is not a shred of support for Tribe’s notion that
it can be a ‘taking’ when the government regulates industry to prevent harms to
the public health or welfare…”
As
does NYU Law prof Richard L. Revesz in NYT: “He claims that the Clean Power
Plan violates the 10th Amendment by letting the federal government commandeer
state institutions. But this reading of the Constitution would invalidate not
just the Clean Power Plan, but also the Clean Air Act’s centerpiece the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards — which have saved hundreds of thousands of
lives.”
Payday Lending Rules Coming
CFPB
to outline new payday lending regs. McClatchy: “Federal regulators on
Thursday will outline a proposal to place limits on high-interest, short-term
loans – the first step in the government’s efforts to curb payday debt traps …
[Rules] would cover payday loans, vehicle title loans and high-cost installment
loans. Lenders would be required to make sure borrowers can afford to repay and
to notify borrowers before debiting payments from their checking accounts.”
Obama
to defend payday lending rules in Alabama speech reports USA Today.
Breakfast Sides
Sen.
Bernie Sanders’ distaste for money in politics complicates possible presidential
run. Bloomberg: “His political advisers think he can be viewed as a
legitimate candidate if he raises $50 million … That involves a new skill set
for a guy whose major fundraiser every year is a sunset cruise on Lake
Champlain, for which donors pay $25 to come aboard. He’s trying. On April 3,
he’ll host a private breakfast fundraiser at the Hotel Palomor in Chicago, where
the suggested contribution is $1,000.”
European
anti-austerity movement reaches Ireland. NYT: “…, Ireland had been the
poster child for German-led austerity policies. Its citizens offered little
resistance … In recent months, however, the Irish have been anything but quiet …
Support has been growing for the anti-austerity, left-wing opposition Sinn Fein
party…”
Rising
dollar hurting manufacturers. NYT: “Last week, Janet L. Yellen, the Fed
chairwoman, warned that the stronger dollar was likely to weigh on exports,
producing ‘a notable drag this year on the outlook.’ … More warnings are
expected as companies begin to report earnings for the first quarter of 2015,
which ends Tuesday.”
Progressive
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