freebeacon--2020-01-28--Dem Voters Don’t Want to Defund Charter Schools

A majority of Democratic primary voters , as well as black and Latino voters , say they would be less likely to vote for a 2020 contender who would stop funding charter schools .
This finding comes from the sixth annual National School Choice Poll , a survey commissioned by the American Federation for Children , a pro-charters lobbying organization .
Surveying 1,275 likely voters , the poll found that 58 percent of respondents would be less likely to support a candidate who wants to eliminate federal charter school funding .
That figure includes 56 percent of Democratic voters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respondents and 65 percent of Latino respondents .
The poll 's conclusion may prove problematic for 2020 Democrats who have been critical of charter schools and the school choice movement .
In particular , Sens .
Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
and Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) have sought to differentiate themselves from the pack in their vociferousness for defunding charter schools , a move unlikely to win them praise within the party 's rank and file .
The poll found that voters generally support more choices in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they support `` school choice '' —meaning giving `` parents the right to use the tax dollars designated for their child ’ s education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs '' —majorities across ages and racial groups are in favor , with Latinos particularly in support at 82 percent .
Even a majority of Democrats—57 percent—say they like school choice ; by comparison , 69 percent of independents and 84 percent of Republicans like the idea .
Voters are also generally sympathetic to policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Education freedom scholarships , '' a proposal pushed by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos that would make private scholarship contributions tax-deductible , commands the support of nearly four-in-five voters .
By contrast , a minority of parents ( 47 percent ) say they would prefer to send their child to their district public school , while 50 percent would prefer a different option .
The finding that defunding charters is a negative among Democrats , and particularly minority voters , confirms the findings of similar polling released last May .
As the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a poll from pro-school-reform journal Education Next found that while a minority of Democrats supported charters in general , a majority of both black and Hispanic Democrats supported the schools .
Notably , public charter schools have higher shares of black and Hispanic students than their noncharter counterparts , enrolling 27 percent black students and 26 percent Hispanic students , compared with 15 percent and 22 percent in the general public school system .
In other words , any Democratic distaste for charters may be driven by those white Democrats who use them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is apparent that going after federal funding of charter schools is politically problematic for Democrats .
Nonetheless , occupants of the 2020 primary 's progressive lane have done just that .
In May , Sanders called for a ban on federal funding of for-profit charters , as well as a moratorium on the funding of any new charters , for-profit or not .
Warren—known for lying about sending her son to private school—has promised to do the same , an idea that Education Week labeled `` very farfetched . ''
Other 2020 frontrunners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both former vice president Joe Biden and former South Bend , Ind.
, mayor Pete Buttigieg have backed an end to federal funding of for-profit charters ; neither , however , has gone so far as to support the Sanders-Warren moratorium .

A majority of Democratic primary voters, as well as black and Latino voters, say they would be less likely to vote for a 2020 contender who would stop funding charter schools.
This finding comes from the sixth annual National School Choice Poll, a survey commissioned by the American Federation for Children, a pro-charters lobbying organization. Surveying 1,275 likely voters, the poll found that 58 percent of respondents would be less likely to support a candidate who wants to eliminate federal charter school funding. That figure includes 56 percent of Democratic voters, as well as 62 percent of black respondents and 65 percent of Latino respondents.
The poll's conclusion may prove problematic for 2020 Democrats who have been critical of charter schools and the school choice movement. In particular, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) have sought to differentiate themselves from the pack in their vociferousness for defunding charter schools, a move unlikely to win them praise within the party's rank and file.
The poll found that voters generally support more choices in their educational arrangements. When asked if they support "school choice"—meaning giving "parents the right to use the tax dollars designated for their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs"—majorities across ages and racial groups are in favor, with Latinos particularly in support at 82 percent. Even a majority of Democrats—57 percent—say they like school choice; by comparison, 69 percent of independents and 84 percent of Republicans like the idea.
Voters are also generally sympathetic to policies that increase access to choice. "Education freedom scholarships," a proposal pushed by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos that would make private scholarship contributions tax-deductible, commands the support of nearly four-in-five voters. By contrast, a minority of parents (47 percent) say they would prefer to send their child to their district public school, while 50 percent would prefer a different option.
The finding that defunding charters is a negative among Democrats, and particularly minority voters, confirms the findings of similar polling released last May. As the Washington Free Beacon reported at the time, a poll from pro-school-reform journal Education Next found that while a minority of Democrats supported charters in general, a majority of both black and Hispanic Democrats supported the schools.
Notably, public charter schools have higher shares of black and Hispanic students than their noncharter counterparts, enrolling 27 percent black students and 26 percent Hispanic students, compared with 15 percent and 22 percent in the general public school system. In other words, any Democratic distaste for charters may be driven by those white Democrats who use them least.
In both polls, it is apparent that going after federal funding of charter schools is politically problematic for Democrats. Nonetheless, occupants of the 2020 primary's progressive lane have done just that. In May, Sanders called for a ban on federal funding of for-profit charters, as well as a moratorium on the funding of any new charters, for-profit or not. Warren—known for lying about sending her son to private school—has promised to do the same, an idea that Education Week labeled "very farfetched."
Other 2020 frontrunners have been similarly skeptical of charters. Both former vice president Joe Biden and former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg have backed an end to federal funding of for-profit charters; neither, however, has gone so far as to support the Sanders-Warren moratorium.


freebeacon--2020-01-28--Bernie the Nasty Campaigner

Bernie the Nasty Campaigner

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) has his fair share of critics within the Democratic Party .
Many lament his tendency to surround himself with unsavory characters and the vile antics of his devoted internet trolls—the `` Bernie Bros. '' Some , including Sanders 's 2016 rival Hillary Clinton , have even accused Sanders of supporting a noxious `` culture '' of sexism and bullying among his supporters .
For once , Clinton has a point .
The fish rots from the head , as they say , and Sanders has a long history of waging nasty attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially aggressive when those opponents are members of the Democratic Party , to which—his critics are quick to point out—Sanders does not technically belong .
Clinton decried Sanders 's hostility to Democrats in What Happened , her memoir about the 2016 campaign .
`` He did n't get into the race to make sure a Democrat won the White House , he got in to disrupt the Democratic Party , '' she wrote of her former primary opponent .
The former secretary of state recently doubled down on the criticism , saying `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to commit to endorsing Sanders if he wins the Democratic nomination .
`` I 'm not going to go there yet , '' Clinton said when asked about a potential endorsement .
`` It 's his online Bernie Bros and their relentless attacks on lots of his competitors , particularly the women .
And I really hope people are paying attention to that because it should be worrisome that he has permitted this culture—not only permitted , [ he ] seems to really be very much supporting it . ''
Clinton is far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders fans of bullying .
The New York Times on Monday published an extensive report on Sanders 's `` internet army '' and the `` culture '' to which Clinton referred .
For some of Sanders 's critics , failing to publicly embrace the socialist senator can have serious consequences : Bakari Sellers , a former South Carolina state legislator who served as a campaign surrogate for Sen. Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) , told the Times that criticizing Bernie online almost inevitably resulted in `` blowback '' of a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature .
Sanders 's critics also argue that the senator 's consistent failure to rein in these virulent fans amounts to acquiescence .
`` There are always people who say things that are problematic .
It 's not that that is unique to Bernie 's campaign , '' added Jess Morales Rocketto , a Democratic strategist who worked for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton .
`` What 's unique is it is a consistent problem in the universe of Bernie Sanders . ''
In a tweet responding to the Times article , Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the criticism of Sanders .
`` I 've received death threats , rape threats , people have talked about me hanging from a meat hook , '' she said .
`` All stuff that never happened before 2015 .
And does n't even happen with MAGA . ''
All these critics may be on to something .
Despite Sanders 's attempts to condemn `` bullying and harassment of any kind and in any space , '' disavowing the supposedly rogue sentiments of zealous supporters has become something of a habit for the senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after one of his surrogates—progressive lawyer Zephyr Teachout—wrote an op-ed accusing former vice president Joe Biden of representing `` the transactional , grossly corrupt culture in Washington that long precedes Trump . ''
Sanders apologized , but only after his campaign 's newsletter , `` Bern Notice , '' had already circulated the op-ed .
It does n't help that Sanders tends to surround himself with controversial figures .
His campaign surrogates include Linda Sarsour , who in 2019 was ousted from the Women 's March organization over her repeated forays into anti-Semitic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who recently appeared at a Sanders campaign event in California , is another example .
King has been roundly criticized for his online antics , which include accusing an innocent man of murder and praising a domestic terrorist who attacked a federal immigration facility .
Maybe that 's just Bernie 's style of politics .
Peter Shumlin , a Democrat who served as governor in Sanders 's home state of Vermont from 2011 to 2017 , suggested as much during a recent interview with Politico .
Discussing the campaign spat between Sanders and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
, whose campaign accused Sanders of suggesting a woman could n't become president , Shumlin warned fellow Democrats that Sanders `` will play dirty '' to advance his own interests .
`` What I 've seen in Bernie 's politics is he and his team feel they 're holier than the rest .
In the end , they will play dirty because they think that they pass a purity test that Republicans and most Democrats do n't pass , '' Shumlin said .
`` What you 're seeing now is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considers you a friend , like Elizabeth Warren , Bernie will come first .
That 's the pattern we 've seen over the years in Vermont , and that 's what we are seeing now nationally . ''
As far back as the 1980s , Sanders was waging bizarre attacks against Democratic politicians .
While running for governor of Vermont in 1986 , then-Burlington mayor Sanders took shots at the state 's first ( and only ) female governor , Madeleine Kunin , a Democrat running for reelection .
`` He claimed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Kunin said of Sanders during a recent interview .
`` It shocked me at the time . ''
Throughout the campaign , Sanders sought to portray Kunin as a lightweight who had n't done enough to improve the lives of women in Vermont .
`` Many people are excited because she 's the first woman governor , '' Sanders said at the time .
`` But after that , there ai n't much . ''
During Sanders 's first run for the House of Representatives in 1988 , which resulted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign issued a press release criticizing both major parties for nominating millionaires for president ( George H.W .
Bush , Michael Dukakis ) and vice president ( Dan Quayle , Lloyd Bentsen ) .
`` It is incredible , but an indication of the times , that all of the Democratic and Republican candidates for President and Vice-President are millionaires , '' Sanders , running as an independent , said in the press release .
`` Never before in the modern history of this country has this nation been so dominated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to boast about being `` the only Independent Mayor in the United States who has defeated Democratic and Republican opponents . ''
He also accused the `` millionaire leadership of the Republican and Democratic parties '' of failing to understand the needs of `` ordinary income people . ''
Since then , Sanders has amassed a fortune worth an estimated $ 2.5 million , which includes at least three houses .
`` I wrote a best-selling book , '' Sanders said during a testy exchange with the New York Times in 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you can be a millionaire , too . ''
Sanders 's net worth may have changed since the 1980s , but his penchant for dirty politics has not .

