Document aDrdroOaRBMDG7dqKro3M7JzN

To: Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] From: Anna Palmer Jake Sherman Daniel Lippman Sent: Sat 9/23/2017 2:18:42 PM Subject: POLITICO Playbook, presented by UC Davis: TRUMP: `I might have made a mistake' in backing Strange -- AIDES told TRUMP not to personally attack KIM - GARDNER: GOP `donors are furious' - JON FAVREAU'S new pad - SETH MOULTON gets married - B'DAY: Spicer View ojJine^yerejon | Add yur address book. Today's POLITICO Playbook presented by UC Davis By JAKE SHERMAN (sherman@politico.com; @JakeSherman), ANNA PALMER (anna@politico.com; @apalmerdc) and DANIEL LIPPMAN (daniel@politico.com; @dlippman) Driving the Day Visit the online home of Playbook Good Saturday morning. Washington is recalibrating. John McCain has once again upended Republicans' plans to pass healthcare legislation. President Donald Trump has quickly pivoted to the blame game -- tweeting about everything from McCain to Rand Paul to Steph Curry this morning. CONSIDER THIS: Next week Republicans will settle a brutal primary in Alabama and the fate of the health care repeal-and-replace process will be sealed. This could give Trump back-to-back losses. It also could give back-to-back losses to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, an unusual situation for the Kentucky Republican. THE BIG QUESTION: Will this again push Trump into Democrats' arms? WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TWEETING - @realDonaldTrump at 6:42 a.m.: "John McCain never had any intention of voting for this Bill, which his Governor loves. He campaigned on Repeal & Replace. Let Arizona down!"... at 6:50 a.m.: "Arizona had a 116% increase in ObamaCare premiums last year, with deductibles very high. Chuck Schumer sold John McCain a bill of goods. Sad". ... at 6:59 a.m.: "Large Block Grants to States is a good thing to do. Better control & management. Great for Arizona. McCain let his best friend L.G. down!"... ... at 7:04 a.m.: "I know Rand Paul and I think he may find a way to get there for the good of the Party!"... at 7:13 a.m.: "Alaska had a 200% plus increase in premiums under ObamaCare, worst in the country. Deductibles high, people angry! Lisa M comes through."... 7:17 a.m.: "It was great being with Luther Strange last night in Alabama. What great people, what a crowd! Vote Luther on Tuesday."... at 8:45 a.m.: "Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!" Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00001 - - @jaketapper: "Focusing like a laser on the major problems of the American people: black professional athletes with opinions."... CBS'S JACQUELINE ALEMANY (@JaxAlemany): "Tom Brady chose not to come to the White House and Trump didn't say a thing." TRUMP IN ALABAMA, via Burgess Everett in Huntsville: "The president also threw a jab at Strange's opponent, Roy Moore, a controversial former Alabama chief justice, who, he argued, could lose to a Democrat in the December general election. '"Roy has a very good chance of not winning in the general election," Trump said. "Moore is going to have a hard time winning.' Trump's speech, which stretched on for well over an hour, represented a political risk. In declaring his unwavering support for Strange, who has the support of establishment figures like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the president is squaring off against longtime loyalists such as former chief strategist Steve Bannon who have come out forcefully for Moore ... "'I'm taking a big risk, because if he doesn't make it, they're going to go after me,' the president said, referring to the many members of the media who were in attendance at the Von Braun Center. Trump said he would face accusations that he couldn't get his candidate over the finish line. "At some moments, he seemed to be bracing for the possibility of a Strange loss. He acknowledged that polls had shown the senator trailing throughout the race. And he said that if Moore came out ahead on Tuesday, he would campaign for him before the general election.'I told Luther if his opponent wins, I'll be here campaigning like hell for him,' Trump said." http://politi.co/2hq022W - -WAPO'S JENNA JOHNSON: '"I might have made a mistake. I'll be honest, I might have made a mistake,' Trump told a crowd of several thousand gathered at the Von Braun Center that cheered much louder for him than for the candidate he was there to support, Sen. Luther Strange, who was appointed earlier this year to fill the seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. ... 'And, by the way, both good men. Both good men,' the president said of the two Republican candidates. 'If his opponent wins, I'm going to be here campaigning like hell for him. But, I have to say this ... Luther will definitely win.'" http://wapo.st/2ho9dol - - "Trump to NFL owners: Fire players who kneel during anthem," by AP's Jill Colvin and Catherine Lucey: http://bit.lv/2fnU3P1 NOT FAKE NEWS -- "Carson breaks with Trump, backs Moore for Alabama Senate seat," by Cristiano Lima: "'Judge Moore is a fine man of proven character and integrity, who I have come to respect over the years,' [HUD Secretary Ben] Carson wrote in a statement. 'I was delighted to hear he is running for the US Senate.' Carson, a devout Christian who garnered strong support from the religious right during the 2016 Republican primaries, praised Moore for his 'Judeo-Christian values.'" Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00002 http://politi.co/2xB8tC8 IS HEALTHCARE REPEAL DEAD? -- "Dems not declaring victory yet on Obamacare," by Elana Schor and Heather Caygle: "When John McCain cast the decisive vote against Obamacare repeal two months ago, Chuck Schumer waved an arm to quiet fellow Democrats as they burst into audible elation. Don't gloat or cheer over the GOP's failure, Schumer signaled - a move he made again on Friday in a statement, after McCain delivered what looks like a fatal blow to his party's seven-year drive to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Far from celebrating, Democrats tempered their responses to McCain with reminders of the bipartisan health care talks that Republicans had walked away from when they took one last shot at repealing Obamacare. "And even as their liberal base turned a rally to pressure McCain into a thank-you celebration, Democrats stopped far short of declaring repeal dead. ... Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office did not immediately respond to questions about whether he will still hold the vote on the bill." - - "Is Obamacare finally safe?: The clock may finally have caught up with Republicans after nearly 10 months of failed repeal efforts," by Jen Haberkorn and Paul Demko: "Obamacare has endured more than seven years of political attacks, dozens of congressional repeal votes and four Supreme Court challenges. But as of today, the Democrats' universal health care law is as secure as it's ever been. Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) opposition to the latest repeal effort sponsored by his closest friend in the Senate likely doomed the bill - and with it, the hope that Republicans could fulfill their campaign pledge to undo Barack Obama's signature domestic policy achievement before a Sept. 30 deadline. "On top of that, the insurance markets are alive and, despite skyrocketing premiums and dwindling competition, face no threat of immediate collapse. ... TH be honest, it seems unlikely that we'll be voting on this' next week, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-lowa) told a town hall meeting Friday in Iowa City shortly after McCain's announcement." http://politi.co/2viJBMp - - "Why McCain screwed the GOP on Obamacare repeal - again: His friendship with Lindsey Graham was less important than his grievances with the process," by Burgess Everett and Seung Min Kim: http://politi.co/2xA5MRd - - ALASKA GOV. BILL WALKER on the bill, to the New York Times: "In an interview, Mr. Walker said he did not believe any special accommodation could be reached for his state, because the overall structure was so damaging to Alaska. He said he had communicated his concerns extensively to Ms. Murkowski. "'Alaska would fare very, very poorly,' he said. 