Mediaboss Marketing

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (AP) Its normal to target new voters ahead of Super Tuesday. Think volunteers holding clipboards at street festivals, malls or outside grocery stores. Democrats in Texas have made it a perennial focus, hoping they can end decades of losses by rousing more voters to the polls.

Republicans here, meanwhile, never really needed to bother but now thats changing as worries deepen about their grip on the state in 2020.

With their base not expanding and their margins of victory getting thinner, Texas Republicans have begun spending big on finding more conservatives to vote. And theyve taken a different approach to it ahead of the Texas primaries on March 3.

Hired canvassers to stand outside drivers license offices, pushing a petition on gun rights by asking, Do you have a moment to support the Second Amendment? People who stop are nudged to identify themselves as liberal or conservative. Finally, things cut to the chase: theyre offered the chance to sign up to vote.

But if a reporter arrives, they scram abruptly sweeping voter registration forms into boxes, taking down signs, and heading for their cars.

Were instructed to break down whenever press is here, says a man with Engage Texas, the political super PAC coordinating the effort, declining to explain why or provide his name.

The effort is another sign of the intense partisan struggle underway in a state thats been the GOPs largest and most important asset but also is key to Democrats hopes for future electoral dominance.

Despite the canvassers nothing-to-see-here retreat, many conservatives acknowledge that the ground seems to be shifting after a generation of lopsided victories on Election Day. Party activists are looking beyond just motivating registered voters who sometimes dont get to the polls. Theyre spending big, putting up more than $12 million so far, searching for those who arent on the rolls at all.

The GOPs electoral base, mostly aging and white, has delivered around 4.5 million votes in every presidential year since 2004, but that number has scarcely budged even as Texas population has boomed. In 2018, Democrats surpassed 4 million votes for the first time, and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz survived reelection by a mere 215,000 votes.

The sprawling metropolitan suburbs that have started turning purple have put Democrats in reach of flipping a handful of congressional districts and given them an outside chance at winning a majority in the Texas House. The GOP holds a 23-13 edge in the congressional delegation and are fighting to retain half a dozen districts it narrowly hung onto last cycle.

Sending out clipboard holders equipped with a line of questions that screens for likely Republicans shows a willingness to take up even the unglamorous grind of signing up new voters.

Were buying an insurance policy, said Steve Munisteri, a former White House adviser under President Donald Trump who now leads a separate campaign to turn up new Republican voters in Texas. I feel like we can go anywhere from losing by a smidgen to winning by a comfortable margin.

Democrats, who accuse Republicans of waging a decade-long campaign of voter suppression ranging from ID laws to shutting down polling locations, say the irony isnt lost on them.

If Im a Republican and my path ahead in Texas is in registering a lot of voters, Ive run out of other options, said Cliff Walker, deputy executive director of the Texas Democratic Party.

Walker would not say how much Democrats are spending, but the party says it will have 1,000 people on the ground this cycle to sign up new voters.

Texas enters Super Tuesday having surpassed 16 million voters for the first time, and voter registration in recent years has outpaced population growth. A core belief among many Democrats is that higher turnout generally favors their side but already in 2020, lower-than-expected attendance in the Iowa caucuses and a defeat in a Texas legislative special election are raising warning flags about enthusiasm.

Trump may have a cushion here in the presidential race after winning Texas by nine points in 2016, but there is still no other outfit in the country that compares to Engage Texas. It has raised nearly $12 million exclusively from major GOP donors and groups. Among them are Dallas-based Energy Transfer, whose CEO is billionaire Kelcy Warren, and Dallas oil tycoon Ray Hunt. Although it is not the first political action committee singularly dedicated to registering new voters, there appear to be few parallels on this scale.

Leaders of Engage Texas said unfair press coverage toward Republicans is why their employees packed up and left at two drivers license offices after being approached by an Associated Press reporter.

Republican-build efforts dont always get a fair shake. Theyre going to be a bit skeptical, said Chris Young, the executive director of Engage Texas.

Young, who was the field director for the Republican National Committee in 2016, would not provide data on how many voters his group has registered or his targets. But he said hundreds of paid staff were working largely around Texas big cities and booming suburbs.

Originally posted here:
Republicans Trying To Hang On To Texas | News Talk WBAP-AM - WBAP News/Talk

Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, February 1, 2020. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)The ideological party has become the coalitional party, and vice versa.

For most of my life, the rule of thumb was that the GOP was the ideological party and the Democratic Party was the coalitional party.

