Change Tugs At US-China Ties Ahead Of Hu Visit
AFP reports: “China’s President Hu Jintao visits the United States this week at a time of flux and stress in Sino-US ties, with America weakened by crisis and Beijing flexing a new range of powers. While US President Barack Obama will lay on the pageantry of a state visit after Hu arrives on Tuesday, tensions on human rights, currency rates and North Korea, as well as military mistrust, are wobbling the key relationship.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10:15 a.m. ET, and meet with senior advisers at 10:45 a.m. ET. He will receive the economic daily briefing at 3:20 p.m. ET, and meet at 4:30 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. At 6:30 p.m. ET, he will host a private dinner with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden hosted a 7:45 a.m. ET breakfast meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He will meet at 11 a.m. ET with Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI). In the afternoon, he will lead the U.S. delegation at the State Visit arrival ceremony for Chinese President Hu Jintao. He will greet President Hu at 4 p.m. ET at Andrews Air Force Base.
White House ‘Open’ To GOP Suggestions To Improve Health Law
The Washington Post reports: “As House Republicans prepare this week to hold a vote to repeal the health-care law that President Obama signed last year, the administration says it opposes that idea but is ‘open’ to Republican suggestions to improve the provision. That is a marked shift from last year, when the president and congressional Democrats repeatedly blasted the GOP for not backing the law and cast as them as uncaring of the millions who would gain health insurance under it.”
Big Health Bucks Roll In For K St.
The Hill reports: “K Street expects to reap a new bonanza from the healthcare law even as House Republicans move to repeal the measure on Wednesday. Lobbying firms are adding healthcare specialists and new boutique firms are opening to court clients interested in influencing the shape of regulations implementing the law. Nearly a year after healthcare’s passage, there’s little sign of business slowing down.”
House GOP Builds A Case For Control
Roll Call reports on the recent House Republican retreat in Baltimore: “Republicans used their three-day retreat here to map out an aggressive spending and deficit reduction agenda, and began rolling out a new message offensive that involves blaming Senate Democrats and President Barack Obama for standing in their way.”
