Subject: GOP VP Update, 4/20/16
From: "Yoxall, Collin" <[email-masked]>
To: Veepstakes <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Dillon, Lauren" <[email-masked]>, "Bauer, Nick" <[email-masked]>, "Graham, Caroline" <[email-masked]>, "Brinster, Jeremy" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:29:53 -0700

GOP VP DAILY ROUNDUP, 4/20/16

BOB CORKER

TOM COTTON

CARLY FIORINA

JEFF SESSIONS

RICK SCOTT

DOUG DUCEY

NIKKI HALEY

SCOTT WALKER

PAM BONDI

CHRIS CHRISTIE

BOB CORKER

Press Releases

Bob Corker Released A Statement Praising The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act Of 2016 For Strengthening Airport Security And Putting In Place “Passenger-Friendly Protections.” “U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2016, bipartisan legislation that will provide stable funding for aviation transportation and improve airport security.  ‘I am pleased the Senate passed this bipartisan legislation to both strengthen airport security and put in place more passenger-friendly protections for the millions of Americans who use airlines to travel every day,’ said Corker. ‘By improving employee vetting and enhancing security measures at airports across the country and those with direct flights to the United States, this bill is an important step forward to ensure safe domestic and international travel.’” [Press Release, Office Of Senator Corker, 4/20/16<http://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-list?ID=4A1EA754-950D-4476-8B05-BEB56FBB6642>]

Bob Corker Released A Statement Praising The Passage Of The Energy Policy Modernization Act For Investing In “Our Nation’s Energy Infrastructure And Security.” “U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on passage of bipartisan legislation to protect the reliability of energy supply and strengthen economic security for Americans. ‘This bill includes measures to facilitate innovation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and maintains important investments in our nation’s energy infrastructure and security,’ said Corker. ‘I am pleased that it reduces regulatory burdens by streamlining energy permits.’” [Press Release, Office Of Senator Corker, 4/20/16<http://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=News-list&id=AAF19CC4-B8F5-488B-BC77-EC4A268419DC>]

9/11 Bill

In Response To Bill That Would Allow Americans To Sue Saudi Arabia, Bob Corker Said That Saudi Arabia Has Been A “Longstanding” Partner Of The United States, But Also Acknowledged Terrorist Ties. “A bill opposed by the Obama administration that would expose Saudi Arabia to legal jeopardy for any role in the Sept. 11 attacks appeared to gain momentum on Tuesday when the senator holding it up said he would be open to supporting it… ‘Certainly they have been a partner in many ways and that has been longstanding,' said Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 'On the other hand we understand that the whole Wahhabi effort emanated from there and that alone is an issue,' he said, referring to the radical strain of Islam practiced in the kingdom.” [New York Times, 4/20/16<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-september-11-lindsey-graham.html>]

Bob Corker Said That Obama Administration Was Still Resolving Whether Individuals Could Sue Foreign Governments. “Republican Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said lawmakers and the Obama administration were trying to resolve concerns about whether individuals should be able to sue foreign governments. ‘There are some sovereign immunity issues that need to be worked through,’ Corker said. He declined to comment on whether he supported the legislation, because the bill has not been finalized.” [Reuters, 4/20/16<http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi-lawsuit-idUSKCN0XG1XK?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews>]

Bob Corker Warned About 9/11 Bill Not Paying Attention To International Repercussions. “Now, as proponents of the bill and White House officials try to negotiate a compromise, senators are becoming quick scholars of international law and worry that in their haste to deliver for Sept. 11 victims they could be creating a much larger geopolitical problem. ‘Many of the members didn't focus on it that much and I think since that time people realize there are some significant issues that need to be worked out relative to sovereign immunity in general,’ said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee. ‘You don't want to set precedent in a way that harms our own country.’” [Washington Post, 4/19/16<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/04/19/the-uneasy-alliance-between-obama-and-republicans-over-the-sept-11-saudi-arabia-bill/>]

Bob Corker Declined To Comment On Whether He Would Support 9/11 Bill That Would Let Americans Sue Saudis Until It Was Finalized. “’There are some sovereign immunity issues that need to be worked through,’ Corker said. He declined to comment on whether he supported the legislation, because the bill has not been finalized.” [Reuters, 4/20/16<http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi-lawsuit-idUSKCN0XG1XK?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews>]

Bob Corker Said He Has Discussed 9/11 Bill With Administration, But Has Not Discussed It With The Saudis For Some Time. “Corker said he had been in close contact with the administration, but had not discussed the bill with Saudi officials for some time.” [Reuters, 4/20/16<http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi-lawsuit-idUSKCN0XG1XK?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews>]

Impeachment of Brazilian President

Bob Corker Is Rumored To Have Met With Center-Right Brazilian Opposition Leader In Regards To The Impeachment Of The Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff. “On Sunday, Brazil’s lower house of Congress voted 367 to 137 to start impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff… Meanwhile, The Intercept is reporting a key Brazilian opposition leader has traveled to Washington, D.C., to partake in closed-door meetings with various U.S. officials and lobbyists. Sen. Aloysio Nunes of Brazil’s center-right PSDB party reportedly is meeting with the chair and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Republican Bob Corker of Tennessee, and others to discuss the situation in Brazil.” [Democracy Now, 4/20/16<http://www.democracynow.org/2016/4/20/is_the_us_backing_rousseff_s>]

Misc. Social Media

Bob Corker: “Read My Statement On Senate Passage Of The #EnergyBill: http://1.usa.gov/1WFp51e” [@SenBobCorker, Twitter, 4/20/16<https://twitter.com/SenBobCorker/status/722803002231300096>]

Bob Corker: “Watch My Remarks At Today’s #SFRC Hearing On U.S. Objectives For Support Of Central America #AllianceForProsperity.” [@SenBobCorker, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenBobCorker/status/722521994835726336>]

Bob Corker: “Glad I Could Start My Morning With More Than 90 Tennesseans Visiting Washington. Learn More: Http://1.Usa.Gov/1utnfkd” [@SenBobCorker, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenBobCorker/status/722494445292269568>]

Bob Corker: “Improving Employee Vetting And Enhancing Security Measures At Airports Is Important To Ensuring Safe Travel. #FAA Http://1.Usa.Gov/1wcvbqt” [@SenBobCorker, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenBobCorker/status/722477151006683136>]

Bob Corker: “Pleased The #FAA Bill Will Both Strengthen Airport Security And Put In Place More Passenger-Friendly Protections. Http://1.Usa.Gov/1wcvbqt” [@SenBobCorker, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenBobCorker/status/722476993397305345>]

Bob Corker: Read My Full Statement On Senate Passage Of #FAA Reauthorization Legislation: http://1.usa.gov/1WcVBqT” [@SenBobCorker, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenBobCorker/status/722476993397305345>]

TOM COTTON

On Weekly GOP Address

Office Of Senator Tom Cotton: Tom Cotton Gave The Weekly Republican Address; He Focused On Terrorism And Iran. “In the Weekly Republican Address, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Select Committee on Intelligence, discusses defeating the threat from Iran and the president's concessions to prop up his deal with Iran. ‘Americans are understandably fearful about their safety and security. But President Obama wants us to “chill out,”’ Sen. Cotton says. ‘This parade of concessions must stop. And if the Obama Administration won't act, the Congress-under Republican leadership-will…’” [Press Release, Office Of Senator Tom Cotton, 4/19/16<http://www.cotton.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=360>]

On Presiding Over The Senate

Roll Call: Tom Cotton, Other New Senators Do The Bulk Of Presiding Over The Senate; Tom Cotton Has Presided For 85 Hours. “It’s the most prominent position at the Capitol that comes with almost no power at all…For senators, in other words, being the presiding officer is the ultimate sinecure. That’s because in the modern Senate, virtually all power to shape and pace floor debate is controlled by party leaders – and almost all procedural showdowns are mediated by precedents as interpreted by parliamentarians…And two others, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Cory Gardner of Colorado, are on course to pass the 100-hour mark around Memorial Day. [Roll Call, 4/20/16<http://www.rollcall.com/news/hawkings/holding-gavel-nothing>]

On U.N. Climate Change Convention Funding

Huffington Post: Tom Cotton And Other GOP Senator’s Have Asked Secretary John Kerry To Halt Funding To The U.N. Climate Change Convention Due To Inclusion Of Palestine. “More than two dozen Republican senators this week asked Secretary of State John Kerry not to provide any funding for the United States’ involvement in the United Nations effort to address climate change, saying they object to the U.N. treating Palestine as a state. The Palestinians joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the international treaty that governs action on climate change, in March. On Monday, the group of 28 senators, led by Wyoming Republican John Barrasso, argued in a letter to Kerry that — because of a 1994 law barring federal funds from being distributed to any U.N. program that grants membership to a state or organization that lacks “internationally recognized attributes of statehood” — the UNFCCC should not receive U.S. funding…Among the letter’s signatories: Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)...” [Huffington Post, 4/19/16<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/republican-senators-climate-change-palestine_us_5716a0ebe4b06f35cb7108ef>]

