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Florida Lawmaker Says Texas Is Crazy

February 3, 2015 at 8:22 am EST By Taegan Goddard 53 Comments

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) “did the one thing folks from the Lone Star State do not abide. He messed with Texas,” Roll Call reports.

“During a House Rules Committee hearing Monday on a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Florida Democrat grew heated in an argument with Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) over states that did not create their own insurance exchanges, which is the subject of a pending Supreme Court case.”

Said Hasting: “Had governors worked with the administration, we might not be in this position. I don’t know about in your state, which I think is a crazy state to begin with – and I mean that just as I said it.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

February 3, 2015 at 8:18 am EST By Taegan Goddard 38 Comments

“I think that idea is a gift from God. I think it was inspired out of heaven. You know, seriously I think it would be great. Here’s what I think this means: It is the Southern states and the Midwestern states that really form the bulk of the presidential genesis in November.”

— Mike Huckabee, quoted by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, on the proposed “SEC primary” on March 1, 2015.

Measles Proves to be Tough Issue for Republicans

February 3, 2015 at 7:52 am EST By Taegan Goddard 52 Comments

“The politics of medicine, morality and free will have collided in an emotional debate over vaccines and the government’s place in requiring them, posing a challenge for Republicans who find themselves in the familiar but uncomfortable position of reconciling modern science with the skepticism of their core conservative voters,” the New York Times reports.

“As the latest measles outbreak raises alarm, and parents who have decided not to vaccinate their children face growing pressure to do so, the national debate is forcing the Republican Party’s 2016 presidential hopefuls to confront questions about whether it is in the public’s interest to allow parents to decide for themselves.”

Daily Beast: Still the party of stupid

Tweet of the Day

February 3, 2015 at 7:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard 49 Comments

The science is clear: The earth is round, the sky is blue, and #vaccineswork. Let’s protect all our kids. #GrandmothersKnowBest

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 3, 2015

Christie Has Fondness for Luxury When Others Pay

February 3, 2015 at 6:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard 13 Comments

Gov. Chris Christie (R) “shot to national prominence as a cheese-steak-on-the-boardwalk Everyman who bluntly preached transparency and austerity as the antidote to bloated state budgets. But throughout his career in public service, Mr. Christie has indulged a taste that runs more toward Champagne at the Four Seasons,” the New York Times reports.

“He has also quietly let others pay the bills.”

“That tendency — the governor himself says he wants to ‘squeeze all the juice out of the orange’ — has put him in ethically questionable situations, taking benefits from those who stand to benefit from him.”

Clinton Holds Early Leads in Swing States

February 3, 2015 at 5:59 am EST By Taegan Goddard 28 Comments

A new Quinnipiac poll gives us first look at three critical swing states — Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania — and shows Hillary Clinton tops possible Republican contenders in every matchup, except Florida, where she ties Jeb Bush (R), and Ohio, where she ties John Kasich (R).

Quote of the Day

February 3, 2015 at 5:56 am EST By Taegan Goddard 26 Comments

“You should get your kids vaccinated. The science is, you know, pretty indisputable. We’ve looked at this again and again. There is every reason to get vaccinated, but there aren’t reasons to not.”

— President Obama, in an interview with NBC News.

GOP Flexes New Muscle in Colorado Gun Debate

February 3, 2015 at 4:30 am EST By Taegan Goddard 5 Comments

“Colorado Republican leaders have begun a legislative push to repeal recently passed gun control measures, reigniting one of the most intense political debates in recent history,” the AP reports.

“The GOP-introduced measures come as the party has gained a new majority in the state Senate and as the man charged in the suburban Denver theater shooting rampage, which touched off the fight over gun laws, goes to trial facing the death penalty.”

Carson Says Vaccines are Safe

February 2, 2015 at 9:38 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 34 Comments

“Dr. Ben Carson, a potential Republican presidential candidate, on Monday strongly backed vaccinations, splitting from two possible rivals who suggested parents should decide whether to immunize their children,” The Hill reports.

Said Carson: “Although I strongly believe in individual rights and the rights of parents to raise their children as they see fit, I also recognize that public health and public safety are extremely important in our society.”

He added: “Certain communicable diseases have been largely eradicated by immunization policies in this country and we should not allow those diseases to return by foregoing safe immunization programs, for philosophical, religious or other reasons when we have the means to eradicate them.”

Clinton Will Base Campaign in New York City

February 2, 2015 at 9:00 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 9 Comments

“If Hillary Clinton decides to run for president, her campaign is likely to be headquartered in New York City, as opposed to the suburbs where advisers had previously planned,” MSNBC reports.

