Obama Prods G-20 On Economic Recovery
In a letter to G-20 countries, President Obama sought cooperation on strengthening the economic recovery, with language seemingly aimed at assuaging doubts over public finances while also promoting stimulus goals: “We must act together to strengthen the recovery. We need to commit to restore sustainable public finances in the medium term. And we should complete the work of financial repair and reform.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will depart from the White House at 10:15 a.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 10:30 a.m. ET, arriving at 11:40 a.m. ET in Columbus, Ohio. He will tour a Recovery Act Highway Project site at 12:05 p.m. ET, and deliver remarks on the economy at 12:15 p.m. ET. He will depart form Columbus at 12:55 p.m. ET, arriving back at Andrews Air Force Base at 2 p.m. ET, and at the White House at 2:15 p.m. ET. He will meet at 2:45 p.m. ET with senior advisers.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vie President Biden will hold an event at 11 a.m. ET, to announce new initiatives for eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in government. He will be joined by Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag. Later, he will meet with senior advisers in the afternoon.
Obama To Order Federal Agencies To Compile ‘Do Not Pay List’
The Washington Post reports: “A memo Obama is set to sign Friday instructs the Treasury Department, Office of Management and Budget and General Services Administration to establish a government-wide database to ensure agencies no longer send government checks to dead people, delinquent or jailed contractors and other debarred or suspended firms, said officials familiar with the memo and not authorized to speak on the record. About 20,000 separate payments totaling $182 million were sent to dead people in the last three years, according to OMB.”
House Sets Aside Campaign Finance Bill for the Week
Roll Call reports: “Facing revolt from two corners of their rank and file, House Democratic leaders are punting on a campaign finance measure so they can continue making changes aimed at building support. The eruptions — from members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition — came after a leadership-authored tweak to the package exempted the National Rifle Association from new disclosure requirements, prompting heated protests from an array of business groups and left-leaning nonprofits.”
Senate Liberals Threaten Rebellion On Energy Bill
The Hill reports: “Liberal Democrats in the Senate are threatening to vote against energy legislation if it does not address global climate change. After watching centrist Democrats and Republicans shrink the 2009 economic stimulus package, strip the public option from healthcare reform and slice a pending package of safety-net program extensions, liberal senators are reaching the limits of their patience.”
White House Choreographing Kagan’s Path To Confirmation
The Associated Press reports: “The White House is quietly choreographing every aspect of Elena Kagan’s march toward a lifetime term on the Supreme Court. From working to dampen the impact of revelations about her stint in the Clinton White House to going out of their way to trumpet praise from conservative backers, members of President Barack Obama’s team are using every available tool to burnish Kagan’s image.”
