MORNING MESSAGE
In
2004, Democrats were enraged when Rod Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education under
George W. Bush, called teachers unions “terrorist organizations.” ... CAF stood
by the NEA then and is standing by it now in honoring NEA President Lily
Eskelsen García as a progressive champion at tonight's 2015 Awards Gala
Celebrating America's Future in Washington ... Honoring a teachers’ union leader
– especially one as dynamic and outspoken as Eskelsen García – comes at a time
when many prominent Democrats have become prone to criticize teacher
organizations and question their progressive values ...
Two-Year Bipartisan Budget Deal Struck
Budget
deal linked to debt limit hike. AP: “The deal would also take budget
showdowns and government shutdown fights off the table until after the 2016
presidential election … The measure under discussion would suspend the current
$18.1 trillion debt limit through March 2017.”
Deal
increases spending $80 billion, loosening sequester caps. NYT: “It would
give a little breathing room for more spending on politically popular domestic
programs like health care research, federal law enforcement and the Coast Guard,
while defusing tension between Republican hawks itching for more military
spending and budget hawks demanding strict adherence to statutory spending
limits. And it would avert premium increases of as much as 50 percent for
millions of older people on Medicare, a potent political force.”
Spending
offsets include changes to Medicare, SSDI. HuffPost: “The deal would extend
the sequester’s cuts to mandatory spending through 2025, which mostly involves a
2 percent cut in reimbursements to Medicare doctors … It was [previously]
extended to 2023 under Murray-Ryan deal … The new agreement also would prevent a
20 percent cut in benefits next year to the 11 million Americans enrolled in the
Social Security Disability Insurance program … the disability changes would save
roughly $4 billion to $5 billion over 10 years by requiring all states to have
doctors review initial disability applications … the deal would also set up
demonstration projects in which some people who receive disability benefits
could earn money from working with less fear of triggering a review that can
result in benefits being cut off…”
House
conservatives complain. Roll Call: “‘To me it’s business as usual for
Speaker Boehner,’ Rep. John Fleming, R-La., a House Freedom Caucus founding
member … Despite the consternation, there appeared to be a pathway with a
combination of Democratic votes and national security hawks in both
chambers.”
“GOP
brass expects 90-100 R’s to vote yea … Dems would provide rest of backers”
tweets Fox News’ Chad Pergram.
But
Senate Republicans embrace. The Hill: “Farm-state Republicans are protesting
cuts to a popular crop insurance program but otherwise GOP senators are giving
the green light…”
Sanders Sharpens Clinton Critique
Sanders
intensifies argument against Clinton on MSNBC. W. Post quotes: “It’s great
that people evolve and change their minds, and I respect that. … But it is
important to stand up when the going is tough. … What the American people and
Democrats have to know [is] which candidate historically has had the guts to
stand up to powerful people and take difficult decisions.”
Bush
eyes contrast with Rubio. W. Post: “In a closed-door strategy briefing, Bush
campaign officials detailed numerous contrasts they are seeking to draw with
Rubio (R-Fla.) and branded him disparagingly as a ‘GOP Obama.'”
Charles
Koch unhappy with lack of substance in Republican primary. WSJ: “…he said he
is frustrated by the dearth of discussion about other issues he cares about,
from ending subsidies and tax breaks for corporations to overhauling the
criminal-justice system and making it easier for low-income Americans to start
businesses. He plans to wait until year-end to determine how much he will spend
on 2016 elections, including the White House contest.”
There
are bankers for Bernie. Politico: “…a dive into Sanders’ donor rolls from
the second and third quarters reveals that of the tens of thousands of Americans
listed as contributors on Sanders’ campaign finance reports, well over a hundred
work in the financial services sector … having seen the American economic system
from the inside, they’ve come to agree with Sanders’ conclusion that the game is
rigged…”
Breakfast Sides
House
votes to accept discharge petition on Ex-Im Bank. USA Today: “…62
Republicans joined 184 Democrats to exceed the 218 votes needed to force the
bill to the House floor over the objections of 177 GOP lawmakers. A final vote
to extend the bank’s charter through 2019 will likely come Tuesday. It is not
clear what the future of the bill will be in the Senate.”
Indonesia
will join TPP reports USA Today.
Progressive
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