Politico: “The Senate’s famous budget ‘vote-a-rama‘ on Thursday won’t change any laws — far from it, it’s a daylong, only-in-Congress charade, the main purpose of which is to make the other party look bad and score political points. And yet it has the potential to be among the most consequential days in Congress this year.”
House Approves GOP Budget
“House Republicans adopted a 2016 budget in a 228-199 vote on Wednesday that represents a major victory for GOP leaders after a rocky start to their year,” The Hill reports.
“The budget would increase defense spending next year by boosting the Pentagon’s war fund to $96 billion, well above President Obama’s $58 billion request. The provision won over dozens of defense hawks, including members of the Armed Services Committee who have called for more robust resources for the Pentagon.”
Roll Call: Defense hawks trump fiscal conservatives in budget vote
Paul Reverses Position on Defense Spending
“Just weeks before announcing his 2016 presidential bid, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is completing an about-face on a longstanding pledge to curb the growth in defense spending,” Time reports.
“In an olive branch to defense hawks hell-bent on curtailing his White House ambitions, the libertarian Senator introduced a budget amendment late Wednesday calling for a nearly $190 billion infusion to the defense budget over the next two years—a roughly 16 percent increase.”
Quote of the Day
“This is no way to treat an ally. Conducting the foreign policy of a great nation requires maturity and a strategic sense of America’s long-term interests. This is no time for schoolyard antics.”
— Jeb Bush, writing for National Review, on President Obama’s relationship with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Walker Holds Big Lead in Iowa
A new InsiderAdvantage poll in Iowa finds Scott Walker way ahead in the GOP presidential race with 29%, followed by Ben Carson at 14%, Jeb Bush at 12%, Mike Huckabee at 11%, Ted Cruz at 7%, Marco Rubio at 5%, Rand Paul at 5% and Chris Christie at 5%.
Graham Could Shake Up GOP Presidential Race
“There aren’t many Republicans who believe Lindsey Graham’s mercurial presidential campaign-to-be will actually result in Lindsey Graham becoming president,” CNN reports.
“But the South Carolina senator’s mere presence in the 2016 race could throw a curveball into the nominating process, forcing his soon-to-be GOP rivals to consider how a Graham candidacy would scramble Republican allegiances in a vital early nominating state.”
Bush Had Another Undisclosed Email Account
“As Florida governor, Jeb Bush used another, previously unreported email address, records show — the newest wrinkle in an evolving debate over public officials’ use of private email accounts,” the AP reports.
“When Bush released thousands of emails from his tenure as Florida’s governor as part of his preparations to run for president next year, he did so from the email account he shared openly, jeb@jeb.org.”
“Those emails also include references to another email address, jeb@gencom.net. Bush said through a spokeswoman that he was unaware of the account, although records showed that people wrote to him there more than 400 times between 1999 and 2004.”
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“You can’t govern the country based on being angry.”
— Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), quoted by Politico.
Rivals Try to Turn Bush’s Fundraising Against Him
Jeb Bush “has stockpiled tens of millions of dollars in the past three months, donors say, raising expectations that he will outgun all of his likely rivals for the Republican nomination,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“But before the former Florida governor announces his haul, possibly in April, opponents are trying to turn his fundraising prowess and political pedigree into liabilities.”
Christie Tantrum Encouraged Man to Run for Office
James Keady, the man whom Gov. Chris Christie famously told to “sit down and shut up” will be running instead — for state Assembly, the Newark Star Ledger reports.
Rift Between U.S. and Israel Gets Personal
First Read: “Fights between friends are always nastier — and more personal — because you expect more from friends than you do your enemies or strangers. But to prevent that friend from becoming an enemy or stranger, cooler heads ultimately have to prevail, no matter who was at fault. And that’s the situation the United States and Israel find themselves in right now: President Obama, who is often compared to the emotion-less/cool Mr. Spock, was about as icy as we’ve seen him when talking about Prime Minister Netanyahu at yesterday’s news conference with Afghan President Ghani.”
Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, who arranged Netanyahu’s controversial speech to Congress, “has shown no trace of contrition for his role in the clash and little sign that he is rethinking his approach.”
Alabama Districts Knocked Down by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court “sided with black challengers who said Alabama’s redistricting plan improperly relied on race to draw legislative districts,” the Washington Post reports.
“The challenge was brought by black officeholders and Democrats who argued that the state’s Republican leadership packed minority voters into districts that allowed the election of African American officials but reduced their influence elsewhere.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“Joe is his own worst enemy. He can’t keep his mouth shut or his hands to himself.”
— Former Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), in an interview with Larry King.
Branstad Admits to Private Email in Deposition
Despite saying for years that he doesn’t use a smartphone or email in his state job, court documents show Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) admitted he had access to both, the Des Moines Register reports.
Cruz Slams Wife’s Employer for ‘Crony Capitalism’
In an interview with Bloomberg, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) took a shot at Goldman Sachs, his wife’s employer, when asked if the bank was a positive or negative force on society.
Said Crus: “Goldman is one of the biggest banks on Wall Street, and my criticism with Washington is they engage in crony capitalism. They give favors to Wall Street and big business… Like many other players on Wall Street and big business, they seek out and get special favors from government. I think they’re entitled to practice their business, but without subsidies or special benefits.”
Graham Blames Gore for GOP Inaction on Climate
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) blamed Al Gore in a speech for the fact that “people of my party are all over the board” when it comes to thinking climate change is real.
Said Graham: “I said that it’s real, that man has contributed to it in a substantial way. But the problem is Al Gore’s turned this thing into religion. You know, climate change is not a religious problem for me, it’s an economic, it is an environmental problem.”
Quote of the Day
“I’m an unorthodox politician, because I’m an ordinary person in a big job.”
— Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), quoted by the Wall Street Journal, “appearing tieless and sporting a spiky haircut” in a visit to New Hampshire.
Bipartisan Medicare Deal Hits Snag in Senate
The New York Times reports a bipartisan Medicare deal “cobbled together” by none other than House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), “who rarely agree on anything,” has hit a surprising impediment: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV).
Senate Democrats object “to abortion restrictions in the bill and limits to an extension of a health insurance program for children. They have begun to undermine what was poised to be a sweeping bipartisan solution to several policy problems that have long vexed Congress.”
“It is a role in which Mr. Reid is becoming increasingly comfortable as he exploits his leverage in the minority to thwart his political opponents, even if that means an unusual split with Ms. Pelosi.”
