White House Wrap-Up: New Hampshire Opioid Crisis and Visit from Irish Prime Minister

What’s troubling New Hampshire 
New Hampshire has had the second highest rate of opioid-involved overdose deaths in the Nation since 2014. A poll conducted last year found that drugs were the biggest problem facing the Granite State—the first time in the poll’s history that a majority named any single issue as the most important.

Today, President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump travel to Manchester, New Hampshire. The President will address America’s opioid epidemic at Manchester Community College and discuss his Administration’s initiative to stop opioid abuse and reduce drug supply and demand, which has four components:

1. Address the driving forces of the opioid crisis, including over-prescription, illicit drug supplies, and insufficient access to evidence-based treatment.

2. Reduce demand and over-prescription in part by educating Americans about the dangers of opioid and other drug use.

3. Cut off the supply of illicit drugs by cracking down on international and domestic supply chains that devastate American communities.

4. Help those struggling with addiction through evidence-based treatment and recovery support services.

Watch live as the President addresses the opioid crisis at 2:40 p.m. ET today.

Learn more: How America will win the war on opioid addiction

New frontiers 
Last week, President Trump took time during a cross-country trip to the U.S.-Mexico border to address military service members at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California.

The President touched on many themes, including thanking our hardworking military men and women for their service and dedication to the cause. He also charted a path forward, echoing themes from his National Space Council—a group chaired by Vice President Mike Pence that the President resurrected after a 24-year hiatus.

“From the very beginning, many of our astronauts have been soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen and Marines,” the President said. “We're going to lead the way in space.”

Watch President Trump’s speech to service members at Miramar.

Infrastructure: The Federal role 
The Federal Government provides important infrastructure funding, but it often does so inefficiently and with numerous restrictions. Washington depends on taxpayers at the state and local level, yet Federal funding is too often directed by priorities of those inside the Beltway.

President Trump proposes to fix this problem by maintaining the traditional balance of Federal and non-Federal funding, while investing in a way that stretches every dollar and delivers on local needs. His proposal will keep existing Federal funding in place, including for the Highway Trust Fund.

The President’s plan would improve on existing policy by directing half of Federal funds to an Incentives Program for State and local applicants. This system keeps infrastructure decisions out of the D.C. bureaucracy and in State and local hands.

Learn more: What you need to know about infrastructure funding

PHOTO OF THE DAY

President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar of Ireland | March 15, 2018 (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

POTUS TODAY

This morning, after receiving his daily intelligence briefing, President Trump will travel to Manchester Community College to deliver remarks on combatting the opioid crisis.

The White House: Fighting the Opioid Scourge

How to win the war on opioids 
The numbers around drug addiction in the United States are staggering. In 2016 alone, an estimated 20.1 million Americans—about 1 in 13 people aged 12 or older—had a substance use disorder.

For President Donald J. Trump, addiction is more than just a policy issue. As a young man, he witnessed the pain of addiction in his family. Now as President, he is fighting back.

Today, the White House will convene a major summit on opioids. A number of senior Administration officials will join about 200 participants from across the Nation, including Americans who have suffered from opioid abuse or watched as a loved one struggled with such an addiction.

“It is time to liberate our communities from this scourge,” President Trump says.

See 3 ways the entire Administration has mobilized to address this crisis.

The big picture: America’s resurgent economy 
Inside the Beltway, people often forget that what matters most to ordinary Americans is results. And recent news showing surging small-business and consumer confidence, near record low unemployment claims, and expectations of continued economic momentum is good news for U.S. workers and their families.

A few headlines paint the picture:

• US Consumer Confidence Rises to Highest Level Since 2000 (The Associated Press)
• Record Number of U.S. Small-Business Owners Say It’s a Good Time to Expand (Bloomberg)
• U.S. Jobless Claims near 45-Year Low as Economic Outlook Brightens (Reuters)
• Fed Thinks the Economy Has Momentum, Thanks Partly to Tax Cuts, Global Growth (Washington Examiner)

After 8 years of a presidential administration not taking economic growth seriously enough, President Trump has committed to an agenda that puts U.S. workers and businesses first.

