Subject: GOP VP DAILY UPDATE – 5/16/16
From: "Kasnetz, Joel" <[email-masked]>
To: "Bauer, Nick" <[email-masked]>, "Dillon, Lauren" <[email-masked]>, "Graham, Caroline" <[email-masked]>, Veepstakes <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2016 15:18:28 -0700

GOP VP DAILY UPDATE – 5/16/16

MARSHA BLACKBURN

CHRIS CHRISTIE

BOB CORKER

TOM COTTON

DOUG DUCEY

JONI ERNST

MARY FALLIN

NEWT GINGRICH

JIM JORDAN

JEFF SESSIONS

TIM SCOTT

MARSHA BLACKBURN

Trump

Marsha Blackburn On Whether Donald Trump Was Changing His Positions Ahead Of The General Election: “I Think What You’re Beginning To See Is Donald Trump Has Listened To The American People. And He Has Shown That He Has Heard Them. They Like The Way He Has Listened And Responded.” DICKERSON: “Representative Blackburn, in picking up on that, the idea that Donald Trump is going to change from some of the things he said before, Chairman Priebus said that he`s already nuancing or -- that was his word -- some of his positions. That once used to, in Republican politics, be a dirty word, using nuance. You wanted people who stood on their principles. What is your view of Donald Trump and where he was in the primary and how he might change in the general election?” REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN (R), TENNESSEE: “I think what you’re beginning to see is Donald Trump has listened to the American people. And he has shown that he has heard them. They like the way he has listened and responded. And he`s bringing that information to Capitol Hill. And I, quite frankly, am encouraged that he`s trying to find common ground and to say to us, what legislation do you have out there that you have been working on that we can move forward together? I think that is a thought, a wonderful opportunity for us and it`s an opportunity for the American people. You`re probably going to see a very aggressive legislative agenda. I look forward to a first 100 days of the President Trump administration, when we can roll back some of this regulation that people complain about every day, when we can take the hold, the stranglehold off of some of our small businesses and allow them to move forward and push forward with innovation and job creation, which is certainly what they`re wanting to see. Job stagnation and wage stagnation is just driving people crazy.” [Face the Nation, CBS, 5/15/16]

Marsha Blackburn On Donald Trump: “I, Quite Frankly, Am Encouraged That He’s Trying To Find Common Ground And To Say To Us, ‘What Legislation Do You Have Out There That You Have Been Working On That We Can Move Forward Together?’” DICKERSON: “Representative Blackburn, in picking up on that, the idea that Donald Trump is going to change from some of the things he said before, Chairman Priebus said that he`s already nuancing or -- that was his word -- some of his positions. That once used to, in Republican politics, be a dirty word, using nuance. You wanted people who stood on their principles. What is your view of Donald Trump and where he was in the primary and how he might change in the general election?” REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN (R), TENNESSEE: “I think what you’re beginning to see is Donald Trump has listened to the American people. And he has shown that he has heard them. They like the way he has listened and responded. And he`s bringing that information to Capitol Hill. And I, quite frankly, am encouraged that he`s trying to find common ground and to say to us, ‘what legislation do you have out there that you have been working on that we can move forward together?’ I think that is a thought, a wonderful opportunity for us and it`s an opportunity for the American people. You`re probably going to see a very aggressive legislative agenda. I look forward to a first 100 days of the President Trump administration, when we can roll back some of this regulation that people complain about every day, when we can take the hold, the stranglehold off of some of our small businesses and allow them to move forward and push forward with innovation and job creation, which is certainly what they`re wanting to see. Job stagnation and wage stagnation is just driving people crazy.” [Face the Nation, CBS, 5/15/16]

Marsha Blackburn On Donald Trump: “You’re Probably Going To See A Very Aggressive Legislative Agenda.” DICKERSON: “Representative Blackburn, in picking up on that, the idea that Donald Trump is going to change from some of the things he said before, Chairman Priebus said that he`s already nuancing or -- that was his word -- some of his positions. That once used to, in Republican politics, be a dirty word, using nuance. You wanted people who stood on their principles. What is your view of Donald Trump and where he was in the primary and how he might change in the general election?” REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN (R), TENNESSEE: “I think what you’re beginning to see is Donald Trump has listened to the American people. And he has shown that he has heard them. They like the way he has listened and responded. And he`s bringing that information to Capitol Hill. And I, quite frankly, am encouraged that he`s trying to find common ground and to say to us, ‘what legislation do you have out there that you have been working on that we can move forward together?’ I think that is a thought, a wonderful opportunity for us and it`s an opportunity for the American people. You`re probably going to see a very aggressive legislative agenda. I look forward to a first 100 days of the President Trump administration, when we can roll back some of this regulation that people complain about every day, when we can take the hold, the stranglehold off of some of our small businesses and allow them to move forward and push forward with innovation and job creation, which is certainly what they`re wanting to see. Job stagnation and wage stagnation is just driving people crazy.” [Face the Nation, CBS, 5/15/16]

Marsha Blackburn On Donald Trump: “I Look Forward To A First 100 Days Of The President Trump Administration, When We Can Roll Back Some Of This Regulation That People Complain About Every Day, When We Can Take The Hold, The Stranglehold Off Of Some Of Our Small Businesses.” DICKERSON: “Representative Blackburn, in picking up on that, the idea that Donald Trump is going to change from some of the things he said before, Chairman Priebus said that he`s already nuancing or -- that was his word -- some of his positions. That once used to, in Republican politics, be a dirty word, using nuance. You wanted people who stood on their principles. What is your view of Donald Trump and where he was in the primary and how he might change in the general election?” REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN (R), TENNESSEE: “I think what you’re beginning to see is Donald Trump has listened to the American people. And he has shown that he has heard them. They like the way he has listened and responded. And he`s bringing that information to Capitol Hill. And I, quite frankly, am encouraged that he`s trying to find common ground and to say to us, ‘what legislation do you have out there that you have been working on that we can move forward together?’ I think that is a thought, a wonderful opportunity for us and it`s an opportunity for the American people. You`re probably going to see a very aggressive legislative agenda. I look forward to a first 100 days of the President Trump administration, when we can roll back some of this regulation that people complain about every day, when we can take the hold, the stranglehold off of some of our small businesses and allow them to move forward and push forward with innovation and job creation, which is certainly what they`re wanting to see. Job stagnation and wage stagnation is just driving people crazy.” [Face the Nation, CBS, 5/15/16]

Marsha Blackburn: “I Think You’re Going To See Paul Ryan Move Very Quickly Toward Working With Donald Trump And Unifying The Republican Party.” DICKERSON: “Representative Blackburn, I want to ask you about Paul Ryan. The previous speaker was a getting lot of grief for not standing up and sticking to principle. Paul Ryan says he has issues with Donald Trump at the moment, doesn`t want to come to a unified position yet. Shouldn`t he be praised for that, for standing on principle?” BLACKBURN: “I think you’re going to see Paul Ryan move very quickly toward working with Donald Trump and unifying the Republican Party. And, quite frankly, John, I think we`re going to have the most dynamic campaign this fall that we have had in decades. You have millions of new voters that have come to the Republican Party. You have people who are saying, let`s build a bigger tent, let`s bring people in, let`s address these problems. As Peter said, national security, Chris said, jobs and economic security, and I will add third one, retirement security. Those are the three top issues that we’re hearing about. It doesn`t matter if it`s male or female. What they know is Hillary Clinton is a lying, cheating, stealing-type woman. And what they have got in Donald Trump is a can-do man who says, we`re going to get in behind and fix it. Don`t know exactly how, but let`s be a great team and let`s get it done. That`s what they want.” [Face the Nation, CBS, 5/15/16]

Marsha Blackburn: “I Think We’re Going To Have The Most Dynamic Campaign This Fall That We Have Had In Decades.” DICKERSON: “Representative Blackburn, I want to ask you about Paul Ryan. The previous speaker was a getting lot of grief for not standing up and sticking to principle. Paul Ryan says he has issues with Donald Trump at the moment, doesn`t want to come to a unified position yet. Shouldn`t he be praised for that, for standing on principle?” BLACKBURN: “I think you’re going to see Paul Ryan move very quickly toward working with Donald Trump and unifying the Republican Party. And, quite frankly, John, I think we`re going to have the most dynamic campaign this fall that we have had in decades. You have millions of new voters that have come to the Republican Party. You have people who are saying, let`s build a bigger tent, let`s bring people in, let`s address these problems. As Peter said, national security, Chris said, jobs and economic security, and I will add third one, retirement security. Those are the three top issues that we’re hearing about. It doesn`t matter if it`s male or female. What they know is Hillary Clinton is a lying, cheating, stealing-type woman. And what they have got in Donald Trump is a can-do man who says, we`re going to get in behind and fix it. Don`t know exactly how, but let`s be a great team and let`s get it done. That`s what they want.” [Face the Nation, CBS, 5/15/16]

Marsha Blackburn: “You Have Millions Of New Voters That Have Come To The Republican Party. You Have People Who Are Saying, Let’s Build A Bigger Tent, Let’s Bring People In, Let’s Address These Problems.” DICKERSON: “Representative Blackburn, I want to ask you about Paul Ryan. The previous speaker was a getting lot of grief for not standing up and sticking to principle. Paul Ryan says he has issues with Donald Trump at the moment, doesn`t want to come to a unified position yet. Shouldn`t he be praised for that, for standing on principle?” BLACKBURN: “I think you’re going to see Paul Ryan move very quickly toward working with Donald Trump and unifying the Republican Party. And, quite frankly, John, I think we`re going to have the most dynamic campaign this fall that we have had in decades. You have millions of new voters that have come to the Republican Party. You have people who are saying, let`s build a bigger tent, let`s bring people in, let`s address these problems. As Peter said, national security, Chris said, jobs and economic security, and I will add third one, retirement security. Those are the three top issues that we’re hearing about. It doesn`t matter if it`s male or female. What they know is Hillary Clinton is a lying, cheating, stealing-type woman. And what they have got in Donald Trump is a can-do man who says, we`re going to get in behind and fix it. Don`t know exactly how, but let`s be a great team and let`s get it done. That`s what they want.” [Face the Nation, CBS, 5/15/16]

Marsha Blackburn: “What [Voters] Have Got In Donald Trump Is A Can-Do Man Who Says, We’re Going To Get In Behind And Fix It. Don’t Know Exactly How, But Let’s Be A Great Team And Let’s Get It Done. That’s What They Want.” DICKERSON: “Representative Blackburn, I want to ask you about Paul Ryan. The previous speaker was a getting lot of grief for not standing up and sticking to principle. Paul Ryan says he has issues with Donald Trump at the moment, doesn`t want to come to a unified position yet. Shouldn`t he be praised for that, for standing on principle?” BLACKBURN: “I think you’re going to see Paul Ryan move very quickly toward working with Donald Trump and unifying the Republican Party. And, quite frankly, John, I think we`re going to have the most dynamic campaign this fall that we have had in decades. You have millions of new voters that have come to the Republican Party. You have people who are saying, let`s build a bigger tent, let`s bring people in, let`s address these problems. As Peter said, national security, Chris said, jobs and economic security, and I will add third one, retirement security. Those are the three top issues that we’re hearing about. It doesn`t matter if it`s male or female. What they know is Hillary Clinton is a lying, cheating, stealing-type woman. And what they have got in Donald Trump is a can-do man who says, we`re going to get in behind and fix it. Don`t know exactly how, but let`s be a great team and let`s get it done. That`s what they want.” [Face the Nation, CBS, 5/15/16]

HRC

Marsha Blackburn: “Hillary Clinton Is A Lying, Cheating, Stealing-Type Woman.” DICKERSON: “Representative Blackburn, I want to ask you about Paul Ryan. The previous speaker was a getting lot of grief for not standing up and sticking to principle. Paul Ryan says he has issues with Donald Trump at the moment, doesn`t want to come to a unified position yet. Shouldn`t he be praised for that, for standing on principle?” BLACKBURN: “I think you’re going to see Paul Ryan move very quickly toward working with Donald Trump and unifying the Republican Party. And, quite frankly, John, I think we`re going to have the most dynamic campaign this fall that we have had in decades. You have millions of new voters that have come to the Republican Party. You have people who are saying, let`s build a bigger tent, let`s bring people in, let`s address these problems. As Peter said, national security, Chris said, jobs and economic security, and I will add third one, retirement security. Those are the three top issues that we’re hearing about. It doesn`t matter if it`s male or female. What they know is Hillary Clinton is a lying, cheating, stealing-type woman. And what they have got in Donald Trump is a can-do man who says, we`re going to get in behind and fix it. Don`t know exactly how, but let`s be a great team and let`s get it done. That`s what they want.” [Face the Nation, CBS, 5/15/16]

HEADLINE: “Blackburn: Hillary 'Lying, Cheating, Stealing Type Woman.” [NewsMax, 5/15/16<http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/marsha-blackburn-hillary-clinton-lying-cheating/2016/05/15/id/728915/>]

Fetal Tissue

Marsha Blackburn: “Reports Regarding The Germantown Clinic Are Deeply Troubling, Both For The Sake Of Babies Whose Lives Are Ended So Close To—And Possibly Even After—Birth And For The Sake Of The Women Who Have Been Rushed From That Clinic To The Hospital With Increasing Frequency.” “We have an obligation to protect the most vulnerable at all stages of life. Reports regarding the Germantown clinic are deeply troubling, both for the sake of babies whose lives are ended so close to—and possibly even after—birth and for the sake of the women who have been rushed from that clinic to the hospital with increasing frequency.  In order to properly address these concerns, we have issued subpoenas not only to Dr. Carhart and his clinic, but also to hospitals and first responders who may have information that will be instructive. Time is of the essence.” [Marsha Blackburn, Facebook, 5/13/16<https://www.facebook.com/marshablackburn/posts/10154120377833396>]

Marsha Blackburn: “In Order To Properly Address These Concerns, We Have Issued Subpoenas Not Only To Dr. Carhart And His Clinic, But Also To Hospitals And First Responders Who May Have Information That Will Be Instructive. Time Is Of The Essence.” “We have an obligation to protect the most vulnerable at all stages of life. Reports regarding the Germantown clinic are deeply troubling, both for the sake of babies whose lives are ended so close to—and possibly even after—birth and for the sake of the women who have been rushed from that clinic to the hospital with increasing frequency.  In order to properly address these concerns, we have issued subpoenas not only to Dr. Carhart and his clinic, but also to hospitals and first responders who may have information that will be instructive. Time is of the essence.” [Marsha Blackburn, Facebook, 5/13/16<https://www.facebook.com/marshablackburn/posts/10154120377833396>]

Wall Street Journal On The Planned Parenthood Investigation Committee: “Democrats On The Committee Say Ms. Blackburn Has Vastly Expanded The Probe Beyond Its Original Intent By Targeting An Individual Provider Without Sharing Any Objective Basis With Them.” “Now Democrats on the committee say Ms. Blackburn has vastly expanded the probe beyond its original intent by targeting an individual provider without sharing any objective basis with them. They also say she has issued subpoenas rather than voluntarily requesting information, and asked for names of researchers and doctors without rules to ensure their protection. The panel’s jurisdiction includes reviewing the practices of providers of second- and third-trimester abortions, and the care of infants born alive as a result of attempted abortions, according to a press release Wednesday from Ms. Blackburn.” [Wall Street Journal, 5/13/16<http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/05/13/democrats-want-fetal-tissue-probe-panel-disbanded/>]

Wall Street Journal On The Planned Parenthood Investigation Committee: “Democrats On The Committee Say Ms. Blackburn…Has Issued Subpoenas Rather Than Voluntarily Requesting Information, And Asked For Names Of Researchers And Doctors Without Rules To Ensure Their Protection.” “Now Democrats on the committee say Ms. Blackburn has vastly expanded the probe beyond its original intent by targeting an individual provider without sharing any objective basis with them. They also say she has issued subpoenas rather than voluntarily requesting information, and asked for names of researchers and doctors without rules to ensure their protection. The panel’s jurisdiction includes reviewing the practices of providers of second- and third-trimester abortions, and the care of infants born alive as a result of attempted abortions, according to a press release Wednesday from Ms. Blackburn.” [Wall Street Journal, 5/13/16<http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/05/13/democrats-want-fetal-tissue-probe-panel-disbanded/>]

Police

Marsha Blackburn Spoke On The House Floor To Recognize National Police Week. “A police officer is tasked with not just enforcing the law - which they do - they are also tasked with protecting the community, and often they find themselves with the duty to protect the community from itself, whether that is to stop the motorist who is driving recklessly in a school zone or having to thrust themselves into the middle of a domestic dispute to restore order. There is no such thing as a routine stop any longer. This #NationalPoliceWeek, we thank them for their bravery, their service, and their protection.” [Marsha Blackburn, Facebook. 5/13/16<https://www.facebook.com/marshablackburn/videos/10154120258753396/>]

Misc. Social Media

Marsha Blackburn Retweet: “God Knows Your Thoughts. He Knows Every Word That You Speak And The Intents Of Your Heart. He Also Knows The Sins Of Every Individual.” [@VoteMarsha, Twitter, 5/14/16<https://twitter.com/Franklin_Graham/status/731612561905328129>]

CHRIS CHRISTIE

Bridgegate

5/16/16: The News Consortium Seeking To Force The Release Of The List Of Unindicted Conspirators In The Bridgegate Scandal Filed A Response To John Doe’s Attempt To Block Release Of The Lists. “‘John Doe,’ the unnamed alleged uninidicted Bridgegate co-conspirator, missed his chance to argue his case to keep his name anonymous, a consortium of news media organizations said in a federal court filing Monday. The news media group, including NJ Advance Media, argued that an appellate court should deny the request by John Doe to halt a ruling ordering the unveiling of the names of unindicted co-conspirators by noon Tuesday. John Doe had ‘an opportunity to be heard’ the latest filing says, and the court ‘thoroughly considered his privacy interests’ in deciding that the names of the unindicted co-conspirators should be made public.” [NJ Advance Media, 5/16/16<http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/news_media_seek_to_halt_appeal_of_release_of_bridg.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter>]

Atlantic City

Press Of Atlantic City: Atlantic City “Made Its $8.5 Million School Tax Payment On Friday And Gave Atlantic County $7 Million Monday Due For Quarterly Property Taxes.” “This nearly broke city still had the money to pay its bills this week. The city made its $8.5 million school tax payment on Friday and gave Atlantic County $7 million Monday due for quarterly property taxes, Mayor Don Guardian said. The city has enough money to make a $7 million payroll payment June 3 and a $1.5 million bond payment due June 1, Guardian said. The city has been financially on fumes since April, when the city’s workers agreed to be paid monthly to avoid a government shutdown. The city recently held a press conference to announce it made its May bond payment. The city planned on $33.5 million promised with the passage of a state rescue package, but Gov. Chris Christie rejected the bill in favor of a state takeover. That left a hole in the city’s 2015 budget.” [Press of Atlantic City, 5/16/16<http://m.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/atlantic-city-makes-school-county-tax-payments/article_fe4bfdea-1ba1-11e6-a00e-8b8d288dfb54.html?mode=jqm>]

Social Media

Office Of Governor Christie: “Visiting With The Students @Energysmartcs To See How Charter Schools Are Changing The Face Of Education. Watch Live: Livestream.Com/Govchristie” [@GovChristie, 5/16/16<https://twitter.com/GovChristie/status/732230012531802112>]