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) has his fair share of critics within the Democratic Party. Many lament his tendency to surround himself with unsavory characters and the vile antics of his devoted internet trolls—the "Bernie Bros." Some, including Sanders's 2016 rival Hillary Clinton, have even accused Sanders of supporting a noxious "culture" of sexism and bullying among his supporters.
For once, Clinton has a point. The fish rots from the head, as they say, and Sanders has a long history of waging nasty attacks on his opponents. He's been especially aggressive when those opponents are members of the Democratic Party, to which—his critics are quick to point out—Sanders does not technically belong.
Clinton decried Sanders's hostility to Democrats in What Happened, her memoir about the 2016 campaign. "He didn't get into the race to make sure a Democrat won the White House, he got in to disrupt the Democratic Party," she wrote of her former primary opponent. The former secretary of state recently doubled down on the criticism, saying "nobody likes him," and refused to commit to endorsing Sanders if he wins the Democratic nomination.
"I'm not going to go there yet," Clinton said when asked about a potential endorsement. "It's his online Bernie Bros and their relentless attacks on lots of his competitors, particularly the women. And I really hope people are paying attention to that because it should be worrisome that he has permitted this culture—not only permitted, [he] seems to really be very much supporting it."
Clinton is far from the only liberal to accuse rabid Sanders fans of bullying. The New York Times on Monday published an extensive report on Sanders's "internet army" and the "culture" to which Clinton referred. For some of Sanders's critics, failing to publicly embrace the socialist senator can have serious consequences:
Some progressive activists who declined to back Mr. Sanders have begun traveling with private security after incurring online harassment. Several well-known feminist writers said they had received death threats. A state party chairwoman changed her phone number. A Portland lawyer saw her business rating tumble on an online review site after tussling with Sanders supporters on Twitter.
Bakari Sellers, a former South Carolina state legislator who served as a campaign surrogate for Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), told the Times that criticizing Bernie online almost inevitably resulted in "blowback" of a "sexist, racist, and vile" nature.
Sanders's critics also argue that the senator's consistent failure to rein in these virulent fans amounts to acquiescence.
"There are always people who say things that are problematic. It's not that that is unique to Bernie's campaign," added Jess Morales Rocketto, a Democratic strategist who worked for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. "What's unique is it is a consistent problem in the universe of Bernie Sanders."
In a tweet responding to the Times article, Center for American Progress president Neera Tanden seconded the criticism of Sanders. "I've received death threats, rape threats, people have talked about me hanging from a meat hook," she said. "All stuff that never happened before 2015. And doesn't even happen with MAGA."
All these critics may be on to something. Despite Sanders's attempts to condemn "bullying and harassment of any kind and in any space," disavowing the supposedly rogue sentiments of zealous supporters has become something of a habit for the senator. Sanders was recently forced to apologize after one of his surrogates—progressive lawyer Zephyr Teachout—wrote an op-ed accusing former vice president Joe Biden of representing "the transactional, grossly corrupt culture in Washington that long precedes Trump." Sanders apologized, but only after his campaign's newsletter, "Bern Notice," had already circulated the op-ed.
It doesn't help that Sanders tends to surround himself with controversial figures. His campaign surrogates include Linda Sarsour, who in 2019 was ousted from the Women's March organization over her repeated forays into anti-Semitic commentary.
Left-wing activist Shaun King, who recently appeared at a Sanders campaign event in California, is another example. King has been roundly criticized for his online antics, which include accusing an innocent man of murder and praising a domestic terrorist who attacked a federal immigration facility.
Maybe that's just Bernie's style of politics. Peter Shumlin, a Democrat who served as governor in Sanders's home state of Vermont from 2011 to 2017, suggested as much during a recent interview with Politico. Discussing the campaign spat between Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), whose campaign accused Sanders of suggesting a woman couldn't become president, Shumlin warned fellow Democrats that Sanders "will play dirty" to advance his own interests.
"What I've seen in Bernie's politics is he and his team feel they're holier than the rest. In the end, they will play dirty because they think that they pass a purity test that Republicans and most Democrats don't pass," Shumlin said. "What you're seeing now is, in the end, even if he considers you a friend, like Elizabeth Warren, Bernie will come first. That's the pattern we've seen over the years in Vermont, and that's what we are seeing now nationally."
As far back as the 1980s, Sanders was waging bizarre attacks against Democratic politicians. While running for governor of Vermont in 1986, then-Burlington mayor Sanders took shots at the state's first (and only) female governor, Madeleine Kunin, a Democrat running for reelection. "He claimed to be a better feminist than I was," Kunin said of Sanders during a recent interview. "It shocked me at the time."
Throughout the campaign, Sanders sought to portray Kunin as a lightweight who hadn't done enough to improve the lives of women in Vermont. "Many people are excited because she's the first woman governor," Sanders said at the time. "But after that, there ain't much."
During Sanders's first run for the House of Representatives in 1988, which resulted in a narrow loss to a Republican, the campaign issued a press release criticizing both major parties for nominating millionaires for president (George H.W. Bush, Michael Dukakis) and vice president (Dan Quayle, Lloyd Bentsen).
"It is incredible, but an indication of the times, that all of the Democratic and Republican candidates for President and Vice-President are millionaires," Sanders, running as an independent, said in the press release. "Never before in the modern history of this country has this nation been so dominated by Big Money."
Sanders went on to boast about being "the only Independent Mayor in the United States who has defeated Democratic and Republican opponents." He also accused the "millionaire leadership of the Republican and Democratic parties" of failing to understand the needs of "ordinary income people."
Since then, Sanders has amassed a fortune worth an estimated $2.5 million, which includes at least three houses. "I wrote a best-selling book," Sanders said during a testy exchange with the New York Times in 2019. "If you write a best-selling book, you can be a millionaire, too."
Sanders's net worth may have changed since the 1980s, but his penchant for dirty politics has not.
Bernie Sanders Press Release... by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd


freebeacon--2020-01-28--Beto Pours Political Capital Into Texas House Race Considered Bellwether

Fresh off a bruising end to his 2020 presidential campaign , Beto O'Rourke is pouring his efforts into a Texas state house race observers consider a bellwether for whether Democrats can turn the state legislature blue later this year .
O'Rourke and national Democrats are boosting Democrat Eliz Markowitz as she tries to flip suburban Houston 's District 28 in Tuesday 's special election .
O'Rourke , who founded the political action committee Powered by the People last month to fund Texas Democrats , told a crowd Jan. 10 that he had found `` purpose and function again '' through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a time when we were … wondering just what our purpose was on this planet , '' O'Rourke told supporters .
`` But in doing this for Eliz , and being part of Powered by the People , I really have found that purpose and function again and I ’ m really hopeful about our country , about this race , about Texas , but just on a very personal level . ''
Politico described the race as an `` early test '' for both parties in the nationwide battle over state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Observer called it a `` weathervane for the Texas suburbs . ''
O'Rourke 's efforts reflect the emphasis Democrats are placing on the special election to replace a retiring Republican legislator .
`` [ I 'm ] very focused on helping to mobilize volunteers in critical state House races like HD 28 in Fort Bend , and others in the Fort Worth/Dallas area , so that we can win the state House , '' O ’ Rourke said earlier this month , according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram .
O'Rourke has made District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second home '' over the past month , the Texas Tribune reports , spending days at a time campaigning for Markowitz against Republican Gary Gates .
He said Powered by the People brought 1,000 people to the district .
O'Rourke is n't Markowitz 's only supporter among past and present 2020 contenders .
Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has organized volunteers for the Democrat , and former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
have endorsed her .
Democrats need to flip nine house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee touted a poll Sunday showing Markowitz `` neck and neck '' with Gates .
However , the Tribune reported Democrats are lowering expectations in the final days before the election and shifting attention to other districts , while Republicans feel confident Gates will win after a strong showing in the early voting period .
A decisive victory could be a blow to Democratic confidence , given the hundreds of thousands of dollars Markowitz has received in outside spending .
O'Rourke , a former three-term congressman from El Paso , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his failed 2018 bid to defeat Sen. Ted Cruz ( R. , Tex. )
.
He used his narrow loss as a springboard for a presidential campaign , but he never gained traction in the crowded field and dropped out in November .

