Acting Defense Secretary Patrick ShanahanPatrick Michael ShanahanOvernight Defense: Latest on House defense bill markup | Air Force One, low-yield nukes spark debate | House Dems introduce resolutions blocking Saudi arms sales | Trump to send 1,000 troops to Poland Overnight Defense: Latest on House defense bill markup | Air Force One, low-yield nukes spark debate | House Dems introduce resolutions blocking Saudi arms sales | Trump to send 1,000 troops to Poland GOP chairman dismisses ‘phony’ report of Trump second guessing Shanahan nomination MORE on Wednesday reportedly dismissed concerns that his nomination is being help up due to an FBI background check, a process needed to move his nomination forward to the Senate.

Shanahan told CNN that he had “no concerns” following reports that President TrumpDonald John TrumpHouse panel OKs space military branch Harris calls Trump ‘a national security threat’ after he says he’d take information from foreign power Harris calls Trump ‘a national security threat’ after he says he’d take information from foreign power MORE was having second thoughts on formally nominating him for Defense secretary.

Asked if Trump has assured him that he still intends to nominate Shanahan to lead the Pentagon, the acting Defense chief said he is “in contact with the White House” and expects to “have the process completed here shortly.”

“We’re done with our paperwork,” he said.

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The White House announced Trump’s intention to nominate Shanahan as Pentagon chief in early May. The process has been on hold since then as lawmakers wait for Trump to formally submit the nomination to the Senate.

NBC News reported on Tuesday that the stalled nomination was due to Trump “having second thoughts” about naming Shanahan to helm the Defense Department. Four sources told the outlet that Trump had been asking about alternative candidates to the former Boeing executive, who has been acting secretary since the beginning of the year.

But Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James InhofeJames (Jim) Mountain InhofeOvernight Defense: Latest on House defense bill markup | Air Force One, low-yield nukes spark debate | House Dems introduce resolutions blocking Saudi arms sales | Trump to send 1,000 troops to Poland Overnight Defense: Latest on House defense bill markup | Air Force One, low-yield nukes spark debate | House Dems introduce resolutions blocking Saudi arms sales | Trump to send 1,000 troops to Poland GOP chairman dismisses ‘phony’ report of Trump second guessing Shanahan nomination MORE (R-Okla.) on Wednesday dismissed the story, telling reporters that the FBI’s background check on Shanahan was the holdup.

“They can’t do that until after the FBI report comes in,” Inhofe said, adding that it will probably be “another week” until the White House sends the nomination. 

Shanahan, meanwhile, brushed aside any concerns about the wait time.

“I can’t tell you how long the process is supposed to work,” Shanahan told CNN when asked why it is taking so long for his paperwork to be sent from the White House.

Transportation Secretary Elaine ChaoElaine Lan ChaoMcConnell brushes off question about special treatment from Chao McConnell brushes off question about special treatment from Chao Group sues for docs on Elaine Chao’s communications with family company MORE reportedly sold her holdings of a paving-materials company. 

Chao sold her shares of Vulcan Materials Co. June 3, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing documents submitted to the Office of Government Ethics.

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The newspaper previously reported that Chao did not fulfill her 2017 promise to divest from Vulcan by April 2018. It noted that Vulcan’s shares rose more than 16 percent while they were in her possession, resulting in more than $50,000 in earnings. 

The paper reported that Chao’s personal financial filing said that Chao was advised by ethics officials that her holdings in Vulcan and another company, Ingersoll Rand PLC, did not represent a conflict of interest, but that she sold them “thus no longer retaining a financial interest in the company, as indicated in the filer’s ethics agreement.”

She wrote in a letter to an ethics official that she would still hold her shares in Wells Fargo & Co., but recuse herself from issues directly involving its finances, according to the Journal. 

An ethics agreement she signed in 2017 reportedly said she would get a “cash payout” for the stocks in case of a real or perceived conflict of interest. 

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Top transportation ethics official Judith Kaleta reportedly said in a letter to the Office of Government Ethics that the agreement “contained inadvertent misstatements of fact … based on information provided by the nominee’s accountant.” She also said that Chao’s holdings were not a conflict of interest. 

A Department of Transportation spokesperson confirmed The Journal’s reporting to The Hill. The spokesperson also said in a statement  that holding stock in Ingersoll Rand and Vulcan Materials does not create a conflict of interest. 