BOB CORKER

Financial Issues

Financial Allegations Against Bob Corker By Campaign For Accountability May Have Been Driven By Hedge Fund Money. “Campaign for Accountability, a watchdog founded by former employees of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed complaints against Corker, the leading Republican sponsor of housing reform legislation with Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). The complaints, filed in November, allege Corker engaged in suspicious stock trades… In February, National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative ethics watchdog group, filed a complaint against Stevens over the same revolving-door laws. Stevens is a leading proponent of the Warner-Corker legislation [which would have replaced Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with a privately capitalized system]. Then, in March, Campaign for Accountability filed another complaint against Corker over omissions of large assets from his financial disclosure reports. It’s not possible to prove that hedge fund money is driving these complaints. But let’s work backward again. Campaign for Accountability is run by operatives from the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW. Last year, CREW took $40,000 from Herbalife, which was under assault from hedge funder Ackman. CREW pushed back, filing an ethics complaint against Ackman. When the $40,000 donation came to light, CREW promised to return it, citing the appearance of a conflict of interest. CFA doesn’t release information on its donors. Former CREW honcho Melanie Sloan, who now does some work with CFA, said the group doesn’t take hedge fund money. But CFA itself might not even know if it takes hedge fund money: If a hedge fund gives to a foundation, which gives to a civil rights group, which then gives to CFA, it can be hard to track. Either way, the Raben Group immediately circulated the complaints against Corker and Stevens around Washington by email. People close to Corker said they believe the ethics complaints were motivated by the hedge fund lobbying campaign. (Of course, the complaints might also have merit; in fact, both things could be true at the same time.)” [Huffington Post, 5/13/16<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/vulture-fund-lobbying_us_57350001e4b077d4d6f2a374>]

Corker/Trump Commentary

Bob Corker And Donald Trump Differ On Their Stance On Social Security, With Trump Advocating For Continuation Of The Current System And Corker Supporting Entitlement Reform. Corker has some significant policy differences with The Donald. He has criticized Trump’s proposal to ban Muslim immigrants to this country. And while Trump has said he would leave Social Security alone, Corker says entitlement reform is critical to getting federal spending under control. He has called the federal budget ‘a total hoax,’ reported the Chattanooga Times Free Press, noting that some 75% of federal spending is on ‘autopilot.’” [Hasting Wyman, Southern Political Report, 5/16/16<http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/2016/05/16/corker-for-veep/>]

Trump

Bob Corker Said That He Has Witnessed A Change In Tone With Donald Trump, In Addition To A Greater Focus On Policy. CORKER “Again, we’re not intimately involved, we’re certainly not talking on a daily basis – we hear from them from time to time on certain issues, but I’m already seeing that tone change, and I’m seeing a more serious approach to the issues. As I look at this, and we talked about the Mayor’s campaign in Nashville when it was underway, as I look at what’s happened here, you had 17 people running on our side that were trying to differentiate themselves through their personalities – strength of personality, and the Republican side of American society decided they wanted someone who was strong and irreverent and who would take on the status quo because they wanted change. Out of that Mr. Trump rose to the top. I think what you’re seeing now is a much deeper focus on policy. Typically, that happens on the front end, let’s face it. Typically, most campaigns, you sit down, you establish those policies and that’s what you talk about the entire campaign. I’m seeing from where I sit an evolution towards a more serious tone, towards addressing issues in a more full way.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Tennessean: Bob Corker Said He Was Not Worried About Donald Trump Being Erratic And Reckless As President, Citing The “Tremendous Soberness” Of The Oval Office And “Highly Qualified People” That Surround The President. PLAZAS: “Corker and I talked about several issues, among them… Whether Trump, as his opponents have portrayed him, would be erratic and reckless with America’s nuclear arsenal if elected president. CORKER: ‘I don’t really worry about that caricature. Once you come into the Oval Office and you understand the tremendous decisions that you have to make and the magnitude of those and the effect that it’s going to have on the world, I think that there’s a tremendous soberness and typically when you go in, you end up with lots of very highly qualified people around you.’” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said He Was Not Initiating Conversations With Donald Trump’s Campaign And Did Not Consider Himself An Adviser. “Sen. Bob Corker, who is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has held conversations with Trump about international affairs but stopped short of calling himself an adviser. ‘I’m certainly not calling over, but only responding when asked,’ he said. Corker said he looks forward to moving beyond the ‘personality-based’ primary campaign. ‘Over the course of the next two or three months, you're going to see their campaign really addressing some of the policy issues that matter to people, because this hasn't been that kind of campaign,’ Corker said. ‘People were looking for a leader, a type of leader, but now you're going to see that roll out,’ he said.” [Times Free Press, 5/13/16<http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/national/tennessee/story/2016/may/13/haslam-still-unready-support-trump-until-afte/365539/>]

Donald Trump Referred To Bob Corker As A Great, Fantastic Guy Who Loves His Party And His Country. TRUMP: “You're talking about Sessions or Corker?” KILMEADE: “Corker.” TRUMP: “Corker's a great guy. These are both great guys. I can't say Brian. I want to keep it as a total surprise. I want to surprise even you. You have such access to me and everything I do. Every once in awhile I like to surprise even you. I'm going to do that, but I can tell you, those 2 guys Sessions and Corker are fantastic people. They love the country. They love their party. They love the country.” [Kilmeade And Friends, Fox News Radio, 5/11/16]

5/16/16: Bob Corker Said That He Had Not Talked To Donald Trump Since They Spoke About Trump’s Foreign Policy Speech. CORKER: “I had the one call after he had given the speech. I made the comment pointed out, and he called. I’ve not talked to him since. I’ve never met Mr. Trump actually, and (Trump 2016 convention manager) Paul Manafort and others at the campaign have touched base with us a couple times about some foreign policy issues.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

After Meeting From Officials From China And Russia, Bob Corker Said That Other Countries Were Watching The American Presidential Election. CORKER: “I’ll mention two things. I was just observing this. I had a meeting yesterday with a leading Chinese official that I talk with every six months or so in person. I had a meeting with another official from Russia and I will tell you this: The way this campaign has evolved, we have things going on, on both sides of the aisle. These countries are paying attention closely. It’s actually been in some ways healthy in that I’m noticing a change in how they are interacting. I mean that in a good way.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said He Met With An Ambassador From The United Kingdom, Who Said That The UK Would Start Spending The Two Percent Of Their GDP Required By NATO. CORKER: “The other thing that we didn’t cover were the NATO comments (Trump said in his speech: ‘In NATO, for instance, only 4 of 28 other member countries, besides America, are spending the minimum required 2 percent of GDP on defense.’) Just for what it’s worth. We have been beating that drum for at least five or six years personally. Madeleine Albright was before our committee, former Democratic Secretary of State (in the Clinton Administration), and she too was talking about how NATO is really going down a negative path when you only have four countries in our alliance that are paying their fair share. To me, the solution to that is for them to do what they’re supposed to do. Each country is supposed to provide 2 percent of their country’s GDP towards defense, and only four countries are doing it. I met with the new ambassador from the U.K. the other day. They are stepping up their budget to meet that goal, but countries like Germany are not. We do need to stress that right now we are the provider of security services to these countries. They are the consumers of security services. That does not provide the type of alliance that has made the world stable. We do appreciate their involvements with us in Afghanistan and other places, but they have got to step up. The solution is for them to be doing their fair share. The approach I would nuance in that direction, but that is a problem, and it really is a problem.”

Foreign Policy

Bob Corker Said That If The Cessation Of Hostilities In Syria Fails, Then He Will Consider Turkey’s Proposal For A Safe Zone.  “If the cessation of hostilities in Syria fails, Turkey’s proposal for a safe zone can be discussed, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told Anadolu Agency. ’It certainly should be looked at as an avenue,’ said Bob Corker on Thursday, noting that the U.S. has missed the opportunity to change the tide in Syria. ‘When Turkey was willing to talk with us about a no fly zone, I think it was the time for us to put that in place in the northwest triangle of Aleppo. If we had done that, I think we would have been at a very different place today,’ he said. Turkey has long proposed the establishment of a safe zone in Syria to protect millions of refugees fleeing slaughter by the regime of Bashar al-Assad.” [Anadola Agency, 5/13/16<http://aa.com.tr/en/politics/us-senator-suggests-no-fly-zone-if-syria-truce-fails/571552>]

Bob Corker Criticized Allowing Russia To Dictate Relations In Syria. “However, many others discuss that the international community had the opportunity to overcome the five-year old civil war in its early phases. ‘In many ways we missed our opportunities to really affect things in a more positive way,’ Corker said, noting that Russian intervention has propped up the Assad regime and resulted in an end to diplomatic negotiations that were brokered by the U.N. that has ended in stalemates. ‘Unfortunately it is going to be driven by Russians because they came in with forces in a way that U.S. would not do,’ he said, referring to the Syrian talks ongoing in Geneva. Russia intervened in the Syrian war at the end of September, a move Moscow said was to support Assad against terror groups.” [Anadola Agency, 5/13/16<http://aa.com.tr/en/politics/us-senator-suggests-no-fly-zone-if-syria-truce-fails/571552>]

Anadola Agency: Bob Corker Criticized John Kerry’s Plan B Comments Towards Syria, Saying “I Don’t Think That There Ever Has Been A Plan B.” “Secretary of State John Kerry has said if the cessation of hostilities failed the U.S. would move to a “Plan B,” but the Syrian regime, alongside Russia, have violated the truce several times. Several rebel groups have also been in violation of the agreement. Russia and the U.S. recently agreed on a deal for a truce in and around Aleppo and Kerry reiterated his Plan B comments. ‘I don’t want to be so pejorative but I don’t think that there ever has been a plan B,’ Corker said. ‘I think Russia and Iran and Syria know that there has never really been a plan B.’ Inaction by the Obama administration would result in U.S. interests in the region being driven by Russian actions in Syria, according to Corker.” [Anadola Agency, 5/13/16<http://aa.com.tr/en/politics/us-senator-suggests-no-fly-zone-if-syria-truce-fails/571552>]

Bob Corker Said That Europe Has Low-Self Confidence And Looks To The United States For Leadership. CORKER: “Europe still looks to us for leadership. They’re in a place of low self-confidence. I’ve never seen it at this level. It was amazing to be in Munich at the security conference and just see how Europe felt in such disarray. It certainly looks to the U.S. for leadership.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That The United States Have A Good Relationship With Columbia, And Some Other Relationships Between The United States And South American Countries Have Been Improving. CORKER: “we’ve got a good relationship with Colombia, and some of the relationships we have in South America have actually strengthened, but there’s no question that some of the decisions made have affected us in a negative way relative to people feeling they can count on us.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That United States’ Foreign Policy Should Focus More On Building Alliances With Countries To The North And The South, Not Just In The East And The West. PLAZAS: “It Does Seem That Really Throughout A Long Period Of Time If You Look At How We Stress Our Foreign Policy, It’s Been An East-West Stressing.” CORKER: “It’s interesting. This came up in a discussion we had this week on the committee. Senator (Tim) Kaine from Virginia brought it up. It does seem that really throughout a long period of time if you look at how we stress our foreign policy, it’s been an east-west stressing. We’re constantly looking across to Europe, to the Middle East, to Russia, and to China. And it’s actually been carried out by multiple administrations that there hasn’t been the focus that you just alluded to that is so important. One of the strategic advantages that we have as a nation is the neighborhood we live in. The fact that we have oceans on each side of us and we have friendly neighbors to the north and south and we do need to focus far more fully, and we are doing that by the way, with our involvement in the Northern Triangle right now. We’re involving ourselves more fully in policies in Central America and South America, but it is a strategic advantage that we live in the neighborhood that we’re in. We sure should stress more fully the alliance we have. And through three administrations now, for instance, our efforts in Colombia have been very successful because we’ve continued, we’ve been steady, we’ve followed through.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That The President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief Has Been Successful.

CORKER: “Africa is a place that we have had successes. As you mentioned, on our committee we’ve had some successes with Electrify Africa, with clean water, certainly the PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) efforts that have been underway have been highly successfully. I think you know we’ve been pushing a modern slavery initiative right now. We hope to reform the way that food aid is delivered. All these things, by the way, using existing dollars, but make them go further. We also have problems in Africa not necessarily generated by us, but just with unstable leaders, people that are staying beyond their elected terms, creating a lot of instability. We’ve got Boko Haram. We’ve got other kinds of issues. There are lots of challenges, and certainly we’ve had lots of successes in Africa. Some successes in South America. Sometimes we don’t stress those as much as we should. We also though have tremendous and very complex issues we’re dealing with around the world.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Listed His Modern Slavery Initiative, And Reforming Food Aid As Priorities For Africa/United States Relations. CORKER: “Africa is a place that we have had successes. As you mentioned, on our committee we’ve had some successes with Electrify Africa, with clean water, certainly the PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) efforts that have been underway have been highly successfully. I think you know we’ve been pushing a modern slavery initiative right now. We hope to reform the way that food aid is delivered. All these things, by the way, using existing dollars, but make them go further. We also have problems in Africa not necessarily generated by us, but just with unstable leaders, people that are staying beyond their elected terms, creating a lot of instability. We’ve got Boko Haram. We’ve got other kinds of issues. There are lots of challenges, and certainly we’ve had lots of successes in Africa. Some successes in South America. Sometimes we don’t stress those as much as we should. We also though have tremendous and very complex issues we’re dealing with around the world.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That Boko Haram And Unstable Leaders That Stay Beyond Their Elected Terms Were Among The Issues In Africa. CORKER: “Africa is a place that we have had successes. As you mentioned, on our committee we’ve had some successes with Electrify Africa, with clean water, certainly the PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) efforts that have been underway have been highly successfully. I think you know we’ve been pushing a modern slavery initiative right now. We hope to reform the way that food aid is delivered. All these things, by the way, using existing dollars, but make them go further. We also have problems in Africa not necessarily generated by us, but just with unstable leaders, people that are staying beyond their elected terms, creating a lot of instability. We’ve got Boko Haram. We’ve got other kinds of issues. There are lots of challenges, and certainly we’ve had lots of successes in Africa. Some successes in South America. Sometimes we don’t stress those as much as we should. We also though have tremendous and very complex issues we’re dealing with around the world.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Advocated For A Shift In Foreign Policy Towards More Selective Engagement. CORKER: “I do think a shift in foreign policy on my side of the aisle towards a more selective engagement towards something that’s more pragmatic — something that focuses more on core issues —  is an appropriate place for us to go and I thought today’s hearing emphasized that in an appropriate way.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That The Foreign Policy Towards The Middle East Should Not Reflect The Approach Of The Cold War. CORKER: “I hear a lot of comparisons, actually, from the foreign policy establishment where they continue to say that in the Middle East we’ve got to develop, like we did with the Soviet Union, a policy that we can see through over the next 50 to 60 years. I understand that. What they’re saying is we’ve got to develop a bipartisan consensus. I will say the Middle East is very different. We’re constantly dealing with shifting leaders there, some of whom are decent. Some of whom are really poor leaders. We’ve got demographic issues, which are working against us, with a huge youth population, in many cases, 40 percent unemployment. So our efforts in the Middle East are going to be long-term. It is important.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Criticized Nation Building, Citing The Consequences Of The United States’ Involvement In Libya And The Mistreatment Of President Mubarak In Egypt. CORKER: “I hear a lot of comparisons, actually, from the foreign policy establishment where they continue to say that in the Middle East we’ve got to develop, like we did with the Soviet Union, a policy that we can see through over the next 50 to 60 years. I understand that. What they’re saying is we’ve got to develop a bipartisan consensus. I will say the Middle East is very different. We’re constantly dealing with shifting leaders there, some of whom are decent. Some of whom are really poor leaders. We’ve got demographic issues, which are working against us, with a huge youth population, in many cases, 40 percent unemployment. So our efforts in the Middle East are going to be long-term. It is important. On the other hand, we don’t need to be involved in nation building. We have gotten into situations where we were overextended and we’ve gotten into situations with Libya where we didn’t know what the end was going to be. I opposed that. We have thrown aside friends quickly like we did with (former Egyptian President Hosni) Mubarak in Egypt. To me, there was a better way of dealing with that.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That There Was A Very Small Portion Of The Muslim Population That Are Radical Jihadists. CORKER: “Back to the issue of radical Islam, there’s no question that there’s a very, very small percentage of the Muslim population that are extremist. They’re Jihadists. These are root issues in the Middle East of poverty and the Wahhabi mentality that’s been spread throughout the region, and, obviously, every Friday morning prayers, it’s reinforced. Those issues and poor governance are causing some of the extremism that’s taking place. The vast majority of the Muslim population does not embrace that. That’s a fact. They’ve got to be a part of the solution to these issues. Certainly, more, more and more, we’ve got to reinforce those Muslim populations that don’t embrace this to be a bigger part of the solution. It’s a very complex issue that’s going to be with us for a long, long time. And it is a threat to U.S. interests. Let’s face it, ISIS has formed from an entity that was more focused on the territory they were taking. We now see that they’re moving hourly, trying to do fantastic interruptions, those that scare the American people, upset other Western democracies and countries, and it is in an issue that’s going to be long term and that we need to deal with.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Tennessee Politics

Bob Corker Highlighted The Importance Of Having A Strong Foreign Policy Despite Domestic Issues That May Seem More Pressing.  CORKER: “Madeleine Albright was before our committee, former Democratic Secretary of State (in the Clinton Administration), and she too was talking about how NATO is really going down a negative path when you only have four countries in our alliance that are paying their fair share. To me, the solution to that is for them to do what they’re supposed to do. Each country is supposed to provide 2 percent of their country’s GDP towards defense, and only four countries are doing it. I met with the new ambassador from the U.K. the other day. They are stepping up their budget to meet that goal, but countries like Germany are not. We do need to stress that right now we are the provider of security services to these countries. They are the consumers of security services. That does not provide the type of alliance that has made the world stable… You’ve got people in Middle Tennessee that care about infrastructure and seeing the city change, they care about crime, they care about education, much of that is funding by state and local governments, I understand, but our nation is concerned about its own future… When they see these countries that are not doing their fair share, it does break down the alliance. I thought there was a kernel there that was right on target and I would approach it slightly differently.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Misc. Social Media:

Bob Corker: “Larry Daughtrey Was One Of The Best Political Reporters Of His Generation, And Tennessee Will Miss Him.” [@SenBobCorker, 5/14/16<https://twitter.com/SenBobCorker/status/731518111216771073>]

GINGRICH

Financial Issues

Financial Allegations Against Bob Corker By Campaign For Accountability May Have Been Driven By Hedge Fund Money. “Campaign for Accountability, a watchdog founded by former employees of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed complaints against Corker, the leading Republican sponsor of housing reform legislation with Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). The complaints, filed in November, allege Corker engaged in suspicious stock trades… In February, National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative ethics watchdog group, filed a complaint against Stevens over the same revolving-door laws. Stevens is a leading proponent of the Warner-Corker legislation [which would have replaced Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with a privately capitalized system]. Then, in March, Campaign for Accountability filed another complaint against Corker over omissions of large assets from his financial disclosure reports. It’s not possible to prove that hedge fund money is driving these complaints. But let’s work backward again. Campaign for Accountability is run by operatives from the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW. Last year, CREW took $40,000 from Herbalife, which was under assault from hedge funder Ackman. CREW pushed back, filing an ethics complaint against Ackman. When the $40,000 donation came to light, CREW promised to return it, citing the appearance of a conflict of interest. CFA doesn’t release information on its donors. Former CREW honcho Melanie Sloan, who now does some work with CFA, said the group doesn’t take hedge fund money. But CFA itself might not even know if it takes hedge fund money: If a hedge fund gives to a foundation, which gives to a civil rights group, which then gives to CFA, it can be hard to track. Either way, the Raben Group immediately circulated the complaints against Corker and Stevens around Washington by email. People close to Corker said they believe the ethics complaints were motivated by the hedge fund lobbying campaign. (Of course, the complaints might also have merit; in fact, both things could be true at the same time.)” [Huffington Post, 5/13/16<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/vulture-fund-lobbying_us_57350001e4b077d4d6f2a374>]

Corker/Trump Commentary

Bob Corker And Donald Trump Differ On Their Stance On Social Security, With Trump Advocating For Continuation Of The Current System And Corker Supporting Entitlement Reform. Corker has some significant policy differences with The Donald. He has criticized Trump’s proposal to ban Muslim immigrants to this country. And while Trump has said he would leave Social Security alone, Corker says entitlement reform is critical to getting federal spending under control. He has called the federal budget ‘a total hoax,’ reported the Chattanooga Times Free Press, noting that some 75% of federal spending is on ‘autopilot.’” [Hasting Wyman, Southern Political Report, 5/16/16<http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/2016/05/16/corker-for-veep/>]

Trump

Bob Corker Said That He Has Witnessed A Change In Tone With Donald Trump, In Addition To A Greater Focus On Policy. CORKER “Again, we’re not intimately involved, we’re certainly not talking on a daily basis – we hear from them from time to time on certain issues, but I’m already seeing that tone change, and I’m seeing a more serious approach to the issues. As I look at this, and we talked about the Mayor’s campaign in Nashville when it was underway, as I look at what’s happened here, you had 17 people running on our side that were trying to differentiate themselves through their personalities – strength of personality, and the Republican side of American society decided they wanted someone who was strong and irreverent and who would take on the status quo because they wanted change. Out of that Mr. Trump rose to the top. I think what you’re seeing now is a much deeper focus on policy. Typically, that happens on the front end, let’s face it. Typically, most campaigns, you sit down, you establish those policies and that’s what you talk about the entire campaign. I’m seeing from where I sit an evolution towards a more serious tone, towards addressing issues in a more full way.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Tennessean: Bob Corker Said He Was Not Worried About Donald Trump Being Erratic And Reckless As President, Citing The “Tremendous Soberness” Of The Oval Office And “Highly Qualified People” That Surround The President. PLAZAS: “Corker and I talked about several issues, among them… Whether Trump, as his opponents have portrayed him, would be erratic and reckless with America’s nuclear arsenal if elected president. CORKER: ‘I don’t really worry about that caricature. Once you come into the Oval Office and you understand the tremendous decisions that you have to make and the magnitude of those and the effect that it’s going to have on the world, I think that there’s a tremendous soberness and typically when you go in, you end up with lots of very highly qualified people around you.’” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said He Was Not Initiating Conversations With Donald Trump’s Campaign And Did Not Consider Himself An Adviser. “Sen. Bob Corker, who is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has held conversations with Trump about international affairs but stopped short of calling himself an adviser. ‘I’m certainly not calling over, but only responding when asked,’ he said. Corker said he looks forward to moving beyond the ‘personality-based’ primary campaign. ‘Over the course of the next two or three months, you're going to see their campaign really addressing some of the policy issues that matter to people, because this hasn't been that kind of campaign,’ Corker said. ‘People were looking for a leader, a type of leader, but now you're going to see that roll out,’ he said.” [Times Free Press, 5/13/16<http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/national/tennessee/story/2016/may/13/haslam-still-unready-support-trump-until-afte/365539/>]

Donald Trump Referred To Bob Corker As A Great, Fantastic Guy Who Loves His Party And His Country. TRUMP: “You're talking about Sessions or Corker?” KILMEADE: “Corker.” TRUMP: “Corker's a great guy. These are both great guys. I can't say Brian. I want to keep it as a total surprise. I want to surprise even you. You have such access to me and everything I do. Every once in awhile I like to surprise even you. I'm going to do that, but I can tell you, those 2 guys Sessions and Corker are fantastic people. They love the country. They love their party. They love the country.” [Kilmeade And Friends, Fox News Radio, 5/11/16]

5/16/16: Bob Corker Said That He Had Not Talked To Donald Trump Since They Spoke About Trump’s Foreign Policy Speech. CORKER: “I had the one call after he had given the speech. I made the comment pointed out, and he called. I’ve not talked to him since. I’ve never met Mr. Trump actually, and (Trump 2016 convention manager) Paul Manafort and others at the campaign have touched base with us a couple times about some foreign policy issues.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Foreign Policy

After Meeting From Officials From China And Russia, Bob Corker Said That Other Countries Were Watching The American Presidential Election. CORKER: “I’ll mention two things. I was just observing this. I had a meeting yesterday with a leading Chinese official that I talk with every six months or so in person. I had a meeting with another official from Russia and I will tell you this: The way this campaign has evolved, we have things going on, on both sides of the aisle. These countries are paying attention closely. It’s actually been in some ways healthy in that I’m noticing a change in how they are interacting. I mean that in a good way.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said He Met With An Ambassador From The United Kingdom, Who Said That The UK Would Start Spending The Two Percent Of Their GDP Required By NATO. CORKER: “The other thing that we didn’t cover were the NATO comments (Trump said in his speech: ‘In NATO, for instance, only 4 of 28 other member countries, besides America, are spending the minimum required 2 percent of GDP on defense.’) Just for what it’s worth. We have been beating that drum for at least five or six years personally. Madeleine Albright was before our committee, former Democratic Secretary of State (in the Clinton Administration), and she too was talking about how NATO is really going down a negative path when you only have four countries in our alliance that are paying their fair share. To me, the solution to that is for them to do what they’re supposed to do. Each country is supposed to provide 2 percent of their country’s GDP towards defense, and only four countries are doing it. I met with the new ambassador from the U.K. the other day. They are stepping up their budget to meet that goal, but countries like Germany are not. We do need to stress that right now we are the provider of security services to these countries. They are the consumers of security services. That does not provide the type of alliance that has made the world stable. We do appreciate their involvements with us in Afghanistan and other places, but they have got to step up. The solution is for them to be doing their fair share. The approach I would nuance in that direction, but that is a problem, and it really is a problem.”

Bob Corker Said That If The Cessation Of Hostilities In Syria Fails, Then He Will Consider Turkey’s Proposal For A Safe Zone.  “If the cessation of hostilities in Syria fails, Turkey’s proposal for a safe zone can be discussed, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told Anadolu Agency. ’It certainly should be looked at as an avenue,’ said Bob Corker on Thursday, noting that the U.S. has missed the opportunity to change the tide in Syria. ‘When Turkey was willing to talk with us about a no fly zone, I think it was the time for us to put that in place in the northwest triangle of Aleppo. If we had done that, I think we would have been at a very different place today,’ he said. Turkey has long proposed the establishment of a safe zone in Syria to protect millions of refugees fleeing slaughter by the regime of Bashar al-Assad.” [Anadola Agency, 5/13/16<http://aa.com.tr/en/politics/us-senator-suggests-no-fly-zone-if-syria-truce-fails/571552>]

Bob Corker Criticized Allowing Russia To Dictate Relations In Syria. “However, many others discuss that the international community had the opportunity to overcome the five-year old civil war in its early phases. ‘In many ways we missed our opportunities to really affect things in a more positive way,’ Corker said, noting that Russian intervention has propped up the Assad regime and resulted in an end to diplomatic negotiations that were brokered by the U.N. that has ended in stalemates. ‘Unfortunately it is going to be driven by Russians because they came in with forces in a way that U.S. would not do,’ he said, referring to the Syrian talks ongoing in Geneva. Russia intervened in the Syrian war at the end of September, a move Moscow said was to support Assad against terror groups.” [Anadola Agency, 5/13/16<http://aa.com.tr/en/politics/us-senator-suggests-no-fly-zone-if-syria-truce-fails/571552>]

Anadola Agency: Bob Corker Criticized John Kerry’s Plan B Comments Towards Syria, Saying “I Don’t Think That There Ever Has Been A Plan B.” “Secretary of State John Kerry has said if the cessation of hostilities failed the U.S. would move to a “Plan B,” but the Syrian regime, alongside Russia, have violated the truce several times. Several rebel groups have also been in violation of the agreement. Russia and the U.S. recently agreed on a deal for a truce in and around Aleppo and Kerry reiterated his Plan B comments. ‘I don’t want to be so pejorative but I don’t think that there ever has been a plan B,’ Corker said. ‘I think Russia and Iran and Syria know that there has never really been a plan B.’ Inaction by the Obama administration would result in U.S. interests in the region being driven by Russian actions in Syria, according to Corker.” [Anadola Agency, 5/13/16<http://aa.com.tr/en/politics/us-senator-suggests-no-fly-zone-if-syria-truce-fails/571552>]

Bob Corker Said That Europe Has Low-Self Confidence And Looks To The United States For Leadership. CORKER: “Europe still looks to us for leadership. They’re in a place of low self-confidence. I’ve never seen it at this level. It was amazing to be in Munich at the security conference and just see how Europe felt in such disarray. It certainly looks to the U.S. for leadership.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That The United States Have A Good Relationship With Columbia, And Some Other Relationships Between The United States And South American Countries Have Been Improving. CORKER: “we’ve got a good relationship with Colombia, and some of the relationships we have in South America have actually strengthened, but there’s no question that some of the decisions made have affected us in a negative way relative to people feeling they can count on us.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That United States’ Foreign Policy Should Focus More On Building Alliances With Countries To The North And The South, Not Just In The East And The West. PLAZAS: “It Does Seem That Really Throughout A Long Period Of Time If You Look At How We Stress Our Foreign Policy, It’s Been An East-West Stressing.” CORKER: “It’s interesting. This came up in a discussion we had this week on the committee. Senator (Tim) Kaine from Virginia brought it up. It does seem that really throughout a long period of time if you look at how we stress our foreign policy, it’s been an east-west stressing. We’re constantly looking across to Europe, to the Middle East, to Russia, and to China. And it’s actually been carried out by multiple administrations that there hasn’t been the focus that you just alluded to that is so important. One of the strategic advantages that we have as a nation is the neighborhood we live in. The fact that we have oceans on each side of us and we have friendly neighbors to the north and south and we do need to focus far more fully, and we are doing that by the way, with our involvement in the Northern Triangle right now. We’re involving ourselves more fully in policies in Central America and South America, but it is a strategic advantage that we live in the neighborhood that we’re in. We sure should stress more fully the alliance we have. And through three administrations now, for instance, our efforts in Colombia have been very successful because we’ve continued, we’ve been steady, we’ve followed through.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That The President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief Has Been Successful.

CORKER: “Africa is a place that we have had successes. As you mentioned, on our committee we’ve had some successes with Electrify Africa, with clean water, certainly the PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) efforts that have been underway have been highly successfully. I think you know we’ve been pushing a modern slavery initiative right now. We hope to reform the way that food aid is delivered. All these things, by the way, using existing dollars, but make them go further. We also have problems in Africa not necessarily generated by us, but just with unstable leaders, people that are staying beyond their elected terms, creating a lot of instability. We’ve got Boko Haram. We’ve got other kinds of issues. There are lots of challenges, and certainly we’ve had lots of successes in Africa. Some successes in South America. Sometimes we don’t stress those as much as we should. We also though have tremendous and very complex issues we’re dealing with around the world.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Listed His Modern Slavery Initiative, And Reforming Food Aid As Priorities For Africa/United States Relations. CORKER: “Africa is a place that we have had successes. As you mentioned, on our committee we’ve had some successes with Electrify Africa, with clean water, certainly the PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) efforts that have been underway have been highly successfully. I think you know we’ve been pushing a modern slavery initiative right now. We hope to reform the way that food aid is delivered. All these things, by the way, using existing dollars, but make them go further. We also have problems in Africa not necessarily generated by us, but just with unstable leaders, people that are staying beyond their elected terms, creating a lot of instability. We’ve got Boko Haram. We’ve got other kinds of issues. There are lots of challenges, and certainly we’ve had lots of successes in Africa. Some successes in South America. Sometimes we don’t stress those as much as we should. We also though have tremendous and very complex issues we’re dealing with around the world.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That Boko Haram And Unstable Leaders That Stay Beyond Their Elected Terms Were Among The Issues In Africa. CORKER: “Africa is a place that we have had successes. As you mentioned, on our committee we’ve had some successes with Electrify Africa, with clean water, certainly the PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) efforts that have been underway have been highly successfully. I think you know we’ve been pushing a modern slavery initiative right now. We hope to reform the way that food aid is delivered. All these things, by the way, using existing dollars, but make them go further. We also have problems in Africa not necessarily generated by us, but just with unstable leaders, people that are staying beyond their elected terms, creating a lot of instability. We’ve got Boko Haram. We’ve got other kinds of issues. There are lots of challenges, and certainly we’ve had lots of successes in Africa. Some successes in South America. Sometimes we don’t stress those as much as we should. We also though have tremendous and very complex issues we’re dealing with around the world.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Advocated For A Shift In Foreign Policy Towards More Selective Engagement. CORKER: “I do think a shift in foreign policy on my side of the aisle towards a more selective engagement towards something that’s more pragmatic — something that focuses more on core issues —  is an appropriate place for us to go and I thought today’s hearing emphasized that in an appropriate way.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That The Foreign Policy Towards The Middle East Should Not Reflect The Approach Of The Cold War. CORKER: “I hear a lot of comparisons, actually, from the foreign policy establishment where they continue to say that in the Middle East we’ve got to develop, like we did with the Soviet Union, a policy that we can see through over the next 50 to 60 years. I understand that. What they’re saying is we’ve got to develop a bipartisan consensus. I will say the Middle East is very different. We’re constantly dealing with shifting leaders there, some of whom are decent. Some of whom are really poor leaders. We’ve got demographic issues, which are working against us, with a huge youth population, in many cases, 40 percent unemployment. So our efforts in the Middle East are going to be long-term. It is important.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Criticized Nation Building, Citing The Consequences Of The United States’ Involvement In Libya And The Mistreatment Of President Mubarak In Egypt. CORKER: “I hear a lot of comparisons, actually, from the foreign policy establishment where they continue to say that in the Middle East we’ve got to develop, like we did with the Soviet Union, a policy that we can see through over the next 50 to 60 years. I understand that. What they’re saying is we’ve got to develop a bipartisan consensus. I will say the Middle East is very different. We’re constantly dealing with shifting leaders there, some of whom are decent. Some of whom are really poor leaders. We’ve got demographic issues, which are working against us, with a huge youth population, in many cases, 40 percent unemployment. So our efforts in the Middle East are going to be long-term. It is important. On the other hand, we don’t need to be involved in nation building. We have gotten into situations where we were overextended and we’ve gotten into situations with Libya where we didn’t know what the end was going to be. I opposed that. We have thrown aside friends quickly like we did with (former Egyptian President Hosni) Mubarak in Egypt. To me, there was a better way of dealing with that.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Bob Corker Said That There Was A Very Small Portion Of The Muslim Population That Are Radical Jihadists. CORKER: “Back to the issue of radical Islam, there’s no question that there’s a very, very small percentage of the Muslim population that are extremist. They’re Jihadists. These are root issues in the Middle East of poverty and the Wahhabi mentality that’s been spread throughout the region, and, obviously, every Friday morning prayers, it’s reinforced. Those issues and poor governance are causing some of the extremism that’s taking place. The vast majority of the Muslim population does not embrace that. That’s a fact. They’ve got to be a part of the solution to these issues. Certainly, more, more and more, we’ve got to reinforce those Muslim populations that don’t embrace this to be a bigger part of the solution. It’s a very complex issue that’s going to be with us for a long, long time. And it is a threat to U.S. interests. Let’s face it, ISIS has formed from an entity that was more focused on the territory they were taking. We now see that they’re moving hourly, trying to do fantastic interruptions, those that scare the American people, upset other Western democracies and countries, and it is in an issue that’s going to be long term and that we need to deal with.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Tennessee Politics

Bob Corker Highlighted The Importance Of Having A Strong Foreign Policy Despite Domestic Issues That May Seem More Pressing.  CORKER: “Madeleine Albright was before our committee, former Democratic Secretary of State (in the Clinton Administration), and she too was talking about how NATO is really going down a negative path when you only have four countries in our alliance that are paying their fair share. To me, the solution to that is for them to do what they’re supposed to do. Each country is supposed to provide 2 percent of their country’s GDP towards defense, and only four countries are doing it. I met with the new ambassador from the U.K. the other day. They are stepping up their budget to meet that goal, but countries like Germany are not. We do need to stress that right now we are the provider of security services to these countries. They are the consumers of security services. That does not provide the type of alliance that has made the world stable… You’ve got people in Middle Tennessee that care about infrastructure and seeing the city change, they care about crime, they care about education, much of that is funding by state and local governments, I understand, but our nation is concerned about its own future… When they see these countries that are not doing their fair share, it does break down the alliance. I thought there was a kernel there that was right on target and I would approach it slightly differently.” [Tennessean, 5/16/16<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2016/05/16/corker-gives-trump-foreign-policy-advice-upon-request/84368446/>]

Misc. Social Media:

Bob Corker: “Larry Daughtrey Was One Of The Best Political Reporters Of His Generation, And Tennessee Will Miss Him.” [@SenBobCorker, 5/14/16<https://twitter.com/SenBobCorker/status/731518111216771073>]

TOM COTTON

On Partnership With Elizabeth Warren

Tom Cotton And Elizabeth Warren Partnered To Ask The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority About Financial Advisor Misconduct. “The federal government appears to be shirking its duty to prevent shady financial advisers from endangering the life savings of millions of Americans—and two very different senators have teamed up to demand answers. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tom Cotton sent a letter this week to Richard Ketchum, chairman of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, asking for answers about why widespread malfeasance by financial advisers, including bribery, forgery, and extortion, appears to be going unpunished by the regulators overseeing the industry.” [The Nation, 5/13/16<http://www.thenation.com/article/why-wont-the-government-crack-down-on-shady-financial-advisers/>]

The Nation: Tom Cotton And Elizabeth Warren Come From Polar Opposite Sides Of The Political Spectrum But The Partnership Shows “That The Presidential Race Hasn’t Become A Permanent Freeze On What’s Happening In Washington.” “Warren is a champion of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party and Cotton is a hard-charging conservative who may be on Donald Trump’s short list for vice president. Warren hasn’t tweeted anything but attacks on Trump since May 1, but the letter shows that the presidential race hasn’t become a permanent freeze on what’s happening in Washington.” [The Nation, 5/13/16<http://www.thenation.com/article/why-wont-the-government-crack-down-on-shady-financial-advisers/>]

The Nation: “By June 15, They [Elizabeth Warren And Tom Cotton] Want To Know What Specific Steps Regulators Are Taking To Address ‘Unacceptable Levels Of Adviser Misconduct Across The Entire Financial Advisory Industry,’ And Specifically How It Plans To Prevent Recidivism And Crack Down On Firms That Seem To Prefer Shady Advisers.” “Warren and Cotton, both members of the Senate Banking Committee, pressed FINRA for answers. By June 15, they want to know what specific steps regulators are taking to address ‘unacceptable levels of adviser misconduct across the entire financial advisory industry,’ and specifically how it plans to prevent recidivism and crack down on firms that seem to prefer shady advisers. ‘FINRA has a paramount responsibility to protect investors by addressing misconduct by financial advisers,’ they wrote. ‘The risks to investors posed by advisers with a disciplinary history are disturbing.’” [The Nation, 5/13/16<http://www.thenation.com/article/why-wont-the-government-crack-down-on-shady-financial-advisers/>]

On Energy And Water Appropriations Bill

Arkansas Business: Senator Dianne Feinstein Said That Tom Cotton’s Attempted Amendment To The Energy And Water Appropriations Bill “Threatened To Undo Months Of Work” “Feinstein had expressed sharp irritation with freshman Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who proposed an amendment that would have barred the U.S. from using taxpayer dollars to buy any more Iranian ‘heavy water.’ The Obama administration bought 32 metric tons of heavy water from Tehran last month, an $8.6 million deal that helped Iran meet the nuclear agreement's terms. Heavy water is not radioactive but has research and medical applications and can also be used to produce weapons-grade plutonium. Feinstein said Cotton's amendment had threatened to undo months of work on the spending bill. She expressed relief that the measure was finally approved. ‘We are trying to set an example on this floor by working things out,’ she said.” [Arkansas Business, 5/13/16<http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/111148/senate-approves-375b-measure-to-fund-energy-water?page=all>]