Fresh off a bruising end to his 2020 presidential campaign, Beto O'Rourke is pouring his efforts into a Texas state house race observers consider a bellwether for whether Democrats can turn the state legislature blue later this year.
O'Rourke and national Democrats are boosting Democrat Eliz Markowitz as she tries to flip suburban Houston's District 28 in Tuesday's special election. O'Rourke, who founded the political action committee Powered by the People last month to fund Texas Democrats, told a crowd Jan. 10 that he had found "purpose and function again" through the District 28 race.
"There was a time when we were ... wondering just what our purpose was on this planet," O'Rourke told supporters. "But in doing this for Eliz, and being part of Powered by the People, I really have found that purpose and function again and I’m really hopeful about our country, about this race, about Texas, but just on a very personal level."
Politico described the race as an "early test" for both parties in the nationwide battle over state legislatures in 2020, and the Texas Observer called it a "weathervane for the Texas suburbs." O'Rourke's efforts reflect the emphasis Democrats are placing on the special election to replace a retiring Republican legislator.
"[I'm] very focused on helping to mobilize volunteers in critical state House races like HD 28 in Fort Bend, and others in the Fort Worth/Dallas area, so that we can win the state House," O’Rourke said earlier this month, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
O'Rourke has made District 28's Fort Bend County his "second home" over the past month, the Texas Tribune reports, spending days at a time campaigning for Markowitz against Republican Gary Gates. He said Powered by the People brought 1,000 people to the district.
O'Rourke isn't Markowitz's only supporter among past and present 2020 contenders. Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has organized volunteers for the Democrat, and former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) have endorsed her.
Democrats need to flip nine house seats to gain a majority. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee touted a poll Sunday showing Markowitz "neck and neck" with Gates.
However, the Tribune reported Democrats are lowering expectations in the final days before the election and shifting attention to other districts, while Republicans feel confident Gates will win after a strong showing in the early voting period. A decisive victory could be a blow to Democratic confidence, given the hundreds of thousands of dollars Markowitz has received in outside spending.
O'Rourke, a former three-term congressman from El Paso, catapulted to state and national stardom during his failed 2018 bid to defeat Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Tex.). He used his narrow loss as a springboard for a presidential campaign, but he never gained traction in the crowded field and dropped out in November.