This always was an overgeneralization. Democrats had an ideological perspective, and Republicans had coalitional interests. But from the New Deal to around the end of the Bush years, it was generally true. I used to think it had to do with the superiority of conservative ideas, but Im coming around to the view that it has more to do with the way political power works.

There was obviously an ideological component to the New Deal and the Great Society. Stated plainly, the people at the helm of those projects believed in the power of the state or big government to steer the whole of the country in a positive direction. But if you look at the members of the FDR coalition, youll find a lot of diversity. There were intellectuals and populists, capitalists and socialists, racists and civil-rights leaders, isolationists and interventionists, corrupt party bosses and the reformers who hated them, poor farmers, urban union leaders, Southern conservatives, blacks, whites, Jews and immigrants, all swirling about, often battling to win the presidents favor. Thats what you get with majority parties a diverse coalition of interests, all trying to get their place at the trough.

As the saying goes in Washington, if youre not at the table, youre on the menu.

The GOP was a minority party for most of that time, and even when that started to change, it still usually thought like a minority party. By that I mean minority parties emphasize ideological cohesion and partisan unity. Always at a disadvantage, they tend to understand that if they dont stick together, sharing each others priorities and leveraging what strength they have, theyll get steamrolled by the majority.

It might seem paradoxical, but being in the minority makes arguments over principle more important. When you have little or nothing to trade, you argue about ideas. When you have stuff to trade taxpayer money, jobs, seats on commissions and committees ideological differences are easily papered over. Moreover, because majority parties in a democracy are by definition governing parties, theres less reason to get bogged down in debating questions about ideological nuances.

The least ideological politicians in American life have always been the heads of political machines, such as Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall or the mayors of cities such as Chicago. In such places, high-minded complaints about principles are easily assuaged with a construction contract or a monopoly on hot-dog concessions at the ballpark.

The GOP hasnt exactly figured out how to govern like a majority party, but under President Trump its behaving a lot more like an urban political machine, doling out goodies to members of its coalition with little concern for a coherent philosophic rationale. The role of ideological principles has been decidedly downgraded, as religious and economic conservatives get the stuff they want in terms of policies and jobs.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are behaving more and more like a minority party, putting ideological commitments ahead of coalitional interests. Bernie Sanders is the most obvious and important illustration of this. The de facto front-runner in the Democratic primaries, Sanders is like a left-wing Barry Goldwater the ideological icon who spearheaded the conservative takeover of the GOP in 1964, in part by losing to Lyndon B. Johnson in a landslide.

Sanders is a pure ideologue who sees no reason to compromise his brand of socialism for the sake of coalitional interests. He wants no help from the rich if the rich expect anything in return. He insists that pro-lifers have no place in his party, and he doesnt seem to care if things like fracking bans will cost the country jobs and his party votes.

My theory isnt neat and tidy because politics are never neat and tidy. Sanders thinks he has the majority on his side. He doesnt.

More broadly, Democrats dont see themselves as a minority party minority parties are often the last to realize they arent as popular as they think they are. Also, the desire to defeat Trump has a tendency to crowd out ideological arguments. Which is why Bernie, like every other Democrat, leads with the promise that he is the best candidate to defeat Trump.

And thats a shame, because Id love to see the billionaire-hating socialist and progressive billionaire capitalist Michael Bloomberg have an actual debate on their ideas. That debate may just have to wait until after Sanders fulfills his role as the woke Goldwater, truly making the Democrats a minority party by losing in 2020.

Go here to read the rest:
Republicans and Democrats Have Reversed Their Roles - National Review

Republicans are scrambling to avoid stepping on the political landmine of proposed cuts to Medicare and other popular safety-net programs after President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump declares war on hardworking Americans with new budget request Avenatti found guilty in Nike extortion trial First, we'll neuter all the judges MORE in a recent interview said they could one day be on the chopping block.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump declares war on hardworking Americans with new budget request The Hill's Morning Report AG Barr, GOP senators try to rein Trump in Overnight Health Care: Nevada union won't endorse before caucuses after 'Medicaid for All' scrap | McConnell tees up votes on two abortion bills | CDC confirms 15th US coronavirus case MORE (R-Ky.) announced Tuesday that he does not plan to put a budget resolution on the Senate floor, which could subject vulnerable GOP colleagues up for reelection this year to tough votes on Medicare and other issues.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike EnziMichael (Mike) Bradley EnziLawmakers trade insults over Trump budget cuts Republicans scramble to avoid Medicare land mine McConnell will not bring budget resolution to the floor MORE (R-Wyo.) announced Monday that he doesnt plan to hold hearings on Trumps budget, which proposed new cuts to Medicaid and other domestic spending programs.

