Former UN Ambassador John Bolton won’t run for President
John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and one of the Republican Party’s most prominent national security hawks, has confirmed that he will not run for president. In a media conference call and separate video to supporters, Bolton said he would work through his political action committees and PACs to influence the 2016 elections by pushing candidates to promote aggressive foreign and military policies. “I believe I can make the strongest contribution to our future by continuing as a clear and consistent advocate for a strong, Reaganite foreign policy that values peace through strength,” Bolton said in the video. But, he told reporters, his own campaign “was not feasible,” saying that an established “political class in this country” makes it harder for lesser-known candidates to compete seriously for the presidency. “I’m not complaining,” he said, adding, “I’m a realist.” A leading foreign policy voice in the George W. Bush White House, Bolton spent recent months testing his muscular foreign policy message in early voting states. He often lashed out at Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, as well as Republican rivals – Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul in particular – who favor a reduced U.S. military presence in the world. He blasted Clinton again Thursday, calling her tenure as President Barack Obama‘s first secretary of state a “failure.” “Republicans need to make sure they don’t allow her to skip away with using national security as an issue that works in her favor,” he said. Bolton said he has no immediate plans to endorse any Republican. Bolton’s decision not to run is somewhat surprising in an election season in which more than a dozen ambitious Republicans may pursue a run for the nomination. Declared candidates include Paul, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former technology executive Carly Fiorina and retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson. A slew of current and former governors, including Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, are expected to announce their plans in the coming weeks. Despite saying a campaign wasn’t “feasible,” Bolton insisted that “funding would have been there in an adequate amount.” He noted that his political organizations spent about $7.5 million on House and Senate races in the 2014 midterm elections. Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
George Stephanopoulos will not moderate Republican debate
ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos won’t moderate a Republican presidential debate next winter, part of the fallout from reports that the network’s top political anchor contributed $75,000 over a three-year period to the Clinton Foundation. Stephanopoulos voluntarily stepped away from the Feb. 6 debate, ABC News spokeswoman Heather Riley said Thursday. It is one of nine debates sanctioned by the Republican National Committee. The co-host of Good Morning America and host of the Sunday morning public affairs program This Week earlier had apologized for not disclosing his contributions to his employer and viewers. The three donations of $25,000 each in 2012, 2013 and 2014 were made to the foundation set up by former President Bill Clinton because of the organization’s work on global AIDS prevention and deforestation, Stephanopoulos said. The network news division said in a statement that “we stand behind him.” Some Republicans have harbored long suspicions about Stephanopoulos because of his past life as a top aide to Clinton during his 1992 presidential campaign and in the White House afterward. Stephanopoulos joined ABC News in 1997, and Riley said the proof of his objectivity as a reporter “is in his work” over 18 years. With Clinton’s wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, running for the Democratic presidential nomination, the issues have been revived for ABC News. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican running for president, told The New York Times that because Stephanopoulos has been close to the Clintons, “that there would be a conflict of interest if he tried to be a moderator of any sort.” The donations to the Clinton foundation were first reported in Politico as $50,000. But in checking back in his records, Stephanopoulos found an additional $25,000 donation in 2012, Riley said. Stephanopoulos has reported on Peter Schweizer‘s book, Clinton Cash, which traces the public involvement of organizations that have donated to the Clinton Foundation. Stephanopoulos interviewed Schweizer on “This Week.” The news anchor said that he thought his contributions were a matter of public record. “However, in hindsight, I should have taken the extra step of personally disclosing my donations to my employer and to the viewers on the air during the recent news stories about the foundation,” he said. “I apologize.” ABC News, in a statement, agreed that Stephanopoulos was wrong not to notify his bosses and viewers but called it an honest mistake. Besides his regular work on the two programs, Stephanopoulos is ABC News’ chief anchor during major breaking stories and on election nights. Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
Martha Roby blasts Robert McDonald, President Obama over VA missteps
