If you spent the holidays enjoying a well-deserved break, here are some stories you might have missed!
“Democrats spent 2017 building the largest battlefield in a decade, recruiting incredible candidates, and setting grassroots fundraising records. Republicans spent 2017 pursuing an extremely unpopular agenda to hike taxes on millions of middle class Americans, make healthcare insurance more expensive, and provide massive handouts to the wealthy and large corporations,” said DCCC spokesman Tyler Law. “In 2018, Speaker Ryan’s imperiled majority will face a reckoning at the ballot box.”
Take a look at some recent must-reads:
While the environment is favoring Democrats…
- NBC News: Key races for control of the House as Democrats take slight edge into 2018
- WSJ: Former Obama Administration Officials Vie to Unseat House Republicans
- LA Times: As 2017 ends, Republicans struggle to counter a Democratic wave
- NYT: Democrats Leave Few Seats Unchallenged in Quest for House Control
- The Hill: Dems see 2018 as best chance in years to win back House
- Politico: Polls show sizable advantage for Democrats in 2018 midterm election
…Republicans continue to face a backlash to their deeply unpopular agenda:
- AP: Dems aim to turn tax plan into cudgel in 2018 midterms
- Newsweek: Republican Tax Plan Will Make Health Insurance More Expensive
- CNBC: Dozens of lawmakers stand to reap a tax windfall due to a GOP loophole
- Huffington Post: The GOP’s Tax Bill Kicks Puerto Rico When It’s Down
- Politico: Tax overhaul means years of paydays for K Street
- Politico: Tax law creates confusion and uproar in city halls across America
And the local coverage has been brutal for vulnerable House Republicans:
- CA-All: WSJ: California Poses Problem for GOP as 2018 Dawns
- CA-All: LA Times: The GOP tax plan passed. Now Democrats have another big issue to use in the midterms
- CA-All: Sacramento Bee: California health insurance premiums expected to rise under Republican tax plan
- CA-All: Sacramento Bee: EDITORIAL: Married? Middle class? Californian? Get ready to be a loser under Trump’s tax plan
- CA-All: LA Times: Homeownership will get more expensive for some Californians under the GOP tax bill
- CA-All: LA Times: GOP tax overhaul passes House with help from a dozen California Republicans, even some facing tough reelection battles
- CA-All: LA Times: More than half of Californians oppose GOP tax bill, according to new poll
- CA-All: OC Register: Looming ‘Year of the Woman’ could tilt area Congressional races
- CA-All: LA Times: EDITORIAL: GOP tax bill: A short-term buzz that promises a killer hangover
- CA-All: RCP: Dems See a Path to House Majority in California Races
- CA-49: San Diego Union Tribune: San Diego lawyer requests ethics investigation into Rep. Darrell Issa
- CO-03: Chieftain: Pueblo group protests tax measure
- CO-06: Aurora Sentinel: EDITORIAL: 2017 wrought 2018 priorities for Colorado, nation and Aurora
- CO-All: Denver Post: Why the newly passed federal tax cut will mean higher state taxes for some in Colorado
- CO-All: Denver Post: How does the final GOP tax bill affect health care in Colorado?
