------ Stay *in the know* this week:
No Images? Click here <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-e-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-zk/> [image: Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics] <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-r/> *The week in review: July 2 - July 8* *What's on tap next week: **July 9 - July 15* *What's on tap? *The FBI investigation into whether classified materials were mishandled on Hillary Clinton <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-y/>’s private email server during her tenure as secretary of state concluded this week, with the agency finding that "no charges [were] appropriate” in the matter. On July 5, 2016, FBI Director James Comey <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-j/> said in a statement, "Although there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information, our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case.” U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch accepted the FBI’s recommendation and announced on the following day that the Justice Department would not pursue charges against Clinton. *See also: Hillary Clinton email investigation <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-t/>* Interested in the Republican and Democratic nominating conventions? Ballotpedia will be on-site covering the excitement. If you’d like to receive our special updates from Cleveland and Philadelphia, sign up here. Sign up to receive convention updates <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-i/> *The Week in Review* *Saturday, July 2* - Donald Trump <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-d/>was criticized for tweeting a graphic of Clinton with the tagline “most corrupt candidate ever" highlighted in a six-pointed star. According to CNN <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-h/>, The image first appeared on a “message board loaded with anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and neo-Nazi ideology.” Conservative radio host Erick Erickson commented, “A Star of David, a pile of cash, and suggestions of corruption. Donald Trump again plays to the white supremacists.” Former Trump campaign manager and current CNN political commentator Corey Lewandowski <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-k/> defended Trump on Sunday, describing the outcry as “political correctness run amok." - The Republican National Committee <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-u/>’s Committee on Contests ruled in favor <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-o/> of John Yob <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-b/> and his slate of delegates, allowing them to attend the Republican National Convention <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-n/> as delegates from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Yob, who initially won the election to be a delegate, was disqualified by territory party chairman John Canegata <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-p/>, who claimed Yob was ineligible because he had broken party rules. On March 4, 2016, Yob's bid faced opposition from Caroline Fawkes, the supervisor of elections for the U.S. Virgin Islands. The supervisor ruled Yob ineligible to vote in the Virgin Islands caucus, claiming he had not established residency for 90 days before registering to vote. The ruling would have also made Yob ineligible to appear on the ballot, since candidates must be registered Republican voters. Yob is the son of Chuck Yob <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-x/> of Michigan, who is also an RNC delegate this year. - Hillary Clinton <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-m/> participated in a voluntary interview with the FBI regarding the private email server she used while serving as secretary of state <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-e/>. “I’ve been eager to do it, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to assist the department in bringing its review to a conclusion,” Clinton said in an interview after the meeting. The Republican National Committee released a statement remarking that Clinton had “just taken the unprecedented step of becoming the first major party presidential candidate to be interviewed by the F.B.I. as part of a criminal investigation surrounding her reckless conduct.” *Sunday, July 3* - In an interview on CNN on Sunday, Gary Johnson <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-s/> discussed his Democratic and Republican rivals, condemning Trump for making “racist” statements and defending Clinton against accusations that she committed a crime with her private email server use. “[Trump] has said 100 things that would disqualify anyone else from running for president but doesn't seem to affect him,” Johnson said. He added of Hillary, "I'm not a stone-thrower when it comes to Hillary Clinton and her emails and her server. I don't think there has been criminal intent on Hillary Clinton's part. I don't see an indictment." Johnson also said that he would consider ending the drone program. “Look, if we're attacked, we're going to attack back, but these drone strikes do have the unintended consequences of killing innocent people. Try to put yourselves in the shoes of families that have been affected,” he said. *Monday, July 4* - CNN reported <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-g/> that if Bernie Sanders <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-w/> remains in the presidential race through the Democratic National Convention <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-yd/>, the cost to taxpayers to provide security detail for the candidate since the date of the last Democratic primary of the cycle will be near $2 million. Asked to comment on this expense, Sanders said, "I think security is probably something we shouldn't be talking about too much.” *VERBATIM FACT CHECK* Did U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark sponsor a bill to include pets in restraining