To:
Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov]
From: Anna Palmer Jake Sherman Daniel Lippman
Sent: Fri 10/6/2017 5:05:21 PM
Subject: Playbook Power Briefing, presented by Koch Industries: TRUMP administration rolls back birth
control mandate - FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: BRUCE GATES retiring - Economy loses 33K jobs after
hurricanes - ARNOLD'S next act
Viewjffllineversion | Add
to your address book.
Today's Playbook Power Briefing presented by Koch Industries
By JAKE SHERMAN (sherman@politico.com; @JakeSherman), ANNA PALMER (anna@politico.com; @apalmerdc), DANIEL LIPPMAN (daniel@politico.com; @dlippman), ZACH
MONTELLARO (zmontellaro@politico.com; @ZachMontellaro)
Good FRIDAY afternoon. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - REPUBLICAN POWER PLAYER BRUCE GATES, SVP of external affairs at Altria, is retiring Nov. 1. Todd Walker is assuming Gates' responsibilities for the government affairs portion of his portfolio. Gates will continue as a consultant with the company. Tve enjoyed a 35-year career in the political, policy and communications arenas that I wouldn't have traded for anything," the veteran Republican operative emailed. 'Tve had the opportunity to do so much more than any kid of modest means in SC would have dreamed possible, and I consider myself very fortunate. I've met some extraordinary people and made some seriously good friends along the way too!"
Gates has worked in multiple capacities downtown, including founding Washington Counsel, a partner at Washington Council, Ernst & Young and as the inaugural treasurer for the two first big GOP leadership PACs -- then-Speaker John Boehner's "The Freedom Project" and then-Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.)'s "Committee for the Preservation of Capital PAC."
Gates said he is planning to spend more time on other business interests, including two new ventures -- Pearl Street Warehouse and Catina Bambina -- on the Southwest Waterfront. He also is invested in three tech businesses and said he wants to spend time helping with Hurricanes Irma and Maria recovery.
BIG CHANGES TO HEALTH CARE -- "Trump rolls back Obamacare birth control mandate," by Brianna Ehley: "The Trump administration will allow virtually any employer to claim a religious or moral objection to Obamacare's birth control coverage mandate under a sweeping rollback announced Friday.
"The new policy, which takes effect immediately, reignites a fierce battle over one of the health care law's most controversial provisions. The requirement to provide FDAapproved contraception at no cost was long opposed by religious groups that heavily favored Trump, and has been wrapped up in legal challenges for more than five years. 'The United States has a long history of providing conscience protections in the
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000353-00001
regulation of health care for entities and individuals with objections based on religious beliefs or moral convictions,' the administration wrote in new rules." http://politi.co/2z3dkdl
JOBS REPORT -- "Economy lost 33,000 jobs in September," by Marianne LeVine: "The economy lost jobs in September for the first time in seven years, a consequence of late-summer hurricanes. The Labor Department reported Friday morning that the economy lost 33,000 jobs, down from 169,000 jobs added in August. ... The jobs report also included some positive news. September unemployment, the report showed, was 4.2 percent, down from August's 4.4 percent, and the lowest level since February 2001." http://politi.co/2y57sm7
-- @morningmoneyben: "Seriously if you see someone tweeting about how great the 0.5% jump in hourly earnings is, just unfollow them. Or how bad the -33K is. ... Anyway, absent all the hurricane noise this would likely be a pretty status quo jobs report. Enjoy the rest of the day!"
AT JUSTICE -- "Sessions calls for broad religious freedom protections," by Josh Gerstein: "Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued government-wide legal guidance Friday that urges sweeping protection for religious freedom and could impact a series of pending policy decisions involving health care, LGBT rights and even disaster relief. Sessions billed the 25-page memo directed to all federal agencies as a response to an executive order President Donald Trump signed in May, promoting efforts to promote 'religious liberty.'
"That order triggered a major showdown within the administration as religious and social conservatives pressed for treatment that could essentially allow them to ignore anti-discrimination requirements, particularly in the area of sexual orientation, while more moderate forces warned that upending existing protections would trigger an uproar that could derail other administration priorities. The new Justice Department guidance takes a muscular view of religious freedom rights, but officials insisted that the document is a neutral description of existing law and not an effort to weigh in on particular policy issues." http://politi.co/2fYqaW2
ARNOLD'S NEXT ACT - ISAAC DOVERE in POLITICO MAGAZINE - "The Strange Political Afterlife of Arnold Schwarzenegger": "Now, six years after leaving Sacramento, he's still reinventing himself-as a kind of globetrotting do-gooder, promoting a handful of causes like fighting climate change and gerrymandering. But mostly, he's having a hell of a good time. Wherever he goes, everybody knows him. Everybody loves him. With a net worth estimated at $300 million, he zips around the world in private jets and has restaurant owners pick up his tab because they're just so honored he chose to eat there. Constant selfies. He sounds off on whatever he wants, but has no actual responsibility. His perfect day is waking up and not knowing what country he'll eat dinner in.
