Obama Administration Fights To Save Healthcare Law
Reuters reports: “Lawyers for President Barack Obama go to court on Tuesday to try to save the cornerstone of his healthcare overhaul, arguing that the requirement for Americans to buy insurance is constitutional. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit will consider whether a lower court was correct in striking down the requirement. But they will not be the final arbiter in a fight that is expected to reach the Supreme Court. Legal scholars see the case as pivotal because it is the first to have oral arguments before an appeals courts. That means its ruling could affect other courts and become the first challenge to the law to reach the high court.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. Obama will depart from the White House at 10:30 a.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 10:45 a.m. Et, arriving at 2:40 p.m. ET in El Paso, Texas. At 3:30 p.m. ET, he will deliver a speech on the importance of fixing the immigration system. He will depart from El Paso at 4:40 p.m. ET, arriving at 6 p.m. ET in Austin, Texas. He will deliver remarks at a DNC event at 6:50 p.m. ET, and at another DNC event at 8:25 p.m. ET. He will depart from Austin at 10:15 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 1 a.m. ET, and back at the White House at 1:15 a.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will attend the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. Then at 3:15 p.m. ET, he will host a meeting at Blair House with a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress to continue work on a legislative framework for comprehensive deficit reduction.
The War On Terror: What Now?
Politico reports: “A little over a week after the United States finally succeeded in its long-sought goal of killing Osama bin Laden, Congress is set to engage in a debate over whether to extend the war on terror indefinitely or leave in place legislation that could eventually wind it down.”
Debt Limit Debate Likely To Stretch To July
Reuters reports: “he United States is on track to exhaust its $14.3 trillion credit limit on May 16 but it could be July before President Barack Obama and Congress cut a deal increasing borrowing authority, congressional sources estimate. Global economies are intently watching the fight between Republicans and Democrats over the U.S. debt and related demands for spending cuts. Failure to raise the debt limit could lead to the first-ever default for the United States and higher interest rates that would be harmful to its fragile recovery. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is preparing special funding maneuvers to avoid default and delay the hard deadline to August 2.”
U.S. And China Spar On Rights, Soften Tone On Economy
Reuters reports: “U.S. officials criticized China on Monday for its crackdown against dissidents but the economic powers agreed on the need to work together to boost global growth at the start of two days of talks. The meetings covering economic and diplomatic issues come as the world’s two largest economies grapple with a range of policy disputes — from human rights to the value of the yuan — that threaten cooperation on global economic matters.”
Republican Rift Widens On Medicare
The Hill reports: “A deep rift is opening wider and wider in the Republican Party over controversial proposals to cut Medicare….Ryan’s Medicare plan, supported by all but four House Republicans, has been panned by Democrats as a voucher program that ‘would end Medicare as we know it.’ Six months after their historic triumphs in the 2010 elections, Republicans are now treading more carefully on cutting Medicare.”
