Hillary Reveals Core Themes
"Hillary Clinton lays out big vision for her campaign" reports Des Moines Register: "'I want to be the champion who goes to bat for Americans in four big areas,' she [said.] 'We need to build the economy of tomorrow, not yesterday ... We need to strengthen families and communities because that's where it all starts ... we need to fix the dysfunctional political system and get unaccountable money out of it once and for all, even if that takes a constitutional amendment ... And we need to protect our country from threats that we see and the ones that are on the horizon.'"
"Hillary Clinton Comes Out Swinging at CEOs and Hedge Fund Managers." Bloomberg quotes: "There’s something wrong when CEOs make 300 times more than the American worker … There’s something wrong when American workers keep getting more productive … but that productivity is not matched in their paychecks. ... there’s something wrong when hedge fund managers pay less in taxes than nurses or the truckers I saw on I-80."
But no policy details yet. Politico: "Clinton hasn’t offered many clues about how her presidency would do more than serve as essentially Obama’s third term: How would she try to fix flaws in Obama’s signature health care law? Would she crack down on Wall Street or the National Security Agency? Would she break with Obama in pushing for fast-track trade deals?"
Though new hire signals focus on paid leave. TNR's Lauren Sandler: "...the selection of ... Ann O’Leary [sends] a strong message that the Clinton campaign wants to make the the right to take time off work to recover from birth, care for a new baby, or tend to a sick relative without losing wages a central plank in its platform. O’Leary told me paid leave will be part of a 'suite of issues at the forefront of the campaign ... related to how middle class families have both economic stability and opportunities for their children ... There is incredible demand that something be done with paid family leave.'"
Fast-Track Bill About To Move
Fast-track deal reportedly reached. Bloomberg: "A top Senate Republican agreed to a Democratic request to let Congress slow action on certain trade pacts ... [Sen. Ron] Wyden obtained language in the measure that lets Congress jettison the streamlined process if 60 senators concluded the president ignored congressionally mandated negotiating objectives ... Hatch declined to confirm any agreement with Wyden. He said he will hold a hearing Thursday to consider the legislation and possibly schedule a committee meeting on the matter next week ... Congressional aides say the bills are to be introduced - probably Wednesday - in both chambers. The House probably will take up the measure first, during the last week of April."
"Obama’s evolution on trade will put him at war with his party" reports W. Post: "It will mark a leadership test for the president, who has pledged to invest his waning political capital to woo skeptical Democrats. White House allies said the danger is that Republicans are supporting the president on trade in large part because they know it could divide Democrats going into an election year ... Already, the AFL-CIO has suspended all political contributions to focus on defeating the TPP."
Rep. Chris Van Hollen opposes fast-track. The Hill: "The stance also puts him on the same side as Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), who is also running for Mikulski’s [Senate] seat and is opposed to TPA."
Christie Goes All In On Social Security Cuts
Chris Christie proposes Social Security cuts in NH speech. W. Post: "The New Jersey governor and potential Republican presidential candidate proposed raising the retirement age for Social security to 69, means testing for Social Security, and gradually raising the eligibility age for Medicare."
Other Republicans nervous. WSJ: "...other Republicans weren’t willing to follow Mr. Christie’s lead. Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk, one of the most vulnerable Republicans up for re-election in 2016, said he opposes the Christie plan. 'To get any changes to Social Security, you need bipartisan cooperation. I don’t think we could get that,' he said. David Winston, a Republican pollster, said entitlement changes aren’t top-of-mind for most voters. 'Ultimately, the electorate is asking a much bigger question ... the broader question of the economy.'"
Early Legal Attack On Climate Regs
Appeals court to hear challenge to EPA climate regs. The Hill: "A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., will hear oral arguments Thursday ... Murray Energy Corp., a major coal mining company, is asking the court to do something that it admits is extraordinary: block the EPA from completing the work on its regulation and making the rule final, which it plans to do this summer ... the court randomly assigned three of its most conservative judges to the panel hearing the case."
Dems rip Sen. Maj. Leader McConnell for encouraging resistance to federal regs. The Hill: "Five Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), penned a letter to the nation’s governors Tuesday saying that McConnell’s views on climate change are out of line with his own Kentucky constituents, and urging states to comply with the climate rule."
Tipping point for clean energy. Bloomberg: " The world is now adding more capacity for renewable power each year than coal, natural gas, and oil combined. And there's no going back ... by 2030 more than four times as much renewable capacity will be added."
Breakfast Sides
House to vote on estate tax repeal tomorrow. The Hill: "...Democrats say they’re more than happy to have a debate over a repeal proposal that would add$270 billion the federal debt over a decade ... White House officials have gone out of their way this week to point out that the president’s proposals to give tax breaks for child care and education and to two-earner families would help far more people than the GOP’s estate tax repeal."
Congress clears changes to Medicare. Politico: "The legislation repeals the old Medicare payment formula, called the Sustainable Growth Rate, and replaces it with a new one. It also funds the Children’s Health Insurance Program and community health centers for two more years. It will be paid for by having high-income seniors cover more of their Medicare costs and by requiring basic co-payments in Medigap plans."
Labor Dept. unveils rule on retirement planners. The Hill: "The Labor Department’s highly anticipated 'fiduciary rule,' proposed Tuesday, would impose new disclosure requirements designed to help consumers understand that their financial advisers might receive commissions from selling them certain retirement plans ... he draft regulations drew swift rebuke from congressional Republicans and business groups, who accused the administration of rushing the rules."
