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Trump Threatens Health Subsidies to Force Democrats to Bargain New York Times Mr. Trump has failed to get enough support from his own party, but he hopes to get the Democrats' help by forcing them to the negotiating table with hints about the chaos he could cause. His bargaining chip is the government subsidies paid to insurance ... Democrats say upcoming spending bill must fund Obamacare paymentsCBS News Democrats Seek to Resolve Health Payments on Spending BillU.S. News & World Report Democrats Want Guarantee for Health Subsidies After Trump ThreatBloomberg Washington Post -Daily Kos -Politico -Wall Street Journal all 111 news articles »

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Trump Threatens Health Subsidies to Force Democrats to Bargain - New York Times

Senate Democrats are asking the Government Accountability Office to examine state programs that offer tax credits in exchangefor donations for private-school scholarships, arguing that its important to identify potential risks of financial misconduct at a time when the Trump administration might pushfor a new tax credit at the federal level.

With the strong possibility of federal legislative activity on tax-credit vouchers at the federal level in the near future, we are interested in how states have designed these programs, whether they have strong internal controls, and whether they pose a risk of waste, fraud, abuse, misconduct, or mismanagement, three senators wrote in a letter to Gene L. Dodaro, head of the GAO.

A multi-state analysis of this issue by GAO would help inform the advisability of any future federal programs and help ensure proper fiscal accountability and transparency for federal funds, they wrote. The letter, dated April 13, was signed by the ranking Democrats onthe Senate education and finance committees, Sens. Patty Murray (Wash.) and Ron Wyden (Ore.), and by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

[In Floridas tax-credit program, private schools can continue receiving tax-credit dollars no matter how poorly they perform]

Tax-credit scholarship programs function much like traditional private-school vouchers, but they were designed to work differently to get around state bans on using public funds to benefit religious institutions. Companies can receive a full or partial state tax credit if they donate fundsto help children pay for private school, which meansinstead of sending tax dollars to the state treasury, they send the money to a scholarship-granting organization. That organization is then responsible for giving out the moneyto families.

Seventeen states now offer such tax credits, and they each have different rules regarding which students are eligible for the money, how much money each student gets, and whether and how much information private schools must publicly report about how they use the dollars and how their students perform academically. Rules also differ regarding which organizations qualify to receive and then dole out tax-credit donations, and how much of that money they can use for overhead expenses.

These inconsistencies make it challenging for policymakers to assess the consequences of instituting these types of tax credit schemes on fiscal accountability, the senators wrote. They asked GAO to answer four questions in its review:

How have states structured tax credit voucher or incentive programs?

What financial accountability requirements including any requirements intended to guard against fraud, waste and abuse have states established for organizations that administer and manage the programs?

How have selected organizations administered tax credit voucher or incentive programs (including any steps taken to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accountability)?

How have selected states monitored these programs? What are best practices and the challenges the programs have encountered?

Read the full letter:

2017-04-13 Letter to GAO School Choice Tax Incentives Request

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Democrats ask GAO to examine tax-credit programs as Trump pushes public dollars for private schools - Washington Post

When Trump says its horrible ...

Scott Olson/Getty Images

The pain oftransportation fiascos tends to be sharp but short-lived, but the story of David Daothe 69-year-old doctor wrestled off a United Airlines flight by the Chicago Aviation Policemay be different.

Henry Grabar is a staff writer for Slates Moneybox.

That was horrible, President Trump told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Daos lawyer said his client had suffered a concussion, a broken nose, and lost his two front teeth when he lost his seat on a flight to Louisville on Sunday evening.

Enter the Democrats, who appear to be seizing a moment of bipartisan outrage to advance a hastily drafted set ofairline regulations. For starters, Dems on the House Transportation Committee have asked TransportationSecretary Elaine Chao to share the results of her departments investigation into the incident.

Chris Van Hollen, the Democraticsenator from Maryland, is seeking co-sponsors for a new bill called the Customers Not Cargo Act, which would direct Chao to revise the Department of Transportations oversale rule to prevent passengers from being removed after theyve been seated.

And Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut says hes working on a broader passenger bill of rights to address this issue and others. (Though as Kathryn Wolfe and Lauren Gardner note in Politico, the last attempt to impose some kind of passenger protections on the airline industry took five years.)

On the one hand, its easy to be cynical about politicians trying to grab their place in the outrage cycle. On the other, as I wrote Tuesday,it feels like Democrats should embrace this Square Deal strain ofliberalism. (Its not meatpacking anymore:Americans least-favorite consumer-facing industries areairlines, health insurance, phone companies, cable and satellite TV, and internet providers.)