Beacon Extra 1/27/20

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
SMALL TEEPEE … `` ‘ Did n't answer the second part of my question ' : Pete Buttigieg grilled by anti-abortion Democrat , '' via EXAMINER : `` The Democratic platform contains language that basically says that we do n't belong , we have no part in the party because it says abortion should be legal up to nine months ; the government should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing that says that people that have a diversity of views on this issue should be included in the party , '' [ said Democrats for Life president Kristen Day ] … '' I support the position of my party that this kind of medical care needs to be available to everyone , '' Buttigieg said … `` And again , the best I can offer is that we may disagree on that very important issue , and hopefully we 'll be able to partner on other issues . ''
BRUSBAND UPDATE … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her brother , '' via NY POST : Two FBI agents held an hours-long meeting in Minnesota in mid-October with a concerned party who handed over a trove of documents regarding Omar ’ s 2009 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi , a source with knowledge of the event said … If Omar did marry her brother , she could be found guilty of committing marriage fraud — a felony offense punishable with a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to $ 250,000 .
ON MESSAGE ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Sundance and Addresses Those Bernie Comments , '' via THR : Asked why she felt it was important for her to speak out about the current Democratic candidates and what she wanted to convey with her comments on Bernie [ Sanders ] , Clinton replied : `` Well , you know , I shot that interview probably a year and a half ago , and I didn ’ t think about the election .
I ’ ve made it very clear that I will work hard for whoever our Democratic nominee is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steinem—cheered for Clinton 's key milestones and passionate speeches during the screening , and there was applause for when Barack Obama appeared in the film .
As viewers watched the events of the 2016 play out again towards the end , many audience members had tears glistening on their faces .
WHERE ’ S HUNTER ’ S FATHER ?
… `` Biden leaves voters and reporters hanging during swing through N.H. , '' via POLITICO : [ Joe Biden ] made no mention of the state ’ s opioid epidemic , which polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
Voters at the events said they also would have liked to hear about his plans for health care , the cost of prescription drugs , and the economy … Biden ’ s decision to skip q-and-a 's left some people in the audience disappointed .
At a packed event at an elementary school in one of the most Republican areas of the state , a number of topics voters said they would have liked to hear about went unaddressed .
HAMASBARA … `` Rashida Tlaib retweets unverified claim Israelis killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib retweeted a claim that `` Israeli settlers '' had `` kidnapped and executed '' a Palestinian boy .
In fact the boy was found by Israeli emergency services dead in a cistern on Saturday morning after going missing on Friday … Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi retweeted the allegation and added `` the heart just shatters , the pain is unbearable , no words . ''
Congresswoman Tlaib then retweeted the Ashrawi tweet that included the allegations .
However Ashrawi apologized for her tweet .
`` My apologizes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ verified .
It seems that the news of his being kidnapped is not certain . ''
She also tweeted other clarifications and then appeared to delete the tweet .
Tlaib ’ s retweet was also thereafter deleted but she did not apologize for spreading the false information .
POCAHONTAS INSPIRES HER RIVALS … `` Joe Biden Lied About His Record On Social Security , '' via INTERCEPT : Biden , when he acknowledges his past support for cuts , portrays the advocacy as deep in the past .
But a close inspection finds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s support for cuts—including in Biden ’ s recent recounting of a conversation he had with China ’ s president , Xi Jinping , and in his choice of Bruce Reed , a longtime deficit hawk , as a senior policy adviser in his current presidential campaign … A review of media reports from the 1990s shows that groups dedicated to protecting Social Security , including the AARP , saw Biden ’ s votes and advocacy as a betrayal .
REALITY BITES … `` CNN 's Axelrod says impeachment did n't come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' via THE HILL : Former Obama chief strategist David Axelrod said he attended a focus group with Democratic voters in Chicago on Friday , describing the gathering as `` chilling '' because impeachment `` did n't come up '' until more than an hour into the session despite it taking place amid the Senate trial of President Trump .
CHICOM CONTAGION UPDATE … `` China Urges Calm Over Virus During ‘ Critical Period ’ , '' via WSJ : `` We are now in a critical period of prevention and control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ’ s cabinet-level National Health Commission , said at a press briefing in Beijing on Sunday to deal with the unnamed coronavirus that has infected more than 2,000 people and killed at least 56 , the vast majority of them in central China ’ s Hubei province … In an unprecedented move , officials have locked down several cities in Hubei , including Wuhan .
But the cities weren ’ t sealed off until after millions of residents had scattered to visit family for Lunar New Year .
SEND THE BOMBERS … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hezbollah-Controlled Lebanon , '' by WFB ’ s Adam Kredo : The State Department 's concession to Congress that it would commit to halting financial aid to Lebanon if U.S. taxpayer dollars go to Hezbollah is now being brought to the forefront .
That guarantee from the State Department is fueling a growing push to freeze all aid in light of Hezbollah 's unprecedented takeover of the Lebanese government , sources confirmed .
Sen. Ted Cruz ( R. , Texas ) , who has led a battle on Capitol Hill against unconditional assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration to halt the aid if it is shown Hezbollah is the beneficiary , according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter .
SMOKE SIGNAL … `` In Official Endorsement Des Moines Register Says Warren Would ‘ Treat Truth As Something That Matters ’ , '' via DAILY WIRE : Yes , they suggested that Elizabeth Warren , who lied about being a Native American , lied when she promised to serve her full Senate term if reelected in 2018 , lied when she said her children attended public schools , lied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a janitor , lied when she said she was fired for being `` visibly pregnant , '' has a knack for being honest … In November , she told a school-choice activist in Atlanta that her children didn ’ t go to private schools , but the next day her campaign told a different story—that her son transferred to a private school after facing difficulty in a public institution .
That admission came after a yearbook , obtained by the Washington Free Beacon , showed that during the 1986-1987 school year , Ms. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall , which currently charges nearly $ 18,000 per year for tuition .
SWAMPFEST … `` Jeff Bezos throws lavish party at his new $ 23million , 11-bedroom Washington D.C. mansion attended by Ivanka Trump , Bill Gates , and Ben Stiller , '' via DAILY MAIL : Also in attendance at Bezos 's party were United States Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao , JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon , businessman David Rubeinstein , Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon , CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell , Case Foundation CEO Jean Case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Politico founder Robert Allbritton , Barbie Allbritton , former House Speaker Paul Ryan and wife Janna , former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney and wife Good Morning America correspondent Claire Shipman , former Defense for Public Affairs Geoff Morrell , and Hilton president Chris Nassetta .
TWITTER TRIGGERED … `` Twitter Attaches Warning to Trump Campaign ’ s Pro-Life Video , '' by WFB ’ s Bill McMorris : Hours before Trump [ became ] the first sitting U.S. president to attend the annual March for Life , his official campaign account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a pregnant woman looking at an ultrasound of her baby … The video was flagged as containing `` sensitive material , '' despite showing no sexual , violent , or hateful imagery .
WON ’ T SEE THIS ON RELIABLE SOURCES … `` CNN Blames Bar Shooting on Lax Gun Laws .
It Got The Facts Wrong , '' by WFB ’ s Collin Anderson : A CNN article on a recent Kansas City bar shooting mischaracterized the shooter 's criminal history to blame the killing on Missouri 's gun laws .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooter who killed one woman and injured 15 before he was killed by an armed guard January 19 .
CNN published a report Wednesday saying Swift likely would have gone to prison over a weapons charge if not for the state 's 2017 permitless carry law .
However , the report obfuscated the date of Swift 's charge to suggest the law let him off the hook for it .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 1,142 .
Come back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' —Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
SMALL TEEPEE … "'Didn't answer the second part of my question': Pete Buttigieg grilled by anti-abortion Democrat," via EXAMINER: "The Democratic platform contains language that basically says that we don't belong, we have no part in the party because it says abortion should be legal up to nine months; the government should pay for it. And there's nothing that says that people that have a diversity of views on this issue should be included in the party," [said Democrats for Life president Kristen Day] …
"I support the position of my party that this kind of medical care needs to be available to everyone," Buttigieg said … "And again, the best I can offer is that we may disagree on that very important issue, and hopefully we'll be able to partner on other issues."
BRUSBAND UPDATE … "FBI reviewing claims Ilhan Omar married her brother," via NY POST: Two FBI agents held an hours-long meeting in Minnesota in mid-October with a concerned party who handed over a trove of documents regarding Omar’s 2009 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a source with knowledge of the event said …
If Omar did marry her brother, she could be found guilty of committing marriage fraud — a felony offense punishable with a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000.
ON MESSAGE? … "Hillary Clinton Premieres Hulu Doc at Sundance and Addresses Those Bernie Comments," via THR: Asked why she felt it was important for her to speak out about the current Democratic candidates and what she wanted to convey with her comments on Bernie [Sanders], Clinton replied: "Well, you know, I shot that interview probably a year and a half ago, and I didn’t think about the election. I’ve made it very clear that I will work hard for whoever our Democratic nominee is." …
The audience—which included Gloria Steinem—cheered for Clinton's key milestones and passionate speeches during the screening, and there was applause for when Barack Obama appeared in the film. As viewers watched the events of the 2016 play out again towards the end, many audience members had tears glistening on their faces.
WHERE’S HUNTER’S FATHER? … "Biden leaves voters and reporters hanging during swing through N.H.," via POLITICO: [Joe Biden] made no mention of the state’s opioid epidemic, which polls consistently show is the biggest issue facing the state. Voters at the events said they also would have liked to hear about his plans for health care, the cost of prescription drugs, and the economy …
Biden’s decision to skip q-and-a's left some people in the audience disappointed. At a packed event at an elementary school in one of the most Republican areas of the state, a number of topics voters said they would have liked to hear about went unaddressed.
HAMASBARA … "Rashida Tlaib retweets unverified claim Israelis killed Palestinian boy," via JERUSALEM POST: U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib retweeted a claim that "Israeli settlers" had "kidnapped and executed" a Palestinian boy. In fact the boy was found by Israeli emergency services dead in a cistern on Saturday morning after going missing on Friday … Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi retweeted the allegation and added "the heart just shatters, the pain is unbearable, no words."
Congresswoman Tlaib then retweeted the Ashrawi tweet that included the allegations.
However Ashrawi apologized for her tweet. "My apologizes for retweeting something that’s not fully verified. It seems that the news of his being kidnapped is not certain." She also tweeted other clarifications and then appeared to delete the tweet. Tlaib’s retweet was also thereafter deleted but she did not apologize for spreading the false information.
POCAHONTAS INSPIRES HER RIVALS … "Joe Biden Lied About His Record On Social Security," via INTERCEPT: Biden, when he acknowledges his past support for cuts, portrays the advocacy as deep in the past. But a close inspection finds reams of more recent evidence of Biden’s support for cuts—including in Biden’s recent recounting of a conversation he had with China’s president, Xi Jinping, and in his choice of Bruce Reed, a longtime deficit hawk, as a senior policy adviser in his current presidential campaign …
A review of media reports from the 1990s shows that groups dedicated to protecting Social Security, including the AARP, saw Biden’s votes and advocacy as a betrayal.
REALITY BITES … "CNN's Axelrod says impeachment didn't come up until 80 minutes into focus group," via THE HILL: Former Obama chief strategist David Axelrod said he attended a focus group with Democratic voters in Chicago on Friday, describing the gathering as "chilling" because impeachment "didn't come up" until more than an hour into the session despite it taking place amid the Senate trial of President Trump.
CHICOM CONTAGION UPDATE … "China Urges Calm Over Virus During ‘Critical Period’," via WSJ: "We are now in a critical period of prevention and control," Ma Xiaowei, head of China’s cabinet-level National Health Commission, said at a press briefing in Beijing on Sunday to deal with the unnamed coronavirus that has infected more than 2,000 people and killed at least 56, the vast majority of them in central China’s Hubei province …
In an unprecedented move, officials have locked down several cities in Hubei, including Wuhan. But the cities weren’t sealed off until after millions of residents had scattered to visit family for Lunar New Year.
SEND THE BOMBERS … "Trump Admin Reconsidering U.S. Aid to Hezbollah-Controlled Lebanon," by WFB’s Adam Kredo: The State Department's concession to Congress that it would commit to halting financial aid to Lebanon if U.S. taxpayer dollars go to Hezbollah is now being brought to the forefront. That guarantee from the State Department is fueling a growing push to freeze all aid in light of Hezbollah's unprecedented takeover of the Lebanese government, sources confirmed.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas), who has led a battle on Capitol Hill against unconditional assistance to Lebanon, recently wrenched promises from the administration to halt the aid if it is shown Hezbollah is the beneficiary, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
SMOKE SIGNAL … "In Official Endorsement Des Moines Register Says Warren Would ‘Treat Truth As Something That Matters’," via DAILY WIRE: Yes, they suggested that Elizabeth Warren, who lied about being a Native American, lied when she promised to serve her full Senate term if reelected in 2018, lied when she said her children attended public schools, lied when she said her father worked as a janitor, lied when she said she was fired for being "visibly pregnant," has a knack for being honest …
In November, she told a school-choice activist in Atlanta that her children didn’t go to private schools, but the next day her campaign told a different story—that her son transferred to a private school after facing difficulty in a public institution.
That admission came after a yearbook, obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, showed that during the 1986-1987 school year, Ms. Warren’s son Alex attended Kirby Hall, which currently charges nearly $18,000 per year for tuition.
SWAMPFEST … "Jeff Bezos throws lavish party at his new $23million, 11-bedroom Washington D.C. mansion attended by Ivanka Trump, Bill Gates, and Ben Stiller," via DAILY MAIL: Also in attendance at Bezos's party were United States Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, businessman David Rubeinstein, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell, Case Foundation CEO Jean Case and husband AOL founder Steve Case, Politico founder Robert Allbritton, Barbie Allbritton, former House Speaker Paul Ryan and wife Janna, former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney and wife Good Morning America correspondent Claire Shipman, former Defense for Public Affairs Geoff Morrell, and Hilton president Chris Nassetta.
TWITTER TRIGGERED … "Twitter Attaches Warning to Trump Campaign’s Pro-Life Video," by WFB’s Bill McMorris: Hours before Trump [became] the first sitting U.S. president to attend the annual March for Life, his official campaign account posted a video showing couples with newborns and a pregnant woman looking at an ultrasound of her baby …
The video was flagged as containing "sensitive material," despite showing no sexual, violent, or hateful imagery.
MAXIMUM BOOTNESS ...
WON’T SEE THIS ON RELIABLE SOURCES … "CNN Blames Bar Shooting on Lax Gun Laws. It Got The Facts Wrong," by WFB’s Collin Anderson: A CNN article on a recent Kansas City bar shooting mischaracterized the shooter's criminal history to blame the killing on Missouri's gun laws.
Police identified 29-year-old Jahron Swift as the shooter who killed one woman and injured 15 before he was killed by an armed guard January 19. CNN published a report Wednesday saying Swift likely would have gone to prison over a weapons charge if not for the state's 2017 permitless carry law. However, the report obfuscated the date of Swift's charge to suggest the law let him off the hook for it.
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW: 1,142. Come back, Joe!
"You know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden." —Former President Barack Obama
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-28--Cotton Calls for Targeted China Travel Ban

Sen. Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
on Tuesday called for a targeted travel ban on China to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus to the United States .
`` I write to urge you to implement a targeted travel ban on China to protect America from the Wuhan coronavirus , '' Cotton wrote .
`` Given the latest developments and the many unknowns about this virus , we ought to follow Benjamin Franklin ’ s maxim : an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure . ''
Cotton sent the letter to Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf , advising them about the Chinese Communist Party 's ( CCP ) `` long history of covering up and minimizing these crises . ''
`` China ’ s own actions demonstrate the severity of the threat .
Beijing has quarantined more than 50 million people—the combined population of our entire West Coast—and cancelled school indefinitely .
Just this morning , Hong Kong has slashed travel from mainland China .
These are not the actions of a government in control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cotton then laid out steps he believes are critical for the Trump administration to follow to protect Americans , including halting all commercial flights from China to the United States and giving an option to Americans and their immediate families in China to return to the United States under `` appropriate , elevated monitoring . ''
`` The administration should develop strict criteria for allowing critical trade to continue , such as cargo flights and seaborne shipping , to minimize the impact to the U.S. economy .
The administration should ensure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under these criteria can be adequately screened and quarantined as needed , '' Cotton wrote .
He continued by saying the Trump administration should urge Chinese President Xi Jinping to `` allow American and international scientists and medical experts from the World Health Organization into Wuhan immediately to help treat infected persons and research the origins of this coronavirus . ''
Azar stopped short of declaring a public health emergency early Tuesday morning , but the Trump administration did expand screenings in 20 airports due to the potential lethality of the disease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths out of more than 4,500 cases , according to the Washington Post .
Cotton 's letter to the three Trump administration officials is a follow-up to his letter to Azar last week .

Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) on Tuesday called for a targeted travel ban on China to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus to the United States.
"I write to urge you to implement a targeted travel ban on China to protect America from the Wuhan coronavirus," Cotton wrote. "Given the latest developments and the many unknowns about this virus, we ought to follow Benjamin Franklin’s maxim: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Cotton sent the letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, advising them about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) "long history of covering up and minimizing these crises."
"China’s own actions demonstrate the severity of the threat. Beijing has quarantined more than 50 million people—the combined population of our entire West Coast—and cancelled school indefinitely. Just this morning, Hong Kong has slashed travel from mainland China. These are not the actions of a government in control of the outbreak," Cotton said.
Cotton then laid out steps he believes are critical for the Trump administration to follow to protect Americans, including halting all commercial flights from China to the United States and giving an option to Americans and their immediate families in China to return to the United States under "appropriate, elevated monitoring."
"The administration should develop strict criteria for allowing critical trade to continue, such as cargo flights and seaborne shipping, to minimize the impact to the U.S. economy. The administration should ensure that individuals who do arrive in the U.S. under these criteria can be adequately screened and quarantined as needed," Cotton wrote.
He continued by saying the Trump administration should urge Chinese President Xi Jinping to "allow American and international scientists and medical experts from the World Health Organization into Wuhan immediately to help treat infected persons and research the origins of this coronavirus."
Azar stopped short of declaring a public health emergency early Tuesday morning, but the Trump administration did expand screenings in 20 airports due to the potential lethality of the disease. China has reportedly seen more than 100 deaths out of more than 4,500 cases, according to the Washington Post.
Cotton's letter to the three Trump administration officials is a follow-up to his letter to Azar last week.


freebeacon--2020-01-28--As Important Fentanyl Control Set to Expire, House Democrats Drag Feet on Renewal

A temporary control on the deadly opioid fentanyl and its analogs is set to expire next week , but a legislative fix has been stalled by House Democrats amid fears the law is too tough .
The House of Representatives is expected to vote Wednesday on S.3201 , more than two weeks after the bill unanimously passed the Senate .
The bill would extend for one year the designation of fentanyl and related super-potent opioids as `` schedule one , '' the strictest classification under the Controlled Substances Act , that is set to expire on Feb. 6 .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year 's appropriations bill—have been slow to act , and during a hearing on Tuesday instead voiced concerns about `` overcriminalization '' and the overuse of mandatory minimums .
Such objections highlight how Democrats ' criminal justice reform priorities may be at odds with the law enforcement needed to combat the deadliest drug crisis in American history .
Failing to pass an extension may mean leaving the drug enforcement authorities without a key tool that they say has helped reduce trafficking—meaning more lives will doubtless be at risk .
Fentanyl is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China .
The drug has increasingly saturated the U.S. illicit narcotic market , driving drug overdose rates to their highest point in U.S. history .
Part of what makes the drug attractive to traffickers is that , because it is synthesized , it has a number of `` analogs '' —drugs with the same effect but slightly different chemical structure , meaning that those who traffic them can dodge laws that prohibit substances on the basis of their chemical makeup .
To address this issue , in 2018 the DEA used its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analogs as schedule one drugs , trafficking of which incurs harsher penalties .
But that administrative designation only lasts two years—Congress legally has to act to renew it .
Now , with just weeks to go , S.3201 is an attempt to do so .
A GOP Senate aide told the Washington Free Beacon that the Senate bill was `` watered down like crazy , '' offering only a temporary extension of fentanyl 's scheduling in order to appease Democratic concerns .
It also instructs the Department of Justice to prepare a report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ input from groups including `` the civil rights and criminal justice reform communities . ''
But even that `` watered down '' bill has moved slowly in the Democrat-controlled House .
On Tuesday , the House Subcommittee on Crime , Terrorism , and Homeland Security held a hearing on the bill , which offered House Democrats , previously mum on the issue , an opportunity to voice their opinions .
While some , like Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee ( D. , Texas ) , said they believed fentanyl and its analogs need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Subcommittee chair Karen Bass ( D. , Calif. ) said she was concerned that federal sentencing guidelines related to fentanyl may mean `` many defendants who are not high-level traffickers may be unnecessarily subjected to mandatory minimums that in fact become life sentences , '' and noted that DOJ may be able to still prosecute individuals under a related piece of legislation , the Federal Analogue Act .
Rep. Madeleine Dean ( D. , Pa. ) , although not outright condemning the bill , put her issues in starker terms .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Dean said .
`` I want to avoid the overuse of mandatory minimums where it is not appropriate .
I want to protect the ability to do research . ''
These concerns reflect those noted in a Washington Post editorial endorsing the bill .
They may also be why House Democrats killed a first attempt at extending the scheduling .
In December , there was bipartisan support for including an extension in the annual spending bill , a House GOP aide told the Free Beacon , but `` House Democrats objected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so it was not . ''
Rep. John Ratcliffe ( R. , Texas ) , the subcommittee 's ranking member , slammed his colleagues on Tuesday for their simultaneous silence and inaction .
`` I think the reason we have n't heard any public opposition from members about this is that , quite frankly , it 's hard to publicly stand up and oppose extending the scheduling of fentanyl analogs , '' Ratcliffe said .
`` It 's crazy to think that the reason we 're in this position is that some in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would spend a little extra time in jail . ''
While Democrats decide how or if to move forward on extending a ban on America 's deadliest drug , their inaction has caused alarm within the law enforcement community .
DOJ drug enforcement official Amanda Liskamm told the committee Tuesday that DEA 's temporary scheduling has had `` significant '' positive impacts since its implementation .
In particular , she cited a 50 percent decline in reports of fentanyl and analogs seized by police following the implementation of comprehensive scheduling .
This may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backing of all 50 state attorneys general , and why the Department of Justice has waged a campaign to get it passed , including an opinion piece from Attorney General William Barr placed in the Washington Post .
`` If the House fails to act by midnight on February 6 , traffickers of deadly opioids will again have the upper hand , '' Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said Tuesday .
`` This can not be allowed to happen .
The House of Representatives needs to act to help save Americans from more @ @ @ @ @