Social Media Action

Tom Cotton: “Joining Charlie Engram On KLFC Good Morning Ozarks Shortly. Tune In!” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722388523769311232>]

Tom Cotton: “Earlier Today I Joined "Good Morning Ozarks" On KLFC To Discuss ‪#‎GITMO And Military Preparedness. LISTEN:” [Senator Tom Cotton, Facebook, 4/19/16<https://www.facebook.com/SenatorTomCotton/posts/591208824373990>]

Tom Cotton: “Earlier Today I Joined "Good Morning Ozarks" On KLFC To Discuss #GITMO And Military Preparedness. LISTEN:” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722424041236271104>]

Tom Cotton: “Joining KARN @Newsradio1029 Shortly. Tune In!” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722398458943025152>]

Tom Cotton: “Earlier Today I Joined KARN News Radio To Discuss The Threat Of Islamic Radicalism, ‪#‎Gitmo & Army Readiness. Listen:” [Senator Tom Cotton, Facebook, 4/19/16<https://www.facebook.com/SenatorTomCotton/?fref=ts>]

Tom Cotton: “Earlier Today I Joined  @Newsradio1029 To Discuss The Threat Of Islamic Radicalism, #GITMO & Army Readiness. LISTEN:” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722479950088024064>]

Tom Cotton: “Congrats To Karina Bao From Little Rock Who Will Now Compete In The Int'l Brain Bee Competition. Best Of Luck!” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722429630431543296>]

Tom Cotton: “This Week Explore Arkansas’s National Parks With Free Admission For #Nationalparkweek. #Findyourpark Http://Ow.Ly/4mrb99” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722434627563098112>]

Tom Cotton: “In Celebration Of #Nationalparkweek, I Want To Encourage Arkansans To Take Advantage Of Our Parks! #Findyourpark” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722472407185911810>]

Tom Cotton: “How Are You Spending #Nationalparkweek? Don’t Forget National Parks Have Free Admission Across The Country This Week! #Findyourpark” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722501358759342081>]

Tom Cotton: “I Delivered The #Gopaddress On The President’s #Irandeal And The Threat Of Terrorism. WATCH: Http://Ow.Ly/4mrbvq” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722443451002970112>]

Tom Cotton: “I Delivered The Weekly #Gopaddress On Defeating Islamic Terror. WATCH: Http://Ow.Ly/4mrblc” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722456089422393344>]

Tom Cotton: “My Office May Be Able To Help You… Click Here For More Info. Http://Ow.Ly/4mrcf5” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722447282206089217>]

Tom Cotton: “Need Help With The IRS, VA, Or Social Security? My Office Can Help! Http://Ow.Ly/4mrcd1” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722488771938279424>]

Tom Cotton: “Honored To Receive The 2016 Thomas Jefferson Award From @IFDA. Thank You!” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722511283401134080>]

Tom Cotton: “Congrats To Acme Brick In Malvern On 125 Years Of Business! This Malvern Plant Sells Bricks Across The Country.” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/722512663922765824>]

CARLY FIORINA

Texas Tribune: Carly Fiorina Is “Widely Speculated As A Top Contender For His [Cruz’s] Vice Presidential Choice, Should He Win The Nomination.” “Cruz campaigned here Monday in the outskirts of Baltimore with former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, a former rival for the GOP nomination who endorsed him in March. Few surrogates have appeared by Cruz's side onstage as frequently with Cruz as Fiorina. She's joined him on the trail at least 12 times and is widely speculated as a top contender for his vice presidential choice, should he win the nomination.” [Texas Tribune, 4/18/16<https://www.texastribune.org/2016/04/18/primary-eve-ted-cruz-looks-beyond-new-york/>]

4/19/16: Carly Fiorina Delivered Her Stump Speech At A Philadelphia GOP Fundraiser. “Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Fiorina was the first featured speaker of the night. She began by discussing her belief in the United States as a place of opportunity, using her business success as an example. ‘One of the reasons I ran for president,’ she said, ‘[is that] we don’t think of this country as a land of infinite possibility anymore.’ She then declared herself a ‘constitutional conservative’ — to loud applause — and called for a president that is ‘actually a constitutional conservative.’ Fiorina condemned ‘the system,’ in which power is concentrated in New York City and Washington, D.C. She said that this system only benefits the wealthy and powerful, which is why she has endorsed Cruz, who has vociferously criticized the Washington elite. ‘Everyone should have the right to fulfill their potential,’ she said, which includes the right to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Fiorina finished by speaking against Trump. ‘Donald Trump is the system,’ she said. ‘Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are two sides of the same coin.’” [The Daily Pennsylvanian, 4/20/16<http://www.thedp.com/article/2016/04/philadelphia-republican-fundraiser-carly-fiorina>]

Carly Fiorina Downplayed Donald Trump’s Victory In New York And Criticized John Kasich For Staying In The Race. “Cruz surrogate Carly Fiorina also downplayed Trump's New York win shortly before Cruz took the stage, calling it ‘kind of important.’ ‘Even John Kasich won his home state,’ Fiorina said, before noting that the Ohio governor ‘lost again’ in New York.” [The Hill, 4/20/16<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/276984-cruz-mocks-trumps-win-manhattan-has-spoken>]

Daily Times Herald: “Ted Cruz Will Win Nomination On Second Ballot And Select Carly Fiorina As His Running Mate.” “Cruz wins the Republican presidential nomination on the second ballot at the GOP convention in Cleveland and selects Carly Fiorina as his running mate. She’s affirms his outsider approach, and is best positioned to attack Hillary Clinton. What’s more, from my reporting, Fiorina was a second or third choice for many Republican voters, and she’s a gamer on the debate stage. Cruz should consider Joni Ernst, too, to deal with that Midwest rural issue, and bring a military veteran with some hands-on foreign-affairs knowledge, onto the ticket.” [Daily News Herald, 4/19/16<http://www.carrollspaper.com/Content/Opinion-Archive/Opinion/Article/Do-we-trust-King-to-talk-Ted-out-of-being-Ted-/4/4/21995>]

Misc. Social Media

Carly Fiorina: “Washington Is A Town That Only Works For Big Guys. We Must Take Our Country Back.” [@CarlyFiorina, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/CarlyFiorina/status/722488964557500416>]

JEFF SESSIONS

9/11 Bill

Jeff Sessions Warned That 9/11 Bill Could “Have Unintended Consequences.” “It doesn't appear the bill will come to the floor any time soon and some Republican senators, including Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), have placed holds on the legislation to prevent it from being brought up quickly for a vote. ‘Everybody thinks this is the greatest bill since sliced bread,’ Sessions said. ‘But you can have unintended consequences.’” [Washington Post, 4/19/16]

Jeff Sessions Revised A Bill Relating To 9/11 Making It More Difficult To Determine Whether An Individual Committed A Crime On His Or Her Own Volition Or In Connection To Their Employers Or Country. “The White House is pushing back against a bill that would allow individuals victimized by the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks to sue Saudi Arabia… Revisions to the bill made at the request of U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., removed those scope of employment protections potentially making it more difficult to determine whether an individual committed a crime on his or her own volition or in connection to their employers or country.” [Post & Courier, 4/20/16]

The Hill: Lindsey Graham Objected To Edits Jeff Sessions Made To The Justice Against Sponsors Of Terrorism Act That Would Allow 9/11 Victims And Their Families To Sue The Government Of Saudi Arabia. “Sen. Lindsey Graham has placed a hold on legislation that would open the door for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks to sue Saudi Arabia. Graham (R-S.C.),  co-sponsor of the bill, called the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, put the hold on his own bill over concerns that new changes could expose the U.S. to legal attacks. Edits made last week by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) might expand the scope, Graham told reporters on Tuesday, potentially putting the U.S. at risk of legal retaliation because of actions by individuals or unsavory allies. ‘I want to make sure that anything we do doesn’t come to bite us,’ Graham told reporters in the basement of the Senate. ‘Anything we do in this bill can be used against us later. So lets say there’s a situation where you’ve got an American in a consulate or an embassy that’s got their own grudge against a government,’ he said. ‘We want to make sure that we’re not liable for that.’…’The change that was made by Sen. Sessions may be a good change. It may limit the application of the bill in a way that protects us down the road,’ Graham told reporters. ‘I really think I know what he’s trying to do.But I’ve had a couple of questions that I hadn’t gotten an answer to yet and so we’re working on it.’” [The Hill, 4/19/16<http://thehill.com/policy/international/276836-graham-blocking-saudi-9-11-bill-over-fears-of-blowback>]

Donald Trump

Jeff Sessions Said That It’s Hard To Imagine Ted Cruz Overcoming Donald Trump. “Trump will keep pushing hard to win remaining primaries so he can head for the Cleveland convention claiming he’s the inevitable, popular choice. The more the numbers look grim for Cruz, the more Trump can claim momentum. ‘It’s hard for me to imagine how somebody who carried only a few states and is several hundred delegates short can demand to leap over the person who got more votes,’ said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., a Trump supporter.” [The Tribune, 4/19/16<http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/politics-government/article72783582.html>]

