MORNING MESSAGE
The Big Apple Debate
Last night’s CNN Democratic presidential debate in Brooklyn was both contentious and clarifying. It was contentious because the each candidate has had it with the other. Clinton is aggravated that Sanders has been surging and irritated that he keeps pointing out that she’s the big money, establishment candidate in the race. Sanders is tired of Clinton distorting his record, and being slippery about her own positions. But, contrary to the hand wringing of pundits, it isn’t the personal distemper that will make unity difficult in the fall. It is significant differences on policy, direction and strategy.
BURNING ISSUES: THE MONEY HIDDEN IN SHELL COMPANIES
Porter McConnell, the director of the Financial Transparency Coalitiondiscusses the $27 trillion hidden in shell companies around the world, outside of the reach of governments and public scrutiny, in the latest Burning Issues video.
CLINTON FEELS PROGRESSIVE PRESSURE AT DEBATE
Clinton appears to move on $15 minimum wage. The Hill:“Clinton said during the debate that ‘of course I would’ sign a bill raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour if Congress sent one to her desk while she was president. After the candidates began talking over one another in a heated exchange, Clinton clarified that she has advocated for a $12-an-hour federal minimum wage but also supports efforts elsewhere, such as in big cities, in the fight for $15.”
And on Social Security. LAT:“She repeatedly declined to fully embrace the idea, saying she might also consider other options, but would agree if Congress approved it. ‘If I hear you directly, Madame Secretary, you are now finally coming out in favor of lifting the cap on taxable income,’ Sanders said. ‘If that is the case, welcome on board.’ … ‘There is still something called Congress,’ she said.”
Sanders challenges on climate. The Hill:“He said Clinton’s climate policies would do little to address global warming, in contrast to his calls for a tax on carbon dioxide emissions and an end to all new fossil fuel extraction leases on federal lands and offshore … He repeatedly tried to get Clinton to say whether she supports a carbon tax, which she did not directly answer … she said she’d push to defend and build on policies like the Clean Power Plan and work to increase the use of renewable energy.”
Sanders addresses Vatican conference today. ABC:“… Bernie Sanders traveled from New York City to Rome on an overnight flight to attend a Vatican-hosted conference on the urgency of building a ‘moral economy.’ … Sanders is expected to land midday on Friday and address the conference around 4 p.m. local time. Other speakers for the conference include former Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa and climate change activist and professor Jeffrey Sachs.”
Meeting with Pope Francis not expected. NYT:“‘We invited the candidate who cites the pope the most in his campaign, and that is Senator Bernie Sanders,’ said Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, the academy’s chancellor … [But the] pope, who is leaving for Greece on Friday some time after Mr. Sanders’s arrival, would not be meeting with any participants of the conference, [Vatican spokesperson] Father Lombardi said.”
Sanders voters should aim to reshape the Democratic Party, says W. Post’s James Downie:“Sanders’s supporters have demographics on their side … Almost all [Democratic leaders] will be retired or headed in that direction 10 years from now … Sanders supporters should not only refuse to give up on the political process but also double down on fighting for the future of the Democratic Party … running for office and joining party organizations.”
TRUMP RIPS PRIMARY RULES
Trump blasts Republican primary rules in WSJ oped:“How have we gotten to the point where politicians defend a rigged delegate-selection process with more passion than they have ever defended America’s borders? Perhaps it is because politicians care more about securing their private club than about securing their country.”
RNC defends rules. Time:“‘It ultimately falls on the campaigns to be up to speed on these delegate rules,’ RNC chief strategist and communications director Sean Spicer wrote.”
BATTLE BREWS FOR CONGRESS
Three Republican House seats likely to flip. Roll Call’s Nathan Gonzalez:“Former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker has declined to run in Florida’s 13th District, closing the book on a Republican scenario to hold the seat. … The court-mandated redrawing of Florida’s congressional map changed the 13th District from a competitive district to a Democratic-leaning seat … Democrats are also likely to pick up Florida’s 10th District, which Obama won with 61 percent in 2012 … In Virginia, Democrats are likely to pick up the re-drawn 4th District …”
GOP plots fundraising strategy to hold Senate. USA Today:“The committee responsible for helping Republicans win election to the Senate is working to raise $62 million this year and plans to invest heavily in Ohio and a handful of other states that will decide whether the party retains control of the chamber … Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, described the Ohio race as ‘a barometer’ for other Senate races around the country.”
BREAKFAST SIDES
“White House touts ‘undefeated’ record in trade disputes after win vs. China” reports USA Today:“…China agreed to eliminate subsidies that the United States claimed gave its industries an unfair advantage. The United States had protested the Chinese program [that] provided state subsidies to Chinese industries including apparel, steel, chemicals, medical products, building materials and agriculture.”
Teachers win tenure case in California. NYT:” A California appeals court ruled on Thursday that the state’s job protections for teachers do not deprive poor and minority students of a quality education or violate their civil rights — reversing a landmark lower court decision that had overturned the state’s teacher tenure rules … The plaintiffs in the case, known as Vergara v. California, said they would appeal to the state Supreme Court.”
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