A temporary control on the deadly opioid fentanyl and its analogs is set to expire next week, but a legislative fix has been stalled by House Democrats amid fears the law is too tough.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote Wednesday on S.3201, more than two weeks after the bill unanimously passed the Senate. The bill would extend for one year the designation of fentanyl and related super-potent opioids as "schedule one," the strictest classification under the Controlled Substances Act, that is set to expire on Feb. 6. But House Democrats—who killed a similar plan in last year's appropriations bill—have been slow to act, and during a hearing on Tuesday instead voiced concerns about "overcriminalization" and the overuse of mandatory minimums.
Such objections highlight how Democrats' criminal justice reform priorities may be at odds with the law enforcement needed to combat the deadliest drug crisis in American history. Failing to pass an extension may mean leaving the drug enforcement authorities without a key tool that they say has helped reduce trafficking—meaning more lives will doubtless be at risk.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, produced predominantly in laboratories in China. The drug has increasingly saturated the U.S. illicit narcotic market, driving drug overdose rates to their highest point in U.S. history. Part of what makes the drug attractive to traffickers is that, because it is synthesized, it has a number of "analogs"—drugs with the same effect but slightly different chemical structure, meaning that those who traffic them can dodge laws that prohibit substances on the basis of their chemical makeup.
To address this issue, in 2018 the DEA used its administrative authority to temporarily designate all fentanyl analogs as schedule one drugs, trafficking of which incurs harsher penalties. But that administrative designation only lasts two years—Congress legally has to act to renew it.
Now, with just weeks to go, S.3201 is an attempt to do so. A GOP Senate aide told the Washington Free Beacon that the Senate bill was "watered down like crazy," offering only a temporary extension of fentanyl's scheduling in order to appease Democratic concerns. It also instructs the Department of Justice to prepare a report on the effect of scheduling, seeking input from groups including "the civil rights and criminal justice reform communities."
But even that "watered down" bill has moved slowly in the Democrat-controlled House. On Tuesday, the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing on the bill, which offered House Democrats, previously mum on the issue, an opportunity to voice their opinions.
While some, like Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Texas), said they believed fentanyl and its analogs need to remain schedule one, others expressed doubts. Subcommittee chair Karen Bass (D., Calif.) said she was concerned that federal sentencing guidelines related to fentanyl may mean "many defendants who are not high-level traffickers may be unnecessarily subjected to mandatory minimums that in fact become life sentences," and noted that DOJ may be able to still prosecute individuals under a related piece of legislation, the Federal Analogue Act.
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D., Pa.), although not outright condemning the bill, put her issues in starker terms.
"I want to avoid the overcriminalization," Dean said. "I want to avoid the overuse of mandatory minimums where it is not appropriate. I want to protect the ability to do research."
These concerns reflect those noted in a Washington Post editorial endorsing the bill. They may also be why House Democrats killed a first attempt at extending the scheduling. In December, there was bipartisan support for including an extension in the annual spending bill, a House GOP aide told the Free Beacon, but "House Democrats objected to [the extension] being included, so it was not."
Rep. John Ratcliffe (R., Texas), the subcommittee's ranking member, slammed his colleagues on Tuesday for their simultaneous silence and inaction.
"I think the reason we haven't heard any public opposition from members about this is that, quite frankly, it's hard to publicly stand up and oppose extending the scheduling of fentanyl analogs," Ratcliffe said. "It's crazy to think that the reason we're in this position is that some in Congress are concerned that convicted drug traffickers would spend a little extra time in jail."
While Democrats decide how or if to move forward on extending a ban on America's deadliest drug, their inaction has caused alarm within the law enforcement community. DOJ drug enforcement official Amanda Liskamm told the committee Tuesday that DEA's temporary scheduling has had "significant" positive impacts since its implementation. In particular, she cited a 50 percent decline in reports of fentanyl and analogs seized by police following the implementation of comprehensive scheduling.
This may be why S.3201 has the remarkably bipartisan backing of all 50 state attorneys general, and why the Department of Justice has waged a campaign to get it passed, including an opinion piece from Attorney General William Barr placed in the Washington Post.
"If the House fails to act by midnight on February 6, traffickers of deadly opioids will again have the upper hand," Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said Tuesday. "This cannot be allowed to happen. The House of Representatives needs to act to help save Americans from more overdoses and deaths."


freebeacon--2020-01-28--Biden to Iowa Voter: ‘Go Vote for Someone Else’

Former vice president Joe Biden told a Democratic voter asking about climate change to `` go vote for someone else '' and then wrongfully accused him of supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) .
`` I 'm going to support you if you win the nomination because we 've got to get rid of Trump .
What are we going to do about climate change ? ''
asked Ed Fallon , who was a member in the Iowa General Assembly from 1993 to 2006 , during a Biden campaign event Tuesday in Iowa .
`` We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` You ought to go vote for someone else because you 're not going to vote for me in the primary , '' Biden responded .
`` I 'm going to vote you in the general if you treat me right , '' Fallon said .
Biden told him he was looking for primary supporters , not general election supporters .
Biden then started to criticize what Sanders has promised to do about climate change , seeming to assume Fallon was a Sanders supporter .
Fallon interrupted to say he is actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders have clashed as the pair have pulled ahead of the rest of the Democratic field in national polling .
Polls of Iowa are tighter , and the Iowa caucuses will take place Monday , Feb. 3 .
Fallon is a climate-change activist and has his own political podcast .

Former vice president Joe Biden told a Democratic voter asking about climate change to "go vote for someone else" and then wrongfully accused him of supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
"I'm going to support you if you win the nomination because we've got to get rid of Trump. What are we going to do about climate change?" asked Ed Fallon, who was a member in the Iowa General Assembly from 1993 to 2006, during a Biden campaign event Tuesday in Iowa. "We have to stop building and replacing pipelines."
"You ought to go vote for someone else because you're not going to vote for me in the primary," Biden responded.
"I'm going to vote you in the general if you treat me right," Fallon said.
Biden told him he was looking for primary supporters, not general election supporters. Biden then started to criticize what Sanders has promised to do about climate change, seeming to assume Fallon was a Sanders supporter. Fallon interrupted to say he is actually a Tom Steyer supporter.
"Tom Steyer? Well that's good," Biden responded.
Original post (I shot the video) pic.twitter.com/TMp60C5oXm — Kathy Byrnes (@KathyM_Byrnes) January 30, 2020
Biden and Sanders have clashed as the pair have pulled ahead of the rest of the Democratic field in national polling. Polls of Iowa are tighter, and the Iowa caucuses will take place Monday, Feb. 3.
Fallon is a climate-change activist and has his own political podcast.


freebeacon--2020-01-28--McCarthy Breaks GOP Fundraising Record as Party Fights to Take Back The House

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R. , Calif. ) broke the all-time House Republican fundraising record in 2019 , significantly boosting his party 's 2020 bid to take back control of the House of Representatives .
McCarthy 's team raised $ 52.35 million last year , outpacing the previous record set by former speaker Paul Ryan , who raised $ 44 million in 2017 .
Of the funds raised in 2019 , more than half has already been transferred to the National Republican Congressional Committee and GOP incumbents .
`` House Democrats are the greatest threat to the greatest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement to supporters .
`` The American people do n't want socialism .
They want success , and a House Republican Majority in 2021 with a re-elected Trump presidency will be ready to achieve it . ''
McCarthy also said he expects `` another Republican revolution '' in 2020 , citing high recruitment levels as the determining factor in previous victory waves for the GOP .
In 2010 , Republicans fielded more than 770 candidates for election , breaking a 30-year recruitment record for both parties .
Republicans have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
An Economist/YouGov poll conducted last week shows the GOP leading by 11 points with independent voters .

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) broke the all-time House Republican fundraising record in 2019, significantly boosting his party's 2020 bid to take back control of the House of Representatives.
McCarthy's team raised $52.35 million last year, outpacing the previous record set by former speaker Paul Ryan, who raised $44 million in 2017. Of the funds raised in 2019, more than half has already been transferred to the National Republican Congressional Committee and GOP incumbents.
"House Democrats are the greatest threat to the greatest economy in our lifetime," McCarthy said in a statement to supporters. "The American people don't want socialism. They want success, and a House Republican Majority in 2021 with a re-elected Trump presidency will be ready to achieve it."
McCarthy also said he expects "another Republican revolution" in 2020, citing high recruitment levels as the determining factor in previous victory waves for the GOP.
In 2010, Republicans fielded more than 770 candidates for election, breaking a 30-year recruitment record for both parties. Republicans have already filed 1,017 candidates for the upcoming 2020 election.
An Economist/YouGov poll conducted last week shows the GOP leading by 11 points with independent voters.


freebeacon--2020-01-28--NYT Columnist Fails to Disclose Husband’s Work for Warren in Attack on Sanders

New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg failed to disclose in her Monday column criticizing Bernie Sanders that her husband is a high-paid consultant for campaign rival Elizabeth Warren .
Goldberg wrote in the column that it is `` no longer far-fetched to think that Sanders could be the Democratic nominee , '' and added that she is `` terrified '' about his chances in a general election contest with President Donald Trump .
She goes on to reel off potential attacks Sanders will face , noting the existence of footage of him praising the Soviet Union and attending anti-American rallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that Goldberg 's husband Matthew Ipcar is a top executive at Blue State Digital , a design firm that has been paid $ 1,080,972 by Warren 's presidential campaign , according to Federal Election Commission records .
Goldberg has in the past admitted the conflict of interest .
In a column from earlier this month anointing Warren the Democratic Party 's `` unity candidate , '' Goldberg said she 's been hesitant to write about the primary fight because of her husband 's work .
`` I ’ ve hesitated to write @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have a conflict of interest—my husband is consulting for Warren ’ s campaign , '' Goldberg disclosed .
The opinion columnist first disclosed her husband 's work for Warren in her January 2019 preview of the primary field , noting that he had both worked for Warren and was `` fully behind her presidential candidacy . ''
The New York Times did not respond to a request for comment on the lack of disclosure in Goldberg 's Monday column .
Ipcar is executive creative director for Blue State Digital , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential campaigns , including Joe Biden 's .
Blue State 's primary work , however , has been for Warren—the firm 's founder and CEO Joe Rospars is Warren 's chief campaign strategist and has been described as the `` architect '' of her presidential campaign .
The New York Times editorial board announced just over a week ago that it was endorsing Warren for president .

