Bernie Takes On Exxon
"Sanders calls for federal probe of Exxon" reports The Hill: "Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is asking the Justice Department to investigate whether ExxonMobil Corp.’s climate change research strategy broke federal law [citing] a recent investigation by InsideClimate News that found that Exxon, prior to its merger with Mobil, concluded from its research in the 1970s that climate change is a real threat but later spent millions of dollars sowing doubt about global warming."
Sanders backs postal banking. The Atlantic's Joe Pinsker: "...Sanders’s idea is quite sensible. 'Postal banking'—which just means that post offices run savings accounts, cash checks, and perform other basic financial services—is common in most of Asia and Europe ... Postal banking is a really good way to reach people who haven’t had access to standard savings accounts ... in the U.S. is that somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of the population has to rely on check-cashing or payday-lending services..."
DNC agrees to sponsor candidate forum. Time: "Hosted by the liberal grassroots organization MoveOn.org, the venue will be an online forum—not a debate—featuring questions from viewers and focusing on progressive issues ... In endorsing the MoveOn forum, [DNC Chair Debbie] Wasserman Schultz is supporting a compromise that stops short of adding a debate to the presidential primary ... But it’s unlikely [to] satisfy Democrats angry that their candidates are not getting equal airtime to the Republican candidates..."
Ryan Tries To Squeeze Freedom Caucus
Rep. Paul Ryan announces speaker bid, with conditions. NYT: "...Ryan called for ... an end to the antics of 'bomb throwers and hand wringers,' according to members in the room ... He suggested that he wanted an answer by Friday. Mr. Ryan made it clear that he would not accede to preconditions set by 'one group,' a clear reference to the members of the hard-line Freedom Caucus..."
Freedom Caucus resists. Politico: "They were dismissive of his Ryan’s request that they relinquish a procedural tactic they used to threaten to strip outgoing Speaker John Boehner of his title – one of the most potent weapons in the group’s arsenal."
"How does giving Paul Ryan more power solve the problem of John Boehner having had too much power?" Rep. Tim Huelskamp tells Bloomberg.
Senate Punts To House On Debt Limit
House will have to move first on debt limit. W. Post: "Senate leaders have no plans to move their own debt ceiling bill this week and will instead wait for House Republicans to act and prove they have the votes ... some Senate Republicans have reluctantly signaled that they are willing to consider a clean bill in order to avoid a default but they are not willing to force a series of difficult votes if the House cannot pass an increase in the government’s borrowing limit."
House Majority Leader floats conditions. NYT: "Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the majority leader, told reporters on Tuesday that he did not think a debt-ceiling increase could pass the House without significant spending cuts attached, a deal President Obama has repeatedly said he will not negotiate."
Sen. Ted Cruz wants to fight debt limit hike. Politico: "Ted Cruz is accusing Republican leaders of prematurely capitulating to President Barack Obama ... and he’s urging his party to take a hard line against a 'clean' debt ceiling increase even if it means flirting with a default."
Breakfast Sides
"Blue States Make Voting Easier as Red States Add Restrictions" reports Time: "In Illinois, a new provision allows voters to register electronically when they visit various state agencies. And in Delaware, some residents with criminal records will regain the right to vote ... In Republican-controlled states, the story is different. North Carolina has instituted a new voter ID requirement. North Dakota has narrowed the forms of identification voters can present ... Ohio’s GOP-controlled legislature has instituted ... shorter early voting hours."
EU carbon emissions drop. The Hill: "Greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union are down 23 percent since 1990, but [by] 2030, when officials have hoped to reduce emissions by 40 percent over 1990 levels, the bloc will only cut emissions by between 27 and 30 percent ... The EU’s emissions target is an important component of an international climate change accord the United Nations hopes to reach later this year."
Obama to lobby Dems on trade today. The Hill: "President Obama will host congressional Democrats at a White House reception on Wednesday as he seeks to build support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership ..."