orders? <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-yh/> Yes. Her Massachusetts State Senate proposal, which was enacted in 2012 as part of a larger animal protection bill, was a version of legislation she had previously introduced in the state House. Clark has also since sponsored similar bills at the federal level in the U.S. House. *Tuesday, July 5* - After FBI Director James Comey <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-yk/> finished announcing that he would not recommend bringing criminal charges against Hillary Clinton <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-yu/>, *The Hill <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-jl/> *compiled a list of new details Comey provided about Clinton’s handling of information while serving as secretary of state, including: - Comey revealed that “113 emails in more than 50 chains contained sensitive information at the time they were sent or received by her private setup. … Of those, eight chains contained information considered top secret, the highest level of classification;” - “Clinton has previously framed the decision to delete half of her machine’s cache of approximately 60,000 messages as an effort to avoid letting her private life become public. … But FBI investigators uncovered ‘several thousand work-related emails that were not in the group of 30,000 that were returned by Secretary Clinton’ to the State Department;” - The FBI was unable to recover all of Clinton’s deleted emails; and - “It is possible that hostile actors gained access to Secretary Clinton’s personal email account.” - See also: Hillary Clinton email investigation <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-jr/> - During their first appearance on the campaign trail together, President Barack Obama <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-jy/> praised Hillary Clinton <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-jj/>, saying, “I can tell you this, Hillary Clinton has been tested. There has never been any man or woman more qualified for this office.” During the event, Clinton praised Obama’s presidency and criticized Donald Trump. She said, “Can you imagine him, sitting in the Oval Office, the next time the world faces a crisis? Donald Trump is simply unqualified and temperamentally unfit.” - One of Donald Trump <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-jt/>’s advisors told CNN <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ji/> that Trump's “vice presidential pick is expected to be announced next week.” Trump’s vice presidential shortlist at the time included New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-jd/>, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-jh/>, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-jk/>, Sen. Joni Ernst <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ju/> (R-Iowa), Sen. Tom Cotton <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-tl/> (R-Ark.), and Sen. Bob Corker <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-tr/> (R-Tenn.). - See also: Possible vice presidential picks, 2016 <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ty/> - Donald Trump <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-tj/>’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was the target of an article <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-tt/> titled “An Open Letter to Jared Kushner, From One of Your Jewish Employees.” The article, alluding to Kushner’s ownership of the New York Observer, was written by Observer entertainment writer Dana Schwartz. Schwartz criticized Kushner for allowing Trump to post anti-semitic tweets and encourage his followers to engage in anti-semitic acts. The letter was a response to a tweet Trump’s social media manager posted on Saturday that had “an image of Hillary Clinton superimposed on a pile of $100 bills along with the words ‘Most Corrupt Candidate Ever!’ emblazoned on a Star of David. … Although the presumptive Republican presidential nominee quickly deleted the tweet and replaced it with one that used a circle in place of the star.” - Kushner, husband of Trump’s daughter Ivanka, replied, “My father-in-law is an incredibly loving and tolerant person who has embraced my family and our Judaism since I began dating my wife. I know that Donald does not at all subscribe to any racist or anti-semitic thinking. I have personally seen him embrace people of all racial and religious backgrounds. The suggestion that he may be intolerant is not reflective of the Donald Trump I know.” - In a unanimous three-judge panel ruling, the D.C. Circuit Court <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ti/> held in *Competitive Enterprise Institute v. Office of Science and Technology Policy* that federal officials are barred from shielding agency documents from Freedom of Information Act requests, even if those documents are located on a private server. In his opinion <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-td/> for the panel, which was joined by Judges Harry Edwards <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-th/> and Sri Srinivasan <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-tk/>, Judge David Sentelle <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-tu/> said that “an agency always acts through its employees and officials. If one of them possesses what would otherwise be agency records, the records do not lose their agency character just because the official who possesses them takes them out the door or because he is the head of the agency … If the agency head controls what would otherwise be an agency record, then it is still an agency record and still must be searched or produced.” - The Tax Foundation <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-il/>, a nonpartisan tax research group, released its analysis of the House GOP’s “A Better Way” tax plan <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ir/>. According to the analysis, the tax plan would: - “Reduce federal tax revenue by $2.4 trillion over the next decade;” - “Reduce marginal tax rates on labor and substantially reduce marginal tax rates on