New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg failed to disclose in her Monday column criticizing Bernie Sanders that her husband is a high-paid consultant for campaign rival Elizabeth Warren.
Goldberg wrote in the column that it is "no longer far-fetched to think that Sanders could be the Democratic nominee," and added that she is "terrified" about his chances in a general election contest with President Donald Trump. She goes on to reel off potential attacks Sanders will face, noting the existence of footage of him praising the Soviet Union and attending anti-American rallies in Nicaragua.
Unmentioned in the column is that Goldberg's husband Matthew Ipcar is a top executive at Blue State Digital, a design firm that has been paid $1,080,972 by Warren's presidential campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Goldberg has in the past admitted the conflict of interest. In a column from earlier this month anointing Warren the Democratic Party's "unity candidate," Goldberg said she's been hesitant to write about the primary fight because of her husband's work.
"I’ve hesitated to write too much about the Democratic primary because I have a conflict of interest—my husband is consulting for Warren’s campaign," Goldberg disclosed. The opinion columnist first disclosed her husband's work for Warren in her January 2019 preview of the primary field, noting that he had both worked for Warren and was "fully behind her presidential candidacy."
The New York Times did not respond to a request for comment on the lack of disclosure in Goldberg's Monday column.
Ipcar is executive creative director for Blue State Digital, which has been paid smaller amounts by other 2020 presidential campaigns, including Joe Biden's. Blue State's primary work, however, has been for Warren—the firm's founder and CEO Joe Rospars is Warren's chief campaign strategist and has been described as the "architect" of her presidential campaign.
The New York Times editorial board announced just over a week ago that it was endorsing Warren for president.


freebeacon--2020-01-28--Top Sanders Surrogate Appears to Parrot 9/11 Conspiracy Theory

A top surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders 's ( I. , Vt. ) presidential campaign appears to have argued the U.S. government was behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks .
Phillip Agnew , a self-described `` militant '' who has made multiple appearances on the campaign trail for Sanders since joining the campaign in July , tweeted on the eve of the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that America remembers the day `` she turned on herself , dismantled her constitution , and killed her own citizens in the name of money . ''
Sanders , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several national polls and in crucial early states like Iowa and New Hampshire , has a bevy of campaign staffers and surrogates who have expressed both controversial and bigoted views .
A Free Beacon report exposing a series of vulgar social media posts forced the campaign to fire their deputy director of constituency organizing Darius Khalil Gordon in December .
Agnew expressed a different view of the Sept. 11 attacks in a 2016 Instagram post , sharing a cartoon that suggests America 's interventionist foreign policy prompted the al Qaeda attacks , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caption said , `` # neverforget what goes round come round . ''
Since joining the campaign , Agnew has spoken alongside other high-profile Sanders surrogates such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) and Michael Moore at a recent campaign event in Iowa .
The Sanders campaign promoted a clip of Agnew speaking at a rally and described it as `` powerful . ''
He also introduced Sanders at a November campaign rally in Los Angeles .
He appeared on The 99 , an online show the Sanders campaign produces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event for Sanders .
Sanders appeared alongside Agnew at a discussion with young voters about health care , college affordability , and criminal justice reform .
The campaign also reimbursed Agnew $ 250 for travel expenses in September .
Sanders 's national press secretary Briahna Joy Gray praised Agnew for his politics and called him an `` absolute delight . ''
The Sanders campaign did not respond to requests for comment .
Attempts to reach Agnew for comment were unsuccessful .
Agnew , who also goes by Umi Selah , is the cofounder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defenders , which boasts anti-Israel activist and fellow Sanders surrogate Linda Sarsour as a board member .
The organization advocates for far-left causes such as the anti-Israel Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions movement and the idea that every person has a right to a home , clothes , food , and job provided by the government .
Agnew visited the White House in 2014 where he met with President Barack Obama to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement .
Agnew joins a growing list of controversial and anti-Israel figures in the Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shaun King , who accused an innocent man of murder and praised a domestic terrorist who attacked a federal immigration facility .

A top surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I., Vt.) presidential campaign appears to have argued the U.S. government was behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Phillip Agnew, a self-described "militant" who has made multiple appearances on the campaign trail for Sanders since joining the campaign in July, tweeted on the eve of the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that America remembers the day "she turned on herself, dismantled her constitution, and killed her own citizens in the name of money."
Tomorrow America remembers the day that she turned on herself, dismantled her constitution, and killed her own citizens in the name of money — phillip agnew (@iPhilSomething) September 10, 2010
Sanders, who is leading the Democratic primary race in several national polls and in crucial early states like Iowa and New Hampshire, has a bevy of campaign staffers and surrogates who have expressed both controversial and bigoted views. A Free Beacon report exposing a series of vulgar social media posts forced the campaign to fire their deputy director of constituency organizing Darius Khalil Gordon in December.
Agnew expressed a different view of the Sept. 11 attacks in a 2016 Instagram post, sharing a cartoon that suggests America's interventionist foreign policy prompted the al Qaeda attacks, which left 2,977 people dead.
Agnew's caption said, "#neverforget what goes round come round."
Since joining the campaign, Agnew has spoken alongside other high-profile Sanders surrogates such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and Michael Moore at a recent campaign event in Iowa. The Sanders campaign promoted a clip of Agnew speaking at a rally and described it as "powerful."
He also introduced Sanders at a November campaign rally in Los Angeles. He appeared on The 99, an online show the Sanders campaign produces. Agnew also led a phone bank event for Sanders. Sanders appeared alongside Agnew at a discussion with young voters about health care, college affordability, and criminal justice reform. The campaign also reimbursed Agnew $250 for travel expenses in September.
Sanders's national press secretary Briahna Joy Gray praised Agnew for his politics and called him an "absolute delight."
Not only are is politics amazing, he’s an absolute delight! pic.twitter.com/oTRGwCFMuD — Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) July 24, 2019
The Sanders campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Attempts to reach Agnew for comment were unsuccessful.
Agnew, who also goes by Umi Selah, is the cofounder of the Florida liberal activist group Dream Defenders, which boasts anti-Israel activist and fellow Sanders surrogate Linda Sarsour as a board member. The organization advocates for far-left causes such as the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and the idea that every person has a right to a home, clothes, food, and job provided by the government. Agnew visited the White House in 2014 where he met with President Barack Obama to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement.
Agnew joins a growing list of controversial and anti-Israel figures in the Sanders campaign including Sarsour and the left-wing activist Shaun King, who accused an innocent man of murder and praised a domestic terrorist who attacked a federal immigration facility.


freebeacon--2020-01-28--Buttigieg Hits Sanders: ‘I Don’t Measure Boldness of an Idea By … How Much Controversy It Generates’

Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg on Tuesday responded to a voter 's question about Bernie Sanders 's campaign attacking other Democratic candidates , saying he does not measure the boldness of a campaign by how controversial its ideas are .
`` Here ’ s my message to progressives , it 's that I would be the most progressive president we ’ ve had in a half-century .
It ’ s just that I don ’ t measure the boldness of an idea by how many people it puts off and how much controversy it generates , '' Buttigieg said during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buttigieg was responding to a question from a 15-year-old boy in the audience who expressed his discomfort with how the Sanders campaign treats the other presidential candidates—particularly its attacks on the more moderate Democrats .
`` I really started to realize just how mean-spirited and really just how similar [ Sanders ’ s campaign ] is to the Trump campaign , about how much they slander former vice president Biden , Senator Warren , and even you , '' the boy said .
`` Why should people who are really kind of leaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message listen to you , especially with how much misinformation his campaign puts out about moderate Democrats ? ''
he asked .
Buttigieg said he is progressive enough for Sanders ’ s supporters but noted the policy differences between his Medicare for All Who Want It plan and Medicare for All , Sanders ’ s signature health care plan .
Buttigieg said his proposal would solve the health care problem in the United States at a lower cost , arguing his and Sanders ’ s goals ultimately align .

Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg on Tuesday responded to a voter's question about Bernie Sanders's campaign attacking other Democratic candidates, saying he does not measure the boldness of a campaign by how controversial its ideas are.
"Here’s my message to progressives, it's that I would be the most progressive president we’ve had in a half-century. It’s just that I don’t measure the boldness of an idea by how many people it puts off and how much controversy it generates," Buttigieg said during a town hall in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Buttigieg was responding to a question from a 15-year-old boy in the audience who expressed his discomfort with how the Sanders campaign treats the other presidential candidates—particularly its attacks on the more moderate Democrats.
"I really started to realize just how mean-spirited and really just how similar [Sanders’s campaign] is to the Trump campaign, about how much they slander former vice president Biden, Senator Warren, and even you," the boy said.
"Why should people who are really kind of leaning toward Bernie’s Medicare for All message listen to you, especially with how much misinformation his campaign puts out about moderate Democrats?" he asked.
Buttigieg said he is progressive enough for Sanders’s supporters but noted the policy differences between his Medicare for All Who Want It plan and Medicare for All, Sanders’s signature health care plan. Buttigieg said his proposal would solve the health care problem in the United States at a lower cost, arguing his and Sanders’s goals ultimately align.


freebeacon--2020-01-28--Warren Endorses Prosecutor Who Dropped Charges Against Jussie Smollett For Fabricating Hate Crime

Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
endorsed the reelection of the Illinois state attorney currently under investigation for her handling of former Empire actor Jussie Smollett 's hate crime hoax .
Warren announced her endorsement of State Attorney Kim Foxx on Tuesday , calling Foxx `` a champion invested in rethinking the country 's approach to criminal justice reform . ''
Foxx is best known for dropping the felony charges against Smollett after the actor faked a racist and homophobic hate crime .
Smollett claimed last January that a pair of masked men attacked him on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homophobic slurs before shouting `` This is MAGA country . ''
A police investigation found that Smollett hired two men to fake the attack .
Smollett was charged with disorderly conduct and received 16 felony charges for filing a false police report .
Foxx 's office dropped the charges and asked that Smollett 's records be sealed without notifying Chicago police of the agreement in advance .
Smollett did not admit guilt as part of the deal , and local police were reportedly `` furious '' with the decision .
Though Foxx claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking to a relative of Smollett at the request of Michelle Obama 's former chief of staff , Foxx later revealed she only recused herself `` in a colloquial sense . ''
As part of her `` recusal , '' Foxx said she handed the case to an `` acting state 's attorney . ''
A county judge later ruled that there is no provision in Illinois law for an `` acting state 's attorney '' and that a judge should have appointed a special prosecutor to take over the case .
Foxx @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the hoax .
A Chicago Sun-Times article detailing Warren 's endorsement—which came the day before the one-year anniversary of the alleged attack—did not mention Foxx 's role in the Smollett case .
Warren 's endorsement of Foxx could stem from a desire to appeal to the scrutinized attorney 's influential supporters .
Musician John Legend endorsed Foxx on Wednesday , as did Color of Change PAC , a progressive nonprofit that describes itself as the `` nation 's largest online racial justice organization . ''
Foxx 's Democratic challengers have criticized the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
`` Jussie Smollett was treated differently .
Everybody can admit that , '' challenger Bob Fioretti said .
Since taking office in 2016 , Foxx has declined to prosecute more than 5,000 cases .