On EPA Flint Allegations

Office Of Senator Tom Cotton: “We've Known That The Obama Administration Sat Idly By For Months While The Disaster In Flint Got Progressively Worse, But Recent Emails Reveal That Timespan Was Even Longer Than We Thought.” “Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement on revelations that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials knew of problems in Flint, Michigan four months earlier than previously reported: ‘We've known that the Obama administration sat idly by for months while the disaster in Flint got progressively worse, but recent emails reveal that timespan was even longer than we thought. Not to mention these emails said things like “LEAD!...Big worries here.” Unfortunately, I fear this is only the tip of the iceberg. During his remarks in Flint earlier this month, President Obama called for correcting the mindset of neglect that led to the Flint water crisis. If he's serious, he can start by asking Congress to immediately pass the EPA Accountability in Flint Act and prove to the American people that his administration doesn't tolerate such negligence.’ Background: The EPA Accountability in Flint Act allows Flint victims to sue the EPA under the Federal Torts Claims Act by removing the discretionary function exemption. The legislation also requires that all damages awarded are taken from the EPA's appropriated budget, instead of placing an additional burden on taxpayers by creating a new fund. Finally, the legislation requires EPA to develop, fund, and implement a long-term monitoring program that addresses the water supply contamination. Click here to view the full text of the bill.” [Press Release, Office Of Senator Tom Cotton, 5/13/16<http://www.cotton.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=385>]

On 2020 Presidential Election

In A New York Times Article, Tom Cotton Was Said To Be Looking At Running For President. “As the 2016 White House hopefuls battle for votes, a few political buffs already are speculating about potential presidential candidates in 2020. And one of the names that's being mentioned is U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who turned 39 on Friday. A New York Times article Thursday on the future presidential aspirations of House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said Cotton is already ‘widely viewed as angling for a run’ four years from now.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/16/16<http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/may/16/in-talk-of-20-run-cotton-s-name-comes-u/?f=news-arkansas#/>]

Tom Cotton’s Travel Schedule And Appearances On TV To Criticize The President Have Caused People To Talk About A Presidential Run In 2020. “That's partly because Cotton is one of President Barack Obama's most vocal critics, a frequent guest on CNN and some of the other television cable news channels. Cotton's travels also are fueling speculation. Since joining the Senate in January 2015, he has made trips to some of the key early primary and caucus states. He spoke at fellow U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst's Boone, Iowa, pig roast and political rally in June; appeared at a Presidential Town Hall in Nashua, N.H., in January; and delivered the keynote address at the 49th annual Silver Elephant Dinner in Columbia, S.C. He's also spoken this year at party functions in Missouri and Minnesota and, earlier this month, he traveled to Arizona to campaign for U.S. Sen. John McCain. The fellow combat veterans serve together on the Senate Armed Services Committee and McCain is facing a challenger in the state's Aug. 30 primary.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/16/16<http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/may/16/in-talk-of-20-run-cotton-s-name-comes-u/?f=news-arkansas#/>]

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: “Cotton's Name Also Has Been Floated As A Potential Vice Presidential Running Mate In The Fall Campaign.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/16/16<http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/may/16/in-talk-of-20-run-cotton-s-name-comes-u/?f=news-arkansas#/>]

Tom Cotton Said That He Is Not Thinking About 2020 And Is Working To Reelect Senate Republicans. “In an interview, Cotton said it's too early to focus on 2020. ‘We don't even have nominees for the two parties in this cycle. I think it's premature to talk about hypotheticals four years from now,’ he said. For now, Cotton said he's concentrating on keeping the Capitol in GOP hands. ‘I'm firmly committed to ensuring that we hold our Republican majority in the Senate so whoever is president, we can continue to advance conservative causes and conservative legislation,’ he said. Rather than laying the groundwork for future races, Cotton said he's devoting his energy to re-electing fellow Republicans. ‘I have good relationships with colleagues all across the country, and when they ask me to go, if I can fit it into my obligations as a senator and my obligations as a dad and husband, I try to help them out,’ he said. It's the sort of effort that benefited him when he ran. ‘So many people helped me in my Senate race in 2014,’ he said.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/16/16<http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/may/16/in-talk-of-20-run-cotton-s-name-comes-u/?f=news-arkansas#/>]

John McCain Said Tom Cotton Is Not Thinking About Running For President But That His Travel To Early Primary States Could Be Useful In The Future. “McCain, the party's 2012 presidential nominee, doubts that Cotton is dreaming about the White House as he journeys from state to state. Instead, Cotton is trying to keep ‘the turmoil in the Republican Party’ from harming GOP incumbents, he said. ‘I may be wrong, but I do not see right now Cotton's ambition exceeding that of being a very effective and well-respected member of the Senate, which I think he has succeeded in doing,’ McCain said. ‘There's no doubt that he is an emerging star in the United States Senate and the Republican Party.’ But Cotton's work to bolster Republican candidates and his travels to Iowa and New Hampshire ‘could pay dividends in later years,’ McCain said.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/16/16<http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/may/16/in-talk-of-20-run-cotton-s-name-comes-u/?f=news-arkansas#/>]

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: “And If The Day Arrives When [Tom] Cotton Is Ready To Seek The Presidency, [John] Mccain Said He'll Be Glad To See It. ‘In This Tumultuous And Dangerous World We Live In, I Would Welcome The Voice Of Reason And Knowledge And Experience That Tom Cotton Represents,’ He Said.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/16/16<http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/may/16/in-talk-of-20-run-cotton-s-name-comes-u/?f=news-arkansas#/>]

Arkansas Legislators Changed State Law To Allow Tom Cotton To Run For President And Senate At The Same Time If He Wanted To. “While McCain downplays chances of a 2020 presidential bid, lawmakers in Arkansas are considering the possibility. Last year, they removed an obstacle that might undermine a potential Cotton presidential campaign four years from now. Shortly after Cotton took office, the Legislature passed and Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into law legislation that would allow Cotton to run for re-election in the Senate while simultaneously seeking higher office. Act 742 of 2015 declared that ‘A person may be a candidate for President or Vice President of the United States and for the United States Senate or United States House of Representatives in the same primary and general election.’” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/16/16<http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/may/16/in-talk-of-20-run-cotton-s-name-comes-u/?f=news-arkansas#/>]

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Arkansas Democrats Said They Would Not Be Surprised If Tom Cotton Ran For President. “Democratic officials say they won't be stunned if Cotton decides to seek a higher-profile job. ‘I wouldn't be the least bit surprised,’ said Democratic Party of Arkansas spokesman H.L. Moody. ‘He hadn't been a member of Congress for all of about 20 minutes when he started running for the Senate. Now that he's been in the Senate, I'm not surprised that he's thinking of running for higher office.’” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/16/16<http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/may/16/in-talk-of-20-run-cotton-s-name-comes-u/?f=news-arkansas#/>]

On US Nuclear Program

Defense News’ Steve Daines And Tom Cotton: In A Joint Oped, Tom Cotton And Steve Daines Argued That The US Nuclear Program Must Be Modernized. “While it may be difficult to imagine given the destructive power they possess, nuclear weapons are a cornerstone of our national security. In fact, our possession of these weapons helps protect the United States and US allies around the world every single day by deterring our enemies. Regrettably, our nuclear capabilities are facing a readiness crisis and we must act to ensure the United States deterrent remains credible.” [Steve Daines And Tom Cotton, Defense News, 5/16/16<http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/commentary/2016/05/16/shore-up-us-nuclear-program/84320266/>]

Defense News’ Steve Daines And Tom Cotton: “Quite Simply, It Is Imperative That We Ensure Our Nuclear Capabilities Are Rapidly Deployable, Flexible To Meet Varying Scenarios, And Able To Penetrate Sophisticated Air Defense Systems.” “Quite simply, it is imperative that we ensure our nuclear capabilities are rapidly deployable, flexible to meet varying scenarios, and able to penetrate sophisticated air defense systems. The land, air and sea legs of our nuclear triad each play a vital role in deterrence. The absence of one would create a gaping hole in our capabilities and invite increased aggression from both our near-peer competitors and rogue regimes.” [Steve Daines And Tom Cotton, Defense News, 5/16/16<http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/commentary/2016/05/16/shore-up-us-nuclear-program/84320266/>]

Defense News’ Steve Daines And Tom Cotton: The US Nuclear Program Is “Not A Partisan Issue” “Our nuclear capabilities shouldn’t be and in most cases are not a partisan issue. There is widespread agreement on the role they play in our national security. In fact, our past two secretaries of defense publicly highlighted their importance during their tenures. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joe Dunford describes it as ‘the most important requirement that we have in the department, which is to prevent a nuclear war against the United States.’  President Obama himself confirmed their role in our national security when his 2010 Nuclear Posture Review deemed that we keep all three legs of the triad on alert.” [Steve Daines And Tom Cotton, Defense News, 5/16/16<http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/commentary/2016/05/16/shore-up-us-nuclear-program/84320266/>]

Defense News’ Steve Daines And Tom Cotton: The Nuclear Program Is Aging And The Defense Department Has Failed To Meet “Milestone A”, Which Would Up Contract Bids. “However, our nuclear triad is aging, and with it goes our nuclear deterrence and a critical American role in the world. The programs we depend on to replace the bedrock of our national security are already showing signs of delay — due in large part to a failure of accountability within the Department of Defense, the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program failed to meet ‘Milestone A.’ Milestone A is a critical step, which opens the program for bidding from competitors and makes it a permanent program of record. We will use all measures at our disposal to ensure these milestones are met. As members of the Senate Armed Services and Appropriations committees,  we know firsthand the attention that must be given to ensure programs stay on a timeline.” [Steve Daines And Tom Cotton, Defense News, 5/16/16<http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/commentary/2016/05/16/shore-up-us-nuclear-program/84320266/>]

Defense News’ Steve Daines And Tom Cotton: “If We Fail To Hold Those In The Pentagon Accountable For Missing Milestone A, We Will Only Be Encouraging The Downfall Of America’s Most Important Program, On Which We Have Silently Depended Since The End Of Word War II. In Short, It Will Be Unilateral Disarmament.” [Steve Daines And Tom Cotton, Defense News, 5/16/16<http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/commentary/2016/05/16/shore-up-us-nuclear-program/84320266/>]

Defense News’ Steve Daines And Tom Cotton: Defense Projects Have A History Of Falling Behind Schedule And Blowing Through Budgets. “Due in large part to a lethargic bureaucracy and instability in the acquisition process, defense programs have a tendency to fall behind schedule — and this puts our national security at risk. One has to look no further than the F-35 program for evidence: After eight years it is $163 billion over budget and seven years behind schedule. Last year, the Ford-class aircraft carrier program was five years behind schedule and $2.3 billion over its initial cost. We refuse to allow our nuclear capabilities to travel this same path.” [Steve Daines And Tom Cotton, Defense News, 5/16/16<http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/commentary/2016/05/16/shore-up-us-nuclear-program/84320266/>]

Defense News’ Steve Daines And Tom Cotton: “This Decline In Our Nuclear Capabilities Coincides With A Dangerous Period Around The World.” “This decline in our nuclear capabilities coincides with a dangerous period around the world. North Korea claims to have executed a successful hydrogen bomb detonation. Iran chants ‘death to America’ while receiving billions of US taxpayer dollars that will subsidize further nuclear activity. And let’s not forget the robust modernization efforts Russia, China, Pakistan and India are putting in to increase their nuclear portfolios.” [Steve Daines And Tom Cotton, Defense News, 5/16/16<http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/commentary/2016/05/16/shore-up-us-nuclear-program/84320266/>]

Defense News’ Steve Daines And Tom Cotton: The United States Must Modernize Its Nuclear Program To Preserve Peace And To Be Ready To Counter Threats. “Now is not the time for the American people, members of Congress, or those in the Pentagon to turn their attention away from a bedrock of peace and security in the world, the US nuclear deterrent. The United States simply cannot afford, and we will not allow, a delay in these vital systems. Taking a weak posture towards the delay in Milestone A only exacerbates the problem. We must take action to ensure our nuclear capabilities match the threats we face.” [Steve Daines And Tom Cotton, Defense News, 5/16/16<http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/commentary/2016/05/16/shore-up-us-nuclear-program/84320266/>]

On National Peace Officer Memorial Day

Office Of Senator Tom Cotton: “National Peace Officers Memorial Day Also Falls During National Police Week And We Should Use This Opportunity To Honor And Thank All Law Enforcement Officials.” “Senator Tom Cotton today released the following statement in observance of National Peace Officers Memorial Day: ‘Today we remember those law enforcement officers who laid down their lives protecting our communities. These men and women confronted danger head-on to protect others and gave the full measure of devotion to duty that only those called to serve on the front lines can fully understand. We can never repay them, or their families, but we can lift them up in prayer and always remember their sacrifice. ‘National Peace Officers Memorial Day also falls during National Police Week and we should use this opportunity to honor and thank all law enforcement officials. As a soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan, my soldiers and I knew what it meant to fight against the enemy. But at the end of our tours, we went home and many of us worked much less dangerous jobs at military bases around the country until our next tour or we left the service. For law enforcement officers, there is no end to the tour. Each day they go to work, our law enforcement personnel around the country put themselves in harms way to keep us and our communities safe.’” [Press Release, Office Of Senator Tom Cotton, 5/15/16<http://www.cotton.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=387>]

On Russian Olympic Doping Allegations

Office Of Senator Tom Cotton: “This Brazen Fraud Cheated True Olympians Out Of Their Life-Long Dreams And Undermined The Integrity Of The Games.” “Senator Tom Cotton today released the following statement on confirmation from a former Russian conspirator of a Russian Olympic doping scheme: ‘Confirmation from Russia's former top doping expert that Vladimir Putin put intelligence operatives to work on a massive Olympic doping scheme makes clear once again that Russia is a KGB state led by a KGB spy. This brazen fraud cheated true Olympians out of their life-long dreams and undermined the integrity of the Games. And it also reveals the insecurity of the Russian autocrat. He feels he needs to steal gold medals to divert his people's attention away from Russia's failing economy and his corrupt and repressive rule. The International Olympic Committee should should strip these Russian dopers of their medals and award them to the rightful winners.’” [Press Release, Office Of Senator Tom Cotton, 5/13/16<http://www.cotton.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=386>]

Social Media Action

Tom Cotton: “Venezuela On The Brink” [@TomCottonAR, Twitter, 5/14/16<https://twitter.com/TomCottonAR/status/731611568224378881>]

David Frum (Retweeted By Tom Cotton): “Context: Germany's Defense Budget Is About 34 Billion Euros Per Year.” [@davidfrum, Twitter, 5/14/16<https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/731479418942697472>]

Tom Cotton: “Thanks, Zim. Seems Like Yesterday WTC Was Standing. Never Forgot All The Birthdays Lost Due To 9/11 Attacks.” [@TomCottonAR, Twitter, 5/13/16<https://twitter.com/TomCottonAR/status/731143474767134720>]

Tom Cotton: “Today We Remember Those Law Enforcement Officers Who Laid Down Their Lives Protecting Our Communities.” “Today we remember those law enforcement officers who laid down their lives protecting our communities. These men and women confronted danger head-on to protect others and gave the full measure of devotion to duty that only those called to serve on the front lines can fully understand. We can never repay them, or their families, but we can lift them up in prayer and always remember their sacrifice. National Peace Officers Memorial Day also falls during National Police Week and we should use this opportunity to honor and thank all law enforcement officials. As a soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan, my soldiers and I knew what it meant to fight against the enemy. But at the end of our tours, we went home and many of us worked much less dangerous jobs at military bases around the country until our next tour or we left the service. For law enforcement officers, there is no end to the tour. Each day they go to work, our law enforcement personnel around the country put themselves in harms way to keep us and our communities safe. http://www.cotton.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=387” [Senator Tom Cotton, Facebook, 5/15/16<https://www.facebook.com/SenatorTomCotton/photos/a.139579716203572.28054.120355701459307/602831596545046/?type=3&theater>]

Tom Cotton: “Today In 1864 The Custis Estate Became Arlington National Cemetery As The First Soldier Was Laid To Rest There.” [Senator Tom Cotton, Facebook, 5/13/16<https://www.facebook.com/SenatorTomCotton/posts/602052786622927>]

Tom Cotton: “This Brazen Fraud Cheated True Olympians Out Of Their Life-Long Dreams And Undermined The Integrity Of The Games.” “Confirmation from Russia’s former top doping expert that Vladimir Putin put intelligence operatives to work on a massive Olympic doping scheme makes clear once again that Russia is a KGB state led by a KGB spy. This brazen fraud cheated true Olympians out of their life-long dreams and undermined the integrity of the Games. And it also reveals the insecurity of the Russian autocrat. He feels he needs to steal gold medals to divert his people's attention away from Russia’s failing economy and his corrupt and repressive rule. The International Olympic Committee should should strip these Russian dopers of their medals and award them to the rightful winners.” [Senator Tom Cotton, Facebook, 5/13/16<https://www.facebook.com/SenatorTomCotton/posts/602045036623702>]

Tom Cotton: “Unfortunately, I Fear This Is Only The Tip Of The Iceberg. During His Remarks In Flint Earlier This Month, President Obama Called For Correcting The Mindset Of Neglect That Led To The Flint Water Crisis.” “We’ve known that the Obama administration sat idly by for months while the disaster in Flint got progressively worse, but recent emails reveal that timespan was even longer than we thought. Not to mention these emails said things like ‘LEAD!…Big worries here.' Unfortunately, I fear this is only the tip of the iceberg. During his remarks in Flint earlier this month, President Obama called for correcting the mindset of neglect that led to the Flint water crisis. If he’s serious, he can start by asking Congress to immediately pass the EPA Accountability in Flint Act and prove to the American people that his administration doesn't tolerate such negligence.” [Senator Tom Cotton, Facebook, 5/13/16<https://www.facebook.com/SenatorTomCotton/posts/602036836624522>]

Tom Cotton: “Today We Remember Those Who Laid Down Their Lives Protecting Our Communities. #PeaceOfficersMemorialDay http://ow.ly/rTbp300d6kl” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/15/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731881864491876356>]

Tom Cotton: “Today AR Honors Johnson County, Deputy Sonny Smith, Who Died Protecting His Community. #PoliceOfficersMemorialDay” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/15/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731868018624593920>]

Tom Cotton: “Today On #PeaceOfficersMemorialDay We Honor Those Who Died In The Line Of Duty And Remember Their Great Sacrifice.” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/15/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731857951007330305>]

Tom Cotton: “Thank You For Your Service & Sacrifice. #PeaceOfficersMemorialDay http://ow.ly/BiCH300d6OB” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/15/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731842116129832961>]

Tom Cotton: “.@UArkansas Students Built Several Raised Gardens For 7 Hills Homeless Shelter In Fayetteville, Great Work!<mailto:.@UArkansas%20Students%20Built%20Several%20Raised%20Gardens%20For%207%20Hills%20Homeless%20Shelter%20In%20Fayetteville,%20Great%20Work!>” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/14/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731600016423436289>]

Tom Cotton: “Happy To See So Much Excitement At The Recent GLAMS Event At South AR Community College #GLAMS2016.” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/14/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731520723915841537>]

Tom Cotton: “Great Recent Ribbon Cutting For The New Community Based VA Clinic In Jonesboro.” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/14/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731509417364078593>]

Tom Cotton: “Do You Know An Arkansan Who Has Made An Impact On Their Community? #ArkansanOfTheWeek” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/14/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731489037693882368>]

Tom Cotton: “Need Help With The IRS, VA, Or Social Security? My Office Can Help! http://ow.ly/4nvaHv” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/13/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731233840044347396>]

Tom Cotton: “Putin’s Doping Scheme Cheated True Olympians Out Of Their Life-Long Dreams & Undermined The Integrity Of The Games. http://ow.ly/iwLO300aOOY” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/13/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731213718697185280>]

Tom Cotton: “I Will Fight In The Senate To Ensure Arkansans And All Americans Are Protected From The Worst Effects Of #Obamacare. http://ow.ly/1NYb300aOYQ” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/13/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731206153359753216>]

