New York Times | Bernie Sanders's Advice for Democrats New York Times Since the Reagan years, Republicans have owned the ideological playing field, and Democrats have been perpetually on the defensive as a tax and spend, anti-job, pro-globalization, gun-hating, tree-hugging, minority-favoring, politically correct, anti ... |
Go here to see the original:
Bernie Sanders's Advice for Democrats - New York Times
WASHINGTON Democrats and activists opposed to GOP health care legislation have unleashed a full-scale effort to stop the plan but are finding it difficult to get anyone to pay attention.
Despite the stakes, critics say Republican efforts to hide the legislative process and a relentless tide of major news elsewhere have made it harder to draw attention to the issue.
If youre a voter sitting at home looking at your newspapers front page, its possible to have no idea the 'Trumpcare' train is barreling down the tracks at you, Ben Wikler, Washington director of MoveOn, told NBC News in an interview.
If all goes according to the GOP plan, Republicans in Congress will send sweeping healthcare legislation that could affect coverage, cost and treatment for tens of millions of Americans to President Donald Trumps desk before August. The House has already passed a bill and the Senate hopes to hold a vote on its own version as early as this month.
Its the home stretch for arguably the most important legislation in Congress since the Affordable Care Act.
This is not a drill, this is a red alert, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a floor speech this week. In a very short time, maybe only two weeks, the Republican majority may try to jam through a health care bill that no one in America has seen.
MoveOn and a variety of other grassroots groups are warning members that a bill is imminent and sounding the alarm with events, petitions and phone calls to senators. Democrats have been giving floor speeches, holding town halls, and tweeting all week about the expected legislation. But some are expressing frustration that their message is getting lost in the noise.
Think of every Trump tweet as an attempt to get the media to not cover the destruction of the Affordable Care Act, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) told reporters at a press conference highlighting the House bills impact on opioid treatment on Thursday. Thats whats going on.
For weeks, news coverage has been dominated by the ongoing scandal surrounding the White Houses firing of FBI director James Comey, including Comeys own testimony last week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday, and Trumps regular commentary on Twitter.
When people ask me a question about Russia, I say, Im happy to talk to you about it, but youre going to have to listen to me talk about the health care challenge ahead, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) tweeted during Tuesdays hearing with the attorney general that followers should focus 10% of your attention/outrage on Sessions testimony, 90% on the secret health care bill.
He told NBC News later that day that he expected it to be the last week that youll hear Democrats focusing on anything other than health care.
On Wednesday, Congress was diverted by a horrifying attack on their own members at a baseball practice in Virginia that critically wounded House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) The shooting halted many legislative activities and prompted a brief moment of bipartisan reflection from lawmakers, but the healthcare bill is moving on regardless.
It looks like were still on track to have a vote before we leave [for July 4 recess], Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
Democrats believe their case is strong if they can get it out.
The House bill would insure 23 million fewer people over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, while dramatically increasing premiums and out-of-pocket costs for older and low-income Americans. It would reduce Medicaid spending by over $800 billion and use the savings to help finance large tax cuts for wealthy Americans and medical industries, a shift that could squeeze benefits for low-income families, seniors in nursing homes, and children with disabilities. Even President Trump reportedly called the bill mean in a meeting with senators this week.
But thats the House bill. The Senate bill is a moving target.
Even as Senate Republicans move toward a vote, almost nobody knows whats in the bill. In a major break from normal procedure, Republicans are working out the details with a small working group, away from the normal spotlight of bipartisan committee hearings. Even some Republican senators have complained that they and the public have been left in the dark.
"If you get a copy of it, will you send me a copy?" Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told NBC News on Thursday.
The closed-door process means there are few developments that generate news stories, like public hearings with industry leaders and affected constituents, or new policy proposals for experts to evaluate. Instead, the opaque process itself is the main story.
Theres a real danger here that this kind of legislating is going to become the new normal, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told reporters on Thursday, saying that Republicans were using the ambiguity around the bill to deflect scrutiny of its likely impact.
The House used similar methods to pass its health bill last month, releasing a final version within 24 hours of a vote and several weeks before the Congressional Budget Office could estimate its effects and cost.
Democrats and allied groups, fearing a repeat, have tried to draw attention to the secretive process, hoping they can pressure GOP leaders into being more forthcoming and build a backlash against the closed-door methods.
The first message were asking [activists] to say to their senators is Show me the bill, Leslie Dach, campaign director of the Protect Our Care coalition, told NBC News. Its just unconscionable that the Senate would vote on a bill thats going to affect peoples lives this way and one-sixth of the economy and purposefully refuse to let anyone see it.
Democrats say theyre confident theyll be able to draw more attention to the bill in the coming days.
I think this issue is going to resume to front page status, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told NBC News.
He added that the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller gave them more room to discuss health care, since members were confident his investigation would be independent and thorough. As part of that effort, Kaine introduced a bill this week to help stabilize Obamacare exchanges, which are struggling in some states due to a combination of existing problems and mixed signals from the White House and Congress on payments owed to companies to cover costs for low-income customers.
