A2 Ptx T3 Updates

7/25/2019 A2 Ptx T3 Updates

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A2 Ptx T3 UpdatesH Blake, Lane Tech



COP21



UQ



Non-UQ – No votesNo GOP override, 10 votes short

Hersenhorn 12!1 - David, political reporter in washington DEC. 1, 201 !"otesin Congress #ove to $nderc%t Cli&ate 'ledge!

www.n(ti&es.co&)201)12)02)%s)politics)as-o*a&a-p%shes-cli&ate-deal-rep%*licans-&ove-to-*lock-e&issions-r%les.ht&l

The Ho%se votes + *( 22 to 10 and 2 to 1, &ostl( along part( lines +e/panded to a glo*al level the alread( proo%nd g%l *etween #r. *a&a and theep%*lican-controlled Congress on do&estic iss%es, de&onstrating that the $nited

3tates was hard"# $ni%ed on the iss%e o cli&ate change even as the president

and other leaders so%ght to pro4ect solidarit(.5 The &eas%res will *e sent to the6hite Ho%se, where #r. *a&a has said he will veto the&. The 3enate approved

each &eas%re *( an identical &argin, &2 to '( , signaling that ep%*lican

congressional leaders )o$"d not *e a*"e to &%ster the two-thirds &a4orit(

needed or an override.

+ep$*"ians )ont .et the votes to o$nterat his e/orts and

even i, he"" $st veto it

Goode 11!23 - Darren, 'olitical coll%&nist oc%sing on cli&ate iss%es or 'olitico,11)2)1 !$3 ep%*licans seek to strangle 'aris cli&ate pact!www.politico.e%)article)rep%*licans-seek-to-strangle-paris-cli&ate-pact)

6hile the *%dget talks contin%e to take shape, ep%*licans have *eg%n deplo(ingother aspects o their plan to *lock a 'aris deal, starting with votes to *lock E'78scar*on reg%lations or power plants. $sing Congressional eview 7ct disapprovalresol%tions , which cannot *e 9li*%stered, a &a4orit( o the 3enate on T%esda(

re4ected the Clean 'ower 'lan, which provides the *%lk o the e&issions c%ts *a&ahas pledged in the glo*al cli&ate negotiations. The Ho%se is e/pected to pass theCongressional eview 7ct disapproval resol%tions ater the 'aris talks *egin :ov. 0,

*%t *a&a has a"read# proised to veto the , and ep%*licans do not have

the votes or an override. 5 The 3enate votes also showed ep%*licans are )e""

short o the ;0 votes the( wo%ld need to prevent De&ocrats ro& 9li*%stering

appropriations riders ai&ed at the car*on r%les, leading so&e <' law&akers toreoc%s on e=orts to *lock cli&ate aid ahead o the 'aris talks.

Conservative e/orts )ont stop O*aa and dont e/et his 4ip

Cap

5reit*art Ne)s 11!16 - 1> :ov 201 !*a&a? Cli&ate Change eg%lations6ill Be <ood or B%siness! www.*reit*art.co&)*ig-govern&ent)201)11)1>)o*a&a-cli&ate-change-reg%lations-will-*e-good-or-*%siness)

3o&e critics sa( that in an e=ort to clinch a deal, *a&a and $.3. negotiators havealread( ac@%iesced to an agree&ent that will *e too weak to prevent the worste=ects o cli&ate change. The 6hite Ho%se sa(s it8s searching or Asigni9cantco&&it&ents that will ratchet %p over ti&e. The $.3. has p%shed or each nation8s



contri*%tion to *e revisited ever( 9ve (ears.5 At8s going to re@%ire co%ntries &akinggood on pro&ises to c%t car*on poll%tion, and to doing so in a transparent,veri9a*le &anner, 6hite Ho%se spokes&an osh Earnest said, as *a&a let or astring o s%&&its in T%rke( and 7sia. AThat is o%r goal.5 n 6ashington, the 3enateapproved two <'-sponsored resol%tions disapproving o *a&a8s plan to orce

steep c%ts in greenho%se gas e&issions ro& $.3. power plants and rendering ther%les inoperative. Both &eas%res were narrowl( approved %nder a little-%sed lawthat allows Congress to *lock e/ec%tive actions it considers onero%s with si&ple&a4orit( votes. The &ane%ver is s%*4ect to a presidential veto and has rarel( *eens%ccess%l in overt%rning e/ec%tive *ranch r%les. 5 n 7sia, *a&a also plans to ra&p%p his glo*al lo**(ing ca&paign on another ront d%ring the trip. The president isslated to &eet with leaders ro& the 11 other co%ntries *acking the Trans-'aci9c'artnership ree-trade deal and %rge the& to @%ickl( rati( it.5 7s with cli&ate,*a&a aces his own h%rdles at ho&e on trade. Large portions o the president8spart( incl%ding the leading candidate or the De&ocratic presidential no&ination,Hillar( odha& Clinton oppose the deal. #eanwhile, &an( ep%*licans appearwilling to deviate ro& their past s%pport or ree trade to avoid giving *a&a a&a4or ca&paign-(ear win.



Non-UQ – +e"assi%ationO*aa an ir$vent the need or on.ressiona" vote *# re-

"assi#in. it

7teanini 11!2( - 3ara, 6ashington reporter or 'olitico !#eet the cli&ate

rene&ies! www.politico.e%)article)e%-%s-cli&ate-change-o*a&a-arias-canete-cop21-legall(-*inding-2)

Letter o the law5 The legal nat%re o the so-called cli&ate action targets is perhaps the*iggest tension point.5 For $.3. oGcials, legall( *inding e&issions targets, a&ong other steps, are a

nonstarter. The( wo%ld co&pel *a&a to sec%re the 3enate8s approval or the cli&atedeal, and that8s so&ething the ep%*lican-controlled cha&*er has alread( vowed tokill.5 nstead , the $nited 3tates has long advocated an approach 9rst o%tlined *( :ew

ealand, which wo%ld split the agree&ent in two . Co%ntries wo%ld *e legall( *o%nd to ollow

reporting and transparenc( proced%res on their e&issions so that ever(one wo%ld see what the( were doing.

However, the act%al e&issions targets + &an( o which have alread( *eenpro&ised ahead o the C'21 + wo%ld not have the orce o international law

*ehind the&, and that wo%ld negate the need to get 3enate approval . 5 That &eansi a co%ntr( isn8t reaching its pro&ised red%ction targets, there wo%ld *e no penalt(,altho%gh the rest o the world wo%ld see that it wasn8t hitting its &ark. 5 The E$ insists

that *oth the enorce&ent &echanis& and the targets the&selves *e legall( *inding. However the agree&ent stillwo%ldn8t p%nish those who all short, &aking it a disp%te a*o%t se&antics.



A2 8o$s 7hit9xtree O*aa o$s on "iate re.s no), i$ne to

onservative ritiis

4avenport 11!2: - Coral, cli&ate reporter or the :IT, :ove&*er 2 201

!*a&a8s Legac( at 3take in 'aris Talks on Cli&ate 7ccord!www.n(ti&es.co&)201)11)2J)%s)politics)o*a&a-takes-second-ter&-resolve-on-cli&ate-to-paris.ht&l

673H:<T: + 7t a 4oint news conerence here T%esda( with 'resident FranKoisHollande o France, 'resident *a&a veered ro& his oc%s on the terrorist attacksin 'aris to *ring %p the h%ge international gathering *eginning in the French capitalon #onda( to ha&&er o%t a glo*al response to cli&ate change.5 A6hat a power%lre*%ke to the terrorists it will *e when the world stands as one and shows that wewill not *e deterred ro& *%ilding a *etter %t%re or o%r children, #r. *a&a saido the cli&ate conerence.5 The seg%e *ro%ght &ocker(, even castigation, ro& thepolitical right , *%t it was a re&inder o the i&portance #r. *a&a places on cli&ate

change in shaping his legac(. D%ring his 2012 re-election ca&paign, he *arel(&entioned glo*al war&ing, *%t the iss%e has *eco&e a hall&ark o his secondter&.5 7nd on 3%nda( night he arrives in 'aris, hoping to &ake cli&ate polic( thesignat%re environ&ental achieve&ent o his, and perhaps an(, presidenc(.5 AHeco&es to 'aris with a &oral a%thorit( that no other president has had on the iss%eo cli&ate change, said Do%glas Brinkle(, a presidential historian at ice $niversit(who noted that #r. *a&a8s do&estic cli&ate e=orts alread( stand alone in7&erican histor(. A:o other president has had a cli&ate change polic(. t &akes hi&%ni@%e.



A2 ;arin.



;arin. No <!=COP21 )ont oe "ose to so"vin. "iate han.e

=epert 1& - o*ert ., senior cli&ate scientist and director o the Frederick 3.'ardee Center or Longer ange <lo*al 'olic( and the F%t%re H%&an Condition. :ov

2 201 !C' 21 :ot a 3ilver B%llet on Cli&ate Change!www.rand.org)*log)201)11)cop-21-not-a-silver-*%llet-on-cli&ate-change.ht&l

The negotiations, involving all the worlds nations, is the 21st s%ch gatheringorganiMed %nder the r%*ric o the 1JJ2 Fra&ework Convention on Cli&ate Change. The Fra&ework Convention, rati9ed *( 1J; nations incl%ding the $nited 3tates,pledges signatories to preventing dangero%s h%&an intererence with the Earthscli&ate. 3ince that pledge, the concentration o heat-trapping greenho%se gases in

the at&osphere has risen *( 10 perent and the Earths cli&ate has noticea*l(

*eg%n to change, with rising seas, &ore da(s with e/tre&e heat, and &ore intensestor&s. 6orse, like a teakettle that takes a long while to *oil, the Earths oceans

i&pose a decades-long lag *etween e&issions and their %ll e=ect. 9ven i a""

eissions eased toda( Nan i&possi*le eatO, the worlds cli&ate wo%ld contin%e

to change.5 The 'aris negotiations annot provide the en.ine that will drive

do)n ."o*a" eissions *eca%se the needed changes are too "ar.e. 3ince

greenho%se gas e&issions re&ain in the at&osphere or cent%ries, sta*iliMingconcentrations re@%ires driving e&issions to Mero over the co%rse o this cent%r(.3ince e&issions e&anate ro& &ost h%&an activities, red%cing the& to Mero willre@%ire a radical transor&ation o the energ(, transportation, *%ildings,&an%act%ring, agric%lt%ral, and other sectors o the glo*al econo&(. The

Fra&ework Convention operates *( consens%s. There is no preedent , nor an(

political science theor(, to s%ggest that the world s nations will %nani&o%sl( agree

on a co&prehensive, detailed plan or radical change that none o the& knows withcertaint( how to achieve.

