New Democratic ads target Valadao, urge release of Epstein files
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert! We’re halfway through the week.
DNC DEMANDS EPSTEIN FILES
Via David Lightman...
The Democratic National Committee plans to launch an ad Wednesday urging voters to “Call Rep. David Valadao” and “demand” President Donald Trump’s administration release files on sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
“Donald Trump is hiding something, and Republicans in Congress are covering for him,” said Ken Martin, Democratic National Committee chairman, in a statement.
“If House Republicans can’t even stand up for the victims of a notorious sexual predator, how can their voters expect them to stand up for them?” Martin asked.
Valadao represents a San Joaquin Valley district that for years has been seen as a swing area. The congressman was first elected in 2012, then lost the seat in 2018 during a Democratic wave in the middle of Trump’s first term. Valadao won in 2020 and last year won by 7 percentage points.
He has not signed the petition to have the House vote on legislation that would require all Epstein files be made public. The petition needs 218 signatures and so far has 216. No California Republicans have signed.
Valadao did vote last week on a bill that supports the continued investigation by the House Oversight Committee of Epstein’s dealings.
In July, he told The Bee, “I fully support releasing any documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes, but it must be done in a way that protects his victims and doesn’t compromise any ongoing investigations.”
He added that “names of victims should remain confidential, and our focus should be on delivering justice for them and holding every accomplice accountable.”
APPEAL TO AFFORDABILITY
Via David Lightman...
Democrats unleashed a new digital ad Tuesday aimed at Black, Latino and Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander voters that touts how Rep. Adam Gray “is fighting to keep your costs low.”
Gray is regarded as one of Congress’ most vulnerable incumbents. He won his Central Valley House seat last year by 187 votes.
The crux of the Democratic argument in the ad is that Trump administration tariffs are driving up costs. Prices overall rose 2.7% for the 12 months ending in July, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Updated data is scheduled to be released Thursday.
Independent economists have said that tariffs imposed by the administration are likely to drive up prices, though the rate of inflation remains at fairly low levels.
Gray has been a reliable Democratic vote on most budget and tax matters, opposing the Big Beautiful Bill that extends current income tax rates. Republicans charge that by voting against that bill, Gray backs higher tax rates.
“After years of gaslighting the American people and covering Joe Biden’s ass, the lies keep on coming from Democrats. The truth is Democrats like Adam Gray are responsible for record-breaking inflation that cost every working family thousands,” said Christian Martinez, spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee.
Democrats maintain that the bill not only makes severe cuts in social programs, notably Medicaid, but also continues tax breaks that disproportionately benefit the wealthy.
Look at what’s happening now, urged Nebeyatt Betre, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson.
“While House Republicans deliver nothing but higher prices and broken promises, House Democrats are fighting back against reckless tariffs to protect working families and their wallets,” Betre said.
A NEW REBATE PROGRAM
Via Amelia Wu...
A bipartisan group of 163 members of Congress, led by U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, is urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to scrap a newly proposed drug rebate pilot program.
The lawmakers argue the program could dismantle the critical 340B program, which has helped safety-net providers serve vulnerable patients across the country for 30 years.
“We urge you to abandon the Rebate Model Pilot Program, or if the program must move forward, to proceed with the utmost caution and impose stronger guardrails to ensure the 340B program is not entirely dismantled,” the lawmakers wrote.
The 340B program allows hospitals, community health centers, and other providers to buy outpatient drugs at a discount. The savings are then used to fund essential services in low-income communities.
However, the new pilot program would force these providers to pay the full price for certain high-cost drugs upfront.
The letter warned that this shift would place an enormous financial burden on providers already operating on thin margins. They are concerned that the changes could force providers to close their doors, especially in underserved areas.
The lawmakers also worry that the pilot program is a “backdoor” for drug manufacturers to recoup profits lost from price negotiations through the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program.
They have demanded a detailed response from HHS by Sept. 15 if the department chooses to move forward.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“By taking away this program, hundreds of thousands of California’s drivers will pay the price. It’s a lose-lose and we urge the federal government to retain this program.”
— Director of California DMV Steve Gordon, on the elimination of electric vehicle access to HOV carpool lanes
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