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.
Immigration
Retired Gen. Colin Powell, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, “we’ve got to invest in education. We should use the DREAM Act as one way to do it.”
Five of the eight Senate Democrats who blocked an immigration bill in 2007 say they are undecided on how to vote on the measure this week.
Hollywood star Jessica Alba has slammed Arizona’s SB-1070, branding the legislation “a very racist, foolish law“.
Health Care
“The Obama administration this week plans to revive its pitch for the health-care overhaul, hoping that a slate of consumer-friendly provisions will boost public support before midterm elections.”
“Republicans are promising to repeal and replace President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul if they win control of Congress. But with what?”
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine said the health care reform legislation “is beneficial to the party’s chances this November as a whole.”
Climate Change
UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon ” has called for an urgent global response to the Pakistan flood crisisL’a:” including a plea for $2 billion in aid, “calling it the most complex natural disaster in the history of the world organization.”
As it continues to be the hottest year ever recorded, Republicans continue to deny the existence of global warming pollution: “I think the climate is changing, but I don’t believe humans are causing that change to the extent that’s been in the news,” said Cory Gardner, a Colorado candidate.
“After months of confusion and contradictory reports, the Obama administration has at last embarked on a systematic effort involving some of the nation’s top scientists to measure the amount of oil remaining in the Gulf of Mexico and its potential impact on marine life.”
Economy
The Hill reports that “at least seven Democrats in battleground states say they support or could support extending tax breaks for families who make more than $250,000,” putting them at odds with the Obama administration.
“The Federal Reserve is likely to spend its policy meeting on Tuesday weighing the merits of additional steps to stimulate the economy, while deferring some major decisions until later this year,” the New York Times reports.
The Washington Post looks at families who are struggling to build nest eggs in the wake of the Great Recession.
National Security
“Sarah Shourd, one of three American hikers jailed for more than a year in Iran, returned to the United States on Sunday, saying she was ‘one-third free’ and appealed to Iran to release her fiancé and another American friend.”
“The administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush offered to absorb 100,000 Palestinian refugees if Israel and the Palestinians reached a peace deal, Ehud Olmert said.”
“Afghan authorities said Sunday that they recovered the bodies of three election workers kidnapped Saturday during parliamentary balloting marked by violence and reports of widespread fraud.”
Previous in TP Politics
By clicking and submitting a comment I acknowledge the ThinkProgress Privacy Policy and agree to the ThinkProgress Terms of Use. I understand that my comments are also being governed by Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, or Hotmail’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policies as applicable, which can be found here.