"All of a sudden, a guy who just turned 70 -- in Barcelona, he celebrated the 50th
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000353-00002
anniversary of winning Mr. Universe, which began his breakthrough -- and had seen politics pass him by is ... back. But why? Schwarzenegger is barred from another run for governor and has no interest in the Senate; a certain clause in the Constitution is keeping him out of the White House. He's making movies again, though nothing huge. ... Instead, Schwarzenegger is back in the public eye because of what he calls 'a disastrous situation' -- the Trump presidency." http://politi.co/2z2kNtz
PRUITT'S NEXT MOVE - BREITBART - "EPA Document Proposes to Eliminate Clean Power Plan 'in Its Entirety'," by Sean Moran: "The [EPA] plans to repeal the agency's Obama-era climate change program, the Clean Power Plan (CPP), 'in its entirety,' according to a document obtained by Breitbart News. The 43-page document, titled, 'Repeal of Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stations Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units' details how the EPA plans to repeal CPP through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). This version of the document obtained by Breitbart News remains subject to change through inter-agency review.
"The agency contends that the EPA, under former Administrator Gina McCarthy, exceeded its authority to regulate carbon emissions as stipulated by the Clean Air Act. The document proposes to eliminate the Clean Power Plan, and then suggested that they might release an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that will reflect a more thoughtful and modest approach to regulating air pollution given the EPA's limited statutory authority." http://bit.lv/2y
****** message from Koch Industries: At Koch Industries, we believe education opens avenues to opportunity for eager young minds. So we support organizations like the United Negro College Fund and Youth Entrepreneurs to help ensure all students have access to educational options best suited to their individual talents. Learn more at
CAMPAIGN STOP -- "Democrats look to wreak havoc in GOP primaries," by Gabe Debenedetti: "With Republican Senate primaries from West Virginia to Montana promising to pit Trump-inspired insurgents against more mainstream candidates, Democrats are considering ways to step in and wreak some havoc. The idea: Elevate the GOP's most extreme option in each race, easing Democrats' path to victory in a range of states tilted against them.
"At its most aggressive, the tactic could be a sequel to Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill's 2012 campaign against then-GOP Rep. Akin in Missouri. She actively intervened in the Republican primary with ads designed to boost the conservative Akin to the front of the pack. Once he became the nominee, a series of gaffes -- led by his 'legitimate rape' comment -- and hard-line positions unraveled his campaign." http://politi.co/2z42Cn4
-- "Democrats have lost nearly 1,000 state legislative seats and can't agree on how to take them back," by Mie's Will Drabold: "New groups aimed at electing Democrats to statehouses are challenging the old guard, creating friction between the
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000353-00003
party establishment and newcomers with the same goal: take back state legislatures." http://bit.lv/2y4FXJs
- NEW HAMPSHIRE REP. CAROL SHEA-PORTER is not running for re-election http: //b it. ly/2xWUya7
UH-OH -- "U.S. Intelligence Unit Accused Of Illegally Spying On Americans' Financial Records," by BuzzFeed's Jason Leopold and Jessica Garrison: "The intelligence division at the Treasury Department has repeatedly and systematically violated domestic surveillance laws by snooping on the private financial records of US citizens and companies, according to government sources.
"Over the past year, at least a dozen employees in another branch of the Treasury Department, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, have warned officials and Congress that US citizens' and residents' banking and financial data has been illegally searched and stored. And the breach, some sources said, extended to other intelligence agencies, such as the National Security Agency, whose officers used the Treasury's intelligence division as an illegal back door to gain access to American citizens' financial records. The NSA did not respond to requests for comment." http://bzfd.it/2z3EdOF
COMING ATTRACTIONS - STEVE BANNON and Alabama Republican Senate candidate ROY MOORE are speaking at next week's Values Voter Summit, the first time Bannon has spoken at the forum. Sebastian Gorka will also appear, as well as House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), Reps. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), and Mark Walker (R-N.C.). http://bit.lv/2fOW5Vd
- BANNON TALKS WITH THE PROSPECT, AGAIN - "Steve Bannon, Unleashed," by The American Prospect's Robert Kuttner: "Having written up an interview with Bannon in mid-August that helped push him out of the White House, I began thinking that maybe Bannon was happier out than in. A journalist friend confirmed that hunch. So I asked Bannon for a second interview. He was pleased to oblige. I made a date to come to the Breitbart townhouse, where we spoke for an hour on Thursday afternoon. This time, Bannon was careful to put the conversation on background, but he gave me permission to convey the essence of his views.
