Countdown To Filibuster Showdown
Sen. Reid takes step towards filibuster showdown. McClatchy: "Senate business ground to a halt Thursday morning as Reid, D-Nev., ending weeks of silence on the filibuster, set the stage for a confrontation between Democrats and Republicans when he accused Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., of breaking an agreement the two forged last January aimed at easing complaints about Republican obstruction of nominees ... He upped the ante by moving for votes on seven nominees ... A bipartisan group of senators will meet Monday in the old Senate chamber in hopes of finding a compromise."
Simple majority rule change would not be unprecedented. HuffPost: "Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) circulated a memo to his Democratic colleagues on Thursday outlining the history of the use of the so-called nuclear option to change Senate rules ... 'the Senate appears to have changed its procedures by simple majority ... 18 times since 1977, an average of once every other year.'"
Student Loan Deal Derailed
Student loan deal hits snag. Roll Call: "Senate Republicans balked Thursday at a CBO score showing the most recent bipartisan effort would cost $22 billion over the coming decade ... The math to get to a deal is complicated by the $158 billion in profits the CBO projects the federal government will make off the program over the next decade ... Any effort to cap or cut rates upfront for students would have to be balanced by higher rates later or else those profits would shrink and — via the CBO’s math — swell the deficit."
W. Post adds: "Senators involved with the plan hope that they can tweak these numbers and find a plan that both parties can agree upon, according to the aides. They were confident that this development would not derail the negotiations."
House Plots Immigration Path
House GOP maps out it's piecemeal immigration strategy. Politico: "The theory is that each bill would pass with a different coalition: Some Democratic members will feel compelled to vote for legislation to get to conference; some lawmakers will have the political compulsion to support border security; others want more visas for high-tech companies. If they are able to pass those measures, Republicans would then draw up guidelines for what they can accept from a conference negotiation, and appoint negotiators."
Top GOPers expresses optimism. Bloomberg: "Representative Trey Gowdy, a leading Republican on immigration, voiced optimism that the U.S. House would pass a plan, be ready to negotiate with the Senate by year-end, and set the stage for enacting legislation in this Congress. 'I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think the current system is broken ... So if you think the current system is broken, how can you then fashion an argument that we should do nothing?'"
GOP risking a "beatdown" from Hispanic media, notes W. Post's Greg Sargent: "...Democrats are planning a concerted push to make Republicans pay for failure to support reform in the Latino media. Obama himself is planning a series of interviews with Spanish-language media, where he’ll no doubt call on Republicans to get behind comprehensive reform without delay."
Warren and McCain Take On Big Banks
Warren-McCain bill will restore Glass-Steagall. Bloomberg: "The bill sponsored by Warren along Senators John McCain, an Arizona Republican, Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat, and Angus King, a Maine independent, would separate traditional banks that offer checking and savings accounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. from 'riskier financial institutions.' The latter category includes companies involved in investment banking, insurance, swaps dealing,hedge funds and private equity..."
Consumer group uneasy as Euro trade talks advance. McClatchy: "The biggest test facing negotiators will be getting the two parties to approve similar safety standards, overcoming the longstanding cultural differences separating them ... critics warn that it could come at a high price for American and European consumers, endangering laws that control everything from food to household chemicals."