UN C"iate onerenes are $se"ess rhetori $e"ed *# a"arist

edia h#pe

Carter 1& - o*ert #. palaeontologist, stratigrapher, &arine geologist andenviron&ental scientist with &ore than 0 (ears proessional e/perience, and holdsdegrees ro& the $niversit( o tago N:ew ealandO and the $niversit( oCa&*ridge NEnglandO Dece&*er 1, 201 !<lo*al 6ar&ing 7lar&ist hetoric,'ropaganda and Dishonest( Heats $p in 'aris!www.cnsnews.co&)co&&entar()ro*ert-&-carter)glo*al-war&ing-alar&ist-rhetoric-

propaganda-and-dishonest(-heats-paris The glo*al war&ing alar&ist rhetoric, propaganda, and dishonest( now on displa(ever( da( 9rst approached their c%rrent all-ti&e high levels in an%ar( 201+soonater the C'-20 &eeting in Li&a, 'er%+and the( have *een %ndergoing as%stained crescendo ever since, driven in e@%al proportions *( environ&ental non-govern&ent organiMations and their radical s%pporters, p%sillani&o%s politicians,an d deter&inedl( ignorant &edia reporters.5 The &ainstrea& &edia is deter&inedto prevent dissident and independent scienti9c voices ro& *eing heard. :earl( all



&a4or &edia o%tlets have pro&oted an al&ost contin%o%s strea& o o%tright

scienti9c "ies as the( r%sh to conor& to the politicall( correct and %nscienti9c

cli&ate consens%s position. 6ith nar( an independent scientist or co&&entator to*e heard, the censorship desired *( &an( &ainstrea& &edia o%tlets is co&plete.5



;arin. no <!= – 1A+ CardsNe.otiators are ore a*o$t one# and COP21 doesnt have

the *$siness ode"

de Pa$"a 1& - :icole, international relations and s%staina*le develop&ent e/pert

with a oc%s on %r*an adaptation to cli&ate change in cities. 0;)12)201 !Cli&ateChange and the oad to 'aris? ts 7ll 7*o%t that Tr%st!www.h%Gngtonpost.co&)nicole-de-pa%la)cli&ate-change-and-the-road-to-paris-its-all-a*o%t-that-tr%stP*P>;02.ht&l

3econd, 'aris will have to signi9cantl( de&onstrate that reso%rces re@%ired ortransition to a low car*on econo&( are in act going to *e &o*iliMed. To p%t it in aword, diplo&ats in 'aris will need to p%t their &one( where their &o%ths are. The&ost e=ective wa( to overco&e this challenge is to pro&ote private sector *%(-in to

the cli&ate ca%se. Th%s, rel(ing onl( on the &oral arg%&ent is never .oin. to

a>e ends eet . 6hat is still &issing is to scale %p a *$siness ode" or

cli&ate entreprene%rship. The recentl( la%nched <reen Cli&ate F%nd hopes to&o*iliMe *illions o dollars, *%t o co%rse this depends on whether or not co%ntriesco&e to 'aris with their check *ooks open.

COP21 is a"" rhetori, its too "ate, and dip"oats arent rea""#

.oin. to do an#thin.

8oran 1& - ohn, cli&ate 4o%rnalist or esilience, 3E' 1;, 201 !%st 3a( A:o tothe 'aris C'? 7 'ossi*le 6a( to 6in 3o&ething or Cli&ate %stice 1 1>!www.resilience.org)stories)201-0J-1;)4%st-sa(-no-to-the-paris-cop-a-possi*le-wa(-to-win-so&ething-or-cli&ate-4%stice

ealit( s%ggests that we are on co%rse to lock in an inade@%ate, woe%ll(

%nder%nded, and cri&inal set o non-*inding Apledges whose deadlines are"a$.ha*"# too "ate alread(. 7nd the govern&ents o the world at the Conerence

o 'arties to the $nited :ations Cli&ate Change Convention will *e asked to hail this

as a h%ge victor( or h%&anit(, with the transparent "ie that it sets %s on a co%rse

or what is needed at soe $nspei%ed $t$re date . For the well-respected

newsletter EC, what8s needed in 'aris are Ae@%it(, tr%st, solidarit(, and action. These are precisel( the ingredients that will *e &issing.

<ndia )ont *$d.e and onsens$s is ipossi*"e

4avenport and Harris 11!30 - Coral and <ardiner, international 4o%rnalistsreporting on cli&ate action nov. 0, 201 !Citing $rgenc(, 6orld Leaders Converge

on France or Cli&ate Talks! www.n(ti&es.co&)201)12)01)world)e%rope)o*a&a-cli&ate-conerence-cop21.ht&l

3itting *eside #r. Qi at the end o a long ta*le, #r. *a&a said in re&arks &ade *eore reporters that the

partnership on cli&ate disc%ssions + despite a host o di=erences on iss%es incl%dingc(*ersec%rit( and &ilitar( presence in the 3o%th China 3ea + had *een an essentialpart o the prel%de to the glo*al conerence.5 3till, h%ge h%rdles re&ain ahead o

striking a deal, which &%st *e agreed to $nanio$s"# *( the nearl( 200 co%ntries



in order to *e legall( *inding.5 The greatest threat to reaching a *inding cli&ate accord &a( *e a loose

coalition o developing nations, led *( ndia, who arg%e that the# sho$"d not *e as>ed to

li&it their econo&ic growth as a wa( o 9/ing a pro*le& that was largel( created *(the others. #r. *a&a conceded that point. 5 6ith ndia the world8s third-largestgreenho%se gas poll%ter, #r. *a&a has invested heavil( in his relationship with 'ri&e #inister #odi in

hopes o sec%ring his cooperation or a deal here.5 #r. #odi said that poor nations had the right to *%rn car*on togrow their econo&ies.5 ACli&ate change is not o o%r &aking, he said at a speech opening the daMMling ndianpavilion here. At is the res%lt o glo*al war&ing that ca&e ro& the prosperit( and progress o an ind%strial agepowered *( ossil %el.5 He added? AB%t, we in ndia ace its conse@%ences toda(. 6e see it in the risks o o%rar&ers, the changes in weather patterns, and the intensit( o nat%ral disasters.5

O*aas )ords ean nothin.

7o$a 12!3 - 'ete, reporter or the Chicago Tri*%ne !3enate panel led *( topcli&ate change denier casts do%*t on talks! www.lati&es.co&)world)e%rope)la-pol-ca-cli&ate-change-talks-%pdates-da(--ht&lstor(.ht&l

The 7enate Coittee on 9nvironent released a white paper this week

ritii ing 'resident O*aa?s approah on cli&ate change and @%estioning

whether the 'aris s%&&it will *e r%it%l.5 The ep%*lican-controlled co&&ittee, led*( top congressional cli&ate change denier 3en. a&es #. nhoe N-kla.O,criticiMed *a&as pledge o additional %nding or cli&ate change research as

!propaganda! designed to @reate the i""$sion that the U7 )i"" *e a*"e to

satis# the deands o the internationa" o$nit#.!5 The report said the

*a&a ad&inistrations approach to negotiations !advances a radicalenviron&ental agenda with hollow pro&ises ... at the e/pense o the $.3.constit%tion and the welare o the 7&erican people.!5 nhoe a&o%sl( tossed asnow*all on the Roor o the $.3. 3enate this (ear in an e=ort to de*%nk !all this

h(steria a*o%t glo*al war&ing.!



A2 U7 ai"$re spi""-over4ip"oa# )ont )or> or COP21 and even i, the deision

)ont *e eno$.h

de Pa$"a 1& - :icole, international relations and s%staina*le develop&ent e/pert

with a oc%s on %r*an adaptation to cli&ate change in cities. 0;)12)201 !Cli&ateChange and the oad to 'aris? ts 7ll 7*o%t that Tr%st!www.h%Gngtonpost.co&)nicole-de-pa%la)cli&ate-change-and-the-road-to-paris-its-all-a*o%t-that-tr%stP*P>;02.ht&l

B%t, given their own strategic concerns, the negotiators involved in this process are

*eing extree"# are$" , and will hold their cards close to their chests %ntil the

ver( last ho%rs o the s%&&it in Dece&*er, when--as has happened at past

s%&&its--an alar& *ell will ring and a )ea> oproise will *e *rokered to save

ace. #an( o*servers have .ood reasons to do$*t that real sol%tions to cli&ate

change will co&e ro& diplo&ats.5 The goal d%ring C'21 is to reach an agree&ent

that will give keep glo*al te&perat%res ro& cli&*ing &ore than 2S C, the politicall(accepted li&it *e(ond which h%&anit( sho%ld not pass lest it s%=er dire

conse@%ences. For that, world e&issions wo%ld have to all *( *etween 0 and 60

perent ro& c%rrent levels *( 200 and to !near Mero or *elow in 2100!, according

to the ntergovern&ental 'anel on Cli&ate Change--a ver( tall order, indeed. 5 Th%s,ro& the start, one sho%ld know that, regardless o the t(pe o agree&ent reached

in 'aris, it &ost certainl( )i"" not *e satisator# ro& the point o view o

science. 3cience and politics tend to re&ain lost in translation and its &isleading tothink that the availa*ilit( o the right inor&ation ens%res the right action. n act,the scienti9c co&&%nit( has had consens%s on this iss%e or decades, *%tnegotiators are gridlocked, hardl( a s%nn( o%tlook.5 :o, gridlocked &%ltilateral

cli&ate politics will not disappear, *%t the( are a realit( that can *e &anaged. The@%estion is to i&agine what needs to happen or a s%ccess%l o%tco&e in 'aris. 7tleast, o%r points deserve to *e highlighted.



