OVERNIGHT ENERGY: 21 states sue White House over rollback of bedrock environmental law | Administration faces rough week in court | Trump hits Biden on climate at convention

August 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

TGIF! Welcome to Overnight Energy, The Hill’s roundup of the latest energy and environment news. Please send tips and comments to Rebecca Beitsch at rbeitsch@thehill.com. Follow her on Twitter: @rebeccabeitsch. Reach Rachel Frazin at rfrazin@thehill.com or follow her on Twitter: @RachelFrazin.

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GETTING TO THE HEART OF IT: A coalition of 21 states sued the Trump administration Friday for what they called a “rule that is, at its heart, the gutting” of America’s bedrock environmental law.

The White House in July finalized a rollback of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which for 50 years has required the government to weigh environmental and community concerns before approving pipelines, highways, drilling permits, new factories or any major action on federal lands.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) called it the Magna Carta of environmental law.

“NEPA requires something basic, but very important from the federal government,” he said. “It basically requires the federal government to look before they leap. Pretty straightforward. Look at the science, look at the impacts. What’s going to happen if we go forward?

“What the Trump administration wants to do is put blinders on before the federal government leaps, so we don’t know what those impacts are.”

The rewrite of NEPA removes requirements to consider climate change before proceeding on a project.

Protocols for weighing concerns from nearby communities — often communities of color — would become far more complex.

It also opens the door for more industry involvement in reviewing the environmental effects of their projects or nixing reviews entirely for some projects that receive little federal funding. President TrumpDonald John TrumpKanye West sues to get on Wisconsin ballot after being rejected Mary Trump reveals recordings of Trump’s sister swiping at Ivanka, Eric Leonard Cohen lawyer considers legal action after RNC uses song after Trump acceptance speech MORE has repeatedly called NEPA the “single biggest obstacle” to major construction projects.

The White House, which promulgated the rule through its Council on Environmental Quality, said it does not comment on litigation.

Does this sound familiar?

The Trump administration has already faced multiple lawsuits from various environmental groups challenging its NEPA rollback.

The suit from the states offers similar arguments: The Trump administration both violated the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), which lays out the technical process for changing rules, and undermined the very basis of NEPA itself.

“The Trump administration is impatient; the Trump administration is sloppy, and the Trump administration doesn’t like to do its homework. And the result is that oftentimes before we can get to the substance of the matter, we beat them on the procedure; we beat them because they didn’t go to court, or they didn’t go through the regulatory process and try to implement it the right way,” California Attorney General Xavier BecerraXavier BecerraOVERNIGHT ENERGY: 21 states sue White House over rollback of bedrock environmental law | Administration faces rough week in court | Trump hits Biden on climate at convention 21 states sue White House over rollback of bedrock environmental law Latino Victory to boost Alex Padilla to fill Harris’s potential Senate seat MORE said.

“We’re able to succeed because on the substance we’ve got those great allies — the facts, the science and the law with us — but it also helps that these guys are just plain sloppy and impatient. And it really helps us have a record of success.”

Cue that eyeball emoji…

The suit, filed in the Northern District of California, is California’s 100th against the Trump administration, and its 51st challenging a bevy of environmental rollbacks.

It asks the court to throw out the rule entirely, arguing it undermines NEPA itself, which “prioritizes careful, informed decision making over rushed and reckless action,” the states write.

The rewritten rule would also lead to “uninformed federal decisions that adversely impact vulnerable communities,” they argue, such as the black, brown, and poor communities that are already overburdened by polluting projects ranging from factories to highways.

Business world braces for blue sweep

August 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

Wall Street and business groups are bracing for the possibility of a blue sweep in Washington that would leave Democrats in charge of the White House and both chambers of Congress.

Such a scenario could lead to sweeping policy changes affecting taxes, regulations, coronavirus relief and other economic policies.

