THE LEDE: Leader McConnell drops 142 page discussion draft, while 7 GOP Senators express “real concerns.” The Washington Post writes that Obama tried to retaliate against Russian intrusion into 2016 election. Trump doesn’t have tapes of Oval conversation with Comey. POTUS continues North Korean and Western Balkans “national emergency” designation. President Trump meets with President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine and President Varela of Panama. POTUS tightens US policy towards Cuba. Ping Pong Pizza shooter gets 4 years. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise’s condition has been upgraded from “serious” to “fair.”
THE WEEK AHEAD: Better Care Reform Act CBO score due. Secs Pruitt & Acosta, Chairman Clayton and Ambassador Haley make the appropriating and authorizing swing. Chairman Chaffetz resignation effective 6/30. Sanctauary cities bill to move in judiciary and to the floor. NDAA in House Armed Services
CONFIRMATION UPDATE: FEMA Administrator
PREVIOUSLY CONFIRMED- Deputy Secretary of State, Associate Attorney General, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Sec. of Air Force, FDA Commissioner, US Trade Representative Chairman of the SEC, Sec of Agriculture, Sec of Labor Associate Justice of the Supreme Court , Amb. To Israel Admin of CMS, Director of National Intelligence, Sec. of HUD, Sec. of Energy, Sec of Interior, Sec. of Treasury, OMB Director, Attorney General, Sec. of Education, Sec of Veteran’s Affairs , EPA Administrator, Small Business Admin, Sec. of HHS, Sec. of State, Sec of Transportation, Director of CIA, Sec. of Defense, Amb. to the UN, Sec. of Homeland, Sec. of Commerce
PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM & EXECUTIVE ORDER TRACKER: Presidential Memoranda Cuba Jerusalem Embassy Act Stabilization of Iraq Aluminum Imports Offshore Drilling, VA Accountability, Local Control of Education, Review of Antiquities Act, Rural American Prosperity : Orderly Liquidation Authority, Financial Stability Oversight Council, Steel Imports and Threats to National Security Executive Branch Re-Org Travel Ban 2.0 Memo for USSS, USAG, USSHS Fiduciary Duty Rule, National Security Council, Defeat ISIL, Pipeline Construction, American Pipe, Domestic Manufacturing, TPP, Hiring Freeze, Mexico City (Abortion), Memo to Executive Departments and Agencies Executive Orders: North Korea Western Balkans Cyber security Election Integrity Promoting Free Speech & Religious Liberty Identifying Tax Burdens, Buy American and Hire American Principles for Reforming the Military selective Service Process Climate, Addiction & Opioid Crisis , Report on Trade Deficits, Trade Enforcement Travel Ban 2.0 Regulatory Reform Task Forces, Crime Reduction, Drug Cartels, Law Enforcement protection, DOJ Succession, Dodd Frank, 2 for 1 Reg, Border and Immigration Enforcement, ObamaCare, Public Safety, Expediting Environmental Review Process, Visa Restrictions
POTUS: Trump said he does not have tapes of his conversations with now-former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey. He also said he has “no idea” whether such tapes exist.. President Trump signs the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017
CONGRESS: House Republicans are not yet in agreement on a spending plan for fiscal year 2018, a step that needs to be completed before they can move onto tax reform. Even without a budget in place, House Republicans advanced the second of 12 annual spending bills needed to fund the government — with more on the way.
ENERGY: The White House announced preparations for an energy focus for its upcoming policy-themed week, as President Donald Trump is expected to promote “energy dominance.”
HEALTH: NYT Whip List Tracker. The Affordable Care Act gave health insurance to millions of Americans by shifting resources from the wealthy to the poor and by moving oversight from states to the federal government. The Senate bill introduced Thursday pushes back forcefully on both dimensions.
RUSSIA: Near the end of his term, former President Barack Obama authorized the planting of cyber weapons in Russian infrastructure, part of his response to the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that Russian President Vladimir Putin was directly involved with meddling in the 2016 presidential election.. During his testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Russia organized cyberattacks against the United States to influence the presidential election.
SPECIAL ELECTION: This may sound harsh but, in a reliable GOP district, the GOP candidate, who holds state wide office, beat an under 30 year old first time candidate who didn’t live in the district. The circular firing squad was assembled with Leader Pelosi seemingly in their sights. Leader Pelosi responds that she is “worth the trouble.”
TRADE: Ag Sec Predue held trilateral meeting with Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Mexican Secretary of Agriculture José Calzada Rovirosa in Savannah, Georgia
TRAVEL BAN: A federal judge in Hawaii narrowed his injunction against Trump’s travel ban, allowing the administration to move forward with studies and policy reviews his executive order also called for.
TRANSPORTATION: Asset Recycling. You’ll be hearing a lot about this in the coming transportation debate. Learn about it here.
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