Obama Publicly Accuses Iran Of Building Secret Nuclear Facility
President Obama and two other G-20 leaders, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, this morning accused Iran of building a secret facility to produce nuclear fuel. Obama said that “the size and configuration of this facility is inconsistent with a peaceful program.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama held a news conference at 8:30 a.m. ET, in Pittsburgh. At 9:30 a.m. ET, he will attend the morning G-20 plenary session. He will attend the G-20 leaders lunch, at 12:45 p.m. ET, followed by the afternoon G-20 plenary session at 2 p.m. ET, and another news conference at 4:40 p.m. ET. He will depart from Pittsburgh at 6:10 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 7:20 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden is traveling today to Georgia, to survey flood damage, visit with families, and discuss the federal government’s commitment to helping the region. He will travel back to Washington in the afternoon,to swear in Paul Kirk as the new Senator from Massachusetts. In the evening, he will be in Wilmington, Delaware.
White House Deal With Drug Companies Survives In Finance Committee
The Senate Finance Committee yesterday defeated a Democratic amendment that attempted to override the deal that the White House made with the drug companies — with three Democrats arguing that the amendment would have turned the industry from supporting health insurance reform to opposing it. “They’re not foolish,” said Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), whose state is home to the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. “I know I would walk away.”
Poll: Public Opposes Afghanistan Troop Increase
The new CBS/New York Times poll finds the public opposing a troop surge in Afghanistan. Only 29% of respondents said troops levels should be increased, with 32% saying they should be decreased, and 27% saying they should be kept at present levels.
House To Vote Today On Spending Bill, Postal Service Payment Deferral
The House of Representatives is set to vote today on a $4.7 billion appropriations bill today, one of the smallest of the annual spending bills. The Dems have attached a measure allowing the Postal Service to defer a $4 billion payment into its fund for future retirees’ health benefits, to which Republicans are objecting.
Al Gore Sort-Of Endorses Mike Bloomberg
Former Vice President Al Gore appeared yesterday with New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, to tout a city environmental project — and did everything except endorse Bloomberg’s re-election in November. “I think today’s event demonstrates, among many other things, that the issue of solving the climate crisis goes beyond party politics and party labels, and I’m proud to endorse the leadership and the actions Mayor Bloomberg has been taking,” said Gore, also adding: “I try to stay out of the partisan races, but I’m very proud of Mike Bloomberg’s leadership.”
