Obama: ‘This Is What Health Care Reform Is Achieving’
In this weekend’s YouTube address, President Obama promoted the benefits that he said the new health care reform law has already achieved.
“I’ve said before that implementing health insurance reform won’t happen overnight, and it will require some tweaks and changes along the way. Ultimately, we’ll have a system that provides more control for consumers, more accountability for insurance companies, and more affordable choices for uninsured Americans,” said Obama. “But already, we are seeing how reform is improving the lives of millions of Americans. Already, we are watching small businesses learn that they will soon pay less for health care. We are seeing retirees realize they’ll be able to keep their coverage and seniors realize they’ll be able to afford their prescriptions. We’re seeing consumers get a break from unfair rate hikes, patients get the care they need when they need it, and young adults get the security of knowing they can start off life with one less cost to worry about. At long last, this is what health care reform is achieving.”
Shelby: GOP Will Demand That Financial Reform Include Fannie And Freddie
In this weekend’s Republican YouTube, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) said Republicans will demand
that financial reform include overhauls of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
“For years, Democrats blocked meaningful reform of Fannie and Freddie, and not much has changed. Their legislation to reform the financial system touches nearly every corner of the economy, but these major contributors to the crisis are left unscathed,” said Shelby. “A recent Wall Street Journal editorial observed, ‘Reforming the financial system without fixing Fannie and Freddie is like declaring a war on terror and ignoring al Qaeda.’ Well said. In the days to come, Republicans will be demanding that financial reform include Fannie and Freddie.”
Biden: ‘We Fully Appreciation’ Concerns ABout Privacy In Bank Data Exchange Scheme
While traveling in Spain, Vice President Biden said that the United States is working to “assuage any concerns” about a bank data exchange scheme aimed at boosting anti-terrorism efforts. “We fully appreciate the concerns some Europeans have raised about privacy,” said Biden, after meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. “Europeans and Americans alike have valued greatly the privacy of our citizens. Were we to make comprises on our civil liberties, that would be an admission that the terrorists have already succeeded.”
Michelle Obama Gears Up For Campaign Role
Politico reports on the increased political activity of First Lady Michelle Obama: “[Michelle] Obama’s aides have begun working on the first lady’s political calendar for the fall – balancing the requests of Democratic candidates against the demands of motherhood and Obama’s own desire not to be seen as an overtly partisan figure, several administration sources tell POLITICO. For the first time since she moved into the White House, senior West Wing officials have begun briefing Michelle Obama on her top policy priorities, and as part of her preparation.”
NYT: Potential SCOTUS Nominees Show Differences On Executive Power
With the upcoming Supreme Court nomination, the New York Times points out that three of the potential nominees have shown very different attitudes about the expansion of executive power during wartime. Judge Diane Wood has been the most in favor of protecting civil liberties, Judge Merrick Garland was somewhat friendly to the Bush administration during the past decade, and Solicitor General Elena Kagan has shown a mixed record.
Durbin: ‘We’ll Have A Substantial Number Of Republicans Joining Us’ On Financial Reform
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) predicted that many Republicans will support passing a financial reform bill. “My guess is, in the end, that we’ll have a substantial number of Republicans joining us for passing Wall Street reform,” said Durbin, during an appearance on C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” program. “I think they realize that’s where the public is, and politically, they made a mistake.”
Obama Navigating SCOTUS Nomination Process With More Ease This Time
The Washington Post reports on the Obama administration’s techniques and procedures during the current Supreme Court selection process: “Almost everything about the Supreme Court nomination this time builds on the lessons of the Justice Sonia Sotomayor experience. During the last go-round, administration officials were not always certain whether to push back on criticism about potential candidates for fear of appearing as if their choice was already made. This time, the White House has in several instances been aggressively involved, most notably after a blogger aired rumors that Kagan might be gay. ‘It meant we adopted a posture that was, I think, more aggressive in, frankly, protecting the president’s ability to make a selection,’ one administration official said.”
FEC: Congress Members Can Raise Soft Money For Redistricting Activities
The Federal Election Commission ruled Friday that members of Congress are allowed to participate in raising unlimited funds for party legal trusts that handle redistricting issues. “This is simply confirmation of existing FEC precedent — that raising funds for legal trusts is permitted under the campaign finance laws,” said Democratic attorney Marc Elias, who filed the initial request on behalf of the trust. “The trust will continue its work to lay a strong legal foundation for redistricting.”