Learn more: Headlines that tell the story of America’s resurgent economy

Moving forward with school safety 
President Trump hosted a bipartisan group of Members of Congress at the White House yesterday to discuss legislation to address the recent horrors of mass shootings.

Lawmakers shared ideas on a number of solutions, including improving Federal reporting on background checks, reforming FBI tip-handling procedures, increasing security at schools, and addressing emergency preparedness. The President has hosted a number of such listening sessions in the two weeks following the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

“This is bipartisan,” President Trump told the Members of Congress yesterday. “We’re determined to turn our grief into action. I really believe that. I think that the people at this table want it.”

Watch the President’s meeting with Members of Congress.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump honor the late Reverend Billy Graham | February 28, 2018 (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

POTUS TODAY

Today, President Trump will host a meeting about school safety before having lunch with Vice President Pence and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. In the afternoon, the President will meet with members of the Senate.

This morning, the Vice President will deliver remarks at the United States Department of Homeland Security's 15th Anniversary.

President Trump Heads to Ohio to Discuss Opioid Crisis (Build the Wall!)

What tax cuts mean for Ohio 
This afternoon, President Donald J. Trump visits Cincinnati, Ohio, for the second time during his Administration. He’ll be joined by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Republican legislators from Ohio to discuss what tax cuts and reform has meant for the state.

The President will tell Ohioans that since he signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in late December, more than 300 companies have delivered bonuses, raises, or 401(k) investments to more than 3 million American workers. The result of the bill has been historic tax relief for Americans not seen since President Ronald Reagan’s Administration.

Before he speaks to Ohioans, President Trump will participate in a tour of the Sheffer Corporation—a manufacturer of hydraulic, pneumatic, and custom cylinders—and meet with Ohio business leaders.

Watch the President’s remarks live at 2:30 p.m. ET.

The President meets with North Korean defectors 
President Trump met with eight defectors from North Korea Friday in the Oval Office. One person from the group, Ji Seong-ho, had joined the President as a special guest at last Tuesday’s State of the Union Address.

“[Seong-ho] really made an incredible impression on me and on everybody else, both on television and in that magnificent room,” the President said. “I had an opportunity to meet with some of the folks, and their stories are amazing.”

The defectors shared personal stories of their harrowing escapes from North Korea, as well as details on their experiences living under Pyongyang’s repressive Kim regime. The group of escapees met with other senior U.S. officials during their trip to Washington.

Watch as President Trump meets with these heroic North Korean defectors.

Jobs gains top off a banner week 
Friday morning’s jobs report showed 200,000 new jobs in January, capping off a week of stellar economic news that included rising wages, higher confidence, and expanding manufacturing.

The headlines tell the story:

• BLOOMBERG: U.S. Added 200,000 Jobs in January; Wages Rise Most Since 2009
• CNBC: Pay Gains During Trump’s First Year in Office Best Since the Great Recession
• MARKETWATCH: Wage Increases Reported by Highest Number of Companies in 18 Years, Survey Finds
• WASHINGTON EXAMINER: U.S. Oil Production Hits 10 Million Barrels per Day for First Time Since 1970

Read more: Jobs numbers top off an impressive week of economic news

Bonus read: Council of Economic Advisers shares good news on wage growth

PHOTO OF THE DAY

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump watch a performance by the Florida Atlantic University marching band and cheerleaders prior to Super Bowl LII | February 4, 2018 (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

POTUS TODAY

This morning President Trump met with Vice President Mike Pence. Later, the First Lady will accompany the President to Ohio to participate in a briefing on opioids and a patient meet and greet at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

In the afternoon, The Vice President and Second Lady will depart Washington, DC, en route to Anchorage, Alaska, to participate in a United States Northern Command briefing with aerospace and missile defense leadership.

MassGOP Bulletin: Mass-ive Victories Now and To Come in 2018

  

Friends,

 

The past week has made it clear: Democrats' one-party rule in the Legislature is toxic for Massachusetts, and voters are fed up with it.

 

Last Monday, embattled Senate President Rosenberg (D) stepped aside after he lost all credibility with the public amid a scandal involving sexual abuse and abuse of power by his husband. Unfortunately for Democrats, Rosenberg's temporary move has done nothing to restore the voters' trust in the Senate's Democrat majority.

