Obama, Other World Leaders Differ On Global Recovery Efforts
The Associated Press point out that President Obama is headed to the G8 Summit amidst division with other major powers on how to best deal with the economy: “President Barack Obama, who was arriving after a tough two months dealing with the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history, was not getting a lot of support for his cautionary warnings that countries should not pull back their stimulus efforts too quickly. Britain, Germany, France and Japan have all unveiled deficit-cutting plans. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the host for the summit meetings, was urging the countries to agree to concrete deficit-reduction goals as a way of restoring investor confidence following the turmoil caused by the Greek debt crisis.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will make a statement to the press at 8:40 a.m. ET. He will depart the White House at 8:50 a.m. ET, and depart form Andrews Air Force Base at 9:10 a.m. ET, arriving at 10:30 a.m. ET in Toronto, Canada. He will arrive at 11:20 a.m. ET in Muskoka, Canada, and attend a G8 working lunch at 12:15 p.m. ET. Obama and G8 Leaders will take a G8 Family Photo at 2 p.m. ET. Obama will participate at 2:45 p.m. ET in a G8 Session with African Outreach Leaders, and a 4:45 p.m. ET G8 working session with African Outreach Leaders and Expanded Outreach Leaders. At 5:45 p.m. ET, Obama, the G8 Leaders and African Outreach and Extended Outreach Leaders will take a G8 Family Photo. Obama and G8 Leaders will meet at 7:30 p.m. ET with My Summit 2010 Youth. Obama will attend a G8 Working Dinner at 7;45 p.m. ET, and another G8 Working Dinner at 9:15 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will travel in the morning to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He will attend an event at 1:30 p.m. ET for Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI). Later, he will travel to Wilmington, Delaware.
Pelosi Hopes To Pass War Spending By Recess
The New York Times reports: “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday stressed the importance of passing a war spending bill by the time lawmakers leave for an Independence Day recess, but questions remain about what exactly will be included in the legislation. At a briefing, Ms. Pelosi indicated she was open to splitting the measure into two parts to help grease the wheels for passage and did not tip her hand on whether funds to help stave off teacher layoffs would be included.”
Stymied By GOP, Dems At Loss On Jobs Agenda
The Associated Press reports: “Stymied by Republicans, Democrats are at a loss as they struggle to help pump up the economy in the run-up to congressional elections this fall. The demise of their jobs-agenda legislation Thursday means that unemployment benefits will phase out for more than 200,000 people a week. Governors who had counted on fresh federal aid will now have to consider a more budget cuts, tax increases and layoffs of state workers.”
Reid Moving On After GOP Blocks Benefits Package
Roll Call reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is preparing to take up another jobs bill, after Senate Republicans, joined by Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), blocked a tax-cut and unemployment benefits extenders package. “We’re going to move to another jobs bill; we’re going to move tonight or tomorrow to a small-business jobs bill,” Reid told reporters. “We will see if [the Republicans] let us do that.” Reid filed for cloture to take up a small-business bill, setting up a Monday vote.
Lawmakers Mull Possible Changes To Budget Process
The Hill reports: “With Congress unable to produce a plan to deal with deficits, members of the bipartisan fiscal commission created by the White House, along with budget experts, are pushing for ways to change the budget rules. ‘This process cannot handle the major decisions that have to be made,’ said William Hoagland, a former Senate Republican budget aide.”
