Roaring: Economic Optimism Index hits 13-year high, credit to tax cuts In Washington Examiner, Paul Bedard reports that the IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index reached its highest level in the past week since 2004. "The survey is not a fluke," Bedard writes. "Just a week ago, the global financier UBS found widespread corporate confidence in the economy. Some 83 percent have a 'positive outlook.'" Raghavan Mayur, president of IBD polling partner TechnoMetrica, said that "Americans are upbeat because of Trump's tax cuts" and "a strong job market." Click here to read more. ------------ The Associated Press reports that "the rush of anxiety has obscured a fundamental fact about the U.S. economy: It's healthy." Christopher Rugaber and Josh Boak write that "the job market is strong. So is housing. Consumer confidence is solid, and manufacturing is rebounding. Households and businesses are spending freely. Personal debt has lightened since the financial crisis a decade ago. And major economies around the world are growing in tandem." ------------ In The Washington Free Beacon, Susan Crabtree covers the recent deaths of NFL linebacker Edwin Jackson and his Uber driver, Jeffrey Monroe, at the hands of an illegal immigrant suspected of drunk driving. "We must do more to get these dangerous illegal immigrant criminals off of our streets, and guarantee this never happens again by building a wall, ending sanctuary cities, and stopping illegal immigration once and for all," Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN) said in response to the tragedy. ------------ "British oil and gas company BP (BP.L) will increase investment in the United States after the lowering of tax rates under President Donald Trump," Reuters reports. "The regulatory system in the United States is suddenly so much easier. It was becoming an avalanche of regulations in every direction," BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley said. "From a business community stand point this is quite transformational, there will be a lot of capital attracted to the U.S. because of that." ------------ Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC) writes in The Robesonian that "our economy is booming, ISIS is on the run, Obamacare's individual mandate has been abolished, and the American people once again have reason to be confident about the future." Rep. Pittenger explains that thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, "a typical family of four will save more than $2,000 a year on taxes. To Nancy Pelosi, these tax reform benefits are 'crumbs.' To hardworking North Carolinians, it's real money that will make a difference." ------------ "Following the State of the Union speech, in which President Trump announced his intention to 'modernize and rebuild' the U.S. nuclear deterrent, the administration released its much-anticipated Nuclear Posture Review (NPR)," former Under Secretary of State Robert Joseph writes in The Hill. Joseph believes that the President has laid out a "convincing set of policy principles and recommended actions" for an effective nuclear deterrence posture.