investment;” - “Boost long-run GDP by 9.1 percent;” - Create “7.7 percent higher wages;” - “Result in 1.7 million more full-time equivalent jobs;” and - “Reduce revenue on a dynamic basis by $191 billion over the next decade.” - After a week in which the Islamic State—also known as ISIS or ISIL—carried out terrorist attacks in Turkey, Bangladesh, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-iy/> reporters, “These tragic events once again highlight why it's so important to accelerate the coalition campaign to deliver ISIL a lasting defeat in Iraq and Syria, to further limit the group's ability to carry out attacks in other parts of the world and to do all we can to prevent the spread of its hateful ideology.” The attacks <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ij/>, which were part of ISIS’s efforts to carry out violence during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, resulted in the deaths of more than 250 individuals. *Wednesday, July 6* - Sen. Bob Corker <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-it/> (R-Tenn.) told *The Washington Post <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ii/>* that he had removed himself from consideration as a possible Trump running mate. “There are people far more suited for being a candidate for vice president, and I think I’m far more suited for other types of things,” Corker said. - Sen. Joni Ernst <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-id/> (R-Iowa) told *Politico <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ih/>* that she was focused on representing Iowa rather than serving as Trump’s vice president. “I made that very clear to him that I’m focused on Iowa. I feel that I have a lot more to do in the United States Senate. And Iowa is where my heart is,” Ernst said. - A survey of members <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ik/> of the Republican National Convention <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-iu/> Rules Committee <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-dl/> found that a movement to unbind the delegates to the national convention <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-dr/> could be within striking distance of getting an amendment to the convention floor allowing delegates to abstain from voting for the candidate to whom they are bound <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-dy/> if that vote violates their conscience on moral or religious grounds. Opposition to the amendment, however, is formidable. - The survey, conducted by *The Wall Street Journal <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-dj/>*, found that 20 committee members support the amendment and 59 are against it. Thirty-three did not respond. To get the amendment to the convention floor as part of the official rules package, the amendment would first need to be approved by 57 of the committee’s 112 members <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-dt/>. But, if that fails, the amendment could still make it to the floor as a minority report with the backing of only 28 members. Once it’s on the floor, it’s all up to the delegates <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-di/>. A majority would have to support the amendment in order for it to become part of the convention rules. - For a full review of what could happen with the rules, please see: RNC Rules Committee, 2016 <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-dd/> - A number of conservative groups <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-dh/> began laying down plans last month to unbind the delegates to the national convention as part of a larger effort to prevent Donald Trump <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-dk/> from securing the party’s presidential nomination. Central to their efforts has been a “conscience amendment” that would allow delegates to vote their conscience at the convention instead of in accordance with the results of their state’s primary or caucus results. *Politico <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-du/>* conducted a survey in late June similar to the one from *The Wall Street Journal*. Out of 32 responses, 25 said they were opposed to the amendment. Politico also noted that another 33 members of the Rules Committee have made public statements either endorsing Trump or opposing rules changes like the conscience amendment. - Symone Sanders <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-hl/>, former national press secretary for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-hr/>, joined the staff of the Democratic National Convention Committee <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-hy/>. Her role had not yet been specified. Symone Sanders (no relation) left Bernie Sanders’ campaign at the end of June, telling *Politico* <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-hj/>, "I believe my time at the campaign has come to an end. I'm very proud of the work we have done and am now looking forward to helping elect down-ballot Democrats and do all I can to ensure a Democrat is the 45th president of the United States." - Gretchen Carlson, host of the Fox News <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ht/> program *The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson* and former co-host of the network’s morning show *Fox & Friends*, filed a lawsuit against the network’s chairman and CEO Roger Ailes. <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-hi/> The suit accuses Ailes of wrongful termination and sexual harassment, claiming that Ailes’ activities ranged “from lewd innuendo, ogling and remarks about Ms. Carlson’s body to demands for sex as a way for her to improve her job standing.” The suit also alleged former *Fox & Friends* co-host, Steve Doocy, had sexually harassed Carlson. - President Barack Obama <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-hd/> announced <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-hh/> that he will keep 8,400 members of the United States Armed Forces in Afghanistan through the end of his term. According to the