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) endorsed the reelection of the Illinois state attorney currently under investigation for her handling of former Empire actor Jussie Smollett's hate crime hoax.
Warren announced her endorsement of State Attorney Kim Foxx on Tuesday, calling Foxx "a champion invested in rethinking the country's approach to criminal justice reform." Foxx is best known for dropping the felony charges against Smollett after the actor faked a racist and homophobic hate crime.
Smollett claimed last January that a pair of masked men attacked him on the streets of Chicago, using racist and homophobic slurs before shouting "This is MAGA country." A police investigation found that Smollett hired two men to fake the attack.
Smollett was charged with disorderly conduct and received 16 felony charges for filing a false police report. Foxx's office dropped the charges and asked that Smollett's records be sealed without notifying Chicago police of the agreement in advance. Smollett did not admit guilt as part of the deal, and local police were reportedly "furious" with the decision.
Though Foxx claimed she recused herself from the case after speaking to a relative of Smollett at the request of Michelle Obama's former chief of staff, Foxx later revealed she only recused herself "in a colloquial sense." As part of her "recusal," Foxx said she handed the case to an "acting state's attorney." A county judge later ruled that there is no provision in Illinois law for an "acting state's attorney" and that a judge should have appointed a special prosecutor to take over the case.
Foxx is now under investigation for her handling of the hoax. A Chicago Sun-Times article detailing Warren's endorsement—which came the day before the one-year anniversary of the alleged attack—did not mention Foxx's role in the Smollett case.
Warren's endorsement of Foxx could stem from a desire to appeal to the scrutinized attorney's influential supporters. Musician John Legend endorsed Foxx on Wednesday, as did Color of Change PAC, a progressive nonprofit that describes itself as the "nation's largest online racial justice organization."
Foxx's Democratic challengers have criticized the prosecutor for her handling of the Smollett case.
"Jussie Smollett was treated differently. Everybody can admit that," challenger Bob Fioretti said.
Since taking office in 2016, Foxx has declined to prosecute more than 5,000 cases.


freebeacon--2020-01-28--Steyer Slams Private Education, Sent Kids to Pricey Prep School

Presidential candidate Tom Steyer has sung the praises of public schools and opposes spending tax dollars on private ones , even though records show he paid for his children to have a $ 50,000-per-year education .
During a Tuesday morning appearance on C-SPAN 's Washington Journal , Steyer told a caller he believes that `` quality public education from universal preschool through college '' is `` an absolute obligation of the government and a right for every American '' and that `` having a quality public education is the only way we can have justice and mobility in our society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government money where his mouth is , telling the Washington Post that he `` does not support using public money for private or religious education . ''
In doing so , Steyer would deny parents of lesser means the ability to do as he did when he sent his children to the San Francisco University High School , whose annual tuition costs $ 49,496 .
The apparent hypocrisy is yet another way that Steyer—a hedge-fund billionaire who now campaigns against both wealth inequality and the fossil fuels from which he is not fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his political views .
At the same time , it recalls Steyer 's opponents ' own dishonesty on the topic , particularly Sen. Elizabeth Warren 's ( D. , Mass. )
.
The Steyer campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
Records indicate that Steyer 's four children—all of whom are now adults—attended San Francisco University High School as adolescents .
His son Sam was a member of the class of 2006 , while Gus Steyer was in the class of 2008 .
His daughter Evi appears to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's page on Harvard 's official athletics website notes his high school without specifying his graduation year .
According to tax forms obtained by ProPublica , the school took in $ 26.5 million of revenue in 2017 and claims to hold $ 77 million in assets .
It sprawls across four buildings , boasting amenities including science laboratories , a student center , and a 400-seat theater .
It has a six-to-one student to teacher ratio , the same as Harvard University .
Such quality vastly overshadows the San Francisco public school system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been enrolled .
As of 2018 , only 55 percent of 11th graders were English language proficient , while just 31 percent were math proficient .
Tommy Schultz , vice president of communications and marketing for the pro-voucher group the American Federation for Children , told the Washington Free Beacon that Steyer 's hypocrisy was a blow to his progressive bona fides and a black mark on all the candidates who had done likewise .
`` It 's far from progressive to exercise school choice for your own politically powerful families while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families who desperately need educational options , '' Schultz said .
`` It 's simply the height of hypocrisy , and it 's astounding how callous it is for these candidates to openly broadcast that they want to remove a lower-income kid from a school that their family has chosen and to send that kid back to a district public school that their family left because it was n't working for them . ''
While Steyer may not like vouchers , parents without his wealth do .
Polling from EducationNext , a pro-school-reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents support permitting children to be enrolled in private schools `` with government helping to pay the tuition . ''
Sixty-two percent of black and Hispanic respondents to EducationNext ‘ s poll said the same thing .
Another poll , conducted by researchers at Penn , found higher support for vouchers among respondents making less than $ 30,000 per year than among those making $ 30,000 to $ 100,000 .
Steyer is not the only 2020 contender to oppose private education while taking advantage of it himself .
As the Washington Free Beacon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son to `` one of the nation 's most elite private schools , '' a fact that Warren later lied to voters about .
Other 2020 contenders have also been critical of private education in spite of attending or sending their children to private schools , including former vice president Joe Biden and former mayor Pete Buttigieg .

Presidential candidate Tom Steyer has sung the praises of public schools and opposes spending tax dollars on private ones, even though records show he paid for his children to have a $50,000-per-year education.
During a Tuesday morning appearance on C-SPAN's Washington Journal, Steyer told a caller he believes that "quality public education from universal preschool through college" is "an absolute obligation of the government and a right for every American" and that "having a quality public education is the only way we can have justice and mobility in our society." Steyer has promised to put government money where his mouth is, telling the Washington Post that he "does not support using public money for private or religious education."
In doing so, Steyer would deny parents of lesser means the ability to do as he did when he sent his children to the San Francisco University High School, whose annual tuition costs $49,496. The apparent hypocrisy is yet another way that Steyer—a hedge-fund billionaire who now campaigns against both wealth inequality and the fossil fuels from which he is not fully divested—has used his wealth in apparent contradiction to his political views. At the same time, it recalls Steyer's opponents' own dishonesty on the topic, particularly Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D., Mass.).
The Steyer campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Records indicate that Steyer's four children—all of whom are now adults—attended San Francisco University High School as adolescents. His son Sam was a member of the class of 2006, while Gus Steyer was in the class of 2008. His daughter Evi appears to have graduated in 2009, while Henry Steyer's page on Harvard's official athletics website notes his high school without specifying his graduation year.
According to tax forms obtained by ProPublica, the school took in $26.5 million of revenue in 2017 and claims to hold $77 million in assets. It sprawls across four buildings, boasting amenities including science laboratories, a student center, and a 400-seat theater. It has a six-to-one student to teacher ratio, the same as Harvard University.
Such quality vastly overshadows the San Francisco public school system in which the Steyer children might otherwise have been enrolled. As of 2018, only 55 percent of 11th graders were English language proficient, while just 31 percent were math proficient.
Tommy Schultz, vice president of communications and marketing for the pro-voucher group the American Federation for Children, told the Washington Free Beacon that Steyer's hypocrisy was a blow to his progressive bona fides and a black mark on all the candidates who had done likewise.
"It's far from progressive to exercise school choice for your own politically powerful families while fighting against extending those options to poor families who desperately need educational options," Schultz said. "It's simply the height of hypocrisy, and it's astounding how callous it is for these candidates to openly broadcast that they want to remove a lower-income kid from a school that their family has chosen and to send that kid back to a district public school that their family left because it wasn't working for them."
While Steyer may not like vouchers, parents without his wealth do. Polling from EducationNext, a pro-school-reform journal, found that 62 percent of parents support permitting children to be enrolled in private schools "with government helping to pay the tuition." Sixty-two percent of black and Hispanic respondents to EducationNext's poll said the same thing. Another poll, conducted by researchers at Penn, found higher support for vouchers among respondents making less than $30,000 per year than among those making $30,000 to $100,000.
Steyer is not the only 2020 contender to oppose private education while taking advantage of it himself. As the Washington Free Beacon previously reported, Elizabeth Warren sent her son to "one of the nation's most elite private schools," a fact that Warren later lied to voters about. Other 2020 contenders have also been critical of private education in spite of attending or sending their children to private schools, including former vice president Joe Biden and former mayor Pete Buttigieg.
Cameron Cawthorne contributed reporting to this article.