In the Know: June 26, 2018

2018 session
Dayton had no choice but to veto, Duluth News Tribune

Health Care
The Senate health committee will kick off a series of hearings this week about health care costs, and the House isn’t far behind, now that it has wrapped up its marathon of opioids bills. The focus makes sense — health care costs are one of voters’ top issues in the midterms.

So, does this mean the GOP is moving on from its repeal-and-replace agenda? Not so fast.

  • “I think if you address health care costs you’re basically repealing and replacing Obamacare. It’s really one and the same,” Sen. Mike Rounds told Axios’ Caitlin Owens.

Reality check: Rising ACA premiums are a real issue for millions of people, but they’re a tiny fraction of the health care system. Drug prices, rising deductibles and a burgeoning backlash over surprise hospital bills are all animating the cost debate — and none of them are products of the ACA.

The bottom line: Republicans clearly don’t feel that they can say they’re moving on from ACA repeal, and that could complicate any serious effort to address health care costs — an area where bipartisan agreement may not be easy, but is at least not beyond the realm of possibility.

  • “I think we can find more common ground there and get more done there for consumers, and that’s where we should focus,” Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden said. Axios

Immigration
House Republicans face another week of fighting over immigration, MPR
Immigration overhaul on life support in the House, The Hill
Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Immigration Reform: ‘We Need to Get this Done’, KSTP
These Private Prison Companies Are Already Profiting Off of Trump’s Order on Family Separation, In These Times
House Republicans’ “compromise” immigration push is actually very conservative, VOX
Leaked audio features detention center staff threatening immigrant kids not to speak to reporters, Think Progress

March for Our Lives
March for Our Lives bus tour comes to Minnesota, Star Tribune

Supreme Court
Supreme Court upholds travel ban, CNN
In Big Win For White House, Supreme Court Upholds President Trump’s Travel Ban, NPR
Supreme Court says Texas political map is largely not a racial gerrymander, MPR
North Carolina Republicans renew voter suppression efforts that were struck down by Supreme Court, Think Progress

Trump Trade War
Once a Trump favorite, Harley now feels the pinch from trade war, Bloomberg
Trump ignored pleas from Harley-Davidson workers to save their jobs, VOX
Trump Attacks, Threatens Harley-Davidson for Moving Production to Europe, NY Mag
What Trump “Says” Are Unfair Trade Practices, Not “Sees”, Beat The Press

The Dow plunged by more than 300 points, following news that President Trump plans to further crack down on Chinese investment in major U.S. tech companies by blocking additional technology exports to Beijing. Axios

Upcoming Events

  • June 26, 7:00 PM — SD3 DFL Executive Committee Meeting, Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St N, Osseo, MN 55369
  • June 29 through August 13 — Primary early voting. More information here.
  • June 29, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.
  • July 3, 7:00 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Brooklyn Park Library, 8500 W Broadway Ave, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
  • July 4 — Independence Day
  • July 4 — SD48 DFL will be at Eden Prairie’s Independence Day celebration at Round Lake Park (southwest corner for Valley View Road and Eden Prairie Road).
  • July 4, 1:30 PM — SD33 DFL Marching in the Chanhassen 4th of July Parade. Line up starts at 1:30 PM, parade steps off at 2:30 PM.
  • July 6, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.
  • July 9, 7:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • July 9, 7:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
  • July 10, 7:00 PM — SD34 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St N, Osseo, MN 55369
  • July 12, 6:00 PM — SD34 DFL Marching in the Maple Grove Days Parade
  • July 12, 7:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • July 13, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.