Obama: Administration Will Increase Credit Availability
In his newest YouTube address, President Obama announced that his administration will soon be rolling out a new set of policies for the financial system to ensure that credit finds its way to businesses and families, though no specific details have been announced just yet:
“We’ll help lower mortgage costs and extend loans to small businesses so they can create jobs,” said Obama. “We’ll ensure that CEOs are not draining funds that should be advancing our recovery. And we will insist on unprecedented transparency, rigorous oversight, and clear accountability — so taxpayers know how their money is being spent and whether it is achieving results.”
No Obama Or Biden Events Today
President Obama and Vice President Biden do not have any public events scheduled for today. (Late Update: It should be noted that President Obama is speaking to the Alfalfa Dinner in Washington tonight, but this event is not public — it is closed press.)
Steele Speaks to House GOP, Praises Vote Against Stimulus
Michael Steele addressed the House Republican Retreat today, his first interaction with the Congressional GOP since he was election RNC chairman yesterday. Steele praised the caucus for voting against the economic stimulus package: “I thought it was very important to send a signal, and you sent it loudly, very clearly, that this party, the leadership of this caucus, would stand first and foremost with the American people. You made it very clear that in order to grow through this recession that you not redistribute the wealth of the people of this nation.”
Daschle Nomination Runs Into Tax Problem
Tom Daschle has now filed an amended tax return in order to pay $128,000 in back taxes, plus $12,000 in penalties, for his failure to properly pay taxes relating mostly to his work for the equity firm InterMedia Partners. Daschle is still expected to be confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services, making him the second Obama cabinet officer after Tim Geithner to be tripped up by the tax code.
ABC: Gregg Could Be Picked For Commerce On Monday
ABC News reports that Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) is now the leading candidate for Secretary of Commerce, and could be announced as early as this Monday. If Gregg does end up joining the Obama Administration, this could potentially give the Democrats the 60th Senate seat — New Hampshire has a Democratic governor who would make an appointment, and in Minnesota it still looks like Al Franken is the most likely winner of their disputed election.
Reid Staffer Detailed To Work For Burris
Harry Reid’s office has announced that staffer Darrel Thompson will now be working on detail for Roland Burris, serving temporarily as the appointed Illinois Senator’s chief of staff. Thompson served as chief of staff for Barack Obama’s Senate campaign in 2004, and will now be helping Burris get his own office up and running while still holding his position as a top Reid adviser.
SEIU Rolls Out Pro-Reid Ad In Nevada
SEIU has announced that they are now running this ad in Nevada on statewide cable TV, praising the work of Harry Reid as Senate Majority Leader:
This ad comes after the National Republican Senatorial Committee began their own ad campaign against Reid, targeting the Democratic leader as he goes into his 2010 re-election campaign.