COP21 5adTheir one-step o$s on COP21 reates "iate po"i# ai"$re

and op"aen# )ith the stat$s $o

=epert 1& - o*ert ., senior cli&ate scientist and director o the Frederick 3.

'ardee Center or Longer ange <lo*al 'olic( and the F%t%re H%&an Condition. :ov2 201 !C' 21 :ot a 3ilver B%llet on Cli&ate Change!www.rand.org)*log)201)11)cop-21-not-a-silver-*%llet-on-cli&ate-change.ht&l

Envisioning the 'aris negotiations as the pri&ar( engine o cli&ate progress

presents rea" dan.ers. t co%ld lead to disappoint&ent when the negotiators

cant deliver what is e/pected. #ost nota*l(, in previo%s &eetings %nder theFra&ework Convention the worlds govern&ents have pledged to c%t e&issionss%Gcientl( to hold the increase in glo*al te&perat%res to less than 2SC. #osto*servers concl%de that the pledges that e&erge ro& 'aris will in no wa( ens%re&eeting that goal.5 $n&et e/pectations that 'aris can provide the pri&ar( driver o

change distrat attention ro )hat s$h ne.otiations an at$a""#

ahieve. 7s one e/a&ple, given the scale o the needed changes, &ost e/perts

*elieve that the worlds govern&ents are %nderinvesting in energ( D *( a actor

o two or three. B%t sine the# are expet ed to provide a so"$tion, the

ne.otiations nonethe"ess o$s on o$toes + pro&ised e&ission levels

decades in the %t%re + over )hih toda#?s .overnents have "itt"e diret

ontro". The negotiations have largel( ignored concrete actions + s%ch as toda(s

research invest&ents + that wo%ld &ake low %t%re e&issions Nwhile notg%aranteedO &%ch &ore likel(.

COP21 is ri..ed to a>e it see "i>e soethin. is *ein. done

Cass 11!2B - ren is a #anhattan nstit%te senior ellow !6h( the 'aris cli&atedeal is &eaningless! www.politico.e%)article)paris-cli&ate-deal-is-&eaningless-cop21-e&issions-china-o*a&a)

Cli&ate talks are co&ple/ and opa$e , operating with their own lang%age and

process, so it8s i&portant to c%t thro%gh the ter&inolog( and look at what isact%all( %nder disc%ssion. Conventional wisdo& holds that negotiators are hashingo%t a air allocation o the deep e&issions c%ts all co%ntries wo%ld need to &ake to

li&it war&ing. That i&age *ears "itt"e rese*"ane to rea"it# .5 n act, e&issions

red%ctions are *arel( on the ta*le at all. nstead, the talks are ri..ed to ens%re an

agree&ent is reached re.ard"ess o ho) "itt"e ation o$ntries p"an to take.

The developing world, pro4ected to acco%nt or o%r-9ths o all car*on-dio/idee&issions this cent%r(, will earn appla%se or what a&o%nts to a pro&ise to sta( ontheir pre-e/isting tra4ector( o e&issions-intensive growth.5 Here8s how the ga&eworks? The negotiating ra&ework esta*lished at a 201 conerence in Li&a, 'er%,re@%ires each co%ntr( to s%*&it a plan to red%ce greenho%se-gas e&issions, called

an Antended :ationall( Deter&ined Contri*%tion N:DCO. Each s%*&ission is at

the disretion o the individ%al co%ntr(U there is no o*etive standard it &%st

&eet or e&issions red%ction it &%st achieve.





T-HU4NTransportation-H$D 7ppropriations BillO



Ne.+ep$*"ian inorit# sta""in. T-HU4 in the s$o, that >i""s 4O4,

4OA, and NA7A $ndin. The dead"ine is 4e 11th

GovTra> Nov 2B !6eek 7head or :ov. 0-Dec. !

https?))&edi%&.co&)govtrack-insider)week-ahead-or-nov-0-dec--ecc0100V.na>;l*o1

The 3enate leadership had not released its legislative sched%le at press ti&e, *%tthe cha&*er &ight contin%e de*ate on the so-called Transportation-H$Dappropriations *ill, which wo%ld provide %nding or the Depart&ents o Transportation and Ho%sing and $r*an Develop&ent NH$DO thro%gh 3epte&*er 0,201;. The legislation stalled on the Roor prior to the Thanksgiving recess d%e to ade&and *( 3en. and 'a%l N-WIO or a vote on his a&end&ent seeking to *an newre%gees ro& receiving welare assistance, according to The Hill?5 A6e *orrow a&illion dollars a &in%te, said 'a%l. A6e don8t have eno%gh &one( to do this. t8s athreat to o%r national sec%rit(.5 egardless o the o%tco&e o the de*ate on 'a%l8s

a&end&ent or the 3enate8s Transportation-H$D %nding *ill, Ho%se and 3enateappropriators are e/pected to %nveil a &assive Ao&ni*%s &eas%re that will %ndgovern&ent operations thro%gh the re&ainder o 9scal (ear 201;. The catch-all *ill

is e/pected to contain the %ll te/t o a"" 12 appropriations *ills that cover ever(

&a4or depart&ent + ranging ro& the 4 epart&ent o A gric%lt%re to the

4 epart&ent o 4 eense + as well as independent agencies s%ch as NA7A.5 Federal

agencies c%rrentl( are operat ing %nder a contin%ing resol%tion that e/pires at

&idnight on 4ee*er 11



A/ A2T-HU4 passes onsistent"# ever# onth

HO+CA $n B - 6ashington reporter or the $3 Ho%se o epresentativesCo&&ittee on 7ppropriations NHC7O !Fiscal Iear 201; Transportation, Ho%sing

and $r*an Develop&ent 7ppropriations Bill 'asses Ho%se!appropriations.ho%se.gov)news)doc%&entsingle.asp/YDoc%&entDZJ2J

The $.3. Ho%se toda( approved the 9scal (ear 201; Transportation, Ho%sing and$r*an Develop&ent %nding *ill NH.. 2>>O on a vote o 21; -210. The legislationincl%des %nding or the Depart&ent o Transportation, the Depart&ent o Ho%singand $r*an Develop&ent, and other related agencies.5 n total, the *ill reRects anallocation o [. *illion in discretionar( spending an increase o [1. *illiona*ove 9scal (ear 201 and [J.> *illion *elow the 'resident8s *%dget re@%est.However, given red%ced o=sets pri&aril( ca%sed *( a [1.1 *illion decline inFederal Ho%sing 7d&inistration receipts the *ill act%all( represents an increase oonl( [2 &illion a*ove the c%rrent level. 6ithin the legislation, %nds are targeted

toward transportation, inrastr%ct%re, and ho%sing progra&s o national need andsigni9cance that have the *iggest i&pact on 7&ericans and co&&%nities across theco%ntr(.5 AThe *ill passed toda( will %nd a wide range o ederal progra&s thata=ect ever( citiMen o ever( district o ever( state. Fro& the transportationinrastr%ct%re that &oves goods, people, and *%sinesses aro%nd the co%ntr(, to theho%sing options that help those in &ost need, the *ene9ts o the progra&s in this*ill are elt ar and wide, Ho%se 7ppropriations Chair&an Hal ogers said. A6e acetight *%dget restrictions, (et this *ill provides ade@%ate invest&ents in criticalinrastr%ct%re and &%ch-relied-%pon ho%sing progra&s. thank &( colleag%es ortheir s%pport toda(, and their contin%ed s%pport as this legislation contin%esthro%gh the process.



TPPO*aa )i"" inevita*"# %nd a )a# to enore his dea" – TPP,

o$rt *att"es, and distrationsDannin. 4ee*er 12!1 - ick, president o 7&ericans or Li&ited<overn&ent, reporter or the Hill. 12)1)1 !*a&as 'aris cli&ate treat( spellsdoo& or T''! thehill.co&)*logs)p%ndits-*log)international)2;1-o*a&as-paris-cli&ate-treat(-spells-doo&-or-tpp

$nder the r%les o ast-track, once *a&a signs the T'', Congress will *e on theclock to have an %p-or-down vote in *oth the Ho%se and the 3enate witho%ta&end&ents or 9li*%sters. nto this decision-&aking &i/, the &a4orit( in Congress

will *e p%lling o%t the stops to stop the 'aris treat(.5 TPP atters in this post-'aris

cli&ate treat( signat%re conte/t *eca%se it provides the internationa"

rae)or> to enore the "iate han.e a.reeent witho%t an( additionalcongressional approval. The $.3. Trade epresentatives oGce &ade the i&portanceo %sing the T'' to enorce the green agenda clear in a an%ar( 201 press releasewhen the( declared?5 The $nited 3tates position on the environ&ent in the Trans-'aci9c 'artnership negotiations is this? environ&ental stewardship is a core7&erican val%e, and we will insist on a ro*%st, %ll( enorcea*le environ&entchapter in the T'' or we will not co&e to agree&ent.5 %r proposals in the T'' arecentered aro%nd the enorce&ent o environ&ental laws, incl%ding thosei&ple&enting &%ltilateral environ&ental agree&ents N#E7sO in T'' partnerco%ntries, and also aro%nd trail*laMing, 9rst-ever conservation proposals that willraise standards across the region.5 There can *e little do%*t that *a&a plans on

%sing the T rans- P aci9c P artnership governance as the &eans to enorce whateverhe agrees to in 'aris on the $.3. all the while o%r trade partners will ignore it, withthe threat o international trade sanctions i&posed against the $nited 3tates sho%ldCongress or a %t%re president roll *ack his agenda.5 t is also clear that *a&aintends to orce a pondero%s ederal co%rt *attle over whether the 'aris treat(sho%ld *e s%*4ected to 3enate rati9cation, *%(ing hi& ti&e to &ove orward with areg%lator( agenda designed to &eet the ter&s o the non-rati9ed agree&ent.5 <iventhe likelihood that the T'' governance *oard Nwhich consists o one vote or each o the 12 co%ntries who are c%rrentl( participatingO will act to enorce the 'aris cli&atetreat( against the $.3. N*%t not the&selvesO or nonco&pliance d%ring a Hillar(Clinton or Bernie 3anders presidenc( regardless o the will o Congress, the vote on

T'' will *eco&e the pro/( or *a&as cli&ate agenda.5 The tr%th has alwa(s *eenthat the T'' has never *een a*o%t trade, *%t instead has *een a*o%t a rewriting othe r%les o the world econo&( negotiated *( a president who vowed to%nda&entall( transor& 7&erica. 7nd it is thro%gh the T'' that an( %t%represident who shares his vision will *e a*le to 9nish the transor&ation and no onein Congress will *e a*le to stop it.