"Bannon's first conversation with me was animated by his belief that he and I might be allies on the issue of economic nationalism. He continues to look for left-right common ground. Bannon's current obsession is to blow up Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Senate incumbents whom he regards as hostile to his brand of nationalism. Bannon believes that if Republicans will just embrace populist economic nationalism, they can become a workers' party and the majority party for decades to come. He's been on the road, recruiting primary challengers to knock off Republican incumbents -- and carry that populist message." http://bit.lv/2z2Rxmi
HUH? -- "Congressman suggests Charlottesville was George Soros-backed conspiracy," by Vice News' Elspeth Reeve: "Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar suggested the
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000353-00004
participants in the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in August may have been organized by an 'Obama sympathizer' and funded by George Soros, whom Gosar accused of having 'turned in his own people to the Nazis.'" http://bit.ly/2y4pHrT
LUNCHTIME READ -- "Supreme Court's newest justice has an elk as an office mate," by the AP's Jessica Gresko: "When Justice Neil Gorsuch joined the Supreme Court earlier this year he got Justice Antonin Scalia's seat, his office and his elk, Leroy. ... The story starts more than a decade ago when Scalia shot the elk on a hunting trip and had its head mounted and hung in his Supreme Court office.
"Gorsuch explained at an event in Washington last week that after Scalia died in 2016 it seemed that the elk was destined 'to become homeless.' That's because the elk head, part of an animal estimated to have weighed around 900 pounds, is 'much too much for anyone's living room wall,' Gorsuch said. 'And then someone got the idea that Leroy might make, well, a sort of unusual welcome-to-the-neighborhood gift for the new guy. What a gift,' Gorsuch said."
SPORTS BLINK -- @ChadPergram: "Scalise to throw out first pitch at tonight's playoff game between the Nationals and the Cubs in Washington".
WOMEN RULE NEWSLETTER - POLITICO'S Women Rule series, produced in partnership with founding partners Google and the Tory Burch Foundation, is dedicated to exploring women's leadership in politics, policy and within their communities. The monthly Women Rule Newsletter will keep you up to speed on the community-this month's edition features a podcast with Iranian-American actress and activist Nazanin Boniadi, a Q&A with the Wilson Center's Gwen Young, who is releasing a study on women's participation in public service and job updates from Women Rule community members making strides in their careers. A special thank you to the 2017 Women Rule presenting sponsor Chevron. Subscribe http://bit.lv/2y4pjcD
VALLEY TALK - END OF AN ERA - "AIM will shut down after 20 years," by The Verge's Jacob Kastrenakes http://bit.ly/2y5sxNg
OUT AND ABOUT -- Spotify hosted the premiere last night of its 'Tm with the banned" documentary short, which paired musicians from countries in the early Trump travel ban with American artists to make music, at E Street Cinema last night. SPOTTED: Michelle Ballantyne, Sarah Rojas, Rayshon Payton, Beatrice Pollard, Jena Gross, Sofia Gross, Alexandra Veitch, Jen Olson, Jay Heimbach, Madigan Jones, Matt Wise and Sarah Gilmore. Trailer http://bit.ly/2z3Utzp
WELCOME TO THE WORLD - Kevin Johnson, an account supervisor with the Edelman crisis team in D.C., and Sheila Johnson, VP of Lockton Companies, on Tuesday welcomed Elizabeth Jean, who was 9 lbs and 1 oz, and 23 inches long. She joins big sister Paige. "I am one lucky, outnumbered guy," Johnson emailed family and friends. Pic http://bit.lv/2yMiYEi
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000353-00005
****** A message from Koch Industries: By 2020, it's estimated that the U.S. will face a shortfall of as many as 10 million skilled workers. Filling these open roles is going to be a big challenge, but we've long believed in the value and importance of skilled trades roles held by many of our more than 70,000 U.S. employees. To help meet this projected demand, we've partnered with SKILLS USA and the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to provide Work Ethic Scholarships to students pursuing training in skilled trades. We are committed to supporting educational initiatives that help more Americans make a living while improving their quality of life. Learn more at
Ar.nm ******
SUBSCRIBE to the Playbook family: POLITICO Playbook r ; h : : J ; ...
Playbook Power Briefing http://politi.co/2xuQiqh ... New York Playbook
http://politi.co/1 ON8bqW ... Florida Playbook http://politi.co/1 OypFe9 ... New Jersey
Playbook w-Tj
... Massachusetts Playbook
r ii i . N :
... Illinois Playbook ;
... California Playbook
http://politi.co/2bLvcPI... London Playbook / pvh:i wWCre ... Brussels
Playbook t . T
i 'ZeLew ... All our political and policy tipsheets
To change your alert settings, please go to https://secure.politico.com/settings
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_00000353-00006