Reforms Slow To Arrive At Drilling Agency
The New York Times reports on the Obama administration’s difficulties reforming the agency that regulates offshore drilling: “Mr. Obama, shortly after taking office, had assigned Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to clean up the agency, the Minerals Management Service. The office’s history of corruption and coziness with the industry it was supposed to regulate had been the subject of years of scathing reports by government auditors, lurid headlines and a score of Congressional hearings. But the promised reforms of the agency were slow to arrive, and the subject of the minerals service never came up at the meetings leading to the new drilling policy, according to a senior administration official involved in the discussions.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery at 12 p.m. ET. He will attend the 12:30 p.m. ET 11th Anniversary Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Dedication, and deliver remarks. The First Family will depart Chicago at 4:40 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 6:15 p.m. ET, and back at the White House at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden will host a breakfast for Gold Star Families this morning at the White House. Afterwards, the Bidens will visit Arlington National Ceremony. At 11 a.m. ET, Biden will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Biden will then deliver remarks at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery.
New Records Show Some Lobbyists Are Also Top Political Fundraisers
The Washington Post reports: “For the first time, the records provide a clear public view into one of the most influential subcultures in Washington: lobbyists who moonlight by bundling campaign contributions for candidates and their political parties. The fundraising occurs even as the same lobbyists attempt to shape legislation to benefit their clients, including energy firms, insurers and other corporations with major financial stakes in the outcome of federal legislation.”
Bernanke Sees Balancing Act For Central Banks
Speaking on Sunday to a conference sponsored by the Bank of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that central bank officials will have to carefully balance the risks of ending an expansionist monetary strategy, compared to staying too long in a stimulus mode. Furthermore, Bernanke said that the conditions and decision-making would be different in each country: “To guide these important decisions, each central bank will have to carefully monitor economic developments in its own jurisdiction.”
Senate Dems Plan On Using Recess To Win Back Seniors
The Hill reports: “Senate Democrats, wary of losing an important constituency, are using their week-long Memorial Day recess to reach out to senior citizens…’Health insurance reform, particularly as it relates to seniors, is one of the most important things for senators to discuss when they are home for recess,’ reads a packet distributed to Democratic members. ‘In order to get the message out ahead of talk of health reform repeal, senators should talk with seniors about the benefits they are going to see immediately and those they will be seeing over the coming months and years.'”
Nomination Logjam Persists In Senate
Roll Call reports: “With the Senate facing a full legislative calendar and a Supreme Court debate ahead, the outlook for the more than 100 names on the executive calendar appears grim for the rest of the year. The Senate adjourned Friday for a weeklong Memorial Day break after clearing a few noncontroversial names but not a larger package that Senate leaders had been discussing all week. Congressional aides suggest President Barack Obama may clear some names using recess appointment power this week. Still, dozens of nominees will remain on the calendar after Senators return from their break.”