Jeff Sessions Said It’s Hard For Other GOP Candidates To Argue That They Should Be Nominee After New York Primary. “’It'll be hard for any of these candidates to argue, it seems to me, they should leap over somebody that clobbered them in a big state like New York, especially when they have fewer delegates and fewer votes nationwide,’ Sen. Jeff Sessions said, adding that Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont actually had a better case on the Democratic side than either Cruz or Gov. John Kasich of Ohio. ‘Trump is strengthening his position, not slipping,’ the Alabama Republican said.” [Roll Call, 4/20/16<http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/sessions-says-tough-argue-cruz-leapfrog-trump>]

Jeff Sessions Complimented The Direction Of The Trump Campaign Under Paul Manafort. “Sessions, who endorsed Trump in late February, also said Wednesday that while he only got to know Trump's new campaign operative Paul Manafort in recent weeks, he was impressed with the campaign veteran who has begun to retool the Manhattan businessman's political operation ahead of a potential contested convention. ‘The campaign team has done a magnificent job to date, but I do think that his experience in presidential campaigns is a very positive addition to the Trump efforts,’ Sessions said. ‘He had a good visit yesterday on the Hill. He [met] three different groups of House members, and I think those went well.’ Sessions said the Trump operation has had a few logistical challenges in its path toward the Republican nomination, but Manafort is likely to keep building out a team. ‘I think the hire of Manafort also signals an expansion of the number of people. Just because so many people are calling in, you can't even return the calls … as small as they were to begin with,’ Sessions said. ‘This is a national movement, I think.’” [Roll Call, 4/20/16<http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/sessions-says-tough-argue-cruz-leapfrog-trump>]

Jeff Sessions’ Chief Of Staff Met With Paul Manafort As The Trump Campaign Talks To Members Of Congress. “Rick Dearborn, the chief of staff for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who endorsed Trump, participated in at least one meeting with Manafort and confirmed that Trump's team was making a pitch to both roughly a dozen House members who are on the fence about Trump as well as a handful of senators.” [Talking Points Memo, 4/19/16<http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/donald-trump-prepares-to-focus-on-policy>]

Headline: “Trump/Sessions Ticket 2016 ‘Odd Couple’” [Breitbart, 4/20/16<http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/04/20/wapo-trumpsessions-ticket-2016-odd-couple/>]

Climate Change

After Palestine Joined A United Nations Climate Change Agency, Jeff Sessions And Other Senators Wrote A Letter Calling For The Agency To Be Defunded. “The Palestinians joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the international treaty that governs action on climate change, in March. On Monday, the group of 28 senators, led by Wyoming Republican John Barrasso, argued in a letter to Kerry that — because of a 1994 law barring federal funds from being distributed to any U.N. program that grants membership to a state or organization that lacks ‘internationally recognized attributes of statehood’ — the UNFCCC should not receive U.S. funding.” [Huffington Post, 4/20/16<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/republican-senators-climate-change-palestine_us_5716a0ebe4b06f35cb7108ef>]

Alabama Convention

Jeff Sessions Was The Congressperson From Alabama Scheduled To Attend Alabama GOP Convention. “Representative Bradley Byrne’s office confirmed Byrne will not attend.  Spokesperson Seth Morrow said, ‘The Congressman is not a delegate and has no official role to play. We have arranged other events and meetings during that time.’ Senator Jeff Sessions, who is the only current U.S. Senator to date to endorse Trump, is the chairman of the Alabama Republican delegation to the convention and will attend. Alabama Senator Richard Shelby’s office says he hasn't made a decision about attending the convention.” [WTVM, 4/20/16<http://www.wtvm.com/story/31765636/some-alabama-republicans-to-skip-gop-convention>]

RICK SCOTT

Tenure as Governor

Rick Scott: “Every Day I Can Go Around The State And Say You Can Get A Job In This State.” “In praising conservative principles at work in government during a speech in New Port Richey on Tuesday night, Gov. Rick Scott was sure to thank a mostly GOP-crowd for electing a majority of Republicans to the Florida Legislature and to the Florida Cabinet over the years. Scott told the Republicans at the Ronald Reagan Dinner, sponsored by the Pasco County Republican Party, it's because of that the state is doing so well. ‘Every day I can go around the state and say you can get a job in this state,’ Scott said, touting the state's jobs gains since he was elected governor in 2010.” [Miami Herald, 4/20/16<http://www.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/article72814042.html>]

Rick Scott: “We'll Need To Elect Another Great Governor.” “‘I have two years and 8 or 9 months to go,’ Scott told the crowd. ‘This is a great job. We'll need to elect another great governor.’ Quickly realizing he had just called himself great, Scott laughed and joked that of course people in the audience know he's great, which prompted the audience to laugh along.” [Miami Herald, 4/20/16<http://www.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/article72814042.html>]

Trump

Rick Scott On Trump: “If We Want To Win In November, We Better Rally Behind Him.” “‘So we need to support the Republican nominee,’ Scott said. After his approximately 17 minute speech, Scott told the Times/Herald that he thinks Republicans will unite in time for the general election because there is a clear contrast with either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. ‘If we want to win in November, we better rally behind him,’ Scott said of Trump.” [Tampa Bay Times, 4/19/16<http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/gov-rick-scott-says-gop-better-rally-behind-trump/2273936>]

Chloe’s Law

Rick Scott Signed A Bill That Required “The Florida Department Of Transportation To Increase Barriers Along Bodies Of Water On State Roads Where Deaths Have Occurred.” “Gov. Rick Scott has signed ‘Chloe's Law,’ which was named after a former University of Central Florida student who was killed in a crash in 2015. News 6 has been getting results since the bill was first proposed after 21-year-old Chloe Arenas died when she fell asleep and crashed into a retention pond off of State Road 408. Chloe's Law requires the Florida Department of Transportation to increase barriers along bodies of water on state roads where deaths have occurred, according to new FDOT guidelines.” [News 6 Orlando, 4/19/16<http://www.clickorlando.com/news/gov-rick-scott-signs-chloes-law>]

Environment

Florida Politics’ Diane Roberts: Rick Scott “Fought Measurable Clean Water Standards, Siding With Polluters At Every Turn.” “Ever wonder what will be left of natural Florida when Rick Scott slithers out of the Governor’s Mansion for the last time? Look at the Indian River Lagoon. Once a 150 mile-long bay of clear water filled with manatees, sea grasses and oysters, it has become a brown, stinking monoculture where only algae thrive. The fish are dying or dead… But he’s also fought measurable clean water standards, siding with polluters at every turn. In 2015, he refused to support buying the U.S. Sugar land — land Big Shug now may want to develop — that would have gone a long way toward restoring the River of Grass.” [Diane Roberts column, Florida Politics, 4/19/16<http://floridapolitics.com/archives/207404-diane-roberts-rick-scotts-business-buddies-want-kill-bears-panthers-environment>]

Florida Politics’ Diane Roberts: “The Filthy Rich Industries Helping To Bankroll Scott’s 2018 U.S. Senate Bid Are Allowed To Continue Back-Pumping 72 Billion Gallons Of Toxic Water From Lake Okeechobee Into The St. Lucie, The Indian River And Out Into The Atlantic Ocean.” “Instead, the filthy rich industries helping to bankroll Scott’s 2018 U.S. Senate bid are allowed to continue back-pumping 72 billion gallons of toxic water from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie, the Indian River and out into the Atlantic Ocean as if a giant septic tank had exploded on Florida’s east coast.” [Diane Roberts column, Florida Politics, 4/19/16<http://floridapolitics.com/archives/207404-diane-roberts-rick-scotts-business-buddies-want-kill-bears-panthers-environment>]

Florida Politics’ Diane Roberts: “The Water Management Districts, Denuded Of Their Scientists, Packed With Scott’s Venal Appointees, Do Nothing To Upset Big Ag, Big Builder Or Big Phosphate.” “Under the Scott regime, DEP has ditched that quaint notion of ‘protection,’ becoming the Department of Environmental Prostitution — or maybe the Department of Environmental Profit. The water management districts, denuded of their scientists, packed with Scott’s venal appointees, do nothing to upset Big Ag, Big Builder or Big Phosphate.” [Diane Roberts column, Florida Politics, 4/19/16<http://floridapolitics.com/archives/207404-diane-roberts-rick-scotts-business-buddies-want-kill-bears-panthers-environment>]