“Although not required to, the Secretary has sold these stocks, and as a result she has no financial interest in the companies,” the spokesperson said in the statement. “The Secretary’s decision to divest entirely demonstrates her commitment to going above and beyond what is required in terms of compliance.”

Disclosure forms released Thursday offer a narrow glimpse into the Supreme Court justices’ finances and income.

The financial disclosure forms for 2018, which the Supreme Court does not make publicly available online, were obtained and distributed by the group Fix the Court. While the documents show the outside positions each justice holds and how much income they earned from them, they provide few other details.

The forms indicate that Justice Neil GorsuchNeil GorsuchDemocrats should initiate a ‘Fire Mitch McConnell’ campaign Ginsburg sides with conservative justices in ruling over prison sentence Supreme Court rules against Obama-era provision on Medicare reimbursements MORE received a $225,000 advance from Penguin Random House, which is publishing his new book to be released in the fall.

Gorsuch also reported $782.55 in other book royalties, and Justice Stephen BreyerStephen BreyerSupreme Court declines to take up Guantanamo Bay detainee’s case Supreme Court declines to take up Guantanamo Bay detainee’s case Ginsburg sides with conservative justices in ruling over prison sentence MORE earned $4,415.69 in book royalties. Justice Sonia SotomayorSonia SotomayorGinsburg sides with conservative justices in ruling over prison sentence High court sidesteps major ruling on abortion Pence calls for Supreme Court to expand ‘protections for the unborn’ MORE also reported a total of $33,000 from Penguin Random House, which has published several books by her.

Many of the justices also reported income from teaching positions they have at law schools: Justice Clarence ThomasClarence ThomasBill Maher: Buttigieg a ‘little too young’ to be president Bill Maher: Buttigieg a ‘little too young’ to be president What I saw at the last impeachment: Rules are for little people MORE, for example, reported income from teaching at George Washington University as well as the Universities of Kansas and Georgia. Chief Justice John Roberts, Sotomayor and Breyer did not hold teaching positions in 2018, according to the forms.

The documents also indicate that the justices were reimbursed by several organizations for traveling to different events. While the forms show the number of reimbursements and provide a brief description, they do not show how much money the justices received.

Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgRuth Bader GinsburgGinsburg credits Kavanaugh for helping boost number of female Supreme Court clerks Ginsburg credits Kavanaugh for helping boost number of female Supreme Court clerks Ginsburg sides with conservative justices in ruling over prison sentence MORE reported the most reimbursements, with 14 in total. Several of the trips were for films about her: The documentary “RBG” and the movie “On the Basis of Sex” were both released in 2018.

Breyer came in second with 12 reimbursements, and Justice Elena KaganElena KaganGinsburg sides with conservative justices in ruling over prison sentence Supreme Court rules against man over arrest at Arctic Man festival Trump administration asks Supreme Court for permission to enforce asylum ban MORE reported seven reimbursements.

Justice Samuel AlitoSamuel AlitoGinsburg sides with conservative justices in ruling over prison sentence Supreme Court rules against man over arrest at Arctic Man festival Indictment of Massachusetts judge invades state court independence MORE was reimbursed six times, including for travel to a pair of conferences in Italy and Switzerland.

Justice Brett KavanaughBrett Michael KavanaughDemocrats should initiate a ‘Fire Mitch McConnell’ campaign ‘Tiger Mother’s’ daughter will be Kavanaugh clerk ‘Tiger Mother’s’ daughter will be Kavanaugh clerk MORE, the newest member of the court, was sworn in in October 2018. He reported seven positions outside the court for that year, including coaching three girls basketball teams.

Fix the Court, which advocates for more transparency within the judicial system, criticized the lack of information on the forms, and for investments some of the justices hold that could present potential conflicts of interest.

The group noted in a press release that Alito has ownership in 27 companies, Breyer owned shares in eight companies and Roberts had shares in five.

That’s a total of 40 companies that the members of the Supreme Court have ownership in, down from 73 companies at the end of 2014, according to Fix the Court. Justice Antonin Scalia died in 2016, and Justice Anthony Kennedy retired last year.

“Once again, the justices took dozens of trips across the country and around the world last year in which a third party paid for their dining, airfare and accommodations, with the public left in the dark about how lavish these trips may have been,” Fix the Court’s executive director Gabe Roth said in a statement.

