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MORNING MESSAGE
Larry Stafford
A Progressive earthquake just shook Maryland’s establishment politics to their core. Ben Jealous’s primary victory puts Maryland within striking distance of the progressive governor we deserve and need. His victory marks the ascendance of a movement that’s grounded in progressive values, led by women and people of color, to shape a new direction for politics that breathes new life into the electoral system, in our state and beyond. Go bold, Ben. You demonstrate when you really tap into our state’s electorate with progressive ideas, you can win.
SCOTUS Rules Against Workers In Janus
Supreme Court rules non-union workers cannot be forced to pay fees to public sector unions. CNBC: “The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Wednesday that non-union workers cannot be forced to pay fees to public sector unions. ‘Compelling individuals to mouth support for views they find objectionable violates that cardinal constitutional command, and in most contexts, any such effort would be universally condemned,’ wrote Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the court’s opinion in the case, Janus v. AFSCME. The case, one of the most hotly anticipated of the term, is the second in two days to hand a major victory to conservatives, following Tuesday’s holding by the court that President Donald Trump’s travel ban is constitutional. Some experts have said that a holding in favor of Janus would be the most significant court decision affecting collective bargaining in decades.”
Upstart Ocasio Defeats NY Dem Incumbent Crowley
Crowley surprise tops huge night for left. The HillP “Veteran Rep. Joe Crowley’s (D-N.Y.) stunning defeat on Tuesday night rocked the political world, as progressive candidates stormed to victory in primaries held across the country. Crowley, the chairman of the House Democratic caucus who was seen as a potential future speaker, lost in a massive upset to progressive challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old organizer for Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) presidential campaign. Other liberal candidates won primary challenges in top House and gubernatorial races. Former NAACP President Ben Jealous, who was endorsed by Sanders, won the Democratic primary in Maryland’s governor race. And activist Dana Balter won her House primary in upstate New York. Those victories illustrate that voters have an appetite to buck the political establishment, as progressives seek to move the Democratic Party farther to the left.”
Families Must Be Reunited, Judge Says
Judge orders U.S. to reunite families, stop border separations. NBC: “A federal judge in San Diego ordered immigration agents on Tuesday to stop separating migrant parents and children who have crossed the border from Mexico and to work to reunite families that have already been split up while in custody. U.S. District Court Judge Dana Sabraw issued a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by an anonymous woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo and backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, which pursued it as a class action as U.S. authorities began a “zero tolerance” policy in early May. President Donald Trump issued an executive order to end the family separations last Wednesday, but the government has yet to reunite about 2,000 children with their parents.”
Azar Says HHS “Can’t” Reunite Families
Top official says government can’t reunite migrant families under current law. The Hill: “The head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said Tuesday he is powerless to reunite migrant children with their parents unless Congress changes the laws regarding detention time limits. Under questioning from Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee, HHS Secretary Alex Azar indicated it’s the responsibility of Congress or the courts to reunite the 2,047 migrant children still in the agency’s custody. ‘We are working to get all these kids ready to be placed back with their parents as soon as Congress passes a change, or if those parents complete their immigration proceedings,’ Azar said. ‘We do not want any children separated from their parents any longer than necessary under the law.’ Current law says families can’t be detained for more than 20 days. If a parent is in immigration detention with the Department of Homeland Security for longer than 20 days, their children must be placed in the custody of HHS. That agreement, known as the Flores settlement, dates back to 1997, but last week the Department of Justice asked a federal district court to modify it amid the current border crisis. ‘I cannot reunite them, though, while the parents are in custody because of the court order that doesn’t allow the kids to be with their parents for more than 20 days. We need Congress to fix that,’ Azar said.
SCOTUS Upholds Muslim Ban
Supreme Court upholds Trump travel ban. WaPo: “The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that President Trump has the authority to ban travelers from certain majority-Muslim countries if he thinks it is necessary to protect the United States, a victory in what has been a priority since Trump’s first weeks in office and a major affirmation of presidential power. The vote was 5 to 4, with conservatives in the majority and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. finding that a string of unprecedented comments and warnings from Trump about Muslims did not erode the president’s vast powers to control entry into this country. The president reacted on Twitter: ‘SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRUMP TRAVEL BAN. Wow!’”
House To Vote On Immigration Bill
Ryan says House to vote Wednesday on immigration. NPR: “House Speaker Paul Ryan said the House will vote Wednesday on a broad Republican immigration bill. But he’s not predicting it passes. The Wisconsin Republican told reporters Tuesday the measure contains “the seeds of consensus” among Republicans on immigration. He said those issues will be dealt with “hopefully now, but if not, later.” The bill’s defeat seems likely. Ryan is also declining to discuss a narrower bill Republicans are considering that would focus on curbing the Trump administration’s separation of migrant families when they enter the U.S. illegally. He said discussing that bill would ‘undercut’ leaders’ efforts to win votes for the wider-ranging measure. It would give young immigrants a chance at citizenship, fund President Donald Trump’s border wall and require the government to keep migrant families together.”
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