Some grassroots activists have urged Democrats to take a more aggressive approach to disrupt normal Senate business in response to the GOPs stealthy tactics. One online petition on CREDO Action calls on Democrats to use every legislative tool at your disposal to block and resist Trumpcare.
Independent polling has consistently found the House bill is deeply unpopular, suggesting some of their message is breaking through despite the slew of news competing for Americans attention. A Quinnipiac survey this month found respondents disapproved of the House bill by a massive 62-17 margin.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W Va.) told NBC News that the issue was by far the dominant concern expressed by his constituents in phone calls and town halls even as the medias eye wandered elsewhere.
I dont have to draw attention it, he said. They come out in droves, theyre so hungry to talk about it.
View post:
Health Care: Democrats Can't Hit What They Can't See - NBCNews.com
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Porter Ranch) smiled broadly when asked who he thought would win the 56th annual Congressional Baseball Game.
America, he said with a laugh.
The charity game on Thursday night began on a somber note with a prayer and a moment of silence for House Majority Whip SteveScalise(R-La.) and three others who were shot by a gunman on Wednesday at the GOP team's practice for the event.
After the lawmakers on the Democratic and Republican rosters rose from their knees in prayer, fans and players quickly got caught up in the traditional rivalry at Nationals Park in Washington.Thousands of fansbooed or cheered when their partisan teamsmade a play, and pulled out their phones to film the Nationals' mascots the running presidents race around the bases. (Teddy Roosevelt won by cutting the final corner.)
Shortly after the shooting, coaches for both teams said they would go forward with the game. They seemed determined to show unity after agunman who appeared to be targeting Republicans unleashed a spray of bullets on the practice field in Alexandria, Va., and was eventually stoppedby police.
During the game, a Washington hospital announced that Scalise remained in critical condition. ACapitol Police officerwho was injured while helping stop the attacker threw out the ceremonial first pitch, hobbling out on crutches to a standing ovation.
Indicators of Wednesdays shooting were sprinkled throughout the stadium. Police were very visible at the event that sold a record25,000 tickets and raised $1 million.Many fans, including ones who identified as Democrats, carried signs that read "ScaliseStrong" or "GeauxScalise." Members of Congressfrom both parties wore Capitol Police and Louisiana State University hats to honor Scalise's alma mater.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) saidthere was a lot less trash-talking on the field this year and members spent more time checking on one another.
"The energy was very positive. Itwas one of unity and very sincere concern for Rep. Scalise. There was a lot of camaraderie," Aguilar said.
With a final score of 11-2, Democrats received the coveted trophy. Democratic coach Rep. MikeDoyle of Pennsylvania called Republican coach Rep. Joe L. Barton of Texas to the microphone and said his team wanted the trophy to be displayed inScalises office until the Louisiana congressman returns.
Go here to read the rest:
Congressional Baseball Game is played a day after shooting - Los Angeles Times
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: We have less than two minutes. President Trump is going to Miami today to announce the closing down of the opening of the relationship between Cuba and the United States, that President Obama started, after 50 years. Your response?
REP. KEITH ELLISON: More of Trump just dragging us back to the past, the failed past, that didnt work. Obama was right. We tried the separation, the blockade and thefor 50 years. It didnt work. And so, Obama, quite correctly, charted a new course. You know, and here we go again, him trying to repeal everything Obama stands for. Amy, can I mention something that Im working on that you havent asked me about?
AMY GOODMAN: Yes, go ahead.
REP. KEITH ELLISON: Well, you know, one of the things that Im working on now is something called Resistance Summer. It is an intensive engagement of Americans all over the country. Its part of the Democratic Partys effort to try to get back in touch with Americans around the core issues that were facinghealthcare, accountability in government, increase in wages, protecting Social Security. You know, and I just want to say, on June 3rd, we had 120 sites, all 50 states, and were moving in very aggressively to try to make sure that we are converting the Democratic Party into a real party of the grassroots. So, I just wanted to say that. If anybody wants to hear more about it, they can dial 43367 and type inand text "resist." And then they could stay in touch with what were doing.
AMY GOODMAN: Finally, we covered the Peoples Summit in Chicago last weekend. Four thousand people came. Among those who addressed the crowd was Bernie Sanders. Is Bernie Sanders or you or other congressmembers going to introduce a major single-payer bill around healthcare?
REP. KEITH ELLISON: We already did. I mean, we just introduced a Medicaid for allMedicare for all. And were moving forward on that. We believe in that idea. And youll remember, John Conyers introduced HR 676 years ago. We believe in single payer. While were going to fight to protect and defend the Affordable Care Act, because the Affordable Care Act is an advance on where we were before, our sights are set higher. We aspire to, you know, a system where everybodys covered and everybody can go to the doctor. And thats what I believe the United States should have. We should join the rest of the world and cover all of our people.
AMY GOODMAN: Congressman Ellison, I want to thank you for being with us, co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus, first Muslim member of Congress, deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Democrats regained their mojo on Thursday night at Nationals Park with a commanding11-2 victory over the Republicans at the 56th annual Congressional Baseball Game.