'Nothing has been brought to my attention that would increase my comfort level.' A spokeswoman for Ms. Murkowski, Karina Petersen, said the senator is studying the matter. 'Senator Murkowski is still Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00003 focused on how the bill will impact Alaska, specifically,' Ms. Petersen said. 'She's continuing to gather data and is looking at the details of the bill to determine what's best for her state.'" http://nyti.ms/2xvOJPO ****** message from (jc Davis: At UC Davis, unusual collaborations in veterinary medicine, human health and engineering lead to groundbreaking treatments for beloved pets and other animals, from furry to feathered. Those breakthroughs lead to translatable human medicine. It's a One Health approach that benefits the health of all. Learn more at 21stcentury.ucdavis.edu. ****** INSIDE THE ROOM - NYT'S CARL HULSE: "Behind New Obamacare Repeal Vote: 'Furious' G.O.P. Donors": "As more than 40 subdued Republican senators lunched on Chick-fil-A at a closed-door session last week, Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado painted a dire picture for his colleagues. Campaign fund-raising was drying up, he said, because of widespread disappointment among donors over the inability of the Republican Senate to repeal the Affordable Care Act or do much of anything else. Mr. Gardner is in charge of his party's midterm re-election push, and he warned that donors of all stripes were refusing to contribute another penny until the struggling majority produced some concrete results. 'Donors are furious,' one person knowledgeable about the private meeting quoted Mr. Gardner as saying. 'We haven't kept our promise.'" http://nyti.ms/2iTUEJJ HOW IT PLAYED - NYT: "McCain Rejects G.O.P. Health Bill, Likely Dooming It" http://nyti.ms/2xXHYYM ... WAPO: "Latest effort to repeal Obamacare on brink of failure after GOP defections" http://wapo.st/2yxPd6M ... WSJ: "GOP Health Push in Jeopardy as McCain Withholds Support" http://on.wsi.com/2xnpyNZ -AROUND THE COUNTRY: ARIZONA REPUBLIC (big McCain photo): "TWO THUMBS DOWN: McCain announces he will vote against latest attempt to repeal ACA" http://bit.ly/2xZoirq ... THE POST AND COURIER: "McCain votes no on Graham's bill: Decision likely dooms friend's health care legislation that McMaster now supports" ... CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER: "Clinic CEO lobbies against repeal: Cosgrove says new bill being rushed without hearings" http://bit.lv/2undnAR COMING ATTRACTIONS - "Trump to talk tax reform in Indiana on Wednesday," by Nancy Cook: "President Donald Trump is planning to head to Indiana on Wednesday to give a major speech on tax reform, the same day that the 'Big Six' tax negotiators will unveil their broad-brushstrokes proposal for overhauling the tax code. ... Following the president's Indiana trip, several Cabinet secretaries including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon will also participate in tax reform-related events and media outreach across the country." - "GOP eyes corporate tax rate of 20 percent, retreating from Trump's lofty goal," by WaPo's Mike DeBonis, Sean Sullivan and Damian Paletta: "Republicans are targeting a corporate rate of 20 percent in their federal tax overhaul plan, according to three people familiar with the emerging blueprint - a number that represents a Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00004 substantial cut from the current 35 percent rate but falls short of the 15 percent President Trump has long pushed for. The plan remains fluid ... But they said the template is taking a more definite shape ahead of a planned rollout next week by the 'Big Six' negotiators from the White House, Senate and House." http://wapo.stZ2 X FLOTUS WATCH -- "Meetings with Prince Harry, Canadian PM for Melania Trump," by AP's Darlene Superville: "Melania Trump is ... leading the U.S. delegation to an international sporting event for wounded service members, her first solo trip outside the United States to represent her adopted country. On the agenda for daylong stop Saturday in Toronto: a first-time meeting with Britain's Prince Harry, founder of the Invictus Games; a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; remarks at a reception for the nearly 100 American athletes participating in the weeklong Olympicstyle competition; and attending the opening ceremony." http://bit.lv/2xZyNqT PALACE INTRIGUE -- "Aides warned Trump not to attack North Korea's leader personally before his fiery U.N. address," by LATimes' Brian Bennett: "Senior aides to President Trump repeatedly warned him not to deliver a personal attack on North Korea's leader at the United Nations this week, saying insulting the young despot in such a prominent venue could irreparably escalate tensions and shut off any chance for negotiations to defuse the nuclear crisis. Trump's derisive description of Kim Jong Un as 'Rocket Man' on 'a suicide mission' and his threat to 'totally destroy' North Korea were not in a speech draft that several senior officials reviewed and vetted Monday, the day before Trump gave his first address to the U.N. General Assembly, two U.S. officials said. "Some of Trump's top aides, including national security advisor H.R. McMaster, had argued for months against making the attacks on North Korea's leader personal, warning it could backfire. But Trump, who relishes belittling his rivals and enemies with crude nicknames, felt compelled to make a dramatic splash in the global forum." http://lat.ms/2yxdGJk -- "Enforcer or 'choke point'? Kelly seeks to bring order to chaotic White House," by WaPo's Ashley Parker and Phil Rucker: "White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly has a new evening routine: He periodically strolls the perimeter of the White House grounds late at night, inspecting the compound and chatting with Secret Service agents to see if they have what they need. Just two months into his new post, Kelly has expanded his portfolio to include issues large and small throughout the administration from influencing personnel staffing at the agencies to vetting President Trump's reading materials to his periodic nighttime walks along the White House fence line to check security. "The no-task-too-small leadership style - dating to Kelly's training in the Marine Corps, where he rose to a four-star general - has its benefits for a president who often sows chaos in his wake, implementing a sense of order and discipline in a White House known for lacking both. But it also has prompted grumbling about micromanaging within the West Wing, where some staffers complain that Kelly may be growing his mandate Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00005 too far and that his strict regimen stifles the creativity and spontaneity that have been hallmarks of Trump's enterprises. As one of Kelly's subordinates put it, the chief of staff sometimes becomes 'a one-man choke point.'" http://wapo.st/2xpbPGc DRAIN THE SWAMP! -- "Corey Lewandowski appears to be working with another lobbying firm," by Theo Meyer and Daniel Lippman: "Months after Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump's former campaign manager, quit the lobbying firm he co founded after the 2016 election, he appears to be working with a new one, reviving questions about whether he is still cashing in on his relationship with the president. The firm, Turnberry Solutions LLC - a name that calls to mind Trump Turnberry, the president's Scottish golf resort - is staffed by two lobbyists who worked for Lewandowski's old firm. While Lewandowski has denied any link to the firm, there's plenty of evidence to the contrary. Lewandowski was on a recent conference call between Turnberry and one of its clients, according to the client, and Turnberry also created an email address with his first name on it. "A source familiar with the firm told POLITICO that Lewandowski also traveled to Poland earlier this month with two of Turnberry's lobbyists to pitch the firm's services to the