Obama: GOP Proposals ‘The Same Policies That Led Us Into This Recession’
In this weekend’s YouTube address, President Obama promoted his economic program and the recently-signed Wall Street reform bill. In a sign of increased political content as the country approaches the 2010 midterm elections, he also attacked “the Republican leader in the House of Representatives,” without directly naming Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), for promoting the repeal of health care reform and opposition to other Democratic policies as the Republican platform.
“These are not new ideas. They are the same policies that led us into this recession,” said Obama. “They will not create jobs, they will kill them. They will not reduce our deficit, they will add $1 trillion to our deficit. They will take us backward at a time when we need to keep America moving forward.”
Pence: Democrats ‘Embracing What Would Be The Largest Tax Increase In American History’
In this weekend’s Republican address, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN) warned about the upcoming increases in tax rates due to the expiration of the 2001 Bush tax cuts — though interestingly, he did not explain that this increase in tax rates originated from the Bush years.
“And if they haven’t already done enough to wreck our recovery, Democrats in Washington are pushing more spending, more regulation, and right around the corner: more taxes. Democrats in Washington are now actually talking about embracing what would be the largest tax increase in American history,” said Pence. “Let me say that again. After 18 months of runaway spending, bailouts and takeovers, Washington Democrats are poised to allow the largest tax increase in American history to take effect next year. The American people deserve to know every income tax bracket will increase on January 1, 2011. Every single one.”
Sherrod: ‘I Need A Little Down Time To Reflect On What’s Happened’
Shirley Sherrod told the Associated Press that she is unsure about whether to return to the Department of Agriculture. “I don’t want to be the fall guy, the fall girl, for discrimination in the Department of Agriculture,” said Sherrod. “I need a little down time to reflect on what’s happened the last few days. Is there another place for me to help all of us take advantage of what has happened over the last few days? I don’t know yet.”
Dems Worry Rangel’s Ethics Trial Will Hurt Party In Midterm Elections
The Washington Post reports that House Democrats worry of political damage from the ethics charges against Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY): “In private, Democratic aides and political strategists shook their heads at the prospect of a public reading of Rangel’s alleged misdeeds — first at a televised preliminary hearing set to begin Thursday and continuing with the ethics trial in September after Congress returns from a nearly seven-week recess. ‘The time has come for Charlie Rangel to think more about his party than about himself. Each and every day that a trial goes on would cost Democrats more seats,’ said a Democratic chief of staff to one of the dozens of incumbents who are facing difficult reelection campaigns.”
House Democrat Betty Sutton Calls On Rep. Rangel To Resign
Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH) has called upon Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) to resign from Congress due to the charges against him from the House ethics committee, The Hill reports. “It is regrettable, but Charlie Rangel needs to resign from his seat in Congress,” Sutton said in a statement. “This isn’t about being a Democrat or Republican, this is about preserving the public trust. Our nation is facing extraordinary challenges and we must be focused on building a sustainable economy that will allow our workers and businesses to flourish.”
White House Predicts Record $1.47 Trillion Deficit
The Associated Press reports: “New estimates from the White House on Friday predict the budget deficit will reach a record $1.47 trillion this year. The government is borrowing 41 cents of every dollar it spends. That’s actually a little better than the administration predicted in February. The new estimates paint a grim unemployment picture as the economy experiences a relatively jobless recovery. The unemployment rate, presently averaging 9.5 percent, would average 9 percent next year under the new estimates.”
For Insurers, Fight Is Now Over Details
The New York Times reports: “The legislative battle over the health care overhaul ended months ago, but it is hard to tell from the intense effort now under way by insurance companies to retool a critical provision. The law requires health insurers to spend at least 80 cents out of every dollar they collect in premiums on the welfare of patients, a critical issue for the companies’ bottom lines. But state regulators are only now deciding what precisely that means, as they draft the rules to enact the law.”
