LAT: Obama Picking Up Fundraising Steam
The Los Angeles Times reports that President Obama has stepped up his fundraising schedule: “Obama has surpassed his predecessor, George W. Bush, in money-raising appearances at this point in his tenure. And with the midterm elections approaching, he is headlining dinners for the party and embattled Democratic candidates around the country.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive his daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. He will meet at 10:15 a.m. ET with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Mine Safety and Health Administrator Joe Main. He will deliver remarks on mine safety at 10:50 a.m. ET. He will depart the White House at 11:20 a.m. ET, depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 11:35 a.m. ET, and arrive in Cape Canaveral at 1:30 p.m. ET. he will tour a commercial rocket processing facility at 1:55 p.m. ET. He will deliver remarks on a new course for NASA at 2:50 p.m. ET. He will depart from Cape Canaveral at 3:45 p.m. ET, arriving in Miami at 4:40 p.m. ET. He will attend a DNC fundraiser at 5 p.m. ET, and deliver remarks at another DNC fundraiser at 7:10 p.m. ET. He will depart from Miami at 7:50 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 9:55 p.m. ET, and back at the White House at 10:10 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will travel in the morning to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. At 10:30 a.m. ET, he will visit Ben Franklin TechVentures, to kick off the groundbreaking of a Recovery Act project. At 12:15 p.m. ET, he will attend an event for Mayor John Callahan, who is running for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District.
Obama On Afghanistan: ‘We Can’t Be There In Perpetuity’
In an interview on Australian television, President Obama reiterated his plan to draw down U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2011. “We can’t be there in perpetuity,” he said. “Neither the American people nor the Australian people should be asked to carry that burden any longer than it needs to be carried.”
NYT: Expiring Tax Cuts Have Parties Strategizing
The New York Times reports that the scheduled expiration of the Bush tax cuts presents a political dilemma for Democrats, in regards to which parts would be renewed and which would expire: “For all of the talk from President Obama and his party of ending the Bush tax cuts, letting that happen could be harder for some Democratic lawmakers from Republican-leaning districts or states. Republicans already are reviving what has sometimes proven an effective, if disputed, argument in the past: that rich taxpayers include many small businesses whose owners pay income taxes as individuals.”
Tea Partiers Snub GOP Leaders
The Hill reports that Congressional Republican leaders have not been invited to speak at today’s big Tax Day Tea Party rally at the Washington Monument. Said former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX), now the chairman of FreedomWorks: “What [Tea Party activists] are saying to the officeholders and office-seekers is, ‘Earn your spurs and you can get on our stage.’ There’s an old line: ‘We don’t call you a cowboy until we can see you ride.'”
Cornyn Signals Interest In Second Term At NRSC
Roll Call reports that Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is keeping the door open to serving a second two-year term as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “I’m going to finish the job that I’ve signed on to do between now and November. I mean, I hope the outcome is such that people will be pleased. But it’s still too early to say. This takes a lot of time and effort; I’m not sure I want to do it again,” said Cornyn. “But I’m a team player, and I’m willing to listen.”
