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One of the most powerful House RepublicansRodney Frelinghuysen (NJ), the new chair of the House Appropriations Committeegot a constituent in trouble by writing a letter to her employer that called out her progressive activism.

The employeeSaily Avelenda of West Caldwell, whos active in the progressive NJ 11th for Change groupended up resigning from her job as senior vice president and assistant general counsel at Lakeland Bank, according to a report from WNYC.

Frelinghuysens letter, sent on campaign letterhead to bank board member and Frelinghuysen donor Joseph ODowd, appears to be correspondence he sent to other contributors as well.

[L]ets be clear that there are organized forcesboth national and localwho are already hard at work to put a stop to the agenda of limited government, economic growth and stronger national security, Frelinghuysens letter reads. As you may have seen in the front page of the New York Times, the Democrat political organizations, the DCCC run by Nancy Pelosi, has targeted my district for Democrat takeover. Democrats have chosen to targets districts like ours because we sit in prime media markets and their protesters are highly organized.

But at the bottom, in blue pen, Frelinghuysen wrote by hand: P.S. One of the ringleaders works in your bank!

Attached to the letter was a news clip featuring a quote from Avelenda. A Google search indicates she was quoted in a February WNYC report headlined, New Jersey Citizens Group Creates a Super PAC. Avelenda is identified as being with NJ 11th for Change in the story, and is quoted as saying, Part of what our goal is is to educate, to ensure they are aware of the individual that sits in that seat today So that when they go make a choice they have all the information they need to make a choice.

Avelendas boss confronted her about Frelinghuysens letter. She told WNYC that she had to write a statement to my CEO, and at my level as an assistant general counsel and a senior vice president, at this employer it was not something that I expected I thought my Congressman put them in a situation, and put me in a really bad situation as the constituent, and used his name, used his position and used his stationery to try to punish me.

Avelenda wasnt fired, but she told WNYC that Frelinghuysens letter and the blowback it created contributed to her decision to resign.

In a statement published Monday morning on NJ 11th for Changes Facebook page, the groups writes, We are outraged and alarmed by Representative Frelinghuysens intimidating action against an ordinary constituent.

It continues:

Frelinghuysens campaign sent WNYC a statement saying that the Congressman wrote a brief and innocuous note at the bottom of a personal letter in regard to information that had been reported in the media. He was in no way involved in any of the banks business and is unaware of any of the particulars about this employees status with the bank.

Lakeland Bank isnt commenting, according to WNYC.

Frelinghuysen, who was first elected in 1995, has voted in lockstep with President Trump and hasnt held a town hall since 2013. Though he won reelection in his suburban New York City district by 19 points last year, hes become a target for Democrats this cycle.

In February, the Bergen County Record reported that Frelinghuysen hauled in a personal record of more than $500,000 in the first quarter of this year.

The effort comes as Democrats in Washington have already made Frelinghuysen the target of automated phone calls, voters in his district have held regular protests at his office and a group ran a bus trip to Washington to pressure him to oppose President Donald Trumps policies and hold a public town hall meeting, the Record reports. New data that used past election results to score the partisan leanings of congressional districts show that Frelinghuysens 11th District, which covers parts of Essex, Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties, and Rep. Leonard Lances 7th District are about as competitive as the 5th District, where Democrat Josh Gottheimer defeated seven-term Republican Rep. Scott Garrett in November.

Frelinghuysens decision to call out a constituent for her progressive political activism comes while Trump and other House Republicans repeatedly complain, without evidence, about paid protesters who are publicly resisting their agenda.

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House Republican writes letter to constituent's employer complaining about her progressive activism - ThinkProgress

Its somewhat amazing the length Republican lawmakers seem to be willing to go to undo touching Gov. Sam Brownbacks signature income tax cut that has affected the states ability to do its work.

While it seems that the source of the states budget problems is easy to see, and the solution seemingly would be to simply undo the source of injury, some lawmakers instead want to keep shifting the burden to the states sales tax as a way to preserve a misguided philosophy.

This week, the Kansas House approved a bill that would add the states sales tax to services like towing, storage, security, pet boarding and some cleaning services, in the hope of raising about $110 million over two years.

The amount raised wont come close to solving the states budget issues, yet leaves in place the income tax cuts that are so near and dear to Brownbacks heart. But make no mistake about it: This group of lawmakers has no problem with raising taxes; they just want to make sure its the right taxes that are raised.

If approved by the Senate, this would be the third round of sales tax increases that have been put in place as a way to save the governors income tax vision. In Hutchinson, the sales tax hovers near 10 percent a tax that includes groceries and necessities so that a handful of people across the state can avoid paying income taxes altogether.

