REPUBLICANS ARE STILL ON VACATION AS ANOTHER ONE MILLION AMERICANS FILE JOBLESS CLAIMS. It’s been two weeks since Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans left for vacation after wasting weeks bickering among themselves and insisting they didn’t see ‘a big need’ to extend emergency unemployment relief. Now, another one million Americans have filed new jobless claims and will be without the federal relief they and their families need to make ends meet. Despite Federal Reserve officials, economists, governors and mayors warning that “the risk to the economy grows every day that goes by without a deal,” Mitch McConnell and his caucus are refusing to negotiate, and are instead on day 14 of their month-long recess.
ARE MITCH MCCONNELL AND SENATE REPUBLICANS STILL BLOCKING URGENTLY NEEDED RELIEF? YES.
DO REPUBLICAN SENATORS SUPPORT THE TRUMP ADMIN PRESSURING CDC TO WEAKEN TESTING? New reports reveal that Trump administration officials “pressured” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue new guidance that no longer recommends people get tested when they’ve come into close contact with someone who is infected with coronavirus. Public health experts are predicting the change “is a recipe for community spread and more spikes in coronavirus,” but Senate Republicans have been silent on the CDC changing its guidance under political pressure from the White House. Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, America’s testing capacity has been marred by “disarray, shortages, backlogs” while Republican senators have refused to hold the Trump administration accountable for their failure to develop adequate testing and contact tracing infrastructure. Do Republicans support robust testing and listening to experts, or do they support the Trump administration sabotaging public health guidance for political purposes?
JONI ERNST SELLS OUT IOWA IN RNC SPEECH. Vulnerable Senator Joni Ernst spoke last night at the Republican National Convention, where she sold out her constituents by “vouching for the President on the exact issues he has failed to deliver on for Iowa.” Senator Ernst refused to hold Trump accountable for the many ways he “has consistently undermined the biofuels industry.” The reality is “despite all the political cover Ernst has given Trump, Iowa has gotten very little in real policy wins in exchange for that help and the access Ernst enjoys with the White House.” The “once-rising star” is now one of the least popular U.S. senators in the country, and the majority of recent polls have her trailing Democratic challenger Theresa Greenfield. Iowa Starting Line: Joni Ernst Sells Out Iowa In RNC Speech
IOWA REPUBLICANS BAN BALLOT DROP BOXES DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. The Des Moines Register reported yesterday that Iowa’s Republican Secretary of State has banned county auditors from setting up absentee ballot drop boxes for November’s election, even though “more than a third of Iowa’s 99 county auditors indicated they have previously used some sort of drop box system to collect ballots.” Expanded absentee voting during the June primary election contributed to record-breaking voter turnout. It’s the latest example of blatant voter suppression from nervous Republicans determined to disenfranchise voters during a public health crisis. Read the Iowa Democratic Party’s statement on “the latest display of voter suppression” from the Iowa GOP here. Des Moines Register: Iowa counties can’t set up drop box systems for absentee ballots, secretary of state says
THE STAR OF CORY GARDNER’S PHONY ENVIRO AD IS REPUBLICAN OUSTED IN CORRUPTION SCANDAL. Just days after Senator Cory Gardner was called out for using a fake environmental group in a TV ad, Colorado Politics reports that one of the stars of Gardner’s phony ad is a scandal-riddled former Colorado Division of Parks head who was ousted from his job after a corruption scandal “found the division had mismanaged millions of dollars, which included the use of state dollars for personal perks for employees.” The deceptively-titled ad also featured a Republican staffer who founded a “hollow shell” sham organization just five months ago. The phony ad is just Gardner’s latest attempt to greenwash his abysmal environmental record. Colorado Politics: Sen. Cory Gardner’s ‘Both Parties’ ad shows supporters from just one party
CUNNINGHAM SUPPORTS MEDICAID EXPANSION, TILLIS “FOUGHT AGAINST IT.” A new WLOS report looks at vulnerable Senator Thom Tillis’ long history of opposing Medicaid expansion and how that contrasts with Army veteran Cal Cunningham’s support for expanding access to health care. When serving as Speaker of the North Carolina House, Tillis made it illegal to expand Medicaid and because of his actions, hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians still do not have health coverage. While Tillis has bragged about his opposition to Medicaid expansion, Cal has been an outspoken advocate and repeatedly called for Congress to pass a Medicaid expansion incentive. The report also highlighted Tillis’ efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, another contrast with Cunningham, who is committed to protecting and improving the health care law. Watch the must see report → WLOS: Where do U.S. Senate candidates Tillis and Cunningham stand on Medicaid?
DEM AD WATCH
CO – John Hickenlooper’s latest ad tells the personal story of a former Wynkooop employee helped by his boss, John Hickenlooper. Watch: English and Spanish.
IA – The DSCC released our first ad in Iowa detailing Senator Joni Ernst’s disturbing pattern of flouting campaign finance and anti-corruption laws to help herself. Watch.
MT – The DSCC also released our first ad in Montana that focuses on Senator Steve Daines’ record of putting himself, China, and big drug and insurance companies first instead of what’s right for the state he represents. Watch.
IN THE STATES
AZ – Salon: Arizona GOP worried Trump and McSally will cost them the state: “Arizonans are fed up”
IA – Waterloo Courier: CAMPAIGN ALMANAC: Greenfield talks rural issues
IA – Radio Iowa: Greenfield says U.S. military should use more biofuels
KS – Kansas City Star (Editorial): Unmasked again: Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall campaigning dangerously in Wyandotte County
ME – WABI: Senate candidate Sara Gideon holds discussion on health care in Bangor
MI – Deadline Detroit: John James — Self-Proclaimed Job Creator And Hater Of Handouts — Took Tax Breaks, Created No Michigan Jobs
SC – Charleston City Paper: ‘I’ve already won’: Jaime Harrison seeks to dethrone Lindsey Graham
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