MORNING MESSAGE
Solutions To The Teacher Shortage Crisis Even Republicans Will Like
...we
don’t have to wait for the federal government. Republicans should love that many
efforts to address teacher shortages can happen at state and local levels of
government ... The [Learning Policy Institute] report offers three broad
recommendations to address shortages through policy changes related to teacher
compensation, distribution and, retention. These broad recommendations are
broken down further into more focused efforts that could be applied at local
levels ... Of course, the worst way to address the teacher shortage crisis is to
lower the qualifications for instructors and reduce the quality of teaching.
Unfortunately, many states are taking that path...
CALLS FOR CHARLOTTE VIDEO RELEASE
Demands
rise for release of Charlotte police shooting video. NYT: “There is
currently no law in North Carolina that regulates the public release of body
camera video. Instead, each local law enforcement agency makes its own rules.
The new state law [taking effect Oct. 1] maintains that body camera video is not
a public record that can be released through freedom of information requests. It
also says that law enforcement agencies can only show such recordings to people
who are seen or heard on them … Public release would require a court order…”
“Donald
Trump’s Crime Policies Might Hit Minorities Harder, Experts Say” in NYT:
“Mr. Trump’s policy prescriptions have stirred concern among some experts in
national security and law enforcement, including prominent Republicans who warn
that Mr. Trump’s agenda could undermine public safety by generating a backlash
in communities that the police and intelligence officials rely upon for
cooperation…”
CLINTON BACKS ESTATE TAX HIKE
Clinton
proposes 65% estate tax. WSJ: “Democratic presidential candidate Hillary
Clinton would levy a 65% tax on the largest estates and make it harder for
wealthy people to pass appreciated assets to their heirs without paying taxes …
In all, Mrs. Clinton would increase taxes by about $1.5 trillion over the next
decade, increasing federal revenue by about 4%, though that new burden would be
concentrated on relatively few households.”
Trump
bets on coal and fracking. NYT: “Mr. Trump’s energy promises to those
attending a corporate conference contained a fundamentally incompatible concept,
as expanding the exploration of natural gas is the surest way to hurt coal
production … Energy experts said Mr. Trump’s pledges on gas and coal pandered to
his audience while showing a lack of basic knowledge about energy markets.”
GOP DITCHES FLINT
No
Flint aid in GOP bill to keep government open. The Hill: “Republicans on
Thursday presented what they said was a clean bill stripped of conservative
policy riders, such as language blocking the administration from ceding
authority over the Internet … But it does not include aid for the community of
Flint … They think if Democrats try to block the funding bill, they’ll get
blamed for derailing legislation to keep the government operating, fight Zika
and help thousands of displaced people in Louisiana. Democrats say they’re
getting jammed and vow to fight back … The Senate will vote at 2:15 pm Tuesday.
If the motion fails, negotiators will have to resume work three days and a few
hours away from a possible shutdown.”
BREAKFAST SIDES
Education
Department strips for-profit college accreditor of its authority. US News:
“The Department of Education officially stripped the Accrediting Council for
Independent Colleges and Schools – the largest accrediting agency of for-profit
colleges and universities – of its authority Thursday, handing down the final
blow in a long controversy over the council’s ability to be an effective
watchdog for students and billions of taxpayer dollars … ACICS was the
accrediting agency for now-shuttered Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical
Institute campuses.”
Additional
Obama appointee added to court for case over Obama climate rules. The Hill:
“The addition of Judge Nina Pillard tips the scales further toward Democratic
appointees for the case, which comes before the Court of Appeals for the D.C.
Circuit next week. Six of the judges now hearing the oral arguments were
appointed by Democrats and four by Republicans … Pillard had recused herself
previously from the case for a reason the court never explained.”
House
Dems join with tribal leaders to oppose Dakota Access Pipeline. The Hill:
“…Democrats said they were heartened by a promised Obama administration review
of Dakota Access and a court order blocking its construction in North Dakota.
But they said more needs to be done to stop the project … ‘We are calling on the
Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the exiting permits for the Dakota Access
Pipeline and initiate a transparent permitting process …,’ Rep. Raúl Grijalva
(D-Ariz.) said.”
Progressive
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