Polish government. ... Lewandowski has touted his access to Trump outside his work with Turnberry, too. In a recent conversation with Elin Suleymanov, the Azerbaijani ambassador to the U.S., Lewandowski promised that he could get the Azerbaijani president a meeting with Trump ... Asked whether he had promised access, Lewandowski responded by text message: 'No -1 don't do foreign work. Sorry.'" http://politi.co/2vvguGa CLICKER - "The nation's cartoonists on the week in politics," edited by Matt ________________ Wuerker - 16 funnies 7politi.co/2ffXUdy. Playbook Reads PHOTO DU JOUR: President Donald Trump hugs Senate candidate Luther Strange during a campaign rally in Huntsville, Ala., on Sept. 22. | Evan Vucci/AP Photo BILL SCHER: "Joe Biden's Platform for 2020: Anti-Populism": "On Monday, former Vice President Joe Biden wrote a blog post that proves two things: Blogging isn't dead and neither is Biden's political career. In fact, in Biden's essay, and in other little-noticed public pronouncements, you can see him sculpting a role for in the 2020 presidential campaign that perhaps only he could get away with playing: the voice of anti-populism. Though Biden's essay was largely ignored amid the constant hum of Trump-related stories, it made a bit of news in wonk circles because Biden used it to announce his opposition to a 'universal basic income,' that newly vogue policy proposal in which every American would receive a periodic check from the government regardless of their work status." http://politi.co/2hlYiiF ... Biden's post http://bit.lv/2fihRQF Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00006 RUSSIA WATCH -- "Wisconsin, Ohio, California among states targeted by Russian hackers in 2016 race," by Reuters' David Shepardson and Dustin Volz: "Wisconsin, Ohio, California and 10 other states said on Friday they were among 21 states that Russian government hackers targeted in an effort to sway the 2016 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump though no votes were changed. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed it had notified the states of the activity but declined to identify them. ... "Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Washington state also confirmed they were targeted by Russian hackers but said they were not successful. Arizona and Illinois confirmed last year that they were targets. The Associated Press confirmed Iowa, Maryland, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Oregon, Oklahoma and Virginia were also targets, bringing the total states identified to 21. Those states did not immediately return messages seeking comment late Friday." http://reut.rs/2xqsNnX OBAMA ALUMNI -- "Pod Payoff: Crooked Media's Jon Favreau Buys L.A. Bungalow for $1.9M," by Realtor's Claudine Zap: "Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama, finally has a place for his Sonos speakers, Parachute sheets, and Blue Apron meals. Those are some of the sponsors he enthusiastically hawks on the popular podcast 'Pod Save America.'... The Crooked Media co-founder and his wife, Emily Black, have settled in SoCal, where they purchased a Spanish-style bungalow in L.A. for $1.9 million in early August. The three-bedroom, three-bath home was built in the 1920s and comes 'beautifully updated,' according to the listing." With 8 pix on one page http://bit.lv/2wMJQOM ****** message from (jc Davis: Ranked first in the world for veterinary medicine, UC Davis believes collaborating across disciplines in animal, human and environmental health is the best way to advance the health of all creatures great and small. Using this "One Health" approach to problem solving, our research - much of which is federally funded - is resulting in cost-saving, translatable treatments for cancer, breakthroughs in stem cell therapy, increased awareness and management of emerging zoonotic diseases, better protection for endangered species, and comprehensive responses to environmental crises like oil spills and floods. Learn more about UC Davis health innovation at 21stoentury.ucdavis.edu. ****** MEDIAWATCH - "The mysterious group that's picking Breitbart apart, one tweet at a time," by WaPo's Paul Farhi: "Hardly anyone paid attention last November when a strangely named Twitter account, Sleeping Giants, sent its first tweet into the digisphere. 'Are you aware that you're advertising on Breitbart, the alt-right's biggest champion, today?' read the tweet, aimed at a consumer lending outfit called Social Finance. 'Are you supporting them publicly?' Within 30 minutes, Social Finance replied, tweeting that it would stop running ads on Breitbart. It was, it turns out, the start of an odd, and oddly effective, social media campaign against Breitbart... Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00007 "Sleeping Giants is a mysterious group that has no address, no organizational structure and no officers. At least none that are publicly known. All of its leaders are anonymous, and much of what it claims is difficult to independently verify. A spokesman for the group wouldn't identify himself in interviews for this article. But the group does have a singular purpose, pursued as relentlessly as Ahab chasing a whale: It aims to drive advertisers away from Breitbart." -- JIM WINDOLF has been named NYT's new media editor. He previously edited Men's Style. http://bit.lv/2fgZThD GREAT WEEKEND READS, curated by Daniel Lippman, filing from NYC: --"She told them she was Hugo Chavez's ex-wife and worked in the White House. And she'd make them rich," by WaPo's Manuel Roig-Franzia: "Madame Giselle ... is forever boasting of being the secret wife of Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, even saying she facilitated the first phone call between the Middle Eastern leader and President Trump ... Over homemade Turkish coffee in her lavishly appointed apartment or across the table at pricey restaurants, the neighbors say, she has shared in a confiding tone that she occupies a prime White House office next to Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump." http://wapo.st/2xsTJVs (h/t Longform.org) --"Is Trump mentally ill? Or is America? Psychiatrists weigh in," by Carlos Lozada on Sunday's WaPo Outlook cover: "[S]ome psychiatrists and other mental-health professionals are shedding long-held norms to argue that Trump's condition presents risks to the nation and the world. 'The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump' features more than two dozen essays breaking down the president's perceived traits, which the contributors find consistent with symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder, sociopathy and other maladies." --"How Canada has been secretly giving asylum to gay people in Chechnya fleeing persecution," by John Ibbitson in the Globe and Mail: "Canada has quietly brought in 22 people, with more to come, despite risks to Canada-Russia relations." https://tgam.ca/2wbMWgO --"Jeff Bridges Will Be 'The Dude,' Now and Forever," by Caity Weaver in GQ: "Jeff Bridges will always be known as The Dude, and at age 67, he's okay with it. More than okay with it, even. GQ's Caity Weaver visits the famously relaxed actor for an appropriately chill hangout." http://bit.ly/2xnCL9k --"My Journey to the Heart of the FOIA Request," by Spenser Mestel in Longreads: "Fifty years ago, the Freedom of Information Act gave the public access to government secrets - all you had to do was ask. How a simple request became a bureaucratic nightmare." http://bit.ly/2wGj6Vg --"How Big Business Got Brazil Hooked on Junk Food," by NYT's Andrew Jacobs and Matt Richtel: "As growth slows in wealthy countries, Western food companies are Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00008 aggressively expanding in developing nations, contributing to obesity and health problems." http://nyti.ms/2xkLnim --"The great nutrient collapse," by Helena Bottemiller Evich on The Agenda: "The atmosphere is literally changing the food we eat, for the worse. And almost nobody is paying attention." http://politi.co/2xodFas --"After My Husband's Death, I'm Learning To Steward The Light He Left Behind," by