Florida Politics’ Diane Roberts: The Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission Includes “An Engineering Contractor, A Builder, A Property Developer, A Rancher, A Lawyer, And A Shill For Big Everglades Polluters... No Scientists. No One With Expertise In Wildlife.” “Check out Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation commissioners. There’s an engineering contractor, a builder, a property developer, a rancher, a lawyer, and a shill for big Everglades polluters. FWC Chair Brian Yablonski, who works for Gulf Power, is probably the pick of the litter, though his company had to be sued to make it clean up the coal ash from its Sneads generating plant. No scientists. No one with expertise in wildlife (killing critters doesn’t count). A lot of people who make money exploiting Florida’s land and water.” [Diane Roberts column, Florida Politics, 4/19/16<http://floridapolitics.com/archives/207404-diane-roberts-rick-scotts-business-buddies-want-kill-bears-panthers-environment>]

Insurance Commission

Rick Scott Was Set To Meet With State Rep. Bill Hager Over A Possible Appointment As State Insurance Commissioner. “New developments in the hunt for Florida’s first new insurance commissioner in 13 years: Gov. Rick Scott’s office said he will meet Wednesday with state Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach. The meeting comes at Hager’s request, a spokeswoman for Scott said late Tuesday.” [Palm Beach Post, 4/19/16<http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/business/new-interviews-stir-pot-in-florida-insurance-commi/nq7xX/>]

Rick Scott Failed To Back Hager For The State Insurance Commission Post When The Cabinet Voted In March 2016. “Meanwhile, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is scheduled to talk to at least four new candidates by Wednesday. They are the first publicly disclosed interviews since the Cabinet failed to agree in late March on either of two finalists. They were Hager, a former Iowa insurance commissioner, and Jeffrey Bragg, a former Tampa-area insurance executive and federal terrorism and flood insurance administrator. Scott backed Bragg but the candidate faced questions in the Cabinet meeting about a story in The Palm Beach Post involving a lawsuit, later settled, claiming he misled investors in a past Florida venture. North Palm Beach’s Atwater moved that Hager should become commissioner in the last Cabinet meeting, but Scott declined to agree, opening up the application process again.” [Palm Beach Post, 4/19/16<http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/business/new-interviews-stir-pot-in-florida-insurance-commi/nq7xX/>]

University Trustees

Pensacola News Journal: “A Push To Expand Industry In The State Perhaps Explains Why Gov. Rick Scott Shook Up The University Of West Florida Board Of Trustees Last Month.” “A push to expand industry in the state perhaps explains why Gov. Rick Scott shook up the University of West Florida board of trustees last month. The governor declined to reappoint Susan O'Connor and Garrett Walton in favor of Greg Britton, CEO of Fort Walton Machining, and Bob Sires, CEO and founder of Bay State Cable Ties in Crestview. UWF Board Chairman Lewis Bear Jr. said the governor oftentimes discusses reappointments with the university president and board chairman before making a decision. But in this instance, Scott appointed Britton and Sires without consulting Bear or Judy Bense.” [Pensacola News Journal, 4/19/16<http://www.pnj.com/story/news/2016/04/19/governor-shakes-up-uwf-board/83240334/>]

Pensacola News Journal: In A Departure From Precedent, Rick Scott Declined To Discuss His Shakeup Of The University Of West Florida Board Of Trustees With The University President Or Board Chairman. “A push to expand industry in the state perhaps explains why Gov. Rick Scott shook up the University of West Florida board of trustees last month. The governor declined to reappoint Susan O'Connor and Garrett Walton in favor of Greg Britton, CEO of Fort Walton Machining, and Bob Sires, CEO and founder of Bay State Cable Ties in Crestview. UWF Board Chairman Lewis Bear Jr. said the governor oftentimes discusses reappointments with the university president and board chairman before making a decision. But in this instance, Scott appointed Britton and Sires without consulting Bear or Judy Bense.” [Pensacola News Journal, 4/19/16<http://www.pnj.com/story/news/2016/04/19/governor-shakes-up-uwf-board/83240334/>]

Planned Parenthood

The Obama Administration “Warned Florida And Other States That Medicaid Dollars Cannot Be Shut Off From Planned Parenthood Simply Because Many Of Its Clinics Provide Abortion Services.” “The Obama administration Tuesday warned Florida and other states that Medicaid dollars cannot be shut off from Planned Parenthood simply because many of its clinics provide abortion services. Florida is among 10 states that have recently taken action aimed at barring public dollars from going to Planned Parenthood, which has been under fire since videos now discredited were released last summer which purportedly showed officials with the organization discussing the sale of fetal parts.” [Palm Beach Post, 4/19/16<http://postonpolitics.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/04/19/obama-administration-warns-florida-and-other-states-that-medicaid-money-cant-be-barred-from-abortion-providers/>]

Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services Director: “Providing The Full Range Of Women's Health Services Neither Disqualifies A Provider From Participating In The Medicaid Program… And Shall Not Be Grounds For A State's Action Against A Provider In The Medicaid Program.” “But Vikki Wachino, director of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, issued a document Tuesday to state Medicaid directors, stating that a ban such as the one approved by Florida's Republican-dominated Legislature would violate federal law. ‘Providing the full range of women's health services neither disqualifies a provider from participating in the Medicaid program, nor is the provision of such services inconsistent with the best interests of the beneficiary, and shall not be grounds for a state's action against a provider in the Medicaid program,’ Wachino wrote. She said the Social Security Act's ‘free choice of provider’ provision guarantees Medicaid beneficiaries the right to see any willing and qualified provider of their choice.” [News 4 Jax, 4/20/16<http://www.news4jax.com/news/politics/feds-say-new-abortion-law-cant-block-clinic-funding>]

The Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services Director “Said The Social Security Act's ‘Free Choice Of Provider’ Provision Guarantees Medicaid Beneficiaries The Right To See Any Willing And Qualified Provider Of Their Choice.”  “But Vikki Wachino, director of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, issued a document Tuesday to state Medicaid directors, stating that a ban such as the one approved by Florida's Republican-dominated Legislature would violate federal law. ‘Providing the full range of women's health services neither disqualifies a provider from participating in the Medicaid program, nor is the provision of such services inconsistent with the best interests of the beneficiary, and shall not be grounds for a state's action against a provider in the Medicaid program,’ Wachino wrote. She said the Social Security Act's ‘free choice of provider’ provision guarantees Medicaid beneficiaries the right to see any willing and qualified provider of their choice.” [News 4 Jax, 4/20/16<http://www.news4jax.com/news/politics/feds-say-new-abortion-law-cant-block-clinic-funding>]

Rick Scott’s Office Would Not Confirm Whether Or Not Florida Would Seek A Medicaid Waiver From The Obama Administration To Enact Their Ban On State Funding For Abortion Clinics. “However, House sponsor Burton told The News Service of Florida earlier this month that she and Stargel had known when their bill passed that AHCA would have to apply to the federal government for what is known as a Medicaid ‘waiver’ to implement the portion of the bill dealing with the funding ban. Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz would not confirm that the administration was considering such a waiver, noting that the bill doesn't take effect until July 1. ‘We're working with our agencies on it, and looking at our options,’ she said.” [News 4 Jax, 4/20/16<http://www.news4jax.com/news/politics/feds-say-new-abortion-law-cant-block-clinic-funding>]

Economy

Rick Scott: “Great News! ‘Two South Florida Cities Rank Among Best Places To Start A Small Business’ @Sfbjnews” [@FLGovScott, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/FLGovScott/status/722456113111810048>]

Jobs

Rick Scott: “Excited To Announce @Toppsdigital Will Be Establishing An Office In #Orlando And Creating 16 New Jobs. Http://Bit.Ly/1Sqqtlf” [@FLGovScott, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/FLGovScott/status/722462031652208640>]

Rick Scott Attended A Ceremony To Welcome OneWeb Satellites As They Confirmed Plans To Build A Facility In Merritt Island That Would Provide 250 Jobs With An Average Salary Of More Than $65,000. “A state-of-the art factory opening next year at Kennedy Space Center will put the Space Coast at the forefront of a new type of space business: mass production of satellites. OneWeb Satellites on Tuesday confirmed plans to crank out as many as 15 small communications spacecraft a week from its assembly line, work expected to create 250 jobs in the 120,000 square foot facility to be built in KSC’s Exploration Park on Merritt Island…Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Florida House was among dignitaries attending a ceremony in Exploration Park to welcome the company and its jobs, which will have an average wage of more than $65,000.” [Florida Today, 4/19/16<http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2016/04/19/oneweb-build-satellites-space-coast/83194754/>]

Taxes

Naples Daily News: The Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association Commended Rick Scott For “Signing The Permanent Sales Tax Exemption On Manufacturing Machinery And Equipment” Into Law As Part Of A Tax Cut Package.  “The Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association (SRMA) officially commends Governor Rick Scott’s support of the manufacturing industry by signing the permanent sales tax exemption on manufacturing machinery and equipment in HB 7099, the Tax Package effective July 1, 2016. SRMA is pleased that its efforts, alongside those of Florida’s other regional manufacturing associations and the Manufacturers Association of Florida, succeeded in highlighting the importance of making a temporary exemption that was in place permanent.” [Naples Daily News, 4/20/16<http://www.naplesnews.com/participate/376378511.html>]

