by Justin Lin, policy intern

NEWS:

• Senators are looking to take up tax reform once more, but unlike the discussions that led to the Tax Reform Act of 1986, this time, the Senators have less agreement.   Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, says he expects a markup to take place around the autumn, while House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) is moving with his own ideas on tax reform. (Politico)
• Jo Bonner (R-AL) has announced that he is resigning from Congress on August 2nd in order to take up a job with the University of Alabama. His resignation will lead to a contest between eight potential GOP candidates. It is unknown, however, when the special election will take place since under current Alabama law the special elections are under the discretion of the governor. (Roll Call)
• Majority Leader Harry Reid is criticizing the House for moving the bills piece by piece for immigration reform. Reid claims that the immigration bill, which was not brought to the House floor for a vote, would pass the House and has cited former President Bush as someone who pushed for broad immigration reform. (Politico)
• NSA Director Gen. Keith B. Alexander talked to Republicans and Democrats to prevent legislation that would remove funding for the collection of phone records. This  legislation is the first move by Congress to rein in executive power that was vastly expanded as a result of the Patriot Act. Senate chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), ranking member of the Senate Intelligence committee, have issued statements opposing such legislation by the House. (New York Times)

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