“I would say that’s definitely a concern on a lot of investors’ minds,” said Judy Lu, CEO and founder of Blue Zone Wealth Advisors.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenHarris honors Women’s Equality Day in op-ed, calls for voting reform Trump breaks with precedent on second night of convention Melania Trump casts president as champion for American families MORE holds a lead in national polls and in key swing states over President TrumpDonald John TrumpThe Memo: GOP seeks to detoxify Trump at convention Harris honors Women’s Equality Day in op-ed, calls for voting reform Trump breaks with precedent on second night of convention MORE. Democrats are in control of the House and, if Biden wins the White House, would need to have a net pick-up of three Senate seats to gain control of that chamber.

With one party controlling Washington, Lu says, businesses anticipate more sweeping policy changes, which makes it harder to plan.

“The market doesn’t really care if you’re red or if you’re blue, the market just doesn’t like uncertainty,“ she said.

If Biden were to win but the Senate were to remain in GOP control, on the other hand, the expectation from businesses would be that little would get done.

“Markets have historically performed well in times of political gridlock,” Lu said. “If Biden were to win but without a full blue sweep, it would probably be favorable for the market.”

Even without a sweep, a new Biden administration could heavily influence policy at the Treasury Department. Speculation has swirled that Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenTrump claims Democrats ‘using COVID to steal an election’ Juan Williams: Harris proves the doubters wrong Biden unites Democrats — for now MORE (D-Mass.), a Wall Street boogeyman who has advised Biden on economic policy and was a front-runner to be his running mate, may be offered the job.

But changes could be more far-reaching with legislative backing.

Jeffrey Corliss, a managing director and partner of RDM Financial Group at Hightower, says one of the main concerns businesses have over Democratic control of Washington comes down to one word: taxes.

“If they’re able to reverse or partially reverse the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, that will get some companies to rethink their strategies going forward,” he said, referring to Trump’s 2017 signature tax cut, which lowered the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent.

Biden has proposed raising the rate back to 28 percent. His proposal would also install a new minimum corporate tax of 15 percent to ensure that no corporation paid zero in taxes.

On the individual side, one of Biden’s plans would increase taxes on high income earners’ investments, a policy some worry will make it harder for companies to raise money.

Some observers believe that could represent just the beginning.

“A rate of 28 percent is the likely target, however that may change depending on a number of factors, including the amount of revenue needed to fund Democratic spending priorities and the makeup of the House and Senate,” a UBS analysis of Biden’s tax plan noted.

Democrats could use the budget reconciliation process to gut the Trump tax bill with a simple majority, averting the legislative filibuster that requires a 60-vote hurdle for legislation to advance. Republicans used the same tactic to pass the tax law in the first place.

Heavyweights in the Democratic Party, including former President Obama, have pushed to scrap the procedural hurdle, and Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate Democrats map out climate change strategy | Green groups challenge Trump plan to open 82 percent of Alaska reserve to drilling | 87 lawmakers ask EPA to reverse course after rescinding methane regulations Senate Democrats map out climate change strategy The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Sights and sounds from GOP convention night 1 MORE (D-N.Y.) has kept the possibility open.

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“Should that come up there it could take the pendulum of power even further to the left,” he said.

“That could be a worrisome sign from a market point of view,” he added, though he noted that both markets and the economy writ large have a historical record of performing well when Democrats are in charge.

Indeed, a Democratic Washington would be a boon to some business sectors.

Big corporations could face larger tax bills, giving smaller competitors a leg up. Renewable energy companies and the nascent cannabis industry could boom.

The unique circumstances in play in 2020 could also profoundly change how businesses think about who controls Washington.

Some say businesses would actually benefit with Democratic control of government given Trump’s response to the coronavirus, which has shuttered bars and restaurants, devastated the travel and hospitality industries and left nearly 180,000 dead.

“The business community will do way better if there’s a blue sweep just because of the actions a Biden administration could take to clean up the mess of this administration,” said Heidi Shierholz, a former Labor Department chief economist in the Obama administration.

Biden said he would enforce a national mask mandate, a policy Trump has refused but that Goldman Sachs projected would increase output by 5 percentage points.

Another potential upside for businesses is the Democratic willingness to spend big on fiscal stimulus.

