Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Five of the eight senators who crafted a bipartisan immigration-reform package hosted a Capitol Hill press conference today to formally unveil their plan. Expect to hear quite a bit more about this on tonight’s show.
* One of the key ambiguities — and one of the few differences between the bipartisan Senate version and the White House policy — is the proposed Southwest Commission. Greg Sargent has a good piece on this, and why the policy is important.
* For his part, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has promised to bring an immigration bill “across the finish line.” The House, however, remains a wildcard. More on this tomorrow morning.
* Preventing gun violence remains a front-burner issue: “Meeting with law enforcement officials hailing from communities affected by high-profile shootings, President Barack Obama on Monday stressed the importance of reaching consensus with Congress to advance his gun violence proposals.”
* A terrible fire destroyed a nightclub in southern Brazil yesterday, killing 233 people and sending another 92 to local hospitals.
* Egyptian unrest: “Large protests in the Suez Canal city of Port Said and fresh clashes in Cairo on Monday marked a fifth day of widening unrest in Egypt, a day after President Mohamed Morsi declared a state of emergency and a curfew in three major cities as escalating violence in the streets threatened his government and Egypt’s democracy.”
* I still blame Congress for this fiasco: “The State Department on Monday reassigned Daniel Fried, the special envoy for closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and will not replace him, according to an internal personnel announcement.” * For all of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) alleged moderation, it’s worth noting that he vetoed a minimum-wage increase today. * Dear George Will, you don’t understand climate science and should stop writing columns on the subject that are routinely filled with errors of fact and judgment. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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