As the Legislature nears the end of its session, compromises will be made to wrap up the states business and to pass a plan to fund education and set the states budget. Yet its remarkable how much effort some factions will put into preserving a tax cut that hasnt worked as promised even to the point of raising taxes elsewhere to keep a bad idea alive that has never even come close to spreading sunshine across Kansas.

Jason Probst, for The Hutchinson News editorial board

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Republican lawmakers again look to boost sales tax revenue - Hutchinson News

WASHINGTON The health care plan barely approved by Republicans in the House faces even more difficult challenges in the GOP majority Senate, based on interviews with several senators.

The contentious issues are similar: the cost of the plan, how to pay for it, coverage of pre-existing medical conditions for the sick and disabled, subsidies to help people who cant afford market rate premiums, co-payments and deductibles.

Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma said he remains hopeful the Senate can fashion legislation that will overcome divisions among his GOP colleagues and also appeal to the more conservative House.

I think well get there, said Lankford, a member of the influential Senate Appropriation Committee. We have to.

But Lankford said the road ahead faces tough going because the House plan, embraced by President Donald Trump, wont provide sufficient subsidies for low-income people to afford insurance.

It would no longer consider age or income in determining the amount of individual subsidies, a change the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates would mean millions of poor and older Americans not yet eligible for Medicare lose their insurance.

Lankford, a fiscal conservative, said in a statement after a brief interview he wants to make sure no individual ends up in worse shape.

Reflecting the philosophical divide among Republicans, senators such as Rand Paul of Kentucky want to strictly limit the governments involvement in health care, and are opposed to any subsidies.

Even though the House plan lowers the subsidies, Paul said in an interview on Fox News hes not that interested in subsidizing the profits of insurance companies. They make a lot of money.

Paul has a plan to allow individuals to group together like company employees to negotiate with insurers to get the best price and coverage -- a strategy he said will lower premiums and protect people with pre-existing conditions without government mandates.

The debate over government subsidies was also a sticky issue last month for House Republicans before they came together to narrowly approve a compromise.

House Speaker Paul Ryan canceled the initial vote on the GOP plan over lack of enough support from conservative and moderate lawmakers. Changes were made and the revised bill, with a push from Trump, received 217-213 approval last week. Twenty Republicans dissented.

Senate Republicans, who hold a slim two-vote majority, can only afford to two defections in order to pass a health care plan.

That means finding common ground not only subsidies but also protecting coverage of pre-existing conditions and Obamacares essential health benefits such as maternity, mental health and prescription drugs.

The House plan repeals Obamacare but continues the laws ban on insurers denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. But the concern is it also allows states to let insurers charge people with medical issues higher rates if they have a lapse in coverage -- a hitch health advocates say penalizes lower-income individuals who interrupt their coverage due to cost or other reasons.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., said in an interview shes concerned the House plan isnt clear enough in protecting people with medical conditions. Shes also troubled that the House bill rolls back Medicaid assistance over time in the states that chose to expand it under Obamacare.

Capito said 180,000 West Virginians get insurance through expanded Medicaid.

A lot of them have addiction issues and drug abuse issues, she said. If (the program) goes away, there will be tragic consequences -- such as overdose deaths that occur more frequently on a per capita basis in West Virginia than any other state.

The federal government now picks up nearly all of the cost for the 31 states that expanded Medicaid to cover low-income people who make too much to qualify for the traditional program.

Marie Gordon, spokeswoman for Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said hes looking at the other side of the Medicaid coin states like Georgia that did not expand Medicaid having to pay for states that did. She also said, however, that Isakson would not be supportive of legislation that fails to ensure affordable coverage for those with pre-existing conditions.

Sen. Pauls plan would end support for the Medicaid expansion.In a phone call with reporters this week, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said hes concerned about preserving traditional Medicaid. A spokeswoman for Grassley said later he hasnt come to a position on expanded Medicaid.

The House plan continues to fund Medicaid expansion for individuals already in the program, but beginning in 2020, the states would get less for new recipients. Capito said her state faces a $500 million budget deficit this year and is in no shape to make up the difference.

In March, she and three other Republican senators from Medicaid expansion states, including Ohios Rob Portman, wrote Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announcing they wont support a plan that doesnt include stable funding for Medicaid expansion.

A group of 13 ranking Senate Republicans, including McConnell, has been appointed by the majority leader to work on Medicaid and other conflict issues. It has been criticized for no women members, though Capito met with the group this week.

Ultimately, said Grassley, Republicans have no choice but to come together on a health care legislation because theyve promised for years to repeal Obamacare. We have to deliver, he said or risk voters losing confidence in their government.

