Senate To Hold Key Vote On Bernanke Nomination
The Senate has scheduled a key vote today on the renomination of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, determining whether he can get the 60 votes needed to beat a filibuster on the nomination. Bernanke is widely expected to win approval — no Federal Reserve nominee has ever been rejected by the Senate — but this could be the smallest margin since Paul Volcker’s approval for a second term in 1983, by a margin of 84-16.
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will depart from the White House at 9:20 a.m. ET, and form Andrews Air Force Base at 9:35 a.m. ET, arriving at 11:50 a.m. ET in Tampa, Florida. He will join Vice President Biden, touring a maintenance hangar at the MacDill Air Force Base at 12 p.m. ET. They will hold a town hall meeting at the University of Tampa, at 1:05 p.m. ET. Obama will depart from Tampa at 2:55 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 4:45 p.m. ET, and at the White House at 5 p.m. ET.
Biden Defends Obama’s Criticism Of Supreme Court
Vice President Biden stood by President Obama’s criticism last night of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case, which overturned restrictions on political spending by corporations. “The president didn’t question the integrity of the court. He questioned the judgment of it,” said Biden, who also added: “I think it’s an outrageous decision. Not outrageous in the fact that these guys are bad guys, but outrageous in the way you read the Constitution.”
Senate Democrats Face Painful Votes On Debt Limit
The Senate is set to vote today on raising the debt limit by $1.9 trillion, a tough vote for the Democrats’ soon-to-expire supermajority. In the face of Republican opposition, Democrats will need all 60 of their members to vote in the affirmative.
Republicans Debate Reaching Out To Obama And Democratic Leaders
The Hill reports that there are differences among Republicans on how to respond to President Obama’s invitation for bipartisan negotiations on issues. “If the president says he wants to reach across the aisle to Republicans, I think that we should take the opportunity to say, ‘We’re ready,'” said Rep. Dave Reichert, (R-WA). On the other hand, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) said that the White House was simply trying to cherry-pick a few moderates: “Right now their whole strategy just seems like they want to divide us.”
EMILY’s List Founder Looks Back On Tenure
CQ profiles EMILY’s List founder Ellen Malcolm, who is stepping down after 25 years heading up the organization. Her career includes many high points — but also the recent low from the defeat of Democrat Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts Senate race. “I think the low point was this week,” Malcolm said with a chuckle. “The high points? Oh my gosh, we’ve had so many hard-fought victories that we’re so proud of. Obviously, the year of the woman in 1992 was historic.”
Wasserman Schultz On GOP Not Applauding Obama: ‘They’re Just Not Rooting For America To Succeed’
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) attacked Republicans for not applauding President Obama’s proposals for middle-class tax cuts. “The only explanation I can think of is that they’re just not rooting for America to succeed,” she told The Hill. “I don’t know how you can sit through proposals like providing tax cuts for middle-class Americans, getting an injection of cash into the hands of small-business owners so we can create jobs.”
