Poll: Americans Continue To Worry About The Economy
A new AP/GfK poll finds that 80% of Americans rate the condition of the economy as poor, and a majority continue to worry about their own ability to make ends meet. In addition, 68% worry about big, unexpected medical expenses, up 7 percent from July. In a silver lining for President Obama, only 20% blame him for the economic crisis, compared to 54% who blame George W. Bush, and 19% who blame Bill Clinton.
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will depart from the White House at 9:55 a.m. ET, arriving in New York City at 11:05 a.m. ET. He will deliver a major speech on the financial crisis at 12:10 p.m. ET, marking the one-year anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers. He will depart from New York at 3:35 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 4:45 p.m. ET.
New Bin Laden Tape: Afghanistan A “Hopeless And Losing War”
Osama bin Laden has released a new audiotape, taunting President Obama and Americans. “You are waging a hopeless and losing war for the benefit of others, a war the end of which is not visible on the horizon,” bin Laden says of the Afghanistan conflict. Bin Laden added that when Obama retained Robert Gates as Sec. of Defense, “reasonable people knew that Obama is a powerless man who will not be able to end the war as he promised.”
Romer: Unemployment To Remain High Despite Economic Growth
White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairwoman Christina Romer told The Hill that the unemployment rate will remain high in 2010, at a peak of 10 percent, even as economic growth reaches between 2-3 percent. “That will bring unemployment down slowly but not by big movements,” Romer explained, “unemployment on the right trajectory but not coming down for what we or American people would need or like.”
Non-Profits Upset By Exclusion From Health Care Reform Proposals
The New York Times reports that non-profit groups are complaining about a key part of health care reform proposals, providing tax credits to small businesses that provide employees with health insurance — which would not help non-profits, because they don’t pay income taxes to begin with. “We had our nonprofit lobbying day on Capitol Hill in July, and our members spoke to their elected officials about this issue,” said Tim Delaney, chief executive of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations. “We heard a constant refrain: ‘Gee, we never thought about nonprofits as employers before.'”
GOP Prepping For Another SCOTUS Fight, With Possible Election-Year Politics
Roll Call reports that Senate Republicans are gearing up for another Supreme Court nomination battle, with the widely-expected retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens. Republicans don’t have the numbers to actually block a nominee, but they do see the political opportunities in fighting the battle. Said Sen. John Thune (R-SD): “If it’s 2010, that’s an election year and it’s an issue that really energizes the Republican base.”
Franken Announces First Annual Tom Harkin Tofu Event
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) told some jokes at yesterday’s annual Tom Harkin Steak Fry, discussing the crucial subject of health care and his new role on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. “Now of course one way nutritionists tell us that we could prevent disease…is if we ate less charcoaled, grilled, marbled, red meat,” said Franken. “So please let me be the first to invite you to the first annual Tom Harkin tofu scheme.”