Hi.h)a#



UQHi.h)a# ne.otiations )i"" pass

Carne# 11!2B - ordain, washington reporter or the Hill !Law&akers prepare orend-o-(ear dash! thehill.co&)*logs)Roor-action)senate)2;12-law&akers-prepare-

or-end-o-(ear-dash The 9rst deadline law&akers ace is passing a long-ter& inrastr%ct%re *ill aterapproving another short-ter& %nding patch *eore leaving or Thanksgiving. 5

Law&akers onl( have a &atter o da(s to get a long-ter& deal and avoid ash%tdown o ederal highwa( %nding , with the c%rrent patch set to e/pire on Frida(,Dec. .5 3en. a&es nhoe N-kla.O initiall( e/pressed opti&is& that Ho%se and3enate *ills co%ld *e reconciled Ain a &atter o ho%rs, and Ho%se Transportationand nrastr%ct%re Co&&ittee Chair&an Bill 3h%ster N-'a.O declared separatel( thatthe recentl( passed short-ter& &eas%re wo%ld *e the Alast e/tension.5 B%tlaw&akers have gotten *ogged down in negotiations over how to reconciledi=erences in the two *ills. The(8re also acing press%re ro& conservative gro%ps to

drop lang%age rea%thoriMing the E/port-&port Bank8s charter and skepticis& ro&ep%*lican law&akers over onl( g%aranteeing three (ears o %nding or a si/-(ear*ill.5 nhoe, however, re&ains opti&istic that negotiators will *e a*le to seal an

agree&ent , telling The klaho&an that law&akers Aare ver# "ose to a prod%ct

that co%ntr( has needed or ar too long.



7#rian +e$.ee



UQ5i"" )ont pass

Carne# 11!2B - ordain, washington reporter or the Hill !Law&akers prepare orend-o-(ear dash! thehill.co&)*logs)Roor-action)senate)2;12-law&akers-prepare-

or-end-o-(ear-dash7 9ght over 3(rian re%gees is shiting to the 3enate ater #a4orit( Leader #itch#cConnell N-W(.O ast-tracked Ho%se-passed legislation that halts the presidentsresettle&ent plan.5 6hile the legislation passed the Ho%se with a veto-proo&a4orit( + incl%ding the s%pport o > De&ocrats + it co%ld ace a to%gher path inthe %pper cha&*er, where De&ocratic leadership has %nited against it. 5 eerring tothe Ho%se legislation, 3enate #inorit( Leader Harr( eid ND-:ev.O told reporters thatthe %pper cha&*er wo%ldn8t *e Adealing with it over here and that Ait won8t getpassed.5 ank-and-9le De&ocrats are also re&aining nonco&&ittal on the Ho%selegislation, which wo%ld re@%ire the ad&inistration to certi( that 3(rian and ra@ire%gees aren8t a sec%rit( threat.5 ever( ep%*lican s%pports the legislation,

#cConnell wo%ld need at least si/ De&ocrats to *reak rank and help the proposalget over a proced%ral h%rdle.5 B%t he8s also acing p%sh*ack ro& within his ownpart(, with 3ens. e= 3essions N-7la.O and e= Flake N-7riM.O *oth s%ggesting the(are on the ence.5 !6ell see. ve not s%pported a pa%se or a &oratori%&, and thinkwe o%ght to oc%s &ore on where the real pro*le&s are,! Flake said, asked i hewo%ld s%pport the Ho%se *ill on a clot%re vote. !Like said, &( preerence wo%ld *eto oc%s on the areas o higher potential pro*le&s, so wo%ld rather oc%s on visawaiver.!5 De&ocrats, &eanwhile, are oc%sed on the "isa 6aiver 'rogra&, whichallows residents o nearl( 0 co%ntries to enter the $nited 3tates witho%t a visa. The(8re also do%*ling down on legislation that wo%ld close the Aterrorist *ackgro%ndcheck loophole, which allows s%spected or known terrorists to *%( a 9rear& or

e/plosive.5 Thirt(-si/ De&ocrats, as well as ndependent 3ens. Bernie 3anders N"t.Oand 7ng%s Wing N#aineO, sent a letter over the Thanksgiving recess to ep%*licanleadership de&anding that the( *ring the legislation %p or a vote.



4ip"oa# 7o"ves4ip"oa# so"vesEother options tri..er re$.ees, )ar ries,

and esa"ation

9vans 13 N<areth, 7%stralia8s oreign &inister, 7 Talking C%re or 3(ria, )2J)1,

http?))www.pro4ect-s(ndicate.org)co&&entar()wh(-diplo&ac(-is-the-onl(-option-in-s(ria-*(-gareth-evansO))L7

L:D: The proposal *( the $nited 3tates and %ssia to hold a diplo&atic conerence to end thecarnage in 3(ria deserves a less skeptical reaction than it has received. 6hile it will *e

diGc%lt to get all o the relevant parties to the ta*le in <eneva an( ti&e soon, &%ch less to ens%re an o%tco&e that

will stick, di plo&ac( is the onl( ga&e let. 7s &%ch as one &ight wish otherwise, ever( otherpolic( option canvassed so ar is wrong in principle, nonvia*le in practice, %nlikel( to*e e=ective, or *o%nd to increase rather than di&inish s%=ering. 7ter two (ears o civil

war, with no decisive &ilitar( victor( *( either side in sight, the sit%ation co%ld not *e &oredesperate. 7ccording to c%rrent $nited :ations esti&ates, &ore than 0,000 3(rians are dead, and ;. &illion

one-third o the co%ntr(8s pop%lation need %rgent h%&anitarian assistance . 3o&e

.2 &illion are displaced internall(, and &ore than 1. &illion have Red theco%ntr(, sheltering as re%gees &ainl( in Le*anon, ordan, and T%rke(. The strain on

3(ria8s neigh*ors is i&&ense, and the conRict is ine/ora*l( seeping into the wider region .Both govern&ent and re*el orces have co&&itted atrocit( cri&es . #an( &ore are eared

as violence a&ong the &ain sectarian gro%ps escalates. Contin%ed international paral(sis is indeensi*le.

naction wo%ld ignite 9res thro%gho%t the # iddle E ast, and wo%ld violate theinternational co&&%nit(8s now-accepted responsi*ilit( to protect , thro%gh ti&el(and decisive collective action, pop%lations at risk o genocide, ethnic cleansing, andother &a4or cri&es against h%&anit( and war cri&es.



4ip"oa# doesnt so"vedip"oati so"$tion to 7#ria is ipossi*"e- no one is )i""in. to

oproise

Hahn 13 N<ordon #. senior associate at the Center or 3trategic and

nternational 3t%dies, ;)2;)1, AHas diplo&ac( ailed to solve the3(rian crisisY, %ssia Direct, http?))www.r%ssia-direct.org)content)has-diplo&ac(-ailed-solve-s(rian-crisisO

For all practical p%rposes, the political and diplo&atic sol%tions to the conRict in 3(ria have*een e/ha%sted. Even i *( so&e &iracle the regi&e o Bashar al-7ssad and so&e&oderate ele&ents in the opposition were to co&e to so&e agree&ent, the conRictwill persist or (ears.5 an agree&ent were to leave 7ssad and the 7lawite &inorit( to which he *elongs in

power o so&e r%&p state and leave the rest o the co%ntr( to the re*els, then the 4ihadi ele&ent led *(al-\aeda allied a*hat al-:%sra will contin%e to 9ght ro& eastern 3(ria against *oththe 3hiite 7lawite and the 3%nni 3(rian @%asi-states . there is no agree&ent, then there is the

risk o an escalation o the conRict, drawing in the pro-3%nni 6estern and 7ra* powers and pro-3hiite ran and%ssia. 6hile it is not certain that either the 6est or %ssia wo%ld *e involved %rther, h%&an nat%re andthe growing distance *etween 6ashington and #oscow leaves little roo& or hope.F 3ho%ld 7ssad so&ehow s%rvive, he is likel( to *e &ore intransigent regarding the6est, will seek greater protection incl%ding ar&s p%rchases ro& %ssia. He &ight even

co&pro&ise on ideolog(, red%cing the sec%lar Baathist ele&ent o his regi&e or a &ore ranian-st(le sla&is&.

%ssian 'resident "ladi&ir '%tin is in no &ood to co&pro&ise, and sho%ld 7ssadre&ain in power, '%tin is likel( to ind%lge hi& and Tehran considera*l( &ore than hehas to date. 3%ch a &ove wo%ld p%t an end to whatever partnerships re&ain *etween %ssia and the 6est,

incl%ding the dead !reset! with the $nited 3tates. The worst-case scenario is that %ssia goes rog%e and eschewsall international nor&s e/cept those it 9nds convenient. 5 Elena 3%ponina, director, Central 7sia and #iddle East

Center, %ssian nstit%te or 3trategic 3t%dies 5 3o ar we can still rel( on diplo&ac( to resolve

the 3(rian i&passe, *%t ever( da(, diplo&atic approaches have *een alling short o their goals. This is partl( d%e to the act that there is no %nderstanding on who willparticipate in the negotiations on *ehal o the opposition . 6hile the 3(rian govern&ent

e/presses its readiness to negotiate, responsi*ilit( or the dela( sho%ld *e shited to the3(rian opposition to a certain e/tent. 5

U7 dip"oa# is ine/etive – o$ntries )i"" sa# no and onits

are esa"atin. no)

Di""er 10 N7aron David, p%*lic-polic( scholar at the 6oodrow 6ilson nternationalCenter or 3cholars, 2))20, AThe End o Diplo&ac(, Foreign 'olic(,http?))www.oreignpolic(.co&)articles)2010)02)0)thePendPoPdiplo&ac(YpageZ%ll]O

Back in the da(, there was a ti&e when 7&erican diplo&ac( did *ig and i&portant things .