Mary Katherine Ham in The Federalist: '"All of us who knew him and loved him are keepers of this fire. It's there, and it lives on, and it is something we can breathe life into every day.'" http://bit.ly/2hp9gwh --"How a tax haven is leading the race to privatise space," by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian in The Guardian: "Luxembourg has shown how far a tiny country can go by serving the needs of global capitalism. Now it has set its sights on outer space." http://bit.lv/2wGTVSd --"How Motherhood Affects Creativity," by Erika Hayasaki in The Atlantic: "Cultural messages tell women that making art and having children are incompatible pursuits. But science suggests that women may become more creative after having kids." http://theatln.tc/2xXySLz --"My Drowning and Other Inconveniences," by Tim Cahill in Outside magazine: "My face turned blue, then gray, and then my heart stopped beating altogether. I died that December day on Tequila Beach. This created a great deal of consternation. I was, at the time, 71 years old, and most of my team was half my age or less. These fine and foolish folk had every reason to imagine that I had all the skills necessary to handle a winter trip down the Grand Canyon." http://bit.lv/2wGyh0q --"What is behind the violence in Myanmar?" by Samira Shackle in the New Humanist - Q&A with Francis Wade, author of "Myanmar's Enemy Within": "'You'd be hard pressed to find any justification for violence in the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism, which is what the majority in Myanmar practice. Those Buddhists who have perpetrated violence acted with the conviction that if Buddhism ceased to exist in Myanmar, the country would descend into anarchy.'" http://bit.lv/2fG6rqF --"The Rise and Fall of the Word 'Monopoly' in American Life," by Stacy Mitchell in The Atlantic: "If 'monopoly' sounds like a word from another era, that's because, until recently, it was. ... Breaking up too-powerful companies was a bipartisan goal and on the minds of many voters. But, starting in the 1970s, the word retreated from the public consciousness. Not coincidentally, at the same time, the enforcement of anti-monopoly policy grew increasingly toothless." http://theatln.tc/2sqnpAf --"Blago: His Life in Prison," by David Bernstein in Chicago Mag: "Five years ago, Rod Blagojevich kissed his wife and daughters goodbye, waved one last time to reporters, and flew to Colorado to start a 14-year sentence. In his first prison interview, Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00009 the ex-governor reveals in startling detail what life has been like on the inside." http://chi.mq/2xAEZ7H Playbookers SPOTTED: Jeff Zeleny having lunch at BLT Steak on Friday with Jan Crawford. Michael Meehan was at the bar... Craig Gordon celebrating his promotion to Bloomberg DC bureau chief last night at the new Nobu with Megan Murphy, Hilary Rosen and Tammy Haddad ... Diane Rehm having dinner last night at Martin's Tavern WEEKEND WEDDINGS -- Valery Galasso, a senior policy adviser to N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Nick Merrill, communications director for Secretary Hillary Clinton, "exchanged vows and rings overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea at the Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi, Italy on Friday evening, in front of a blended crowd of American guests and Vai's extended Italian family," per a pool report. Pics c ; < H ... http://bit.ly/2fFupSW SPOTTED: Capricia and Robert Marshall, Chad and Elisa Bolduc, Connolly Keigher, Alex Hornbrook, Doug Landry, Alexander and Laura Mackler, Greg Hale and Mica Strother, Kamyl Bazbaz and Lucie Steinberg, Philippe Reines, Megan Rooney, Jake Sullivan, Lona Valmoro, Teddy Goff, Jon Davidson, Varun Anand, Case Button and Leigh Patterson, Mary deBree and Ben Kobren, Dan Schwerin and YJ Fischer -- REP. SETH MOULTON (D-MASS.) was married Friday to Liz Boardman in a ceremony in Marblehead, Massachusetts at the Old North Church on an overcast day clearing up to bright sunshine. Pic http://politi.co/2iUgiSr SPOTTED: Reps. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and former Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.), David Gergen, Maura Healy, Scott Ferson, Andy Flick, Matt Corridoni, Peter Billerbeck. --Andrew Restuccia, Politico White House reporter, married Hillary Zulli, a records manager at the Smithsonian, Friday. They met through mutual friends in D.C. in 2011 and got married at the DC courthouse. They're celebrating with some friends tonight at the Dew Drop Inn in Brookland. Pic http://politi.co/2hlyiQz BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Center for Public Integrity national security reporter Patrick Malone (hat tip: Dave Levinthal)... Politico Europe's Bianca Opris BIRTHDAYS: Sean Spicer, celebrating by spending the day with his family (h/t Ron Bonjean)... Todd Ricketts ... Connolly Keigher... Daisy Schuurman ... Maria Karl (hubby tip: Jonathan)... Elise Jordan (h/t Ben Chang)... Nick Everhart of Content Creative Media ... Kimberly Fritts, CEO of Podesta Group ... NYT's Mike Schmidt... Amanda Cox, editor of The Upshot... Abbey Watson ... Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen is 68 (h/t Randy Whitestone)... SoRelle Wyckoff, polisci and gov't graduate student at Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00010 the University of Maryland and a Cornyn alum ... Ralph Hellmann is 56 ... NBC News' Julia Edwards ... Politico's Bernie Becker and Meredith Kirsch ... Todd Metcalf, principal at PwC's Tax Policy Services and Senate Finance alum, is 47 ... NARAL'S Kelly Sackley ... Naomi Seligman, comms dir for LA Mayor Garcetti (h/t Tim Burger)... Saunji Fyffe ... Tom Martin, president and CEO at American Forest Foundation (h/ts Jon Haber)... Politico Europe's Santa Silapetere ... Brooke Brogan, celebrating in NYC (hubby tip: Fritz)... ... Jonathan Peled, Israeli ambassador to Mexico ... Rep. Jason Lewis (R-Minn.) is 62 ... Clint Reed, chief of staff for Sen. Rubio ... Izabela Teixeira of GE corporate communications ... Gabriella Schwarz, managing editor and head of news at Flipboard and a former CNN politics and WH producer, who covered President Obama ... Julius Niyonsaba, a legislative aide for Sen. Durbin (h/t Mike Inacay)... EPA's Lincoln Ferguson, Pruitt's senior adviser, is 27 (h/t Amy Graham)... Maura O'Brien ... William Ricci... former U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay ... Amb. Kristen Silverberg, now managing director and general counsel at the Institute of International Finance ... Armaan Pai of Centerview Partners ... Kyle Cotner... Siraj Hashmi of Red Alert Politics ... Ryan Shucard, VP of SevenTwenty Strategies ... Ken Rynne ... Blair Fowler... Dustee Tucker... Matt McAlvanah ... Corey Tellez ... Loretta Solon Greene ... Matt Hirsch ... Dan Conley ... Neil Schoolnik is 46 ... Tom Daley ... Katrina Mendiola ... Stan Davis ... Dale Leibach (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) THE SHOWS, by @MattMackowiak, filing from Austin: --ABC's "This Week": Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin ... Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) ... Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)... Bernard Tyson ... Ret. Gen. James Cartwright, Evan Osnos. Panel: Steve Inskeep, Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, Cecilia Vega --CNN's "State of the Union": Steven Mnuchin ... Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)... Preet Bharara. Panel: Nina Turner, Rick Santorum, Jen Psaki and Rep. Jason Lewis (R Minn.) - - NBC's "Meet the Press": Marc Short... Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)... House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Panel: Stephanie Cutter, Stephen Henderson, Eliana Johnson and Rich Lowry - - CBS's "Face the Nation": Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)... Sen. Cory Gardner (RColo.)... Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)... Marc Short. Panel: Margaret Brennan, David Nakamura and Atul Gawande - - "Fox News Sunday": Bill Gates ... Marc Short. Panel: Karl Rove, Julie Pace, Kim Strassel and Juan Williams - - Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures": Sen. Luther Strange (R-Ala.)