But with the tragic shooting during the Republicans team practice the daybefore, esprit de corps was themain game plan for both teams, dispelling for at least a night, the clouds of highly charged partisanship that has plagued both sides of the aisle this year.
In a final touching conclusion to the game, the Democrats team manager Mike Doyle turned over the coveted Roll Call Trophy to Republican manager Joe L. Barton to place in Majority Whip Steve Scalises office until he made it back to Congress. Scalise was one of five wounded in Wednesday mornings shooting in Alexandria, Virginia.
Though the Democrats bats were hot throughout the night, they also capitalized on some costly GOP defensive errors.
The sobering shooting that left Scalisewith a grievous hip wound and in critical condition in a hospital bed did not seem to deter the mood and revelry of the players and fans. An unexpectedly large crowd of close to 25,000 turned out to enjoy a night of bipartisan camaraderie the very spirit the congressional baseball game is meant to invoke.
A few pregame events were bipartisan crowdpleasers.
Before the first pitch, Democratic and Republican fans joined in cheers as both teams took to the field in a moment of prayer for Scalise and the four other victims.
Game On: Video Highlights from the 2017 Congressional Baseball Game
Another cheer erupted when the announcer informed attendees that some of the proceeds from the charity game will go toward the Capitol Police Memorial Fund. Some attendees wore navy Capitol Police caps in honor of the two officers credited with preventing more casualties during the attack, despite being wounded themselves.
The next cheer came when Scalises name was called out during the team introductions. Both Republican and Democratic fans gave the missing GOP leader a huge standing ovation.
Former Yankees manager Joe Torre also got a cheer when he presented the baseball to injured Capitol Police officer David Bailey, who was wounded by shrapnel during the attack. Bailey then threw this years ceremonial first pitch.
The spirit of unity continued as Senate and House leadership announced the start of the game following a pre-taped welcome video message from President Donald Trump.
But competition is the name of the game and this was evident at the start as Pennsylvania Rep. Ryan A. Costello, lead batter for the Republicans, walked, stole second, made third after a ground out by Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, and stole home during Texas Rep. Kevin Bradys at bat.
Democratic starting pitcher, Rep. Cedric L. Richmondof Louisiana, seemed to struggle throughout the first inning and GOP pinch runner, Rep. Chuck Fleischmannof Tennessee, took advantage, stealing second after a wild pitch and also scoring on two more.
Democrats entered the bottom of the first with a 2-0 deficit.
But CaliforniaRep. Raul Ruiz immediately answered the Democrats call with a powerful single, and later stole second.
North Carolina Rep.Mark Walker, the GOP pitcher, then walked California Rep. Jared Huffman, opening the door for Richmond, arguably the best player in the history of the game, to load the bases with a de facto bunt.
Democratic Rep. Tim Ryanof Ohio tied the game with a double, allowing Ruiz and Huffman to score. Colorado Rep. Jared Polis hit, though called out at first, allowed Richmond to score, pulling the Democrats ahead,ended the first inning with a 3-2 lead.
The second inning began with a solid single from GOP catcher, Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis.
As the top of the inning continued, Richmonds pitching was both shaky and solid. After striking out Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Georgia Rep. Barry Loudermilk hit a single off of him, allowing Davis to third.
But another wild pitch allowed Loudermilk to steal second. Then Richmond struck out lead batter Costello, stranding Davis at third and Democrats retained their one-point lead.
Solid defensive play by Republicans resulted in a short at bat for Democrats as the second inning ended with the same score, 3-2.
Bats went quiet for the Republicans in the third inning and later ones. But not for Democrats, who blew open the inning with a few hits and capitalized on a few GOP defensive errors.
Richmond, thanks to an error at first base, hit a double. Polis then batted him in with an RBI single, advancing the Democrats, 4-2.
Walker later walked Connecticut Sen. Christopher S. Murphy, hitting him with a wild pitch. California Rep. Pete Aguilar then hit a double, allowing three more runs. Democrats ended the inning with a solid 7-2 lead.
Both offenses were unproductive in the fourth inning, the highlight being the mid-game Washington Nationals Presidents Race. (Teddy took the checkered flag.)
Richmonds command was in full force throughout the fifth and the remaining innings, quieting the GOPs bats once again. He led a major offensive charge in the fifth for the Democrats, starting the inning with a powerhouse triple.
TexasRep. Joe L. Barton, the Republicans team manager, then pulled starter Walker, putting in PennsylvaniaRep. Patrick Meehanas relief.
But errors continued to dog the GOP as a throwing error by Meehangave Democrats another run(and a de facto double for Polis).
Meehan then walkedCalifornia Rep. Linda T. Snchez, a favorite among the Democratic fans.
California Rep. Nanette Barragan, the only other female player, also took to the plate in the fifth inning, promptingcheers from Democratic fans and hitting a single and an RBI.
The Republicansseemed tired by the end of the fifth inning, with the Democrats solidly ahead 11-2, a comfortable lead that held to the end of the game.
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.
Go here to read the rest:
Democrats Reclaim Congressional Baseball Title, Bipartisanship Rules - Roll Call