Obama Hitting The Campaign Trail
President Obama will be spending the next two days on the mid-term campaign trail, for an election year in which the Democrats are expected to lose a significant number of seats. Obama will be making stops in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, all states that have important races this year.
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will greet members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform at 9:30 a.m. ET, and deliver remarks at 9:45 a.m. ET on the importance of forging bipartisan consensus around recommendations to improve the country’s fiscal health. Obama will depart the White House at 10:05 a.m. Et, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 10:20 a.m. ET. He will arrive at 12:30 p.m. ET in Quincy, Illinois. At 1:30 p.m. ET, he will tour the Siemens Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturing Plant in Fort Madison, Iowa. At 2:10 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks on how to grow the economy. At 3 p.m. ET, he will tour a local business in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. At 5:35 p.m. ET, he will hold a town hall meeting at Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, Iowa.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner will travel this morning to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At 12:30 p.m. ET, Biden will chair a Middle Class Task Force meeting, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business, at which Biden will promote financial reform. Afterwards, Biden will will return to Washington.
Dems Lose Financial Reform Vote, But Smell Political Victory
Roll Call reports that Democrats see a political victory in yesterday’s vote by Republicans to filibuster Wall Street reform. “Actions have consequences, and there’s a political price to be paid to protect Wall Street,” said a senior Senate Democratic aide. “We feel we have the upper hand. We’re on the right side of the issues.”
Durbin: ‘The Filibusters Have To End’ On Financial Reform
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) told CNN that “the filibusters have to end,” firing back at Republicans for blocking the financial reform bill. “I’m willing to listen to any constructive suggestion,” said Durbin. “What I’m not willing to do is basically say we are going to change and weaken the bill to bring in Republican votes. We want to make sure this bill is strong.”
Lindsey Graham Stops Playing Ball
The New York Times profiles Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who has made a name for himself by working with Democrats on some key issues — but suddenly pulled out of the energy bill talks this past weekend. “I was mad, because they brought immigration up in the 11th hour,” said Graham, also adding: “If you’re going to do business with people, they’ve got to understand that you can push back.”
Mexican President Condemns Arizona Immigration Law
Mexican President Felipe Calderón has condemned Arizona’s new anti-illegal immigration law, calling it “a violation of human rights,” and also saying that it also “opens the door to intolerance and hatred.” Calderón also promised that it would be at the top of his agenda when he meets with President Obama in May.