Tom Cotton: “Today In 1864 The Custis Estate Became @ArlingtonNatl Cemetery As The First Soldier Was Laid To Rest There.” [@SenTomCotton, Twitter, 5/13/16<https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/731205763905916929>]

JONI ERNST

Trump

Joni Ernst On Why She Was Supporting Trump: “Currently, We Have A President - And Those Who Have Served In His Administration - Whose Wayward Policies In The Middle East Have Led To Strengthening Of Terrorists.” “Here's where many of the prominent Iowa Republicans stand on the issue of supporting Trump in the general election as the leader of the GOP…U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa…Will she support Trump: Yes…Reason: ‘Currently, we have a president - and those who have served in his administration - whose wayward policies in the Middle East have led to strengthening of terrorists. ISIS continues to grow and expand while the president fails to put forward a comprehensive strategy to defeat and destroy them. Many of those on the left will continue those same failed policies. We absolutely must elect a commander in chief who will destroy ISIS. I am committed to electing leaders to Congress and the White House who are focused on getting our country growing again and to ensuring America remains a strong, stabilizing force around the globe.’” [The Tribune, 5/15/16]

Joni Ernst On Why She Was Supporting Trump: “We Absolutely Must Elect A Commander In Chief Who Will Destroy ISIS.” “Here's where many of the prominent Iowa Republicans stand on the issue of supporting Trump in the general election as the leader of the GOP…U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa…Will she support Trump: Yes…Reason: ‘Currently, we have a president - and those who have served in his administration - whose wayward policies in the Middle East have led to strengthening of terrorists. ISIS continues to grow and expand while the president fails to put forward a comprehensive strategy to defeat and destroy them. Many of those on the left will continue those same failed policies. We absolutely must elect a commander in chief who will destroy ISIS. I am committed to electing leaders to Congress and the White House who are focused on getting our country growing again and to ensuring America remains a strong, stabilizing force around the globe.’” [The Tribune, 5/15/16]

Joni Ernst On Why She Was Supporting Trump: “I Am Committed To Electing Leaders To Congress And The White House Who Are Focused On Getting Our Country Growing Again And To Ensuring America Remains A Strong, Stabilizing Force Around The Globe.” “Here's where many of the prominent Iowa Republicans stand on the issue of supporting Trump in the general election as the leader of the GOP…U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa…Will she support Trump: Yes…Reason: ‘Currently, we have a president - and those who have served in his administration - whose wayward policies in the Middle East have led to strengthening of terrorists. ISIS continues to grow and expand while the president fails to put forward a comprehensive strategy to defeat and destroy them. Many of those on the left will continue those same failed policies. We absolutely must elect a commander in chief who will destroy ISIS. I am committed to electing leaders to Congress and the White House who are focused on getting our country growing again and to ensuring America remains a strong, stabilizing force around the globe.’” [The Tribune, 5/15/16]

Waterloo Courier: Joni Ernst “Laughs Off The Speculation She Will Be Presumptive Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump's Running Mate.” “Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, laughs off the speculation she will be presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's running mate. Instead, she says she is focused on Iowa right now. ‘We haven't heard anything from their campaign, so it's a lot of to-do about probably nothing, so I'm very much focused on Iowa,’ Ernst said.” [Waterloo Courier, 5/15/16]

Joni Ernst On Serving As Trump’s Running Mate: “We Haven't Heard Anything From Their Campaign, So It's A Lot Of To-Do About Probably Nothing, So I'm Very Much Focused On Iowa.” “Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, laughs off the speculation she will be presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's running mate. Instead, she says she is focused on Iowa right now. ‘We haven't heard anything from their campaign, so it's a lot of to-do about probably nothing, so I'm very much focused on Iowa,’ Ernst said.” [Waterloo Courier, 5/15/16]

Iowa Visits

Joni Ernst On Potentially Using 3-D Printing To Build Components Of The F-35: “If We Can Save Time And Money On Such A Large Project, We Need To Be Looking At That Technology And Utilizing That.” “Ernst demonstrated the sincerity of that statement Friday by making a half-dozen stops in the Cedar Valley -- touring businesses, holding a town hall and hosting a fundraiser. Among her stops was an inaugural trip to TechWorks to see the 3-dimensional printing operation in person after her staff have made previous stops. TechWorks staff and students took Ernst through the process -- from design to finished product -- during a 45-minute tour. One example they used for the retired Iowa National Guard member was printing a fuel system component for an F-35C joint strike fighter plane. ‘If we can save time and money on such a large project, we need to be looking at that technology and utilizing that,’ Ernst said after the tour. ‘It was fantastic.’” [Waterloo Courier, 5/15/16]

Joni Ernst Attended A Fundraiser For Republican Iowa State Senate Candidate Bonnie Sadler In May 2016. “Ernst's final stop Friday took her to a fundraiser for Iowa Senate District 30 Republican candidate Bonnie Sadler. She hopes to give Republicans the edge in the Iowa Senate where she used to be a member, in the minority throughout her tenure. ‘When I left the state Senate, I just made that promise that I would stay involved and active with the state Senate and try and push into that majority so that we can get more of our bills through, make sure we're working with the governor, just working for the betterment of Iowa, so this is one way that I'm able to contribute back is just be involved with our candidates,’ Ernst said.” [Waterloo Courier, 5/15/16]

Joni Ernst Spoke At The Iowa Sendoff Ceremony For An Army Reserve Company Set To Deploy To Iraq And Kuwait. “There was a slight redness in his eyes as Spc. Adam Cooper knelt next to his wife, Heather, and their four young daughters Saturday afternoon. Dressed in uniform, Cooper was enjoying some of the final moments with his family before his deployment Sunday morning. Around them, a crowded wall of bleachers had emptied onto the East High School gymnasium floor, where the crowd now wished their own loved ones well with hugs, handshakes and tears. The crowd had gathered for a sendoff ceremony for the 180 soldiers in the 960th Quartermaster Company, an Army Reserve company based in Sioux City that will fly Sunday morning to Fort Hood, Texas, for training. It will then deploy to Kuwait and Iraq later this year, where its main mission will be to supply ammunition, fuel and portable water purification…Among the speakers at Saturday's ceremony was U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who is herself a combat veteran with more than 20 years of military experience. Ernst thanked the soldiers for their service. ‘So few people actually do stand up and raise their right hand and swear their allegiance and their dedication to this wonderful nation,’ Ernst said. ‘So thank you, thank you, thank you over and over again for all that you do for all of us.’” [Sioux City Journal, 5/14/16]

Military Sexual Assualt

Legislation By Claire McCaskill And Joni Ernst To Protect Sexual Assault Survivors In The Military Was Included In The 2016 NDAA. “Bipartisan legislation from U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Joni Ernst of Iowa to build on historic reforms to curb sexual assaults in the military and better protect survivors from retaliation today cleared a key hurdle with its inclusion in the annual National Defense Authorization Act. McCaskill and Ernst-both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee-introduced the bipartisan Military Retaliation Prevention Act, targeting stubbornly high rates of survivors who report that they have been retaliated against by their peers after coming forward. Those rates of experienced retaliation remain high, even as the number of assaults has dropped and reporting by victims has gone up, following a slate of historic reforms overhauling the military justice system. The provision, along with the entire annual defense bill, now heads to the full U.S. Senate...‘I am so pleased that our provision to protect survivors of sexual assault crimes from retaliation is one step closer to being enacted. I applaud Senator McCaskill for her hard work on this important legislation and our colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee for their support,’ said Senator Ernst, the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate. ‘Any retaliation against a sexual assault survivor within our military is utterly unacceptable and we simply cannot stand idle. I encourage all my Senate colleagues to stand with us in working to change the culture surrounding sexual assault in the military, and focus on preventing this trauma from happening in the first place.’” [Press Release, Office of Senator McCaskill, 5/13/16]

Joni Ernst On Her Legislation To Protect Sexual Assault Survivors In The Military: “I Am So Pleased That Our Provision To Protect Survivors Of Sexual Assault Crimes From Retaliation Is One Step Closer To Being Enacted.” “Bipartisan legislation from U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Joni Ernst of Iowa to build on historic reforms to curb sexual assaults in the military and better protect survivors from retaliation today cleared a key hurdle with its inclusion in the annual National Defense Authorization Act. McCaskill and Ernst-both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee-introduced the bipartisan Military Retaliation Prevention Act, targeting stubbornly high rates of survivors who report that they have been retaliated against by their peers after coming forward. Those rates of experienced retaliation remain high, even as the number of assaults has dropped and reporting by victims has gone up, following a slate of historic reforms overhauling the military justice system. The provision, along with the entire annual defense bill, now heads to the full U.S. Senate...‘I am so pleased that our provision to protect survivors of sexual assault crimes from retaliation is one step closer to being enacted. I applaud Senator McCaskill for her hard work on this important legislation and our colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee for their support,’ said Senator Ernst, the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate. ‘Any retaliation against a sexual assault survivor within our military is utterly unacceptable and we simply cannot stand idle. I encourage all my Senate colleagues to stand with us in working to change the culture surrounding sexual assault in the military, and focus on preventing this trauma from happening in the first place.’” [Press Release, Office of Senator McCaskill, 5/13/16]

Joni Ernst On Her Legislation To Protect Sexual Assault Survivors In The Military: “Any Retaliation Against A Sexual Assault Survivor Within Our Military Is Utterly Unacceptable And We Simply Cannot Stand Idle.” “Bipartisan legislation from U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Joni Ernst of Iowa to build on historic reforms to curb sexual assaults in the military and better protect survivors from retaliation today cleared a key hurdle with its inclusion in the annual National Defense Authorization Act. McCaskill and Ernst-both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee-introduced the bipartisan Military Retaliation Prevention Act, targeting stubbornly high rates of survivors who report that they have been retaliated against by their peers after coming forward. Those rates of experienced retaliation remain high, even as the number of assaults has dropped and reporting by victims has gone up, following a slate of historic reforms overhauling the military justice system. The provision, along with the entire annual defense bill, now heads to the full U.S. Senate...‘I am so pleased that our provision to protect survivors of sexual assault crimes from retaliation is one step closer to being enacted. I applaud Senator McCaskill for her hard work on this important legislation and our colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee for their support,’ said Senator Ernst, the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate. ‘Any retaliation against a sexual assault survivor within our military is utterly unacceptable and we simply cannot stand idle. I encourage all my Senate colleagues to stand with us in working to change the culture surrounding sexual assault in the military, and focus on preventing this trauma from happening in the first place.’” [Press Release, Office of Senator McCaskill, 5/13/16]

Joni Ernst On Her Legislation To Protect Sexual Assault Survivors In The Military: “I Encourage All My Senate Colleagues To Stand With Us In Working To Change The Culture Surrounding Sexual Assault In The Military, And Focus On Preventing This Trauma From Happening In The First Place.” “Bipartisan legislation from U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Joni Ernst of Iowa to build on historic reforms to curb sexual assaults in the military and better protect survivors from retaliation today cleared a key hurdle with its inclusion in the annual National Defense Authorization Act. McCaskill and Ernst-both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee-introduced the bipartisan Military Retaliation Prevention Act, targeting stubbornly high rates of survivors who report that they have been retaliated against by their peers after coming forward. Those rates of experienced retaliation remain high, even as the number of assaults has dropped and reporting by victims has gone up, following a slate of historic reforms overhauling the military justice system. The provision, along with the entire annual defense bill, now heads to the full U.S. Senate...‘I am so pleased that our provision to protect survivors of sexual assault crimes from retaliation is one step closer to being enacted. I applaud Senator McCaskill for her hard work on this important legislation and our colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee for their support,’ said Senator Ernst, the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate. ‘Any retaliation against a sexual assault survivor within our military is utterly unacceptable and we simply cannot stand idle. I encourage all my Senate colleagues to stand with us in working to change the culture surrounding sexual assault in the military, and focus on preventing this trauma from happening in the first place.’” [Press Release, Office of Senator McCaskill, 5/13/16]

GMO

Times-Republican: When Asked About Standardizing Agricultural Products To Prevent Unsafe Products, Joni Ernst Said, “This Is Not Something I Feel That The Federal Government Should Get Involved In…Pushing Education By Local Companies Is Our Role, As I Oppose Overregulation By The Federal Government.” “Territory representative Ruth Peterson asked Ernst about the recent problem among South Dakota farmers whose livestock was getting sick after drinking from other manufacturers' products and wondered how a company gets their products more standardized. ‘This is not something I feel that the federal government should get involved in,’ Ernst said. ‘Competition is great, but this seems like a great target audience for why your product is better through your own educational process. Pushing education by local companies is our role, as I oppose overregulation by the federal government.’” [Times-Republican, 5/14/16<http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/601622/Sen--Ernst-makes-stop-in-Conrad.html?nav=5005>]

Times-Republican: Joni Ernst Claimed That Adding Extra Labeling To Food Products Manufactured In Iowa To Comply With Vermont GMO Labeling Laws Would “Add An Additional $1,050 To A Consumer’s Food Budget Per Year.”  “When asked about the current main agricultural issues, Ernst was quick to say, ‘GMOs.’ She pointed out that Vermont has a state law requiring new labeling standards listing GMOs as if they were some chemical put in food that would be dangerous for human consumption. She noted for example that a box of Quaker oatmeal made in Iowa would have to have a separate label for Vermont from others being shipped to nearby states. That would add an additional $1,050 to a consumer's food budget per year due to labeling and transportation in separate trucks, etc. ‘Can you imagine what it would be like if all 50 states had to have their own separate labels?’ she asked. ‘It's a horrible law. Vermont feels they are protecting the consumer, yet all it amounts to is an emotionally-driven scare tactic. We are currently trying to pre-empt the labeling bill in Congress by setting a national standardized label, but we are running out of time. It needs to be done by July 1 or the labeling bill takes effect.’” [Times-Republican, 5/14/16<http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/601622/Sen--Ernst-makes-stop-in-Conrad.html?nav=5005>]

Joni Ernst On The Costs To Consumers Of GMO Labeling Compliance: “Can You Imagine What It Would Be Like If All 50 States Had To Have Their Own Separate Labels?”  “When asked about the current main agricultural issues, Ernst was quick to say, ‘GMOs.’ She pointed out that Vermont has a state law requiring new labeling standards listing GMOs as if they were some chemical put in food that would be dangerous for human consumption. She noted for example that a box of Quaker oatmeal made in Iowa would have to have a separate label for Vermont from others being shipped to nearby states. That would add an additional $1,050 to a consumer's food budget per year due to labeling and transportation in separate trucks, etc. ‘Can you imagine what it would be like if all 50 states had to have their own separate labels?’ she asked. ‘It's a horrible law. Vermont feels they are protecting the consumer, yet all it amounts to is an emotionally-driven scare tactic. We are currently trying to pre-empt the labeling bill in Congress by setting a national standardized label, but we are running out of time. It needs to be done by July 1 or the labeling bill takes effect.’” [Times-Republican, 5/14/16<http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/601622/Sen--Ernst-makes-stop-in-Conrad.html?nav=5005>]

Joni Ernst On Vermont’s GMO Labeling Laws: “We Are Currently Trying To Pre-Empt The Labeling Bill In Congress By Setting A National Standardized Label, But We Are Running Out Of Time.”  “When asked about the current main agricultural issues, Ernst was quick to say, ‘GMOs.’ She pointed out that Vermont has a state law requiring new labeling standards listing GMOs as if they were some chemical put in food that would be dangerous for human consumption. She noted for example that a box of Quaker oatmeal made in Iowa would have to have a separate label for Vermont from others being shipped to nearby states. That would add an additional $1,050 to a consumer's food budget per year due to labeling and transportation in separate trucks, etc. ‘Can you imagine what it would be like if all 50 states had to have their own separate labels?’ she asked. ‘It's a horrible law. Vermont feels they are protecting the consumer, yet all it amounts to is an emotionally-driven scare tactic. We are currently trying to pre-empt the labeling bill in Congress by setting a national standardized label, but we are running out of time. It needs to be done by July 1 or the labeling bill takes effect.’” [Times-Republican, 5/14/16<http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/601622/Sen--Ernst-makes-stop-in-Conrad.html?nav=5005>]

Nuclear Energy

Joni Ernst Praised The Bipartisan Senate Energy Appropriations Bill Due To Its Provisions On The Development Of Nuclear Energy. “Ernst noted the U.S. Senate just this week passed the energy appropriations bill - the earliest an appropriations bill has been passed in modern history, she claimed - largely due to working is a bipartisan manner. She said not only is this energy bill good for Iowa in the terms if renewable fuels and ethanol, but militarily it is good for the U.S. Department of Defense due to the development of nuclear energy.” [Times-Republican, 5/14/16<http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/601622/Sen--Ernst-makes-stop-in-Conrad.html?nav=5005>]

MARY FALLIN

On Being Donald Trump’s Vice President

Los Angeles Times: Mary Fallin Was Considered For Vice President For Donald Trump But Is “Relatively Unknown On The National Stage And Is Not Particularly Popular In Her Home State” “Mary Fallin, who also served in Congress, is relatively unknown on the national stage and is not particularly popular in her home state. She became a subject of vice presidential chatter after former South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer suggested her while speaking on CNN.  ‘Great job and advice,’ Trump wrote in a Twitter message after Bauer's appearance. In his Fox interview, Trump mentioned Fallin, along with former Arizona Gov. Brewer, as women he would consider. Fallin called it an ‘honor’ to be mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick and and has indicated an openness to serving alongside Trump.” [Los Angeles Times, 5/13/16<http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-trump-vp-choices-20160512-snap-htmlstory.html>]

Newt Gingrich Suggested Mary Fallin As A Possible Vice President For Donald Trump. “Gingrich offered some candidates he would eye, with this in mind: Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.); Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa); and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin.” [Fortune, 5/13/16<http://fortune.com/2016/05/13/donald-trump-vp-shortlist/>]

News 9: Mary Fallin Is “Most Likeable, Most Unknown For VP Pick” According To A Morning Consult Poll. “Liked but unknown is the take away for Gov. Mary Fallin, according to a new poll. The poll, from the firm Morning Consult, polled 66,000 registered voters, according to a company spokesperson. Fallin had the lowest unfavorable numbers at just 18 percent but 46 percent of voters said they'd never heard of her, something experts say may not help her chances of being presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump's pick.” [News 9, 5/14/16<http://www.news9.com/story/31975147/fallin-is-most-likable-most-unknown-for-vp-pick-according-to-poll>]

News 9: The Poll Showed That While Mary Fallin Has Some Positives, She Is One Of The “Top Ten Least Liked Governors In Their States…This Potentially Shows Those That Know Her Best Like Her The Least.” “Her experience in fundraising and her time in Congress could help Trump extend an olive branch to the rest of the GOP. Fallin is also popular with women, a group of voters that Trump has repeatedly offended and one Republicans will need to win the White House. But Fallin ranks in top ten least liked governors in their states, according to a second Morning Consult poll. This potentially shows those that know her best like her the least.” [News 9, 5/14/16<http://www.news9.com/story/31975147/fallin-is-most-likable-most-unknown-for-vp-pick-according-to-poll>]

According To An Expert, Mary Fallin Does Not Have A Record Of Accomplishment. “’She [Mary Fallin] doesn't have a lot of legislative success. She doesn't have success working across the aisle. She doesn't have a lot of success from her four years in Washington,’ [OU Political Science Department Chair Keith] Gaddie said. ‘There's not a track record there of the kind of bipartisan reaching across the aisle that matters.’” [News 9, 5/14/16<http://www.news9.com/story/31975147/fallin-is-most-likable-most-unknown-for-vp-pick-according-to-poll>]

On State Budget Crisis

Mary Fallin And Oklahoma Lawmakers Are Considering Expanding Medicaid (And Raising Taxes), Similar To Indiana, Due To The Budget Crisis. “Despite bitter resistance in Oklahoma for years to President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, Republican leaders in this conservative state are now confronting something that alarms them even more: a huge $1.3 billion hole in the budget that threatens to do widespread damage to the state's health care system.

