MORNING MESSAGE
Eighteen
million Americans watched as Republican presidential candidates savaged Barack
Obama and Hillary Clinton incessantly in their “Fear and Loathing” debate in Las
Vegas on Tuesday. Now Democrats will have their turn on Saturday night in New
Hampshire. Saturday night? Yes, the Democratic debate is perversely scheduled to
attract as small an audience as possible. Closeting the Democratic debates (the
last one was also on a Saturday night) appears to be part of DNC Chair Debbie
Wasserman Schultz’s knavish service to the Clinton campaign, rigging the rules
to shield the front-runner from frequent or widely watched debates that might
give oxygen to her opponents.
Budget Deal Passes House
House
approves bill to avoid shutdown. CNN News: “The House overwhelmingly backed
a $1.1 trillion spending package on Friday that avoids a government shutdown and
funds federal agencies through next fall. The 316-113 vote was as major victory
for new House Speaker Paul Ryan, who secured the support of at least 150
Republicans. Ryan’s predecessor, John Boehner, rarely got that kind of backing
from Republicans on a spending bill when ran the House. … But just like Boehner,
Ryan needed some help from Democrats to pass the funding measure because of
opposition from conservatives to spending levels and what some see as a
surrender to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on key policy riders.
Why
deficit hawks are missing in action on budget, tax bills. The Christian Science
Monitor: “Congress is about to add hundreds of billions of dollars to the
national budget deficit, yet the “deficit hawks” on Capitol Hill are largely
silent. … Many of the lawmakers who have spoken out in the past for fiscal
restraint ‘are just being silent,’ says Maya MacGuineas, CRFB president and a
longtime advocate for lower federal deficits. ‘There is no leadership on the
issue.’ Insiders cite three reasons for the silence of the deficit hawks on this
year’s big spending and tax deals.”
Republicans
‘rein in’ the IRS in new budget after years of grievances. Washington Post:
“The budget now prohibits the agency from producing videos at conferences unless
they are approved in advance by a special board, punishment for a Star Trek
parody made for a lavish training conference in Anaheim, Calif., in 2010, with
an official starring as Mr. Spock. The IRS cannot give a bonus or award to any
employee — or one who’s been rehired — if they owe a cent in back federal taxes,
punishment for watchdog reports showing that some employees owe back taxes and
are not penalized. The IRS must train every employee in ‘dealing courteously
with taxpayers,’ ‘cross-cultural relations,’ ethics and the ‘impartial
application of tax law.'”
Breakfast Sides
Calm
Acceptance as Fed Enacts Its First Interest Increase in Seven Years. NY
Times: “The Federal Reserve’s much-anticipated “liftoff,” its first interest
rate increase since the financial crisis, unfolded as quietly and smoothly as
Fed officials could possibly have wished. For the Fed, however, the hard work
now lies ahead. The Fed persuaded participants in the financial markets that a
quarter-point increase in its benchmark interest rate didn’t matter much. But
the big questions about the American economy haven’t changed.”
Unemployment
Rates Fall in 27 US States Amid Broad Hiring. ABC News: “Unemployment rates
fell in more than half of U.S. states in November as employers stepped up
hiring. The Labor Department says jobless rates fell in 27 states, rose in 11,
and were unchanged in 12 states. Employers added jobs in 35 states, while
employment fell in 14. Montana’s job total was flat last month. The widespread
improvement suggests employers in most parts of the country are confident enough
to hire more.”
Progressive
Breakfast is a daily morning email highlighting news stories of interest to
activists. Progressive Breakfast is a project of the Campaign for America's
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