Questioning the Deputy Attorney General About Special Counsel
Dear Friend,
This week, I questioned the deputy attorney general about his choice of Robert Mueller to investigate possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and about the president's attacks on the FBI, spoke out about the need to protect special counsel from unwarranted firings, introduced the Stop Underrides Act to prevent needless car-under-truck accidents, warned about Republican efforts to repeal the individual mandate from the Affordable Care Act, condemned the Federal Communications Commission repeal of internet neutrality rules, noted Friday's deadline for signing up for Healthcare.gov, and offered tips for having a stress-free holiday season. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me onTwitter and Facebook to see more updates as they happen.
Questioning the Deputy Attorney General About Special Counsel
Trying to Protect Special Counsel
Introducing the Stop Truck Underrides Act
Warning About the Impact of Removing the Individual Mandate
Condemning the FCC Decision Ending Internet Neutrality
Calling Attention to Friday's Deadline for Healthcare.gov
2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available
Weekly Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Questioning the Deputy Attorney General About Special Counsel
On Wednesday, I agreed with the Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's assessment that Special Counsel Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, was an "ideal choice" for looking into possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia. See our exchange here.
I noted that Mueller had been the unanimous choice for FBI director under both Republican and Democratic presidents but that now that he's investigating Trump, Mueller's detractors are comparing the FBI to the KGB and saying it is "in tatters," which is repugnant to me, and wrong. Rosenstein said that in his experience, FBI agents are among the nation's finest public servants.
Trying to Protect Special Counsel
On Thursday, I joined colleagues on the House floor urging passage of a bill to protect the current and any future special counsels from firings without cause. See my remarks here. I remain concerned that the president will fire the current special counsel and have urged my colleagues to have a legislative mechanism in place should he do so.
Introducing the Stop Truck Underrides Act
On Tuesday, I introduced the Stop Underrides Act with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Marco Rubio of Florida, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier of California and families of truck underride accident victims. This is the type of legislation that does not have deep-pocket support; it doesn't have interest groups with money to push it and to support it. But it aims at improving public safety and I strongly advocate for it. I thanked those who came to Washington representing families who have suffered and lost loved ones, particularly Laurie and Randy Higginbotham of Memphis who lost their son Michael in 2014when he ran into a tractor trailer that was making an illegal U-turn.
Warning About the Impact of Removing the Individual Mandate
On Monday, The Memphis Daily News ran my opinion-editorial on the impact of the Republican plan to remove the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act as part of its tax scam. The tax plan is advertised as a tax cut for the middle class but is anything but. In actuality, this bill is a scam to benefit the ultra-wealthy and corporate interests. Worse yet, it is a health care bill disguised as a tax bill, and a not very well thought-out one at that. If passed, this bill would repeal the individual mandate, a critical component of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). I find that outrageous.
If it passes as proposed, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) have estimated that by 2027, there will be 13 million fewer insured Americans. The Center for American Progress estimates that by 2025, there will be 15,200 fewer Memphians with health insurance. Repealing the individual mandate will increase premiums and result in some areas having no health insurance options at all. The policy is ill-conceived, unravels our nation's health care system and ultimately hurts the most vulnerable among us.
Condemning the FCC Decision Ending Internet Neutrality
Also Thursday, I reiterated my concern for the threat to democratic dissent after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 along party lines to end the 2015 Open Internet Rule. The commission's decision will allow tiered levels of internet access and permit companies to slow or speed up access to websites based on cost. The previous policy was a consumer-friendly approach to equal access. My office continues to be deluged with calls and letters backing popular and fair internet neutrality and I will now carefully consider legislative options to restore it.
You can read my thoughts on the FCC plan to repeal net neutrality in The Memphis Flyer here.
Calling Attention to December 15 -- Today -- deadline to Sign Up for Healthcare.com
Open enrollment for Healthcare.gov ("The Affordable Care Act") runs only through December 15 – today. I have been utilizing every possible means to make my constituents aware that the time available to sign up has been sharply reduced this year and is six weeks shorter than last year's enrollment period. Press accounts predict that millions fewer may be insured next year thanks in part to Trump administration actions, such as cutting funding for "navigators" to help potential enrollees with questions. For more information on signing up for health care, see Healthcare.gov.
2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Calendars Are Available
My office currently has a limited number of 2018 U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars available. If you would like to receive a calendar, please complete this form on my website. Due to the rules of the House, I am only able to mail calendars to residents of Tennessee's 9th District. Please feel free to share this email with other residents of the 9th District who may be interested in receiving one but who do not receive my eNewsletter.
Each week, I share a health tip in the hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle for residents of the 9thCongressional District. As always, it is best to check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine or lifestyle.
If this time of year has you both busy and a bit frazzled, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has ten recommendations for keeping you calm and stress-free. For example, physical activity increases endorphin levels, making you feel better. See all of the tips here.
"A function of free speech under our system of government is to invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it induces a condition of unrest, creates dissatisfaction with conditions as they are, or even stirs people to anger . . . That is why freedom of speech, though not absolute . . . , is nevertheless protected against censorship or punishment, unless shown likely to produce a clear and present danger of a serious substantive evil that rises far above public inconvenience, annoyance, or unrest." – Justice William O. Douglas, Terminiello v. Chicago (1949)
As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress