Weekly Rundown

And here’s this week’s edition of the NRSC Weekly Rundown:

#PompeoConfirmed: Senate Democrats took “party over country” to a whole new level this week by deciding to oppose CIA Director Mike Pompeo’s nomination as Secretary of State. Despite media outlets across the country stating that Democrats have no real grounds to oppose a qualified nominee, Democrats were hell-bent on continuing their blind obstruction to placate their radical far-left base. Vulnerable Democrats decided to choose their party leaders over national security by opposing Pompeo’s nomination.

#MTSen: President Trump went on record against Jon Tester’s unvetted accusations against VA Secretary nominee Ronny Jackson, saying the Senator will have a “big price to pay” come November. Tester’s decision to lead the radical left’s attack against the Trump administration is already backfiring in headlines across the country. Playing party politics with the VA will not sit well with Montana veterans or voters in a state the President carried by over 20 points.

#WISen: With Election Day still months away, Tammy Baldwin has already spentmore on television than any other Senate Democrat running for reelection. Baldwin has already spent upwards of $1.7 million and is undoubtedly feeling the pressure of being one of the least popular Senate Democrats in a state trending further right.

#NJSen: The Senate Ethics Committee released a letter of admonition after their investigation into disgraced Senator Bob Menendez’s corrupt behavior. The Ethics Committee found that Menendez “knowingly and repeatedly accepted gifts of significant value” and used his position as a member of the Senate to advance the giver’s personal and business interests.

#NDSen: Heidi Heitkamp launched a television ad this week that is nearly identical to the one she ran in 2012. Unfortunately for Heitkamp, replaying old ads won’t make North Dakotans forget her abysmal record in Washington. While in office, Heitkamp has made a habit of siding with liberal Democrats instead of North Dakotans, voting to keep Obama’s harmful BLM methane rule, opposing the GOP tax cuts and voting against a five-month abortion ban. Heitkamp is so desperate for campaign cash, she’s even accepting money from disgraced Senator Bob Menendez’s PAC. Now that the Senate Ethics Committee has severely admonished Menendez, will Heitkamp return his contribution?

#NVSen: Jacky Rosen seems to be living in an alternate reality after releasing a new ad detailing her alleged efforts to support the taxpayers. But there was one problem, Rosen’s ad failed to mention her voting against middle class tax cuts, vowing to take away the extra money making a difference for Nevada families and opposing repealing costly government regulations. Nevadans know Rosen doesn’t have their backs.

#MOSen: After being made fun of by Mizzou fans for an erroneous tweet about Memorial Stadium last week, Claire McCaskill once again was dragged on Twitter for a poor attempt at calling Josh Hawley an elitist. Twitter users were quick to point out McCaskill’s cushy lifestyle, including a $2.7 million DC home and her own private plane. Just a few days later, McCaskill came under fire for not firing a former staff member who compared conservatives opposed to Obamacare to Nazi Brownshirts.

#AZSen: After months of holding swanky fundraisers in San Francisco and New York, it’s no surprise that Kyrsten Sinema’s financial report shows that nearly 70% of her campaign contributions came from out of state donors. Coastal elites are funneling cash into her campaign because Sinema made clear she’s a sure vote for Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer’s agenda.

#MTSen: For months, Jon Tester has said he would refuse support from dark money groups in his campaign for reelection this November. But, this week a Democratic Super PAC reserved $400,000 worth of television ads supporting Tester in Montana. If Tester really is against dark money support he should tell the Super PAC to take down their ads.

NEWS AND NOTES:

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Rosen sells out veterans by raising money with ‘Hanoi Jane’

Most politicians would do anything to avoid disparaging veterans. But Rep. Jacky Rosen, now running for the U.S. Senate, isn’t most politicians. READ

NBC News: Joe Manchin tries to navigate West Virginia’s red wave

But 2018 is a hard time to be a Democrat in this solidly red state and the GOP sees him as a key target, one of ten Senate Democrats up for re-election this year in a state won by Trump. READ

Tampa Bay Times: Chamber goes all in for Rick Scott

“This is the first time in Florida history that local, state and national Chambers of Commerce have come together to announce a joint campaign endorsement,” Scott’s campaign said. READ

Politico: Trump: Tester has a ‘big price to pay’ over VA nominee’s withdrawal

Trump’s attack against Tester come in advance of November’s midterm elections, where the Montana senator is expected to be among the most endangered Democratic incumbents running for reelection. The president predicted that Montana voters would punish Tester for his role in Jackson’s fall because “the admiral is the kind of person that they respect and admire. And they don’t like seeing what’s happened to him.” READ

Washington Post: U.S. economy grew faster than expected in first quarter, the first since Trump’s tax cuts

The Commerce Department report was the first since President Trump’s tax cut took effect on January 1. The centerpiece of the tax overhaul was a reduction in corporate taxes aimed at boosting investment and jobs. So far, the results are mixed. READ

Wall Street Journal: U.S. Jobless Claims Drop to Lowest Level Since 1969

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to the lowest level since 1969, the latest sign the labor market is firming after years of steady job growth.READ

Wall Street Journal: U.S. Consumers More Confident in Economy

Factors driving the increase include a sharp run-up in the stock market last year, strong job growth, modest inflation and rising property values. Also, a tax-cut package passed by Congress late last year has boosted Americans’ take-home pay this spring. READ

The Courier: Grassley: Iowans seeing benefits of tax reform

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has spurred economic growth and optimism here and throughout the country. I’m encouraged by the progress made, and I’m confident that the benefits of this commonsense law will continue to grow and improve the lives is Iowans and all Americans. READ