In May 1993, President Bill Clinton got a $200 haircut while on board Air Force One at LA International Airport. The media reported that this had tied up ground and air traffic, putting as many as 37 planes in a holding pattern. That later was shown to be false, but the incident became known as “Hairgate.” Republicans criticized Clinton for his “regal” attitude and for using government resources – his government plane, Secret Service time and airport disruption – for personal vanity.  

Tomorrow, President Trump will be having a large military parade from the Pentagon in Virginia to the National Mall in Washington DC for his 79th birthday. The parade will include 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles and seven military bands, at a cost to taxpayers of between $25m and $45 million. Ronald Reagan National Airport will be shut down for at least an hour and a half, affecting more than 100 flights and thousands of passengers.   

Just as with President Clinton, Republicans are outraged. Nah. Just kidding! Crickets. 🦗🦗🦗

This week, the House overwhelmingly passed my bill to let the city, county, state, and non-profits contribute directly to the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), which is the primary defense on our side of the border against the cross-border pollution crisis. Our state and local partners have witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of this environmental and public health crisis. With these additional funding pathways, we will have the flexibility in case other funding streams dry up, so that we can continue to invest in the long-term health and well-being of our region.