:o &ore, it see&s. The worlds gotten co&plicated, 7&erica is a good deal weaker, and the $.3.ad&inistration is handicapping itsel with a d(s%nctional *%rea%cratic set%p that&akes it harder to oc%s and 9nd its ooting. E=ective 7&erican diplo&ac( &a( well *e going the wa( o

the dodo, and the sad act is there &a( *e little Barack *a&a can do a*o%t it. La&enting the a*sence o great&en (ears *eore his own shining &o&ent, 6inston Ch%rchill wrote that in England, once %pon a ti&e, !there werewonder%l giants o old.! Theres alwa(s a danger in idealiMing what once was or see&ed to *e in order to &ake apoint a*o%t the present. 3till, looking *ack over the last ;0 (ears, (o% reall( do have to wonder whether 7&ericas

*est diplo&ac( and oreign polic( are *ehind it. 7&erica never ran the world Nan ill%sion the let, right,

http://www.russia-direct.org/content/has-diplomacy-failed-solve-syrian-crisis


http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/02/03/the_end_of_diplomacy?page=full

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/02/03/the_end_of_diplomacy?page=full





and &%ch o the third and o%rth worlds *elieveU *%t there were &o&ents N1J-1J0, the earl( 1J>0s, 1J-1JJ1O

when the $nited 3tates &arshaled its &ilitar(, political, and econo&ic power towardi&pressive ends. There were, or co%rse, disasters and plent( o d(s%nction d%ring these (ears, incl%ding the

"ietna& 6ar and o%t-o-control C7 operations. B%t there were also *rilliant achieve&ents? the #arshall 'lan, :7T,e=ective 7ra*-sraeli diplo&ac(, d^tente with the %ssians, opening to China, a co&petent 7&erican role in the

acceleration and &anage&ent o the end o the Cold 6ar, and the 9rst <%l 6ar. For &ost o the last 1;

(ears, however -- %nder Bill Clinton and <eorge 6. B%sh -- 7&erica has *een in a diplo&aticdr( patch. n the ace o terroris&, n%clear prolieration, wars o choice, and nast(regional conRicts, conventional diplo&ac( has either not *een tried or not *een ver(s%ccess%l. The i&age o the sh%ttling secretar( o state pre-e&pting crises ore/ploiting the& to *roker agree&ents, doggedl( p%rs%ing #iddle East peace,achieving dra&atic *reakthro%ghs with spectac%lar secret diplo&ac( see&s a worldawa(. The *a&a ad&inistration wants to do this kind o st%=. 7nd it has done prett( well in &anaging the *ig

relationships with %ssia and E%rope, tho%gh it has had its share o pro*le&s with China. B%t rankl(, these are the

eas( ones. ts not ro& the *ig that the presidents pro*le&s co&eU its ro& the s&all.

n garden spots like ra@, 'akistan, 7ghanistan, Ie&en, and 3o&alia, the pro*le&s are o%r parts&ilitar(, 9ve parts nation-*%ilding, and &a(*e one part diplo&ac(. 7nd 7&erica is%nlikel( to prevail in an( &eaning%l sense o the word where corr%pt, e/tractive

regi&es are %na*le to control their own territor( and c%t deals with anti-7&ericanele&ents and place their sec%rit( and political concerns 9rst. Even in areas wherediplo&ac( &ight see& to work on paper -- Wash&ir, 7ra*-sraeli peace&aking -- the$nited 3tates is ha&pered *( conRicts driven *( deep ethnic and religio%s hostilit( and*( internal politics in which its own allies Nsrael, 'akistan, and ndiaO cant *e o &%ch help.

7nd in one o the cr%elest ironies o all, the $.3. president who has gone %rther to engage ran than an( o hispredecessors is watching an( hope or diplo&ac( *eing gro%nd %p *( a regi&e %nder siege in Tehran. 6hats &ore,

the power o the s&all is *eing &atched *( the weakening o the *ig. Io% dont have to

*e a declinist N& notO to see how ar the i&age o 7&erican power has allen. Forget the econo&ic

&eltdown, which has &%ch o the world wondering a*o%t what kind o great power the $nited 3tates reall( is.

7&ericas c%rrentl( 9ghting two wars where the standard or victor( is not whetherit can win *%t when it can leave. 6hether its an ina*ilit( to get to%gh sanctions

ro& the international co&&%nit( against ran, *ring Tehran to heel, &ake :orthWorea pla( *all, get the 7ra*s and the sraelis to cooperate, or p%sh the 'akistanis tohit the Tali*an and al \aeda in a s%stained wa(, the world has gotten %sed to sa(ing no to7&erica witho%t cost or conse@%ence. 7nd thats ver( *ad or a great power. Finall(, theres the iss%e

o how the co%ntr( organiMes itsel. 7 new *%rea%cratic Rowchart wont replace skill and l%ck, *etter &arshal7&erican power, or create gen%ine opport%nities or s%ccess a*road. B%t i (o% dont have the right str%ct%re, it

&akes s%ccess all that &%ch harder. 7nd the $nited 3tates has departed ro& the one &odel thathas proven s%ccess%l? the strong oreign-polic( president e&powering the strongsecretar( o state who rides herd over s%*ca*inet-level envo(s in real ti&e and in close coordination with the

president on strateg(. nstead, the *a&a ad&inistration has created an e&pire o envo(s with powerconcentrated in the 6hite Ho%se *%t witho%t real p%rpose or strateg(. The nations top

diplo&at Nthe secretar( o stateO see&s to *e ever(where and nowhere in ter&s o owning iss%es and 9nding a wa(

to take on so&e o the nastiest challenges, which is what secretaries o state are s%pposed to do. ts still earl(, and&a(*e the *a&a ad&inistration will get l%ck(. 'erhaps the ranian regi&e will collapse or the 7ra*s and sraelis

will do so&ething good *( the&selves. B%t the ne/t several (ears are &ore likel( to *e to%ghones or 7&erican diplo&ac(. 7nd the i&age that co&es to &ind isnt a terri*l( kindone? 7&erica as a kind o &odern-da( <%lliver tied %p *( tin( tri*es a*road andho**led *( its ina*ilit( to organiMe its own ho%se at ho&e.



A2 GenoideNo .enoide in 7#ria, on"# ivi" )ar

Nei" 12 NWathleen, international st%dies &a4or in #id-East st%dies, grad%atediplo&a in &igration and re%gee st%dies, A3(ria aces *r%tal crack-down, *%t it is

no genocide, polic(&ic, http?))www.polic(&ic.co&)inde/.php)de*ates)11O7s the crackdown in 3(ria has increased in a last-ditch e=ort to assert and &aintainpower *( 'resident Bashar al-7ssad, so too has international press%re and rhetoricor the 7ssad to step down. n an e=ort to highlight the horri9c, atrocio%s acts *eingco&&itted at the hands o the govern&ent, the word Agenocide is *eing %sed tohighlight the cri&es. This wo%ld *e a alse description o the events e&*attling theco%ntr(.F 6hile the s%ppression and &%rder o 3(rians is %naccepta*le on ever(level, the acts *eing co&&itted in 3(ria are &%ch &ore acc%ratel( descri*ed as warcri&es and cri&es against h%&anit(. <enocide is an atte&pted eradication o anentire gro%p o people, %s%all( along racial or ethnic lines. 3o&e wo%ld e/pand this de9nition

to incl%de religio%s, generational or even political lines. The ke(, however, *eing that it8s a ver( targeted atte&pt at

wiping o%t an entire entit( o people.5 6hat is happening in 3(ria is not this targeted. t isrando&.

9thni onit is inevita*"e

Horo)it 00 NDonald, a&es B. D%ke 'roessor o Law and 'olitical 3cience atD%ke $niversit(, Ethnic Groups in Confict, pgs. 3-4, http://books.google.com/books?

id=!"s#$%&'(C)pg=*+3)lpg=*+3)d=""notsolong#go,theproposition#s#d0#ncedth#tincre#sedpolitic#lconsciousness

"")source=bl)ots=122b0#5)sig=6678E9528(e%;bc%ui'5"-

)hl=en)s#=$)ei="<$<9CrE(>@gGA6oBB)0ed=CC5+E++D0=onep#ge)=""not"so"long"#go"C"the"proposition"#s"#d0#nced"th#t"incre#sed"politic#l"consciousness

"")=#lse F

Not so "on. a.o, the proposition )as advaned that inreased po"itia"

onsio$sness o$"d *e expeted to onso"idate the $nit# o states with

ho&ogeneo%s pop%lations and Astrain or destro( the cohesion o states with diverse pop%lations. t 7t the ti&e, the

o*servation see&ed evenhanded eno%gh, *%t in the interval it has *eoe "ear that e) states

are hoo.eneo$s and an# are deep"# divided. 9thni onit is a )or"d -

)ide phenoenon. The evidence is a*%ndant. The re$rrent hosti"ities in Northern

<re"and, Chad, and =e*anon seessionist )arare in 5$ra, 5an."adesh,

the 7$dan, Ni.eria, <ra, and the Phi"ippines the 7oa"i invasion o

9thiopia and the T$r>ish invasion o C#pr$s the ar# >i""in.s in U.anda

and 7#ria and the ass ivi"ian >i""in.s in <ndia-Pa>istan, 5$r$ndi, and

<ndonesia 7i>h terroris&, 5as$e terroris&, Corsian terroris&, Pa"estinian terroristhe exp$"sion o Chinese ro Iietna, o Ara>anese D$s"is ro 5$ra,

o Asians ro U.anda, o 5eninese ro the <vor# Coast and Ga*on

ethni riots in <ndia, 7ri =an>a, Da"a#sia, Jaire, G$#ana, and a sore o

other o$ntries+these co&prise onl( the &ost violent evidence o ethnic hostilit(. There are &an( less

dra&atic &aniestations. n co%ntr( ater co%ntr(, political parties and trade %nions are organiMed ethnicall(. Thereare &ove&ents to e/propriate ethnicall( di=erentiated traders and e/pel long-resident workers o oreign origin.7r&ed orces are re@%entl( actionaliMed along ethnic lines. 3eparatist reerenda in \%e*ec and the 3wiss %ra, apain%l division o Belgi%& into Mones or Fle&ings and 6alloons, the protests o Ber*ers in 7lgeria and o Croats in

http://www.policymic.com/index.php/debates/4151

http://books.google.com/books?id=Q82saX1HVQYC&pg=PA3&lpg=PA3&dq=%22not+so+long+ago,+the+proposition+was+advanced+that+increased+political+consciousness%22&source=bl&ots=JMNMbxvqa6&sig=99w_LEUQ6MLYjQe1Bbc1uiV62-Q&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2TXTUZCrEYSOygGW9oDQDw&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22not%20so%20long%20ago%2C%20the%20proposition%20was%20advanced%20that%20increased%20political%20consciousness%22&f=false







http://www.policymic.com/index.php/debates/4151






I%goslavia all serve to &ark the potent political orce o ethnicit( in the politics o *oth developing andind%strialiMed states.



