MORNING MESSAGE
The
economy gained 280,000 jobs in May ... The private sector now has added more
than 12 million jobs over 63 straight months of job growth, the longest streak
on record ... but [the economy] still has a long way to go ... The long-term
unemployed (jobless for 27 weeks or more) remain a troubling 28.6 percent of the
unemployed, still near the highest pre-recession levels on record ... The labor
force participation rate remains at lows not seen since before women entered the
workforce in the 1970s ... Average hourly wages have risen only 2.3 percent over
the last year. Workers are still struggling to share in the rewards of growth
... Officially, the economy is in recovery but working families are not.
Congress should be acting to rebuild the country and put people to
work.
Fast Track Backers Getting Closer
Fast
track gains some House votes. WSJ: “…some House members who had been on the
fence on trade have made clear they will vote for the measure … The list
includes Democratic Reps. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Don Beyer of Virginia and
Rick Larsen of Washington and Texas Republicans Blake Farenthold and Lamar Smith
… ‘We had a very good week,’ [Rep. Paul] Ryan said. ‘We’re not quite there.’ …
House Republican aides estimate that between 25 to 30 Democrats will be needed
to pass the fast-track bill—a smaller number than previously estimated, because
more Republicans are now indicating support…”
TPP
may give drug companies sweetheart deal. Politico: “The pharmaceutical
industry has been pressing the Obama administration to insist that the
Trans-Pacific Partnership include 12 years of monopoly pricing power for the
makers of [biologic] drugs … [That’s] unanimously opposed by the other 11
nations … Some trade-deal supporters go so far as to say they would rethink
their support if biologics don’t get the full protection.”
Wikileaks
released documents about another pending trade deal. TNR’s David Dayen:
“…the largest agreement is also the least heralded: the 51-nation Trade in
Services Agreement … Though member parties insist that the agreement would
simply stop discrimination against foreign service providers, the text shows
that TiSA would restrict how governments can manage their public laws through an
effective regulatory cap…”
Hillary Talks Democracy, Bernie Talks Jobs
Hillary
Clinton lashes out at GOP voter suppression tactics: “…Clinton on Thursday
accused Republicans including her potential rivals Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and
Rick Perry of “deliberately trying to stop” young people and minorities — both
vital Democratic constituencies — from exercising their right to vote … She
called for automatic voter registration in every state…”
“Hillary
Clinton needs a Sister Souljah moment with Wall Street” says W. Post’s Harold
Meyerson: ” Her Sister Souljah speech should go something like this: I won’t
put up with noxious nonsense that endangers our economic prospects just because
it originates on Wall Street.”
Bernie
Sanders proposes youth jobs plan. Bloomberg: “[His bill] would create a $5.5
billion fund, $4 billion earmarked for the employment of people between 16 and
24, $1.5 billion for job training grants. There are no pay-fors.”
Scott
Walker goes after Wisconsin profs. NYT: “[Walker] has turned his sights to a
different element of the public sector: state universities. … he and leaders in
Wisconsin’s Republican-held Legislature have called for changes that would give
a board largely picked by the governor far more control over tenure and
curriculum in the University of Wisconsin System.”
Republican Congressional Dysfunction
Ex-Im
Bank charter expected to lapse. Politico: “Supporters are beginning to throw
up their hands and admit that the agency is very likely to lose its charter
after June 30 … the lack of available floor time in the Senate … means the
political football will almost certainly be punted until July … Senior GOP
officials predict there could be a test vote in June intended to show that
there’s support in the Senate for Ex-Im in order to reassure companies …”
Sen.
Harry Reid plans to block all GOP spending bills. Politico: “…they’re
attempting to force Republicans to the negotiating table and hasten a deal to
raise strict spending caps, expanding funds for programs like education and
infrastructure … If the GOP refuses to negotiate and a government shutdown
occurs, the blame will likely fall to conservatives who control both chambers of
Congress.”
“Pressure
Rises for Higher Taxes” in both parties, says NYT’s John Harwood: “The Tea
Party push to slash spending has lost steam and generated a backlash. Defense
hawks want more money for the Pentagon, while other Republicans seek additional
cash for highway projects … Republicans’ growing emphasis on reducing debt and
deficits has curbed the appeal of supply-side tax cuts … Lindsey Graham[] says
his party needs to back higher taxes as part of a budget deal with Democrats …
Jeb Bush refuses to sign the [Norquist] pledge.”
Breakfast Sides
Enviros,
frackers both claim victory after EPA report. The Hill: “Hydraulic
fracturing has not caused any major harm to drinking water supplies, the
Environmental Protection Agency concluded Thursday … [But] the EPA recognized
some ‘potential vulnerabilities in the water lifecycle that could impact
drinking water.'”
Utah
police like Obamacare. Bloomberg: “Police chiefs and sheriffs who run local
jails in states that haven’t expanded Medicaid are coming out in favor of
Obamacare on the grounds that it could help drug addicts and people with mental
illness get help before they commit crimes … Jim Winder, the elected sheriff of
Salt Lake County, says 15 percent to 18 percent of the 40,000 people booked each
year into the county jail—Utah’s largest—are severely mentally ill, about the
same as the national rate.”
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
Future. more
»
