Progressive Breakfast: Tracking the Progress of the Progressive Agenda


Dems feeling heat from labor over fast track. Politico:“…Democratic members and staffers who spoke under the condition of anonymity related a range of threats from local and national labor groups to pressure Democrats into opposing Obama. Permanently cut off campaign donations. Pour money into opponents’ coffers instead. Run television ads. Launch protests … primaries from the left.”

Midwest Republicans take risk voting for fast track. Roll Call:“A trio of Rust Belt Senate Republicans — Ohio’s Portman, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania — ended up voting for Trade Promotion Authority, backing Obama, Republican leadership and a top priority of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce … In states where manufacturing is a major part of the economy — and the scars from globalization dot the countryside — trade bills can be particularly toxic.”

Breakfast Sides

“Greece Likely to Miss May Deal Deadline” reports Bloomberg:“Greece is nowhere close to an agreement with the European Commission and International Monetary Fund, missing a target for a deal by the end of May set last week by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private negotiations. Underscoring how far apart they remain, creditors don’t believe the Greek budget numbers add up, two people said.”

Immigration activists warn GOP about squelching Obama’s executive actions:“The 2-1 decision by a panel of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday was a victory for opponents of Obama’s plan to extend deportation protection … It also probably will push the court case stemming from a suit by 26 states into the middle of the 2016 presidential campaign … Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, [said for] Hispanics, ‘It’s not going to be a debate about some abstract constitutional principle.’”

Politico investigates how enviros are beating back coal:“Beyond Coal isn’t the stereotypical Sierra Club campaign … it usually wins by arguing that ditching coal will save ratepayers money … Sierra Club finds itself in foxholes with big-box stores, manufacturers and other business interests, fighting coal upgrades that would jack up electricity bills, pushing for cheaper renewables and energy efficiency instead.”