The Council on Foreign Relations notes that the decision by House Republicans “to release a broad set of principles for immigration reform may or may not lead to successful legislation this year. There are still many political and substantive hurdles to overcome to reach a bipartisan deal. But regardless, the announcement should be recognized for what it is – a huge and consequential change in the Republican Party’s approach to immigration reform.”
Democrats Hold Early Edge in Fundraising
“The top Democratic candidates in the 52 most competitive House races reported raising $42.3 million in 2013, topping the $34.8 million for the top GOP candidates in those races,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Democratic candidates also begin the year with more money in the bank. Democrats in the most competitive races reported they had a total of $30.9 million to spend on their campaigns at the end of 2013. That was $6.3 million more than the top Republicans in those races.”
Ryan Accuses Obama of ‘Lawless Presidency’
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) told ABC News that President Obama’s tenure is becoming “increasingly lawless” with his embrace of executive orders, which are “creating a dangerous trend which is contrary to the Constitution.”
Said Ryan: “It’s not the number of executive orders, it’s the scope of the executive orders. It’s the fact that he’s actually contradicting law, like in the health care case [when Obama delayed provisions of the Affordable Care Act], or proposing new laws without going through Congress, George, that’s the issue.”
He added: “We have an increasingly lawless presidency where he is actually doing the job of Congress, writing new policies and new laws without going through Congress. Presidents don’t write laws, Congress does.”
Ford’s Wife Said Husband Wouldn’t Give Up Cocaine
Shortly after he was elected as Toronto mayor, Rob Ford’s wife sought to curb her husband’s drug-use, confiding that he is “not giving up the blow,” according to National Post.
“The details are contained in Crazy Town: The Rob Ford Story, written by Robyn Doolittle, one of two Toronto Star reporters to view a video apparently showing the mayor smoking a crack pipe. The book will be released Monday.”
She added: “He still thinks he’s going to party. He thinks that he, oh, you know, ‘I’ll get off the pills, but I’m not giving up the blow.'”
King Upset Boehner Called Him an Asshole
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) told Roll Call that he is still upset that Speaker John Boehner has not apologized for reportedly calling him an “asshole” while speaking with Democratic members.
King notes: “The speaker didn’t deny it… We have not had that discussion. I don’t expect we will.”
Quote of the Day
“The governor has denied it. So far, there’s no evidence to suggest that he’s not telling the truth. I think the governor knows the consequences. If he’s lying, it’s a really bad situation. If he’s not lying, then something very unfair is being done to him. So let’s see what happens.”
— Rudy Giuliani, quoted by the Newark Star Ledger, on the scandal surrounding New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R).
New Rules Didn’t Stop the Revolving Door
The New York Times uncovers “gaping holes in rules governing Washington’s revolving door.”
“Federal ethics rules are intended to limit lobbying by former senior officials within one year after they leave the government. Yet even after the ethics rules were revised in 2007 following a lobbying scandal, more than 1,650 congressional aides have registered to lobby within a year of leaving Capitol Hill… At least half of those departing aides, the analysis shows, faced no restrictions at all.”
“The rules are particularly loose in the House of Representatives, where aides and lawmakers enjoy significant leeway in hopping from job to job — and from government pay to six- and seven-figure private sector salaries.”
Divided GOP May Face Turmoil in 2016
“As Republicans look ahead to the 2016 presidential race, they are hoping to avoid the kind of chaotic and protracted nominating battle that dismayed party elders and damaged the eventual candidacy of Mitt Romney,” the Washington Post reports.
“That, however, could be a hard thing to prevent. The party is divided and in turmoil, with a civil war raging between its establishment and insurgent factions. For the first time in memory, there is no obvious early favorite — no candidate with wide appeal who has run before, no incumbent president or vice president, no clear establishment pick.”
“Meanwhile, an enormous number of potential contenders are looking at the race, including, perhaps, a return of virtually everyone who ran in 2012. Come this time next year, 15 or more of them could be traveling the early primary states, jockeying for attention and money.”
