Obama Unveils $3.83 Trillion Budget, With Massive Deficit
President Obama is officially unveiling today a $3.83 trillion federal budget, which would combine spending to deal with unemployment with a freeze on various government programs, and higher taxes on the wealthy by letting the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 expire on families making more than $250,000 per year. The projected deficit would be a $1.56 trillion, due to both high government spending and a decline in revenues because of the bad economy.
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. He will deliver remarks on the budget at 10;45 a.m. ET. He will meet with senior advisers at 11:45 a.m. ET. He will participate in a YouTube interview at 1:45 p.m. ET, answering questions that were submitted by YouTube users during and after the State of the Union address, and voted on by YouTube users. At 4:30 p.m. ET, Obama and Vice President Biden will meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will meet in the morning with senior advisers at the White House. at 2 p.m. Et, he will meet with Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi. He will meet at 4:30 p.m. ET with President Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. At 6 p.m., Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden will host a reception at the Naval Observatory, in honor of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater organization.
Obama To Ask For $33 Billion For Afghanistan Surge
In addition to his budget request, President Obama will be asking Congress for an addition $33 billion in the current 2010 fiscal year, for the troops surge in Afghanistan. This $33 billion request would come on top of the $130 billion that was already approved for both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars through September 30, 2010, which is the end of the current fiscal year.
Signs Of Bipartisanship Scarce In Senate
The Hill reports that signs are still scarce for any bipartisanship in the Senate. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) laid the blame with the Democrats. “It’s not up to us. It’s up to them,” said McCain. “(Minority Leader) Sen. (Mitch) McConnell has said time and time again, we’d be happy to sit down with them. But on things like healthcare, they’ve got to start over.”
Graham: GOP Has Chance For More Nuclear Power And Drilling — In Return For Emissions Standards
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said that there is a chance for bipartisan work on an energy bill, thanks to President Obama’s openness to nuclear power as signaled in the State of the Union Address. “The president did a great job putting nuclear on the table in a robust way, as well as offshore drilling for oil and natural gas,” said Graham. “I hope Republicans understand we have a once in lifetime chance, but in return we have to come up with emissions standards.”
DSCC Executive Director: I’m Staying For 2010 Because I Was Asked
CQ profiles J.B. Poersch, the executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Poersch is continuing in his role after the very successful campaign cycles of 2006 and 2008, even though 2010 is a much tougher environment. “I was still hungry after that one,” Poersch said. “I wasn’t sure I was going to be asked and was honored that I was. It sounds trite, but I’m here in part because the leader and the chairman asked.”
