Presidential Primary Update

DONALD TRUMP IS THE REPUBLICAN PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE
Donald Trump reached the requisite number of delegates to officially clinch the Republican nomination when he passed the 1,237 delegate threshold on Thursday, May 26. Trump has been widely considered to be the presumptive Republican nominee since the Indiana Primary. His last remaining competitors, John Kasich and Ted Cruz, ended their campaigns after poor showings in that state. Republicans hold their convention in Cleveland from July 18^th to the 21^st.

HILLARY CLINTON IS THE DEMOCRATIC PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE
Hillary Clinton reached the requisite number of delegates to officially clinch the Democratic Nomination when she passed the 2,383 delegates threshold following the New Jersey and California primaries. Clinton has been widely considered to be the presumptive Democratic nominee, although Senator Bernie Sanders has vowed to continue his campaign until the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia on July 25th-28th.

OVERALL STANDING OF DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES (2,383 delegates needed for the nomination)

Hillary Clinton: 2,755 delegates (wins include Iowa, Nevada, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, American Samoa, Louisiana, Mississippi, the Northern Mariana Islands, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Arizona, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Guam, Kentucky, North Dakota, California, New Mexico, New Jersey / Clinton has the support of 537 unpledged or “super” delegates).

Bernie Sanders: 1,804 delegates (wins include New Hampshire, Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Vermont, Democrats Abroad, Kansas, Nebraska, Maine, Michigan, Idaho, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington State, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Rhode Island, Indiana, West Virginia, Oregon,Montana / Sanders has the support of 42 unpledged or “super” delegates)

The Democrats will hold their convention in Philadelphia from July 25^th to the 28^th.

The remaining primaries and caucuses are listed below

June 14 - District of Columbia Democratic Primary

WASHINGTON, DC UPDATE

CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS

Congress continues to prioritize the marking up and passage of 12 appropriations bills before the adjourn for summer recess. The chart below outlines where each appropriations bill is in the process.

ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS BILL FAILS TO PASS HOUSE

The House FY 2017 Energy and Water appropriations bill failed to pass (with a vote of 112 in favor and 305 against). 130 Republicans and 175 Democrats opposed the measure. Democratic opposition to the measure centered around policy riders that would weaken the Clean Water Act, permit individuals to carry guns on land owned by the Army Corps of Engineers, and forbid the federal government from cutting off funds to North Carolina due to its new law regarding transgendered individuals and the restrooms they are permitted to use. On the Republican side, opposition came about from an amendment by Senator Patrick Maloney that would forbid federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT individuals. Failure to pass this bill could jeopardize Congress’ attempt to return to regular order in the budget process. Leadership in the House and Senate have committed to re-evaluating their approach in getting the remaining appropriations bill to the President’s desk. One such approach may include controlling the bills and amendment process more tightly.

CONGRESS IN SESSION
Dates below indicate when the House and Senate are in session from now until the end of August. Summer recess commences after July 15 and end on September 5.

Senate
Week of June 6:                 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Week of June 13:                13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Week of June 20:                20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Week of June 27:                27, 28, 29, 30
Week of July 4:                    6, 7, 8
Week of July 11:                 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

House
Week of June 6:                 7, 8, 9, 10
Week of June 13:                13, 14, 15, 16
Week of June 20:                21, 22,23, 24
Week of July 4:                    5, 6, 7, 8
Week of July 11:                 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RULE ON EXEMPT AND NON-EXEMPT EMPLOYEES
The Department of Labor has published a final rule that doubles the minimum salary employers must pay in order to classify employees as exempt (from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act). The new minimum salary level established by the rule is $47,476, more than double the current level - $23,660. This significant increase is $3,000 lower compared to the salary level put forward in the proposed version of the rule (published in February of 2015). This salary threshold will now be automatically updated every three years. The salary level for highly compensated employees will increase from $100,000 to $134,000. To see the final rule in its entirety, click here. It’s effective date is December 1, 2016.

STATEWIDE UPDATES

New Jersey

New Jersey Primary Recap- On Tuesday, June 7th, 2016, NJ held it's primary election. Although it is a late-season primary, it became a battleground between Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Clinton's victory over Sanders in NJ is seen as decisive, although Sanders has vowed to remain in the race. This breakdown looks at the Presidential race and key Congressional and Legislative races.