The upshot is that the Republican Party, which once prided itself as the party of fiscal discipline and regularly blasted Democrats when they controlled the Senate for not passing budget resolutions, is looking for other issues to talk about.

McConnell on Tuesday highlighted confirmation votes this week on five federal judicial nominees, including the 51st judge Trump has appointed to a federal appellate court.

Instead of putting a Republican budget blueprint on the Senate floor, McConnell said he will simply stick to the annual spending cap set by the bipartisan budget deal that Trump signed last year, which suspended the federal deficit limit through July 2021 and raised military and domestic spending by $320 billion over two years.

I cant imagine that we can reach an agreement on a budget with this particular House of Representatives, McConnell told reporters, referring to the ideological gulf between him and Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiChris Wallace: 'Just insane' Swalwell is talking impeaching Trump again The Hill's Morning Report AG Barr, GOP senators try to rein Trump in Trump extends emergency declaration at border MORE (D-Calif.).

Weve got the caps deal in place. We negotiated it last year. Its good for the second year, and well comply with that, he said.

House Democratic budgetary leaders earlier this year signaled they didnt expect to produce a budget either.

Still, the decision by McConnell underscores the sensitivity to the GOP of opening itself up to proposals to reduce the costs of Medicare or Social Security.

Trump told CNBC in an interview last month that cuts to entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid could be considered in the future to bring down the federal deficit, which is projected to exceed $1 trillion per year over the next decade.

The president vowed to cut the deficit in his presidential campaign but has seen annual deficits soar during his presidency. His new budget anticipates balancing in 15 years, but it leans on optimistic economic projections to get there.

Trump tried to walk back his statement about possible cuts to Medicare, but Democrats have seized on the issue signaling their intention to speak to voters about the threat of cuts if Republicans are in power in Washington.

McConnell said 2020 would be the third year in a row that the Senate has not passed a budget resolution just a day after Enzi said he would put together a budget resolution.

When Democrats controlled the chamber, McConnell vowed that Republicans would pass budget plans once they took over the majority.

The law requires us to pass a budget, he told reporters in 2012, calling it stunning that Democrats had gone 1,000 days in power without passing a budget.

Some members of McConnells conference are interested in having a discussion over how to curb the growth of entitlement programs. The deficit is now projected to hit $1.7 trillion in 2030.

This is a problem. Both Republicans and Democrats have a spending addiction. Nobody knows what to do. Democrats, remember, they werent doing budgets when they were in charge. Now Republicans arent either, said Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulThe Hill's Morning Report AG Barr, GOP senators try to rein Trump in Overnight Defense: Senate votes to rein in Trump war powers on Iran | Pentagon shifting .8B to border wall | US, Taliban negotiate seven-day 'reduction in violence' The 8 Republicans who voted to curb Trump's Iran war powers MORE (R-Ky.), an outspoken fiscal conservative.

Really the meat of spending is entitlements. You got to have some guts to look at it, Paul added.

A fight over entitlements is a non-starter for most Republicans in an election year, however.

Senate Democratic Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerBarr to testify before House Judiciary panel Graham won't call Barr to testify over Roger Stone sentencing recommendation Roger Stone witness alleges Trump targeted prosecutors in 'vile smear job' MORE (N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) held a press conference Tuesday to attack Trumps budget plan, with both Democrats seizing on what they said were cuts to Medicare in the Trump budget.

The administration has proposed spending reductions to Medicare as part of the budget but says this would be done in a way that would not reduce benefits.

Pelosi said Trumps heartless budget proposes slashing a half a trillion from Medicare and from Medicaid $900 billion.

After he stood in front of the House and said Im protecting Medicare and Social Security, Pelosi added, referring to last weeks State of the Union address.

Trump declared before a joint session of Congress last week: We will always protect your Medicare and Social Security.

White House officials say Democrats are taking the proposed reforms to both Medicare and Medicaid out of context.

Despite what you hear from the other side, Medicare will grow at 6 percent under this budget, acting Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought told reporters Monday.

Reducing the cost of health care is not a cut, Vought said.

He argued that Medicaid will continue to grow at more than 3 percent per year on average, higher than the cost of inflation.

Republicans traditionally have lost fights with Democrats over government funding cuts.

At the Tuesday press conference, Pelosi highlighted the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicares statement that Trumps budget would leave seniors and other vulnerable citizens hungrier, sicker and poorer.

Read the rest here:
Republicans scramble to avoid Medicare land mine | TheHill - The Hill

Republicans in the House and the Senate are introducing legislation that would block federal funds from states that allow illegal immigrants to obtain drivers licenses -- the latest move in an escalating fight over sanctuary laws.

The Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act would block funds to sanctuary states -- which limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities -- and those that give licenses to illegal immigrants. Specifically, it would halt Justice Department (DOJ) grants, in particular those awarded under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant,which is a top source of federal criminal justice funding for states.

NEW YORK SHERIFFS CALL OUT 'UNWISE' GREEN LIGHT LAW AS CUOMO MEETS TRUMP

The legislation is being introduced in the Senate by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. It is being co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.;Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.;Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga.;Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Mike Rounds, R-S.D. Meanwhile, in the House, Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., is introducing companion legislation. That bill is co-sponsored by 21 other members.

Tennesseans know all too well what can happen when illegal immigrants are granted driver licenses, Blackburn said in a statement. While Tennessee and many other states prohibit driver licenses for illegal aliens, a growing number of states are moving in the opposite direction and unleashing dangerous open borders policies. Immigrants must follow the proper federal process and obtain citizenship or lawful status before obtaining a state driver license.

In America, no one is above the law, she added.

ICE SUBPOENAS NY FOR INFO ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF MURDER, AS SANCTUARY CITY FIGHT ESCALATES

Her office estimates that states that issued licenses to illegal immigrants received nearly $53 million from the program in fiscal year 2019.

The bicameral legislation comes amid a growing fight over sanctuary legislation. The Trump administration has been attempting to highlight attention to the dangers of the policy and has been shining light on cases whereby illegal immigrants have killed Americans.

The United States of America should be a sanctuary for law-abiding Americans, not criminal aliens, Trump said at his State of the Union address last week.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The administration has also been caught up in a fight with New York over its Green Light Law that both gives drivers licenses to illegal immigrants and bans state Department of Motor Vehicles agencies from sharing information with federal immigration authorities.

The latter move led the Department of Homeland Security(DHS) last week to announce that it is suspending Global Entry and other Trusted Traveler Programs for New York residents, saying that the law makes DHS agencies unable to run the necessary security checks and risk assessments.

Read more:
Republicans introduce bill to pull funds from states that give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants - Fox News

Democrats late Wednesday released another set of revisions to their legislation to control greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon that would delay impacts for rural Oregon and require state government to study its own impact on emissions.

SALEM Lawmakers revealed on Wednesday changes to the plan to cut back on the states greenhouse gas emissions that would ease the impact on rural Oregon and adopt elements proposed by Timber Unity.

The revisions are part of the continuing effort of Democratic sponsors to drive a policy that has greater statewide acceptance.

The proposed revisions to Senate Bill 1530 incorporate requests from Republicans and Timber Unity, a grassroots organization that has been agitating against a cap and trade system. Republicans in the Senate fled the state over last years version of the bill.

The bill is slated for a work session in the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13.

The cap and trade program would set a limit on statewide carbon emissions and aims to reduce emissions over time.

Limits on emissions would apply to certain industries and major fuel importers. The policy would carve up the emissions limit into allowances that emitters can buy and sell on a market. The idea is that as emissions targets get lower, fewer allowances are available, and industry would improve pollution controls.

Opponents have criticized the plan for its potential impact on consumers and small businesses, particularly through higher fuel costs.

The amendments could change how fuel would be regulated under the program. It delays the impact on Curry and Coos counties, as well as the Bend and Klamath Falls metro areas, until 2028, six years later than for the Portland area.

And rather than 20 counties triggering a statewide adoption of limits on fuel importers, this amendment sets the trigger at 23 counties.

Under the amendment, a greater share of the revenue from transportation - 90% - would go to counties or metro areas that engaged in the program to use on emissions reduction and climate adaptation projects. The rest would go to the state Transportation Department for projects around the state.

The amendments would incorporate policy ideas from Sen. Alan Olsen, R-Canby, and Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, who sit on the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

Olsens idea would make it easier for state agencies receiving money raised by the program to buy electric vehicles, and Findleys would streamline a state energy efficiency audit process for manufacturers that use a lot of energy but who face competition from areas that arent subject to emissions limits.

The amendment also includes policy ideas borrowed from Timber Unity. For example, it would direct the states parks department to conduct an annual tree planting day for local governments to sponsor planting trees in public spaces and it would direct the states main operations agency to study ways to account for the greenhouse gas emissions associated with transporting goods and services that state government buys.

The amendment aims to narrow the information about the program that is exempt from public disclosure just to trade secrets, which is already defined in the state public records law.

Reporter Claire Withycombe: [emailprotected] or 971-304-4148.

See the original post:
New amendments to cap and trade bill borrow from Republicans, Timber Unity - Salem Reporter