TPMDC Morning Roundup

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

New Health Care Draft Leaves Out Public Option
The Washington Post reports that a new draft health-care proposal from the Senate Finance Committee includes an individual mandate expands Medicaid coverage — and leaves out the public option: “Yesterday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) met with four Republicans, including Sen. Charles Grassley (Iowa), the ranking GOP member on the panel, along with two Democratic colleagues in an attempt to find bipartisan consensus. Baucus dubbed the group ‘the coalition of the willing.'”

Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at 9:30 a.m. ET, at the Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference. At 3:15 p.m. ET, he will mark Father’s Day weekend by holding an event in the East Room to discuss fatherhood and mentoring. At 4 p.m. ET, he will meet at the South Lawn with young men from local schools. At 8 p.m. ET, he will attend the Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner.

Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will hold conference calls this morning with mayors and governors from across the country, to discuss Recovery Act implementation. At 2 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks at the swearing-in ceremony for Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. In the afternoon, he will attend President Obama’s events to discuss fatherhood, and then will spend the remainder of the day in private meetings.

Senate Passes War Funding Bill
The Senate voted 91-5 last night to pass the $106 billion war-funding bill for Iraq and Afghanistan, after the House previously passed the measure on Wednesday night, sending the bill for President Obama’s signature. The bill is not a total win for the White House, though — it also forbids the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the United States, and does not include the $80 million that the Obama Administration had requested begin closing it down.

Obama Blasts Critics At DCCC/DSCC Fundraiser
At last night’s fundraiser for the DCCC and DSCC, President Obama mocked his critics who question whether change can be done. “Can’t do it. System overload. Circuits breaking down,” Obama said in a robotic voice. “It’s so predictable.” He also criticized Republican proposals for more tax cuts as a solution to health care: “Don’t present that as a new idea. That’s the same idea that’s been proposed for the last eight years.”

Dems Keep Raising Lobbyist Money
The DCCC and DSCC are doing just fine despite President Obama’s condition that last night’s fundraiser not include any lobbyists. As it turns out, lobbyists were separately invited to an “issues conference” this morning, where they are expected to come with $5,000 checks.

House To Vote On Bipartisan Iran Resolution
The House is set to vote today on a resolution in support of Iranian protestors, sponsored by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) and Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN). Said Berman: “As the Iranian regime reacts to unfolding events, it should keep in mind that — notwithstanding restrictions that it has imposed on the media — the rest of the world is watching closely.”

White House Looks To Include Same-Sex Unions In Census
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Obama Administration is seeking ways to count same-sex couples in the Census. The Bush Administration had previously not released Census data from self-reported gay marriages, interpreting the Defense of Marriage Act as forbidding the release. The Obama Administration will differ from that interpretation — a small step for a White House that has been criticized by gay activists as not doing enough for their rights.

Latest DC
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: