December 15, 2017 10:58 AM UTC

Get More Smarter on Friday (December 15)

• 9 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

Remember, friends: Today is the last day to purchase health insurance on the individual market if you want coverage to begin on January 1. It’s time to Get More Smarter. If you think we missed something important, please include the link in the comments below (here’s a good example). If you are more of a visual learner, check out The Get More Smarter Show.

TOP OF MIND TODAY…

► Congressional Republicans have finalized language in their tax plan, but as CNN reports, it is unclear whether or not they have the votes to win final passage of the newly-drafted legislation:

The language was finalized late Thursday night. Now GOP leaders have to make 100% sure they’ve got the votes, because by around noon Friday, there can be no more changes. The bill text should be released later Friday evening, probably around 5:30 p.m.

You read that correctly — once the conferees sign the report, as they’re scheduled to do this morning — it’s locked in. There are no last minute deals, or amendments, or fixes, or tweaks. That’s it.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said he was a “no,” and Utah Sen. Mike Lee said he was an undecided. Most senior Republican aides scoffed at the idea that one or both would vote to take down what Republicans view as a cornerstone domestic achievement — the first of their year running Washington. But Rubio’s red line Thursday genuinely surprised Republican leaders.

► Governor John Hickenlooper has selected University of Colorado law professor Melissa Hart to fill a vacancy on the Colorado Supreme Court.

► The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) overturned “net neutrality” rules on Thursday in a narrow 3-2 vote. Here’s how Colorado’s Congressional delegation stands on the decision. Colorado technology leaders have different opinions on what happens next.

► You need to read this story from the Washington Post about President Trump’s horrifying blind spot on the Russian election hacking allegations:

Nearly a year into his presidency, Trump continues to reject the evidence that Russia waged an assault on a pillar of American democracy and supported his run for the White House.

“The result is without obvious parallel in US history, a situation in which the personal insecurities of the president — and his refusal to accept what even many in his administration regard as objective reality — have impaired the government’s response to a national security threat. The repercussions radiate across the government.”

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► Another one of President Trump’s judicial nominees is under fire for not really knowing much about, you know, the law. From the Washington Post:

A clip of one of President Trump’s federal judicial nominees struggling to answer rudimentary questions about the law garnered well more than 1 million views in a matter of hours on Thursday night and stoked speculation that another of the president’s nominations might get derailed.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) shared footage of Matthew Petersen, a nominee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, getting quizzed by Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-La.) on basic aspects of trial procedure during his appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

For five painfully awkward minutes, Petersen, a member of the Federal Election Commission and a lawyer with no trial experience, fumbled with Kennedy’s questions, visibly uncomfortable as the lawmaker pressed him about how things work in a federal courtroom.

It really would be difficult to find a nominee for A DISTRICT COURT SEAT that was more unqualified than Matthew Petersen.

► Senator Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) is being called out for his positions opposing the Clean Air Act.

► State Rep. Steve Lebsock appears to be absolutely determined to reign as one of the state’s most-despised lawmakers.

► This attempt at spin by Democrat Donna Lynne’s gubernatorial campaign is more than a little silly.

► Republican state Rep. Lori Saine will not be charged with a crime for trying to take a loaded handgun through airport security at DIA.

► House Speaker Paul Ryan appears to be planning his exit from Congress in 2018.

► Colorado Congressional Members are pushing for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to relocate its main office from Washington D.C. to Colorado.

► This fundraiser in Telluride might not be the best idea for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Johnston.

Your Daily Dose Of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

► Check out these pictures of President Trump absolutely refusing to even make eye contact with Attorney General Jeff Sessions. 

► President Trump refuses to rule out pardoning former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who is working with special prosecutor Robert Mueller after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI. 

ICYMI

► Newspapers across the country are starting to call for an end to the Trump Presidency. Will the Denver Post follow suit?

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