MORNING MESSAGE
The GOP Health Bill Is an Assault on People of Color
The
American Health Care Act is a rich person’s bonanza. Under the plan proposed by
House Republicans, each of the nation’s 400 richest families will save $7
million per year, as part of a tax giveaway. The plan offers no benefits at all
to those who earn $200,000 or less a year. The burden from this cynical wealth
grab falls disproportionately on the nation’s black, brown and poor
households.
Republicans Skittish Over Health Care
GOP
Sen . Tom Cotton warns House Republicans against approving health care bill as
is, on ABC’s This Week: “I would say to my friends in the House of
Representatives with whom I serve, ‘Do not walk the plank and vote for a bill
that cannot pass the Senate and then have to face the consequences of that vote
… I don’t want to see the House majority put at risk on a bill that is not going
to pass the Senate.”
Another
Republican senator criticizes repeal bill in leaked audio. Politico: “‘My
argument with the Republicans is if we’re going to make the changes, don’t
repeal the Affordable Care Act so you can keep all the taxes. I think that’s
unfair and I don’t think that’s a responsible way to move forward,’ [Sen. Dean]
Heller said. The House bill does eliminate some taxes on wealthy people.”
Speaker
Ryan refuses to answer how many people will lose health coverage on CBS’ “Face
The Nation”: “Asked … approximately how many people will lose coverage if
the American Health Care Act is passed, Ryan replied: ‘I can’t answer that
question. It’s up to people … People are going to do what they want to do with
their lives because we believe in individual freedom in this country.'”
CBO
score imminent. Politico: “The Congressional Budget Office is set to release
its ‘score’ — the fiscal and practical impact — of the Republican health-care
bill today or tomorrow and it’s not expected to be pretty.”
Prominent DREAMer Released
DREAMer
released from detention. The Nation: ” On Friday, Daniela Vargas, a
22-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mississippi who was arrested by
immigration officials after publicly speaking out about a raid on her family’s
home, was released by immigration officials … the Trump administration is
perhaps more sensitive to public protest and legal tussles than it might admit
to. ICE did not respond to queries for comment.”
Another
DREAMer writes on his continued detainment in W. Post: “I’ve been in an
immigrant detention center in Tacoma, Wash., for more than a month. That’s a
month away from my family, a month further away from doing everything I can to
support my 3-year-old son and a lifetime away from the future my parents wished
for me when I was brought here from Mexico at age 7. I’ve spent nearly my whole
life in the United States … the government already knows that I’m not a gang
member.”
Trump
may lower hiring standards for Border Patrol. Mother Jones: “[Customs and
Border Protection] has requested approval to ease its stringent hiring
standards, which include background investigations and polygraph exams mandated
by Congress in 2010 after the misconduct allegations came to light.”
Europe, California Press Trump On Climate
Europe
tries to keep Trump from pulling out of Paris climate agreement. Politico:
“Germany, France, Italy, the European Commission and others see two high-profile
gatherings of world leaders — this summer’s G7 and G20 summits in Italy and
Germany — as the perfect opportunities to push the Trump administration to take
a stance on climate, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to the White
House on Tuesday as a potential prelude. But they’re still unsure how to
approach a president who has questioned the value of U.S. alliances and
dismissed climate change as a Chinese hoax … it’s not certain that the issue
will make it onto Tuesday’s agenda, which could also include issues like NATO,
trade and EU relations…”
“EPA,
California prepare to battle over clean air rules. Mother Jones: “…13
(mostly northeastern) states and Washington, DC have adopted California’s
extra-stringent emissions standards … California’s waiver makes it hard for the
feds to weaken anything … the EPA doesn’t have to kill the waiver process if it
just refuses to issue any new ones. It might even have the legal right to
rescind already granted waivers. But California can fight back—and it’s got a
stocked arsenal.”
Labor Nominee Hearing Delayed
“Hearing
delayed for Trump labor nominee because senator is going to Trump rally” reports
CNN: “Alexander Acosta’s confirmation hearing, which was originally
scheduled for Wednesday, was pushed back a week because the chairman of the
committee overseeing his confirmation is traveling with Trump to a rally in
Nashville … Acosta will now appear before the committee March 22. Committee
members will vote on Acosta’s nomination the week after that …”
Acosta
allowed illegal hiring when at Justice Department. NYT: “In 2008 … the
Justice Department’s in-house investigator laid out a damning conclusion: Under
Mr. Acosta’s watch, his office had repeatedly violated federal law and
department policies by weighing political affiliations in hiring and assessing
civil rights employees … Some described him as a hands-off leader who has often
chosen not to inject himself into disputes, sometimes tolerating a
discriminatory environment if inaction has served his interests.”
Agriculture
Secretary nominee Sonny Purdue has long history of lining friends’ pockets.
Politico: “A POLITICO examination of Perdue’s list of appointments when he
was governor — from 2003 to 2011 — found more than a dozen instances when he
gave positions to business associates and campaign donors, and other occasions
when he rewarded his state staff with opportunities in his agriculture and
shipping empire after he left office.”
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