“Just as top officials in other branches are required to list the market value of their food, flights and hotels when they travel on someone else’s dime, the justices should have a similar requirement, so that the public can better determine whether an outside source is attempting to buy influence.”

Roberts earns $267,000 as chief justice, while the other members of the court take home salaries of $255,300.

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A bipartisan pair of lawmakers is seeking to enable companies to defend themselves in cyberspace. 

The Active Cyber Defense Certainty Act, introduced Thursday by Reps. Tom GravesJohn (Tom) Thomas GravesRepublicans spend more than million at Trump properties Congressional panel calls for lobbying disclosure reforms Mnuchin tells Congress it’s ‘premature’ to talk about Trump tax returns decision MORE (R-Ga.) and Josh GottheimerJoshua (Josh) GottheimerHillicon Valley: Facebook won’t remove doctored Pelosi video | Trump denies knowledge of fake Pelosi videos | Controversy over new Assange charges | House Democrats seek bipartisan group on net neutrality House Democrats seek bipartisan working group on net neutrality Republicans attempt to amend retirement savings bill to include anti-BDS language MORE (D-N.J.), would allow companies and individuals to leave their own networks and defend against malicious actors seeking to attack them.

The bill would allow authorized individuals and companies to go onto other networks in order to establish who is attacking them online, to disrupt a cyberattack as it is occurring, to retrieve or destroy stolen files, to utilize beaconing technology and to monitor the behavior of the malicious actor.

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“Technology has outpaced public policy, and our laws need to catch up,” Graves said in a statement. “We must continue working toward the day when it’s the norm – not the exception – for criminal hackers to be identified and held accountable for their crimes.”

The legislation would also require these individuals and companies to notify the FBI’s National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force and receive a response before being allowed to take any of the defense steps. 

The measures in the bill would involve updating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), with Graves’s office describing these changes as constituting “the most significant update to the CFAA since its enactment.” This law was enacted in 1984, and limits unauthorized access to computer systems.

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The bill notes privacy concerns that could be raised by allowing individuals and companies access to other systems by prohibiting “vigilantism,” physical damage to the other system, and the destruction of information beyond what has been stolen.

Graves’s office noted in a document detailing the bill that “if a defender behaves improperly or recklessly, they will still bear the full penalty of existing law.”

The legislation was introduced during the last Congress but didn’t see action. It has 15 bipartisan co-sponsors beyond the two main sponsors.

Gottheimer noted in a statement that “there’s nothing partisan about protecting our families and businesses from these cyber hackers.”

President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump judicial nominee withdraws amid Republican opposition: report Trump judicial nominee withdraws amid Republican opposition: report Cummings offers to delay contempt vote for Wednesday deadline on subpoenaed census docs MORE said Wednesday he is sending 1,000 additional troops to Poland in an effort to strengthen the U.S.’s alliance with the Eastern European country.

Trump made the announcement during a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda, saying Warsaw will pay for additional infrastructure “to support [the] military presence of about 1,000 American troops.”

“The Polish government will build these projects at no cost to the United States,” Trump said. “We thank President Duda and the people of Poland for their partnership in advancing our common security.”

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Trump mistakenly said earlier Wednesday during a meeting with Duda in the Oval Office that he would be sending close to 2,000 American troops to Poland from Germany and other European countries. The U.S. currently has around 4,000 military service members in Poland.

The president also said Poland would purchase more than 30 F-35 stealth fighter jets from the U.S., marking the deal with a flyover of one of the jets over the White House as Trump, Duda and their wives looked on.

“Moments ago, we witnessed that impressive flyover of this cutting-edge F-35 as it flew over the White House and actually came to a — pretty close to a halt over the White House,” Trump said at the press conference. “And it’s one of the few in the world that can do that. Considered to be the greatest fighter jet in the world.”

U.S. officials had telegraphed the troop deployment earlier this week. Polish leaders have urged the Trump administration for months to send more military forces in order to deter Russia, which has ramped up military exercises near their shared border. The Polish government even floated the idea of building a Fort Trump in order to appeal to the former real estate mogul.

“Well, that’s up to them. I have nothing to do with naming it,” Trump said when asked about the name of the facility where U.S. troops will be stationed. “‘Fort Trump.’ That’s all I need. ‘Fort Trump,’ and you people would have a field day with that, right?”

Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenDemocratic White House hopefuls push to expand health care in US territories Democratic White House hopefuls push to expand health care in US territories Democrats push for tougher oversight on student loan market MORE (D-Mass.) in a letter on Wednesday called on the heads of financial regulatory bodies to provide information on reports that automated lending algorithms may produce discriminatory outcomes.

In the letter, Warren referenced a recently published analysis that found financial technology (fintech) companies’ algorithmic models may lead to discriminatory outcomes or overcharges to borrowers.

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Warren submitted the letter to the heads of the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

“While some FinTech products have the potential to expand access to financial services for underserved populations, we believe these new business models and products also present new challenges for regulators,” Warren wrote.

“Recent research highlights this tension, demonstrating both the opportunity of algorithmic underwriting’s potential to reduce discrimination, while also emphasizing the technologies’ current shortcomings,” she added.

For example, Warren noted, the analysis found that both face-to-face and fintech lenders charge African American and Latino borrowers interest rates that are six to nine basis points higher than those they charge white or Asian borrowers with similar finances.

Similar disparities are found in traditional underwriting, Warren said.

“In other words, the algorithms used by FinTech lenders are as discriminatory as loan officers,” Warren wrote. “Berkeley researchers estimate that lending discrimination results in Latinx and African American borrowers ‘paying $250-500M per year in extra mortgage interest.'”

Warren called on the officials to provide information on their agencies’ efforts to combat lending discrimination by lenders who use algorithms and to clarify their agencies’ respective responsibilities for oversight of fair lending laws.

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The letter also questioned the agency heads on whether they have conducted analyses of their own on the impact of fintech algorithms on minority borrowers and, if not, whether they plan to conduct them in the future.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellAugust recess under threat as yearly spending bills pile up August recess under threat as yearly spending bills pile up McConnell brushes off question about special treatment from Chao MORE (R-Ky.) invited Senate Republican colleagues to a meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinAugust recess under threat as yearly spending bills pile up August recess under threat as yearly spending bills pile up Senate GOP, White House reschedule government funding meeting MORE and White House chief of staff Mick MulvaneyJohn (Mick) Michael MulvaneyAugust recess under threat as yearly spending bills pile up August recess under threat as yearly spending bills pile up Senate GOP, White House reschedule government funding meeting MORE Wednesday in a renewed attempt to sell the White House on a two-year spending deal.

McConnell brought in Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyAugust recess under threat as yearly spending bills pile up August recess under threat as yearly spending bills pile up Senate GOP, White House reschedule government funding meeting MORE (R-Ala.) and several appropriations cardinals, the chairmen of powerful subcommittees, to underscore his argument that a two-year deal on spending caps is essential to avoiding big cuts to defense spending at year’s end.  

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Sens. Roy BluntRoy Dean BluntMcConnell: Senate will hold election security briefing McConnell: Senate will hold election security briefing Proposed bipartisan kidney legislation takes on kidney disease epidemic in America MORE (R-Mo.), chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services subcommittee, Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiAugust recess under threat as yearly spending bills pile up August recess under threat as yearly spending bills pile up Overnight Energy: Trump appoints Social Security watchdog to also oversee Interior | Critics question EPA guidance on pipelines | Battle over science roils EPA MORE (R-Alaska), chairwoman of the Interior subcommittee, Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamActing DHS chief testifies about situation at border Acting DHS chief testifies about situation at border Senate GOP to vote on Trump’s .5 billion border request next week MORE (R-S.C.), chairman of the State and Foreign Operations subcommittee, Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), chairwoman of the Legislative Branch subcommittee, John BoozmanJohn Nichols BoozmanThere is a severe physician shortage and it will only worsen Trump’s pursuit of infrastructure deal hits GOP roadblock Democrats, making a difference is better than making a point MORE (R-Ark.), chairman of the Military Construction subcommittee, and John HoevenJohn Henry HoevenSenators introduce bill to prevent border agency from selling personal data Overnight Energy: Bipartisan Senate group seeks more funding for carbon capture technology | Dems want documents on Interior pick’s lobbying work | Officials push to produce more electric vehicle batteries in US Officials, automakers aim to produce more electric vehicle batteries in US: report MORE (R-N.D.), chairman of the Agriculture subcommittee, also attended the meeting.

A Senate Republican lawmaker with knowledge of the agenda said the purpose of the meeting was to sell the White House on accepting a two-year spending caps deal with Democrats.

