NRCC Weekly Rundown: IL-10 Dems burn through cash, Clinton refuses to answer questions on possible indictment, #SteadySimms, and more!

And here’s this week’s edition of the NRCC Weekly Rundown:

 National: NRCC Executive Director Rob Simms was profiled by Nathan Gonzales for Roll Call this week. “Rob’s style is calm and deep-thinking. He’s a good manager who doesn’t get flustered,” said NRCC Chairman Greg Walden of Oregon. “I’m not big into drama, and neither is he.”

 National: During Wednesday’s debate, Hillary Clinton refused to answer whether she would drop out of the presidential race if she was indicted as part of the FBI investigation into her private email server. The NRCC asked if House Democrats would stand by her in the case of an indictment.

IA-03: Jim Mowrer launched his campaign this week decrying Washington special interests. His problem? In 2014, Mowrer accepted more than $180,000 from special interest PACs, and took 60% of his individual contributions from out-of-state donors.

IL-10: Brad Schneider and Nancy Rotering are burning through cash in their brutal primary fight. They had already combined to spend more than $1.5 million, more than two weeks before the election, with each looking to be near-broke heading into the general election.

 MN-08: Rep. Rick Nolan, after years of publicly saying the opposite, admitted that Obamacare cut $700 billion from Medicare. Nolan even went so far as to mock those who believed his previous statements.

NE-02: Rep. Brad Ashford decried the effects of Super PACs last weekend. Ashford failed to mention that he benefitted from more than $430,000 in “dark money” ads from House Majority PAC in 2014.

NY-21: Mike Derrick struck out with his support of 3 of President Obama’s most unpopular terrorism policies. Derrick voiced his support of closing  the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and bringing terrorists to U.S. soil, the Iran deal that John Kerry admitted would fund terrorism, and vetoing funding for our own troops who fight terrorism.

NEWS AND NOTES:

 Katko proposed terrorism bills pass in House of Representatives

Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.) has passed a bill that will require the president of the United States to construct a coherent strategy to combat terrorist travel at the beginning of each new term. This and another bill — both proposed by Katko — passed in the House of Representatives last month and have moved on to the Senate for approval. Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.) witnessed two of his proposed bills pass in the House of Representatives and move on to the Senate for approval last month. READ

Proposed bill aimed at protecting injured military veterans

Coffman is behind a bill called the Fairness for Veterans Act. He wants to protect service members who he believes are being kicked out of their jobs for the very wounds they got doing them. Coffman said people with medical histories of PTSD and traumatic brain injury, who should be medically retired or kept in for treatment and rehabilitation, are being discharged. READ

Congressman Donovan: Fighting To Restore New York’s Federal Anti-Terror Funding

Donovan, who serves as a member of the House of Representative’s Homeland Security Committee and was recently named to chair the subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness Response and Communications {EPRC} told me that he was stunned by these proposed funding reductions. “I find it inconceivable” said Donovan, “ that the President is taking away funds from New York and the other designated at- risk cities for a program created to help prevent terrorist attacks. READ

‘Heroin is an epidemic’: Rep. John Katko hears from parents on impact of dangerous drug

Katko, R-Camillus, said he’s attempting to address the treatment gap at the federal level. He supports legislation, the TREAT Act, which would raise the cap on the number of heroin addicts a physician can treat in a year. As a former federal prosecutor, he said he watched drug fads come and go. But nothing compares to the current heroin epidemic.  “It’s the most deadly drug out there,” he said. “It is, by far, the scariest drug out there. And it’s, by far, the most lethal drug I have ever seen.” READ

 Patrick Liggett: Denham helps protect Medicare Advantage

Seniors should appreciate all that Rep. Jeff Denham is doing to oppose these cuts. Almost half of the 16 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage live on a yearly income of less than $20,000. That leaves very little wiggle room in the household budget. Paying more for medical expenses means making tough decisions, like choosing between medications and food. It becomes a life-or-death decision for some. When seniors can’t afford access to proper medical care, death can result. READ

 Staten Island Democrat Faces Uphill Struggle to Turn Congressional District Blue Again

A spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee sent NY1 this statement on Monday: “Democrats have a better chance of seeing pigs fly than they do at winning NY-11 in November.” READ

 Stefanik co-sponsors caregiver bill

The bill, called the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, was introduced July 16, 2015, by Republican Congressman Gregory Harper, of Mississippi. It calls on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish and maintain a National Family Caregiving Strategy — a series of actions that federal, state and local governments, as well as health-care and community agencies, can follow to support and empower family caregivers. READ

Congressional Hearing Led By Rep. Coffman Examines Vets’ Pain Management

Veterans Administration officials from New Hampshire and Vermont say the VA is making progress in reducing opioid use among their patients, but members of Congress studying the issue say they remain concerned that successful approaches aren’t being widely shared. The House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a field hearing Friday in Concord. READ

 Obama Makes Final Attempt to Persuade Congress to Close Guantanamo

But lawmakers were not the only ones to weigh in: The National Republican Congressional Committee sent a flurry of emails shortly after the announcement asking Democratic congressional hopefuls if they “want to bring terrorists to the U.S.” by standing by the president. READ