NRCC Weekly Rundown: Speaker Ryan’s huge quarter, Steve Santarsiero booed by his colleagues, and more!
And here’s this week’s edition of the NRCC Weekly Rundown:
National: Speaker Paul Ryan raised more than $17 million in the first quarter, including a record $6.3 million that he transferred to the NRCC in March alone. A big thank you goes to the Speaker and Team Ryan for their hard work and support!
National: The DCCC announced their latest round of future failed candidates to be added to its Red to Blue program, adding six names, including new candidates Gail Schwartz (CO-03) and Tom Nelson (WI-08) and inept NY-21 candidate Mike Derrick to the “Emerging Races” list, its lowest tier of candidates. In 2014, Red to Blue candidates had a record of 4-36, including 0-12 among “Emerging” candidates.
CA-24: Salud Carbajal released an ad in an attempt to mislead voters on his record as a tax-and-spend liberal. Carbajal has consistently supported spending increases, including pay raises for himself, as well as tax hikes to pay for it.
CA-25: The DCCC formally chose Beverly Hills carpetbagger Bryan Caforio over the California Democrats’ endorsed candidate, Lou Vince. This move will only inflame the party in-fighting between national Democrats who prefer Caforio and local Democrats who prefer 25th District resident Vince.
MI-08: Shocking video emerged of Melissa Gilbert defending film director Roman Polanski, who remains a fugitive awaiting sentencing for the sexual assault of a 13-year old girl.
PA-08: Fresh off of lashing out at his primary opponent for calling attention to the fact that he has never had a single bill passed into law in his more than 7 years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Steve Santarsiero took his reputation for ineffectiveness to a new level. As the House was about to vote on a bipartisan school funding bill that would give millions in new funding to schools in the 8th District, but was opposed by his ally, Governor Tom Wolf, Santarsiero fled the chamber as he was booed by his colleagues.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Lawmakers Want Details on Plans for Metro Fix
At a joint hearing of two House Oversight subcommittees, lawmakers said they have confidence in Wiedefeld, who took office on Nov. 30, but want him to tell Congress how he plans to fix the system. “What do you need from us (so) that we can help you immediately remove those redundant positions, put people where they need to be and fire the people?” Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) asked Wiedefeld at the hearing. READ
McSally bill requiring border-security study passes House
Legislation authored by Arizona Rep. Martha McSally that requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a comprehensive security assessment of the southwest border easily passed the House on Wednesday. “The first step to fixing something is actually understanding the problem,” McSally said during floor debate of the bill. READ
Two Katko transportation security bills included in Senate FAA reauthorization bill
Two pieces of legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) were included on Thursday in an FAA reauthorization bill being considered by the Senate. “Together, as partners in Congress, we can make the traveling public more secure and promote the free movement of the American people across the country and around the world,” Katko, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security, said. “As my district understands all too well from the Lockerbie Bombing of Pan-Am Flight 103, which took the lives of 35 Syracuse University students and the sister of one of my closest friends, the terrorist threats against are aviation sector are persistent and real.” READ
Dold highlights legislative efforts to combat nation’s drug epidemic
U.S. Rep. Bob Dold (R-IL) outlined House efforts to curb the nation’s opioid abuse epidemic on Friday during the weekly Republican address. “This type of abuse spans every demographic, financial situation and community,” Dold said. “It can literally happen to anyone. That’s why the opioid epidemic demands a national response. We can’t let politics get in the way of giving people a second chance at recovery.” READ
Coffman issues bipartisan call for criminal investigation into VA hospital cost overrun
“The American taxpayers deserve answers,” Coffman said. “The mismanagement and cost overruns of the Aurora VA hospital are outrageous. At the least, I believe that a number of these VA employees knowingly lied to my subcommittee and other congressional committees about the project’s problems. I expect the Veterans Affairs Office of Accountability Review and the Office of the Inspector General to do their job and see if any of these VA officials committed criminal acts as the cost skyrocketed from $604 million to $1.73 billion.” READ
Arizona’s Rep. Martha McSally shows a knack for moving bills despite gridlock
Freshman Republican Rep. Martha McSally of Arizona has found unusual success moving legislation during her short career as a member of the House. Getting five bills through the House is more legislative success than anyone else in the 61-member freshman class elected in 2014 has had, save one. Rookie Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., has authored eight bills that have at least passed the House. One has become law. READ
Rep. Dan Donovan: Where’s all the federal Sandy money?
There’s billions of unspent federal dollars for Hurricane Sandy victims and Rep. Daniel Donovan wants to know why. “Without clear information concerning the use of these funds, Congress cannot carry out its oversight responsibilities to ensure that appropriations for Superstorm Sandy recovery are used for their intended purpose,” Donovan wrote. READ