Florida Gov. Rick Scott: Allen West would be a 'great' lieutenant governor

Hunter, Dkos

I swear these people are doing this as performance art. They've got to be. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, himself a monument to Republican crackpottery (and a bit of a crook, but I repeat myself) hasn't decided who he's going to pick for his new lieutenant governor, but he has some ideas. Like, say, ex-Rep. Allen West?

On AM Tampa Bay, the governor responded to a question by saying West "is a great American and a great patriot... he'd be a great Lieutenant Governor."

Alternatively, Gov. Rick Scott is blowing smoke up his fellow tea partiers' asses because even he's not crazy enough to think former America's Dumbest Congressman would make a good replacement for his now-resigned second in command. (Yes, that was another scandal. Wow, what are the odds.) For starters, making Allen West his lieutenant governor would require working with the guy, as in seeing him around a lot and listening to him talk. Possibly every day. I don't care how much of a wingnut you are, that would be a tough daily meal to swallow. More...

Florida lawmakers, who rejected Medicaid, have really sweet health insurance deal

Being a member of Florida's House is a pretty sweet gig. This group, the ones who went against the will of their governor, their citizens, the health care community and common decency in refusing to expand Medicaid in their state, voted themselves a smoking good deal on their own health insurance.

House members will pay just $8.34 a month for state-subsidized health care next year, or $30 a month to cover their entire family.

That’s one-sixth of what state senators and most state employees will pay, and one-tenth of the cost to the average private-sector worker, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

It’s also less than the $25 a month House Republicans wanted to charge poor Floridians for basic coverage such as a limited number of doctor visits or preventive care.

Those same House Republicans don't have limited number of doctor visits, and can get all the preventive care they want. All but 12 of the state's legislators, who are considered part-time workers, take this sweet insurance deal. The cost to Florida taxpayers for each House member's health insurance is almost $600. Which I think qualifies the Florida House of Representatives to be the country's largest parasite.

Reid: No ‘Precipitous’ Nuclear Option, But Consumer Watchdog Will Get Vote Next Week

Brian Beutler TPM

If Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants to change the Senate filibuster rules — either broadly, or more narrowly to fast track presidential nominees — he’ll need a strong case. Part of that case will rest on whether Republicans make good on their threat to block confirmation of Richard Cordray — President Obama’s non-controversial nominee to direct the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — unless and until Democrats agree to weaken his agency’s regulatory power.

To that end, he’ll hold a vote on Cordray’s nomination next week.

“I’m going to make sure he’s going to have a vote next week, and then we’ll see what happens after that,” Reid told a small group of reporters in his Capitol Hill suite Wednesday morning.

Reid’s decision to eschew significant reforms to Senate filibuster rules at the beginning of the current Congress — and his continuing reluctance to revisit those rules despite recent filibusters of cabinet nominees — angers allies both on and off of Capitol Hill.

But he continues to approach the issue cautiously.

“I’m not going to do anything now, precipitously,” he said. “But I’m looking at this very closely…. We’re going to fill that job. Cordray is there now. He’s going to get a vote.”

Reid wasn’t able to explain why he believes (or claims to believe) Cordray will ultimately be confirmed. But he alluded to the possibility that he may pursue a rules change mid-session.

“Whether it’s Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton that’s the next president, I don’t think they should have to go through what we’ve gone through here,” Reid said. “People better watch.”

Republican House Bill Proposes Variable rates for student loans

Kay Steiger Raw Story

In advance of an automatic increase on student loan rates, House Republicans will take up a proposed bill that would peg the interest students pay on their loans to market-based rates, which some criticize as risky.  More...

Call Bill Nelson - Tell Him to Oppose Obama’s Social Security Cuts

Burn Up Bill Nelson’s Phone: 202-224-5274

Republicans, some Democrats, and President Obama are pushing a backdoor way to make substantial cuts in Social Security and benefits for disabled veterans -- a concept called chained consumer price index, or “chained CPI.”
Incredibly, they are arguing that the cost of living adjustments that seniors receive for Social Security are too generous.  That’s nonsense.  I, and many economists, believe they are not generous enough.
Recently, 17 colleagues and I joined Senator Tom Harkin to introduce a resolution stating our strong opposition to the use of chained CPI.

That means there are 81 other Senators who have not signed that resolution to prevent cuts to Social Security.  These senators need to hear from you -- today.
Please join me and our friends at Progressives United in calling your senators and asking them to sign the resolution today opposing the use of chained CPI.
If a chained CPI goes into effect, seniors who are 65 now will receive $650 less a year at age 75 and $1,000 less a year at age 85. Veterans who started receiving VA disability benefits at age 30 would have their benefits reduced by over $3,000 a year at age 65.  We must not allow that to happen.
Today, the wealthiest people in America are doing phenomenally well, corporate profits are soaring and the gap between the very rich and everyone else is growing wider and wider.  At a time when the middle class is disappearing, we must not balance the budget on the backs of the elderly, the children, the sick, and the poor.  We must not cut Social Security and other programs of enormous importance to the American people!
Today, the effective corporate tax rate is at its lowest level since 1972, and 1 out of 4 profitable corporations pays nothing in federal income taxes.  We are losing about $100 billion a year in revenue as major corporations stash their profits in the Cayman Islands and other tax havens.  We need a budget that ends these outrageous loopholes and demands that corporate America accepts its responsibility to help with deficit reduction.
Please, call today and urge your senator to reject any budget that includes chained CPI, or cuts Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.
Thank you for fighting to protect the middle class.
Sincerely,

Senator Bernie Sanders

Up Is Down: Foes Of Gun Background Checks Claim To Support Them

Sahil Kapur TPM

Having found themselves on the wrong side of a cause supported by the vast majority of Americans, opponents of expanded background checks for gun purchases are working to turn the debate upside down by claiming to support the policy.

The most notable example surrounds Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s (R-NH) vote against legislation to mandate background checks for firearm buyers at gun shows and online sales — which current law does not require. Ayotte was the only senator in the Northeast to vote against it. More...