- FL-All: Miami Herald: How the GOP tax overhaul could impact your kid’s education
- FL-All: WFTV: Florida residents can’t prepay property taxes, tax collectors say
- FL-All: Miami Herald: Trying to pay your property taxes before the new tax bill? Time is running out
- FL-All: St Augustine Record: What’s a tax hike? That’s the question for the 2018 session
- FL-18: Palm Beach Post: Dem pollster: Brian Mast ‘vulnerable,’ Trump and tax cut unpopular
- FL-18: TC Palm: Treasure Coast voters don’t support GOP tax plan, according to new poll
- FL-18: Florida Politics: New poll shows Brian Mast trailing hypothetical Democrat in 2018
- FL-26: Miami New Times: Miami Rep. Curbelo’s wife owns assets that benefit from GOP Tax Bill’s last-minute provision
- FL-27: Miami Herald: Republicans can’t generate buzz for Ros-Lehtinen’s seat, and some say it’s unwinnable
- IA-All: Des Moines Register: EDITORIAL: Charities will need more but get less after GOP tax reform
- IA-01: Telegraph Herald: Dubuque developer: Caveat in tax bill could impact historic redevelopment
- IL-06: Crain’s Chicago Business: The new tax law maybe isn’t playing the way the GOP planned
- IL-06: Chicago Tribune: Property taxpayers in Chicago area scramble to pay bills by end of year before rules change
- IL-06: Chicago Sun-Times: SWEET: Prepaying property taxes to cut federal tax bill a confusing mess for now
- IL-13: Herald and Review: Macon County homeowners part of nationwide rush to prepay property taxes
- IL-12: Belleville News Democrat: Local homeowners rush to pay property taxes ahead of federal deduction cap
- IL-14: Beacon News: Residents jam Kane County treasurer’s office to pay taxes in 2017, avoid GOP law’s deduction cap
- KS-03: Kansas City Star: Will Kevin Yoder’s tax vote hurt him in 2018?
- NM-02: Santa Fe New Mexican: Without mandate, insurance in New Mexico might get more expensive
- ME-All: Bangor Daily News: Tax scam will pale compared to what comes next
- ME-All: Bangor Daily News: Bad policy, unpopular president will help Democrats win in 2018
- MI-06: WHTC: Protesters oppose Tax Reform vote by Fred Upton
- MI-08/13: Detroit News: Dems target Bishop after tax overhaul passes
- MN-03: Star Tribune: Minnesota nonprofits, foundations decry federal tax law, fear more pain with new federal budget
- MN-03: AP: Tax on medical devices to resume after 2-year suspension
- MN-ALL: Star Tribune: EDITORIAL: Tax reform remains a risky gamble
- NC-All: Charlotte Observer: Churches and nonprofits worry charitable donations will plummet under tax law
- NC-All: News & Observer: NC taxpayers are racing to prepay 2018 property taxes and save. The IRS says it won’t work
- NC-All: WRAL: NC residents scramble to prepay property taxes before federal laws change
- NC-All: News & Observer: With sweeping tax cuts, US follows NC over a fiscal cliff
- NC-All: WRAL: EDITORIAL: Tax bill’s burden falls heaviest on middle class, why is that good?
- NC-All: INDY Week: What North Carolina’s Experience Tells Us About the Republican Tax Overhaul
- NC-09: Shareblue Media: GOP rep says middle-class workers don’t deserve tax cuts because that’s “socialism”
- NC-13: High Point Enterprise: Tax overhaul may sway 2018 politics
- NJ-03: Asbury Park Press: EDITORIAL: GOP tax bill a shameful sell out
- NY-All: NY Daily News: EDITORIAL: Trump’s misbegotten tax bill, the gift that keeps on taking
- NY-22: Politifact New York: Wealthy would do well under tax plan, contrary to Tenney’s claim
- NY-22: NY State of Politics: Tenney Does Not Think Texas’s Farenthold Should Resign
- NY-24: Auburn Citizen: ‘Con job’: Democrats vying to challenge Katko pan his tax vote
- PA-08/15: Politics PA: PPP: PA-8 and PA-15 Voters Do Not Approve of GOP Tax Plan
- TX-All: Dallas Morning News: Prepaying 2018 property taxes may not help Texans on federal returns
- TX-All: Dallas Morning News: Tax-reform bill would hurt Texas universities and students
- TX-All: Fox 4 News: Texas realtors worry about impact of GOP tax bill
- TX-All: Houston Chronicle: For Texas, GOP tax bill has its hits and misses
- VA-10: WTOP: Fairfax Co. taxpayers line up to prepay property taxes ahead of new $10K cap
- VA-10: Washington Post: IRS says many who prepaid property taxes may still face cap on deductions
- VA-10: WTTG: As GOP tax plan passes in Congress, taxpayers rushing to prepay property taxes for 2018
- VA-10: Washington Post: Rubin: Rep. Comstock: A case study in how Republicans lose the majority
- WA-08: Stranger: The GOP Tax Bill Will Hit Parts of Central Washington Hard