... former Attorney General Michael Mukasey ... former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.)... former Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.). Panel: Mark Kissel and Ed Rollins Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00011 - - Fox News' "MediaBuzz": Mollie Hemingway ... Joe Trippi... Erin McPike ... Shelby Holliday ... Carley Shimkus ... Shana Glenzer - - CNN's "Inside Politics" with John King: Panel: Michael Shear, Mary Katharine Ham, Phil Mattingly and MJ Lee - - CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS": Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif... Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani - - CNN's "Reliable Sources": Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). Panel: Bill Carter, Neera Tanden and Sarah Kliff... Carl Bernstein and Julia Ioffe - - Univision's "Al Punto": Report from Mexico City, including interviews with Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera, as well as with survivors and victims' relatives ... report from Puerto Rico - - C-SPAN: "The Communicators": David Cohen, questioned by Tony Romm ... "Newsmakers": Strobe Talbot, questioned by Susan Glasser and Gardiner Harris ... "Q&A": Ann Telnaes - - PBS' "To the Contrary": Panel: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Jennifer Higgins, Maria Teresa Kumar and Ann Stone - - Washington Times' "Mack on Politics" weekly politics podcast with Matt Mackowiak (download on iTunes, Google Play, or Stitcher or listen at http://bit.lv/yr37J6h): Rick Santorum ... Lanhee Chen. * ***** message from uc Davis: Ranked first in the world for veterinary medicine, UC Davis believes collaborating across disciplines in animal, human and environmental health is the best way to advance the health of all creatures great and small. Using this "One Health" approach to problem solving, our research - much of which is federally funded - is resulting in cost-saving, translatable treatments for cancer, breakthroughs in stem cell therapy, increased awareness and management of emerging zoonotic diseases, better protection for endangered species, and comprehensive responses to environmental crises like oil spills and floods. Learn more about UC Davis health innovation at 21stcentury.ucdavis.edu. ****** SUBSCRIBE to the Playbook family: POLITICO Playbook http://politi.co/2IQswbh ... Playbook Power Briefing : /ydl oHrc / New York Playbook http://politi.co/10N8bqW ... Florida Playbook http://politi.co/1 OypFe9 ... New Jersey Playbook http://politi.co/1 HLKItF ... Massachusetts Playbook http://politi.co/1 Nhtq5v ... Illinois Playbook I d California Playbook http://politi.co/2bLvcPI... London Playbook http://politi.co/2xfDPuK ... Brussels Playbook : pj i J o ... All our political and policy tipsheets Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_O01523_00000827-00012 Mew^onHne To change your alert settings, please go to httpsC/secrire.Dolilico.com/setriHgs This email was sent tojackson.ryan@epa.gov by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA Please click here and follow the steps to unsubscribe. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000827-00013 To: Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] From: Morning Transportation Sent: Fri 10/6/2017 2:04:45 PM Subject: POLITICO'S Morning Transportation: FAA-ding back? -- Same old (infrastructure) song -- Chao's `special perk' -- Senate budget knocks HTF By Brianna Gurciullo | 10/06/2017 10:00 AM EDT With help from Lauren Gardner, Stephanie Beasley and Tanya Snyder Morning Transportation will not publish on Monday, Oct. 9. Our next Morning Transportation newsletter will publish on Tuesday, Oct. 10. FAA-DING BACK? House leadership didn't include Transportation Chairman Bill Shuster's FAA bill on the chamber's schedule next week, our Lauren Gardner and Kathryn A. Wolfe scooped for Pros. That development - days after the Rules Committee put members on notice for an expected meeting on the bill (H.R. 2997 (.1.15)) next week - raises quite a few questions after weeks of proponents promising an early October vote. Among ours: How much does GOP leadership care to push this after two false starts? (Rules first indicated its intent to get the bill to the floor back in July.) How involved are administration officials - considering that President Donald Trump came out in support of the air traffic control spinoffjust months ago - in pushing this to rank-and-file members who are on the fence? How many more target dates will we hear before we reach the ultimate one, March 31? Crowded out: Lawmakers are planning to vote on a hurricane recovery aid package this month. In September, Shuster attributed the lack of floor time for his bill to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. His staff also said appropriations sucked up floor time last month. But, at the same time, the Rules Committee's call for amendments this week sent a signal that GOP leaders had the measure on their minds again. Turn that frown upside down: House Transportation Committee member Thomas Massie (RKy.) on Thursday offered his thoughts about why leadership might be holding back: "My theory would be there's a lot of undecideds that, probably, if the vote were called on the floor, would vote 'yes,'" he told POLITICO. "But it's probably a risk they don't want to take. That's my guess." ICYMI: Shuster anticipates that the House will "adopt an amendment that will be even more explicit in prohibiting federal appropriations" for his proposed nonprofit corporation, according to his prepared remarks for a Tuesday floor speech. We missed it because Shuster didn't actually say that during his speech, which was limited to five minutes. YAY FRIDAY: Thanks for tuning in to POLITICO'S Morning Transportation - your daily tipsheet on all things trains, planes, automobiles and ports - where your host is jealous of Lauren's yoga-and-puppies-filled evening. Send tips, feedback, lyrics and pup pics to bgurciullo@politico.com or @brigurciullo. "First boots out on the Martian Floor to proclaim... Oh, that Elon! Sent me all the way. Son, a hundred thirty-nine million miles away!" (h/t Wired) Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000828-00001 GET LISTENING: Follow MT's playlist on Spotify. What better way to start your day than with songs (picked by us and readers) that are all about flying, driving, commuting and sailing? SAME OLD SONG: Administration officials invited a slew of industry representatives to what was billed as an infrastructure briefing on highways, only to have them come away without hearing anything new, Lauren scooped for Pros. The meeting came after Shuster hinted earlier this week that he was anticipating seeing more infrastructure principles from the White House relatively soon. While Lauren was told the word "soon" was used, that was also in the context of working with lawmakers once they've made progress on health care and taxes ("which means not soon," one industry source cracked). But with a different name: One attendee asked about the president's recent comments on public private partnerships, but all Deputy Transportation Secretary Jeff Rosen would say is that they're one tool in the toolbox (a line that transportation reporters often hear on Capitol Hill). Was that a shift in tone? Who knows. We're told Trump infrastructure adviser DJ Gribbin dished out grains of salt by admitting this: "Anything we say today is subject to change without notice." Since U been gone: Frustration is mounting among industry folks who were ecstatic that infrastructure was a front-and-center issue for the president. There's been a fair level of engagement among administration officials and those interested in having their asks considered, but the last big splash on infrastructure came in the fiscal 2018 budget proposal (which, even then, was pretty muted). Big legislative pushes will be tough to say the least next year. ARE WE THERE YET? Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee "are all well on our way to creating a legislative blueprint that's going to address America's most critical infrastructure needs" during a hearing Thursday on Paul Trombino's nomination to be FHWA administrator. As far back as May, Barrasso has been saying that he's figuring out bipartisan principles for infrastructure legislation. And in late June, he and ranking member Tom Carper (D-Del.) asked colleagues for their "infrastructure priorities." ELLIOTT CONFIRMED: Howard "Skip" Elliott is on his way to PHMSA with the Senate confirming his nomination to be administrator Thursday. CHAO'S 'SPECIAL PERK': Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has taken flights on government aircraft on seven occasions - a not all that uncommon practice for DOT chiefs, The Washington Post reports. Flights to Italy and France for official business "cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars," the Post writes. Marianne McInerney, DOT's public affairs director, told the newspaper that Chao "prefers to travel commercial" and "typically flies coach." And, McInerney said, each flight on a government airplane passed a review by DOT's ethics counsel. She said Chao resorts to such planes when it costs less than commercial flights for her entourage, for security reasons or because of scheduling issues. SENATE BUDGET KNOCKS HTF: The Senate Budget Committee wants to cut transportation expenditures to match gas tax revenues into the Highway Trust Fund - which have Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000828-00002 been diminishing for years. The proposed cuts - a 20 percent drop in budget authority between fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2027 when you account for inflation - conflict with Trump's pledge to rebuild the nation's infrastructure. But the budget is mostly a messaging document; appropriators rarely go along with such spending levels. Tanya Snyder has more for Pros. Meanwhile: The House passed its budget (H, Con. Res. 7.1 (.115)) on Thursday. As POLITICO'S Sarah Ferris reports, the budget has the "procedural power to unlock a filibuster-proof tax bill." ALWAYS A TARGET: The chairman of the Republican Study Committee wants lawmakers to offset the costs of providing aid to areas hit by recent natural disasters. Among other recommendations, Rep. Mark Walker supports cutting subsidies to Amtrak starting in fiscal 2018 to help pay for the relief funding, the North Carolina Republican's office told Sarah. MT MAILBAG: Texas' governor and members of Congress are asking for $18.7 billion for the state as part of the next aid package, including $10 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers and $150 million for DOT. Check out their letter to both chambers' appropriations committee heads here. DRONE, HELICOPTER CRASH UNDER INVESTIGATION: The NTSB has launched an investigation into a crash involving a drone and an Army helicopter. The agency said in a release Thursday that the crash happened Sept. 21 near Staten Island, N.Y. "The Army helicopter sustained damage to its main rotor blade, window frame and transmission deck," NTSB said. "A motor and arm from a small drone, identified as a DJI Phantom 4, were recovered from the helicopter." Those investigating have spoken to the operator of the drone. HIT THE BRAKES: A National Academies committee could not determine whether an advanced braking system DOT required in 2015 for unit trains carrying flammable materials performs better than other options, Lauren reports, a finding that likely provides a pathway for regulators to overturn the mandate. Congress required DOT to revisit the issue in the FAST Act, and to use National Academies studies completed this year to either justify the costs of the electronically controlled pneumatic brakes requirement or repeal it. THE BEST SUMMER EVER: TSA screened more passengers this summer than any other in its history. TSA said it saw more than 2 million passengers per day at airport checkpoints in the lead up to the Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends. Three of those days landed on TSA's Top 10 busiest. Of the total 239 million passengers screened this summer, about 99 percent waited less than 30 minutes at checkpoints while PreCheck passengers breezed through in under 10 minutes, according to the agency. Administrator David Pekoske credited TSA's "strong partnerships" with airlines, airports and local law enforcement for the feat, a big turnaround from last summer's saga of long airport security lines. TSA nerds can check out the full list of Top 10 screening days here. OUT OF THIS WORLD: Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday charged Chao and other Trump Cabinet members with crafting a plan for slashing space industry regulations, Jacqueline Klimas reports. Jacqueline has more on the first meeting of Trump's National Space Council for Pro Defense. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000828-00003 STOPPING BY: As we previewed in Thursday's MT , Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to the United States, checked out Boeing South Carolina and spoke about his nation's Open Skies agreement with the U.S. "Simply put, without Open Skies, the full scope of Boeing's business with UAE airlines, and the economic benefits realized by communities all across the U.S., would not be possible," he said, according to the UAE Embassy. Al Otaiba argued that any efforts to "roll back Open Skies will only hurt communities like Charleston and employees like those at Boeing and its suppliers across the U.S. and world." Trade dispute conflation? The Partnership for Open and Fair Skies, of which American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are members, fired out a statement Thursday criticizing the UAE and two of its carriers, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline. "U.S. carriers are Boeing's largest customers. But more importantly, Boeing is at the forefront of challenging foreign government subsidies exactly like those given by the UAE to Emirates and Etihad," spokeswoman Jill Zuckman said, apparently referring to Boeing's dispute with Bombardier. SHIFTING GEARS: FHWA, House Appropriations and Senate Environment and Public Works alumnus David Napoliello began Monday as a staffer for House Transportation Committee Democrats. THE AUTOBAHN: - "CSX official who urged Christie oil train veto to lead oil train regulator." NorthJersey.com. - "Trump administration asks Supreme Court to dump travel ban cases." POLITICO. - "Technology crammed into cars worsens driver distraction." The Associated Press. - "Despite travel warning, cruises to Cuba continue." The New York Times. - "Amazon is testing its own delivery service to rival FedEx and UPS." Bloomberg. - "Treasury inspector general finds no wrongdoing in Mnuchin plane travel." POLITICO. - "With traffic lights out, Puerto Ricans cope with road snarls." The Associated Press. - "Bombardier spends $2.4 billion a year on aerospace in U.S.: document." Reuters. - "These hybrid electric jets could change how we live and work by 2022." The Verge. - "Driverless tech startup Nauto has hired execs from Microsoft and Alphabet." Recode. THE COUNTDOWN: DOT appropriations run out in 64 days. The FAA reauthorization expires in 177 days. Highway and transit policy is up for renewal in 1,091 days. To view online'. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000828-00004 http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/mormng-transportation/2017/10/06/faa-ding-back-222685 To change your alert settings, please go to hH[M://<w<.we.polhiamMmi/seth^ This email was sent tojackson.ryan@epa.gov by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA Please click here and follow the steps to unsubscribe. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000828-00005 To: Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] From: Morning Energy Sent: Wed 9/20/2017 2:03:38 PM Subject: POLITICO'S Morning Energy, presented by the Nuclear Energy Institute: Long time, no FERC -- EPW nomination hearing shelved for now -- Upton leaning toward Michigan Senate bid By Anthony Adragna | 09/20/2017 10:00 AM EDT With help from Darius Dixon, Eric Wolffand Alex Guilln BACK TO FERC: At long last, after six months without a quorum, FERC is holding its first monthly meeting since January. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so expect particularly long security lines. FERC bumped this month's meeting up a day in order to accommodate Rosh Hashanah, which begins tonight, but the commission will return to its normal every-thirdThursday lineup next month. So, what's actually on today's agenda? Not a ton. The agenda is of average length: 23 electric items, including tariff changes, rehearing orders and three reliability standard rulemakings. Given the destruction left in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the standard on emergency preparedness and operations got our attention: NERC has asked FERC to approve a rule submitted in March that seeks to clarify what kind of damage and threats to electric facilities are reported, and when. FERC is also poised to act on a request to revise the terms of the SunZia Southwest transmission project, whose owners are aiming to transmit at least 1,500 megawatts of New Mexican wind power capacity farther west. Where's the meat? While working at less than 110 percent after such a a long period might seem a little slow to ME, if the agency wants to chip away at its backlog, a half-dozen industry types and energy lawyers that regularly deal with FERC said to be patient, considering how much there is for four new commissioners and new staff to take in. (FERC chairman nominee Kevin McIntyre and Democratic commissioner pick Rich Glick sailed through the Senate energy committee Tuesday but their approval by the full Senate is still up in the air.) The agency has churned out more than 65 "notational" orders since Chairman Neil Chatterjee and Commissioner Rob Powelson were sworn in last month, including its approval of the NEXUS natural gas pipeline project, three settlements, and the move to rescue Millennium's Valley Lateral project. On Thursday, Chatterjee told reporters FERC has a "great strategy in place in working through these orders" and defended the agency's pace so far. The truly meaty issues of market compensation for power plants and how FERC wants to address the impacts of large state energy programs, like those in New York and Illinois, are likely to sit tight until all leadership table seats are filled. Let there be protesters: Although the anti-FERC crowd didn't show up at Senate Energy and Natural Resources to disrupt Tuesday's vote on the remaining agency nominees, protesters seem like they want to make up for it today. Protesters sent out a notice on Tuesday saying they will "greet" FERC commissioners outside the headquarters starting at 8:30 a.m. and "will then take their concerns into FERC's open public meeting." The party starts at 10 a.m. at FERC headquarters, 888 First St., NE, and will be webcast here. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000830-00001 WELCOME TO WEDNESDAY! I'm your host Anthony Adragna, and Bracewell's Frank Maisano identified Justice Earl Warren as the one-time Emmy host. For today: What future president once made an appearance on Laugh-In as part of a push to rehabilitate his image? Send your tips, energy gossip and comments to aadragna@politico.com, or follow us on Twitter @AnthonyAdragna, @Moming Energy and @POLITICOPro. EPW NOMINATION HEARING POSTPONED: After the Senate opted to adjourn earlier than expected in recognition of Rosh Hashanah, the Environment and Public Works Committee delayed a planned hearing for EPA and Nuclear Regulatory Commission nominees slated for today, Pro's Alex Guillen reports. The panel declined to say when the session would be rescheduled, though William Wehrum's nomination to run the air office and Michael Dourson's selection to run its chemical efforts are still expected to be most controversial. Speaking of which, four environmental groups - Earthjustice, the League of Conservation Voters, NRDC and Sierra Club - sent a letter to senators opposing the Wehrum nomination. "While he served in senior leadership positions with the EPA air program, courts held the agency in violation of the federal Clean Air Act 30 times," they wrote. "In private practice with corporate law firms, Mr. Wehrum has represented industrial interests in nearly 35 lawsuits that sought to weaken or void EPA clean air and public health safeguards. Americans deserve better for the nation's chief clean air official." MACRON: WE WON'T RENEGOTIATE PARIS DEAL: While he said he "profoundly respects" Trump's decision to leave the Paris climate agreement, French President Emmanuel Macron told the U.N. General Assembly that the accord would not be renegotiated and "we won't go back." He added that "the door will always be open" for Trump to discuss the issue and added the agreement could be strengthened with new commitments from other countries. ICYMI: Trump used his U.N. General Assembly to stress the U.S. was open to further actions to cripple Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's regime, hinting at possible further sanctions. "We are prepared to take further action if the government of Venezuela persists on its path to impose authoritarian rule on the Venezuelan people," the president said. "I ask every country represented here today to be prepared to do more." BABY STEPS FOR CLIMATE HAWKS: Sens. Lindsey Graham and Sheldon Whitehouse are working together on a carbon tax bill, the South Carolina Republican told a conference in Connecticut on Tuesday, according to Time . "I believe that the greenhouse effect is real, that CO2 emissions generated by man is creating our greenhouse gas effect that traps heat, and the planet is warming," said Graham. "A price on carbon-that's the way to go in my view." He pledged to discuss the idea with the White House. Whitehouse, in response, tweeted: "Lots of work to do, but this is a good step." ** A message from the Nuclear Energy Institute: Nuclear is doing more than ever before. It's powering the grid, boosting the economy by billions, creating jobs, propelling space travel and even helping doctors. It's moving us forward in ways we never thought possible. Explore all nuclear energy is doing at discovemuclear.com. ** Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000830-00002 NORTHAM DODGES ON PIPELINE STANCE: Asked twice during Virginia's gubernatorial debate whether he backed the Atlantic Coast pipeline, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam wouldn't clearly answer. Upon pressing from NBC's Chuck Todd, the best he could offer was "I have been as clear as I can" that if done with adequate environmental safeguards "then I do support them." UPTON LEANING TOWARD SENATE BID: Republican Rep. Fred Upton, former Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman, is reportedly 90 percent sure he'll give up his powerful House perch to launch a challenge to incumbent Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, WHTC reports . The Michigan outlet reports the congressman's family has given their blessing to a Senate run, though it says a decision will wait until late fall at the earliest. "He continues to explore all of his options and is busy with a packed schedule back here and in D.C.," Tom Wilbur, his communications director, said in a statement. GRIJALVA ARRESTED AT TRUMP TOWER: House Natural Resources Committee ranking member Raul Grijalva was among a group of Democratic congressmen arrested outside Trump Tower on Tuesday during decision to halt DACA, POLITICO'S Louis Nelson reports. Joining Grijalva in what they called "civil disobedience" were Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Adriano Espaillat and Speaker of the New York City Council Melissa Mark Viverito. DEMOCRAT RAISES CONCERNS OVER ACCURACY OF ZINKE'S REPORT: A BLM official said Tuesday the agency did not fact check Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's report on national monuments before it went to the White House for review. Sen. Martin Heinrich originally raised questions about "more than a few