TAX CUT DEBATE Sen. Steve Daines, R-MT, becomes the second GOP senator opposed to the tax bill because of its provisions relating to small businesses. But Daines was optimistic that changes could be made to the bill. Other GOP senators like Bob Corker, R-TN, and James Lankford, R-OK, are also calling for changes. They want to ensure the deficit doesn’t spike. The Senate is preparing for a vote Thursday. http://cvote.it/2n9jCXb
BUREAUCRATIC SHOWDOWN Leandra English is trying to claim that she’s the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, but President Trump appointed Mick Mulvaney the Acting Director. And Mulvaney showed up and took reins of the office. English sued in federal court and met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Confused? This story explains the bureaucratic fight. http://cvote.it/2n6sOf0
2020 Bernie Sanders is apparently making moves in preparation for a presidential run in 2020. He will be 79 years old on Election Day in 2020. http://cvote.it/2zLNA9G
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY The Johnson Amendment, which bars churches from endorsing political candidates, could be repealed through the tax reform bill. The House tax bill contains a repeal, but the Senate has not approved any such legislation yet. http://cvote.it/2n7OLdF
MEDIA WATCH The Washington Post appears to have caught one of James O’Keefe’s associates trying to sting paper with fake Roy Moore accuser. O’Keefe said on Twitter that he was preparing his own video story about the matter, including “hidden camera footage” on the Washington Post. http://cvote.it/2nactGe
SENATE 2017 The White House announced that President Trump will not campaign for Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. http://cvote.it/2neqpzd
ABORTION DATA One is too many, of course. But data just released from 2014 indicates that the abortion-rate decline, which began in the early 1980s, continues at a steady pace. According to the CDC, both the number of abortions and the abortion rate declines by about 2% between 2013 and 2014,” writes Michael J. New. http://cvote.it/2zJN106
LGBT Portland (Maine) Public Schools may adopt new transgender policies requiring teachers to support the wishes of a transgender student — even if they are at odds with those of their parents. http://cvote.it/2zI5hH5
JOHN PAUL AND ISLAM Pope John Paul II ‘had a vision of an Islamist invasion of Europe,’ claims Msgr. Mauro Longhi, who went on hiking trips with the Holy Father from 1985 to 1995. http://cvote.it/2naSY08
VATICAN Archbishop Bernandito Auza, the Vatican’s representative to the United Nations, said that the international community must join forces to eliminate human trafficking. http://cvote.it/2n919u2
SAINT OF THE DAY Saint James of the Marche – http://cvote.it/dailysaint
DAILY MASS READINGS “Give glory and eternal praise to him.” (Dn 3:59) – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
COOL NASCAR driver requests prayers “for all the poor souls in purgatory” after major win. http://cvote.it/2zKLZ4a