8 | EXPRESS | 06.18.2018 | MONDAY
nation+world
On immigration plan, ‘GOP’s in a tough spot’
‘OUT OF THIS WORLD’
Spacewoman retires with NASA records
POLITICS The push toward immigration votes in the House is intensifying the divide among Republicans on one of the party’s most animating issues and fueling concerns that a voter backlash could cost the GOP control of the House in November. To many conservatives, the compromise immigration proposal released last week by House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is little more than “amnesty.” One tea party group described the Republican plan as “the final betrayal.” Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, who is close to President Trump, tweeted Friday that Ryan is “trying to open our borders even more and give illegal immigrants the biggest amnesty in American history.” Passage of the bill could alienate conservatives and depress turnout at a time when enthusiasm among Democrats is high. Yet scuttling the bill could turn off independent voters, an especially important bloc for House Republicans competing in dozens of districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. “The GOP’s in a tough spot,” said Republican pollster Frank Luntz. “The hardcore Trump voter has a different point of view
J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE (AP)
Republicans are risking conservative backlash over Ryan’s proposal
House Speaker Paul Ryan released a compromise proposal on Thursday.
than the ever-important independent voter, and there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground.” The draft legislation, resulting from negotiations between moderates and conservatives, includes a path to citizenship for an estimated 1.8 million young immigrants in the country illegally. The plan includes $25 billion for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and other security measures sought by the White House. Trump will reportedly meet with House Republicans to discuss the issue Tuesday — days after his comments during an impromptu Fox News interview on the White House driveway nearly derailed the planned House vote.
Trump said Friday in the interview that he wouldn’t sign what was described as the “moderate” immigration bill, even though the version written by House leadership is based on his own priorities. White House officials later said the president had misspoken and didn’t realize he was being asked about the compromise bill. Skittish conservative lawmakers have indicated they wouldn’t support the plan unless Trump were to give it a full embrace. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., said, “House Republicans are not going to take on immigration without the support and endorsement of President Trump.”
NASA’s record-breaking astronaut, Peggy Whitson, retired Friday, less than a year after returning from her last and longest spaceflight, which spanned almost 10 months. She’s spent more time off the planet than any other American: 665 days over three space station missions. Only Russian men have spent more time in space. Whitson, 58, was the first woman to command the International Space Station, holding the position twice, and the oldest woman ever to fly in space. “As I reminisce on my many treasured memories,” she tweeted, “it’s safe to say my journey at NASA has been out of this world!” (AP)
STEVE PEOPLES (AP)
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS
McDonald’s to phase out plastic straws
McDonald’s said Friday it will start phasing out paper straws at all its locations in the United Kingdom and Ireland in September, and test an alternative to plastic ones in some U.S. restaurants later this year. Fast-food companies are facing pressure from environmental activists to stop using plastic straws because they can end up in the ocean and harm marine life. Paper straws, unlike plastic ones, disintegrate over time. (AP) Police: Taxi driver who hit 8 pedestrians in Moscow’s Red Square fell asleep at the wheel
weekendd re win CARACAS, VENEZUELA
17 killed in stampede at crowded nightclub Seventeen people were killed at a crowded nightclub in the Venezuelan capital Saturday after a tear gas device exploded during a brawl and triggered a desperate stampede among more than 500 people gathered for a graduation celebration, government officials said. The incident at the Los Cotorros club in Caracas left eight minors dead and five injured. Eight people were detained, including two teens believed responsible for setting off the tear gas canister, and the club’s owner. (AP) KONAR, AFGHANISTAN
Pakistani Taliban leader killed in U.S. drone strike A U.S. drone strike killed the head of the Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan’s eastern Konar province, officials said Friday, eliminating the commander who ordered the 2012 attack on Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani confirmed the death of Mullah Fazlullah in a Twitter message. He credited “tireless human intel led by Afghan security agencies.” (THE WASHINGTON POST)
CRIME
Theranos CEO Holmes indicted on fraud charges Federal prosecutors indicted Elizabeth Holmes Friday on criminal fraud charges for allegedly defrauding investors, doctors and the public as the head of the blood-testing startup Theranos. Holmes and former Chief Operating Officer Ramesh Balwani are charged with two counts conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud each. Holmes remains the company’s chairwoman, but is stepping down as CEO. (AP)
Georgia woman attacked by rabid bobcat in her front yard strangles animal to death