MORNING MESSAGE
The
Clean Power Plan, President Barack Obama’s effort to cap carbon emissions from
dirty power plants, came before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday ...
As lawyers and judges debate the finer points of constitutional executive
authority and statutory interpretation, we must not forget that the climate
crisis is already putting lives of real people at risk, particularly in low
income communities, and communities of color. Activists from People’s Action
Institute were in Washington yesterday to send that message.
HOPEFUL SIGNS AT CLEAN POWER PLAN HEARING
Tougher
questions for conservative challengers at federal appellate court. USA
Today: “The lengthy debate, while technical and at times inscrutable,
pointed slightly in the government’s favor for several reasons: Six of the 10
judges were named by Obama or his Democratic predecessor, Bill Clinton, and most
sharply questioned state and industry opponents. One Republican appointee,
Thomas Griffith, said the new rule calls for only minor reductions in coal-fired
plant emissions.”
But
EPA pressed on specifics. WSJ: “The judges focused much of their questioning
on whether the EPA had overstepped its legal authority by seeking to broadly
compel this shift away from coal … The states and companies suing the EPA argue
the agency doesn’t have the authority to regulate anything outside of a power
plant itself … Judge Patricia Millett, appointed by Mr. Obama, expressed concern
that the administration was in effect requiring power plants to subsidize
companies competing with them for electricity demand.”
SANDERS TO HELP CLINTON STAVE OFF JOHNSON
Sanders
stumps with Clinton today to help woo young voters. Bloomberg: “…while
Sanders may now stand behind the Democratic presidential nominee, not all his
supporters have followed, which may explain why Clinton has invited Sanders to
appear by her side Wednesday when she discusses college affordability on the
campus of the University of New Hampshire … The youth vote was one of the
pillars of the Obama coalition. But thus far it’s proven perhaps the most
difficult one for Clinton to rebuild.”
“Young
Voters Love Gary Johnson — For All the Wrong Reasons” writes American Prospect’s
Harold Meyerson: “… Johnson supports the legalization of marijuana—way cool.
Less cool is his position on climate change. Although he acknowledges that it is
both real and at least partly man-made, he believes government should take no
action against it … Then there’s Johnson’s position on what government can do to
make college more affordable … Or, more accurately, the absence of a position.
He doesn’t have one…”
Dems
turn fire on Gary Johnson. The Hill: “Liberal groups are passing around
embarrassing videos of Johnson and running ads against him warning about his
positions on issues like climate change that are important to young voters and
independents.”
Johnson
makes pitch in NYT oped: “People might call us fiscal conservatives. Like
most Americans, I believe that government does too much and costs too much …
Some would call us social liberals. I’ve been vocal in criticizing the disparity
in the treatment of black Americans by the police.”
CLAWBACK AT WELLS FARGO
Wells
Fargo CEO to forgo $41M. AP: “The independent directors at the nation’s
second-largest bank said Tuesday that Stumpf will forfeit $41 million in stock
awards, while former retail banking executive Carrie Tolstedt will forfeit $19
million of her stock awards, effective immediately. Both are also giving up any
bonuses for 2016, and Tolstedt will not receive any severance or any other
compensation in connection with her retirement …”
Stumpf
testifies in the House on Thursday notes The Atlantic.
BREAKFAST SIDES
Deal
struck to keep government open, aid Flint. The Hill: “While this deal would
not add Flint money to the government-spending measure, it would increase the
odds of Flint funds being dealt with in the lame-duck, post-election session as
lawmakers deal with Water Resources Development Act … The government would shut
down on Saturday without a new funding measure … The upper and lower chambers
also would still need to reconcile their two bills.”
More
austerity for Greece. NYT: “Greek lawmakers approved a new set of austerity
measures Tuesday evening, including further trims in pensions and the transfer
of major state assets to a new privatization fund to be overseen by the
country’s creditors … [PM Alexis] Tsipras’s increasingly unpopular government is
hoping that the beginning of debt negotiations will raise its political
fortunes.”
Progressive
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