Presidential
Donald Trump received 80% of the vote, walking away with NJ's 51 Republican Delgates

Hillary Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders. Clinton received 63.3% of the votes (542,708 votes) to Sanders' 36.7% (315,218 votes). Clinton is now the presumptive Democratic nominee.

US Congress- Contested Races
District 1: US Congressman Donald Norcross defeated challenger Alex Law with 69.7% of the vote in the Democratic Primary. Congressman Norcross will face Republican challenger Bob Patterson in the November General Election

District 2: David Cole defeated Tino Rozzo to receive the Democratic party's nomination for Congress. Cole will face Congressman Frank LoBiondo in the November General Election.

District 3: Frederick LaVergne defeated Jim Keady with 62.7% of the vote to receive the Democratic Party's nomination for Congress. LaVergne will face Congressman Tom MacAuthur in the general election.

District 4: Congressman Chris Smith defeated challenger Bruce MacDonald with 92% of the vote. Congressman Smith will face Democratic challenger Lorna Phillipson in the fall.

District 5: Congressman Scott Garrett retained the Republican Party's nomination for Congress with 82.3% of the vote defeating Michael Cino and Peter Vallorosi. Congressman Garrett will face Joshua Gottheimer in the fall.

District 7: Congressman Leonard Lance retained the Republican Party's nomination for Congress with 53.9% of the vote, defeating challengers David Larsen and Craig Heard. Congressman Lance will face Peter Jacob in the November general election.

District 8: Congressman Albio Sires received 87% of the vote against young upstart Eloy Delgado for the Democratic Party's nomination for Congress. Congressman Sires will face Agha Khan in the general.

District 11: Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen retained the Republican Party's nomination for Congress, defeating Rick Van Glahn with 76.2% of the vote. Congressman Frelinghuysen will face Democrat Joseph Wenzel in November. Wenzel defeated Richard McFarlane and Lee Anne Brogowski with 71% of the vote.

District 12: Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman retained the Democratic Party's nomination for Congress, defeating Alexander Kucsma with 93.7% of the vote. Congresswoman Watson Coleman will face Steven Uccio in the general.

Pennsylvania

PA-Gov: Wolf to Sign Liquor Reform Bill- The state legislature approved the liquor modernization bill yesterday and the legislation is on its way to Governor Tom Wolf’s desk for final review. The bill will allow for grocery stores that currently sell beer to sell up to four bottles of wine, allows restaurants and hotels to sell up to four bottles of wine for take-out, and removes Sunday restrictions and state-mandated holidays. Read more...

Philadelphia City Council Set to Consider Mayor's Sugary Drink Tax- Mayor Jim Kenney proposed a 3-cent-an-ounce tax on soda and other sugary beverages to pay for universal prekindergarten, community schools and park improvements. The City Council is scheduled to take a key vote Wednesday on what is expected to be a compromise measure. The soda industry has fought the proposal with millions of dollars in advertising. Read more...

Philly in Talks for Protest Insurance Ahead of DNC- Philadelphia is getting “law-enforcement liability insurance” — more commonly known as riot or protest insurance — to cover potential claims of police brutality and other civil-rights violations that could arise out of this summer’s Democratic National Convention protests. Read more...

Pa. Senate Could Vote this Month on Opioid-Education Bill- Legislation to require medical professionals who prescribe opioid drugs to receive education on the topic sailed through a Senate committee Tuesday. The Pennsylvania Medical Society, which supports the bill, said the proposal would require doctors who are approved to prescribe controlled narcotics to complete education in pain management and in the prescribing practices of opioids. Read more...

Ohio

Ohio Senator Feels Marijuana Bill Has Some Flaws- Medicinal marijuana could be coming to Ohio this fall, and there are some important facts people need to know before taking the drug. Ohio Senator Lou Gentile said he feels the bill was rushed through the legislature, and there are some flaws. Including, employers can still fire their employees if the test positive for it even if they have a prescription. Read More...

A Suburb on the Brink of Bankruptcy- As the rest of the country emerges from the Great Recession, East Cleveland finds itself spiraling further into financial ruin. Is there any hope for saving the city? Read More...

Poll: Voters overwhelmingly support medical marijuana- U.S. Veterans Administration doctors should be allowed to prescribe marijuana in pill form to veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, American voters overwhelmingly said in a Quinnipiac University National poll released Monday. Read More...