The source said that Shelby and Sen. Patrick LeahyPatrick Joseph LeahyOvernight Defense: Senators plan 22 resolutions to block Saudi arms sale | Trump defends transgender military plan | Trump, lawmakers prep to mark D-Day anniversary Senators plot 22 resolutions to block Saudi arms sales Senators plot 22 resolutions to block Saudi arms sales MORE (Vt.), the senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, have sketched out a possible rough deal.

Shelby told reporters after the meeting that Mnuchin and Mulvaney will bring a proposal back to President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump judicial nominee withdraws amid Republican opposition: report Trump judicial nominee withdraws amid Republican opposition: report Cummings offers to delay contempt vote for Wednesday deadline on subpoenaed census docs MORE to review. He also said Senate Republicans will pass along a new Republican offer to House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOvernight Health Care: Major doctors group votes to oppose single-payer | Panel recommends wider use of HIV prevention pill | New lawsuit over Trump ‘conscience protection’ rule Overnight Health Care: Major doctors group votes to oppose single-payer | Panel recommends wider use of HIV prevention pill | New lawsuit over Trump ‘conscience protection’ rule On The Money: Democrats set stage for next shutdown fight | House panel wraps up final 2020 spending bill | GOP senators, White House delay meeting on spending | Trump hits Fed over high interest rates MORE (D-Calif.).

“We will be meeting again,” Shelby said. “We discussed things in pretty good detail.”

“Did we crystalize it? No. We didn’t think we’d crystalize it today, but we’re making some progress. But we have some unanswered questions that need to be answered,” he added.

“We’re going to have to be looking at spending caps or sequestration. Sequestration would be devastating to national security in a troubled world we live in,” Shelby said, summarizing the argument that GOP senators are making to the White House.

If Trump and Senate and House leaders fail to reach a deal to raise the spending caps, the automatic cuts known as sequestration set up by the 2011 Budget Control Act will take effect in January.

Asked whether Mnuchin and Mulvaney appeared moved by the prospect of steep cuts to defense programs, Shelby said, “I think so.”

Mnuchin told reporters after the meeting that the White House will agree to link a spending caps deal with legislation to raise the federal debt limit past the 2020 election, a victory for Senate leaders who want to take care of the nation’s most pressing fiscal business with one deal.

Senate Democratic Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerBlue Dogs look to move forward on infrastructure project Democratic strategist says Republicans are turning immigration debate into ‘political football’ Trump touts Mexico deal on migrants: Will be ‘very successful’ MORE (N.Y.) said White House officials agreed to link the spending deal to raising the debt limit at a meeting last month, but Mnuchin confirmed it Wednesday.

“Our preference is if we reach a caps deal, the debt ceiling has to be included,” he said.

Mnuchin also said he will brief Trump on the results of the meeting.

“We wouldn’t reach any agreement without the president being fully on board. He’s fully briefed on all our conversations,” he said.

If McConnell and Shelby can’t clinch a deal on new spending caps, the Senate will have to come up with its own top-line numbers to move forward with spending bills, a strategy the Democratic-controlled House has already adopted.

Shelby said he’d prefer to reach a deal with the White House instead of move spending bills through the Senate with the prospect that Trump may veto them later this year.

“We’ve been discussing whether to move forward, deem something, assume something — but we’d rather do it with certainty,” he said.

One Republican senator expressed optimism that McConnell will be able to convince Mulvaney, a former member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, to accept a two-year spending deal, even though it increases the deficit.

“We actually feel pretty good about it,” said the lawmaker. “There are some folks in the White House that in a vacuum wouldn’t mind if the wheels fell off [a budget deal.] We’d spend less money.”

But the lawmaker said that would send a bad signal to allies around the world as it would likely result in a severe defense spending cut.

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Rep. Pramila JayapalPramila JayapalOvernight Health Care: Pelosi to change drug-pricing plan after complaints | 2020 Democrats to attend Planned Parenthood abortion forum | House holds first major ‘Medicare for All’ hearing Overnight Health Care: Pelosi to change drug-pricing plan after complaints | 2020 Democrats to attend Planned Parenthood abortion forum | House holds first major ‘Medicare for All’ hearing Pelosi to change drug-pricing plan after progressive complaints MORE (D-Wash.) opened up about her own abortion in a column for The New York Times.

