Obama Promoting Stimulus In Indiana, Holding Press Conference In Washington
President Obama is holding a town hall event at 12:05 p.m. ET in Elkhart, Indiana, promoting the compromise stimulus plan in a county suffering from 15.3% unemployment. Then at 8 p.m. ET he will hold a news conference at the White House — his first presser since being sworn in as president.
Biden Meeting With AFL-CIO Head Sweeney
Joe Biden is meeting in Washington today with AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, and is holding other private meetings.
GOP Finding New Life In Opposition
The Washington Post reports that Republican leaders are seeking a new energy in their minority status, as the party mobilizes to oppose President Obama’s economic agenda. “It’s not a sign that we’re back to where we need to be, but it’s a sign that we’re beginning to find our voice,” said Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). “We’re standing on our core principles, and the core principle that suffered the most in recent years was fiscal conservatism and economic liberty.”
CQ: Moderate Republicans See No Benefit In Helping Obama
CQ reports that moderate House Republicans may have a special reason to vote against the White House’s stimulus plan: A fear of primary challenges from the right-wing Republican Study Committee. In addition, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) pointed out that there is a certain political freedom that comes now: “We no longer have to worry about being blamed for all of the problems of the president and his administration. Now, it’s the moderate Democrats who have to worry about that.”
Specter: We Can’t Afford Not To Pass Stimulus
In a new op-ed piece, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) explains why he has broken ranks to negotiate the new stimulus bill. “I am supporting the economic stimulus package for one simple reason,” Specter says. “The country cannot afford not to take action.”
WaPo: Speed And Oversight Could Be Mutually Exclusive
The Washington Post reports that true efficiency in administering the stimulus plan may be close to impossible, thanks to the need for speed combined with staff cuts in the government procurement offices that occurred under both the Clinton and Bush Administration. “You can’t have both,” said Eileen Norcross, a senior research fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, on the questions of speed and oversight. “There is no way to get around having to make a choice.”
Holbrooke: Afghanistan “Much Tougher Than Iraq”
Special Afghanistan envoy Richard Holbrooke warned the Munich Security Conference that the Afghanistan War will be “much tougher than Iraq,” with no easy resolutions. “There is no Dayton agreement in Afghanistan,” said Holbrooke. “It’s going to be a long, difficult struggle.”
Feingold Asking Appointed Senators To Help Abolish Appointment Process
Russ Feingold is so far not having much luck in picking up support for his proposed constitutional amendment to abolish gubernatorial appointment of Senators. Feingold is specifically looking for backing from the current crop of appointed Senators, and so far has gotten a No from both Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Ted Kaufman (D-DE), and a “maybe” from Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