A2 Prox# )ar! esa"ationDidd"e 9astern o$ntries have inentives to not esa"ate

insta*i"it#

Da"one# and Ta>e#h 6 _3%san #alone( and a( Take(h, ;)2)200>. 3enior

ellow or #iddle East 'olic( at the 3a*an Center or #iddle East 3t%dies at theBrookings nstit%tion and senior ellow or #iddle East 3t%dies at the Co%ncil onForeign elations. A6h( the ra@ 6ar 6on8t Eng%l the #ideast, nternational Herald Tri*%ne, http?))www.*rookings.ed%)opinions)200>)0;2ira@P&alone(.asp/O

Yet, the 3a%dis, ranians, ordanians, 3(rians, and others are ver( %nlikel( to go to wareither to protect their own sect or ethnic group or to prevent one country from gaining the upper hand in Iraq. Thereasons are airl( straightorward. First, #iddle Eastern leaders, like politicians everywhere, arepri&aril( interested in one thing: sel-preservation. Committing forces to Iraq is an inherently risky proposition, which,

i the conRict went *adl(, co%ld threaten do&estic political sta*ilit( . Moreover, most 7ra*ar&ies are geared toward regi&e protection rather than pro4ecting power and thus have little

capability for sending troops to Iraq. econd, there is cause for concern about the so!called blowback scenario in which "ihadis returning from Iraqdestabili#e their home countries, plunging the region into conflict. Middle $astern leaders are preparing for this possibility. %nlike in the &''(s, when

)rab fighters in the )fghan "ihad against the oviet %nion returned to )lgeria, $gypt and audi )rabia and became a source of instability, )rab securityservices are being vigilant about who is coming in and going from their countries. In the last month, the audi government has arrested appro*imately+(( people suspected of ties with militants. iyadh is also building a -(( kilometer wall along part of its frontier with Iraq in order to keep militants

out of the kingdom. Finall(, there is no precedent or 7ra* leaders to co&&it orces toconRicts in which the( are not directl( involved. he Iraqis and the audis did send small contingents to fight the

Israelis in &'/0 and &'1-, but they were either ineffective or never made it. In the &'-(s and &'0(s, )rab countries other than yria, which had acompelling interest in establishing its hegemony over 2ebanon, never committed forces either to protect the 2ebanese from the Israelis or from other2ebanese. he civil war in 2ebanon was regarded as someone else3s fight. Indeed, this is the way many leaders view the current situation in Iraq. oCairo, )mman and iyadh, the situation in Iraq is worrisome, but in the end it is an Iraqi and )merican fight. )s far as Iranian mullahs are concerned,they have long preferred to press their interests through pro*ies as opposed to direct engagement. )t a time when ehran has access and influence overpowerful hiite militias, a massive cross!border incursion is both unlikely and unnecessary. o Iraqis will remain locked in a sectarian and ethnicstruggle that outside powers may abet, but will remain within the borders of Iraq. he Middle $ast is a region both prone and accustomed to civil wars.

4ut given its e/perience with a&*ig%o%s conRicts, the region has also developed anint%itive a*ilit( to contain its civil strie and prevent local conRicts ro& envelopingthe entire #iddle East.



9K <D Updates



A/ - A2 4ishar.e PetitionThe $rrent or >i""s 9x-< e/etiveness The dishar.e

petition )i"" on"# pass *ea$se it di"$tes the e/etiveness o

the *i"" the ore *ipartisan the *i"" is, the "ess e/etive it is

GovTra> Nov 3 !The E/-& Bank is ne 3tep Closer to Being evived Thanks toa are 'arlia&entar( 'roced%re in the Ho%se! https?))&edi%&.co&)govtrack-insider)the-e/-i&-*ank-is-one-step-closer-to-*eing-revived-thanks-to-a-rare-parlia&entar(-proced%re-in-the-*e0ea;2ecV.hd/&>tkk

Ho%se De&ocrats and a portion o the ep%*lican Ho%se &a4orit( tea&ed %p last week to win an i&portant *attle inthe 9ght to *ring *ack the E/port-&port *ank, a @%asi-govern&ental agenc( that provides s%*sidies to oreign

co&panies *%(ing 7&erican goods.5 n #onda(, cto*er, 2;, 201, the *ipartisan coalitions%ccess%ll( %sed a rare proced%ral &ane%ver to call %p legislation rea%thoriMing theagenc( to the Ho%se Roor or consideration. The &ane%ver, known as a A&otion to discharge,

technicall( discharged a Ar%le ro& the %les Co&&ittee that esta*lishes ter&s the *ill will *e de*ated %nder. The9nal vote co%nt on the discharge was 2;1>>, with all Ho%se De&ocrats voting in avor along with ;2ep%*licans.5 The r%le and then the *ill itsel were then passed on T%esda(, 111, sending it to the 3enate,

which had passed a si&ilar &eas%re in %l(.5 The &ane%ver essentiall( *(passed Financial 3ervices Co&&itteeChair&an e* Hensarling N-TQO, who opposes the *ank and has prevented his co&&ittee ro& advancingrea%thoriMation legislation to the Ho%se Roor.5 The &ove to discharge the legislation o%t o co&&ittee wasspearheaded *( ep. 3teve Fincher N-T:O, and it is the 9rst s%ccess%l %se o a discharge petition since 2002, whenit was %sed *( a *ipartisan coalition or advancing the #cCain-Feingold ca&paign 9nance reor& *ill in the Ho%se.Fincher8s petition was signed *( a &a4orit( o Ho%se De&ocrats and 2 Ho%se ep%*licans, and it reached its targetn%&*er o 21 signat%res Nrepresenting a &a4orit( o Ho%se &e&*ersO on cto*er J, 4%st ho%rs ater it was oGciall(9led.5 The E/port-&port *ank is a govern&ent corporation that, ro& 1J %ntil %l( 201, s%*sidiMed oreignp%rchases o $.3. goods thro%gh special 9nancing, loan g%arantees, and ins%rance that wo%ld otherwise *e%navaila*le ro& private lenders. n recent (ears the *%lk o its s%*sidies have gone to oreign co&panies andgovern&ents p%rchasing e@%ip&ent ro& 4%st a ew large $.3. co&panies, incl%ding Boeing, Caterpillar, and

<eneral Electric.5 For (ears the *ank had *een a target o the let, *%t recentl(conservatives have *een the lead critics o the *ank , calling it a pri&e e/a&ple o coll%sion

*etween the govern&ent and private ind%str( that the( *elieve %nairl( distorts the &arket. Hensarling has

called the *ank Lron# apita"is,M and others have derided it as AThe Bank o Boeing. n %l( 1,

201, ater &onths o de*ate a&ong Hill ep%*licans, a%thoriMation or the E/port-&port *ank to

engage in new *%siness )as a""o)ed to oia""# s$nset .5 How the E/-& Bank 6o%ld

*e eor&ed5 Fincher8s *ill wo%ld rea%thoriMe the *ank %ntil 3epte&*er 0, 201J, and it

incl%des a n%&*er o reor&s to how the *ank operates, incl%ding the ollowing?5 +ed$in. the

&a/i&%& a%thoriMed a&o%nt o o%tstanding loans ro& [10 *illion to 130

*i""ion5 e@%iring the *ank to hold a larger a&o%nt in their reserves or covering potential

losses.5 ncreasing the loan s%pport a&o%nt that wo%ld trigger a re@%ire&ent or the *ank to p%*licl( release anenviron&ental i&pact state&ent on the p%rchase *eing 9nanced ro& [10 &illion to [2 &illion. 5

Esta*lishing ter& li&its or the 'resident o the Bank.5 Banning the *ank ro& discri&inating applications ors%pport *ased on the sector, ind%str(, or *%siness that the application concerns.5 Esta*lishing an Gce o Ethics

within the *ank to oversee ethics iss%es.5 Esta*lishing a Chie isk Gcer and a isk #anage&ent Co&&ittee tohelp assess, &anage, and &itigate risks that the *ank &a( *e e/posed to. 5 6hat8s :e/t 5 The rea%thoriMationlegislation still has to pass thro%gh the 3enate in order to *eco&e law and act%all( reopen the *ank or *%siness.$nort%natel( or E/port-&port Bank s%pporters, 3enate #a4orit( Leader #itch #cConnell N-WIO, who controlswhich *ills get considered on the Roor, is not in avor o renewing the *ank8s charter. 5 n Th%rsda(, 3en. #ariaCantwell ND-67O atte&pted to *ring the Ho%se8s rea%thoriMation *ill %p or i&&ediate passage *( %nani&o%s

consent, *%t she was *locked *( #cConnell.5 However, i soeho) there is a vote on

rea$thoriation + possi*l( in the or& o an a&end&ent to other legislation + it8s likel( that it co%ld

pass. 6hen the 3enate voted on an E/ port-& port rea%thoriMation *ill *ack in %l(, as



an a&end&ent to the highwa( *ill that never ended %p *eco&ing law, it passed with a 9li*%ster-proo; votes.



Contin$in. Appropriations At,

201(Passed

GovTra> Ot 1 AH.. >1J? Contin%ing 7ppropriations 7ct, 201;https?))www.govtrack.%s)congress)*ills)11)hr>1J0

Enacted + 3igned *( the 'resident on 3ep 0, 2015 This *ill was enacted ater*eing signed *( the 'resident on 3epte&*er 0, 201.