U.S. Department of Defense <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-hk/>, “Obama had planned to draw down the number of American troops in the country to 5,500 by the end of the year. There are currently 9,800 U.S. troops in the country.” During his announcement, Obama said, “As president and commander-in-chief, I have made it clear that I will not allow Afghanistan to be used as safe haven for terrorists to attack our nation again. I strongly believe that it is in our national interests, especially after all the blood and treasure we’ve invested in Afghanistan over the years, that we give our Afghan partners the very best opportunity to succeed.” - U.S. Health and Human Services <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-hu/> Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-kl/> announced <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-kr/> the following proposals and actions to fight opioid addiction: - “Expanding access to buprenorphine, a medication to treat opioid use disorder;” - Advocating for the elimination of financial incentives “for doctors to prescribe opioids based on patient experience survey questions;” - Requiring “Indian Health Service prescribers and pharmacists to check state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) databases before prescribing or dispensing opioids for pain;” and - “Launching more than a dozen new scientific studies on opioid misuse and pain treatment.” - The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ky/> Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-kj/> North Korean leader Kim Jong Un—as well as 10 other individuals and five entities—for human rights and censorship abuses. Kim and the other individuals and entities are banned from financial transactions with the United States. Acting Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam J. Szubin said, “Under Kim Jong Un, North Korea continues to inflict intolerable cruelty and hardship on millions of its own people, including extrajudicial killings, forced labor, and torture. The actions taken today by the Administration under an Act of Congress highlight the U.S. Government’s condemnation of this regime’s abuses and our determination to see them stopped.” - On Thursday, North Korea responded <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-kt/> to the sanctions, calling them a "declaration of war.” - U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ki/> announced that the Justice Department <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-kd/> would not pursue charges against Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server while secretary of state. “Late this afternoon, I met with FBI Director James Comey and career prosecutors and agents who conducted the investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal email system during her time as Secretary of State. I received and accepted their unanimous recommendation that the thorough, year-long investigation be closed and that no charges be brought against any individuals within the scope of the investigation,” she said in a statement. Lynch is expected to speak before the House Judiciary Committee next week about the Justice Department’s decision. - See also: Hillary Clinton email investigation <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-kh/> *Thursday, July 7* - FBI Director James Comey <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-kk/> testified before the House Oversight Committee <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ku/> for more than four hours regarding his agency’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server use and the Bureaus’s recommendation that no charges be brought against her. "I think she was extremely careless. I think she was negligent—that I could establish. What we can't establish is that she acted with the necessary criminal intent,” Comey said. He noted that there were three emails found on her system that were marked as classified with the letter “C,” but he added that Clinton “may not have been as sophisticated as people assume” and may not have recognized what the marking meant. - See also: Hillary Clinton email investigation <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ul/> - A motion hearing was held in the *Correll v. Herring <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ur/>* case before federal district court Judge Robert Payne <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-uy/>. Correll's counsel called Curly Haugland <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-uj/>, a national committeeman from North Dakota and a member of the RNC Rules Committee <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ut/>, to give expert testimony. Jesse Binnall was also called as an expert witness for the Trump campaign <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ui/>, which participated in the hearing as an intervenor. Binnall's testimony focused on parliamentary procedure and whether Haugland's interpretation was correct. Defense counsel made additional arguments that the Republican Party elected to participate in a state-sponsored primary and was, therefore, beholden to state law regarding delegate allocation. The attorneys for Correll, in response, frequently cited *Democratic Party of U.S. v. Wisconsin ex rel. La Follette <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ud/>*, in which the Supreme Court held that state election law could not override the delegate selection mechanisms of a political party for its national convention. A decision on whether a temporary injunction will be granted for Correll is expected July 11, when the court will next be in session. - See also: *Correll v. Herring <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-uh/>* - Donald Trump <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-uk/> met with Republicans on Capitol Hill on Thursday in a private meeting “designed to foster greater party unity ahead,” according to *The Washington Post <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-uu/>*. It was said that the meeting “grew