Education

Rick Scott: “Proud To See #Readysetwork University Challenge Participant @FGCU Helping Students Get Quality, Affordable Degrees!” [@FLGovScott, Twitter, 4/20/16<https://twitter.com/FLGovScott/status/722794543079407616>]

Social Media

Rick Scott: “Congrats To The National Champion @JWMHS Hockey Team For Bringing Home Florida’s 1st @Usahockey Title!” [@FLGovScott, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/FLGovScott/status/722533729114185728>]

DOUG DUCEY

Education / Prop 123

Doug Ducey Thanked Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton For His Support Of Prop 123. “Thank you @mayorstanton for your continued support of @yesprop123! It's a big FIRST step. #PhxSOTC” [@dougducey, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/dougducey/status/722520060858773504>]

Doug Ducey: “Congrats To #AZ Public School Teachers, Principals & Students @Basisscottsdale @Basistucsnorth @Basisorovalley” [@dougducey, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/dougducey/status/722472830684672000>]

Doug Ducey: “#AZ Has A Total Of 5 Public High Schools In @Usnews’s Top 25 High Schools, Including @Universityhigh & @Acpknights Http://Bit.Ly/1nl13rm” [@dougducey, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/dougducey/status/722586929129074688>]

Doug Ducey: Arizona Schools Topping The U.S. News List Of Best Public High Schools Was “Just Further Evidence That In Arizona Our Teachers And Principals Know How To Educate A Child.” “Excellent news for #Arizona public school teachers, principals and students. AZ high schools dominated the 2016 U.S. News and World Report rankings of the best high schools in America. Two Arizona high schools even made the list of having the best STEM programs in the country for their focus on science and technology. This is just further evidence that in Arizona our teachers and principals know how to educate a child.” [Governor Doug Ducey, Facebook, 4/19/16<https://www.facebook.com/dougducey/photos/a.407194629402448.1073741827.407182479403663/890228621099044/?type=3&theater>]

Climate

Politifact Rated Doug Ducey’s Claim That “90 Percent Of Fires In Arizona Are Human-Caused” Half-True. [Politifact, 4/19/16<http://www.politifact.com/arizona/statements/2016/apr/19/doug-ducey/are-90-percent-fires-arizona-caused-humans/>]

Doug Ducey: “Unattended Campfires, Discarded Cigarettes, Hot Exhaust Pipes, Any Source Of Extreme Heat Or Spark Can Result In A Wallow Or Rodeo-Chediski Fire.” “As officials gear up for wildfire season in Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey talked fire safety at a press conference April 13. ‘I think it’s important to note that 90 percent of fires in Arizona are human-caused,’ Ducey said. ‘Unattended campfires, discarded cigarettes, hot exhaust pipes, any source of extreme heat or spark can result in a Wallow or Rodeo-Chediski fire.’” [Politifact, 4/19/16<http://www.politifact.com/arizona/statements/2016/apr/19/doug-ducey/are-90-percent-fires-arizona-caused-humans/>]

Politifact: Doug Ducey’s Spokesman Argued That According To Arizona State Forestry Data, “In 2015, 352 Out Of 404 Fires, More Than 87 Percent, Were Human-Caused.” “Ducey’s spokesman, Daniel Scarpinato, provided us with Arizona State Forestry data that backs up the governor’s claim on the surface. In 2015, 352 out of 404 fires, more than 87 percent, were human-caused. Of the 304 fires reported this year, 296, more than 97 percent, were human-caused. The State Forestry maintains a database of all fires, even if they don’t respond to a blaze at first. State Forestry spokesman Bill Boyd said most fires historically are human-caused, even something as simple as parking a hot car over grass.” [Politifact, 4/19/16<http://www.politifact.com/arizona/statements/2016/apr/19/doug-ducey/are-90-percent-fires-arizona-caused-humans/>]

Data Offered To Back Up Doug Ducey’s Claims About Human-Caused Fire In Arizona Did Not Include Federal Lands, Which Make Up Much Of Arizona’s Area. “But there’s a caveat here -- the data only includes fires on state and private land, not federal land. Ducey said ‘in Arizona,’ which also includes federally-managed land. Almost 40 percent of the Grand Canyon State is federal land. Multiple agencies, including the U.S. Agriculture Department, U.S. Defense Department and U.S. Interior Department, have fire jurisdiction over certain areas of land. For example, the U.S. Forest Service has fire jurisdiction over national forests and the Bureau of Indian Affairs does the same for tribal land.” [Politifact, 4/19/16<http://www.politifact.com/arizona/statements/2016/apr/19/doug-ducey/are-90-percent-fires-arizona-caused-humans/>]

Politifact: According To The Southwest Coordination Center, “For The Entire State Of Arizona -- State, Private And Federal Land -- 61 Percent Of Fires In 2015 Were Caused By Humans, And 39 Percent Of Fires Were Caused By Lightning.” “All that coordination means we do have a total for the entire state for human-caused fires. According to the Southwest Coordination Center, for the entire state of Arizona -- state, private and federal land -- 61 percent of fires in 2015 were caused by humans, and 39 percent of fires were caused by lightning.” [Politifact, 4/19/16<http://www.politifact.com/arizona/statements/2016/apr/19/doug-ducey/are-90-percent-fires-arizona-caused-humans/>]

Freeway Shooter

Fox News: “A Man Charged In Freeway Shootings That Rattled Phoenix Last Year Has Been Released From Jail Amid Questions About The Evidence That Authorities Say Links Him To The Crimes.” “A man charged in freeway shootings that rattled Phoenix last year has been released from jail amid questions about the evidence that authorities say links him to the crimes. The release of Leslie Merritt Jr. on Tuesday came after a judge reduced his bond to zero and said he can return to his home under electronic monitoring.” [Fox News, 4/20/16<http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/04/20/freeway-shooting-suspect-released-amid-doubts-about-evidence.html>]

Fox News: Suspected Arizona Freeway Shooter Leslie Merritt Was Released From Jail For Lack of Evidence Months After Doug Ducey Declared “We Got Him!” Immediately Following Merritt’s Arrest. “A man charged in freeway shootings that rattled Phoenix last year has been released from jail amid questions about the evidence that authorities say links him to the crimes…Lamm told a crowd of reporters outside the courtroom that Merritt was elated and overwhelmed. ‘Our client was branded public enemy No. 1, he was called a domestic terrorist and he's been in jail in solitary confinement for seven months. Our reaction? We're thrilled,’ Lamm said. The shootings caused panic on Phoenix-area freeways, where 11 vehicles were hit in August and September. The head of the Department of Public Safety said the shootings were the work of a domestic terrorist, and authorities heightened patrols and surveillance in pursuit of a suspect. Detectives took Merritt into custody on Sept. 18, prompting Gov. Doug Ducey to declare ‘We got him!’ on Twitter five minutes after the arrest.” [Fox News, 4/20/16<http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/04/20/freeway-shooting-suspect-released-amid-doubts-about-evidence.html>]

Pre-Emption

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton Criticized The Pre-Emption Bill Signed By Doug Ducey In His State Of The City Speech. “Throughout his speech, Stanton revisited the theme that Phoenix has led when politicians at the state level have failed Arizona. He portrayed the city as setting a statewide example, from its approval of a tax-hike for transportation projects to its early push to open a trade office in Mexico. Stanton specifically referenced a bill Gov. Doug Ducey has signed into law that allows state leaders to withhold state-shared revenue from cities if the attorney general determines a city or county has passed a regulation that conflicts with state law. ‘Well, here's what I say to the legislators who voted for that bill: The city of Phoenix, we’re not the problem,’ Stanton said. ‘In fact, we are the solution, and instead of interfering with progress, learn from us. We are leading on the economy, on human rights.’” [Arizona republic, 4/19/16<http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2016/04/19/phoenix-mayor-greg-stanton-state-of-city-coyotes-suns-police-body-cameras/83214608/>]

Trump

Doug Ducey Attended The Speech In Which Susana Martinez Sharply Criticized Trump Over His Language About Immigrants. “New Mexico’s governor, Susana Martinez, chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association, did not mince words: She told the crowd of about 60 wealthy GOP backers that, as a Latina, she was offended by Trump’s language about immigrants. Noting her years working as a prosecutor on the Mexican border and now as a border-state governor, Martinez said Trump’s plan to build a wall and force Mexico to pay for it was unrealistic and irresponsible, according to multiple people in attendance…The comments by Martinez and Haley came during a lunch for current and prospective RGA donors, hosted by Koch, a major backer of the organization. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, a former RGA chairman, moderated the session, which also was attended by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.” [Washington Post, 4/20/16<http://www.abqjournal.com/760016/news/gov-rebukes-trump-on-rhetoric-over-immigrants.html>]

