MORNING MESSAGE
It’s
too bad that Congress was out of session this past Friday. Members would have
gotten a first-hand look at the consequences of their inaction on infrastructure
spending ... the [Memorial Bridge] had become so corroded that [it requires]
extensive repair ... there was a water main break a short distance from the
Capitol ... [But] Congress put off until the end of July work on a long-term
funding bill that would enable states and localities to plan and execute repairs
... Among the presidential candidates, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont has
stepped forward with a $1 trillion plan that would at least be a solid down
payment on our infrastructure needs over the next five years.
Draft Warren Winds Down
Draft
Warren effort ends, but Ilya Sheyman and Charles Chamberlain declare victory in
Politico Magazine oped: “Although Run Warren Run may not have sparked a
candidacy, it ignited a movement … [we have] already built the kind of campaign
infrastructure a candidate aims for in the final months before a caucus or
primary … We’ll help wage the battle against fast-track authority [and] for a
country where education is not synonymous with debt, where Social Security can
live up to its name, and where money does not equal speech…”
Hillary
to hold first rally June 13. W. Post: “The event will take place at the
Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park in Manhattan … The launch will kick-off
a five-day swing through the four early voting states – Iowa, New Hampshire,
South Carolina and Nevada. On Saturday evening following the launch, Clinton
will hold an organizing meeting in Iowa with volunteers and supporters to plan a
‘ground-up, grassroots-focused organization.'”
Hedge
funder attacks Hillary. Bloomberg: “‘I don’t need anybody crapping all over
what I do for a living,’ Leon Cooperman, the billionaire founder of the Omega
Advisors hedge fund, told CNN on Monday, adding that she ‘hangs out with all
these people in Martha’s Vineyard and in the Hamptons and then the very first
thing she has to say is to criticize hedge funds.'”
Martin
O’Malley’s populist bona fides questioned. Politico: “…in November of 2013,
O’Malley schmoozed with some top Wall Street Democrats in a private dining room
at Lever House, a fancy restaurant in midtown … Critics of O’Malley’s current
populist approach also note that he penned an op-ed for the Washington Post in
2007 with former Tennessee congressman and current Morgan Stanley executive
Harold Ford Jr. calling for Democrats to heed the ‘vital center’ and praising
the moderate views and approach of former President Bill Clinton…”
Donald
Trump sounds like a candidate in Des Moines Register interview: “The theme
of my campaign is ‘Make America Great Again.’ … I’m the most successful person
ever to run for the presidency, by far … Romney — I have a Gucci store that’s
worth more than Romney.”
Jeb
woos coal industry. W. Post: “Bush was the only potential presidential
candidate on the agenda at the fourth annual meeting of the Coal &
Investment Leadership Forum, which includes top officers of some of the largest
coal firms in the eastern United States.”
Lindsey
Graham may be the only GOP candidate serious about climate. Maybe. HuffPost:
“Among the Republican presidential contenders, former New York Gov. George
Pataki is the only other candidate who has been proactively engaged on climate.
But while Graham gets a lot of credit for his views on the climate, his record
on the issue has been mixed and at times contradictory.”
Fast Track Lobbying Continues
House
Majority Leader aims for a fast track vote “this month.” The Hill: “The end
of July might be the deadline for Obama’s top legislative priority. When
lawmakers return to Washington after the August recess, the presidential
election will have heated up, and it could be impossible politically to navigate
the trade debate …”
Rep.
Alan Grayson urges supporters to pressure pro-fast track Dems. Politico:
“‘…18 Democratic Members of Congress … are leaning in favor of voting for “Fast
Track,”… As a public service, we provide you their office phone numbers,’
Grayson wrote in the email sent Monday.”
Sen.
Bob Menendez urges House to include anti-slavery provision in fast-track bill.
HuffPost: “It’s a change of tune for Menendez, who had worked out a deal
with Obama to include modified language in the Senate bill. The newer language,
which didn’t make it into the Senate-passed bill, would have allowed Tier 3
nations — the lowest rank that a country engaged in modern-day slavery can
receive from the State Department — into Obama’s trade deals.”
Breakfast Sides
“Oil
giants call for global carbon pollution fees” reports The Hill: “Six major
European oil companies are asking the United Nations to help impose carbon
dioxide emission pricing in all countries. The oil giants said their request to
the U.N. represents the best way they could contribute to reducing carbon
emissions and fighting climate change … The letter was signed by representatives
of the United Kingdom’s BG Group and BP, Italy’s Eni, the UK-Netherlands’s Royal
Dutch Shell, Norway’s Statoil and France’s Total.”
“Feds
fast-track approval for 3 solar power farms” reports The Hill
California
may raise minimum wage again. Sacramento Bee: “…the California Senate on
Monday approved raising the state’s required hourly rate to $11 in 2016 and $13
in 2017 … California’s minimum wage would also begin increasing annually in 2019
based on inflation. The measure heads next to the Assembly.”
Progressive
Breakfast is a daily morning email highlighting news stories of interest to
activists. Progressive Breakfast is a project of the Campaign for America's
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