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Democrats launch major effort to sell Inflation Reduction Act to voters

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Democrats launch major effort to sell Inflation Reduction Act to voters

Democratic lawmakers, members of President Biden’s Cupboard, and allied organizers and activists are kicking off a multipronged public relations marketing campaign geared toward guaranteeing voters perceive — and respect the advantages of — the $700-billion climate-change and drug-prices invoice that Biden signed Tuesday.

High Democrats imagine that well-liked, long-sought coverage adjustments within the so-called Inflation Discount Act will assist their occasion retain congressional majorities in November’s midterm elections.

In Irvine on Thursday, Rep. Katie Porter, a swing-seat Democrat, stood in entrance of a hulking orange Hitachi excavator on the Irvine Ranch Water District, which is increasing its reservoir utilizing funds from final yr’s $1-trillion infrastructure overhaul package deal. Showing alongside Inside Secretary Deb Haaland, Porter famous that Democrats’ newest laws — the central pillars embody $369 billion to fight local weather change and long-sought adjustments to decrease the price of prescribed drugs — will proceed to help the water district and related services throughout the nation.

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“This new legislation invests $4 billion in water conservation, effectivity and restoration, and that dietary supplements the greater than $50 billion already allotted within the bipartisan infrastructure legislation to assist us modernize our water infrastructure and enhance our ingesting water provide,” Porter mentioned.

A day earlier, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in western Colorado with Sen. Michael Bennet, touting the most recent invoice’s investments in combating local weather change.

Talking to a bunch of farmers and ranchers inside a cider manufacturing facility in Palisade, Bennet, a weak Democrat searching for a 3rd six-year time period, emphasised the legislation’s $4 billion in drought mitigation funds, its $20 billion for land conservation tasks and $5 billion for bettering the well being of forests and stopping fires.

“We’ve handed some fascinating laws,” Bennet advised the group. “And at each step alongside the way in which, we’ve been attempting to guarantee that we’re supporting our producers,” he continued, touting the brand new funding for forestry as “a file quantity.”

For the reason that first days of his presidency, Biden has mentioned that his occasion should clearly and continuously clarify its actions to the general public. Recalling the Obama administration’s wrestle to promote the Inexpensive Care Act in 2010 forward of an eventual midterm drubbing, Biden urged Democrats to unabashedly tout the advantages of the $1.9-trillion American Restoration Plan they pushed by in March 2021.

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“Barack was so modest, he didn’t wish to take, as he mentioned, a ‘victory lap,’” Biden advised Home Democrats on the time. “I saved saying, ‘Inform individuals what we did.’ He mentioned, ‘We don’t have time. I’m not going to take a victory lap.’ And we paid a worth for it, sarcastically, for that humility.”

Biden’s crew hopes that their extra fulsome effort will result in a unique outcome for Democrats this November. Republicans, who after the healthcare legislation’s passage in 2010 stoked fears about “demise panels,” rising premiums and fewer selections of medical doctors or plans, have additionally attacked the brand new invoice as expensive and partisan. They’ve questioned whether or not it is going to really cut back the price of items and companies and prompt that the $80 billion geared toward decreasing Inner Income Service backlogs will result in extra audits on low- and middle-income households.

However right this moment’s GOP is usually extra preoccupied with what animates the occasion’s base — tradition wars, grievance and exams of loyalty to former President Trump — than coverage debates and the legislative course of.

“The body of ‘getting issues achieved’ is simply not interesting to Republicans,” mentioned Sarah Longwell, a Republican marketing consultant and outspoken Trump critic who frequently convenes focus teams of voters of all stripes. “That being mentioned, Biden discovering his stride, spending some issues — that does quite a bit for him with Democrats, who’ve needed lots of these items for a protracted, very long time.”

The important thing for the White Home, and for Democrats on the poll throughout the nation, might be convincing less-partisan voters to see their agenda in a constructive mild — and as completely different from the Republican agenda.

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“The final a number of weeks have strengthened motivation amongst Democratic voters and, at identical time, have been an accelerant in making the election a alternative [between the two parties], not a referendum on us,” mentioned one administration official, who was granted anonymity to talk candidly in regards to the Democrats’ election possibilities. “The incumbent at all times wants it to be a alternative.”