NIKKI HALEY

On Attendance At Koch Event

The Santa Fe New Mexican: Nikki Haley And Susana Martinez Were At And Event At The Palm Beach, FL Home Of David Koch, Where Martinez Reportedly Criticized Donald Trump. “Martinez, who is the chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association, was among eight GOP governors present at a Sunday luncheon in Koch's "sumptuous Palm Beach mansion," according to the Post. David Koch and his brother Charles Koch are major Republican donors who have pledged to raise $889 billion for the presidential election this year…Another Republican governor at the Koch event was South Carolina's Gov. Nikki Haley, a longtime Trump critic who, according to the Post, said a Trump nomination could do serious damage to the GOP brand.” [The Santa Fe New Mexican, 4/20/16]

Washington Post: Niki Haley Expressed “Concern That His Rhetoric Would Taint The Republican Brand.” “She spoke out after the other female governor in the room, South Carolina's Nikki Haley, also criticized Trump, expressing concern that his rhetoric would taint the Republican brand. Haley said it was imperative that the GOP be inclusive to people from all backgrounds, according to attendees.” [Washington Post, 4/19/16]

On Corruption Scandal Investigation

Bluffton Today’s Phil Noble: Nikki Haley Called Attorney General Alan Wilson’s Corruption Investigation “An An Embarrassing Mess.” “Item 1: Attorney General Alan Wilson called David Pascoe (the special prosecutor Wilson appointed) a ‘liar’ over his handling of a public corruption case. It began with a barrage of harsh words from Wilson delivered with great heat and passion and ended with a flurry of papers filed in court. Gov. Nikki Haley called the whole thing ‘an embarrassing mess.’ There’s no reason to think it won’t continue for a while.” [Phil Noble, Bluffton Today,

4/20/16<http://www.blufftontoday.com/bluffton-opinion/2016-04-20/lets-step-back-take-deep-breath#.VxelFkwrJQI>]

On South Carolina Public Employee Pensions

The State: State Officials Said The Public Employees Will Need To Contribute More To Their Pensions, Which Would Affect 200,000 State Employees. “  South Carolina finance leaders are weighing whether to require state employees to pay much more for their retirements to cover $16.75 billion in unfunded debts in the state’s pension system. Officials with the state Public Employee Benefit Authority, the state’s retirement system, laid out several scenarios to state leaders Tuesday to help pay down the retirement system’s debt. The scenarios include requiring state employees to pay 11 percent of their salaries annually into the retirement system. Those workers now pay in slightly more than 8 percent of their salaries, according to a PEBA presentation. The higher pension costs would affect more than 200,000 S.C. employees who work for state agencies, public schools and local governments, and are paying into the retirement system now. (Judges, law enforcement officers and members of the General Assembly have separate, smaller retirement programs.)” [The State, 4/19/16<http://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article72627227.html>]

The State: Nikki Haley Supported Addressing The Crisis, Saying That “Hard Decisions Are Not Easy” When Presented With In A Meeting About South Carolina Public Pension Shortfalls. “Of the ailing retirement system, Gov. Nikki Haley, who chairs the State Fiscal Accountability Authority, said she does ‘not want to leave to the next administration anything that they feel is not solid, consistent and good.’ Haley said she would like to ‘start righting the ship, and decisions hurt. Hard decisions are not easy.’…Haley said if the state is ‘going to make major changes’ to its retirement system, the changes need to be ‘right the first time.’” [The State, 4/19/16<http://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article72627227.html>]

On Endorsement Of Marco Rubio

The Guardian: A Jeb Bush Aide Said Nikki Haley’s Endorsement Of Marco Rubio Was a “Gut Punch” “By midweek, South Carolina governor Nikki Haley delivered what one Bush aide described as ‘a gut punch’. She had chosen to endorse Senator Marco Rubio, Bush's onetime ally turned rival, rewriting the narrative days before a primary critical to the direction of the two Floridian campaigns. It seemed to have been entirely forgotten that in the New Hampshire primary, one week before, Bush placed ahead of Rubio after the senator's devastating debate performance. Although the Bush campaign sought to downplay the impact of Haley's endorsement, Bush himself had referred to it only the day before as ‘the most powerful, meaningful one in the state’.” [The Guardian, 4/19/16]

On Public School Building Bill

The State: S.C. Lawmakers Approved A Plan To Borrow $200 Million Per Year To Pay For School Repairs And Construction; The Effort Is A Priority For Nikki Haley. “A plan to borrow up to $200 million a year to help S.C. school districts pay to build new facilities or upgrade existing ones cleared a critical hurdle Tuesday.  The S.C. House Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved the plan, which Gov. Nikki Haley set as a priority in January, as an antidote to leaky roofs, moldy classrooms and unsafe structures in some poor, rural public schools.” [The State, 4/19/16]

On Ethics Reform Bill

The State’s Cindi Ross Scoppe: There Is An Opening For Nikki Haley Backed Ethics Bill To Move Forward. “Usually, the rational Republicans prefer to work with the Democrats, because they're not ... crazy. But after trying for years to come to an agreement on ethics, and with Gov. Nikki Haley clamoring for income disclosure and independent investigations but not an end to dark money, the rational Republicans cut a deal with the crazies: Help us pass an income-disclosure and independent-oversight bill, and we won't try to add dark money to that bill…If some sort of ethics bill actually passes, someone's going to end up unhappy -- either Mr. Leatherman and the Democrats because dark money is not addressed, or the Crazy Caucus because it is. It looks like Mr. Leatherman and the Democrats have just been given a second chance to decide which it will be. We should all hope they make the choice that does not leave them unhappy.” [Cindi Ross Scoppe, The State, 4/19/16]

On Roads Bill

Associated Press: Nikki Haley “Wants Full Control Of The DOT…Under The Senate Version, Haley Would Get To Choose All Commissioners, With Approval From The Senate” “Gov. Nikki Haley wants full control of the DOT, which is now overseen by both a secretary appointed by the governor and a commission appointed by legislators.

Under the Senate version, Haley would get to choose all commissioners, with approval from the Senate. The House amended the bill last week to give that chamber a vote in the confirmation process too.” [Associated Press, 4/19/16]

Post And Courier: Nikki Haley Said An Amended Roads Bill “Nixes Any Chance Of SCDOT Reform This Year” Because A Legislator Is Preventing Reforms To The Department Of Transportation. “Leatherman s bills now emerge as a second roads plan to the House-amended roads bill. The next step will be the formation of a conference committee made up of House and Senate members. Gov. Nikki Haley said the amended bill nixes any chance of SCDOT reform this year since committee appointees will be made by Leatherman, who she says will prevent a reform measure going forward.”  [Post And Courier, 4/20/16]

The Greenville News Editorial: The Threat Of A Veto From Nikki Haley Over A Gas Tax Increase Is Making Legislators Work “Difficult” On Roads Bill. “Making it all more difficult is that legislators are working under threat by Gov. Nikki Haley to veto any gas tax increase unless it comes with a corresponding income tax break. No doubt we all enjoy lower taxes. However, this state has religiously cut budgets year after year, sometimes because of poor economic conditions and sometimes to provide ‘tax relief,’ and our state agencies and infrastructure are now suffering as a result. Someone in Columbia needs to have the boldness to stand up for adequate funding for our infrastructure, partially through a gas tax increase, and acknowledge that there is no room at the moment to cut taxes, too. That acknowledgment needs to recognize that the $1.2 billion revenue surplus could all easily be swallowed up by restoring cuts that were made during and after the Great Recession to account for lost revenue at the time.” [Editorial, The Greenville News, 4/20/16]

The Greenville News Editorial: “That Is A Solution The Legislature And Gov. Haley Have Been Willfully Unable To Approve For A Number Of Years Now.  Taking Care Of The State's Core Needs Should Not Be This Difficult.” “It is a vicious cycle that demands a comprehensive solution. That is a solution the Legislature and Gov. Haley have been willfully unable to approve for a number of years now. Taking care of the state's core needs should not be this difficult.” [Editorial, The Greenville News, 4/20/16]

On Refugee Resettlement

FITS News: Nikki Haley Is Being Sued Over Her Social Services Department Helping Faith Organizations Resettle Refugees, In Defiance Of State Lawmakers. “To briefly recap: Haley’s scandal-scarred S.C. Department of Social Services (SCDSS) has been subsidizing these controversial ‘faith-based’ resettlements even though it was expressly enjoined from doing so by state lawmakers. How does that work? It doesn’t … That’s why Haley is being sued for funding these programs, which are nothing but taxpayer-subsidized fronts for liberal open borders organizations like the National Immigration Forum – which has received funding from organizations affiliated with billionaire liberal financier George Soros.” [FITS News, 4/20/16<http://www.fitsnews.com/2016/04/20/nikki-haley-has-a-serious-refugee-problem/>]

