It's Not Just Immigration and Common Core: NRO Hits Jeb on Puerto Rican Statehood
Jeb spent part of his trip to Puerto Rico reminiscing about drinking rum, but he's looking punch-drunk after adding two more positions to his growing list of problems with the Republican base. First, the editors of the National Review took him to task today for supporting Puerto Rican statehood:
If Puerto Rico became a state, its economy and culture would be incredible outliers: It is twice as poor as the poorest of the 50 states, and it would of course be the first Spanish-speaking one. Statehood would remove some of the competitive benefits the island currently enjoys — protection of the United States and its laws without paying income taxes, for instance — in exchange for an inordinately generous welfare state. (One important economic policy exported from the mainland, the federal minimum wage, is believed to have had devastating effects.) The territory is currently stuck in a deep economic malaise, driving large numbers of residents to emigrate, but what it needs is structural reform, not statehood. So what is Governor Bush thinking? In Washington, the issue has long been more of a Democratic cause — the state would be reliably blue — but some Republicans have warmed to the idea on political grounds, too, thinking it will win over Hispanic voters, especially the growing population of Puerto Ricans in Florida. Bush surely believes what he said (his brother was sympathetic, too), but if this is a political ploy, it’s an unwise one.
Any Port in a Storm? Portman Seeks Refuge from Record of Outsourcing American Jobs
If Rob Portman wants to remind us what a patent failure he was as United States Trade Representative under President George W. Bush, he's doing a "heckuva job." Portman is in the fight of political life this election cycle and he's making sure the hardworking men and women of Ohio know that he's on their side by cracking down on currency manipulation. “It is critical that any new trade agreement include effective tools to fight back against a practice that has resulted in the loss of millions of American jobs,” said Portman in a statement. It sure sounds like a reasonable message, if you completely ignore the messenger. Portman simply has no standing to talk about protecting American workers.
WisPolitics: $4.9 million in WEDC loans delinquent
Not only is Scott Walker's scandal-plagued, privatized job agency funding companies that are shipping Wisconsin jobs overseas, but it has a growing problem of loan delinquency. While Walker is out of state laying the groundwork for his presidential bid, his record as governor is crumbling beneath him at home. From WisPolitics.com:
The value of WEDC loans that are considered delinquent more than tripled in the last quarter. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. has been criticized for the number of delinquent loans in recent years. The numbers prepared for Thursday's board meeting show the value of those loans jumped from almost $1.3 million in the second quarter to $4.9 million.
National Journal: Walker’s lacking governing record is a disadvantage
While Scott Walker travels around the country trying out right wing sound bites for his presidential ambitions, he's letting his job responsibilities back home in Wisconsin fizzle out with layoffs on track to reach 10,000 this year -- the highest number since Walker took office. National Journal took a look at GOP governors running for president in 2016 and found that each -- especially Walker -- has had their popularity crater amid lackluster results. NJ asks, “Can you be disliked by a majority of your constituents back home and still make the case for being president?”
Scott Walker swings right to support gay marriage constitutional amendment
Scott Walker's in good company now that he supports a constitutional amendment to let states continue to ban marriage equality: Ted Cruz filed the same amendment. This move comes on the heels of Walker arguing to restrict legal immigration -- an extreme position that lines him up with Rick Santorum.
Divorced from Reality: GOP Slate Opposes Marriage Equality
As the Supreme Court hears oral arguments today on a landmark gay marriage case, every single GOP presidential candidate continues to oppose gay marriage, with Scott Walker going as far as supporting a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality and Ted Cruz offering legislation that would invalidate thousands of legal marriages. 61 percent of Americans support marriage equality according to a recent Washington Post-ABC poll. Here's the heated rhetoric from the candidates vying to be our next president: Mike Huckabee: Changing my stance on same-sex marriage "is like asking someone who’s Jewish to start serving bacon-wrapped shrimp in their deli, or asking a Muslim to serve up something that is offensive to him, or to have dogs in his backyard." Scott Walker: " I believe marriage is between one man and one woman…I believe it’s reasonable for the people of America to consider a constitutional amendment that would affirm the ability of states to do just that."
WEDC: Walker’s Expensive Corporate Welfare Failure
Eaton Corporation, a company awarded money by Scott Walker's Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), has announced the upcoming layoff of 93 workers at it's Watertown plant. The company previously faced criticism when it outsourced jobs to foreign countries shortly after receiving millions from WEDC. Eaton is just one example of the failures that have plagued Walker's WEDC -- including the governor's beloved Kohl's -- since its start.
Can’t make this up, Jeb Bush money edition
SHOT: “‘I don't think you need to spend $1 billion to be elected president of the United States in 2016,’ Bush…
ICYMI: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Scott Walker, prosecutors trade pointed swipes on John Doe
Over the weekend, Scott Walker joined the 2016 GOP field in their pilgrimage to Iowa, but leaving his home state didn't help him escape the John Doe investigation into his 2011 campaign. In a radio interview, Walker took issue with the controversy. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm was quick to hit back at the governor's reprehensible comments:
In a separate statement, Schmitz said he was surprised Walker would "speak publicly about specific issues which are now before the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a decision." "His description of the investigation as a 'political witch hunt' is offensive when he knows that the investigation was authorized by a bipartisan group of judges and is directed by a Republican special prosecutor appointed at the request of a bipartisan group of district attorneys," Schmitz's statement said.
GOP Candidates in Iowa Triple Down on RFRA, Opposing Gay Marriage
A reminder to the WHCA hangover crowd: while DC was partying, GOP presidential candidates were on the stump in Waukee, Iowa for the five hour Iowa Faith & Freedom summit, putting all their chips in on opposing gay marriage and supporting discriminatory Indiana-style RFRA laws. Here are some highlights:
Marco Rubio
Marriage is between one man and one woman, and children are better off with heterosexual parents: https://www.youtube.com/