Obama To Extend Offshore Drilling Moratorium
President Obama is set to announce today that he will extend the moratorium on new deepwater oil drilling permits for six months, while a presidential commission investigates the issue. The Associated Press reports: “Controversial lease sales off the coast of Alaska will be delayed pending the results of the commission’s investigation, and lease sales planned in the Western Gulf and off the coast of Virginia will be canceled, the [White House] aide said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of a midday Obama news conference.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9 a.m. ET. At 10:35 a.m. ET, Obama will welcome the NCAA Men’s Basketball Champion Duke Blue Devils to the White House. At 11 a.m. ET, Obama, Biden and former President Bill Clinton will take a photo with the U.S. World Cup Soccer Team. Obama will have lunch with Bill Clinton at 11:25 a.m. ET. At 12:45 p.m. ET, Obama will deliver remarks and take questions from the press. At 2:05 p.m. ET, Obama will receive a briefing on the 2010 hurricane season forecast and the federal government’s preparedness. He will hold bilateral meeting at 3:10 p.m. ET with President Sirleaf of Liberia. At 4:10 p.m. ET, the President, Vice President and First Lady will host a reception in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month. The First Family will depart the White House at 6:15 p.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 7 p.m. ET, arriving at 8:15 p.m. ET in Chicago.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will attend President Obama’s morning briefing at 9 a.m. ET, and the photo opportunity at 11 a.m. ET with Obama, Bill Clinton and the U.S. World Cup Soccer Team. Biden will meet at 12:30 p.m. ET with Bill Clinton. He will attend the 2:05 p.m. ETÂ Situation Room briefing with President Obama on the 2010 hurricane season. At 3:15 p.m. ET, Biden will meet with participants of the Annual Cyprus and Hellenic Leadership Conference. Afterwards, he will attend the 4:10 p.m. ET reception at the White House in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month.
Biden: U.S. Withdrawal From Iraq Will Be On Time
Vice President Biden told the Washington Post that the scheduled withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq will be done on time. “It’s going to be painful; there’s going to be ups and downs,” said Biden. “But I do think the end result is going to be that we’re going to be able to keep our commitment.”
Congress to Vote On Military Gay Ban
The House of Representatives could vote as early as today on whether to repeal the ban on gays in the military — with a compromise legislation that would give the military time for the President and Joint Chiefs of Staff to first certify that it would not hurt the military’s ability to fight. The Senate Armed Services Committee is also set to take up an identical amendment, offered by Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT).
GOP Gears Up For Fight Over Gays In The Military
Roll Call reports that Senate Republicans are preparing to fight efforts to repeal the ban on gays in the military, including a filibuster of the defense authorization bill. “I’ll do everything in my power,” said Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who cited letters from the four service chiefs urging Congress not to act before a Pentagon review of the policy is complete. “I’m going to do everything I can to support the men and women of the military and to fight what is clearly a political agenda.”
Hoyer Tells Committee Heads To Find Something To Cut
The Hill reports: “House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said during a Wednesday morning meeting with committee chairmen that he and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) intended to hold them to a Friday deadline to submit detailed lists of duplicative and wasteful programs that can be eliminated from the $3 trillion budget. ‘You need to produce something on this,’ Hoyer said, according to a person in the room. ‘You all need to find some programs to cut.'”
