WaPo: Dems Boning Up On Health Care Bill
The Washington Post reports that House Democrats have gone through a five-hour meeting on the health care bill, in which they were briefed on the ins and outs of the 1,000-page bill section by section. “No one’s going to say we haven’t read the bill,” said Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD). After a cram session like this, they better ace their finals…
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will hold an 11:55 a.m. ET town hall meeting on health care reform in Raleigh, North Carolina. He will depart Raleigh at 2:45 p.m. ET, arriving in Bristol, Tennessee, at 3:40 p.m. ET. At 4:15 p.m. ET, he will hold another town hall on health care reform in Bristol, Virginia, with Kroger Supermarket employees. He will depart from Bristol at 6 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 7:25 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will receive a Recovery Act briefing this morning. He will have private meetings for the remainder of the day, and will travel in the evening to Wilmington, Delaware.
CQ: New Jersey Gubernatorial Race Leans Republican
CQ has changed its rating on the New Jersey gubernatorial race, downgrading the chances for re-election of Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine. The rating has gone from “Tossup” to “Leans Republican,” in light of Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie’s consistent and substantial lead in the polls, and the recent federal raid against multiple politicians in the state.
LAT: Senate GOP Sends Strong Message In Sotomayor Hearings
The Los Angeles Times reports that conservative activists are taking some heart from the Sotomayor confirmation hearings, as a demonstration that Republicans will be willing to put up a fight in the future. “Are Republicans going to band together and fight harder if it’s perceived as a conservative seat being vacated?” said Brian Darling of the Heritage Founded, adding: “I think this is going to force the president to be more cautious in his next nomination.”
Powell: GOP Should Respond To Limbaugh’s “Completely Outrageous” Statements
Appearing on Larry King Live, Colin Powell criticized the Republican Party for not standing up to Rush Limbaugh. “The problem I’m having with the [Republican] Party right now is that when he says something that I consider to be completely outrageous and I respond to it, I would like to see other members of the party do likewise, but they don’t,” said Powell.
Pawlenty Takes Shot At Romney On Health Care
Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential Republican presidential candidate, has taken a barely-veiled swipe at his possible rival Mitt Romney, telling his state’s Congressional delegation to oppose President Obama’s health care proposals — or anything like the Massachusetts plan, which he says resulted in higher taxes. “That state’s experience should caution Congress against this approach,” said Pawlenty.
White House Threatens Veto Over Presidential Helicopter Funding
The White House is threatening to veto the House’s defense spending bill if it still includes $485 million to fund a new fleet of helicopters to fly President Obama on short trips, which the administration had previously scrapped. The OMB’s statement says that these helicopters would require yet still more money in order to be able to fly the president, needing over $2 billion in special equipment, “yet would still not meet full operational requirements for that mission.”