On Juvenile Justice Department Controversy

FITS News: Instead Of Doing Political Damage Control, Nikki Haley Should Admit Her Administration Fell Short And Fix It. “Will these ongoing failures be fixed?  No … especially not if Haley continues her habit of attacking those who attempt to investigate the agency in the aftermath of its most galling failures…Meanwhile, we sincerely wish Haley and her staff would use these findings to make improvements to the agency – and not engage in additional name-calling and obfuscation. As she has done in scandals past, Haley is more focused on doing political damage control than enacting long-overdue reforms. That’s a shame … A real leader would acknowledge that fixing this agency is worth enduring a few bad headlines.  In fact, we would submit to Haley that the public would probably view her in a far more favorable light if she were to admit her administration’s shortcomings – and articulate a plan to fix them. Has she done that?  No … she’s simply trash-talked the lawmakers investigating SCDJJ, calling them ‘bullies.’…Nikki Haley needs to “woman up” and take ownership of this debacle.  More importantly, she needs to join with investigating lawmakers in taking ownership of a solution. [FITS News, 4/19/16<http://www.fitsnews.com/2016/04/19/sc-juvenile-justice-agency-will-it-finally-be-fixed/>]

SCOTT WALKER

John Doe

Wisconsin Public Radio: “A State John Doe Investigation Into A Troubled Juvenile Prison In Northern Wisconsin Has Been Closed Under A Law Signed Last Year By Gov. Scott Walker That Put Time Limits On Such Cases.” “A state John Doe investigation into a troubled juvenile prison in northern Wisconsin has been closed under a law signed last year by Gov. Scott Walker that put time limits on such cases. Meanwhile, a federal investigation into the Lincoln Hills School for Boys in Irma continues. The John Doe investigation into Lincoln Hills was looking into a variety of potential crimes at the juvenile prison, including sexual assault and child abuse. It began six months ago, but court records show it ended Monday.” [Wisconsin Public Radio, 4/19/16<http://www.wpr.org/john-doe-investigation-lincoln-hills-abuse-allegations-closed>]

Trump

HEADLINE: “Walker says he would support Trump if he's GOP nominee.” [Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, 4/20/16<http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/376389691.html>]

Wisconsin Journal Sentinel: Scott Walker On Supporting Trump As The GOP Nominee: “To Me, I Think It's Preferable To Have A Republican Nominee Over Hillary Clinton.” “It took a while for Gov. Scott Walker to commit, but he finally did on Wednesday.  Walker said he would support real estate mogul Donald Trump if he's the GOP presidential nominee -- though it's clear he's still hoping that doesn't happen. Trump scored a sweeping victory in Tuesday's New York primary.  ‘I will support the Republican running against (Democratic front-runner) Hillary Clinton in the fall -- whoever that is,’ Walker said at a news conference in Wauwatosa on Wednesday morning.  And if Trump is the nominee? ‘Yeah,’ Walker said, declining to say Trump's name. ‘To me, I think it's preferable to have a Republican nominee over Hillary Clinton. I think there's a lot of distress not only amongst Republicans and independents, but I think part of Bernie Sanders' support is because a lot of young voters, in particular, don't trust her.’” [Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, 4/20/16<http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/376389691.html>]

Wisconsin Journal Sentinel: Scott Walker “Said He Is Predicting That Cruz Wins On The Second Or Third Ballot.” “In the end, Walker said, he doubts that either Trump or Cruz have the backing of enough delegates to earn the nomination on the first ballot. He said he is predicting that Cruz wins on the second or third ballot.” [Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, 4/20/16<http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/376389691.html>]

Wisconsin Journal Sentinel On Scott Walker: “The Wisconsin Governor Held The Door Open For Switching His Support To Another Candidate If GOP Delegates Cannot Settle On A Candidate Quickly.” [Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, 4/20/16<http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/376389691.html>]

Scott Walker On A Contested Convention: “If Ted Cruz Or Donald Trump . . . Was Below 30% Of The Floor Vote, I Think They Would No Longer Seriously Be In Consideration…If It Got To That Point, I Think Everything's Up In The Air.” “As a delegate, he said he is bound to vote for Cruz as long as the Texas senator has the support of 30% of the floor vote.  ‘If Ted Cruz or Donald Trump . . . was below 30% of the floor vote, I think they would no longer seriously be in consideration,’ Walker said. ‘If it got to that point, I think everything's up in the air.’” [Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, 4/20/16<http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/376389691.html>]

Newsmax: Scott Walker “Did Not Rule Out Being Part Of The Nomination Process At The Convention.” “The two-term governor did not rule out being part of the nomination process at the convention and says he doesn't ‘see any way that [Ohiov Gov. John] Kasich or anybody else gets it.’ Adding that voters who have backed ‘either Cruz or Trump’ would view a new nominee as being ‘unfair and not right.’”  [Newsmax, 4/20/16<http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/Scott-Walker-Cleveland-Open-Convention/2016/04/20/id/724861/>]

Wisconsin Public Radio Poll: 71 Percent Of Wisconsinites Said They Would Oppose Scott Walker’s Nominated For President At A Contested GOP Convention. “Most respondents to the new Wisconsin Survey said that they don't want the Republican Party to nominate either U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan or Gov. Scott Walker for the presidency…Fifty-four percent of respondents would oppose a Ryan nomination while 35 percent said they would support him. Seventy-one percent said they would oppose a Walker nomination, but 24 percent said they would welcome his return to the presidential race.” [Wisconsin Public Radio, 4/20/16<http://www.wpr.org/poll-most-respondents-dont-want-walker-ryan-gop-presidential-nomination>]

Third Term

Scott Walker Said He Was Leaning Toward Running For A Third Term In 2018. “Walker is not ruling out running for a third term as governor in his state, which has no term limits. He told Benson that he was not going to make an official decision until next year, but he is leaning toward running again.” [Newsmax, 4/20/16<http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/Scott-Walker-Cleveland-Open-Convention/2016/04/20/id/724861/>]

UW Extension

HEADLINE: “Scott Walker Has Destroyed What It Means to Be a Wisconsinite.” [Esquire, 4/19/16<http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a44135/scott-walker-wisconsin-idea/>]

Esquire: Scott Walker Was A “Goggle-Eyed Homunculus Hired By Koch Industries To Manage Their Midwest Subsidiary Formerly Known As The State Of Wisconsin.” “Just as naturally, the administration of Scott Walker, the goggle-eyed homunculus hired by Koch Industries to manage their Midwest subsidiary formerly known as the state of Wisconsin, has arranged its budgetary matters to ensure that the extension service is gutted.” [Esquire, 4/19/16<http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a44135/scott-walker-wisconsin-idea/>]

Esquire: Scott Walker Teamed Up With The Koch Brothers To Ensure That The UW Extension Was “Gutted.” “Naturally, at the turn of the last century, this approach was particularly popular in Wisconsin, where it became part of The Wisconsin Idea, the progressive philosophy developed at the University of Wisconsin that the work of the state university should inform the best operations of the state and its government. Just as naturally, the administration of Scott Walker, the goggle-eyed homunculus hired by Koch Industries to manage their Midwest subsidiary formerly known as the state of Wisconsin, has arranged its budgetary matters to ensure that the extension service is gutted.” [Esquire, 4/19/16<http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a44135/scott-walker-wisconsin-idea/>]

Medicaid

Scott Walker: “We Covered Everyone Living In Poverty With Medicaid Without Taking The Obamacare Expansion - 1st Time In WI.” [@ScottWalker, Twitter, 4/19/16<https://twitter.com/ScottWalker/status/722516210877792256>]

Welfare Reform

Scott Walker: “In The First Year Of Federal Work Requirement For Foodshare Recipients, Over 32,100 #WI Foodshare Members Benefited.” [@GovWalker, Twitter, 4/20/16<https://twitter.com/GovWalker/status/722814062715740160>]

Scott Walker: “In Milwaukee County, Over 6,220 Program Participants Have Been Hired Through Our Welfare Reform Program #Workingforwi” [@GovWalker, Twitter, 4/20/16<https://twitter.com/GovWalker/status/722798242778320897>]

Scott Walker: “Our welfare reform program provides participants with the opportunity to learn life skills, helping them succeed #WorkingforWI” [@GovWalker, Twitter, 4/20/16<https://twitter.com/GovWalker/status/722806801792512000>]

Scott Walker: “At @Rescarewfs In Milwaukee County, They Provide Job Training And Tools For People Who Want Assistance Entering The Workforce.#Workingforwi” [@GovWalker, Twitter, 4/20/16<https://twitter.com/GovWalker/status/722797227085660162>]

PAM BONDI

On Florida Insurance Commissioner Search

Tampa Business Journal: Governor Scott And CFO Atwater Have Not Said Whether They Agree On A Recommendation For Insurance Commissioner; They Must Agree Before Pam Bondi And The Rest Of The Cabinet Vote On The Recommendation. “After failing to reach agreement last month, it remained unclear Monday whether Gov. Rick Scott and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will be able to find common ground on the appointment of Florida's next insurance commissioner… Scott and Atwater must agree on a recommendation before Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Attorney General Pam Bondi, the other members of the Cabinet, can vote on the replacement of outgoing Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty.” [Tampa Business Journal, 4/19/16]

