Stocks Set To Rise After Obama Extends Tax Cuts
The Associated Press reports: “An extension of tax cuts for all Americans is giving stocks a lift. All three major indexes are set to rise Monday after President Barack Obama signed a $858 billion package Friday renewing tax cuts for another two years and extending expiring unemployment benefits through next year. The package is expected to boost economic growth, although critics say it will unnecessarily increase the federal budget deficit.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. He will meet with senior advisers at 10:30 a.m. He does not currently have any scheduled public events for today.
For Gay Rights, Is Repeal Of ‘Don’t Ask’ Military Ban The End Or The Beginning?
The Washington Post reports: “For the American gay rights movement, this is the big question that follows Saturday’s landmark repeal of the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy…Activists are hoping that the repeal – which will allow gays to serve openly in the U.S. military – gives them significant new leverage. For the first time they can argue that if the Army trusts gay men and women with rifles, why shouldn’t society trust them with wedding rings?”
RNC Hopeful Cino Gave Most to Candidates
Roll Call reports: “Every candidate for chairman of the Republican National Committee in an increasingly crowded field is arguing he or she can raise large amounts of money. But it’s Maria Cino who has given her own money to a number of Congressional candidates over the past two election cycles, more than any of her rivals for the RNC spot. Federal Election Commission records for the six known candidates bidding to win the Jan. 14 RNC election show Cino donated the most and most often.”
GOP Budget Freshmen Welcome Collapse Of Omnibus Spending Bill
The Hill reports: “Incoming Republicans who are eager to take an axe to federal spending as members of the House Budget Committee said they are buoyed by the collapse of the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill this week. In interviews with The Hill, six of the new committee members said they welcome the opportunity to force President Obama to accept quick cuts to federal spending next year.”
John McCain’s New Role: GOP Agitator
Politico reports: “Sen. John McCain is getting under the skin of Democrats these days — and he seems to be relishing it…Fresh from a whopping electoral victory Nov. 2, McCain is inserting himself into the biggest issues of the day, acting as a power player in the Senate and angering Democrats. And while Mitch McConnell may be the Senate GOP leader, McCain has embraced a role as the leading Republican agitator against President Barack Obama, who defeated him in the 2008 presidential election.”