U.S. Rep. Martha Roby said Thursday that Veterans’ Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald and the Obama administration “need to spend less time on political posturing and more time correcting the ongoing mismanagement of VA health care systems.” Roby, a Republican who represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, in a news release cited a recent memo Jan R. Frye reported in The Washington Post that portrayed an atmosphere of “lawlessness and chaos” surrounding the VA. Frye wrote in a memo addressed to McDonald that about $6 billion of taxpayer money was lost to what Roby called on Thursday “waste, fraud and abuse.” Roby also teed off on what her office called “independently refuted” accusations from President Barack Obama that recent problems with the Veterans’ Administration — a problem especially acute in parts of Roby’s district, which includes the Wiregrass region as well as parts of metropolitan Montgomery — stemmed from budget cuts pushed by the GOP-led House of Representatives in her statement, below: “While Secretary McDonald was falsely accusing House Republicans of cutting funding for VA healthcare, his department was responsible for billions in waste, fraud and abuse. “While President Obama was threatening to veto our appropriations bill over $1.4 billion in funding, the VA was blowing through four times that annually in misspent funds. “I have been told by senior VA officials in no uncertain terms that problems at systems like the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System are ‘not about money.’ Today’s report further demonstrates that the rhetoric from the White House and Secretary McDonald was absurd, insulting and shameless. “They need to spend less time on political posturing and more time correcting the ongoing mismanagement of VA health care systems that is preventing our veterans from receiving timely, quality care.” Roby said in a news release she is preparing to advance legislation that would compel the VA Secretary to take over VA systems that perennially fail to meet certain standards.
Ann Eubank: Looking for parents in Comprehensive Counseling plan
Thursday morning, I attended the AL School Board monthly work session where they presented the Alabama Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Model for Alabama Public Schools. The “mission” of this program is to prepare every student academically, “socially” and “emotionally.” That sounds great on the surface. However, the question is “where are the parents in this plan?” The schools are implementing this plan with the attitude that they are better prepared to raise your child than you are. Schools are part of the government system where parental control is no longer viewed as the ultimate authority over their children. This is another tentacle of the Common Core/Alabama Plan 2020. The standards included in this program include data collection from K-12, follows to college and workforce, with or without parental consent. Ms Cindy Wiley, of Shelby County Schools, gave a very positive overview of the plan to the board without going into the possible negative impact on student and parent relationship. Are they overstepping the boundaries of the family? The entire board will vote on this plan at the June meeting. Those of us who object to the destruction of the family need to let our feelings be known. Call your Board Representative and voice your opinion. (334) 242-9950. Also call your Senator and tell them to vote for SB101 which repeals Common Core. Ann Eubank is co-chair of Rainy Day Patriots (Jefferson/Shelby County), and the legislative chair of the Alabama Legislative Watchdogs. Ann is a frequent visitor of the Statehouse and has bridged the gap between strong advocate and respected resource for members. She is also a member of the Alabamians United for Excellence in Education Taskforce and several other Stop Common Core groups.
Gov. Bentley threatens to veto House budget proposal
Gov. Robert Bentley issued a veto threat on the budget proposal that came out of the House earlier Thursday, saying that the more than $200 million in proposed budget cuts would hurt state residents and still not solve the need for revenue. “This budget is unworkable, it’s irresponsible, it really hurts people,” Bentley told reporters. “The people who depend on the general fund for services – and that really includes everybody in the state of Alabama – will be hurt by this budget.” The House Ways and Means Budget committee passed a general fund budget Thursday morning, recommending level funding for Medicaid, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Human Resources, and the Administrative Office of the Courts. Other agencies that appropriated through the General Fund would see a 2 percent budget cut. Bentley said he would veto the bill if it manages to pass both the House and Senate, and that the deep cuts imposed by the budget may help legislators see the need to increase revenue. “I believe there still is an opportunity for some revenue bills,” Bentley said. “Not much, there’s not many days left. I think that a Special Session is certainly more likely.” Here’s a video from his statement this morning: Gov. Robert Bentley’s Thursday response to House budget proposal.
House sends budget to Senate: You’re up.