In the Thursday op-ed, Jayapal describes her first pregnancy and how her child Janak was born weighing 1 pound, 14 ounces and faced complications due to undeveloped organs.

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Jayapal describes becoming pregnant again years later and knowing she faced potential major health complications, both for herself from another emergency cesarean section and for another potentially premature child.

“I decided I could not responsibly have the baby. It was a heartbreaking decision, but it was the only one I was capable of making,” Jayapal writes.

Jayapal describes the doctor who performed the procedure as “extremely skilled, thoughtful, kind and compassionate” and keenly aware of what a woman making such a decision went through.

Jayapal writes in the column that she has never before discussed the experience and acknowledges the existence of women with stories “far more traumatic than mine” such as rape victims, as well as stories that do not involve any trauma.

“For me, terminating my pregnancy was not an easy choice, but it was my choice,” she writes. “That is the single thing that has allowed me to live with the consequences of my decisions. And that is what must be preserved, for every pregnant person.”

The column comes as several states, including Georgia, Ohio, Louisiana and Alabama, have passed restrictive abortion laws.

Several women, including late-night host Busy Philipps and actress Jameela Jamil, have similarly come forward about their own abortions in an effort to personalize the issue. 

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Prominent GOP pollster Frank Luntz is warning Republican lawmakers that the public’s views on climate change are shifting and that ignoring the issue could cost them important votes at the ballot box.

In a memo circulated to Republican congressional offices on Wednesday, Luntz Global Partners warned that 58 percent of Americans, as well as 58 percent of GOP voters under the age of 40, are more concerned about climate change than they were just one year ago.

The polling group also noted that 69 percent of GOP voters are concerned that the party’s stance on climate change is “hurting itself with younger votes.”

Of the GOP voters under the age of 40, more than half, or 55 percent, said they are “very or extremely” concerned about their party’s position on climate change.

“Climate Change is a GOP VULNERABILITY and a GOP OPPORTUNITY,” read a copy of the memo obtained by The Hill. “Yes, Republican voters want a solution. It is on measures of salience to vote that we have detected the greatest change.”

“The appetite for seeing real action is palpable to voters of both sides,” the memo states.

Referring to a listening session with likely voters, the memo said many are angered that GOP leadership “ceded the issue to the Dems.”

“Typically, the most effective campaign approach is to build-out from the base. … Not here; there’s simply too much recognition that the politicking has blocked Progress,” the group said in the memo.

Luntz Global conducted the online poll of 1,000 voters on behalf of the Climate Leadership Council, which is promoting its own carbon tax and dividend plan. The survey found that GOP voters supported the plan by a 2-1 margin.

Fifty-three percent of Republicans surveyed said they would be more likely to support a candidate who supported a plan that included a carbon tax.

The memo said a carbon-fee plan would sit “in stark contrast” to the Green New Deal, a progressive climate action plan embraced by the majority of Democratic presidential candidates.

Most Republicans are opposed to the idea of a carbon tax, which would likely increase costs for fossil fuel producers. Critics like Americans for Tax Reform argue that the costs would ultimately be passed on to households and that government involvement unfairly tips the scales to the renewable energy industry.

However, several business groups have recently called on the federal government to regulate emissions through a carbon tax. The CEOs of 75 major companies, including Exxon Mobil and BP, visited Capitol Hill earlier this month to lobby Republicans to embrace a carbon tax.

The survey conducted by Luntz Global Partners has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, with higher margins for subgroups.

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Hundreds of protesters rallied in Moscow on Wednesday to advocate for punishment of police officers involved in allegedly framing a recently arrested journalist. 

Police on Tuesday dropped the charges against investigative reporter Ivan Golunov, who has uncovered corruption by Moscow city authorities. He was accused of dealing drugs and arrested last week, but denied the allegation. 

Police arrested more than 400 people Wednesday in the protest, including opposition politician Alexei Navalny, Reuters reported, citing monitoring group OVD-Info. The group said that police released some of the protesters and were charging others.

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Police had said previously they detained more than 200 people, according to Reuters. 

The wire service reported that witnesses said that more than 1,000 people marched through the city, chanting “Russia will be free,” “Russia without Putin” and “Down with the Tsar.”

Some also wore shirts that said “I am/We are Ivan Golunov,” which was also printed as the headline on the front page of Russia’s top three newspapers Monday. 

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According to Reuters, several prominent reporters and activists were among those protesting and detained.