Now is an especially good time to agitate for a new raft of consumer protections since the Republican Party is currently undertaking unpopular attacks on those very things. In February, President Trump delayed an Obama-era rule that required financial advisers to act in their clients best interests when picking retirement accounts. Last week, he signed a law to scuttle another Obama-era rule that forbade internet service providers from selling user data without permission.

Top Comment

Dems won the states that travel by air. They need to be the party of vehicles you find while mowing your lawn. More...

And whats on deck is a battle over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, one of the most significant legal advances for financial industry customers in the past half-century, which House Republicans would like to abolishreducing oversight of payday loans, private education loans, credit card contracts, and more.

That shouldnt be popular with constituents. If Democrats do their job right, David Dao wont be the only one losing his seat.

Read this article:
Democrats Are Already Trying to Make Themselves the Party of Protecting Air Travelers - Slate Magazine (blog)

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. And more often than not, they are Democrats.

Greg Laden

The 2016 presidential primary was unique in having a powerful insurgent candidate who was not a Democrat. Accusations were made that the Hillary Clinton campaign was too politically inside. Some of that was probably a lack of understanding of how the process works by Bernie Sanders newly minted political activists, but there was almost certainly some truth to it. Uncommitted delegates, usually known by the term super delegates, flocked to the establishment candidate, and most of the usual endorsers endorsed her as well, and endorsed her early.

It is not known if these endorsements influenced the outcome of the primary, but it is undoubtedly true that they left a bad taste in the mouths of many. The endorsements themselves were not the problem. The problem was the rush. Candidate Sanders didnt have a chance. Some organizations produced their endorsements much earlier than they normally do. All those newly involved activists were compelled to engage in the political system, then they became frustrated by the inside baseball, and even to this day they are not fully on board because of this sort of behavior by established Democrats.

I personally avoided supporting either candidate until I was certain one would win the primary, then I waited a bit longer, and then fully supported Clinton. And I believe she would have made a great president. But my support for Hillary does not make me blind to the justifiable attitude of many millennials as well as long time party activists who saw their preferred candidate treated poorly.

And now, Im afraid, we are seeing inside baseball again. The ink on Rep. Tim Walzs declaration of candidacy for governor of Minnesota was still glossy wet when the endorsements started flying. From the outside, it looks a lot like the small group in charge picked Walz as the DFLs candidate, and all that remains is dotting of the is and crossing of the ts.

Ive been to a lot of activist and political meetings over the last few months, including DFL events and Indivisible events, and every single person Ive talked to about this race has either suggested Rebecca Otto as their choice, or put her in the top two. After the first strong rumors of Walzs declaration came around, that opinion shifted to this, paraphrasing: I really want Otto, or maybe Coleman. But now, did you hear, Walz is in the race? Its over.

When asked why it is over, the answer is usually, Well, theyve decided, havent they or words to that effect.

No, they have not decided. Many of us feel that a sitting DFL member of Congress should keep his or her butt right where it is, given that we need to attain a Democratic majority in the House in the next midterm. This is not a political preference but rather an existential requirement. Walzs seat is not going to stay Democratic if he leaves. He is making a terrible and regretful mistake.

Many people are annoyed that someone could just Walz into the governors race and be anointed without the process actually happening, and many are afraid truly viscerally afraid that a Democrat would Walz away from a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives at this crucial time.

One could argue that these early endorsements dont matter. In fact, Im pretty sure they wont affect the caucus or primary process too much. But they damage the party and the process in other ways. These early endorsements are a signal. The insiders have decided. More important, yes, there are insiders, and they decide things. Oh, did you want to have a role in the process? No problem. Show up at the caucuses, well let you know what weve decided.

Greg Laden is a science communicator, teacher, and political activist who blogs atScienceblogs.com.

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A plethora of early endorsements does not endear the new Democrats to the DFL - MinnPost

110TH TENNESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLYLawmakers call for more oversight of state prisons | 0:36

Democrats are pushing for more oversight of state prisons after an attack Sunday. Jake Lowary/USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

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State lawmakers push for more oversight of prisons. Jake Lowary/USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

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Sen. Bo Watson discusses de-annexation in Senate committee. Jake Lowary/The Tennessean

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Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh discusses Medicaid expansion. Jake Lowary/The Tennessean

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Chris Blue of The Voice sings Star Spangled Banner in Tennessee House of Representatives. Jake Lowary/The Tennessean

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5 things to watch this week in the Tennessee General Assembly Wochit

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Sen. Kerry Roberts speaks supporting relocating Polk to Columbia. Jake Lowary/The Tennessean

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Sen. Bo Watson speaks against moving Polk remains to Columbia.

