Earlier today, I wrote about Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R. KY) plan to shutdown the government if Republicans win the U.S. Senate:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
In an extensive interview here, the typically reserved McConnell laid out his clearest thinking yet of how he would lead the Senate if Republicans gain control of the chamber. The emerging strategy: Attach riders to spending bills that would limit Obama policies on everything from the environment to health care, consider using an arcane budget tactic to circumvent Democratic filibusters and force the president to “move to the center” if he wants to get any new legislation through Congress.
In short, it’s a recipe for a confrontational end to the Obama presidency.
“We’re going to pass spending bills, and they’re going to have a lot of restrictions on the activities of the bureaucracy,” McConnell said in an interview aboard his campaign bus traveling through Western Kentucky coal country. “That’s something he won’t like, but that will be done. I guarantee it.”
Well it sounds like McConnell will have an ally in his obstructionist plan if he becomes Senate Majority Leader:
http://politics.blog.ajc.com/...
At a Cobb County rally on Tuesday that featured Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, the name of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was mentioned more times that of Michelle Nunn, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
Here’s what her GOP rival, David Perdue, told the crowd:
“We will win the Senate back. We will put forth an agenda that will force this president to either veto or get in line and let’s move forward. Because the status quo is unacceptable.”
McConnell’s office notes that the Kentucky Republican didn’t mention a federal government shut-down in the interview, but the specter remains. If McConnell uses spending bills as the lever for his confrontation, and if Obama vetoes those, then the government would likely have to shutter. - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 8/20/14
Good to know. By the way, this sounds pretty petty:
http://politics.blog.ajc.com/...
Thursday’s Georgia Chamber of Commerce forum will be the first joint public appearance between Senate contenders David Perdue and Michelle Nunn. It will also be the Republican’s first big trip to a major Chamber meeting since his public break with the national group.
In the heat of the Republican primary, Perdue walked out of a contentious endorsement meeting with the U.S. Chamber, and the two traded attacks in the closing days of the primary runoff. The national organization is separate from the Georgia offshoot, which is hosting Thursday’s event and doesn’t endorse candidates.
Two audio recordings from a late June event in Augusta documenting his angst with the national Chamber landed in our inbox this week, sent from a Nunn ally. - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 8/20/14
The Chamber endorsed Rep. Jack Kingston (R. GA) in the primary and refused to endorse Perdue because he opposed immigration reform that included amnesty. One has to wonder if the Chamber will back Perdue's candidate, Michelle Nunn (D. GA0. She could use the backing:
http://politics.blog.ajc.com/...
While Nunn’s campaign has been wildly successful at raising money, her allied Super PAC, Georgians Together, had brought in a mere $70,000 as of the end of June. Keith Mason, treasurer of that organization, sent us some spending figures over the weekend, which we have adjusted slightly. Here’s what has been spent on Nunn’s behalf on TV in Georgia, and by whom, since the July 22 runoff:
– $842,988, by the Nunn campaign;
– $4,540, by People for the American Way;
The Nunn total: $847,528
Here’s what is being spent on behalf of Republican David Perdue:
– $558,463, by the American Chemistry Council;
– $1,014,ooo by Ending Spending;
– $2,601,800, by the National Republican Senatorial Committee;
The Perdue total: $4,174,443.
That’s a nearly 5:1 spending advantage enjoyed by Perdue — none of it involving his own money. - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 8/18/14
That could change soon because Georgians Together, the Super PAC that backs Nunn, hasn't spent any money on advertising yet. Plus the Democratic National Committee will be meeting in Atlanta on Thursday so we Nunn should be expecting some more financial backing soon. In the mean time, click here to donate and get involved with Nunn's campaign:
http://www.michellenunn.com/