More importantly, he added, is the potential loss of insurance companies offering subsidized policies Iowa because the present health system is failing.

Kery Murakami covers Washington for The Eagle-Tribune and its sister newspapers and websites.

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Republican senators search for deal on health care - Eagle-Tribune

Only one Republican is running for a seat on Johnstown City Council.

Mark Amsdell is a U.S. Marine Corps and National Guard veteran who served in Afghanistan.

With no other competition in Tuesdays GOP primary, Amsdell will represent the party in the general election, barring unforeseen circumstances.

There are four open council seats for which 10 Democrats also are vying.

Mark Amsdell

Age: 47.

Neighborhood: Moxham.

Occupation: CDL truck driver; UAV operator.

Background:Associate degree in aviation science; certified as auto mechanic, airframe/powerplant mechanic; machinist (CNC and conventional); A+ trained in computer repair.

Why do you want to serve on council?: It is absolutely necessary that people with clear vision and leadership stand up to stop the continued mismanagement before there is nothing left of Johnstown but collapsing buildings.

What do you believeare the most important issues facing the city?: Primarily, Johnstown needs a council that truly recognizes the situation it is in and will work toward real, lasting solutions, and the ability to communicate that to the community. ...

Secondly, a city government that understands its role, and that is willing to make the necessary changes to put Johnstown on a track toward sustainability. Even our new city manager agrees that Johnstown will not last much longer with the path it is on. Johnstown needs not only employees that will adjust to the roles they need to fill, but a City Council that is willing to listen to all of its residents, not just the loudest ones. ...

You may be asking why I didnt include jobs, drugs, crime, etc. Simply because those problems will solve themselves when the city is ready to fulfill its role properly.

We are the biggest obstacle to our own success, sometimes.

Not to say that these other issues do not also need a little coaxing, because they do. It would simply take too long to explain everything for every topic that is wrong in Johnstown. (It has been) 35-plus years of leadership doing nothing.

Dave Sutor is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at(814)532-5056. Follow him on Twitter@Dave_Sutor.

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Lone Republican runs for City Council - TribDem.com

James Hohmann/WaPo;

THE BIG IDEA: The biggest news out of Donald Trumps Thursday interview with NBC was his confession that the Russia investigation was on his mind when he fired FBI Director James Comey.Undercutting 48 hours of denials by his aides, the president said: In fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story; its an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.

But what may ultimately get Trump into bigger trouble is his story about Comey assuring him he was not under investigation during a one-on-one dinner at the White House.Lester Holt askedthe president to elaborate on his claim, made in the letter firing Comey, that hed been told three times he was not under federal investigation. He wanted to stay at the FBI, and I said Ill, you know, consider and see what happens,Trump said. But we had a very nice dinner, and at that time he told me, You are not under investigation.

David A. Hopkins/Honest Graft:

Why Congressional Republicans Won't Abandon Trump Over Comey

To McConnell, Republican support for any Democratic calls to investigate Trump would only signal to voters that Trump had indeed done something wrong, further reducing the president's public support and thus giving the Democrats even more of an advantage. Converting every Trump-related controversy into a partisan food fight instead allows Republicans to summon their base to rally behind them in yet another polarizing battle against the left. Since Democratic supporters are already likely to be highly motivated to turn out against Trump in the next two elections, Republicans are concerned about whether their own side will match their opponents' level of engagement.

Of course, this approach carries certain risks. The most obvious danger is that congressional Republicans could wind up chaining themselves more tightly to Trump just as he plummets off a political cliff. The lack of a meaningful difference between Trump and the rest of the Republican Party gives anti-Trump voters good reason to replace even personally popular Republican incumbents with Democratic challengers. Unless Trump finds a way to bolster his national popularity in the future, even a relatively energized Republican base may not be enough to protect the party against a wider popular backlash among Democrats and independents.

It's also quite possible that Ryan and McConnell would be better served in the long run by buzzing a warning pitch or two under Trump's chin at this stage of his presidency. Automatic party support for his various antics in office may only reinforce bad behavior on Trump's part, making future Comey-scale debacles all the more likely and dragging the entire party into an inescapable political morass. Occasional demonstrations of independence by congressional Republicans might have a constraining effect on a president with flawed knowledge, instincts, and judgment, encouraging him to consult with a wider array of interlocutors and steering him away from the most disastrous courses of action. Normally, party leaders' interests are not well-served by greater intra-party tension. But we are, at the moment, a fair ways off fromnormalcy.

Vann Newkirk II/Atlantic:

How Unprecedented Is James Comey's Firing?

A Q&A with historian Beverly Gage about the history of conflicts between FBI directors and the executive branch

Vann R. Newkirk II: Ill start with the big question. Is James Comeys firing by Donald Trump an unprecedented clash between president and FBI?

