Senate Passes Unemployment Benefits Extension, Obama Signs Bill
The Senate last night passed an extension of unemployment benefits, after Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) relented on his efforts to delay passage. The final vote on passage was 78-19. The White House announced that President Obama has signed the bill into law.
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:45 a.m. ET, and meet with senior advisers at 10:30 a.m. ET. He will deliver remarks at 1:45 p.m. ET., on health care reform. He will meet at 3:05 p.m. ET with National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Bobby Barrera. He will meet at 4:35 p.m. ET with American Legion Commander Clarence Hill. He will host a reception at 5:30 p.m. ET, to thank members of Congress for their efforts to restore the pay-as-you-go rule.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President will host a breakfast reception at 8:30 a.m. ET, with state Attorneys General, at the Naval Observatory. He will deliver remarks at an 11 a.m. ET memorial service for the late Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), at the Capitol. He will meet with senior advisers at the White House in the afternoon. Later, he will attend President Obama’s reception for members of Congress, to thank them for their efforts to restore the statutory pay-as-you-go rule.
Kaine: ‘I Relish’ GOP Campaigning On Repeal Of Health Care Bill
In an appearance on the Today show, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine said he is not worried about Republican threats to campaign this year on repealing any health care bill. “If they want to run a campaign of bring back the day of kicking people off because of pre-existing conditions, I relish it,” said Kaine, who also stood by the potential use of the budget reconciliation process: “The reconciliation is every bit as much a rule of the Senate as filibuster.”
Hillary Clinton Seeks To Press Brazil on Iran
As part of her tour of South America, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will work today to try to win support for sanctions against Iran from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has been an opponent of sanctions and is seeking closer ties to Iran. “It [Iran] has been found to be in violation by the International Atomic Energy Agency and by the United Nations Security Council,” Clinton told reporters. “These are not findings by the United States. These are findings by the international community.”
GOPers Criticizing Planned Study On Gays In The Military
Some Republican members of Congress are already dismissing a planned nine-month Pentagon study on gays in the military. Said Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee: “Many of us on this committee have serious concerns with putting our men and women in uniform through such a divisive debate while they are fighting two wars.”
Gay Marriage Becomes Legal In D.C.
Same-sex marriage has officially become legal in Washington starting today, with a law passed by the city council coming into effect. This also comes after U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts declined to issue a stay against the law, which was being sought by a group that claimed they were legally entitled to have a referendum.
