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December 11, 2013
Deal Limits Senate GOP's Ability to Block Tax Hikes
"Senate Republicans scrubbing the Ryan-Murray budget deal have come across a little-noticed provision that will limit the GOP's ability to block tax increases in future years," National Review reports."The bill includes language from the Senate Democrats' budget to void a budget 'point of order' against replacing the sequester cuts with tax increases. The process is quite complicated, but in practice it grants Harry Reid the authority to send tax increases to the House with a bare majority, rather than the 60 vote threshold that would be required under the point of order."
New Hampshire Republicans See Brown as Best Shot
Former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) "has toyed with running for the Granite State's Senate seat. But only in the last two weeks have many GOP leaders there begun taking Brown seriously. Whereas before they saw a fallen political star desperate for attention, they now see a possible first-tier contender genuinely contemplating a campaign," National Journal reports.Dylan Byers: "But here's the thing: It doesn't matter what the New Hampshire GOP says, or even what Brown himself says. The surest indicator of Brown's political ambitions is what Roger Ailes, the Fox News chief and the man who writes Brown's paycheck, decides to do with his contract."
Fossella Urged to Challenge Grimm
"Republicans are so nervous about Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm's re-election chances that they've quietly reached out to former GOP Congressman Vito Fossella -- who quit five years ago after confessing to having a secret second family -- to make a comeback for his old seat," the New York Post reports."Grimm is currently the subject of an ongoing Justice Department probe that centers on whether his campaign solicited illegal donations from foreigners during his 2010 campaign."
Meanwhile, Politicker reports Grimm bashed the report and other "baseless rumors."
McConnell Will Vote Against Budget Deal
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will vote against the deal brokered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the Daily Caller reports."While the budget proposal is expected to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, McConnell joins a growing list of Republican senators -- including Marco Rubio of Florida, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Rand Paul of Kentucky -- who oppose the deal."
Obama Needs to Fire Someone
Ezra Klein: "Somewhere in this chain of colossal, consequential screwups, there are surely a few people who deserve to be fired. The White House tends to dismiss such criticism. Indeed, Obama aides pride themselves on rising above it, viewing it as politically motivated or, when proffered by administration allies, derived from a crude desire for retribution. There might, at times, be truth to that. But firing and replacing underperforming staff is also a key element of effective management.""Of late, President Obama has shown a worrying preference for ad hoc, patchwork solutions. The White House recognizes that its health-care law hasn't been well executed. That's why it has been throwing new staff at the problem. But the new arrangements are temporary."
Senate Prepares for an All-Nighter
"It may be time once again for senators to pull out the cots," Roll Call reports."The Senate looked poised for an all-night session Wednesday to work through the process of confirming an assortment of President Barack Obama's nominees to posts ranging from federal judgeships to the top official at the Department of Homeland Security."
The Hill: "Senate Republicans will hold the floor throughout the night, speaking out against Reid's use of the nuclear option."
Gun Control in the States
Wonk Wire looks at gun legislation passed since the Newtown massacre last year.
Why Lawmakers Reached a Budget Deal
Jonathan Chait: "Optimists are presenting the very small budget deal agreed to by both parties as a new day in Washington, a down payment that can clear the way for further dealing down the road. In truth, it's the end of the road, a small salvage operation for a grand failure of governance and political strategy stretching over three years.""The parties have reached a deal because the cuts to next year's budget run so deep that Republicans themselves cannt tolerate them. The budget process in the House simply collapsed because even conservatives couldn't implement the slated levels of spending. The impasse threatened to require more temporary votes to keep the government open, and possibly another shutdown, which is the GOP's worst nightmare. And so Ryan and Murray scrounged together enough savings to offset the cost of a small two-year fix. But since the savings they agreed upon were, by definition, the most agreeable cuts, any future deals will become much harder. The low-hanging fruit is all gone."
Landrieu Highlights Health Care in First Ad
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) "is up with her first ad, and it's about the health-care law. It stresses her work -- and sometimes tough talk to the president -- to fix the law to make sure Obama's promise that people who like their insurance can keep it," NBC News reports."The ad, to air in key markets around the state, highlights the hurdle the law presents for Democratic incumbents running in red states."
See more...
Judge Will Not Overturn Rangel Censure
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) that had sought to overturn the 2010 House censure of the New York congressman for financial wrongdoing, the AP reports.The judge ruled that Rangel's demands implicate "insurmountable separation-of-powers barriers" to the court's authority.
Top GOP Aide Faces Child Pornography Allegations
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TV) announced that his chief of staff, Ryan Loskarn, is being put on leave over allegations involving child pornography, National Journal reports.Said Alexander: "I am stunned, surprised and disappointed by what I have learned."
The Picasso of Gerrymandering
The Daily Show interviews redistricting guru Kimball Brace on "the art of gerrymander."See more...
Boehner Rips Conservatives Criticizing Budget Pact
Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) blasted conservative groups criticizing the bipartisan budget deal, Politico reports.Said Boehner: "They're using our members and they're using the American people for their own goals. This is ridiculous."
"Boehner's comments came after House Republicans huddled behind closed doors for more than an hour to discuss the deal. Ryan made the same argument inside the meeting that he's made publicly: This is a deficit reduction bill. Rep. Hal Rogers, the appropriations chairman, voiced support for the deal."
