MORNING MESSAGE
Last
night’s CNN Democratic presidential debate in Brooklyn was both contentious and
clarifying. It was contentious because the each candidate has had it with the
other. Clinton is aggravated that Sanders has been surging and irritated that he
keeps pointing out that she’s the big money, establishment candidate in the
race. Sanders is tired of Clinton distorting his record, and being slippery
about her own positions. But, contrary to the hand wringing of pundits, it isn’t
the personal distemper that will make unity difficult in the fall. It is
significant differences on policy, direction and strategy.
BURNING ISSUES: THE MONEY HIDDEN IN SHELL COMPANIES
Porter
McConnell, the director of the Financial Transparency Coalition discusses
the $27 trillion hidden in shell companies around the world, outside of the
reach of governments and public scrutiny, in the latest Burning Issues
video.
CLINTON FEELS PROGRESSIVE PRESSURE AT DEBATE
Clinton
appears to move on $15 minimum wage. The Hill: “Clinton said during the
debate that ‘of course I would’ sign a bill raising the minimum wage from $7.25
to $15 an hour if Congress sent one to her desk while she was president. After
the candidates began talking over one another in a heated exchange, Clinton
clarified that she has advocated for a $12-an-hour federal minimum wage but also
supports efforts elsewhere, such as in big cities, in the fight for $15.”
And
on Social Security. LAT: “She repeatedly declined to fully embrace the idea,
saying she might also consider other options, but would agree if Congress
approved it. ‘If I hear you directly, Madame Secretary, you are now finally
coming out in favor of lifting the cap on taxable income,’ Sanders said. ‘If
that is the case, welcome on board.’ … ‘There is still something called
Congress,’ she said.”
Sanders
challenges on climate. The Hill: “He said Clinton’s climate policies would
do little to address global warming, in contrast to his calls for a tax on
carbon dioxide emissions and an end to all new fossil fuel extraction leases on
federal lands and offshore … He repeatedly tried to get Clinton to say whether
she supports a carbon tax, which she did not directly answer … she said she’d
push to defend and build on policies like the Clean Power Plan and work to
increase the use of renewable energy.”
Sanders
addresses Vatican conference today. ABC: “… Bernie Sanders traveled from New
York City to Rome on an overnight flight to attend a Vatican-hosted conference
on the urgency of building a ‘moral economy.’ … Sanders is expected to land
midday on Friday and address the conference around 4 p.m. local time. Other
speakers for the conference include former Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa
and climate change activist and professor Jeffrey Sachs.”
Meeting
with Pope Francis not expected. NYT: “‘We invited the candidate who cites
the pope the most in his campaign, and that is Senator Bernie Sanders,’ said
Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, the academy’s chancellor … [But the] pope, who
is leaving for Greece on Friday some time after Mr. Sanders’s arrival, would not
be meeting with any participants of the conference, [Vatican spokesperson]
Father Lombardi said.”
Sanders
voters should aim to reshape the Democratic Party, says W. Post’s James
Downie: “Sanders’s supporters have demographics on their side … Almost all
[Democratic leaders] will be retired or headed in that direction 10 years from
now … Sanders supporters should not only refuse to give up on the political
process but also double down on fighting for the future of the Democratic Party
… running for office and joining party organizations.”
TRUMP RIPS PRIMARY RULES
Trump
blasts Republican primary rules in WSJ oped: “How have we gotten to the
point where politicians defend a rigged delegate-selection process with more
passion than they have ever defended America’s borders? Perhaps it is because
politicians care more about securing their private club than about securing
their country.”
RNC
defends rules. Time: “‘It ultimately falls on the campaigns to be up to
speed on these delegate rules,’ RNC chief strategist and communications director
Sean Spicer wrote.”
BATTLE BREWS FOR CONGRESS
Three
Republican House seats likely to flip. Roll Call’s Nathan Gonzalez: “Former
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker has declined to run in Florida’s 13th District,
closing the book on a Republican scenario to hold the seat. … The court-mandated
redrawing of Florida’s congressional map changed the 13th District from a
competitive district to a Democratic-leaning seat … Democrats are also likely to
pick up Florida’s 10th District, which Obama won with 61 percent in 2012 … In
Virginia, Democrats are likely to pick up the re-drawn 4th District …”
GOP
plots fundraising strategy to hold Senate. USA Today: “The committee
responsible for helping Republicans win election to the Senate is working to
raise $62 million this year and plans to invest heavily in Ohio and a handful of
other states that will decide whether the party retains control of the chamber …
Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics,
described the Ohio race as ‘a barometer’ for other Senate races around the
country.”
BREAKFAST SIDES
“White
House touts ‘undefeated’ record in trade disputes after win vs. China” reports
USA Today: “…China agreed to eliminate subsidies that the United States
claimed gave its industries an unfair advantage. The United States had protested
the Chinese program [that] provided state subsidies to Chinese industries
including apparel, steel, chemicals, medical products, building materials and
agriculture.”
Teachers
win tenure case in California. NYT: ” A California appeals court ruled on
Thursday that the state’s job protections for teachers do not deprive poor and
minority students of a quality education or violate their civil rights —
reversing a landmark lower court decision that had overturned the state’s
teacher tenure rules … The plaintiffs in the case, known as Vergara v.
California, said they would appeal to the state Supreme Court.”
Progressive
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