Two Sides Taking Health Care Debate Outside Washington
The Obama Administration and its opponents will be spending the August recess heavily promoting their sides of the health care debate. “Our job is to help folks understand how this will help them,” said David Axelrod. On the other end of the spectrum, Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and John Barrasso (R-WY) will be going on the road with their “Senate Doctors Show,” warning against the Democratic plan.
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at 11:05 a.m. ET, on the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. At 12:30 p.m. ET, he will meet with Shaykh Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, Amir of Kuwait, and the two of them will be joined by Vice President Biden for lunch at 12:45 p.m. Et. Obama will meet with Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
At 10:30 a.m. ET, Vice President Biden will join President Obama, Sec. of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), former Sen. John Warner (R-VA) and others to mark the implementation of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. He will join President Obama at 12:45 p.m. ET, for lunch Shaykh Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait. Afterwards, Biden will meet separately with the Amir. He will spend the remainder of the day in private meetings.
Hillary Going On Tour Of Africa
Sec. of State Hillary Clinton is embarking today for an 11-day tour of Africa. Her trip will begin in Kenya, where she will speak to a trade and development forum, and take her to South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Liberia and Cape Verde.
Report: U.S. Weighs New Sanctions Against Iran
The New York Times reports that the Obama Administration is speaking to Congress and international allies about imposing new economic sanctions against Iran and companies that do business there, if Iran fails to respond to Obama’s offer to negotiate about the nuclear program. But will it work? Said an American diplomat: “The question we have to face, is whether any sanction at this point can really deter them, given how close they are now.”
Hatch: I’ll Be “Shocked” If Grassley And Enzi Support Dem Health Care Bill
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) told The Hill that he would be “shocked” if Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) signed on to the health care bill with the Democrats. “The real problem is their [Democrats’] ideas are out of this world,” Hatch added. “They’re saying they’re going to get $400-plus billion out of Medicare and Medicare is in debt right now.”
GOP Finds Unity Easier As Obama Slips
Roll Call reports that due to President Obama’s recent decline in his approval ratings, Republicans are finding unity a lot easier now — such as on the Sotomayor confirmation vote. “Absolutely,” said a senior Republican leadership aide. “If Republicans were not making inroads with independents on virtually every other issue, this would be a much more perilous vote.”
