G-20 Officials Convene At IMF
Finance officials from around the world are meeting today at the International Monetary Fund, with the United States represented by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke: The Associated Press reports: “The [Obama] administration is hoping the G-20 will endorse a set of financial reforms that will complement the sweeping overhaul that President Barack Obama is seeking to get approved in Congress. The U.S. measure was scheduled for an initial showdown vote in the Senate on Monday.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at 10 a.m. ET, at a naturalization ceremony in the Rose Garden for active duty service members. The President and First Lady will depart from the White House at 11:45 a.m. ET, and from Andrews Air Force Base at 12 p.m. ET. They will arrive at 1:20 p.m. ET in Asheville, North Carolina, for a short vacation.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At 11:30 a.m. ET, he will attend an event for Mark Critz, the Democratic nominee in the special election for the House seat formerly held by the late Democratic Rep. John Murtha. He will then travel to Avoca, Pennsylvania, and attend a 3:30 p.m. ET rally for Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter. Afterwards, he will travel to Wilmington, Delaware, where there are no further public events scheduled.
Schumer: I Won’t Say ‘Wall Street Right Or Wrong’
The New York Times reports that Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) support of financial reform has put him at odds with Wall Street, an important sector in his home state with which he is usually allied. “There are some on Wall Street who want me to say Wall Street right or wrong, and I’m not going to do it,” said Schumer, also adding: “Clearly they did a lot of things wrong.”
Durbin: GOP Resistance To Financial Reform Will Wear Down
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) told reporters that even if Republicans successfully block an upcoming vote on financial reform, resistance by some Republicans could wear down if the issue came up again. “There’s some Republican Senators who have said they’ve promised [Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell [R-Ky.] one ‘no’ vote on the motion to proceed but not two,” Durbin said. “I think there are a lot of second thoughts on the other side of the aisle about whether or not they want to stand as one opposed to Wall Street reform.”
Potential SCOTUS Pick Garland Could Find Foes On Left
The Washington Post reports that Judge Merrick Garland, who is considered to be a potential Supreme Court nominee, could potentially find opposition on the left: “In criticizing Garland, some liberals point to his decisions in Guantanamo cases. In 2003, Garland sided with two conservatives in a three-judge opinion that dismissed some Kuwaiti detainees’ claims that they should be able to cite lack of evidence and challenge their imprisonment at the U.S. military base. In 2008, he agreed to deny a rehearing to a claim from detainees that they should be able to see the U.S. evidence against them, saying he did not want to delay a Supreme Court ruling that ultimately resolved the case.”
Dems’ Campaign Bill Would Force Execs, Union Officials To Stand By Their Ads
The Hill reports that the Democrats’ upcoming campaign finance reform bill, crafted to counter the Citizens United decision, would require top corporate executives, union officials and top donors to obey the same “stand by your ad” provision that candidates do for their own campaign ads, appearing in the ad and announcing that they approved it. The bill would also require the top five contributors to an organization to be listed in a TV or radio ad.