“The most pressing economic problem facing businesses right now and in the aftermath of all this is the lack of demand for goods and services,” Shierholz said.

The pandemic has left millions of people unemployed, meaning people don’t have money to spend at those businesses that remain open, which in turn buy less from their suppliers.

Stimulus policies such as the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses and $600 in additional weekly unemployment benefits have helped keep the economy afloat by putting cash into people’s pockets and keeping it circulating through the economy.

But clashes between Democrats and Republicans have allowed those key programs to lapse, despite calls from the Federal Reserve to go big on stimulus spending.

Republicans, in particular, have shown an increased concern about the ballooning debt, putting the size of the next stimulus package — and its ability to pass at all — into question.

“A blue wave would mean that fiscal relief would be forthcoming,” said Shierholz.

If Biden wins the White House and Democrats rule both chambers of Congress, there are also likely to be battles within the Democratic Party between centrists and progressives.

Biden is seen as a centrist, though Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersRand Paul hits Biden over Iraq: He ‘will continue to spill our blood and treasure’ GOP wants more vision, policy from Trump at convention Kamala Harris the Super Liberal? MORE (I-Vt.), whom Biden defeated in the primary, has said his administration would be the most progressive in history.

Progressives say that their policies can help build a stronger economy over time.

They point to studies showing that increased inequality can reduce economic growth. Better access to health care can help would-be entrepreneurs start businesses without fear of losing a key benefit. A stronger social safety net can help unemployed people find better jobs that are better suited to their skills.

“If you raise taxes you can pay for good infrastructure, good roads, good transportation, good digital infrastructure, a well-educated workforce. All that makes businesses better off,” Shierholz argued.

Nigel Green, CEO of the deVere Group, says that even if Biden loses, businesses can expect significant changes in the policy landscape.

“Whoever wins the keys to the White House — Trump or Biden — we can expect some major policy shifts which could affect investments, taxation, regulatory landscapes and corporate earnings, amongst other issues, for the next four years,” he said.

If he wins reelection, an emboldened Trump could ramp up trade wars or pursue an aggressive decoupling from China that could upend supply chains.

“I would suggest that investors review their portfolios to ensure that they are as ‘president-proof’ as possible,” he said.

Colorado GOP lawmaker, Michelle Malkin sue governor over coronavirus orders

August 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

A GOP Colorado lawmaker and conservative activist Michelle Malkin have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Jared PolisJared Schutz PolisOver 300 LGBT leaders endorse Biden for president : ‘The most pro-equality ticket in US history’ Colorado GOP lawmaker, Michelle Malkin sue governor over coronavirus orders Cuomo to serve as National Association of Governors chair MORE (D) and other government agencies over their coronavirus prevention orders.

Colorado House Minority Leader Patrick Neville and Malkin say Polis and state and local health agencies overstepped their authority, including with a mask mandate, in the lawsuit filed late Wednesday with the Colorado Supreme Court, The Denver Post and The Colorado Sun reported.

The lawsuit alleges that the Colorado Disaster Emergency Act, which extends the governor’s powers during an emergency, violates the separation of powers that requires laws to be passed by the legislature.

“The essence of Petitioners’ Complaint is that the chief executive by executive order is purportedly making new laws and implementing new public policies which wholly usurp the power of the legislative department to make the laws, a power which has been delegated by the People through their Colorado Constitution exclusively to the legislative department,” court documents said.

Neville and Malkin call more than three dozen executive orders made by Polis and the health agencies unconstitutional, adding that they cause “unjust injury to the fundamental civil rights, liberty interests, and property rights of each Petitioner.”

Among the contested orders is Polis’s mask mandate issued on July 17, according to the Sun.

Malkin posted on Facebook that she is suing the governor “over his unconstitutional, junk science-basked mask mandate.”

The governor said in a statement obtained by The Hill, “We are free to be on the side of a deadly virus that has taken the lives of too many friends, parents, and loved ones, or on the side of Coloradans. I’m on the side of Coloradans.”

Neville responded to Polis’s comments in a tweet, saying “King Polis thinks advocating for our constitution, seeking citizen and legislative input is ‘siding with a deadly virus.’”