So, in what would be the grandest about-face among rightward leaning states, Oklahoma is now moving toward a plan to expand its Medicaid program to bring in billions of federal dollars from President Obama's new health care system.

What's more, GOP leaders are considering a tax hike to cover the state's share of the costs…Despite furious opposition by conservative groups, Republican Gov. Mary Fallin and some GOP legislative leaders are pushing the plan, and support appears to be growing in the overwhelmingly Republican Legislature. Details have not been ironed out but the proposal is based on an Indiana program that received federal approval.” [Associated Press, 5/16/16]

Mary Fallin Said The Plan Would Not Expand Medicaid. “Fallin, a former congresswoman who voted against Obama's health plan when it came before the House, argues that the plan doesn't amount to expanding Medicaid because the program's rolls don't grow. Rather, she said, it ‘transitions 175,000 Medicaid enrollees to the private insurance market.’” [Associated Press, 5/16/16]

KTUL: Mary Fallin And Other Oklahoma Lawmakers Were Criticized In An Anonymous Video That Called The State Budget “Fiscally Irresponsible”  “Fiscally irresponsible? That's what a new music video calls Oklahoma lawmakers. Spoofing Robert Palmer's ‘Simply Irresistible,’ the video is abuzz on social media in Oklahoma. It blames Gov. Mary Fallin and other elected officials for the state's $1.3 billion deficit…The video claims the state is losing teachers because too much money is being taken out of schools. It also says health care is losing funding at an alarming rate, blaming Fallin and members of the legislature for the crisis…The governor's office and members of the legislature mentioned in the video had no comment.” [KTUL, 5/13/16<http://ktul.com/news/local/fallin-other-lawmakers-targeted-over-budget-crisis-in-music-video-spoof>]

Mary Fallin Signed A Bill Closing The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission. “Gov. Mary Fallin has passed a law that will eliminate a commission that has focused on preserving an Oklahoma river for nearly 40 years. The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission will be eliminated July 1, the Tulsa World (http://bit.ly/1WvgHly ) reported. Its staff and responsibilities will shift to a division of the Grand River Dam Authority. The commission was created in 1977 to carry out the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Act. Its responsibilities included protecting, enhancing and preserving the Illinois River and its tributaries, Barren Fork Creek and Flint Creek.” [Daily Journal, 5/13/16<http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/75276fa4e9df477881abb73eb026568a/OK--Scenic-Rivers-Commission>]

The Senic Rivers Commission Is Being Closed Due To The State Budget Crisis. “The commission's longtime executive director, Ed Fite, told legislators in March that the best way to save the organization's mission would be to disband and reorganize it under the [Grand River Dam ] authority. The commission had minimal staff and an annual operating budget of less than $500,000. Given Oklahoma's state budget problems, it expected even more cuts. ‘We're here because of the state's financial woes,’ Fite said. ‘What is most important is, whatever the name of the organization, whether its OSRC or GRDA, that core mission continues for which there is no endpoint, the protection of our rivers…’ ‘There actually is a lot of synergy there,’ he said in April. ‘If you consider the importance of the mission and the lack of funds available, particularly in this difficult budget time, I don't see another viable option.’” [Daily Journal, 5/13/16<http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/75276fa4e9df477881abb73eb026568a/OK--Scenic-Rivers-Commission>]

Mary Fallin Proposed Removing The Sales Tax Exemption On Horses To Deal With The State Budget Crisis. “Leaders in the Oklahoma horse industry are pushing back against Gov. Mary Fallin's plan to pull the sales tax exemption on horses. Fallin's plan would bring in about $1.3 million a year to help fill the $1.5 billion deficit.” [KOCO, 5/12/16<http://www.koco.com/news/oklahoma-horse-industry-leaders-pushing-back-against-governors-sales-tax-plan/39520386>]

KOCO: According To Those In The Oklahoma Horse Industry, Removing The Sales Tax Exemption Would Mean “He Move Could Take Jobs, Horse Shows And More Money Away From The State.” “Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association Executive Director Debbie Schauf thinks taxing horse sales is a bad idea. ‘She’s trying to fill a $1.5 billion gap in the budget,’ Schauf said. ‘This measure will generate $1.3 (million) to $1.4 million a year, but at the expense of an industry that creates $3.6 billion a year.’ Schauf said places such as the Heritage Place, which sells $20 million to $25 million worth of horses a year will go out of business as buyers from around the world will turn to neighboring states where there is no sales tax. Schauf said the move could take jobs, horse shows and more money away from the state. ‘Oklahoma is the premier horse industry state in the country,’ Schauf said. ‘ For our geographic area, Oklahoma is the heart of horse country. We have good stallions and the better breeding farms.’ Some lawmakers have promised to stand up against the horse sales tax proposal, but with the deadline looming, it’s hard to say what will be decided. Schauf said there’s a state revenue problem that needs to be fixed, but not on the back of the horse industry. ‘You can’t tax the industries that are generating more tax revenue than you’re proposing,’ Schauf said.” [KOCO, 5/12/16<http://www.koco.com/news/oklahoma-horse-industry-leaders-pushing-back-against-governors-sales-tax-plan/39520386>]

The Oklahoman: “A Difference Of Opinion On How To Fund Road Construction Is One Of The Things Holding Up Agreement On A New State Budget As The Legislative Session Winds To A Close.” “A difference of opinion on how to fund road construction is one of the things holding up agreement on a new state budget as the legislative session winds to a close. Lawmakers are required to finish their work by May 27. Gov. Mary Fallin and Oklahoma House leaders want to use bond financing extensively to free up money needed for other state priorities like public education and Medicaid in a year in which the state is facing a $1.3 billion budget hole. The Senate favors using bond financing in a more limited manner.” [The Oklahoman, 5/15/16<http://newsok.com/article/5498116>]

Mary Fallin Proposed $500 Million, Then $300 Million In Bonds For Road Construction While The State Senate Said It Favored $150 Million. “’Bonding is a good tool for capital projects, but just don't shift your money around and use bonds for recurring expenses, because you're just going to create another hole for next year,’ Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman said Thursday…Sen. Clark Jolley, appropriations chairman, said Friday Senate leadership favors $150 million in road bonds for the new, 2017 fiscal year budget, with a like amount for the 2018 spending plan…  Last month, Gov. Mary Fallin suggested more than $500 million in road bonds as part of an overall package to produce nearly $1.29 billion in new revenue, or about enough to keep the new budget as large as the present one. Jolley said the governor's office has now scaled back that figure to $300 million. The governor's office declined to comment.” [The Oklahoman, 5/15/16<http://newsok.com/article/5498116>]

The Oklahoman: “Health Officials Have Warned That Without Adequate Support, Oklahoma's Medicaid System Could Collapse. Public Education Leaders Say They Are Looking At Four-Day School Weeks, Teacher Layoffs And Program Cuts If Their Support Is Reduced.” [The Oklahoman, 5/15/16<http://newsok.com/article/5498116>]

Tulsa World: Due To Budget Cuts, Some Oklahoma School Districts Considered Four Day Weeks, Which Mary Fallin Called “Not Acceptable” “Some school districts are finding surprising support for one of the most controversial cost-saving measures: the four-day school week. Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister has called four-day weeks a ‘promotional tactic to attract teachers at the expense of kids,’ and Gov. Mary Fallin has said they are ‘not acceptable.’” [Tulsa World, 5/15/16]

On Marijuana Expansion

Mary Fallin Signed A Bill Expanding Delivery Of Marijuana By Oil. “Gov. Mary Fallin has signed into law a bill that expands the use of an oil derived from marijuana. Fallin on Friday signed the bill that expands the medically supervised use of cannabidiol (can-uh-bih-DIE'-all), a non-intoxicating derivative of marijuana. Supporters say the oil effectively treats people who experience epileptic seizures. Previously, its use was limited to children under 18. The bill Fallin signed removes the age restriction. It also allows its use to treat spasticity due to multiple sclerosis, paraplegia and symptoms of chronic wasting disease. Last year, Fallin signed legislation authorizing the use of cannabidiol in children, but says she remains opposed to legalizing all medical marijuana. Meanwhile, medical marijuana supporters have begun a signature drive on a public vote to allow the drug for medicinal purposes.” [Daily Journal, 5/13/16<http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/93a0211f9e604c68994813aa93537b6b/OK--Cannabis-Oil-Oklahoma>]

On Open Carry

Mary Fallin Signed A Bill Allowing The Open Carry Of Firearms. “Gov. Mary Fallin signed a measure allowing for guns to be carried openly. Senate Bill 1733 allows those with a concealed-carry permit to openly carry weapons. Businesses may continue to ban firearms on their premises. The law also prohibits carrying firearms on properties owned or leased by the city, state or federal government, at corrections facilities, in schools or college campuses and at sports arenas.” [Tulsa World, 5/15/16]

On Transgender Bathroom Directive

The Oklahoman: Mary Fallin Said The Obama Administration Was “Bullying” States To Accept The Bathroom Directive By Threatening To Withhold Federal Funding. “Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and the state's top education official blasted President Barack Obama on Friday for directing public schools to let transgender students use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their identity. The guidance offered in an eight-page letter from leaders at the U.S. departments of Education and Justice says schools are obligated to treat transgender students in a way that matches their gender identity, even if their education records or identity documents indicate a different sex. ‘This is just another example of federal overreach by the Obama administration, made worse by bullying states with a threat to withhold federal funding if they do not comply,’ Fallin said in a statement. ‘Where our children go to the bathroom is not something that should be determined by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. Such decisions should be left to the states, not the federal government.’” [The Oklahoman, 5/13/16<http://newsok.com/article/5497943>]

NEWT GINGRICH

Trump

Newt Gingrich Called Donald Trump An Old Friend, And Said That He Has Talked With Trump Regularly Over The Last Five Or Six Years. “Newt Gingrich said Friday that ‘you have to look at it very seriously, of course’ regarding the possibility of being presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump's running mate. ‘I regard Donald as an old friend,’ Gingrich, the former Georgia representative who was House speaker from 1995 to 1999, told Bill O'Reilly on Fox News. Gingrich, 72, said that he his wife, Callista, "have regularly talked with him for the last five or six years during the campaign occasionally. I do more of it by email than I do phone. ‘We have communicated on a routine basis with the campaign and with Trump and his family.’” [Newsmax, 5/13/16<http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/newt-gingrich-donald-trump-vice-president/2016/05/13/id/728801/>]

Newsmax: On Potentially Being Donald Trump’s Running Mate, Newt Gingrich Said That He Would “Look At It Very Seriously.” “Newt Gingrich said Friday that ‘you have to look at it very seriously, of course’ regarding the possibility of being presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump's running mate. ‘I regard Donald as an old friend,’ Gingrich, the former Georgia representative who was House speaker from 1995 to 1999, told Bill O'Reilly on Fox News. Gingrich, 72, said that he his wife, Callista, "have regularly talked with him for the last five or six years during the campaign occasionally. I do more of it by email than I do phone. ‘We have communicated on a routine basis with the campaign and with Trump and his family.’” [Newsmax, 5/13/16<http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/newt-gingrich-donald-trump-vice-president/2016/05/13/id/728801/>]

Wall Street Journal: Newt Gingrich Said That He Would Be “Very Hard Pressed” To Not Accept The Position As Donald Trump’s Running Mate, But That He Would Not Automatically Say Yes. “Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said he could be ‘lured’ into running as Donald Trump’s vice president, though the presumptive Republican nominee would first have to get the ex-congressman’s wife on board. ‘If he can convince Callista and me that it’s doable and it’s serious and that we would in fact contribute, I think we’d be very hard pressed not to say “yes,”’ Mr. Gingrich said on ‘Fox News Sunday.’ For Mr. Trump, his running-mate choice could be the most important signal that he is seeking to unify the GOP as the fractured party works to coalesce around its unorthodox candidate. Mr. Gingrich has been one of Mr. Trump’s most prominent supporters. ‘I don’t think it’s an automatic yes,’ Mr. Gingrich said. ‘I think you have to think through what does he think the job involves.’” [Wall Street Journal, 5/15/16<http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/05/15/gingrich-is-open-to-being-vice-president/>]

Newt Gingrich Highlighted That Donald Trump Has Expressed Having A Political Insider As His Vice President. GINGRICH: “He [Donald Trump] has been very clear that he wants an insider because he understands that while he has done an amazing job arousing the country, building a real movement, to get things done in Washington — as he proved in the visit yesterday — you have got to sit down and talk to the legislators.” [Newsmax, 5/13/16<http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/newt-gingrich-donald-trump-vice-president/2016/05/13/id/728801/>]

Newt Gingrich Said That Being Endorsed By Sheldon Adelson Would Help Donald Trump Raise Money. “The decision by Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson to endorse Donald Trump could have huge implications for the presumptive presidential nominee's ability to raise money, Newt Gingrich says. ‘It’s a very big signal,’ Gingrich told The Hill. ‘Everyone knows that Sheldon is a very serious man and to have Sheldon come in as strong as he did’ will encourage other influential Republicans to get behind Trump, the Georgia Republican said.” [The Hill, 5/13/16<http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/279859-gingrich-adelson-signal-is-big-for-trump>]

Newt Gingrich Compared Donald Trump To Jack Kemp. “The Trump-Ryan schism can be best understood by looking at two proxies: former Representative Jack Kemp, the 1996 Republican vice-presidential nominee who was Mr. Ryan's mentor and political role model, and former Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is being considered as Mr. Trump's running mate. Mr. Gingrich recently claimed that Mr. Trump ‘is a little bit like Jack Kemp, but so much bigger a figure.’ There may be an argument about the latter part, but almost no one who was close to Mr. Kemp believes that the real estate tycoon is anything like him. This schism has little to do with ideology. Mr. Kemp, who died in 2009, was no liberal; he never met a tax he didn't want to cut or eliminate and, until his later years, was a foreign policy hawk. But he had a much more inclusive view of conservatism than many of his colleagues. The contrasts between the views of Mr. Kemp and Mr. Gingrich on touchstone issues over the years illustrate why Mr. Trump and Mr. Ryan will never be soul mates. In 1994, Mr. Kemp campaigned against Proposition 187, a Republican-led California initiative that barred undocumented immigrants from using public services, including education. Mr. Gingrich said he probably would have voted for it. The measure passed, but it alienated the state's fast-growing Latino population, and Democrats have dominated California politics ever since. [New York Times, 5/16/16<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/16/us/politics/trump-ryan-republican-split.html>]

Newt Gingrich Said That Donald Trump Has Made No Claims About His Life Prior To Running For Office. “Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, now a potential Trump running mate, also told Fox that whatever its reservations, the party should withhold judgment in part because the candidate's appeal exists outside traditional political constraints. ‘Donald Trump makes no claims for his life before he ran for office,’ Gingrich said. ‘He's been a very successful businessman, he's learned a great deal, and he would do more to change Washington than any other candidate. Now he defeated 16 other people for candidacy and won more votes than any other Republican candidate in history because voters decided he will change Washington.’” [The Guardian, 5/15/16]

Misc. Social Media

Newt Gingrich: “Very Informative Piece By @Ericjtanenblatt In @Upstartbusiness. Encourage You To Read > Http://Bit.Ly/1wawvzy” [@newtgingrich, Twitter, 5/16/16<https://twitter.com/newtgingrich/status/732250003947716608>]

JIM JORDAN

Trump

When Asked About Supporting Donald Trump For President, Jim Jordan Pivoted To Criticizing Hillary Clinton. “Asked how he could support Trump, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) launched into an explanation that began: ‘Here’s what I know about the likely Democrat nominee.’ Pressed multiple times about the likely Republican nominee, Jordan returned time and again to Benghazi and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s stories about the attack. Ask about Trump, you get an answer about Clinton.” [Huffington Post, 5/13/16<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/house-republicans-donald-trump-positions_us_5736026ee4b08f96c1830186>]

Congress Misc.

Jim Jordan Supported The Decision To Hold An Impeachment Hearing For IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. JORDAN: “I applaud Chairman Goodlatte’s decision to hold hearings on the resolution for impeachment of IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. Commissioner Koskinen failed to fulfill his duty to the American people by allowing back-up tapes containing potentially 24,000 emails to be destroyed. He failed to inform Congress about the destruction of these back-up tapes in a timely manner. He gave false testimony before Congress regarding the back-up tapes, and then refused to correct the record when given the opportunity. Alexander Hamilton wrote in the Federalist papers that impeachment should be used to protect the public against ‘the abuse or violation of some public trust.’ Commissioner Koskinen has most assuredly violated the public trust. It’s time for him to go. A hearing is the right first step, but ultimately Congress should hold a vote on impeachment.” [Press Release, Office Of Congressman Jordan, 5/13/16<http://jordan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398011>

Ohio Politics

Jim Jordan Did Not Respond To An Inquiry By The Canton Repository About His Stance On Money In Politics. [Canton Repository, 5/15/16<http://www.cantonrep.com/article/20160515/NEWS/160519534/?Start=6>]

Misc. Social Media

Jim Jordan Retweeted: Louie Gohmert: “#SCOTUS Kicks Little Sisters' Case Back to Lower Courts” [@replouiegohmert, Twitter, 5/16/16<https://twitter.com/replouiegohmert/status/732226104656863233>]

Jim Jordan Retweeted: House Republicans: “Obamacare Continues To Unravel... More Than 650 Counties May Have Only One Insurer On The Exchanges Next Year.” [@HouseGOP, Twitter, 5/16/16<https://twitter.com/HouseGOP/status/732234896530411520>]

Jim Jordan: “Koskinen Has Assuredly Violated Public Trust. Time 4 Him 2 Go. Hearing Is Right First Step, But Congress Should Hold Vote On Impeachment.” [@Jim_Jordan, Twitter, 5/13/16<https://twitter.com/Jim_Jordan/status/731193097753907200>]

Jim Jordan: “Alexander #Hamilton Wrote In Federalist Papers: Impeachment Shld Be Used 2 Protect Public Against 'Abuse Or Violation Of Some Public Trust’” [@Jim_Jordan, Twitter, 5/13/16<https://twitter.com/Jim_Jordan/status/731192868363239424>]

Jim Jordan: “Koskinen Gave False Testimony Before Congress Regarding Back-Up Tapes, And Then Refused To Correct The Record When Given The Opportunity” [@Jim_Jordan, Twitter, 5/13/16<https://twitter.com/Jim_Jordan/status/731192412991856642>]

Jim Jordan: “Koskinen Failed 2 Fulfill His Duty 2 The American People: Allowed Back-Up Tapes 2 Be Destroyed, Failed 2 Inform Congress In Timely Manner” [@Jim_Jordan, Twitter, 5/13/16<https://twitter.com/Jim_Jordan/status/731192313947537413>]

Jim Jordan: “I Applaud @RepGoodlatte's Decision To Hold @HouseJudiciary Hearings On #IRS Commissioner John Koskinen Impeachment” [@Jim_Jordan, Twitter, 5/13/16<https://twitter.com/Jim_Jordan/status/731192073211252736>]

JEFF SESSIONS

Donald Trump – Personal Life

Jeff Sessions On Accusations Of Untoward Behavior Against Women By Donald Trump: “He Has To Answer And People Will Ask Those Questions.” KARL: “Senator Sessions, let me pick it up right where we left off with Chairman Priebus. He talked about this article in ‘The New York Times,’ about Trump's relationship with women and said there are things in here that he is going to have to answer for. Do you agree with that?” SESSIONS: “Well, of course, he has to answer and people will ask those questions and they've got 20 or -- they've got hundreds, I suppose. People digging in to everything he's done for all these years. But people have not expected purity on his part. What they're concerned about, they're deeply concerned about is this: somebody strong enough to take on Washington.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions On Questions About Donald Trump’s Moral Indiscretions: “People Have Not Expected Purity On His Part. What They're Concerned About, They're Deeply Concerned About Is This: Somebody Strong Enough To Take On Washington.” KARL: “Senator Sessions, let me pick it up right where we left off with Chairman Priebus. He talked about this article in ‘The New York Times,’ about Trump's relationship with women and said there are things in here that he is going to have to answer for. Do you agree with that?” SESSIONS: “Well, of course, he has to answer and people will ask those questions and they've got 20 or -- they've got hundreds, I suppose. People digging in to everything he's done for all these years. But people have not expected purity on his part. What they're concerned about, they're deeply concerned about is this: somebody strong enough to take on Washington.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Donald Trump – General Election

Jeff Sessions: Polls Showing Slim Leads In Swing States “Suggest That [Donald Trump Is] Appealing To The New Group Of Voters, Bringing In Voters Republicans Haven't Had In Eight Years, The Ones Necessary To Win An Election.” SESSIONS: “But people have not expected purity on his part. What they're concerned about, they're deeply concerned about is this: somebody strong enough to take on Washington. Will he challenge the establishment? Will he end the illegality in immigration? Will he insist on trade agreements that lift our economy, increase manufacturing? And will he stand up to the elites? And he's doing so and the people are responding. He's leading in Ohio by 4 points, a state we've lost for several terms now, elections now. Pennsylvania, neck-and-neck; Indiana.So these situations to me suggest that he's appealing to the new group of voters, bringing in voters Republicans haven't had in eight years, the ones necessary to win an election.”