Let me paraphrase the House message to the Senate on Thursday: “Thanks for nothing, guys. Here you go. Here’s a budget. You fix it.” That may be a slight over simplification but only slight. If you want to read the actual statement you can find it here: Clouse Statement on General Fund What happened in a nutshell is the House saw a revolt this week from fiscally conservative members who wouldn’t increase taxes, as the governor and speaker wanted them to do. So in light of the clear standstill, they are punting to the Senate to see what they propose. Stay tuned for more posts throughout the day on budget discussions.
Gaming moves forward
It was a busy morning at the Statehouse and Capitol Thursday. Sen. Del Marsh‘s gambling bill has cleared the Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee by a 5-3 vote. That means the conversation will continue as the Legislature attempts to find more revenue sources that don’t include tax increases. The bill allows voters to choose to accept gaming expansion or not. We’ll report on reactions as we get them.
For half a sentence, Jeb Bush is an official 2016 candidate
Over and over again, Jeb Bush has said he’s still thinking about whether to run for president. But for half a sentence Wednesday, Bush let on it’s a decision he’s already made. And he’s in the race for the White House. Talking with reporters after a town hall in Reno, Nevada, the former Florida governor said, “I’m running for president in 2016 and the focus is going to be about how we, if I run, how do you create high sustained economic growth.” Bush noted several times in the same conversation he is still thinking about whether to run and caught himself before ending the sentence in which he said he was running by adding that caveat. Earlier in the same exchange, when asked about his brother, former President George W. Bush, he said, “If I run, it will be 2016, not 2000.” But the caveat is important. It’s one Bush has uttered countless times since January, traveling to early-voting and battleground states and meeting voters. It’s what has allowed him to raise limitless money to fuel a super PAC expected to complement his campaign once he officially announces his candidacy. Bush’s team had nothing to say about his slip. Once a White House hopeful launches a formal campaign, he or she can no longer coordinate activities with a super PAC. That’s why people who are running a presidential campaign in all but name hold off on declaring their intentions until the time suits them — even as they make speeches, meet donors and undertake other activities that are clearly the work of a presidential contender. Bush’s super PAC, Right to Rise, is expected, under the guidance of longtime adviser Mike Murphy, to conduct many of the functions a candidate’s campaign would — but without coordination with Bush or the federal contribution limits that go with a campaign. At the event in Reno, the former Florida governor again refused to say whether he would have proceeded with the 2003 invasion of Iraq if he’d been in brother and former President George W. Bush’s shoes. Anyone in hindsight “would have made different decisions,” he told reporters. “There is no denying that. But to delve into that and not focus on the future, I think is where I need to draw the line.” Pressed by a voter at the town hall-style meeting about the war, Bush said: “Talking about the future is more than fair. Talking about the past, saying how would you have done something after the fact is a little tougher, and it doesn’t necessarily change anything.” Bush later noted that such voter encounters stand in contrast to what he described as Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton‘s campaign. “You can’t script your way to the presidency, put yourself in a protective bubble and never interact with people — only talk with people that totally agree with you,” Bush said. “That’s not going to work. That’s not very sincere.” Republished with permission of the Assoociated Press.
House tax plan: Not looking good for Speaker Mike Hubbard
There’s no telling what’s going to happen day to day here in Montgomery. As for passing a long list of taxes on everything from lubrication oils, business fees, car tax fees and rental car fees among other, it looks like its going to take a team of first responders to resuscitate that plan. That’s not to say it won’t happen. There’s a lot of bullying and strong arming happening from those who want everyone to fall in line. From what I’m hearing after good guys have rallied together they stopped the tax package being pushed by House leadership from coming for a vote. For now. The fact is the back room deals that benefit few and raise taxes for nearly everyone wasn’t a smart way to go about this. Members, and I’m crediting a lot of new ones, remember all too well being on the campaign trail not that long ago promising voters that they would not raise taxes. Alabama Today has heard that the only tax still in play right now on the house side is the cigarette tax. This is a pretty fluid discussion so we’ll let you know if anything changes or we get any additional information and report back.