On Florida Gay Marriage Legal Fees Lawsuit

Sun-Sentinel: A Judge Ordered Florida To Pay Plaintiffs’ Legal Fees In Gay Marriage Case; Pam Bondi, Who Defended Florida, Said Through A Spokesman “We Respect The Judge’s Decision.” “Florida's fierce fight to keep intact a voter-approved ban on gay marriage is going to wind up costing taxpayers. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, who declared the prohibition unconstitutional nearly two years ago, has ordered the state to pay the fees of attorneys who filed federal lawsuits challenging the ban… Attorney General Pam Bondi, whose office led the fight to keep the ban intact, did not challenge the latest motions by the lawyers representing the gay couples seeking payment of attorney fees. Lawyers for Bondi had argued earlier that the U.S. Supreme Court decision rendered the Florida case "moot" and there was no reason for Hinkle to take any further action. The only comment from Whitney Ray, a spokesman for Bondi, was ‘we respect the judge's decision.’” [Sun-Sentinel, 4/20/16]

Sun-Sentinel: Pam Bondi Justified Defending The Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment By Saying She “Had A Constitutional Duty To Defend The Ban Because It Had Been Approved By Voters.” “Florida first banned same-sex marriages nearly two decades ago, and voters reinforced that ban when they passed a constitutional amendment in 2008. Bondi maintained that she had a constitutional duty to defend the ban because it had been approved by voters.” [Sun-Sentinel, 4/20/16]

News 4 Jax: “In August, Bondi Asked The 11th U.S. Circuit Court Of Appeals In Atlanta And Hinkle To Dismiss The Case As Moot. A Dismissal Would Have Absolved The State From An Obligation To Pay The Plaintiffs' Lawyers…” [News 4 Jax, 4/19/16<http://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/state-required-to-pay-legal-fees-in-gay-marriage-fight>]

CHRIS CHRISTIE

Trump

Chris Christie: “I Said I Wasn’t Gonna Be A Full-Time Surrogate For Donald Trump.” “When asked if he was ‘just to busy to campaign with Donald Trump,’ Gov. Chris Christie (R) gave a lengthy, detailed response, which included the remark ‘I said I wasn’t gonna be a full-time surrogate for Donald Trump.’” [Hudson County View, 4/19/16<http://hudsoncountyview.com/christie-i-said-i-wasnt-gonna-be-a-full-time-surrogate-for-donald-trump/>]

Chris Christie On Donald Trump: “This Is The Way It Happens All The Time, He Picks Up The Phone And Calls Me And Says ‘Hey, I Really Need You To Come To Fill In The Blank.’ If There’s Anyway To Go, I’ll Go.” “‘No, first off, he hasn’t asked for me to do it [campaign] in New York,’ Christie initially responded just before leaving the Hoboken University Medical Center after touting the success of Narcan. ‘We talked about it. I talk to him regularly.’ ‘So, no: it’s a combination of me having a job to do here, which is first and foremost, secondly, I told you guys this is the way it happens all the time, he picks up the phone and calls me and says “Hey, I really need you to come to fill in the blank.” If there’s anyway to go, I’ll go.’” [Hudson County View, 4/19/16<http://hudsoncountyview.com/christie-i-said-i-wasnt-gonna-be-a-full-time-surrogate-for-donald-trump/>]

Chris Christie On Donald Trump: “You’d Have To Ask Him If I Am Advising Him.” “Christie added that it was Trump’s call to decide if he was ‘advising’ him, noting that they talk often, and sometimes, he’s just there to listen. ‘You’d have to ask him if I am advising him,’ Christie, a fellow Republican, said. ‘The fact is we have conversations and he asks questions. … I give him (advice) if I have advice to give,’ Christie explained. ‘Sometimes I just listen,’ Christie said. ‘Sometimes a candidate just needs someone who listens, who understands what they’re going through. I may not have anything to add to it. I may just say, “Yeah, that sucks.”’” [Hudson County View, 4/19/16<http://hudsoncountyview.com/christie-i-said-i-wasnt-gonna-be-a-full-time-surrogate-for-donald-trump/>]

Chris Christie On Donald Trump: “Sometimes A Candidate Just Needs Someone Who Listens, Who Understands What They’re Going Through. I May Not Have Anything To Add To It. I May Just Say, ‘Yeah, That Sucks.’” “Christie added that it was Trump’s call to decide if he was ‘advising’ him, noting that they talk often, and sometimes, he’s just there to listen. ‘You’d have to ask him if I am advising him,’ Christie, a fellow Republican, said. ‘The fact is we have conversations and he asks questions. … I give him (advice) if I have advice to give,’ Christie explained. ‘Sometimes I just listen,’ Christie said. ‘Sometimes a candidate just needs someone who listens, who understands what they’re going through. I may not have anything to add to it. I may just say, “Yeah, that sucks.”’” [Hudson County View, 4/19/16<http://hudsoncountyview.com/christie-i-said-i-wasnt-gonna-be-a-full-time-surrogate-for-donald-trump/>]

Atlantic City

HEADLINE: “New Jersey Is Dealt Setback in Atlantic City Dispute.” [Wall Street Journal, 4/19/16<http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-jersey-is-dealt-setback-in-atlantic-city-dispute-1461104572>]

Wall Street Journal: “An Atlantic County Judge Thwarted An Attempt By Gov. Chris Christie’s Administration To Force Atlantic City To Give Its Remaining Money To The City’s School System.” “An Atlantic County judge thwarted an attempt by Gov. Chris Christie’s administration to force Atlantic City to give its remaining money to the city’s school system, marking a defeat for the state in its first attempt to take control of the cash-strapped resort. Judge Julio Mendez ruled on Tuesday that the state hadn’t proved the need for an emergency injunction against Atlantic City, which would have forced the local government to shut down by preventing city officials from spending on anything besides education funding. After the ruling, Atlantic City’s attorney, Robert Tarver, said the city was filing a countersuit against the state.” [Wall Street Journal, 4/19/16<http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-jersey-is-dealt-setback-in-atlantic-city-dispute-1461104572>]

Wall Street Journal: “Judge Julio Mendez Ruled…That The State Hadn’t Proved The Need For An Emergency Injunction Against Atlantic City.” “An Atlantic County judge thwarted an attempt by Gov. Chris Christie’s administration to force Atlantic City to give its remaining money to the city’s school system, marking a defeat for the state in its first attempt to take control of the cash-strapped resort. Judge Julio Mendez ruled on Tuesday that the state hadn’t proved the need for an emergency injunction against Atlantic City, which would have forced the local government to shut down by preventing city officials from spending on anything besides education funding. After the ruling, Atlantic City’s attorney, Robert Tarver, said the city was filing a countersuit against the state.” [Wall Street Journal, 4/19/16<http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-jersey-is-dealt-setback-in-atlantic-city-dispute-1461104572>]

Taxes

NJ Advance Media: “For The Seventh Year In A Row, Christie Has Asked The Internal Revenue Service For A Six-Month Extension In Filing His Income Tax Returns.” “Tax day came late this year, but for Gov. Chris Christie it will come even later. He likely won't be disclosing what his family earned last year until the fall. For the seventh year in a row, Christie has asked the Internal Revenue Service for a six-month extension in filing his income tax returns, according to Brian Murray, a spokesman for the governor.” [NJ Advance Media, 4/19/16<http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/04/how_much_did_chris_and_mary_pat_christie_earn_last.html>]

NJ Advance Media: “As Mary Pat Christie Resigned From Her Managing Directorship At Angelo, Gordon Last April, It's Likely That [Chris Christie’s] 2015 Tax Returns Will Be Slimmer” That The $1 Reported For 2014. “Christie disclosed his 2014 income tax return last October. The Christies made almost a $1 million that year, over a quarter million more than the previous year thanks to a $245,000 increase Mary Pat Christie earned at investment house Angelo, Gordon & Co. in New York. They paid more than $283,000 in federal and state taxes in 2014. However, as Mary Pat Christie resigned from her managing directorship at Angelo, Gordon last April, it's likely that his 2015 tax returns will be slimmer. Her departure from the Wall Street firm was described ‘hiatus’ by Christie's spokesman last year, but it's not clear when or if the First Lady will return to work at Angelo, Gordon.” [NJ Advance Media, 4/19/16<http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/04/how_much_did_chris_and_mary_pat_christie_earn_last.html>]

NJ Supreme Court

NJ Advance Media: Chris Christie’s Pick For The New Jersey Supreme Court “Could Be Confirmed By The Full Senate As Early As Monday,” April 25. “Gov. Chris Christie's latest pick to serve on the state Supreme Court, Walter ‘Wally’ Timpone, could be confirmed by the full Senate as early as Monday, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee said Wednesday.  State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) said the committee could consider Timpone on Thursday, the first hurdle in the nominating process. If that happens, Timpone's confirmation would go before the entire Senate during a session scheduled for April 25, he said.” [NJ Advance Media, 4/20/16<http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/04/on_the_fast_track_christie_nj_supreme_court_nomine.html>]

Collin Yoxall
Research Associate, DNC
Office: 202-863-8126 X8126
Mobile: 334-703-1690
[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>