Here’s a selection of articles the Federal Relations team is enjoying this week.
FAFSA – What is an initial barrier to enter college? The FASFA form. There is a major push right now to eliminate or simplify it. Read more at the New York Times.
Biden 2016? – From deathbed promises to a dearth of excitement, Vice President Joe Biden is thinking of throwing his hat in the ring for the Presidency in 2016. With Hillary considered the only viable candidate thus far, Biden’s run could shake up and divide the Democratic political operative talent. Read more at Politico.
Obama Foundation – With the Obama Administration about to hit its twilight, the Obamas and the Obama Foundation look forward to what’s next for life after the presidency, and Marty Nesbitt is helping shape that next step. Read more at Politico.
Selfie Line Too Far – Selfies are everywhere on the internet, as a way to celebrate life and milestones, like getting engaged, that great trip to the lake, or your first time voting. Recently the federal courts have decided to look into the legality of taking a selfie in the voting booth and if taking and posting that picture, particularly of marked ballots, is a constitutionally protected form of speech and political expression. Read more at the New York Times.
Dumbfounding – Donald Trump is a conundrum wrapped in a quandary for the political class. Politicos don’t know how to deal with Trump, who was supposed to be a flash-in-the-pan candidate and has done everything wrong…but is still polling at over 20 percent. Read more at The Hill.
You Can’t Do That In Politics – More over, Trump can get away with things, like saying he’d buy the Chinese president McDonalds, that other candidates can not do. Scott Walker recently echoed Trump’s China comments and is getting slammed in Iowa. Read more at the Des Moines Register.
Unionize – The LA Times has an editorial on college athletes unionizing in the wake of the NLRB decision dismissing the Northwestern football player’s case. Read the op-ed here.
Tax the Rich – One little known believe of Donald Trump is that the rich should pay more taxes. It’s something Trump said Wednesday to Bloomberg. Read the it at Bloomberg. Read about it at the Washington Post.
Twitter Attack! – Nate Silver has broken down the Trump twitter attacks and attackers. Read more at 538.
10 Years – It’s been 10 years since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. While rebuilding both infrastructure and community has been challenging and controversial, New Orleans is and is not what it once was and it never will be again. Read more at ESPN.
Seattle Hangover – NFL teams play the Seattle Seahawks, and then they lose. Read more at Grantland.