How Much Is That House Vote in the Window?
"The results indicate that for every $100,000 that Democratic representatives received from finance, the odds they would break with their party's majority support for the Dodd-Frank legislation increased by 13.9 percent."
Dems Consider Lawsuits to Constrain Trump
Ethics lawyers advise legal action against Trump for emoluments violations. MarketWatch:
"The main reason Senate Democrats are considering litigation as a way to rein in Trump’s kleptocratic presidency is that congressional Republicans have shown no inclination to take action. Congress has plenty of tools available — if it chooses to act."
GOP Makes Desperate Pleas in Scramble for Healthcare Votes
"The Republican healthcare bill... 'will allow insurance companies to require people who have higher healthcare costs to contribute more to the insurance pool that helps offset all these costs, thereby reducing the cost to those people who lead good lives, they're healthy, they've done the things to keep their bodies healthy,' Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) said in an interview."
“People can go to the state that they want to live in. States have all kinds of different policies and there are disparities among states for many things: driving restrictions, alcohol, whatever... We’re putting choices back in the hands of the states. That’s what Jeffersonian democracy provides for.”
Police Shootings
Texas police have fired officer who shot and killed unarmed black Dallas teen. Buzzfeed:
"A suburban Dallas police department fired the officer who shot and killed a black teenager as he was leaving a house party on Saturday night... Jordan Edwards, a 15-year-old freshman at Mesquite High School, died after Balch Springs Police Officer Roy Oliver fired multiple rounds with his rifle into the car he was riding in."
Former North Charleston, N.C. officer pleads guilty to civil rights violation. NPR:
"Michael Slager, who shot Walter Scott in the back following a traffic stop, pleaded guilty Tuesday to violating Scott's civil rights by using excessive force during an attempted arrest. A bystander captured cellphone video of the killing, spurring widespread outrage."
DOJ won't file charges against Baton Rouge police officers in Alton Sterling's death. LA Times:
"The Department of Justice will not bring federal civil rights charges against two police officers involved in death of Alton Sterling, the 37-year-old black man whose shooting by police last summer set off days of protest in Baton Rouge, La."
DeMint Loses Heritage
Heritage Foundation board ousts president Jim DeMint. WaPo:
"The board of the Heritage Foundation on Tuesday ousted president Jim DeMint after days of turmoil and internal debate, blaming him for management and communication problems... unhappiness with DeMint among Heritage board members began shortly after he former senator took over the think tank in 2013, a move that coincided with the departure of some longtime academic researchers."
Woman Faces Trial For Laughing at AG Sessions
"...prosecutors persisted this week in pursuing charges against the 61-year-old woman... according to the government, the laugh amounted to willful 'disorderly and disruptive conduct' intended to “impede, disrupt, and disturb the orderly conduct” of congressional proceedings."
More From Ourfuture.org:
Who’s Behind the Billionaire PAC Targeting Elizabeth Warren? Richard Eskow:
"America Rising, a billionaire-backed conservative group, is targeting Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts as she tours the country in support of her new book... America Rising’s backers would stand to lose some cushy tax breaks and regulatory favors if the progressive policies advocated by Sen. Warren were enacted."
Another GOP Tax Plan for Captains of Industry. Leo Gerard:
"Trump’s record of promise-keeping to America’s working men and women in his first 100 days is this: so far, no good. The tax plan, well, the one-page tax sketch hat the administration released last week is symbolic. While it would slash federal levies on fat cats and corporations, administration officials refused to say it would help the middle class at all."