“While Clinton and her advisers had previously eyed the Westchester County city of White Plains, about 25 miles north of Manhattan, Clinton has now more or less decided on a location in New York City, likely either Brooklyn or Queens… A base in gentrifying Brooklyn or Queens could help give Clinton’s campaign a youthful feel, and would likely be a relief for Democratic operatives dreading a relocation to the suburb, or a daily commute from New York City.”

Pennsylvania Treasurer Charged with Extortion

February 2, 2015 at 8:16 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 6 Comments

Pennsylvania Treasurer (D) Rob McCord was formally charged with extortion in a campaign shakedown of potential donors, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

“Filed days after his abrupt resignation, the charging documents recounted how the state official allegedly shook down the managing partner of a Philadelphia law firm and a western Pennsylvania property management company for campaign contributions by threatening to disrupt their business with the state.”

Paul Says Vaccinations Should Be Voluntary

February 2, 2015 at 5:12 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 147 Comments

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is standing by his statement that most vaccinations should be “voluntary,” telling CNBC that a parent’s choice not to vaccinate a child is “an issue of freedom,” NBC News reports.

Said Paul: “I have heard of many tragic cases of walking, talking normal children who wound up with profound mental disorders after vaccines.”

Floridians Don’t Want Rubio to Run for President

February 2, 2015 at 5:06 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 18 Comments

A new Mason-Dixon poll in Florida finds an overwhelming number of Floridians would prefer that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) run for re-election rather than for president. Just 15% of registered voters think he should make a White House bid while 57% think he should run for re-election to the U.S. Senate.

In contrast, 42% of voters think Jeb Bush should run for president.

Did Scott Walker’s Speech Really Deserve Praise?

February 2, 2015 at 4:57 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 19 Comments

Michael Tomasky: “I finally sat myself down and watched that Scott Walker speech from last week that everyone is raving about. If this was the standout speech, I sure made the right decision in not subjecting myself to the rest of them. It was little more than a series of red-meat appetizers and entrees: Wisconsin defunded Planned Parenthood, said no to Obamacare, passed some kind of law against ‘frivolous’ lawsuits, and moved to crack down on voter ‘fraud’—all of that besides, of course, his big move, busting the public-employee unions. There wasn’t a single concrete idea about addressing any of the major problems the country faces.”

O’Malley Plans Trips to Iowa

February 2, 2015 at 2:54 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 63 Comments

“As some Iowa Democratic activists voice frustration with the ‘arrogance’ of Hillary Clinton, liberal rival Martin O’Malley intends to seize on her absence from Iowa and the presidential race,” the Des Moines Register reports.

“There’s just a tiny seed of support here for O’Malley right now… But O’Malley, who has pitched himself as a results-driven progressive, wants to see if he can build on support for a White House bid during two upcoming trips here – one in March and one in April.”

Mitch McConnell Likes One of Ted Cruz’s Ideas

February 2, 2015 at 1:30 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 20 Comments

In a speech over the weekend, Sen. Mitch McConnell “acknowledged that he faced challenges from both the left and right in running the Senate, noting that Senator Ted Cruz of Texas had said he was willing to throw himself in front of a train to repeal the new health care law,” the New York Times reports.

Said McConnell: “That idea has some merit to it.”

Lawmaker Suggests Gay Marriage Is Too Costly

February 2, 2015 at 1:22 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 44 Comments

Alabama state Sen. Del Marsh (R) said he’s worried the legalization of same-sex marriage could become a financial burden, TPM reports.

Said Marsh: “You gotta look at the financial aspect of it. Let’s face it. If gay marriage is approved, I assume that those types of unions, those people would be entitled to Social Security benefits, insurance. Where does it end? I wonder if the federal government is looking at the actual cost to the government when they look at an issue like this.”

Hints of Possible Compromise in Obama’s Budget

February 2, 2015 at 1:02 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 16 Comments

The New York Times notes that “buried in the budget are kernels of proposals that could take root with a Republican Congress. Both parties are eager to release the military from constraints imposed by automatic spending cuts, known as sequestration, approved in 2011. Both understand that the highway trust fund will once again reach empty in June, making its replenishment — and the revitalization of the nation’s crumbling infrastructure — priorities for the coming year.”

“Those two issues alone could force the White House and the Republican leadership to the negotiating table, with Mr. Obama’s new budget the starting point for negotiations in the coming months.”