Obama Considers Levy For Rescued Firms
President Obama is reportedly considering a new fee for bailed-out financial firms, to recover tax dollars in the midst of controversies over large bonuses at companies. The TARP law does not trigger efforts to recover money for another four years, so pursuing the levy would require changing the law.
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will depart the White House at 9:20 a.m. ET, arriving at 10:15 a.m. ET in New Castle, Delaware. At 11 a.m. ET, they will attend funeral services for Mrs. Jean Biden, the late mother of Vice President Joe Biden. They will depart from New Castle at 1 p.m. ET, and arrive back at the White House at 1:50 p.m. ET. Obama will greet the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association team at 4:05 p.m. ET. Obama will meet at 4:30 p.m. ET with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
Biden Attending His Mother’s Funeral
Vice President Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden will attend a Mass of Christian Burial for his late mother Jean Biden, at 11 a.m. ET. There will be a private burial service for the family after the funeral.
Hillary Clinton To Meet With Japanese Counterpart
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be meeting today in Hawaii with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, to discuss issues such as the relocation of a U.S. base at Okinawa. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Clinton downplayed the differences between the two countries. “We’ve had a very positive set of interactions with the new Japanese leadership,” she said. “We’re grateful that they are playing such a leading role in Afghanistan. Their commitment, a very large trust fund, $5 billion, dwarfs anything that any other country has done.”
Democrats To Shift Strategy
Roll Call reports that Congressional Democrats are hoping to finish the health care debate soon, so they can move on to other issues in this election year. “We’re going to have to focus like a laser on jobs and the economy,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “And I think the first two major things we’ll do are a jobs bill and financial regulation, both of which the people want us to do, both of which fit their mandate: Fix the economy and get people working again.”
Scheduled Weeks Ago, Reid’s African-American Event Going On As Planned
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) campaign will launch an “African-Americans for Harry Reid” event for this Thursday in Las Vegas. The timing of the even is not related to Reid’s current controversy over his private remarks during the 2008 election about Barack Obama and race — it was scheduled weeks ago.
Paterson: Reid’s Comment ‘Reprehensible,’ But He Shouldn’t Have To Resign
Gov. David Paterson (D-NY), one of two black governors in the country right now, said that Harry Reid’s reported comments from the 2008 election were “reprehensible,” but that Reid should not have to resign his leadership: “I have said this — not only when it was a Democrat or when it was a Republican — that when people properly apologize for these types of mistakes that it doesn’t merit destroying their careers.”