4ip Cap UQ



O*aa o$s7#ria strate.# and C"iate re.s th$p the disad and >i"" PC-

O*aa is o$sed on the Paris atta>s and C"iate

Ne.otiations, not doesti *i""s, eans no PC

Caa 11!30 - Ti&oth(, reporter or the Hill in 6ashington, !Cli&ate change, terroris& converge or *a&a!thehill.co&)polic()energ(-environ&ent)2;12-cli&ate-change-terroris&-converge-or-o*a&a

'resident *a&a tackled two o the *iggest challenges in his presidenc( d%ring the 9rst da( o

his para&o%nt trip to 'aris? Cli&ate change and the rise o the sla&ic 3tate . 5 *a&a8s 'aristrip re&ains centered aro%nd glo*al war&ing, and he la%nched the $nited :ations8 cli&ate s%&&it on

#onda( *( arg%ing orce%ll( that this is the Alast generation that can do so&ething a*o%t glo*al war&ing. 5 Iet the rise oterroris& + and the sla&ic 3tate8s attack on 'aris weeks earlier, ater *a&a hadalread( sched%led his trip + overshadowed *a&a8s words on cli&ate at ti&es,partic%larl( given the setting. 5 He and other leaders are &eeting in a cit( still recovering ro& the attacks less

than a &onth ago *( terrorists who killed 10 people.5 n an %nanno%nced deto%r ater landing, *a&a laid a rose at the site o the*loodiest o the attacks, and also &et with French 'resident Francois Hollande and %ssian 'resident "ladi&ir '%tin to disc%ss theinternational response. 5 The :ov. 1 attacks across 'aris have *een at the oreront o oGcials8 &inds leading %p to the 'aris

s%&&it and in the earl( &o&ents o it this week, and *a&a so%ght to tie the two iss%es together when he addressed dignitarieson #onda(. 5 A6e sal%te the people o 'aris or insisting this cr%cial conerence go on + an act o de9ance that proves nothing willdeter %s ro& *%ilding the %t%re we want or o%r children, *a&a said.5 A6hat greater re4ection o those who wo%ld tear down o%rworld than &arshaling o%r *est e=orts to save itY5 *a&a8s ti&e in 'aris will onl( cover two da(s. B%t the $nited :ations eventcaps (ears o *ack-and-orth negotiating *( world leaders desperate to coalesce aro%nd an international sol%tion to cli&ate changeand avoid the &istakes o 200J8s &eeting, which ended with little agree&ent.5 *a&a, one o nearl( 10 heads o state orgovern&ent at the event, %sed his speech *oth to t%rn %p the %rgenc( in the cli&ate 9ght and to show that the $nited 3tates isserio%s a*o%t its role in the *attle.5 A6e are the 9rst generation to eel the i&pact o cli&ate change, and the last generation thatcan do so&ething a*o%t it, he said at the kick-o= event.5 A8ve co&e here personall(, as the leader o the world8s largest econo&(and the second-largest e&itter, to sa( that the $nited 3tates o 7&erica not onl( recogniMes o%r role in creating this pro*le&, wee&*race o%r responsi*ilit( to do so&ething a*o%t it, he contin%ed.5 The threats o 33 and cli&ate change share &ore than ti&ingon *a&a8s agenda. His ad&inistration has repeatedl( said that action on cli&ate &eans action on terroris&, since the e=ects ocli&ate change can a&pli( terroris&, to the &ocker( and consternation o the <' and his opponents.5 A (o% take the insta*ilit(that we see in places like 7rica and the #iddle East, that can *e &agni9ed *( the e=ects o cli&ate change and e/tre&e dro%ghtand e/tre&e disr%ption, Ben hodes, a national sec%rit( adviser to *a&a, told reporters #onda( in 'aris.5 hodes stressed that

the two threats are ver( di=erent, *%t said *oth *ene9t ro& international action and 7&erican leadership.5 *a&a8sagenda on #onda( was peppered with *ilateral &eetings with other world leaders,

and *oth cli&ate and 33 were on the agenda. 5 Cli&ate change was the chieconcern or *a&a8s disc%ssions with ndia8s pri&e &inister, :arendra #odi, and Chinese 'resident Qi inping. 5

*a&a has o%nd s%ccess in *ringing China to the cli&ate change negotiating ta*le ,

with the two co%ntries + the largest single car*on e&itters in the world + agreeing to signi9cant greenho%se gas red%ction targets.Both leaders to%ted #onda( their cooperation on cli&ate change. 5 B%t 33 was on their agenda, as well, with *a&a o=eringcondolences or the recent e/ec%tion o a Chinese hostage *( the terror gro%p and calling on China to pla( a &ore active role intaking on 33. 5 A think it indicates the degree that this is a threat to all o o%r co%ntries, *a&a said. A7nd look orward todisc%ssing how China can pla( a greater role in addressing this crisis, and especiall( s%pporting a political transition in 3(ria, andassisting on h%&anitarian needs, *eca%se what8s clear is that China is invested in helping to resolve glo*al pro*le&s. 7nd all o %s,incl%ding the $nited 3tates, *ene9ts.5 D%ring a short &eeting with '%tin, the leaders oc%sed &ostl( on oreign polic(, 33 and3(ria and the recent tension *etween %ssia and T%rke(.5 *a&a, a 6hite Ho%se oGcial said, Astressed the i&perative o oc%sing&ilitar( e=orts against 3L, as o%r international coalition is doing, rather than targeting &oderate opposition.5 That8s in starkcontrast to '%tin8s position. The Wre&lin has, thro%gho%t 3(ria8s civil war and related events, gone to great lengths to deend thegovern&ent o 'resident Bashar al-7ssad and 9ght all opponents, incl%ding the ones the $nited 3tates and its allies want to prop %pto 9ght 33.5 n *oth cli&ate change and terroris&, *a&a is to crat international agree&ents while p%tting o%t political 9res at

ho&e. 5 +ep$*"ians have sharp"# ritiied O*aas strate.# on 7#ria, <7<7and the re$.ee risis the <s"ai 7tate has sp$rred on 5 Conservatives and ep%*licans

have said the $.3.-led coalition needs to do &ore + incl%ding potentiall( %sing gro%nd orces + to attack 33. *a&a and French'resident FranKois Hollande &et in 6ashington last week, *%t anno%nced onl( an intensi9cation o the c%rrent airstrike strateg(against the terror gro%ps. 5 The <' is also working to restrict the n%&*er o 3(rian re%gees the *a&a ad&inistration welco&esto the $.3., a p%sh that won large De&ocratic s%pport in the Ho%se in the wake o the 'aris attacks. 5 ep%*licans have also lookedto %nder&ine *a&a8s cli&ate agenda and send a warning to the rest o the world that his 'aris co&&it&ents aren8t per&anent.5

The Ho%se will vote this week on two 3enate-passed resol%tions to *lock the powerplant reg%lations that are at the heart *a&a8s cli&ate plan, and 3enate

ep%*licans have called or a vote on an( 9nal $: accord.5 O*aa is ertain to



veto the orer , and e/perts sa( the "atter is $nneessar# and $n"i>e"# . B%t

ep%*licans want to co&plicate the president8s diplo&atic e=orts, challeng ing hi&even as his &akes his case or cli&ate action on the world stage. 5 3enate #a4orit( Leader

#itch #cConnell N-W(.O said *a&a is *eing Airresponsi*le *( pro&ising world leaders e&issions c%ts *ased on policies + like thecli&ate r%le or power plants + that #cConnell *elieves are on shak( legal and political gro%nds.5 AThe president8s internationalnegotiating partners at that conerence sho%ld proceed with ca%tion *eore entering into an %nattaina*le deal with thisad&inistration, *eca%se co&&it&ents the president &akes there wo%ld rest on a ho%se o cards o his own &aking, #cConnell

wrote in a 6ashington 'ost opinion piece.

O*aa o$sed on dip"oa#, not doesti iss$es

Caa 11!30 - Ti&oth(, reporter or the Hill in 6ashington, !*a&a 4oins 1Jco%ntries to do%*le clean energ( %nding! thehill.co&)polic()energ(-environ&ent)2;11-o*a&a-4oins-1-co%ntries-to-do%*le-clean-energ(-%nding

'resident *a&a and 1J world leaders are co&&itted to do%*le the a&o%nt o&one( the( p%t into clean energ( research and develop&ent.5 The or&alanno%nce&ent will co&e #onda( at the $nited :ations8 cli&ate change conerencein 'aris, where leaders plan to wrap %p 9nal negotiations or a worldwide pact to9ght glo*al war&ing.5 The co&&it&ent wo%ld p%t the co%ntries8 %nding or low- or

Mero-car*on technologies like wind power and n%clear energ( at a*o%t [20 *illion in9ve (ears, with a*o%t hal o that a&o%nt spent *( the $nited 3tates, *a&aad&inistration oGcials said 3%nda(. 5 The 6hite Ho%se said the e=ort, d%**ed#ission nnovation, relies on research and develop&ent strategies that have provens%ccess%l in the $nited 3tates.5 AThis is an e=ort designed to accelerate cleanenerg( innovation and address glo*al cli&ate change, provide a=orda*le cleanenerg( to cons%&ers with a special oc%s on the developing world in creatingco&&ercial opport%nities or creating clean energ( in developing co%ntries, top*a&a adviser Brian Deese told reporters 3%nda( shortl( *eore the presidentdeparted or 'aris.5 The co%ntries involved, incl%ding ndia, BraMil, Den&ark, 3a%di7ra*ia and the $nited 3tates, represent a*o%t 0 percent o the world8s clean

energ( %nding *( govern&ents, and > percent o the car*on dio/ide e&issionsro& the power sector.5 Ane thing that we know clearl( is that the invest&ent in*asic research in clean energ( technologies needs to *e connected to privatecapital that8s willing to deplo( against the &ost pro&ising o those technologies andhelp *ring the& to scale, Deese said.5 Energ( 3ecretar( Ernest #oniM saidindivid%al co%ntries will oc%s on clean energ( e=orts that s%it their needs, likeenerg( eGcienc( or red%cing h(droR%orocar*ons.