In addition to Polis, the lawsuit also names the heads of El Paso County Public Health, the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment as defendants.

The latter two agencies declined to comment to The Hill.

Updated 8:20 p.m.

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Belarus strips press credentials for foreign journalists

August 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

Belarus has revoked the press credentials of numerous foreign journalists ahead of expected protests over the results of the country’s presidential election held earlier this month.

The journalists were from a variety of international news outlets including The Associated Press, Reuters, French wire service Agence France-Presse, the BBC and Radio Liberty, among others.

Protests have been a constant scene in the Eastern European country since Aug. 9 when long-serving Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed he won reelection with over 80 percent of the vote.

Approximately 7,000 people have been arrested during the protests and at least three people have died in the unrest.

Lukashenko’s opposition, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, has not accepted the results of the election and has been the driving force behind the large-scale demonstrations that have taken place in recent weeks.

Tikhanovskaya has fled to neighboring Lithuania, which is a part of the European Union, unlike Belarus.

“If true, it is another sign that this regime is morally bankrupt and the only way it will attempt to cling onto power is by fear and intimidation,” she said in a statement Saturday following reports of a crackdown on foreign journalists.

“This tactic will not work. Belarusian people are not afraid any more. We will win. The darkest hour is always before the dawn,” she added.

Government spokesman Anatoly Glaz said the decision was based off a recommendation from the Belarus’s counter-terrorism unit, AFP reported.

BBC confirmed and condemned the action that affected two of its journalists.

“Two BBC journalists working for the BBC Russian service in Minsk have had their press accreditation revoked, with immediate effect,” the British network said. “We believe it is vital for the people of Belarus to have access to impartial, independent information about events in their country. BBC Russian, which reaches more than five million people a week, has been a major source of news for people in Belarus and Russia during the post-election unrest.”

It added: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this stifling of independent journalism. We call upon the Belarusian authorities to revoke this decision and allow our journalists to continue doing their jobs.”

The U.S. Embassy in Minsk also spoke out against the revocation.

“We stand with the Belarusian people in their aspirations for a democratic, prosperous future and support their call for the government of Belarus to carry out democratic reforms and respect human rights,” it said.

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Hundreds gather at White House for Trump speech despite COVID-19 guidelines

August 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

Hundreds of people packed the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday for President TrumpDonald John TrumpThe Memo: Trump reaches for optimism as weapon against Biden Five takeaways on GOP’s norm-breaking convention Trump taunts Democrats in White House speech: ‘We’re here and they’re not’ MORE‘s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, flouting federal and local health guidance on the coronavirus pandemic.

Roughly 1,500 guests are expected to attend, a Trump campaign official said, with lawmakers, congressional candidates, administration officials and first responders among them. Seats were mere inches apart, and few guests were spotted wearing masks in the hours before Trump took the stage.

Trump administration officials have urged Americans to wear masks when it is not possible to maintain six feet of distance in order to avoid spreading COVID-19.

Further adding to the potential risk from the gathering, the campaign would not say whether attendees were tested for COVID-19 before they arrived, instead referring to vague health protocols in place.

“Patronus Medical, a leading medical, safety, and health company, has worked in partnership with the Republican National Committee to make certain proper protocols are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals at convention venues,” the campaign said in a statement.

Robert Darling, the chief medical officer at Patronus Medical, said health professionals were on site “to make certain screening has been done on a consistent basis to ensure the convention meets the highest standards of public safety.”

The crowd also was in defiance of guidelines from Washington, D.C., that prohibit mass gatherings of more than 50 people. Visitors who come to the District from certain high-risk states are asked to quarantine for 14 days.

The massive gathering on the White House lawn comes after Trump canceled convention plans in Charlotte, N.C., complaining that he would not be able to hold a large celebration without masks or social distancing.

The setup Thursday alarmed health experts, who warned of the potential for spreading the virus.

“This is irresponsible. Yes it’s outdoors. But these folks are together for an extended period of time without masks. It’s utterly irresponsible,” tweeted Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute.