[This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

·         Jeff Sessions On Donald Trump’s Influence On The Republican Voting Base: “The Republican Voter Is Adopting His Views And Not The Views That Too Often We've Seen Out Of Washington, Democrat And Republican.” KARL: “So, where is the center of gravity now for the Republican Party?” SESSIONS: “That's a good question, Jonathan. I would say it's with the movement Donald Trump is leading. He is leading the Republican Party, which is the Republican voter. And the Republican voter is adopting his views and not the views that too often we've seen out of Washington, Democrat and Republican. And so I think he's showing real strength there. He's unifying the people who are going to say we want some change. We want better jobs, better wages. We don't want falling wages. We want an immigration system that protects our interests.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions: Donald Trump Has Unified “The People Who Are Going To Say We Want Some Change. We Want Better Jobs, Better Wages. We Don't Want Falling Wages. We Want An Immigration System That Protects Our Interests.” KARL: “So, where is the center of gravity now for the Republican Party?” SESSIONS: “That's a good question, Jonathan. I would say it's with the movement Donald Trump is leading. He is leading the Republican Party, which is the Republican voter. And the Republican voter is adopting his views and not the views that too often we've seen out of Washington, Democrat and Republican. And so I think he's showing real strength there. He's unifying the people who are going to say we want some change. We want better jobs, better wages. We don't want falling wages. We want an immigration system that protects our interests.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions On What He’d Like Donald Trump To Change In His Campaign: “I Think He's Going To Need To Learn. He's Going To Need To Understand Really Completely…How Complex This World Is.” RADDATZ: “Is there anything you would like Donald Trump do differently?” SESSIONS: “Well, I think he's going to need to learn. He's going to need to understand really completely -- as you know, Martha, how complex this world is, even within Baghdad and the region around Baghdad -- Kurds, al Anbar, Sunni, Shia, Iranians, so forth. It's just a very, very complex world and you have to be careful when you commit a military force.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Donald Trump – Capitol Hill Outreach

Jeff Sessions On The Private Meeting Between Donald Trump And GOP Leaders: “He Did A Great Job. He [Sic] Was A Good, Positive Meeting.” KARL: “So you were in the meeting with some of those elites today when Trump came in and met with the Senate leadership. As you well know, many of those Republican leaders have deep doubts, intense skepticism about Trump. Did he reassure them that he's going to tone it down?” SESSIONS: “He did a great job. He was a good, positive meeting. He talked; they talked, explained concerns they had and he responded appropriately. And he was just -- was not tense and afterwards, people came around him and gathered around him and talked informally. I thought -- I was just really pleased –“ [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions On The Private Meeting Between Donald Trump And GOP Leaders: “He Talked; They Talked, Explained Concerns They Had And He Responded Appropriately.” KARL: “So you were in the meeting with some of those elites today when Trump came in and met with the Senate leadership. As you well know, many of those Republican leaders have deep doubts, intense skepticism about Trump. Did he reassure them that he's going to tone it down?” SESSIONS: “He did a great job. He was a good, positive meeting. He talked; they talked, explained concerns they had and he responded appropriately. And he was just -- was not tense and afterwards, people came around him and gathered around him and talked informally. I thought -- I was just really pleased –“ [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions On The Tone Of Private Meetings Between Donald Trump And GOP Leaders: It “Was Not Tense And Afterwards, People Came Around Him And Gathered Around Him And Talked Informally.” KARL: “So you were in the meeting with some of those elites today when Trump came in and met with the Senate leadership. As you well know, many of those Republican leaders have deep doubts, intense skepticism about Trump. Did he reassure them that he's going to tone it down?” SESSIONS: “He did a great job. He was a good, positive meeting. He talked; they talked, explained concerns they had and he responded appropriately. And he was just -- was not tense and afterwards, people came around him and gathered around him and talked informally. I thought -- I was just really pleased –“ [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions On Influence Of Donald Trump’s Meetings With Republican Establishment: “I Think He's Already Being More Careful About Some Of The Things He Says.” KARL: “But are we going to see a different Donald Trump? Is he going to stop –“ SESSIONS: “Well, I think he's already being more careful about some of the things he says. But he -- you know, he's out there speaking to 20,000 people in a crowd. He doesn’t use notes or teleprompters. He goes straight at the issues people are concerned about. And I think that's part of his strength.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions On The Content Of Donald Trump’s Speeches: He “Goes Straight At The Issues People Are Concerned About. And I Think That's Part Of His Strength.” KARL: “But are we going to see a different Donald Trump? Is he going to stop –“ SESSIONS: “Well, I think he's already being more careful about some of the things he says. But he -- you know, he's out there speaking to 20,000 people in a crowd. He doesn’t use notes or teleprompters. He goes straight at the issues people are concerned about. And I think that's part of his strength.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Donald Trump – Running Mate

Jeff Sessions On Being Donald Trump’s Running Mate: “I Don't Expect To Be Asked. He Needs To Get The Best Person Who Can Lead This Country.” KARL: “So, I've got to ask you, and I saw you were in Texas speaking on behalf of Trump at their party convention down there, I know you don't expect to be asked, and I know you're not looking for it, but if he asked you to be his running mate would you accept?” SESSIONS: “Well, I don't expect to be asked. He needs to get the best person who can lead this country. But you saying would I be ashamed or unwilling to serve this man? No. It would be a great honor to be able to assist him in any way possible. We've got to change America. Donald Trump will result in the elimination of Obamacare. Donald Trump will appoint the Supreme Court justice to replace Scalia. They will keep the court from flipping. That will on the gun rights. He will reduce taxes and create growth and stand up to our trading partners and make sure they comply with our trading agreements.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Donald Trump – Speech at Texas GOP

5/14/16: Jeff Sessions Spoke On Behalf Of Donald Trump At The Republican Party Of Texas 2016 Convention. “Trump tasked U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama to make his case to Texas Republican delegates, most of whom were Cruz loyalists during the campaign.” [Texas Tribune, 5/14/16<https://www.texastribune.org/2016/05/14/cruz-urges-supporters-not-give-hope/>]

Texas Tribune: At The Republican Party Of Texas Convention, “Hundreds Of Delegates Treated Sessions With Disinterest, And Streamed Out Of The Convention Hall During His Remarks.” “Trump's campaign dispatched Alabama's Jeff Sessions to the convention, calling in a Cruz ally in the Senate who ultimately endorsed Trump earlier this year. Hundreds of delegates treated Sessions with disinterest, and streamed out of the convention hall during his remarks. But thousands of delegates stayed and listened to Sessions, who heaped praise on Cruz, calling him ‘our almost-presumptive Republican presidential nominee’ and vowing to continue collaborating with him in Congress.” [Texas Tribune, 5/16/16<http://kuow.org/post/after-cruzs-campaign-texas-gop-reaches-unity>]

Associated Press: “After Cruz Spoke, Many Delegates Left The Cavernous Hall Inside The Dallas Convention Center — Failing To Stay For Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, Who Spoke On Trump's Behalf.” “After Cruz spoke, many delegates left the cavernous hall inside the Dallas convention center — failing to stay for Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, who spoke on Trump's behalf. Texas Sen. John Cornyn saw Trump in Washington on Thursday and invited him to the Texas convention. Cornyn said Trump considered it briefly, but that his campaign staffers said he had other commitments. Instead there was Sessions, a proponent of strict immigration policies whose work in the Senate Cruz often praised on the campaign trail before Sessions endorsed Trump. Sessions admiringly called Cruz ‘our almost-presumptive Republican presidential nominee.’” [Associated Press, 5/16/16<http://www.itemonline.com/news/cruz-shuns-trump-gop-unity-says-challenges-may-lie-ahead/article_3d9a043c-1b30-11e6-a352-8fd2b0dba400.html>]

Associated Press: At The Republican Party Of Texas Convention, “Before [Jeff] Sessions Took The Stage, The Party Chairman Implored Delegates Heading For The Exits Following Cruz’s Speech To Stick Around.” “The job of winning over Trump-bashing Texas delegates fell to U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, who snubbed Cruz and backed Trump long before his Senate colleague dropped out. Sessions got big applause upon recalling Trump’s promise for another border wall, saying ‘Isn’t that conservative?’ to a crowd largely skeptical of Trump’s faithfulness to Republican principles. Before Sessions took the stage, the party chairman implored delegates heading for the exits following Cruz’s speech to stick around.” [Associated Press, 5/15/16<http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/05/15/5-things-from-texas-gop-meeting/>]

TX GOP Convention Attendee Who Watched Jeff Sessions Speech: “Maybe That’s The Idea: You Send Grandpa Jeff, Uncle Jeff To Tone Things Down And Make Everybody Feel Better About The Trump Nomination. But I Thought He Was Weak Sauce, Especially Following Ted Cruz.” “Jesse Davis is a delegate from Denton County and  a long-time admirer of Sessions. But this Republican delegate found the Trump surrogate's speech unimpressive. ‘Maybe that’s the idea: You send Grandpa Jeff, Uncle Jeff to tone things down and make everybody feel better about the Trump nomination,’ he said. ‘But I thought he was weak sauce, especially following Ted Cruz.’ ‘Cruz gave a rousing speech,’ he added. ‘Cruz could have walked out of this room with every delegate behind him on almost any issue.’” [Texas Tribune, 5/14/16<https://www.texastribune.org/2016/05/14/cruz-urges-supporters-not-give-hope/>]

Texas Tribune: “Despite Sessions' Pleading, There Were Signs All Over The Convention Of Raw Feelings Stemming From The Fate Of Cruz's Campaign.” “Denton delegate Jesse Davis disagreed, saying that Trump must become ‘a more normal candidate.’ ‘Right now, he's not there. He's not there for me,’ Davis said. ‘I don't know what I will do in November yet, but right now Donald Trump is not a mainstream candidate. He's far from it, even with a major party nomination.’ And despite Sessions' pleading, there were signs all over the convention of raw feelings stemming from the fate of Cruz's campaign. Cruz's campaign booth was covered with thank-you notes from supporters by the end of the convention — so many that staffers had to put up clothing lines to hold them all. Some urged him to get back in the race; others suggested he run for president again in 2020.” [Texas Tribune, 5/16/16<http://kuow.org/post/after-cruzs-campaign-texas-gop-reaches-unity>]

Associated Press: “Sessions Admiringly Called Cruz ‘Our Almost-Presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee.’” “After Cruz spoke, many delegates left the cavernous hall inside the Dallas convention center — failing to stay for Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, who spoke on Trump's behalf. Texas Sen. John Cornyn saw Trump in Washington on Thursday and invited him to the Texas convention. Cornyn said Trump considered it briefly, but that his campaign staffers said he had other commitments. Instead there was Sessions, a proponent of strict immigration policies whose work in the Senate Cruz often praised on the campaign trail before Sessions endorsed Trump. Sessions admiringly called Cruz ‘our almost-presumptive Republican presidential nominee.’” [Associated Press, 5/16/16<http://www.itemonline.com/news/cruz-shuns-trump-gop-unity-says-challenges-may-lie-ahead/article_3d9a043c-1b30-11e6-a352-8fd2b0dba400.html>]

Jeff Sessions, On Ted Cruz: “We've Fought Together In The Past And We'll Fight Together In The Future.” “Sessions admiringly called Cruz ‘our almost-presumptive Republican presidential nominee.’ ‘We've fought together in the past and we'll fight together in the future,’ Sessions said of Cruz. He then gave a rambling speech where the loudest applause came when he outlined Trump's immigration policy.” [Associated Press, 5/16/16<http://www.itemonline.com/news/cruz-shuns-trump-gop-unity-says-challenges-may-lie-ahead/article_3d9a043c-1b30-11e6-a352-8fd2b0dba400.html>]

Jeff Sessions At The Republican Party Of Texas Convention: "Let’s Throw The Rascals Out!” “Trump tasked U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama to make his case to Texas Republican delegates, most of whom were Cruz loyalists during the campaign. ‘Let’s welcome back our independents and our Reagan Democrats,’ Sessions said. ‘Let’s put this tough primary behind us. It was rough, no doubt about it, but we can — and will — unite all our Republicans, in addition to the Democrats and independents that can come to us.’ ‘Let’s throw the rascals out!’ he added.” [Texas Tribune, 5/14/16<https://www.texastribune.org/2016/05/14/cruz-urges-supporters-not-give-hope/>]

Associated Press: Jeff Sessions “Gave A Rambling Speech Where The Loudest Applause Came When He Outlined Trump's Immigration Policy.” “Sessions admiringly called Cruz ‘our almost-presumptive Republican presidential nominee.’ ‘We've fought together in the past and we'll fight together in the future,’ Sessions said of Cruz. He then gave a rambling speech where the loudest applause came when he outlined Trump's immigration policy. ‘He's going to end the illegality and he's going to build a wall to ensure that,’ Sessions said. ‘Isn't that conservative?’ He added: ‘Let's put this tough primary behind us. It was tough, no doubt about it. But we can, and will, unite.’ Cruz supporters far outnumbered those backing Trump at the convention. Still, many said they will vote Republican in November.” [Associated Press, 5/16/16<http://www.itemonline.com/news/cruz-shuns-trump-gop-unity-says-challenges-may-lie-ahead/article_3d9a043c-1b30-11e6-a352-8fd2b0dba400.html>]

Jeff Sessions On Donald Trump: “He's Going To End The Illegality And He's Going To Build A Wall To Ensure That. Isn't That Conservative?” “Sessions admiringly called Cruz ‘our almost-presumptive Republican presidential nominee.’ ‘We've fought together in the past and we'll fight together in the future,’ Sessions said of Cruz. He then gave a rambling speech where the loudest applause came when he outlined Trump's immigration policy. ‘He's going to end the illegality and he's going to build a wall to ensure that,’ Sessions said. ‘Isn't that conservative?’ He added: ‘Let's put this tough primary behind us. It was tough, no doubt about it. But we can, and will, unite.’ Cruz supporters far outnumbered those backing Trump at the convention. Still, many said they will vote Republican in November.” [Associated Press, 5/16/16<http://www.itemonline.com/news/cruz-shuns-trump-gop-unity-says-challenges-may-lie-ahead/article_3d9a043c-1b30-11e6-a352-8fd2b0dba400.html>]

Donald Trump – Trade

Jeff Sessions: Donald Trump “Will Reduce Taxes And Create Growth And Stand Up To Our Trading Partners And Make Sure They Comply With Our Trading Agreements.” SESSIONS: “We've got to change America. Donald Trump will result in the elimination of Obamacare. Donald Trump will appoint the Supreme Court justice to replace Scalia. They will keep the court from flipping. That will on the gun rights. He will reduce taxes and create growth and stand up to our trading partners and make sure they comply with our trading agreements.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Donald Trump – Defense

