MORNING MESSAGE
A
faction of anti-abortion conservatives is one week from shutting down the
government over the funding of Planned Parenthood. Yet they got no words of
encouragement from Pope Francis, leader of the biggest anti-abortion institution
in the world. In fact, Pope Francis did the opposite. Instead of encouraging
them to fight Planned Parenthood to the bitter end, he counseled them to embrace
“dialogue,” “cooperation” and “pragmatism.”
BREAKING: Boehner To Resign
Boehner
to leave Congress after keeping government open. Politico: “Now that he
doesn’t have internal political considerations to weigh, Boehner is certain to
push through a government-funding bill next week that funds Planned Parenthood,
and keeps the government open … [The decision] will set off one of the most
intense leadership scrambles in modern Congressional GOP politics.”
Strong GDP Number
2nd
quarter GDP revised upward. Bloomberg: “Gross domestic product rose at a 3.9
percent annualized rate, compared with a prior estimate of 3.7 percent … [A]
bright spot last quarter was government spending, which climbed at a 2.6 percent
pace, led by the biggest gain in state and local agency outlays since 2001.”
Though
the alternative Gross Domestic Income measure was weak. Bloomberg: “Gross
domestic income, which reflects all the money earned by consumers, businesses
and government agencies climbed at a 0.7 percent annualized rate. It climbed 0.4
percent in the first quarter, marking the weakest back-to-back gains since
mid-2012. Although GDP and GDI should theoretically match, they can diverge in
the short run because they are derived from different sources.”
Fed
chief predicts rate hike soon. The Atlantic quotes: “Most FOMC participants,
including myself, currently anticipate that achieving these conditions will
likely entail an initial increase in the federal funds rate later this year,
followed by a gradual pace of tightening thereafter. But if the economy
surprises us, our judgments about appropriate monetary policy will change.”
Recovering
states give money back to the wealthy. Bloomberg: “In another sign that U.S.
states are recovering from the Great Recession, a handful are triggering
mechanisms that repay taxpayers when coffers overflow, and the wealthiest are
receiving the most. At least seven states have such laws.”
Sanders Way Ahead In NH
Bernie
leads big in CNN/WMUR NH poll: “Sanders has the backing of nearly half of
those who say they plan to vote in the first-in-the-nation Democratic primary
next year — 46% support him — while just 30% say they back Clinton. Another 14%
say they would support Biden.”
Sanders
introduces bill to repeal Obamacare tax on high benefit plans. The Hill:
“The bill’s Democratic cosponsors include heavyweights such as Sen. Charles
Schumer … The move also puts pressure on Sanders’ presidential rival Hillary
Clinton … She has previously said she is ‘examining’ the provision but did not
make any mention of the tax during a series of speeches this week focused on her
healthcare platform.”
Carly
Fiorina once backed the individual mandate. CNN: “During a panel discussion
on CNN’s “Crossfire” in 2013 … Fiorina said she supports keeping the requirement
that every American purchase health insurance … Fiorina’s support for an
individual mandate, the spokeswoman said [Thursday], differs from Obamacare in
that the law’s mandate demands that every American be covered with plans that
include a higher threshold of services.”
Bush
echoes Romney, derides “free stuff” to African-Americans. W. Post: “‘Look
around this room,’a man told Bush … ‘How many black faces do you see? How are
you going to include them and get them to vote for you?’ … ‘Our message is one
of hope and aspiration,” [Bush] said … ‘It isn’t one of division and get in line
and we’ll take care of you with free stuff.'”
China Adopts Cap-And-Trade
China
announces cap-and-trade program. NYT: “President Xi Jinping of China will
make a landmark commitment on Friday to start a national program in 2017 that
will limit and put a price on greenhouse gas emissions … part of an ambitious
effort by China and the United States to use their leverage internationally to
tackle climate change and to pressure other nations to do the same … [It] is
China’s first commitment to a specific plan to carry out what have so far been
general ambitions.”
Progressive
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