May 17, 2017


News and Views


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-slams-media-critics-at-coast-guard-academy-commencement/
By EMILY TILLETT CBS NEWS May 17, 2017, 12:56 PM
Trump slams media, critics at Coast Guard Academy commencement

Following a chaotic two days for the White House, President Trump stepped away from Washington to deliver the commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut on Wednesday.

And while Trump called it a "great honor" to address the cadets, he did not shy away from hitting critics and the "Washington media" at the graduation ceremony.

"Over the course of your life, you will find things are not always fair, you will find things happen to you that you do not deserve and not always warranted but you have to put your head down and fight fight fight," said Mr. Trump.

"Look at the way I've been treated lately. Especially by the media, no politician in history has been treated worse or more unfairly, you can't let them get you down, you can't let the critics and naysayers get in the way of your dreams," said Mr. Trump, adding, "I guess that's why we won!"

White House claims Comey's memo isn't accurate
Play VIDEO
White House claims Comey's memo isn't accurate

"I didn't get elected to serve the Washignton [sic] media or special interests -- I got elected to serve the forgotten men and women of our country and that's what I'm doing."

This was Mr. Trump's first official appearance since the new reports that fired FBI Director James Comey was pressured by the president to end the investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, according to a memo written by Comey himself.

The memo, first reported by the New York Times, was part of a paper trail Comey used to document "the president's improper efforts to influence an ongoing investigation," reporter Michael Schmidt wrote. A source familiar with the matter told CBS News that Comey wrote the memos because "Comey is a careful lawyer."

Mr. Trump's speech also comes just days after reports confirmed by CBS News revealed that he divulged classified information to Russian officials during a White House Meeting.

In the speech, Mr. Trump told cadets that "adversity makes you stronger, don't give in, don't back down and never stop doing what you know is right."

He then went on to list his various accomplishments he's made in a "very short time as president," including the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, providing "historic investments" in the defense budget and his plans to work on "major tax cuts for all."

"We are setting the stage right now for many, many things to come and the people understand what I'm doing and that's the most important thing."


I HOPE COMEY WILL TESTIFY. WE NEED HIS EVIDENCE.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jason-chaffetz-invites-james-comey-to-testify-before-congress/
By REBECCA SHABAD CBS NEWS May 17, 2017, 3:01 PM
Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz invites James Comey to testify before Congress

The Republican chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has invited former FBI Director James Comey to testify at a public hearing before Congress.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, revealed on Twitter that he scheduled the hearing for next Wednesday, though it's unclear whether Comey has agreed to testify.

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Jason Chaffetz ✔ @jasoninthehouse
Officially noticed a hearing for next Wed at 9:30am ET with former FBI Dir Comey. But I still need to speak with him...evidently has a new #
2:14 PM - 17 May 2017
1,431 1,431 Retweets 2,467 2,467 likes

The hearing date is the same deadline that Chaffetz set for the FBI to hand over documents to the Oversight panel relating to all communications between President Trump and Comey. Chaffetz made the request to the FBI in a letter Tuesday night after revelations that the president asked Comey to end the investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, according to a memo written by Comey. Mr. Trump fired Comey from his job last week.

The Senate Intelligence Committee, meanwhile, has also invited Comey to testify in both public and closed sessions.



LATE TODAY ROBERT MUELLER WAS NAMED SPECIAL COUNSEL. I DON'T KNOW IF A SPECIAL INDEPENDENT COMMISSION IS STILL IN
THE WORKS OR NOT. EVERYONE WILL BE WATCHING FOR MORE NEWS ON IT.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-democrats-circulate-petition-to-force-vote-to-create-an-independent-commission/
By REBECCA SHABAD CBS NEWS May 17, 2017, 11:33 AM
House Democrats circulate petition to force vote to create an independent commission

Photograph -- UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 28: House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., speaks during the House Democrats' news conference in advance of President Trump's address to Congress on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) BILL CLARK / AP

House Democrats have begun circulating a discharge petition that would force a vote on legislation that would create a 12-member bipartisan, independent commission to investigate Russia's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

"Our colleagues are upstairs on the House floor signing a discharge petition, calling on Congress to establish an independent commission," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, D-New York, at a press conference Wednesday.

Democrats would need to garner at least 218 signatures in order to force the vote on the legislation, which is sponsored by Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-California and Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland. Two Republicans -- Reps. Justin Amash of Michigan and Walter Jones of North Carolina -- have signed onto the measure so far.

Play VIDEO -- Why the timing of Comey's memo is so important

Republicans are refusing to conduct "credible, robust" oversight over this president, Cummings said at the press conference, adding that they are doing "as little as humanly possible just to claim that they are doing something."

"It's unacceptable that we continue ignoring these scandals," he said.

Swalwell said that "our democracy has become a mess" as a result of the latest revelations that President Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to end the investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, as detailed in a memo written by Comey.

If created, the commission would be a commission of 12 bipartisan appointed people, who are not members of Congress, with a wide mandate to search with subpoena power, Swalwell said. Democrats want to model the commission after the 9/11 commission, which was created in late 2002 after Congress passed legislation and President George W. Bush signed it into law.