“Political convention or illegal large pandemic-risky low-mask-use un-distanced public gathering?” tweeted Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and health economist at Harvard.

This week’s Republican convention has largely treated the pandemic as an afterthought, frequently referring to it in the past tense, even as roughly 1,000 people in the U.S. die each day from the virus. The U.S. has by far the highest number of reported infections of any country in the world at 5.8 million.

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US military intercepts 6 Russian jets off Alaska

August 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

The U.S. military intercepted six Russian military jets off the coast of Alaska on Thursday night, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said Friday.

U.S. F-22 fighter jets, supported by KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, intercepted three groups of two Russian Tu-142 patrol jets that entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, NORAD said in a news release.

The Russian jets, which came within 50 nautical miles of the Alaskan shore, stayed in international airspace, NORAD said.

The Russian planes “loitered” in the air defense identification zone for about five hours, the release added.

“Our northern approaches have had an increase in foreign military activity as our competitors continue to expand their military presence and probe our defenses,” NORAD commander Gen. Glen VanHerck said in a statement. “This year, we’ve conducted more than a dozen intercepts, the most in recent years. The importance of our continued efforts to project air defense operations in and through the north has never been more apparent.”

The encounter in the sky came hours after the U.S. military said a Russian submarine surfaced near Alaska.

U.S. Northern Command tweeted Thursday night that it was “closely monitoring” the submarine.

“The current Russian maritime activity is taking place in international waters well outside the U.S. territorial sea,” Northern Command added. “We have not received any requests for assistance from the Russian Navy or other mariners in the area.”

The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday it was conducting major naval drills near Alaska, according to The Associated Press.

Russian navy chief Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov said more than 50 warships and about 40 aircraft were taking part in the Bering Sea exercise, which included several practice missile launches, the AP reported.

The United States and its allies conducted their own major show of force Friday.

Nuclear-capable U.S. B-52 bombers, joined at various points by aircraft from more than a dozen NATO allies, flew over all 30 NATO countries Friday in a mission the U.S. military said was meant to show alliance solidarity.

“U.S. security commitments to the NATO alliance remain ironclad,” Gen. Tod Wolters, commander of U.S. European Command, said in a statement about the bomber exercise, dubbed “Allied Sky.” “Today’s bomber task force mission is another example of how the alliance sustains readiness, improves interoperability and demonstrates our ability to deliver on commitments from across the Atlantic.”

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Trump urges Louisiana voters to back GOP in governor's race then 'enjoy the game'

August 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE rallied in Louisiana on Friday night to gin up support for Republican candidates as the GOP hopes to flip the governor’s seat in the election Saturday.

“Tomorrow you will head to the polls and you will vote to replace a liberal Democrat who has sold you out, John Bel Edwards, with a great new Republican governor,” Trump told the crowd in Lake Charles.

“Go out and vote and then enjoy the game as it should be enjoyed,” he added to applause, referring to the highly-anticipated football game between Louisiana State University and the University of Florida.

Louisianans will head to the polls this weekend in one of the nation’s tightest gubernatorial races, as centrist Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards tries to fend off Republican challengers Ralph Abraham and Eddie Rispone.

The GOP has high hopes for the race in a state that backed Trump by 20 points, but some worry an increasingly bitter campaign between Abraham and Rispone could cost Republicans the seat.

Rispone hammered Abraham in an attack ad last month, and Abraham fired back with a video calling his opponent “desperate” and telling voters, “Eddie Rispone is lying to you.”

Trump has urged supporters to back either Rispone or Abraham, calling them “both great” alternatives to Edwards.

“REPUBLICANS of Louisiana, it is really important for you to go out and vote on October 12th for either Eddie Rispone or Ralph Abraham (both Great), which will lead to a runoff against a Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Pelosi: Georgia primary ‘disgrace’ could preview an election debacle in November MORE/Chuck SchumerChuck SchumerOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Schumer requests briefing with White House coronavirus task force as cases rise Schumer on Trump’s tweet about 75-year-old protester: He ‘should go back to hiding in the bunker’ MORE Democrat (John Bel Edwards), who does nothing but stymie all of the things we are doing to Make America Great Again,” Trump tweeted.