In line with latest polling, the brand new legislation and its particular person elements are already broadly well-liked. A Morning Seek the advice of survey Wednesday confirmed that 76% help the cap on prescription drug costs. The provisions permitting Medicare to barter drug costs with producers and the $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket drug prices for Medicare earned the help of 70% of respondents.

“That is stuff which means one thing for working households,” mentioned John Anzalone, a Democratic pollster who helped information Biden’s 2020 marketing campaign and stays shut with the White Home.

After a number of troublesome months the place Biden’s approval ranking hovered simply above or under the 40% mark, the latest spurt of productiveness by Congress has modified the political atmosphere.

“It’s good to be again on the offense,” Anzalone mentioned. “He’s now achieved what he mentioned he needed to do throughout the marketing campaign. There’s going to be $5 [billion] to $6 billion spent between now and Election Day [on the campaign]. What the president has achieved is: he’s given front-line Democrats the instruments to have an actual aggressive message about what they’ve achieved for the American individuals, and in addition to attract the distinction with Republicans, who voted towards all this.”

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Biden is planning to have fun the invoice with Democratic lawmakers on the White Home simply after Labor Day, a significant milepost because the midterm election cycle enters the ultimate two-month stretch. By that time, Cupboard officers can have held 35 occasions in 23 states, based on the White Home. Hundreds of thousands of People can have seen among the TV advertisements Democrats are funding to broaden consciousness about and improve help for the brand new legislation.

A lot of the Democrats’ messaging blitz will goal particular constituencies. Construct Again Collectively, a pro-Biden group launched by the president’s marketing campaign crew, has rolled out $1 million in TV, radio and digital media advertisements that may run in English and Spanish this week in Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

On the identical time, three progressive organizations are placing $10 million behind one other advert marketing campaign highlighting the “transformational” nature of the laws. One advert, targeted on the $369-billion funding in decreasing carbon emissions, will seem totally on cable TV and streaming companies used extra by youthful voters.

“Younger local weather activists set a excessive bar for local weather motion, which was important to the success of the invoice,” mentioned Pete Maysmith, senior vice chairman of campaigns for the League of Conservation Voters, which is funding the push together with Local weather Energy and Future Ahead USA Motion. “Our intention now could be to underscore to them the nice local weather components within the legislation so that they proceed to be energized round this situation.”

In Kentucky on Thursday, Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) appeared to decrease expectations in regards to the GOP profitable again management of the evenly divided chamber.

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He advised reporters there may be “in all probability a higher probability the Home flips than the Senate,” seeming to betray some frustration about polls exhibiting a couple of Trump-backed Republican Senate candidates trailing in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona, the latter two the place Democratic incumbents regarded extra weak months in the past. “Candidate high quality has quite a bit to do with the result,” McConnell mentioned.

Conversely, Democrats are instantly brimming with optimism.

“Folks assumed Republicans had the midterm election locked up identical to they assumed the Atlanta Falcons have been going to win that Tremendous Bowl,” Anzalone mentioned, referencing the New England Patriots’ comeback behind then-quarterback Tom Brady after trailing 28-3 within the third quarter in Tremendous Bowl LI within the 2016 NFL season. “Biden goes to be Tom Brady on this state of affairs.”

Stokols reported from Washington, Vega from Irvine.

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Likely GOP primary voters share who had best Republican debate performance: Poll

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Likely GOP primary voters share who had best Republican debate performance: Poll

Likely Republican voters think Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had the best performance in the second Republican debate, according to a new poll.

The poll was conducted by 538/Washington Post/Ispos and asked 2,262 likely voters in the Republican primary to grade each candidate’s performance during the debate, which was hosted on Wednesday night by FOX Business in Simi Valley, California.

Prior to the debate, pollsters asked likely GOP primary voters how they thought each candidate would perform. Overall, voters thought Vivek Ramaswamy would finish ahead of the rest, closely followed by DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.

When polled following the debate, 33% of respondents thought DeSantis performed the best during the debate, followed by Haley at 18% and Ramaswamy at 15%.