 

News about Democrats' corruption continued on Friday when a top Democrat was arrested and indicted by federal authorities on hundreds of corruption-related charges. According to prosecutors, Sen. Brian Joyce (D) "ran his Senate office as a criminal enterprise." Even more outrageous, Joyce served as Rosenberg's hand-picked chair of a "committee to improve government" as recently as last year.

 

Fortunately, voters last week got the chance to send a message to Democrats - and they did so loud and clear. Republicans flipped a Democrat-held state senate seat in Worcester County when Dean Tran (R) won a special election last Tuesday. Dean will head to Beacon Hill as our newest GOP senator, and will be a champion for lower taxes and small businesses. Learn more about Dean's inspiring story. 

 

With Democrats running amok on Beacon Hill, now is the time to step up and get involved! We can continue the momentum from Senator-elect Tran's victory and see GOP success across the board in 2018 --> Click here to support the MassGOP today!

 

To Victory,

Kirsten Hughes

MassGOP Chairman 

 
The last three years of GOP leadership have been tremendously beneficial for our Commonwealth, and next year, voters will have the chance to stand with the Baker-Polito team again. Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito announced that they are seeking re-election, their sustained success gives Republicans a great opportunity to hold the Corner Office and win in districts across Massachusetts next year. 

The Baker-Polito team has delivered commonsense Republican reforms for MA:

• Tax relief for 400,000 working families and no new taxes
• Cutting the size of the state's bureaucracy for the first time in nearly 20 years
• Opposing MA becoming a sanctuary state, and working to give law enforcement the tools they need to keep us safe
• Over 120,000 new jobs, with household incomes on the rise

Click here to join the MassGOP's team so we can hold the Corner Office and win across the Commonwealth in 2018!

With 2018 right around the corner, the MassGOP is excited about supporting GOP candidates for office across the Commonwealth - and we're looking for committed individuals who want to help those candidates! We're working to build a pipeline of talented potential staffers who are able to work for campaigns on the GOP team for statewide and other offices. This will be a great opportunity for younger individuals to gain valuable campaign experience during what is sure to be an exciting election cycle! If you're interested in discussing further, please send a resume to info@massgop.com.

 

READ: Governor Demands Accountability In Rosenberg Investigation

"Baker told the Herald yesterday, 'It’s incumbent on the Senate to make sure that whoever they pick here has big-time standing and the independence that’s going to be required to actually do this in a way that ensures the victims and others that come forward feel that they can do so without repercussions.'"

 

WATCH: Baker, Polito Announce Re-Election

Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito announced their plans while touring a Massachusetts factory and touting the success of a public-private partnership.

 

READ: Herald Editorial Criticizes Dems On Failing To Back Baker's Vetoes

"But Spilka was the one leading the charge on the Senate floor these last few years to override most if not all of Gov. Charlie Baker’s budget vetoes — spending reductions that, had they been allowed to stand, could have helped the commonwealth ride out the most recent choppy seas. Take her calls for prudence in that context."

 

READ: Governor Pursues Opioid Reforms

"Governor Charlie Baker proposed Tuesday a sweeping package intended to boost the state’s battle against opioid addiction, including an effort to ensure higher-quality addiction treatment and a new provision allowing doctors to commit unwilling patients to 72 hours in a treatment facility."

  

READ: MassGOP Congratulates Senator-Elect Dean Tran On Victory

"In a statement Tuesday night, MassGOP Chairman Kirsten Hughes said, 'Senator-elect Dean Tran will be a terrific advocate for the people of the Worcester & Middlesex district, and a champion for taxpayers and small businesses on Beacon Hill. The MassGOP is proud to congratulate him on his victory, which is a testament to the fact that voters stand with Governor Baker's vision of fiscal discipline and commonsense reform.'"

 

WATCH: Chairman Hughes Talks 2018 With Jon Keller

Chairman Hughes joined WBZ's Jon Keller to discuss the GOP's plan to defeat Elizabeth Warren and retain the Corner Office in 2018.