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Over 100 years since he was last moved, James K. Polk might have a new final resting place. Kirk A. Bado

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What to watch the week of March 27th in the Tennessee General Assembly Wochit

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5 things coming up this week in the legislature you should pay attention to. Jake Lowary/The Tennessean

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Some legislation to keep an eye on this week. Wochit

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Speaker Harwell remembers Douglas Henry Wochit

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Pro-choice supporters congratulate Rep. John Ray Clemmons after abortion bill halted. Jake Lowary/The Tennessean

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Maisy Stella plays before state Senate. She stars on the CMT show Nashville.

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The Nashville delegation leads tribute to the late Sen. Doug Henry.

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Lt. Gov. Randy McNally remarks on the late Sen. Doug Henry.

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A look at 5 topics coming up this week in Nashville. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Democrats tout delay in privatization of state parks at weekly press conference.

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Randy McNally on future of public records.

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Protestors flank Democrats at news conference about their Peoples Bill of Rights package of legislation. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Lawmakers aim to increase penalties for elder abuse. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Here's 5 things that are happening this week in the state legislature. Week of Feb. 27-March 2. Wochit

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Week of Feb. 20 Kirk A. Bado

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David Haw, R-Greeneville, discusses transportation legislation. Joel Ebert / The Tennessean

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David Hawk, R-Greenevill discusses transportation legislation. Joel Ebert / The Tennessean

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Protestors brought a swift end to a news conference Wednesday about controversial legislation in Tennessee. Jake Lowary/USA Today Network Tennessee

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Protestors followed lawmakers who are sponsoring controversial legislation in Tennessee's legislature. Jake Lowary

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Supply side economist Arthur Laffer testifies about the gas tax plan before the legislature. Laffer is popular economist in conservative circles for his emphasis on keeping taxes low and applied to the broadest base. Jake Lowary

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Freshman state House Rep. Mark Lovell has submitted his letter of resignation amid allegations he had inappropriate contact with a woman last week, several sources, including a Tennessee Republican lawmaker, told The Tennessean. Kyleah Starling / Tennessean / Wochit

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Democratic Rep. Bo Mitchell calls for 'Jeremy's Law' repeal in wake of scandals involving Republican lawmakers Jeremy Durham and Mark Lovell

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Rep. John Ray Clemmons and Sen. Sara Kyle share their alternative to address Tennessee transportation backlogs. Jake Lowary/USA Today Network

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Here's a quick look at 5 things to watch for this week at the capitol in Nashville. Jake Lowary, Joel Ebert/Tennessean

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Tennessee lawmakers are back in session. Here are five things to watch for the week of Feb. 5. Joel Ebert and Duane W. Gang / The Tennessean

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Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Jan. 30, 2017 gave his annual State of the State address before the General Assembly. Here are three takeways from his speech, the next to last before leaving office. Joel Ebert and Duane W. Gang / The Tennessean / Wochit

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Gov. Bill Haslam's 2017-18 budget includes $100 million for teacher pay raises and $22.2 million for English-language learning students. Jason Gonzales / The Tennessean / Wochit

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Sen. Doug Overbey discussed wilfire recovery efforts Tuesday in the Senate finance committee meeting in Nashville. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, reacts to Gov. Bill Haslam's State of the State address Jan. 30 at the capitol. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, reacts to Gov. Bill Haslam's State of the State address Jan. 30 at the capitol. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Democrats Rep. Mike Stewart and Sen. Jeff Yarbro, both of Nashville, react to State of the State address Jan. 30 at the capitol. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Gov. Bill Haslam outlined his 2018 budget with reporters on Jan. 30 at the capitol. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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State of the State Kirk Bado / The Tennessean

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Norris reacts to State of the State.

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Here are 5 big topics coming up to watch for this week in the 110th General Assembly. Jake Lowary / The Tennessean / Wochit

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Gov. Bill Haslam on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017 announced efforts to expand broadband access. Adam Tamburin/The Tennessean

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Gov. Bill Haslam announced the latest plank of his legislative agenda -- a broadband initiative -- Thursday morning at Cane Ridge High School in Antioch. Haslam's plan will provide $45 million over 3 years in grants and tax credits for service providers. The governor said theplan focuses on three broad issues: funding, cutting regulation and education "digital literacy." Karen Kraft / The Tennessean

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The plan, which is officially known as the Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy or IMPROVE ACT was unveiled on Wednesday. Karen Kraft / The Tennessean

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Sen. Doug Overbey discusses Gatlinburg recovery after a meeting Thursday at the legislature in Nashville. Jake Lowary / The Tennessean

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With lawmakers set to return to Nashville on Tuesday to officially convene the 110th General Assembly, the session is expected to cover a multitude of issues ranging from a potential gas tax increase to how to spend the state's budget surplus. Kyleah Starling/The Tennessean

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Outgoing Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey talks about retiring from the leadership position in the Tennessee legislature. Lacey Atkins / Tennessean

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Democrats seek leverage from Haslam as gas tax vote nears - The Tennessean