"But others weren't ready to back the agreement, reflecting the challenge ahead for House GOP leaders as they try to move the bill by the end of the week."
Republicans Move to Overhaul 2016 Primaries
"A handful of Republican Party officials is quietly advancing a new batch of rules aimed at streamlining a chaotic presidential nominating process that many party insiders viewed as damaging to the their campaign for the White House in 2012," multiple GOP sources told CNN."In a series of closed-door meetings since August, handpicked members of the Republican National Committee have been meeting with party Chairman Reince Priebus in Washington to hash out details of a sweeping plan to condense the nominating calendar, severely punish primary and caucus states that upend the agreed-upon voting order and potentially move the party's national convention to earlier in the summer, with late June emerging as the ideal target date."
Watt's Confirmation Leads to Open Seat
Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) "was confirmed to a top housing finance post Tuesday after Senate Democrats cleared a path for him by changing filibuster rules that Republicans had used to block his confirmation," the Charlotte Observer reports.Roll Call: "Watt's departure from the district will kick off a frenzy among Tar Heel State Democrats looking to succeed him in the safe Democratic seat he has held for two decades."
The special election will probably take place on previously scheduled election dates, which would mean a primary in February, with a runoff on May 6.
More Democrats Will Vote for Budget Deal
First Read: "Given the conservative reaction last night to the budget deal agreement between Sen. Patty Murray (D) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R), here's a prediction: You're going to see more Democrats vote for it than Republicans. Think about that for a second: More Democrats will vote for Paul Ryan's compromise than Republicans."
Obamacare Turns the Corner
Wonk Wire has the latest enrollment details which all show signs of progress.
Dismal Turnout in Massachusetts Special Election
The Boston Globe notes that very few voters actually took part in the special election yesterday that sends Katherine Clark (D) to Congress."Turnout was a dismal 13 percent, which appeared to set a record for voter apathy in the state's recent US House races. The previous low-water mark was the October 2001 special election that Stephen F. Lynch won with a 17 percent turnout."
Conservatives Balk at Budget Deal
Politico: "It's a familiar tale: Negotiators strike a fiscal deal, conservative lawmakers express resistance, conservative groups threaten primary opposition and headaches ensue for Republican leadership trying to get something through Congress."National Journal: "Whether the deal holds up could play out quickly. The House is expected to adjourn for the year on Friday, and leaders there are moving for floor action on the measure as early as Thursday. Ryan may face the most immediate challenge, meeting behind closed doors Wednesday morning to explain the agreement to skeptical House conservatives, many of whom have voiced opposition to any deal that raises spending levels."
Panetta Revealed Bin Laden Secrets
AP: "Newly declassified documents show Tuesday that former CIA Director Leon Panetta revealed secret information to Zero Dark Thirty scriptwriter Mark Boal when Panetta gave a speech at CIA headquarters marking the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Panetta said through a spokesman that he didn't know Boal was in the room."
Republican Senators Face Primary Challenges
Politico: "Republican primary challengers are lining up to take on sitting senators next year in eight of the 12 races involving sitting GOP senators, gunning for party leaders like Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, veterans like Thad Cochran in Mississippi and Pat Roberts in Kansas and deal-makers like Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. Texas Sen. John Cornyn became the latest target."
Ryan Praises Bipartisan Deal
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) touted the budget agreement he reached with Democrats as the first "divided government budget agreement since 1986," Politico reports.Said Ryan: "As a conservative, I deal with the situation as it exists. I deal with the way things are, not necessarily the way things I want them to be. I've passed three budgets in a row that reflect my priorities and my principles and everything I wanted to accomplish. We're in divided government. I realize I'm not going to get that. So I'm not going to go a mile in the direction I wanted to go to, but I will take a few steps in the right direction. This agreement takes us in the right direction, from my perspective, for the very reasons I laid out before."
Wonk Wire: Does the budget deal signal a more productive Congress?
The Handshake Heard Around the World
Jon Stewart comments on President Obama's handshake with Cuban President Raul Castro.First Read: "But here's probably the best way to view it: Would you greet (or shake hands with) an estranged family member at a memorial service for a loved one? Or do you go out of your way to snub that person? In other words, is that day about you and your conflict? Or about that loved one who's being memorialized lying in a casket?"
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Quote of the Day
"When you dent a president on honesty and straightforwardness, you have done major damage that can be difficult and time-consuming to repair."-- GOP pollster Bill McInturf, quoted by the Wall Street Journal, noting "a clear parallel to sentiment toward President George W. Bush at the same point in his second term."
Health Law Hurting Obama Politically
A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds the federal health-care law "is becoming a heavier political burden for President Barack Obama and his party, despite increased confidence in the economy and the public's own generally upbeat sense of well-being.""Disapproval of Mr. Obama's job performance hit an all-time high in the poll, at 54%, amid the flawed rollout of the health law. Half of those polled now consider the law a bad idea, also a record high."
Said pollster Fred Yang: "The president is being weighed down by one issue, his health-care law. It's probably fair to say that as goes health care, so goes the Obama presidency for the next year."
The Fix: "After weeks filled with nothing but bad news for President Obama, there have been some reasons for optimism in recent days. But even if Obama has moved past the lowest low of his presidency, there is no way around the reality that his image has been badly damaged since he triumphed at the polls last fall."
Wonk Wire: Views of Obamacare improve slightly.
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