House Dems Eyeing More Possible Retirements
CQ reports that House Democrats could have more retirements on the horizon: “House Democratic leadership aides said that they expect more retirements soon, but only because the year is almost over and the House has already passed its top three priorities for the year: economic stimulus, climate change and health care reform legislation. Several older, long-tenured Members are being eyed as possible retirees in 2010, including Budget Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.) and Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.).”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will hold a 10:45 a.m. ET meeting at a Northern Virginia Home Depot, to discuss the economic impact of energy-saving home retrofits, and he will deliver remarks at 11:10 a.m. ET. He will have lunch with business leaders at 12:15 p.m. ET. He will meet with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus at 1:40 p.m. ET, and will make a statement to the press after the meeting at 3 p.m. ET. Obama and Vice PResident Biden will meet with SEcretary of Defense Robert Gates at 4:45 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will meet in the morning with senior staff at the White House. At 11 a.m. ET, he will host a Recovery Act Implementation Cabinet Meeting. He will join President Obama’ 1:40 p.m. ET meeting with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. At 3:15 p.m. ET, Biden will hold a roundtable discussion on the administration’s commitment to enforcing laws against the piracy of intellectual property.
House Dems Scale Back Long-Term Debt Limit Increase Plan
House Democrats are scrapping a plan to increase the debt limit by $1.8 trillion, in a bow to the party’s deficit hawks. Instead, Dems plan to have a more short-term debt limit increase of $300 billion.
Mullen: Most Afghanistan Surge Troops Will Be There By August
Speaking to reporters in Afghanistan, the Chairman of the JOint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen said that most of the 30,000 additional troops being sent to Afghanistan will be there by August. Mullen said that he is “reasonably confident” that the logistics will work out, but also that “I want a plan B because life doesn’t always work out.”
House Could Hold Saturday Vote On Defense
The House of Representatives could be headed for a weekend vote on defense spending. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) has sent a memo asking members if they would be available on Saturday, a day when most members expected to be going home for the holiday weekend.
K Streeters Bemoan Grueling Schedule
Roll Call reports that the busy schedule on Capitol Hill has been especially intense for Washington lobbyists. “People are absolutely exhausted down here, and they are really ready for this to be over with,” said veteran lobbyist Rich Gold, of Holland & Knight. “I don’t think I’ve worked this hard in my entire career.”
