MORNING MESSAGE
House
Speaker John Boehner is like the ineffectual substitute teacher whose presence
barely keeps an unruly class in line, and whose exit ensures that chaos will
ensue. Boehner’s exit leaves a chaotic House GOP without adult supervision ...
Having failed to lead House Republicans toward the standard that Pope Francis
set for political leaders in his speech before the House – “to defend and
preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding
pursuit of the common good” – Boehner will leave behind a Republican class even
more disposed to yelling and throwing spitballs instead of the work the American
people sent them to do.
Trump Tax Plan Far From Populist
Trump’s
tax plan helps the rich. Time: “The 25% rate for higher earners compares to
a top marginal rate today of 39.6% (plus Medicare surtaxes) … Trump’s plan also
eliminates the estate tax. And it cuts the income tax rate paid by corporations
and many businesses … hedge fund managers would also get a tax cut on any of
their earnings already being taxed as income.”
Hillary
targets Big Pharma. Bloomberg: “…the Democratic front-runner released a
hard-hitting television ad on Monday suggesting that CEO Martin Shkreli decided
to lower prices after she went after him … Going after pharmaceutical companies
is a calculated risk by Clinton, who has steered clear of other corporate
targets pursued by Sanders…”
Jeb
Bush to announce energy plan heavy on fossil fuels: “…lifting restrictions
on exporting oil and gas; approving construction of the proposed Keystone XL
pipeline; stripping away some environmental regulations; and urging the federal
government to yield to the energy desires of state and tribes.”
NEA
divided over Clinton endorsement. Politico: “Top brass of the 3
million-strong National Education Association, the country’s largest union, are
recommending an endorsement of Hillary Clinton … a move that has many state
leaders and rank-and-file members planning to protest the early
endorsement.”
Senate Supports Keeping Government Open
Senate
sets up vote to keep government open. The Hill: “Senators voted 77-19 to end
debate on the continuing resolution … Nineteen Republican senators—including
Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rand Paul (Ky.)—voted against …”
Republicans
shut down Sen. Cruz. Politico: “In an unusual rebuke, even fellow
Republicans denied him a ‘sufficient second’ that would have allowed him a roll
call vote [on his amendment.]”
Optimism For Ex-Im
Ex-Im
Bank supporters hopeful Boehner pushes through reauthorization. LAT: “The
clock is ticking because a declared foe of the agency, House Majority Leader
Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), is the favorite to succeed Boehner.”
Cruz
wants Boehner out now. Roll Call: “‘He’s going to stay a month in order to
join with the Democrats and fund Barack Obama’s priorities,’ said Cruz … [He]
criticized the ‘Herculean procedural steps’ to get legislation through that
would revive the Export-Import Bank, contrasting it with the effort to block
appropriations to Planned Parenthood.”
Breakfast Sides
Sen.
Chuck Schumer, Rep. Paul Ryan in talks for infrastructure-repatriation deal.
Politico: “…Schumer and Ryan [met] twice in the Capitol this month …
[Schumer] wants to grant a one-time tax break on overseas profits that
multinational corporations bring back to the United States. The ‘repatriation’
windfall would finance a sweeping infrastructure package, for which he hopes to
get strong buy-in from his caucus, and Republicans would get lower tax rates
overseas moving forward.”
WH
hopes to sign TPP this week. W. Post: “But even if the administration breaks
impasses on several thorny issues between the TPP countries and closes a deal
this week, it is unlikely that trade legislation will reach the House and Senate
floors for another three to four months at the earliest.”
Progressive
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