House To Vote On Stimulus Today
The House of Representatives is set to vote today to pass the stimulus bill, after Congressional negotiators spent last night hammering out the final differences over school-construction spending and tax cuts. The Senate could vote on it either today or over the weekend, which would then send it to the White House for President Obama’s signature.
Obama’s Day Ahead: Meeting With Business Leaders, Heading To Chicago
President Obama is speaking at 10:30 a.m. ET to members of the Business Council at the White House. At 12:20 p.m. ET he will be having lunch with Vice President Biden in the Oval Office. Then at 4 p.m. ET he will leave the White House to go to Chicago, scheduled to arrive at O’Hare at 6 p.m. ET.
Biden Discussing Nuclear Proliferation With Current And Former Diplomats
Joe Biden is meeting today with former Clinton-era Secretary of Defense William Perry, currently of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. They will be holding a closed-door meeting, at which they will be joined by former foreign ministers from Australia and Japan, as well as the current ambassadors to the U.S. from those countries.
Panetta Confirmed To Head CIA
The Senate last night confirmed Leon Panetta to be CIA Director. Panetta was easily approved on a voice vote.
Gregg: I’m “Probably Not” Running Again; Hodes Still In
Judd Gregg appealers to be giving himself some wiggle room on whether he’ll run again for the Senate in 2010, telling reporters yesterday that he is “probably not” going to seek re-election. Meanwhile, Democratic Congressman Paul Hodes has reaffirmed that he’s still in the race.
Menendez Predicts Good 2010 For Senate Dems, Pins Economy On GOP
DSCC chairman Bob Menendez told reporters he is optimistic about the 2010 campaign, as the Democrats move to get the 60-plus seats that could overcome Republican filibusters. Menendez also said he does not think the voters will blame Obama and the Democrats for lingering economic problems, giving a preview of what Dems will be saying next year: “They understand what President Obama inherited.”
Obama Jokes About Judd Gregg
While paying tribute to Abraham Lincoln at a dinner last night in Springfield, Illinois, President Obama fired off this joke: “Possibly in his law office, his feet on a cluttered desk, his sons playing around him, his clothes a bit too small to fit his uncommon frame, maybe wondering if somebody might call him up and ask him to be commerce secretary…”
