AP: Pirate Crisis Could Help Obama’s Image On National Security
The Associated Press speculates that President Obama’s behind-the-scenes handling of the Somali pirates hostage crisis could potentially pay off politically. “For Obama, the benefits were instantly clear: an American life saved and a major victory notched against an increasingly worrisome scourge of the seas off the Horn of Africa,” the AP says.
Obama’s Day Ahead: Easter Eggs, Stimulus, Defense
President Obama and his family will attend the White House Easter Egg Roll at 10 a.m. ET. At 11:35 a.m. ET, Obama and Vice President Biden will speak at the Department of Transportation, discussing infrastructure jobs created by the stimulus bill. At 4 p.m. ET, Obama and Biden will have a closed-press meeting with Robert Gates.
NYT: Treasury Tell G.M. To Plan For “Surgical” Bankruptcy
The New York Times reports that the Treasury Department has directed General Motors to plan for a possible “surgical” bankruptcy, and to lay the groundwork for a bankruptcy filing by a June 1 deadline: “The preparations are aimed at assuring a G.M. bankruptcy filing is ready should the company be unable to reach agreement with bondholders to exchange roughly $28 billion in debt into equity in G.M. and with the United Automobile Workers union, which has balked at granting concessions without sacrifices from bondholders.”
Rendell And Schwarzenegger Tell Obama To Take Lead On Infrastructure
Govs. Ed Rendell (D-PA) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) have sent a memo to President Obama, urging him to take an active role in legislation to improve national infrastructure, rather than leave it to Congressional appropriators. “If your administration is to have a substantive impact on this key legislation,” the memo says, “you must take the lead in setting forth a new national vision for infrastructure policy, as well [as] articulating goals and program specifics for this once-a-decade legislative vehicle.”
WaPo: D.C. Council Emboldened By Dem Control Of Federal Government
The Washington Post reports that the D.C. City Council is feeling much more emboldened to pursue a progressive agenda on issues such as the environment, gay rights and gun control, now that the Democrats are in full control of the federal government. Said Council member Mary M. Cheh: “I think what you have is a fairly progressive, activist council anyway, but now we do so with a greater confidence and hope we are not going to be forestalled by Congress.”
Poll: Taxpayers Plan To Be Frugal With Refund Checks
A new AP/GfK poll finds that 54% of those who will receive tax refunds plan to use the money to pay bills such as credit cards, housing and utilities, compared to 35% who said that a year ago. And although 38% say they plan to spend at least part of it on themselves, here it again appears to be on basic needs for many people, with 17% saying they’ll spend money on food and clothing.
NYT: Obama Plan to Change Student Lending Sets Up Fight
The New York Times reports that the private student loan industry is gearing up for a serious battle with the Obama administration over proposals to increase the federal government’s direct role in scholarships and switch away from subsidizing loans. Sallie Mae, the country’s largest student lender, has now hired two prominent Democratic lobbyists: former Clinton-era deputy attorney general Jamie Gorelick, and Tony Podesta, whose brother John headed up the Obama transition.
Easter Egg Roll Featuring All-Star Guests
This year’s White House Easter Egg Roll hunt will feature some prominent celebrity guests: Fergie and Ziggy Marley, children’s entertainers SteveSongs and Imagination Movers, basketball players Renee Brown and Dawn Staley, football players Derrick Dockery and Shaun Suisham, and many more.