simple factual errors included" in Zinke's analysis. John Ruhs, BLM's acting deputy director of operations, then said his agency was "not part of the writing of the reports" but "did answer questions and provide data as necessary." Video of the exchange during an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, flagged by the Center for Western Priorities, is available here. Interesting call: Interior employees now have the opportunity arcade game "Big Buck Hunter Pro" in their cafeteria after Zinke announced its installation Tuesday and the "Secretary's Shotgun Showdown" to emphasize hunting and fishing at the agency. The winner gets bragging rights and a "Beverage on the Balcony" with Zinke (perhaps a Moose Drool Brown Ale). The Natural Resources Democrats shot back on Twitter: "This is a crucial time for our national monuments & @SecretaryZinke is tweeting about playing an arcade game." MAIL CALL! CONCERNS RAISED OVER SUPERFUND OVERSEER: Rep Frank Pallone, top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Commerce, sent a letter to Pruitt raising concerns over the appointment of his senior adviser Albert Kelly to run the Superfund management task force given he settled with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation this summer. "Despite this, Mr. Kelly has been selected as and remains in a senior role at the EPA and is tasked with protecting the solvency and continued effectiveness of the Superfund program and the Superfund Trust Fund," Pallone wrote. "These funds should not be entrusted to someone who has been barred from working for every financial institution from credit unions to Wall Street banks." Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000830-00003 And questions of disaster readiness too: Seven members of the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition sent a letter to Pruitt requesting information on how the agency is preparing toxic sites for extreme weather events, especially given calls for steep cuts to the EPA's budget. "We are concerned that efforts to reduce the Agency's staff and budget, along with plans to cut or eliminate climate mitigation and adaptation programs, will leave the Agency ill equipped to protect communities from the environmental hazards associated with extreme weather," they write. TAX REFORM: SOLAR INDUSTRY FEELS DEPRECIATED: The solar industry's top priority in the tax reform discussion is to protect the investment tax credit, the benefit that lets developers take a credit worth 30 percent of the value of their solar array until the credit expires in 2022, Abigail Ross Hopper, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, tells ME. But the Big Six tax writers want to the tax code to reflect "unprecedented capital expensing," meaning they want to accelerate how fast businesses can deduct the cost of assets. But solar doesn't really want that, Ross Hopper said. It wants assets to depreciate at the current schedule so they can take the full ITC while it's still in existence. "We like the way it's set up now," Hopper told ME. "What we have been advocating for on the Hill is to be able to use current depreciation schedule with ITC rather than accelerated depreciation." LATEST TWIST IN SOLAR TRADE CASE: Days before a crucial vote in the case, Solar Energy Industries Association sent a letter to the International Trade Commission saying the petitioners in the case - Suniva and SolarWorld - haven't submitted a plan for how they would benefit if tariffs were placed on solar imports. The group says the failure to submit a plan "evidences both a lack of respect for the process contemplated by the statute and an apparent inability to devise a genuine plan for the industry's adjustment to import competition." The R Street Institute released a short paper arguing the administration "should avoid imposing tariffs or other import restrictions on solar products LISA JACKSON HITS PRUITT'S EPA: Former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told TechCrunch Tuesday the agency she used to run "hasn't changed" but that Pruitt is running it unlike any administrator has previously. "Every EPA administrator has committed to regulate transparently," she said at a conference in San Francisco. "We don't have that commitment anymore. It's not the EPA, it's that the leadership has decided to move away from the transparency that assures people that their health and their community come first rather than somebody else's bottom line." EPA WATCHDOG DINGS SUPERFUND WORKER DISTRIBUTION: EPA needs to do a better job of allocating funding and jobs to Superfund sites that need the most attention, according to a new report from the agency's inspector general. Although the inquiry began last year and covers Superfund sites nationwide, the report was released in the wake of criticisms of EPA's response to hurricane-related damage at sites in Texas and Florida. Investigators concluded that Superfund employees were not distributed according to current regional workloads, meaning some regions have had to slow their cleanup work amid a Superfund jobs shortage. Six of EPA's ten regions - including Region 6, which covers Houston - admitted their work has been slowed or delayed in recent years because of regional Superfund worker Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000830-00004 shortages. The IG recommended EPA consider a better way to prioritize Superfund sites nationally and distribute job funds accordingly, possibly like the system used by the Army Corps of Engineers for sites it cleans up. EPA said it would take action within a year. PAST DUE: EPA's inspector general released a report Tuesday that the agency failed to follow through on a 2005 agreement with livestock groups to develop methodologies for estimating airborne emissions from farms, Pro Agriculture's Jenny Hopkinson reports. The watchdog said the agency had no timeline for completing the work, though EPA said it will develop by the beginning of 2018 a plan for when and how it will complete the emissions estimating methodologies. MOVER, SHAKER: Anna Burhop has joined Bracewell's Policy Resolution Group as a partner in its Washington office where she'll offer federal legislative and regulatory advice. She comes from the American Chemistry Council and before that worked on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee under both Sens. Jim Inhofe and David Vitter. QUICK HITS - Fire breaks out at Valero's Port Arthur, Texas, refinery. CNBC. - National Guard chief: Climate change possibly causing 'bigger, larger, more violent' storms. The Hill. - Farming district says it won't pay for Delta tunnels in a vote that could kill the project. Sacramento Bee. - Icahn's oil refiner CVR starts unwinding biofuels bet. Reuters. - Some question decision to keep Texas nuclear plant open during Harvey. Austin AmericanStatesman. - What happens when the coal and nuclear plants close? Houston Chronicle. - Caribbean oil terminals make preparations ahead of Hurricane Maria. Reuters. THAT'S ALL FOR ME! ** A message from the Nuclear Energy Institute: Nuclear energy does amazing things every day. It adds billions to the economy. It powers cities, that power business, that power thousands of high quality jobs. With a little help from nuclear energy, we're propelling space travel to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. And nuclear energy is even helping doctors diagnose and treat patients. Nuclear is doing all of these things while keeping the air clean. Explore all the extraordinary things nuclear is doing to help push us forward at discovernuclear.com. Nuclear. Power the Extraordinary. ** To view online'. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000830-00005 http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/mormng-energy/2017/09/20/long-time-no-ferc-222384 To change your alert settings, please go to httpstt/secrire.Dolhieo.com/setrings This email was sent tojackson.ryan@epa.gov by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA Please click here and follow the steps to unsubscribe. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00000830-00006