Watch video -- May 17, 2017, 3:28 PM, Former FBI Assistant Director Ron Hosko explains the impact of James Comey's memo on the investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. election.


VIDEO ONLY -- http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/exclusive-subpoena-issued-regarding-fmr-trump-staffer-manafort-945693251611?cid=eml_mra_20170517
THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 5/16/17
Exclusive: Subpoena issued regarding fmr Trump staffer Manafort

Rachel Maddow reports exclusive breaking news that NBC News has learned that federal investigators have subpoenaed records related to a $3.5 million dollar loan taken out by former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort last year.
Duration: 10:02



EVERY NOW AND THEN I GET AN EMAIL LIKE THIS ONE. USUALLY I JUST DELETE THEM, BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND THAT THE NEXT THING THEY WILL DO IS ASK FOR MONEY. THIS ONE IS ON A SUBJECT THAT I HEARD ABOUT EARLIER, MAYBE TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO, AND IT IS GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT I HATE ABOUT SO MANY LARGE BUSINESSES. THEY ENTICE LEGISLATORS TO WRITE LAWS IN WAYS THAT BENEFIT THEM RATHER THAN THE INSURED, AND THEN THEY CASH IN ON A LOOPHOLE IN THE LAW.

GIVEN THEIR LONG PATTERN OF AVOIDING PAYING WHAT IS DUE, AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT HALF THE TIME THERE IS NO REAL NEED FOR SUCH A POLICY IN THE FIRST PLACE, I THINK WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THE WHOLE INSURANCE INDUSTRY. THEY ADVERTISE CONSTANTLY ON TV AIMING THEIR ADS AT FAIRLY HUMBLE AND SIMPLE PEOPLE WO DON’T LOOK PROSPEROUS, AND THEN WHEN THEY GET THEM ENROLLED THEY TRY EVERY WAY THEY CAN TO AVOID PAYING. THAT IS A SCAM, NOT A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS.

MIKE FRERICHS, A DEMOCRAT, IS THE ILLINOIS STATE TREASURER, SO I ASSUME THIS ISN’T ONE OF THOSE CON GAMES IN WHICH AN AD WILL REQUEST INFORMATION FOR A “SMALL” FEE FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO SOME “UNCLAIMED” MONEY.

Mike Frerichs
Dear Lucy,

Last year, you helped me win a fight with life insurance companies that pad their bottom lines rather than pay death benefits to grieving families.
I need your help to continue the battle. We took the first step last year in stopping this despicable practice going forward, but what if a family member died last year, or 10 years ago?
In order to continue to stand tall for Illinoisans, I need your help to support the Life Insurance Reform Act. Sign our petition to support HB302 to put Illinois families before insurance company profits.
House Bill 302 will require life insurance companies to identify policies that have not been paid to the rightful beneficiaries from 1996 to the present. Insurance companies representing 80 percent of the market have already done the right thing. They entered into settlements with my office, allowed auditors to check their policies, and paid beneficiaries or turned the proceeds over to my office so we can continue to seek the rightful owners. Through these audits my office found over $550 million that belongs to Illinois residents that insurance companies had not paid.
Right now we are in a fierce battle with lobbyists representing the last 20% of insurers. These are companies that told the federal Security and Exchange Commission that paying beneficiaries will cut into their profits and force them to change their business model.
Illinoisans deserve to have the piece of mind that the last wishes of their loved ones will be honored.
Sign our petition to support HB302 to put Illinois families before insurance company profits.
Send to your friends and family and encourage them to sign our petition too!


ON ILLINOIS’ HB302 –

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=302&GAID=14&GA=100&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=99455&SessionID=91
Illinois General Assembly
Short Description: LIFE INS-UNCLAIMED BENEFITS

5/2/2017 Senate Assigned to Insurance

Synopsis As Introduced

Amends the Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act. Provides that "policy" includes a policy that has lapsed or been terminated. Requires insurers to, at no later than the date of policy delivery or the establishment of an account, and upon any change of insured or beneficiary, request information sufficient to ensure that all benefits or proceeds are distributed to the appropriate persons upon the death of the insured. Allows insurers to contact insureds in certain circumstances for the information. Provides that the Act applies to policies, annuity contracts, and retained asset accounts in force at any time on or after January 1, 1996 (rather than on or after the effective date of the Act). Provides that the Act does not apply to a lapsed or terminated policy with no benefits payable that was compared against the Death Master File within the 18 months following the date of the lapse or termination of the applicable policy. Amends the Vital Records Act. Provides that any information contained in the vital records shall be made available at no cost to the State Treasurer for purposes related to the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act. Amends the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act. Removes provisions concerning certain fees and charges for unclaimed property. Provides that no person or company shall be entitled to a fee for discovering presumptively unclaimed property during the period beginning on the date the property was presumed abandoned and ending 24 months after the payment or delivery of the property to the State Treasurer (rather than until it has been in the custody of the State Treasurer for at least 24 months). Makes other changes.