WaPo: GOP Faces Role Reversal On Medicare
The Washington Post reports that Republicans have found themselves in an odd position on Medicare — the party that usually seeks cuts in the program is now denouncing proposed reductions, and even the medical industry isn’t supporting them. “In terms of this deal, we are better off. And, also, it’s the right thing to do,” said Charles Kahn, president of the Federation of American Hospitals, and who is also the man behind the “Harry and Louise” ads of 1994.
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama does not have any public events scheduled for today. He will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10:15 a.m. ET, and will meet with senior advisers at 10:35 a.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will join President Obama for the daily briefing this morning. Then, Biden will meet with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. He will spend the remainder of the day in meetings at the White House.
Obama To Travel To Denmark, Make Pitch For Olympics
President Obama will travel to Denmark this week, to make a pitch to the International Olympic Committee for Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. He will leave for Copenhagen on Thursday, accompanied by his wife Michelle, and will be the first American president to make an appeal for the Olympics in in person.
Public Option Debate Coming To Finance Committee This Week
The Senate Finance Committee is returning to work on the health care bill this week. The key moments to watch will be amendments to put the public into the Baucus bill, which will be offered by Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Enzi: GOP “Made The Mistake” of Offering Comprehensive Plan In Previous Committees
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) told Roll Call that the GOP has been taking a different approach in the Finance Committee than it has elsewhere, by offering one amendment at a time rather than a whole plan. “In the HELP Committee we made the mistake of offering the comprehensive plan. We probably got about two hours to debate it,” said Enzi. “So, you get cut out of the debate. They just have to nit-pick a couple of provisions in a 1,000-page bill, and everybody votes against it based on those two provisions. That’s not fair, so what we’ve decided to do is do the real issues and do them one at a time.”
Liz Cheney Taking Stage For The GOP
The New York Times reports that Liz Cheney has emerged as a prominent Republican activist, and as a staunch advocate of her father’s policies. “We can’t win if we don’t fight,” Liz Cheney told a crowd of conservative activists in Nashville, adding that she was taught that lesson “by a great American, my dad, Dick Cheney.”
