BP, Transocean Tap A Well Of Washington Lobbyists And Consultants
The Washington Post reports: “Companies involved in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill are hiring a bevy of high-priced Washington lobbyists and consultants to help them weather the crisis, as investigations heat up and calls for policy changes intensify. BP, which has garnered the bulk of public attention and contempt for the spill, has assembled a formidable team of Democrats for its Washington lobbying and public-relations offensive.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at a Father’s Day Event at 10:15 a.m. ET. Then at 12:15 p.m. ET, he will host a Father’s Day Mentoring Barbeque at the White House. He will receive the economic daily briefing at 3:45 p.m. ET, and will meet with senior advisers at 4:15 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will travel in the morning to Midland, Michigan, to promote the stimulus program. AT 10:30 a.m. ET, he will visit the site where Dow Kokam is breaking ground on a new battery manufacturing facility, funded in part by the Recovery Act. He will be joined by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, and officials from Dow Kokam and the Dow Chemical Company. He will then travel to Chicago, Illinois, where he will attend a 1:30 p.m. ET event for Congressional candidate Dan Seals (D-IL), and event for Illinois Democratic Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias. He will then return to Washington, D.C.
House Dems Prep Alternative To Budget That Would Avoid Deficit Vote
The Hill reports: “House Democrats are readying an alternative budget measure that would set next year’s spending levels without requiring a vote on deficits. House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.) said the alternative would be the'”functional equivalent’ of a full-fledged budget. But because it won’t be a traditional budget resolution, it will be silent on future deficits, which are expected to average nearly $1 trillion for the next decade. Democrats have expressed concern about voting for a document showing lots of red ink in an election year.”
Banking Lobbyists Make A Run At Reform Measures
The New York Times reports: “As Congress rushes this week to complete the most far-reaching financial reform plan in decades, the banking industry is mounting an 11th-hour end run. Industry lobbyists — and sympathetic members of Congress — are pushing for provisions to undercut a central pillar of the legislation, known as the Volcker Rule, which would forbid banks from using their own money to make risky wagers on the market and would force them to sell off hedge funds and private equity units.”
Members Are Not Dodging Town Halls
CQ reports that, contrary to popular belief, Democratic members of Congress have not been dodging town halls this year: “Democrats — and Republicans as well — have held more in-person town hall meetings this year than they had by this time last year, according to a database maintained by Knowlegis, which tracks Congressional data. Knowlegis is part of the CQ-Roll Call Group. Through June 16, Members have attended more than 920 in-person town halls, 50 more than the first six months of last year. Democrats have accounted for about 490 town hall meetings; Republicans have held roughly 430.”
Van Hollen No Longer Flawless
Roll Call reports: “It was an uncharacteristically rough week for Rep. Chris Van Hollen. The Maryland Democrat, who is widely viewed as a possible future Speaker, has thrown himself into the middle of the legislative push to roll back a controversial Supreme Court decision lifting restrictions on corporate political spending. But the months-long effort blew up last week — just as it was finally due to hit the floor — after a deal that Van Hollen crafted to win the support of the National Rifle Association sparked a firestorm of criticism from across the ideological spectrum both on and off Capitol Hill.”
