Welcome to The WonkLine, a daily 9:30 a.m. roundup of the latest news about health care, the economy, national security, immigration and climate policy. This is what we’re reading. Tell us what you found in the comments section below. You can also follow The Wonk Room on Twitter.
National Security
Following derisive criticisms of the Obama administration in an interview with Rolling Stone, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, will meet with President Obama and Vice President Biden tomorrow “to explain to the Pentagon and the commander in chief his quotes in the piece.”
A congressional investigation revealed yesterday that private security contractors protecting U.S. supply convoys in Afghanistan “are paying millions of dollars a week in ‘passage bribes’ to the Taliban and other insurgent groups to travel along Afghan roads,” which are then reimbursed by the U.S. government.
In a 6-3 decision yesterday, the Supreme Court “upheld a law against providing ‘material support’ to terrorist groups despite constitutional objections.”
Economy
According to a new report from the Center for Responsible Lending, “African American and Latino home borrowers — regardless of their income — were much more likely to lose their homes to foreclosure than non-Hispanic whites during the ongoing housing crisis.”
The House has reportedly agreed to accept a Senate plan to place a new consumer protection agency inside of the Federal Reserve, backing down from its earlier support for setting up a stand-alone agency.
Since the Obama administration launched the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), 340,000 troubled homeowners have received permanent mortgage modifications while 436,000 have started the program but dropped out.
Health Care
“The American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals and a host of other provider groups on Monday sent key Senate leaders a letter endorsing the nomination of Donald Berwick to the top post at the CMS.”
“High-deductible health plans and the health savings accounts (HSAs) that link to them are becoming a familiar fixture on the insurance landscape, even though they get mixed reviews from many consumers and health-policy experts.”
“Missouri could become the fifth state to opt out of at least some of the abortion funding” under the new health law.
Immigration
Yesterday, voters in Fremont, NE approved a ban on hiring or renting property to undocumented immigrants — though an expected court challenge could keep the measure from ever taking effect.
Forty California state lawmakers plan to introduce a resolution this week that urges the state to “cease California investments in Arizona.”
The Obama administration plans to increase fees for immigration documents by about 10 percent prompted the New York Times to write, “immigration has done so much to make the country thrive and prosper, yet the American people are unwilling to pay for it.”
Climate Change
“Warming winters will throw into confusion old orders of species, nurturing unexpected predators and weakening age-old relationships that helped form forests,” dooming New England’s stately oaks and hemlocks.
“Flooding caused by heavy rains killed at least 24 people, destroying homes and washing out roads” in Ghana, and “many others were feared dead as search and rescue crews continued getting reports of missing people following two days of downpours.”
“President Barack Obama will try to narrow divides that have stalled energy legislation on Capitol Hill when he meets with a bipartisan group of senators Wednesday,” including Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), then “Senate Democrats will discuss an energy strategy as a caucus Thursday.”
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