WATCH THE FULL SECOND REPUBLICAN PRIMARY DEBATE

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Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, from left, Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, and Vivek Ramaswamy, chairman and co-founder of Strive Asset Management and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, during the Republican primary presidential debate hosted by Fox Business Network in Simi Valley, California, US, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. The auto workers strike, the looming government shutdown and a renewed focus on abortion rights all set the backdrop for the second Republican primary debate today. Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Eric Thayer)

24% of people polled thought former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie performed the worst and 20% thought the same of former Vice President Mike Pence. 11% of voters thought North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum performed the worst, and 10% thought the same of Ramaswamy.

However, support among the field was largely unchanged after the debate.

Support for DeSantis increased from 51.0% to 51.9%, Haley’s went from 34.0% to 36.4%, and Scott’s went from 24.7% to 26.5%. In the poll, support for candidates is based on the percentage of polled voters considering voting for each individual.

DESANTIS SUGGESTS ONE-ON-ONE DEBATE WITH TRUMP: ‘YOU OWE IT TO THE VOTERS’

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Nikki Haley at second debate

Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, during the Republican primary presidential debate hosted by Fox Business Network in Simi Valley, California, US, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Former Vice President Mike Pence stands on debate stage

Former US Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the second Republican presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Robyn BECK / AFP)  (Robyn Beck)

Ramaswamy slightly lost support, going from 27.2% to 28.1% as well as Pence, going from 23.4% to 24.2%.

Support for Former President Donald Trump went from 63.8% to 63.9%.

The poll also asked likely Republican primary voters what issues are most important in determining their primary vote, given the option to select up to 20 issues.

Vivek Ramaswamy (R) addresses Ron DeSantis (L) during second Republican debate

SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 27: Republican presidential candidates (L-R), Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy participate in the FOX Business Republican Primary Debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on September 27, 2023 in Simi Valley, California. Seven presidential hopefuls squared off in the second Republican primary debate as former U.S. President Donald Trump, currently facing indictments in four locations, declined again to participate. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (Justin Sullivan)

Tim Scott speaks in suit during second Republican debate

US Senator from South Carolina Tim Scott speaks during the second Republican presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Robyn BECK / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) (Robyn Beck)

“Getting inflation or increased costs under control” was considered the most important issue to 55% of voters, “Controlling immigration” was considered a priority for 40% of voters, and “Ability to beat Joe Biden” was a priority for 24% of voters.

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GOP candidates outlined sweeping anti-trans agenda at presidential debate

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GOP candidates outlined sweeping anti-trans agenda at presidential debate

Two Republican presidential candidates, former Vice President Mike Pence and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, vowed at Wednesday night’s debate in Simi Valley to ban gender-affirming care — and not just for trans kids, but also for adults.

None of the other five Republicans onstage criticized Pence and Ramaswamy’s proposals, which would amount to a major federal intervention in American adults’ ability to work with their doctors to decide what medical treatments are appropriate for themselves and their children.

The two candidates’ rhetoric is an indication of how far the Republican Party’s consensus on trans rights has moved in recent years. After the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, much of the national conversation around LGBTQ+ rights shifted to focus on transgender rights.

In 2016, a debate took shape over the so-called “bathroom bill” in North Carolina, which required transgender people to use public bathrooms that matched the sex assigned to them at birth. The law was eventually repealed after widespread backlash.

But since then, social conservatives have whipped up outrage and concern about gender-affirming care for trans kids. In a 2021 Fox News poll, 62% of Republicans said they saw “overly accommodating” transgender policies in schools as a major problem.

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When the same question was posed to voters in April, that number had climbed to 71% of Republicans — even as only 2% of Republicans identified “wokeness/transgender issues” as the most important issue facing the country. Less than 1% of Americans identify as transgender.

In the years since the repeal of the bathroom bill, North Carolina and 21 other states have banned gender-affirming care for kids, according to Human Rights Watch — and some states, such as Oklahoma, Texas and South Carolina, have considered banning it for transgender adults. Many of the laws are entangled in legal battles.

“We’re going to pass a federal ban on transgender chemical or surgical surgery anywhere in the country,” Former Vice President Mike Pence said at Wednesday’s debate in Simi Valley.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

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The discussion at Wednesday night’s debate was triggered by a question that moderator and FOX News host Dana Perino posed to Ramaswamy about whether parents should be notified if their kids change their gender identity at school.

