Obama Extends Benefits To Domestic Partners Of Federal Employees
President Obama announced late Wednesday that his administration was extending a number of benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees, after a review process that began last year: “That process has now concluded, and I am proud to announce that earlier today, I signed a Memorandum that requires Executive agencies to take immediate action to extend to the same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees a number of meaningful benefits, from family assistance services to hardship transfers to relocation expenses. It also requires agencies that extend any new benefits to employees’ opposite-sex spouses to make those benefits available on equal terms to employees’ same-sex domestic partners to the extent permitted by law.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive his daily briefing at 11:05 a.m. ET. He will have lunch with Vice President Biden at 12:30 p.m. ET. He will meet at 1:30 p.m. ET with Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ). Obama and Biden will meet at 3 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He will meet with senior advisers at 3:30 p.m. ET. He will participate at 5:25 p.m. ET in the U.S. India Strategic Dialogue reception.
Biden’s Day Ahead
At 11:30 a.m. ET, Vice President Biden will chair a regular meeting of senior officials to assess progress in Iraq. He will have lunch with President Obama at 12:30 p.m. ET. He will meet with Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at 3 p.m. ET.
Political Spending Already Top $2 Billion For 2010 Cycle
The Washington Post reports: “More than 20 major political advocacy groups plan to spend well over $400 million on campaign contributions, issue-based advertising and other election-related efforts this year, according to an informal canvas of many of Washington’s largest and most influential organizations. When added together with spending by candidates and parties, political expenditures in the 2010 cycle already have topped $2 billion, according to a running tally by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.”
Oil Companies Weigh Strategies To Fend Off Tougher Regulations
The New York Times reports: “Oil industry executives acknowledge the stiff political resistance that they face. Despite the success of shallow-water drillers in avoiding a continued ban on their end of the industry, executives and industry analysts say the daily images of oil wafting onto the coastline will make it tougher for them to fend off calls for tougher regulations that extend far beyond BP and the Deepwater Horizon spill.”
Justice Investigations Into Oil Spill Please Louisiana Lawmakers
Roll Call reports that Attorney General’s investigation of the BP oil spill is drawing approval from Louisiana lawmakers. “As I’ve said for weeks, we need to uncover all the facts and follow them wherever they lead,” said Sen. David Vitter (R-LA). “If they suggest illegal activity by BP or anyone else, that should be aggressively prosecuted.”
Webb Cancels Myanmar Trip
Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) has cancelled a scheduled visit to Myanmar, due to reports that the country is allegedly working with North Korea to develop a nuclear program. “There are now two unresolved matters related to activities of serious concern between these two countries,” Webb said in a statement. “Until there is further clarification on these matters, I believe it would be unwise and potentially counter-productive for me to visit Burma.”