Jeff Sessions’ Response To Accusations Donald Trump Doesn’t Understand ISIS: “I Truly Believe He Does. He's Got A Clear Vision About Some Of The Most Basic Things We Need To Know. First, ISIS Is A Threat. He Has Stated That Clearly. And He Will Use All Our Power To Effectively Destroy ISIS.” RADDATZ: “There have been lots of questions raised about Donald Trump's judgment, his knowledge of foreign policy, does he have the temperament to be commander-in-chief of our armed forces?” SESSIONS: “I truly believe he does. He's got a clear vision about some of the most basic things we need to know. First, ISIS is a threat. He has stated that clearly. And he will use all our power to effectively destroy ISIS. He's also said he's dubious about nation building, overextending our troops, committing the United States in a way that we can't financially afford and shouldn't send our troops to -- at so much risk. I think that is a healthy view, too.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions: Donald Trump Has “Also Said He's Dubious About Nation Building, Overextending Our Troops, Committing The United States In A Way That We Can't Financially Afford And Shouldn't Send Our Troops To…I Think That Is A Healthy View, Too.” RADDATZ: “There have been lots of questions raised about Donald Trump's judgment, his knowledge of foreign policy, does he have the temperament to be commander-in-chief of our armed forces?” SESSIONS: “I truly believe he does. He's got a clear vision about some of the most basic things we need to know. First, ISIS is a threat. He has stated that clearly. And he will use all our power to effectively destroy ISIS. He's also said he's dubious about nation building, overextending our troops, committing the United States in a way that we can't financially afford and shouldn't send our troops to -- at so much risk. I think that is a healthy view, too.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions On Allegations Donald Trump Inspired Islamophobia: The United States Had “Problems With Violent Extremism. We Need To Talk About That, We Need To Admit It. We Need To Know The Nature Of The Threat That The United States Faces.” RADDATZ: “Former CIA Director David Petraeus, who commanded coalition forces here in Iraq and Afghanistan wrote an op-ed piece this week saying that the kind of anti-Muslim rhetoric we're seeing back home is very harmful to U.S. national security…GEN. GARY VOLESKY, GROUND COMMANDER, IRAQ: “People forget I have Muslims in my formation, that wear my uniform. Your religious background, your beliefs, your ethnicity, we're soldiers here. And we're all defending the constitution of the United States. That's why we're able to go and operate anywhere in the world it's because we stand for our values and that builds trust and people understand we take the moral high ground in this.” RADDATZ: “Your reaction to that, senator.” SESSIONS: “We need to respect people's faith. We need to -- when working in the Middle East we need to be very respectful of how these good people conduct their lives and the faith that they have. It means tremendously important to them. But I've got to tell you we do have problems with violent extremism. We need to talk about that, we need to admit it. We need to know the nature of the threat that the United States faces. So, I don't think Trump has gone too far. He said we should have a temporary ban on entry of people into the country from the Muslim world, but that's because we have an ineffective screening process that the Defense Department and security forces tell us we don't have needs we have. So, I think that we're moving in the right direction. It's an important issue. I believe Donald Trump is speaking openly about it, but he has also made clear that he hopes to see that end, and end soon. Any temporary ban would be, in fact, temporary.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions: “I Don't Think Trump Has Gone Too Far,” The ‘Muslim Ban’ Policy Was “Because We Have An Ineffective Screening Process That The Defense Department And Security Forces Tell Us We Don't Have Needs We Have.” SESSIONS: “We need to respect people's faith. We need to -- when working in the Middle East we need to be very respectful of how these good people conduct their lives and the faith that they have. It means tremendously important to them. But I've got to tell you we do have problems with violent extremism. We need to talk about that, we need to admit it. We need to know the nature of the threat that the United States faces. So, I don't think Trump has gone too far. He said we should have a temporary ban on entry of people into the country from the Muslim world, but that's because we have an ineffective screening process that the Defense Department and security forces tell us we don't have needs we have. So, I think that we're moving in the right direction. It's an important issue. I believe Donald Trump is speaking openly about it, but he has also made clear that he hopes to see that end, and end soon. Any temporary ban would be, in fact, temporary.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions, Responding To Skepticism From Experts That ISIS Can Be Beat Quickly: “We've Got To Unite All Of Our Friends And Allies In The Region And Europe, NATO. And This Can Be Done. We're Going To Have To Defeat ISIS, Because It's A Direct Threat To Us.” RADDATZ: “OK, Donald Trump has also declared ISIS will be gone if I'm elected president, they will be gone very, very quickly. But no one I've talked to on the ground says the threat will be stamped out quickly here. So, how does Trump make that happen?” SESSIONS: “Well, we've got to unite all of our friends and allies in the region and Europe, NATO. And this can be done. We're going to have to defeat ISIS, because it's a direct threat to us. But there are other problems around the world that don't represent a direct threat to us that we should not be overly engaged in, just supporting in a way that's effective.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions On The United States’ Role In Foreign Military Conflicts: “There Are Other Problems Around The World That Don't Represent A Direct Threat To Us That We Should Not Be Overly Engaged In, Just Supporting In A Way That's Effective.” RADDATZ: “OK, Donald Trump has also declared ISIS will be gone if I'm elected president, they will be gone very, very quickly. But no one I've talked to on the ground says the threat will be stamped out quickly here. So, how does Trump make that happen?” SESSIONS: “Well, we've got to unite all of our friends and allies in the region and Europe, NATO. And this can be done. We're going to have to defeat ISIS, because it's a direct threat to us. But there are other problems around the world that don't represent a direct threat to us that we should not be overly engaged in, just supporting in a way that's effective.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions “I Think The [Donald] Trump [Foreign] Policy Will Be -- Work.” RADDATZ: “OK, Donald Trump has also declared ISIS will be gone if I'm elected president, they will be gone very, very quickly. But no one I've talked to on the ground says the threat will be stamped out quickly here. So, how does Trump make that happen?...” SESSIONS: “So, I think the Trump policy will be -- work. It is a great, great tragedy that we totally pulled our troops out of Iraq in 2011. Senator McCain warned, pleaded with President Obama not to do that. We would have to send troops back in to this area. He and Hillary Clinton did it anyway. Now whole parts of Iraq are in danger. ISIS is holding parts of Iraq, building bases to attack from. This was a classic, colossal disaster. And it was one of the greatest error of the 21st Century politically in my view.”  [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions On Barack Obama Pulling Troops Out Of Iraq: “This Was A Classic, Colossal Disaster. And It Was One Of The Greatest Error Of The 21st Century Politically In My View.” RADDATZ: OK, Donald Trump has also declared ISIS will be gone if I'm elected president, they will be gone very, very quickly. But no one I've talked to on the ground says the threat will be stamped out quickly here. So, how does Trump make that happen?...” SESSIONS: “So, I think the Trump policy will be -- work. It is a great, great tragedy that we totally pulled our troops out of Iraq in 2011. Senator McCain warned, pleaded with President Obama not to do that. We would have to send troops back in to this area. He and Hillary Clinton did it anyway. Now whole parts of Iraq are in danger. ISIS is holding parts of Iraq, building bases to attack from. This was a classic, colossal disaster. And it was one of the greatest error of the 21st Century politically in my view.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Jeff Sessions: “We're Going To Have To Use Whatever Forces We Have In Every Way We Can To Defeat This ISIS Threat And Try To Put Back Together This Disaster That Has Occurred” When Barack Obama Pulled Troops Out Of Iraq. RADDATZ: “Well, Senator, let's look forward and let's talk about some specifics. What would Trump do differently than Hillary Clinton has proposed?” SESSIONS: “We're going to have to step it up. We're going to have to use whatever forces we have in every way we can to defeat this ISIS threat and try to put back together this disaster that has occurred since we had a reasonably stable government in 2011. It was -- you've got to be smart about the utilization of force. You just have to be smart about it. You have to get the best advice. And I'm not going to advise today how to do it. If I think Donald Trump would say to the military what do you need? What can we do to increase the pressure on them? I'll back you up. We're going to destroy ISIS. And I think that's the kind of leadership we need.” [This Week, ABC, 5/15/16]

Criminal Justice Reform

Breitbart: “Jeff Sessions Criticized Right-Leaning Organizations Pushing The Prison Sentencing Reduction Bill, The Sentencing Reform And Corrections Bill Of 2015 (SRCA), On Sunday, Calling Some ‘Shell Groups’ Helping The Obama Administration Empty Federal Prisons.” [Breitbart, 5/15/16<http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/05/15/exclusive-jeff-sessions-shell-groups-trying-to-convince-republican-lawmakers-to-back-prison-sentencing-reductions/>]

Jeff Sessions: “Deep-Pocketed Special Interests In Washington Are Spending Millions Through Newly-Created Shell Groups Trying To Convince Republican Lawmakers To Support President Obama’s Legacy Item — More Leniency For Dangerous Criminals.” “Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions criticized right-leaning organizations pushing the prison sentencing reduction bill, The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Bill of 2015 (SRCA), on Sunday, calling some ‘shell groups’ helping the Obama administration empty federal prisons. ‘Deep-pocketed special interests in Washington are spending millions through newly-created shell groups trying to convince Republican lawmakers to support President Obama’s legacy item — more leniency for dangerous criminals,’ he said in a statement.” [Breitbart, 5/15/16<http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/05/15/exclusive-jeff-sessions-shell-groups-trying-to-convince-republican-lawmakers-to-back-prison-sentencing-reductions/>]

Jeff Sessions: “They In No Way Represent The Conservative Movement. And They Certainly Do Not Represent The Interests Of Everyday Americans, Crime Victims, And Law Enforcement Officers Who Will Pay The Cost Of The Crime Increases And The Disorder That Such ‘Reform’ Can Trigger.” “‘Deep-pocketed special interests in Washington are spending millions through newly-created shell groups trying to convince Republican lawmakers to support President Obama’s legacy item — more leniency for dangerous criminals,’ he said in a statement… ‘They in no way represent the conservative movement. And they certainly do not represent the interests of everyday Americans, crime victims, and law enforcement officers who will pay the cost of the crime increases and the disorder that such ‘reform’ can trigger,’ Sessions continued. ‘Conservatives, the proud and true defenders of law and order, must continue to protect the safety of law-abiding citizens. This is a core function of government. Theorists who believe further reducing penalties for the serious criminals prosecuted in federal courts will have no costs are just wrong.’” [Breitbart, 5/15/16<http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/05/15/exclusive-jeff-sessions-shell-groups-trying-to-convince-republican-lawmakers-to-back-prison-sentencing-reductions/>]

·         Breitbart: Leaders Of A Number Of Conservative Groups Released A Statement, Rejecting The Notion That Conservative Voters Oppose Criminal Justice Reform Legislation. “‘Deep-pocketed special interests in Washington are spending millions through newly-created shell groups trying to convince Republican lawmakers to support President Obama’s legacy item — more leniency for dangerous criminals,’ he said in a statement. Sentencing reductions are backed by a bipartisan coalition, including some that seemingly popped up overnight after a group of senators including Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley introduced it on October 1. The libertarian-leaning Charles Koch Institute has praised the U.S. Justice Action Network, which registered as a new lobbying firm less than one week after the SRCA’s introduction, for example.Other conservative groups support the bill. A statement emailed by the Justice Action Network quoted Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform; Timothy Head, Executive Director of the Faith and Freedom Coalition; Adam Brandon, President of FreedomWorks; and Marc Levin, Policy Director of Right on Crime, as saying: ‘In recent weeks, a number of prominent, but isolated voices have suggested that now is not the time for criminal justice reform, that continuing the failed policies of the past is enough. But this is not what America wants.’” [Breitbart, 5/15/16<http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/05/15/exclusive-jeff-sessions-shell-groups-trying-to-convince-republican-lawmakers-to-back-prison-sentencing-reductions/>]

Jeff Sessions: “Theorists Who Believe Further Reducing Penalties For The Serious Criminals Prosecuted In Federal Courts Will Have No Costs Are Just Wrong.” “’They in no way represent the conservative movement. And they certainly do not represent the interests of everyday Americans, crime victims, and law enforcement officers who will pay the cost of the crime increases and the disorder that such “reform” can trigger,’ Sessions continued. ’Conservatives, the proud and true defenders of law and order, must continue to protect the safety of law-abiding citizens. This is a core function of government. Theorists who believe further reducing penalties for the serious criminals prosecuted in federal courts will have no costs are just wrong.’” [Breitbart, 5/15/16<http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/05/15/exclusive-jeff-sessions-shell-groups-trying-to-convince-republican-lawmakers-to-back-prison-sentencing-reductions/>]

Jeff Sessions: “Federally Convicted Criminals Are Generally Serious Criminals, Kingpins, Cartel Members, And Non-Citizens. The Federal Prison Population Is Already Falling Rapidly And Dangerously.” “’Federally convicted criminals are generally serious criminals, kingpins, cartel members, and non-citizens. The federal prison population is already falling rapidly and dangerously,’ Sessions said.” [Breitbart, 5/15/16<http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/05/15/exclusive-jeff-sessions-shell-groups-trying-to-convince-republican-lawmakers-to-back-prison-sentencing-reductions/>]

Jeff Sessions: “As Serious Crime Starts To Rise, This Sentencing Floor Should Not Be Further Eroded. The Purpose And Good Effect Of Minimum Mandatory Sentences Is To Ensure That Serious Crimes, And Serious Criminals, Objectively Evaluated, Get At Least Certain Minimum Sentences.” “’The last bulwark against liberal federal judges is the already modified sentencing guidelines. As serious crime starts to rise, this sentencing floor should not be further eroded. The purpose and good effect of minimum mandatory sentences is to ensure that serious crimes, and serious criminals, objectively evaluated, get at least certain minimum sentences. This is preferable to randomness and has proven to reduce crime. Now is the time to make our most vulnerable communities safer — allowing schools and families and commerce to thrive in peace – not to increase early releases of dangerous federal felons.’” [Breitbart, 5/15/16<http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/05/15/exclusive-jeff-sessions-shell-groups-trying-to-convince-republican-lawmakers-to-back-prison-sentencing-reductions/>]

Jeff Sessions: “Minimum Mandatory Sentences,” Are “Preferable To Randomness And Has Proven To Reduce Crime.” “’The last bulwark against liberal federal judges is the already modified sentencing guidelines. As serious crime starts to rise, this sentencing floor should not be further eroded. The purpose and good effect of minimum mandatory sentences is to ensure that serious crimes, and serious criminals, objectively evaluated, get at least certain minimum sentences. This is preferable to randomness and has proven to reduce crime. Now is the time to make our most vulnerable communities safer — allowing schools and families and commerce to thrive in peace – not to increase early releases of dangerous federal felons.’” [Breitbart, 5/15/16<http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/05/15/exclusive-jeff-sessions-shell-groups-trying-to-convince-republican-lawmakers-to-back-prison-sentencing-reductions/>]

Bellingham Herald: “Though Trump Has Not Taken An Explicit Position On The [Sentencing Reform And Corrections Act Of 2015], His Many Authoritarian Statements Suggest He'll Take [Jeff] Sessions' Advice And Come Out Emphatically Against It.” “A floor debate would give Cruz an opportunity to put his scorched-earth style for opposing legislation back on C-SPAN display. And though Trump has not taken an explicit position on the bill, his many authoritarian statements suggest he'll take Sessions' advice and come out emphatically against it -- especially if his likely opponent, Hillary Clinton, who's become newly critical of ‘mass incarceration,’ decides to endorse the bill.” [Bellingham Herald, 5/15/16]

Immigration

Politico: Jeff Sessions Sent “A Letter To Top Senate Appropriators, Urging Them To Reject A Quiet Yet Active Push To Expand The Number Of Visas Available For Low-Skilled Foreign Workers In Government Funding Bills.” “The Senate’s toughest immigration critic is teeing up his latest battle: fighting visas for low-skilled foreign workers. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) is sending a letter to top Senate appropriators, urging them to reject a quiet yet active push to expand the number of visas available for low-skilled foreign workers in government funding bills. Sessions was irate after the omnibus bill that hastily passed Congress in December included a provision that would essentially quadruple the number of H-2B visas available. The letter, obtained by POLITICO, is an early marker from Sessions against doing so again in this year’s government funding bills.” [Politico, 5/16/16<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/senate-sessions-immigration-223201>]

Jeff Sessions: “I Write This Letter To Ask You To Reject Any Provision In Any Appropriations Legislation That Would Increase The Number Of Low-Skilled Temporary Workers In The United States.” “I write this letter to ask you to reject any provision in any appropriations legislation that would increase the number of low-skilled temporary workers in the United States. As you know, the FY2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act contained a provision that exempted from the annual cap of 66,000 H-2B visas any aliens who previously held H-2B status in the previous three fiscal years - so-called "returning workers." It is my understanding that certain members of the Senate seek to make this "returning worker" exemption permanent. Doing so would be a grave error.” [Letter to Senate Appropriations Committee, Office of Senator Sessions, 5/13/16<http://static.politico.com/8a/33/8ba77b474b5fac31803ff56eb171/sessions-h2b-letter.13.16%20Letter%20from%20Senator%20Sessions%20re%20H-2B.pdf>]

Jeff Sessions: “Not Counting H-2B Workers Against Congressionally Defined Caps Is As Misleading To The American People And It Is Detrimental To Wages And Job Opportunities Of American Workers.” “As you know, the FY2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act contained a provision that exempted from the annual cap of 66,000 H-2B visas any aliens who previously held H-2B status in the previous three fiscal years - so-called "returning workers." It is my understanding that certain members of the Senate seek to make this "returning worker" exemption permanent. Doing so would be a grave error. Fundamentally, a cap must be a cap. Not counting H-2B workers against congressionally defined caps is as misleading to the American people and it is detrimental to wages and job opportunities of American workers.” [Letter to Senate Appropriations Committee, Office of Senator Sessions, 5/13/16<http://static.politico.com/8a/33/8ba77b474b5fac31803ff56eb171/sessions-h2b-letter.13.16%20Letter%20from%20Senator%20Sessions%20re%20H-2B.pdf>]

Jeff Sessions: “Blue-Collar American Workers Have Long Endured An Excess Of Foreign Workers.” “Blue-collar American workers have long endured an excess of foreign workers. Millions of foreign workers have been brought to the United States, while countless jobs have gone overseas.” [Letter to Senate Appropriations Committee, Office of Senator Sessions, 5/13/16<http://static.politico.com/8a/33/8ba77b474b5fac31803ff56eb171/sessions-h2b-letter.13.16%20Letter%20from%20Senator%20Sessions%20re%20H-2B.pdf>]

Jeff Sessions: “Millions Of Americans Who Are Currently Unemployed Or Underemployed Directly Compete For The Jobs That Are Often Filled By H-2B Workers.” “Millions of Americans who are currently unemployed or underemployed directly compete for the jobs that are often filled by H-2B workers: i.e. landscapers, hotel workers, loggers, construction workers, amusement and recreation attendants, waiters or waitresses.” [Letter to Senate Appropriations Committee, Office of Senator Sessions, 5/13/16<http://static.politico.com/8a/33/8ba77b474b5fac31803ff56eb171/sessions-h2b-letter.13.16%20Letter%20from%20Senator%20Sessions%20re%20H-2B.pdf>]

Jeff Sessions: “We Can Ensure That We Do Not Inflict Further Harm Upon [Blue Collar Workers] By Adding To The Labor Force With Cheap Foreign Labor.” “Congress may not be able to flip a switch and correct all of the damage that has been inflicted on these hardworking men and women, but we can ensure that we do not inflict further harm upon them by adding to the labor force with cheap foreign labor. At some point we have to choose. Do we serve special interests or do we create conditions that will allow for at least a modest rise in wages? This is surely preferable to mandating wage increases. American workers are having a tough time. Wages are flat or fallen since 2000. A somewhat tighter labor market will cause some rise in wages. Now is not the time to increase labor flows.” [Letter to Senate Appropriations Committee, Office of Senator Sessions, 5/13/16<http://static.politico.com/8a/33/8ba77b474b5fac31803ff56eb171/sessions-h2b-letter.13.16%20Letter%20from%20Senator%20Sessions%20re%20H-2B.pdf>]

Social Media

Office Of Jeff Sessions: “Sen. Sessions Will Speak At 2:30 Pm EST/ 1:30 CST On The Senate Floor On The Nomination Of Paula Xinis To Be U.S. District Judge.” [@SenatorSessions, 5/16/16<https://twitter.com/SenatorSessions/status/732276215038529536>]

TIM SCOTT

On “Sanctuary Cities”

Tim Scott: “Sanctuary Cities Openly Defy Federal Laws By Allowing Illegal Immigrants To Take Up Residence In Their Communities.” “Sanctuary Cities openly defy federal laws by allowing illegal immigrants to take up residence in their communities. It is especially important that we enforce our immigration laws because there are terrorists seeking to enter our country and harm us. I will continue the fight to strengthen our border and abolish these sanctuary cities.” [Tim Scott For Senate, Facebook, 5/16/16<https://www.facebook.com/votetimscott/photos/a.448427444306.231581.349068689306/10154831004294307/?type=3>]

On ISIS

Tim Scott: “President Obama, It Is Time That We Take Steps To Ensure That The Mass Murder And Violence Doesn’t Come To Our Country. What’s Your Plan?” “ISIS continues to be a threat to the free world. We know that we are facing radicals who believe that mass murder and violence are tenets of their religion. President Obama, it is time that we take steps to ensure that the mass murder and violence doesn’t come to our country. What’s your plan?” [Tim Scott For Senate, Facebook, 5/13/16<https://www.facebook.com/votetimscott/photos/a.448427444306.231581.349068689306/10154822921659307/?type=3>]

On Guantanamo Bay Closure

Office Of Senator Tim Scott: “The Overwhelmingly Bipartisan Passage Of The National Defense Authorization Act By The Senate Armed Services Committee Is An Important Reminder To This Administration That The U.S. Congress Has Spoken Clearly On The Issue Of The Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility In Cuba.” “U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) released the below statement following approval of the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) by a vote of 23-3.  The bill, which now goes to the full U.S. Senate for consideration, includes several provisions related to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba. ‘The overwhelmingly bipartisan passage of the National Defense Authorization Act by the Senate Armed Services Committee is an important reminder to this administration that the U.S. Congress has spoken clearly on the issue of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba.  There remains strong bipartisan support to keep the facility open, fully utilize it to detain terrorists and prevent the administration from continuing to release dangerous individuals to other countries where they can rejoin the fight,’ said Senator Tim Scott, a vocal opponent of closing the facility.  ‘Now more than ever, the prison at Guantanamo is needed as our country and world face new threats from dangerous groups and individuals bent on harming our homeland.’ The NDAA extends prohibitions related to Guantanamo Bay previously enacted by Congress, including Extending the prohibition on the use of funds for transfer to the United States of individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay. Extending the prohibition on the use of funds to construct or modify facilities in the United States to house detainees transferred from Guantanamo Bay. Extending the prohibition on the use of funds to transfer or release of individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay to Libya, Somalia, Syria, or Yemen. Extending the prohibition on the use of funds for realignment of forces at or closure of United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Greater transparency on detainees that the United States transfers. Senator Scott joined Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to introduce the Detaining Terrorists to Protect Americans Act, which bars the President from transferring any detainee to any foreign country and continues a current prohibition on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay facility as well as any attempt to transfer detainees to domestic sites. Senator Scott also joined Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) to introduce Senate Resolution 396, calling on the President to detain ISIS fighters at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.” [Press Release, Office Of Senator Tim Scott, 5/13/16<https://www.scott.senate.gov/press-release/scott-pleased-new-ndaa-continues-important-policy-prevent-guantanamo-bay%E2%80%99s-closure>]