Morning Must Reads: February 26

In the News: Dave Camp's tax plan, Ukraine disbands riot police, Bitcoin exchange collapses, Jeb Bush and Rand Paul 2016 Frontrunners, GOP wants Arizona's Anti-Gay law to go away

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Mark Wilson / Getty Images

The early morning sun rises behind the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

  • Dave Camp on how to fix the tax code: “The last time the U.S. enacted a comprehensive tax reform was 1986. But many of America’s major competitors have been actively reforming their tax laws in recent years. Even our closest neighbors are getting ahead of us. Canada has already reformed its tax laws and Mexico is doing so right now. If Congress doesn’t take action, the U.S. risks falling further behind.” [WSJ]
  • “Senate Republican and Democratic leaders told reporters Tuesday that they see little hope for tax reform this year, the day before House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Dave Camp (R—Mich.) is due to present his proposal on the very same subject.” [TIME]
  • “From a list of five high profile Republican Party leaders, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul capture the most interest among self-identified Republicans; 41 percent of Republicans say they would like to see Bush run  (27 percent say no to a Bush bid) while 39 percent say yes to a Paul candidacy (21 percent say no).” [CBS News]
  • “Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Tuesday accused GOP governors of “playing with people’s lives” by refusing to expand Medicaid in their states under ObamaCare.” [The Hill]
  • Biden: State Voter Id push driven by ‘hatred’ [TIME]
  • GOP on Arizona Gay Law: Make it Go Away [Politico]
  • Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Expected to Veto [CNN]
  • “Several governors are trying to thwart attempts to reduce food-stamp payments to their states, in a move that could affect portions of the recently passed farm bill aimed at saving $8.6 billion over the next 10 years.While congressional aides conceded Tuesday that the moves could have some impact on projected savings in the federal budget, they say it is too early to tell exactly how significant that impact might be.” [National Journal]
  • Putin Orders Military Drill Amid Turmoil in Neighboring Ukraine [NBC News]
  • “A riot police force used against anti-government protesters in Ukraine has been disbanded, the country’s acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said Wednesday.” [CNN]
  • An Unfinished Palace and a Fugitive Leader’s Folly [NYT]
  • “Mt. Gox, the Tokyo-based Bitcoin exchange that halted withdrawals this month, went offline as a document surfaced alleging long-term theft of about $365 million in the digital currency.” [Bloomberg] And from Bloomberg ViewMt. Gox Meltdown Spells Doom for Bitcoin
  • Are Federal Workers Overpaid? [New Republic]