O*aaare +epea"



A2 O*aaare +epea"<ts a"" rhetori, happens ever# #ear, and even i, O*aa )o$"d

veto it

9verett and Ha*er>orn 11!30 - B%rgess, congressional reporter or politico.

ennier, covered congress and local *%siness news or the 6ashington Ti&es.11)0)1 !o*a&acare repeal &a( 9nall( land on o*a&as desk!www.politico.co&)stor()201)11)o*a&acare-repeal-rep%*licans-congress-21;2>

7ter an all-o%t e=ort *( e&issaries and allies o 3enate #a4orit( Leader #itch#cConnell over the past two weeks to woo skeptical <' senators, 3enateep%*licans are lining %p *ehind a &ore aggressive plan to g%t 'resident Barack*a&as signat%re achieve&ent thro%gh a &a4orit(-vote *%dget &echanis& known

as reconciliation. O*aa, o o$rse, )o$"d veto the proposa" . B%t it wo%ld

allow ep%*licans to 9nall( sa( that Congress voted to overt%rn the health care lawthe(ve *een railing against since it was signed into law nearl( si/ (ears ago.

ep%*licans have voted &ore than &0 ties over the past 9ve (ears to repeal

*a&acare, with &ost o the atte&pts &ade in the Ho%se.

DConne""s attepts to O*aa are are tota" ai"$res ever#

tie

9as"e# 11!1( - ason, reporting on the Hill, !#itch #cConnell8s Bill To epeal*a&aCare s Collapsing n 7 Heap Fail%re!www.politic%s%sa.co&)201)11)1;)inept-&itch-&cconnells-*ill-repeal-o*a&acare-collapsing-heap-ail%re.ht&l

#itch #cConnell is so *ad at his o* that his atte&pt to repeal parts o

*a&aCare is t%rning into a tota" ai"$re.5 The Hill reported?5 3enate ep%*licans

are in danger o not *eing a*le to *ring a n *a&aCare repeal *ill to the Roor.5

3enate <' leaders had hoped to &ove a Ho%se-passed package repealing parts othe controversial healthcare reor& law *eore Thanksgiving. B%t that plan has *eenshelved a&id part( t%r&oil.5 3enate ep%*lican so%rces sa( the &eas%re , which hasenco%ntered opposition ro& conservatives and &oderates, al*eit or di=erentreasons, will have to wait %ntil ater Thanksgiving. 3o&e sa( it co%ld slide into ne/t(ear.5

No repea" and the vote a"read# happened

5o"ton 11!30 - 7le/ander, senior reporter in washington or the Hill, 11)0)1!3enate <' to &eet, disc%ss *a&aCare repeal!

thehill.co&)polic()healthcare)2;11-senate-gop-to-&eet-disc%ss-o*a&acare-repeal

3enate ep%*licans will &eet #onda( evening to disc%ss plans to pass an*a&aCare repeal package later this week. 5 3enate #a4orit( Leader #itch#cConnell N-W(.O is convening the &eeting to walk thro%gh the special *%dgetar(process known as reconciliation, which will allow ep%*licans to pass the packagewith a si&ple-&a4orit( vote.5 Controversial legislation %s%all( &%st overco&e a ;0-

vote threshold.5 B%t DConne"" a# not even have &1 votes *eca%se several



<' &oderates don8t like an added provision de%nding 'lanned 'arenthood + andseveral conservatives think the core *ill doesn8t go ar eno%gh to repeal*a&aCare.5 A6e8re regro%ping with the e/pectation that were &oving this weekon it, said a 3enate <' aide, who descri*ed the &eeting as Aa 9nal get-togetherto 9nd o%t where we are so we can &ove with *a&aCare repeal.5 all goes well

at the special &eeting, sched%led ater a ?0 p.&. vote, the 3enate is likel( tovote ;ednesda# on a &otion to proceed to the package.5



O*aaare +epea"O*aaare +epea" attepts th$p

5o"ton 11!30 - 7le/ander, senior reporter in washington or the Hill, 11)0)1!3enate <' sees wa( orward or *a&aCare repeal!

thehill.co&)ho&enews)senate)2;1>-senate-gop-sees-wa(-orward-or-o*a&acare-repeal

3enate ep%*lican leaders are &oving ahead with an *a&aCare repeal package,ca%tio%sl( opti&istic the( have the 1 votes needed to pass it. 5 3enate #a4orit(Leader #itch #cConnell N-W(.O appeared to sec%re the s%pport o conservatives#onda( evening when he %nveiled an a&end&ent that wo%ld strengthen a Ho%se-passed repeal *ill *( phasing o%t the e/pansion o #edicaid over two (ears. 5

#e&*ers o the <' leadership tea& e/pressed con9dence #onda( that the( wo%ldsend the package to 'resident *a&a8s desk.5 A think we8ve o%nd a prett( goodspot so 8& opti&istic, said 3enate ep%*lican 6hip ohn Corn(n NTe/asO. A6e aregoing to do &ore, repeal &ore o *a&aCare.5 A think when p%sh co&es to shove

we8ll *e there, said 3en. ohn Th%ne N3.D.O, chair&an o the 3enate ep%*licanconerence.5 3ens. Ted Cr%M N-Te/asO and #arco %*io N-Fla.O, who are r%nning orpresident, and 3en. #ike Lee N-$tahO vowed to oppose the Ho%se version o the*a&aCare repeal *ill or not going ar eno%gh, incl%ding leaving the #edicaide/pansion intact.5 3o&e &ainstrea& and &oderate ep%*licans initiall( *alked atthe prospect o eli&inating the e/pansion o #edicaid, which has *een e&*raced *(0 states.5 ne s%ch law&aker, 3en. 3helle( #oore Capito N-6."a.O, said the two-(ear transition wo%ld give Congress and the states ti&e to co&e %p with areplace&ent plan.5 A6e eel prett( good, she said. At8s a two-(ear transitionalperiod to &ove to a replace&ent vehicle so we can co&e %p with a *etter plan. 5

7nother <' senator representing a state that has adopted the #edicaid e/pansion,

who re@%ested anon(&it(, said he wo%ld 9rst check with his ho&e-state8s governor*eore &aking a decision on how to vote.5 7 3enate <' leadership aide said otherchanges + in addition to the #edicaid repeal + will *e proposed to strengthen theHo%se *ill.5 #cConnell convened a special &eeting o the ep%*lican conerence inthe 3tro& Th%r&ond oo& #onda( evening to disc%ss the legislation and thespecial *%dgetar( process to pass it with a si&ple &a4orit( instead o the ;0nor&all( re@%ired o controversial legislation.5 Law&akers sa( the( e/pect to vote6ednesda( on a &otion to *egin 20 ho%rs o de*ate, setting %p a series o votes ona&end&ents and 9nal passage + known as a vote-a-ra&a + or Th%rsda(.5 A thinkwe8ll do it this week. 6ednesda( will pro*a*l( *e that vote, said 3en. ohnn(sakson N-<a.O, reerring to the vote on the &otion to proceed.5 #cConnell can

a=ord onl( three deections ro& his -person conerence and has to walk a 9neline *etween a hand%l o &oderates and conservatives dissatis9ed with thepackage, which the Ho%se approved in cto*er and is co&ing straight to the 3enateRoor.5 Three <' centrists, 3ens. #ark Wirk Nll.O, 3%san Collins N#aineO and Lisa#%rkowski N7laskaO oppose a provision in the package de%nding 'lanned'arenthood.5 7ccording to a so%rce a&iliar with the internal deli*erations, 3enate<' leaders had initiall( signaled to the& that the parlia&entarian, EliMa*eth#acDono%gh, wo%ld likel( r%le it co%ldn8t *e incl%ded *%t, %ne/pectedl(, she said it



was W.5 Collins on #onda( declined to sa( how she wo%ld vote. 5 Cr%M and %*io&issed #onda(8s &eeting, *%t Lee said he was enco%raged *( the proposedchanges to the Ho%se package, according to a 3enate <' aide.5 The Ho%se&eas%re repeals the individ%al and e&plo(er &andates, which re@%ire people andlarge-eno%gh co&panies to *%( and o=er health ins%rance. 5 t also repeals the

!Cadillac ta/! on e/pensive health plans and the &edical device ta/ *%t leaves inplace *illions o dollars in ta/ increases as well as e/pensive s%*sidies or peoplewho *%( ins%rance thro%gh govern&ent-r%n e/changes.5 Conservatives have calledor e/panding the scope to incl%de a repeal o the #edicaid e/pansion, which 0states have adopted, according to a tall( *( the Waiser Fa&il( Fo%ndation.5 B%tep%*licans ro& *attlegro%nd states acing to%gh re-elections said recentl( the(wanted to leave the e/pansion in place, earing a repeal co%ld leave their governorswith *ig *ills otherwise. 5 llinois, :ew Ha&pshire, hio and 'enns(lvania are a&ongthose that have e&*raced the #edicaid e/pansion, which covers ho%seholdsearning %p to 1 percent o the ederal povert( level.5 The Ho%se *ill ran intoparlia&entar( tro%*le last &onth when #acDono%gh r%led the provisions repealingthe individ%al and e&plo(er &andates does not pass the B(rd %le, the lit&%s testor deciding what can *e passed with 1 votes %nder the special process known asreconciliation.5 3enate <' leaders will tr( get aro%nd the potential h%rdle *(proposing a&end&ent lang%age that wo%ld eli&inating the penalties or ailing toco&pl( with the &andates, according to a senator who attended the &eeting. 5

A6e8ll do what the ad&inistration did and take awa( the penalt(, said thelaw&aker, reerring to e/ec%tive actions taken *( the president.5 Corn(n toldreporters that leaders are still in talks with #acDono%gh a*o%t what provisions needto *e changed to co&pl( with the B(rd %le.5 A6e8re contin%ing that conversation,he said.

The dead"ine is this )ee>

5o"ton 11!30 - 7le/ander, senior reporter in washington or the Hill, 11)0)1!3enate <' to &eet, disc%ss *a&aCare repeal!thehill.co&)polic()healthcare)2;11-senate-gop-to-&eet-disc%ss-o*a&acare-repeal

3enate ep%*licans will &eet #onda( evening to disc%ss plans to pass an

*a&aCare repeal package "ater this )ee> .5 3enate #a4orit( Leader #itch

DConne"" N-W(.O is convening the &eeting to walk thro%gh the special *%dgetar(

process known as reconciliation, which will allow ep%*licans to pass the packagewith a si&ple-&a4orit( vote.5 Controversial legislation %s%all( &%st overco&e a ;0-vote threshold.5

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