Democratic dollars helped elect Republicans last cycle, a departure from the norm when Democratic *strategy* helps elect Republicans. Lawmakers in West Virginia want to outlaw the teaching of socialism, yet proponents of the “sharing is caring” curriculum still roam our streets. And the Senate passed a bill approving the Keystone XL pipeline, thus fixing forever all of America’s job and energy problems while also ensuring your descendants prosperity until the sun swallows the Earth billions of years from now. This is HUFFPOST HILL for Thursday, January 29th, 2015:
KEYSTONE!!! Kate Sheppard: “The Senate voted Thursday afternoon to approve a bill authorizing construction of the Keystone XL pipeline over the presidential approval process, capping off weeks of debate over amendments. Following the vote, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) praised the passage, calling it a victory ‘for jobs in this country, for energy security, for good trade relationships with our neighbor in Canada.’ ‘For all the right reasons, it was important that we pass this legislation in front of us here today,’ said Murkowski. The bill passed by a vote of 62 to 36, with all Republicans and nine Democrats voting in favor. The Houseapproved similar legislation earlier this month. It’s unclear at this point whether the two chambers will need to conference on a bill, or whether the House will pass the Senate bill as amended. But the bill is destined for a veto either way, as the White House has said President Barack Obama will not sign it into law. Press Secretary Josh Earnest reiterated that veto threat in a press conference Thursday afternoon.” [HuffPost]
When she was a senator Hillary Clinton really enjoyed private planes.
MCCARTHY HINTS AT NEW GOP IMMIGRATION STRATEGY – The strategy of yelling “Go Back From Whence You Came,” while holding a shotgun and chewing on tobacco has not worked. Roll Call: “Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy sent House Republicans a legislative memo Thursday, laying out a February agenda of repealing Obamacare, taking on unfunded mandates, and permanently providing a tax deduction for charitable giving. But more than messaging, McCarthy may have also begun planting the seed that Republicans might need a different vehicle to fight President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration other than the Department of Homeland Security funding bill. ‘We hope that the Senate will send the House-passed Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill to the President,’ McCarthy writes near the end of the 1,566-word memo. ‘In the event the Senate passes something different than the House-passed bill, we will be discussing with the Conference the best way to continue to challenge the President’s unconstitutional amnesty.’ What that best way would be is not mentioned. But Republican leadership has started to mention another lawsuit against the president could be in the cards. Additional legislation might also be another avenue, though it won’t have the same force as the DHS funding bill, which is a must-pass measure if Congress wants to fund the agency past Feb. 27.” [Roll Call]
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@jbendery: House Dem retreat so far: We’re very, very, very, very, very excited about middle class messaging! Also, TPP is annoying. But we’re excited!
@morninggloria: Can’t wait for the all-girl reboot of the US government
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