Beverly Gage: The answer is yes and no. It is unprecedented in its extremenessno president before this moment has fired an FBI director who was engaged in conducting an ongoing and politically sensitive investigation of his own campaign. On the other hand, this sort of conflict between the FBI and the executive branch is not itself totally anomalous. It's something that we've seen over the course of American history. During J. Edgar Hoover's day, he had repeated conflicts with presidents, and he had a kind of autonomous power that allowed to withstand and sometimes win those conflicts, for better or worse. Since then, most presidents have been cautious about this kind of direct confrontation.

Amanda Taub/NY Times:

Comeys Firing Tests Strength of the Guardrails of Democracy

Norms about political behavior and power serve as soft guardrails for democracy, said Steven Levitsky, a professor at Harvard who studies authoritarianism.

In a healthy democratic system, when politicians violate important norms, other institutions push back, ensuring that the violators pay a hefty price and the guardrails are preserved for another day.

But in collapsing democracies, the opposite happens. Instead of banding together to protect democratic norms, warring parties take violations by their opponents as justification for breaking other norms in response. Its a process of escalation that often begins with minor stuff and ends with coups, Mr. Levitsky said.

Dave Weigel/WaPo:

Republicans misstate, again and again on TV and at town halls, whats in their health-care bill

That means these lawmakers face two potential backlashes: one if opponents of Obamacare perceive the bill does not go far enough, and another from Americans worried that the bill would eliminate their coverage.

The result has been a confused sales effort and a series of flat misstatements and contradictions about whats actually in the bill.

Its a risky strategy especially in front of the skeptical crowds and interviewers Republicans have been speaking to in recent days. On Wednesday, Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.) spent nearly five hours answering questions from a disgruntled audience of constituents, some of whom spoke at length about what Medicaid meant in their communities. MacArthur was blown back by laughter when he argued, as House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) has, that caps on per capita Medicaid funding would leave the system stronger.

I am trying to save a system so it continues to help you, he said. I am trying to make sure Medicaid is strong enough to continue.

Later, MacArthur argued that the tax cuts in the bill were for everybody but when a constituent calculated that MacArthurs own savings would amount to $37,000 if the bill was passed, the congressman agreed that the bills large investment tax cut was not going to benefit everyone equally.

Paul Krugman/NY Times:

So its nave to expect Republicans to join forces with Democrats to get to the bottom of the Russia scandal even if that scandal may strike at the very roots of our national security. Todays Republicans just dont cooperate with Democrats, period. Theyd rather work with Vladimir Putin.

In fact, some of them probably did.

Now, maybe Im being too pessimistic. Maybe there are enough Republicans with a conscience or, failing that, sufficiently frightened of an electoral backlash that the attempt to kill the Russia probe will fail. One can only hope so.

But its time to face up to the scary reality here. Most people now realize, I think, that Donald Trump holds basic American political values in contempt. What we need to realize is that much of his party shares that contempt.

Laurence Tribe, Richard Painter and Norman Eisen/USA Today:

Whether the presidents clumsy and seemingly ill-thought-out steps will backfire is impossible to predict. Attorney General Jeff Sessions had promised to recuse himself from all Justice Department matters involving Russian interference with our election, but waded right into the middle of the decision to discharge Comey. Perhaps Sessions will step aside while Rosenstein attempts to redeem himself for his role in the pretense that Comey was fired overmissteps in the Clinton email probe. The deputy attorney general could do it by appointing an independent special counsel.

But the constraints under which such a special counsel would have to operate under current law, and the constitutional subservience of any such counsel to the president as head of the executive branch, are a prescription for a replay of an ugly drama: President Nixonfired two attorneys generalbefore finding someone (Robert Bork) willing to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox only to be pressured into appointing another special prosecutor,Leon Jaworski, who ended up being as determined and unshakable as Cox.

Peter Beinart/Atlantic:

L'Etat, C'est Trump

The president and his advisors believe loyalty to the country and loyalty to him are the same thing.

Its not just that Trump has never worked in government. Hes never worked in a job devoted to a cause larger than self-enrichment or self-aggrandizement. Hes spent virtually his entire professional life in a family business where he sets the rules and where people answer to him. Note how promiscuously Trumps uses the first person possessive: my generals, my African-American. Last spring, when journalists asked him who his Israeli advisors were, hewheeledout his Jewish lawyers. He sends his children on diplomatic missions, where they also hawk his products. He doesnt really distinguish between public and private interest, between obeying the law and obeying him.

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Abbreviated Pundit Round-up: Republican cowards and enablers buckle but don't act - Daily Kos