“Students … have the ability to change their identity without parental notification,” Perino said, noting that fellow candidate Chris Christie, former governor of New Jersey, had vowed to pass a law “protecting parental rights.”

“Would you do the same?” she asked.

But rather than responding to the question, Ramaswamy took aim at transgender rights more broadly.

“I have to be very clear about this: transgenderism, especially in kids, is a mental health disorder,” he said, adding, “Parents have the right to know.”

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“It is not compassionate to affirm a kid’s confusion. That is not compassion; that is cruelty,” Ramaswamy said, sharing an anecdote of two people who regretted getting double mastectomies and a hysterectomy. If he becomes president, he said, he will “ban genital mutilation or chemical castration.”

Although some transgender people opt for gender-affirming medical care, many never use medication or surgery to transition. Studies have shown that few choose to detransition, or reverse the process and go back to the sex they were assigned at birth.

Former Vice President Mike Pence doubled down on Ramaswamy’s proposal.

“We’re going to pass a federal ban on transgender chemical or surgical surgery anywhere in the country,” Pence said. “We’ve got to protect our kids from this radical gender ideology agenda.”

Ramaswamy’s and Pence’s statements indicate they’d go further than former President Trump.

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The frontrunner in GOP polls has said he would ban facilities that provide gender-affirming care from receiving federal funding. But since most hospitals and major medical centers depend at least in part on funds from Medicare, Medicaid or federal health and science agencies, Trump’s proposal would likely dramatically reduce access to gender-affirming care nationwide.

An April poll by NBC indicated that 79% of Republicans think the nation has “gone too far” in accepting transgender people, compared with 19% of Democrats and 50% of independent voters. In a similar poll by the Pew Research Center, 66% of Republicans said the country has has gone too far in accepting transgender people, while roughly 6 in 10 Democrats said society hasn’t gone far enough.

“No one should have their very right to exist debated on a national stage,” Ash Orr, National Center for Transgender Equality spokesperson, said in a statement Thursday. “What we saw last night was a group of extremist politicians repeating the same tired rhetoric about transgender people, unsupported by actual facts.”

“The truth is that transgender youth know who they are and deserve to be accepted, loved, and supported,” Orr added. “Research shows that the onslaught of rhetoric against our community is directly harming the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of our community.”

Orr said that political leaders should instead focus on other issues facing youth, such as underfunding of education, lack of teacher support and school shootings.

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In California, several school districts have said they will notify parents if their child starts identifying differently than the gender they were assigned at birth.

In July, Chino Valley Unified School District in San Bernardino County became the first district in the state to adopt a parental notification policy, followed quickly by Murrieta Valley Unified, Temecula Valley Unified, Rocklin Unified, Anderson Union High School District and Orange Unified.

Last week, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have asked judges in custody hearings to consider a parent’s support for their child’s gender identity.

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Video: Biden Says MAGA Movement Rejects Basic Beliefs of Democracy

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Video: Biden Says MAGA Movement Rejects Basic Beliefs of Democracy

new video loaded: Biden Says MAGA Movement Rejects Basic Beliefs of Democracy

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Biden Says MAGA Movement Rejects Basic Beliefs of Democracy

President Biden delivered a blistering and direct attack on former President Donald J. Trump during a visit to Arizona.

There’s something dangerous happening in America now. There’s an extremist movement that does not share the basic beliefs in our democracy — the MAGA movement. Not every Republican, not even a majority of Republicans adhere to the MAGA extremist ideology. I know because I’ve been able to work with Republicans my whole career. But there’s no question that today’s Republican Party is driven and intimidated by MAGA Republican extremists. Their extreme agenda, if carried out, would fundamentally alter the institutions of American democracy as we know it. My friends, they’re not hiding their attacks. They’re openly promoting them. Attacking the free press as the enemy of the people. Attacking the rule of law as an impediment. Fomenting voter suppression and election subversion. Did you ever think we’d be having debates at your stage of your careers where banning books, banning books and burying history. Extremists in Congress more determined to shut down the government, to burn the place down than to let the people’s business be done.

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