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Catharine Richert

The Daily Digest: Kline education bill passes House

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Good morning! Here are five politics stories you should be following today:

1. No Child Left Behind rewrite.

The U.S. House narrowly voted to reauthorize No Child Left Behind. The bill proposes some big changes to the law, including allowing federal dollars to follow low-income kids to any public school they choose. Why should you care? U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., is the chief sponsor of the bill, and finding votes to pass the legislation was a test for Kline and GOP leadership after the bill was pulled from the floor earlier this year. Meanwhile, the Senate is debating its own rewrite, but the bill is  very different. (MPR News)

2. The flag is coming down.

The South Carolina House voted to take down the Confederate flag in front of the Capitol. It's a historic moment, and the flag, which the Senate has already voted to take down, is almost certain to be sent to a nearby museum after the state's governor signs the bill. (Post and Courier)

3. "Death panel" revival.

Remember "death panels?" Those ominous bureaucrats who former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin erroneously said would decide who could live and who would die? Get ready for the term to make a comeback now that Medicare is proposing to reimburse doctors for the time they spend talking to their patients about end-of-life planning. (The New York Times)

4. GOP fears Trump antics.

The chief fundraiser for the Republican Party spent a hour on the phone with presidential candidate Donald Trump recently in the hopes of talking him into toning down his language. Republicans are worried that Trump's comments about immigrants are ruining any headway they've made among Hispanic voters, a constituency they see as key in the 2016 election. (The Washington Post)

5. SWLRT back on track.

The Metropolitan Council on Wednesday backed $250 million in cuts to the proposed Southwest Corridor light rail line, a move intended to stem the line's spiraling costs and rescue the project. The project, which has already had its share of controversy, was nearly derailed by cost overrides. (MPR News)