“Don’t be fooled, John Bel Edwards will NEVER be for us. Early voting has already started!”

….a Nancy Pelosi/Chuck Schumer Democrat (John Bel Edwards), who does nothing but stymie all of the things we are doing to Make America Great Again. Don’t be fooled, John Bel Edwards will NEVER be for us. Early voting has already started! @LAGOP

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2019

The president brought both candidates on stage during his Friday rally but cautioned “you’re not allowed to hit your Republican opponent, you’re only allowed to hit John Bel Edwards, because he deserves it.”

Edwards, who won his first term in 2015 over scandal-plagued Republican candidate, has doubled down on his centrist bona fides ahead of the race in ruby red Louisiana, underscoring his pro-Second Amendment and anti-abortion stances.

No Democratic governor has won two consecutive terms in Louisiana since the mid 1970s, but The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, rates the race as leaning Democratic.

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Buttigieg campaign says it raised over $1M in one day

August 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE’s presidential campaign announced Wednesday it has raised more than $1 million in a 24-hour period that included Tuesday night’s primary debate in Ohio.

“We are officially over $1M raised in the past 24 hours from tens of thousands of donors,” Lis Smith, a senior adviser for the Buttigieg campaign, tweeted.

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The haul was announced after the mayor put on a standout performance at Tuesday night’s event, engaging in a series of fiery exchanges with other candidates on stage.

The 37-year-old Democrat touted his industrial Midwest roots and cast himself as an outsider frustrated with how Washington works.

Buttigieg took aim at Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) after she dodged questions about whether she would raise taxes on the middle class to pay for her “Medicare for All” plan, taking her to task over “a yes or no question that didn’t get a yes or no answer.”

He also noted that Warren has endorsed Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE’s (I-Vt.) Medicare for All plan instead of developing her own.

Buttigieg also sparred with former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) over the Texas Democrat’s plan to institute a mandatory buyback program for assault rifles.

“[Let’s] not be limited by the polls and the consultants and the focus groups. Let’s do what’s right when we have time to do what’s right,” O’Rourke said during the debate.

“The problem isn’t the polls. The problem is the policy,” Buttigieg, an Afghanistan War veteran, fired back. “And I don’t need lessons from you on courage, political or personal.”

Buttigieg had plateaued in the polls prior to Tuesday’s debate but had remained a fundraising force in the Democratic primary, bringing in $19.1 million in the third quarter of 2019 and finishing September with $23.4 million cash on hand. Both totals ranked third in the crowded primary field.

Poll: Warren leads Biden by 15 points in Massachusetts

August 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) has a 15-point lead in the Massachusetts Democratic presidential primary race as she flexes her political muscles in her home state, according to a new WBUR poll.

Thirty-three percent of likely primary voters surveyed said they intend to support Warren, while 18 percent said they would back former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE and 13 percent said they plan to vote for Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.).

No other candidate breaks double-digits in the poll, but 15 percent of likely primary voters said they either did not know who they would support or refused to answer the question.

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The poll marks an improvement for Warren, who was virtually tied with Biden in a Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll in September. She is also buoyed in the new survey by a net-positive favorability rating, with 67 percent of likely primary voters saying they have a favorable view of her while only 18 percent say they have an unfavorable opinion.

“Elizabeth Warren, across the country, has been climbing steadily, and we see the results of that in this poll,” said Steve Koczela, president of the MassINC Polling Group, which conducts surveys for WBUR. “Yes, [Massachusetts] is her home state, but she’s also climbed from where she was in September.”

But in a warning sign for Warren, the “Medicare for All” plan she supports appears to be unpopular among Democratic primary voters in Massachusetts. Only 28 percent said they think it is the best approach to health care in America, while 44 percent said keeping the current system and offering Medicare as a health plan for everyone who wants to buy it would be the best option.

“Medicare for All who Want It” is also the most popular choice among all Massachusetts voters.