Republicans Hit State-Run Health Exchanges
“With the federal online insurance exchange running more smoothly than ever, the biggest laggards in fixing enrollment problems are now state-run exchanges in several states where the governors and legislative leaders have been among the strongest supporters of President Obama’s health care law,” the New York Times reports.
“Republicans have seized on the failures of homegrown exchanges in states like Maryland, Minnesota and Oregon — all plagued by technological problems that have kept customers unhappy and enrollment goals unmet — and promise to use the issue against Democratic candidates for governor and legislative seats this fall.”
White House Denies Obama Has Small Agenda
White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough “defended the 2014 agenda President Obama laid out in his State of the Union and denied there was anything “small” about it,” The Hill reports.
“Some critics have raised concerns that the president did not make a strong case for gun control and action against climate change, as he has in the past. Instead, the president laid out several priorities Democrats believe would improve life for the working class, many of which he could pass through executive fiat.”
Christie Knew About Lane Closures
David Wildstein, the former Port Authority official “who personally oversaw the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge in the scandal now swirling around Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said on Friday that the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening, and that he had the evidence to prove it,” the New York Times reports.
Wildstein described the order to close the lanes as “the Christie administration’s order” and said “evidence exists as well tying Mr. Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference” three weeks ago.
Newark Star Ledger editorial board: “Forget about the White House in 2016. The question now is whether Gov. Chris Christie can survive as governor.”
Fox News is ‘Most Trusted’ and ‘Least Trusted’
A new Public Policy Polling survey finds 35% of Americans say they trust Fox News more than any other TV news channel, followed by 14% for PBS, 11% for ABC, 10% for CNN, 9% for CBS, 6% each for Comedy Central and MSNBC, and 3% for NBC.
Meanwhile, Fox News also leads the ‘least trusted’ list with 33% followed by 19% for MSNBC, 14% for Comedy Central, 11% for CNN, 5% for ABC, 4% for CBS, and 2% each for NBC and PBS.
Florida Newscast Calls GOP the ‘Reprehensive Party’
“The Florida GOP demanded Friday that a Miami NBC affiliate issue an on-air apology after the station referred to the party as ‘the Reprehensive Party of Florida’ in a broadcast,” the Tampa Bay Times reports.
“The error surfaced when WTVJ aired a segment that featured a Republican Party web ad bashing Democratic candidate for governor Charlie Crist in an ad that accuses him of politically running away from Florida when the economy went south.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“We lost, but truly the country lost, by not having Mitt as president.”
— Ann Romney, in an interview on Fox News.
Quote of the Day
“Maybe when we finally have a First Gentleman, and maybe we should be that way about the First Gentleman also and really critique the way they look all the time, their choice of tie or their hairstyle or whatever. Or maybe their weight.”
— Laura Bush, in an interview on C-SPAN, decrying the focus on the First Lady’s appearance.
House GOP Deeply Divided on Immigration Reform
House Republicans meeting privately at their retreat “were split on whether the leadership should forge ahead with immigration legislation this year,” The Hill reports.
“Some conservative lawmakers, like immigration reform foe Rep. Steve King (R-IA), said the party should do nothing. Others… offered full support for the leadership principles and a green light for moving on to legislation. But a large contingent of members stood up to urge caution and voiced concerns not so much with the substance of the principles as with the timing of pushing immigration reform in an election year and under a Democratic president they don’t trust to enforce the law.”
Deal Apologizes for Epic Traffic Jam
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) “called for a top-to-bottom review of the government’s response to the epic traffic jam in the aftermath of Tuesday’s snowfall and he and the state’s top emergency staffer apologized for failing to adequately prepare for the storm,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
Said Deal: “I am not satisfied with the response. But I am not going to look for a scapegoat. I am the governor, and the buck stops with me.”
The Real Key to Obamacare Success
Wonk Wire shows how the success or failure of Obamacare enrollment may have less to do with websites than with the party in control of each state.