combative.” - U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ol/> (R-Ariz.) challenged Trump over his negative comments about Mexicans and about whether U.S. Sen. John McCain <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-or/> (R-Ariz.) was a war hero after being held prisoner during the Vietnam War. Trump responded that he had not yet attacked Flake hard but could begin doing so. He also said Flake would lose his seat, although the senator is not on the ballot in November. - Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-oy/> criticized the media’s portrayal of the meeting in a statement. “Today’s meeting was positive and productive and these characterizations, attributed to unnamed sources, are wholly inaccurate. The conversation was very positive and substantive,” he said. - See also: Paul Manafort <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-oj/> - U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ot/> (R-Ga.) endorsed Trump on Thursday. “As we saw with her disastrous response to Benghazi and never-ending lies to the American people, Hillary Clinton is not fit to lead or protect Americans. The stakes are higher than ever and republicans must come together as a united front to win in November. I am proud to endorse Donald Trump today and I urge all Americans to join me. The future of our nation depends on it,” he said in a statement. - See also: Republicans and their declared positions on Donald Trump <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-oi/> - The National Abortion Rights Action League <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-od/> (NARAL) launched an online advertising campaign <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-oh/> aimed at vulnerable anti-abortion candidates for Congress. The group’s campaign, which uses the slogan #TrumpSquadGoals, links a candidate to Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, and Paul Ryan by inserting their pictures into an animated gif from the film Zoolander <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ok/>. According to Politico, targeted candidates include Sens. Richard Burr <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ou/> (R-N.C.), John McCain <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-bl/> (R-Ariz.), Roy Blunt <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-br/> (R-Mo.), Pat Toomey <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-by/> (R-Pa.), Ron Johnson <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-bj/> (R-Wis.), Rob Portman <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-bt/> (R-Ohio), Chuck Grassley <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-bi/> (R-Iowa), and Kelly Ayotte <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-bd/> (R-N.H.), as well as Rep. Joe Heck <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-bh/> (R-Nev.). - The Department of Veterans Affairs <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-bk/> (VA) examined “over 55 million Veteran records from 1979 to 2014 from every state in the nation and found <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-bu/> “that in 2014, an average of 20 Veterans a day died from suicide.” VA Undersecretary for Health Dr. David J. Shulkin said, “One Veteran suicide is one too many, and this collaborative effort provides both updated and comprehensive data that allows us to make better informed decisions on how to prevent this national tragedy. We as a nation must focus on bringing the number of Veteran suicides to zero." According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-nl/>, “On average, there are 117 suicides per day.” - Democrats read the names of the victims of gun violence on the floor of the House in an attempt to prompt immediate consideration of a bill that proposes preventing individuals on the federal government’s terror watchlists from purchasing guns. Their efforts delayed House proceedings but did not result in a vote on the measure. The House originally planned to consider a counterterrorism bill that proposes allowing “federal authorities to block a gun sale if they obtain a court order justifying a claim that the buyer is likely to engage in terrorism,” according to *The Hill <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-nr/>*. Democrats oppose the measure because they do not think it goes far enough. Republican members of the House Freedom Caucus oppose the measure because they think it infringes on an individual’s right to due process. - The Obama <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ny/> administration put forth regulations <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-nj/> to strengthen safety standards for oil and natural gas production <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-nt/> in the Arctic Ocean. Under the standards, drilling companies must implement spill response plans and be prepared to contain any spills without the use of certain chemicals; drillers would also need backup drilling rigs in order to prevent spills similar to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ni/> in the Gulf Coast. The rules will go into effect despite the fact that no companies are using offshore rigs to drill in federal waters in the Arctic Ocean or have forthcoming plans to drill in the Arctic Ocean. The U.S. Department of the Interior <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-nd/> estimated that the standards would cost up to $2 billion in compliance costs for companies that choose to drill in the Arctic Ocean; the Interior Department did not provide an estimate of the standards’ financial benefits. Some environmental <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-nh/> groups have argued that the standards are necessary, while other environmental groups have argued the standards do not go far enough to ensure environmental protection. Energy <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-nk/> industry groups have argued that the rules are too costly and are unnecessary. *Friday, July 8* - U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-nu/> (D-Fla.) and her Chief of Staff Elias "Ronnie" Simmons pleaded <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-pl/> not guilty to “charges of mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction and filing of false tax returns.” According to Assistant U.S. Attorney General Leslie Caldwell, "Congresswoman Brown and her chief of staff are alleged to have used the congresswoman's official position to solicit over $800,000 in donations to a supposed charitable organization, only to use that organization as a personal slush fund.” According to the indictment, donations to Brown’s charity, One Door, went into Brown’s and Simmons’ bank accounts and paid for “repairs to Brown's car and vacations to locations such as the Bahamas, Miami Beach and Los Angeles.” In addition, the indictment alleges that Brown used One Door funds to pay for “a golf tournament, lavish receptions during an annual Washington conference and the use of luxury boxes for a Beyonce concert and an NFL game between the Washington Redskins and Jacksonville Jaguars.” - After the hearing, Brown said, "My heart is just really heavy. But I'm looking forward to a speedy day in court to vindicate myself. We will present the other side." - Five Dallas police officers were killed and seven were wounded by Micah Johnson, a “black U.S. military veteran of the Afghan war who said he wanted to ‘kill white people,’” according to Reuters <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-pr/>. The attack occurred during a protest against this week’s fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. Two civilians were also wounded during the attack. After an hours-long standoff, the gunman was killed by a bomb-carrying robot. - In a statement <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-py/>, President Barack Obama <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-pj/> commented on the attack, saying, “[T]here is no possible justification for these kinds of attacks. Grave violence against law enforcement. The FBI is already in touch with the Dallas police; anyone involved in these senseless murders will be held fully accountable. Justice will be done. I will have more to say about this when the facts become more clear. For now, let me just say that, even as yesterday I spoke about are need to be concerned as all Americans about racial disparities in our criminal justice system. I also said yesterday that our police have an extraordinarily difficult job and the vast majority of them do their job in outstanding fashion. I also indicated the degree in which we need to be supportive of those officers who do their job each and every day. Protecting us and protecting our communities. Today is a wrenching reminder of the sacrifices that they make for us. We also know that when people are armed with powerful weapons, it unfortunately make attacks like these more deadly and more tragic and in the days ahead consider those realities as well.” Both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate will be in session Monday-Friday next week. Summer recess begins the following week. They will return on September 6, 2016, the Tuesday following Labor Day. The Supreme Court is in recess until Monday, October 3. For a detailed breakdown of last term, see Ballotpedia’s Supreme Court end of term review, 2015 <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-pt/>. *Bills & Amendments* It was a busy week on Capitol Hill <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-pi/> for the House of Representatives. The lower chamber passed a financial services appropriations bill, which included an amendment to prevent Boeing from selling aircraft to Iran. The House also passed a major mental health and substance abuse bill as well as a bill aimed at preventing opioid overdoses—a piece of legislation that is expected to be “one of Congress’s biggest achievements this year,” according to *The Hill <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-pd/>*. The Senate was less productive, failing to move forward on a Department of Defense spending bill. *Tuesday, July 5* - The House passed HR 4855 - the Fix Crowdfunding Act <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-ph/> by a vote of 394-4 <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-pk/>. The legislation proposes raising the amount of money a company can accept from crowdfunded sources from $1 million to $5 million. It also proposes modifying some rules related to crowdfunding. - The House passed HR 4854 - the Supporting America's Innovators Act of 2016 <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-pu/> by a vote of 388-9 <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-xl/>. The legislation proposes <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-xr/> “increasing the investor limitation from 100 to 250 persons for qualifying venture capital funds.” The purpose is to allow start-up companies to seek more angel investors for funding. *Wednesday, July 6* - *Key vote:* The House passed HR 2646 - the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-xy/> by a vote of 422-2 <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-xj/>. The legislation proposes creating a new position—the assistant secretary for mental health and substance use disorders—to oversee the government’s mental health and substance abuse programs. It also proposes expanding and providing grants for mental health and substance abuse programs. - The House passed HR 1270 - the Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2015 <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-xt/> by a vote of 243-164 <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-xi/>. The legislation proposes allowing patients to pay for over-the-counter medications using health savings accounts (HSAs). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-xd/>, also known as Obamacare, currently limits payments for medication from HSAs to prescription drugs only. - The House passed <http://newsletter.ballotpedia.org/t/i-l-krdhtll-kdjuirhdk-xh/> -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PoliticalForum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
