WH Hosts Working Families Summit
"Child-care issues move to political forefront as both parties position for midterms" reports W. Post: "A high-profile White House 'working families' summit Monday will focus on issues such as child care, paid family leave and equal pay between men and women. Politicians in both parties are also rolling out new work flexibility and child-care legislation amid predictions that such issues will be prominent in the 2014 midterm and 2016 presidential campaigns. Paid leave and child care are emerging as centerpiece issues for many Democrats, part of their broader attempt to portray Republicans as hostile to issues important to women."
President Obama warns "We've got to reduce the stresses on families" in CNN interview: "I think if you ask most families around the country, 'What's the biggest stress?' It has to do with financial pressures and time pressures that are constantly encroaching on them ... We have unpaid family leave right now, but for a whole lot of families, it means they can't use it because they just can't afford it ... We always say that we want parents involved in our kids' education ... There are millions of families out there who can't even imagine taking time off to go to a parent-teacher conference."
Fight To Toughen Climate Rule
Enviros want tougher EPA climate rule. TNR's Rebecca Leber: "Utilities are already well on their way to meeting [the EPA] goals. For instance, the rule calls for a 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions from existing power plants. But the basis for that reduction is the levels in 2005, when emissions were much higher. Utilities are already halfway to their goal ... [EPA Administrator Gina] McCarthy has argued the carbon rule is also there to “set expectations” that can lead to international talks. And there’s some truth to that. The rule’s very existence is an unprecedented step in U.S. climate change policy—and it’s why environmental groups unanimously hailed it. But the environmental groups would still like to see a rule that stronger before the rule is finalized—like a 35 percent reduction from 2005 levels by 2020—even as they continue to defend the draft proposal from coal industry attacks."
Former Bush Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson backs carbon tax in NYT oped: "Some members of my political party worry that pricing carbon is a 'big government' intervention. In fact, it will reduce the role of government, which, on our present course, increasingly will be called on to help communities and regions affected by climate-related disasters like floods, drought-related crop failures and extreme weather like tornadoes, hurricanes and other violent storms. We’ll all be paying those costs. Not once, but many times over."
NYT's Paul Krugman asks how sincere are the carbon tax conservatives: "A carbon tax may be the best thing we could do, but we won’t actually do it. Yet there are a number of second-best things ... that we’re either doing already or might do soon. And the question for Mr. Paulson and other conservatives who consider themselves environmentalists is whether they’re willing to accept second-best answers, and in particular whether they’re willing to accept second-best answers implemented by the other party. If they aren’t, their supposed environmentalism is an empty gesture."
Hope Remains For Immigration Reform
Pro-immigration lawmakers remain optimistic on reform. McClatchy: "'I'm cautiously optimistic that immigration reform can still pass the House this year,' said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla. 'Although there are many who say immigration reform is a long shot, I remind them that many difficult bills have passed with hurdles that seemed insurmountable.' ... For now, prospects appear less than dim for congressional immigration reform because of the recent defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who was perceived as favoring immigration reform. Cantor's defeat in a Virginia Republican primary was seen as a signal to congressional leaders who advocate reform to abandon it or face defeat in the November midterm elections."
Constituents of new House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy hopeful on immigration. NYT: "Perhaps no other congressional district epitomizes the vexing immigration debate better than Mr. McCarthy’s, which lies at the southern tip of California’s Central Valley and stands out as one of the state’s few remaining Republican strongholds. The agricultural center has long attracted — and relied on — a steady stream of immigrants to work in the fields ... The lobbying on immigration has come not only from Latinos, who are a large part of his constituency but tend to be less likely to vote. It has also come from the owners of large farms, who are fearful of losing their labor force; the local Chamber of Commerce; and even the city’s Republican mayor, all of whom have pressed Mr. McCarthy to at least put legislation up for a vote. But even as many here see an increasing acceptance for the growing Latino population, there is an undercurrent of resentment from many white voters who view immigrants as, among other things, a threat to their own livelihood."
Cities Shun Borrowing For Infrastructure
Cities shy away from bonds that would pay for infrastructure. Bloomberg: "Across the U.S., localities are refraining from raising new funds in the $3.7 trillion municipal-bond market after the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression left them with unprecedented deficits. Rather than take advantage of Federal Reserve (FDTR)policy that’s held benchmark interest rates at historic lows since December 2008, they’re repaying obligations by the most on record ... Issuance this year has tumbled to $123 billion nationwide through June 13, down 20 percent from the 2013 pace, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It’s also 30 percent below levels seen in 2010, the final year of the federally subsidized Build America Bonds program, which was designed to spur infrastructure investment."
McCarthy threatens future of Export-Import Bank. The Hill: "While McCarthy supported reauthorizing the bank in 2012, he said he is now for letting the bank’s authorization expire in September ... 'I think Ex-Im Bank is something government does not have to be involved in, the private sector can do it,' ... Supporters say Ex-Im is needed to help U.S. companies stay competitive in foreign markets. Critics say it's corporate welfare designed to pump money for big business."