Health care has emerged as a chief fault line in the Democratic primary, with several candidates pouncing on Warren in last week’s debate after she dodged questions as to whether she would raise taxes on the middle class to pay for the plan, only saying that overall costs would decline for middle-class families.

“Your signature, senator, is to have a plan for everything, except this,” said South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE. “No plan has been laid out to explain how a multitrillion-dollar hole in this Medicare for All plan that Sen. Warren is putting forward is supposed to get filled in.”

Warren said last weekend that she will soon be releasing a plan outlining how she will finance the “Medicare for All” health care proposal.

“I plan over the next few weeks to put out a plan that talks about, specifically, the cost of Medicare for all and, specifically, how we pay for it,” Warren said at a campaign rally in Indianola, Iowa.

The WBUR poll surveyed 456 likely Massachusetts primary voters from Oct. 16-20 and has a margin of error of 4.6 percentage points.

GOP senator says he'll endorse Sessions if he runs for Senate seat

August 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyHouse pushes back schedule to pass spending bills Top Republican says Trump greenlit budget fix for VA health care GOP senators not tested for coronavirus before lunch with Trump MORE (R-Ala.) said Wednesday he will endorse former Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsMcCabe, Rosenstein spar over Russia probe Rosenstein takes fire from Republicans in heated testimony Rosenstein defends Mueller appointment, role on surveillance warrants MORE if the former Trump Cabinet official gets into the Alabama Senate race.

Shelby, who served in the Senate with Sessions for decades, said the two spoke on Monday and “a lot of indications point to him running,” though Sessions hasn’t made a final decision.

“Oh yeah, if he runs I will. He’s always endorsed me. He’s my friend,” Shelby said Wednesday when asked if he would support Sessions.

Sessions has been reaching out to the Alabama delegation as he weighs a bid for his old Senate seat. There’s already a crowded GOP primary field, including Rep. Bradley ByrneBradley Roberts ByrneOvernight Defense: Pentagon chief says he opposes invoking Insurrection Act for protests | White House dodges on Trump’s confidence in Esper | ‘Angry and appalled’ Mattis scorches Trump Republicans stand by Esper after public break with Trump Democrats press OSHA official on issuing an Emergency Temporary Standard MORE (R-Ala.) and Roy MooreRoy Stewart MooreSessions goes after Tuberville’s coaching record in challenging him to debate The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip Sessions fires back at Trump over recusal: ‘I did my duty & you’re damn fortunate I did” MORE, who lost the 2017 Senate race to Democrat Doug Jones.

Shelby noted that Sessions had initially called him approximately a week ago and that the two have discussed the Senate race on other occasions this year.

Sessions left the Senate in early 2017 after President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE selected him to become attorney general. But he was ousted last year after months of public attacks by Trump, who was frustrated by Sessions’s decision to recuse himself from an investigation into Russia’s election meddling in 2016.

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Shelby declined to say if the two discussed Trump during their call.

Trump has continued to lash out at Sessions, including calling him a “total disaster” during an interview published earlier this month.

Shelby told The Hill earlier this year that he discussed a potential Senate bid by Sessions with Trump, but characterized the president as “not on board.”

“I did talk to [Sessions]. I talked to the president about it too … About if Sessions ran, he was not encouraging,” Shelby said at the time. “How do I say it? He was not on board, OK?”

dovdiv

Monthly Archives: August 2020

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: 21 states sue White House over rollback of bedrock environmental law | Administration faces rough week in court | Trump hits Biden on climate at convention

Business world braces for blue sweep

Colorado GOP lawmaker, Michelle Malkin sue governor over coronavirus orders

Belarus strips press credentials for foreign journalists

Hundreds gather at White House for Trump speech despite COVID-19 guidelines

US military intercepts 6 Russian jets off Alaska

Trump urges Louisiana voters to back GOP in governor's race then 'enjoy the game'

Buttigieg campaign says it raised over $1M in one day

Poll: Warren leads Biden by 15 points in Massachusetts

GOP senator says he'll endorse Sessions if he runs for Senate seat