Biden: U.S. Got ‘Money’s Worth’ Out Of Stimulus
In an interview with the CBS Early Show, Vice President Biden said that taxpayers have “gotten their money’s worth” out of the stimulus bill, saying that it had saved as many as two million jobs. Biden also said that more benefits would come, explaining that the bill was designed to be implemented in two stages: “we’ve only been halfway through the act.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:15 a.m. ET, and the economic daily briefing at 9:45 a.m. ET. Obama will deliver remarks at 10:25 a.m. ET, on the one-year anniversary of the signing of the stimulus bill. Obama will meet at 11 a.m. ET with his national security team on Afghanistan. Obama and Biden will meet at 12:05 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Obama will have lunch at 12:50 p.m. ET with King Juan Carlos I of Spain. Obama and Biden will meet at 2:30 p.m. ET with Gen. Ray Odierno and Ambassador to Iraq Chris Hill. Obama will meet with senior advisers at 3:15 p.m. ET. Obama will make a call to NASA astronauts at 5:15 p.m. ET.
Biden Worried About Another Underwear Bomber-Style Attack
Also during his Early Show interview, Vice President Biden said that he is worried about another terrorist attack, though not of the massive kind such as 9/11. “Am I less worried about a catastrophic event? Yes.” said Biden, explaining that he’s more concerned about an attack “along the lines of the Christmas Day bomber.”
Romer Says Stimulus Has Helped, Predicts Job Growth By Spring
White House Council of Economic Advisers Chair Christina Romer said that the stimulus has helped the economy. “We have seen productivity surge,” Romer said. “And that, at one level, is a good sign out the economy. But absolutely, we’ve got to translate GDP growth into employment growth. Right now, the employment numbers look basically stable. We think we’re going to see positive job growth by spring.”
GOP Sees Possible Upside In Health Care Summit
Some Republicans see an opportunity at the upcoming political health care summit, as a platform to oppose the Democrats’ health care plans. “I think what we have to do is keep it on the policy and really continue to describe that we have listened to the American people,,” said Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), who will be attending the event, “and anyone listening to the American people would say scrap this bill and begin again, and let’s begin again by focusing on lowering costs.”
Reid Spokesman: No GOP Senator Has Told Him They Are Against Provisions In Jobs Bill
Roll Call reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is continuing to seek Republican votes for his jobs bill, and is challenging them to not oppose it. Reid spokesman Rodell Mollineau said that Reid is “reaching out to Republicans in hopes that they won’t vote against a bill they support just to play partisan politics,” adding that “no one has told Sen. Reid they are against provisions in the bill.”
NYT: Party Gridlock In Washington Feeds New Fear Of A Debt Crisis
The New York Times reports that the increasing political polarization, combined with the need for bipartisan cooperation in order to get anything passed, is feeding increased fears of a debt crisis. “I used to think it would take a global financial crisis to get both parties to the table, but we just had one,” said G. William Hoagland, a former fiscal policy adviser to Senate Republican leaders. “These days I wonder if this country is even governable.”
