Obama To Meet With Labor Leaders, Could Face Pressure On Health Care
The Washington Post reports that President Obama will meeting today with outgoing AFL-CIO president John Sweeney and his incoming successor Richard Trumka, when he visits the Labor Day picnic in Cincinnati: “In what could be a moment of high tension, they [Sweeney and Trumka] will have a chance to argue that, after being elected in part because the AFL-CIO’s persuaded its more skeptical members to vote for him, Obama should not disappoint it by settling for half measures.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will depart from the White House at 10:45 a.m. ET, heading to Cincinnati, Ohio. He will address the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic at 1:15 p.m. ET. He will depart form Cincinnati at 2:35 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 4:10 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will spend the morning in Pittsburgh, where he will kick off the city’s annual Labor Day parade. In the afternoon, he will celebrate Labor Day by visiting with local firefighters in Chester, Pennsylvania. He will return to Washington in the evening.
Obama To Name Adviser On Manufacturing
President Obama will announce at his speech to the Cincinnati AFL-CIO picnic today that he is appointing Ron Bloom, a former union adviser, investment banker, and member of the auto industry task force, to advise him on manufacturing policy.
NYT: Pace Of Change Under Obama Frustrates Unions
The New York Times reports that labor unions remain frustrated with the Obama administration, feeling that Obama has not pushed hard enough or worked quickly enough on their issues. “He gets an A for effort, and an incomplete for results,” said incoming AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka.
GOPer Kerry Healey Not Running Senate In Massachusetts
Former Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 2006, has announced that she will not run for Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat. Other potential GOP candidates are looking at the race — including former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, state Sen. Scott Brown, and former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, and former baseball player Curt Schilling (who would have to run as an independent, due to his voter registration) — though the Democrats are heavily favored to retain the seat.
Ellison: “Why Should The Liberals Always Cave?”
Appearing yesterday on CNN, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) questioned the need for liberals to compromise on health care: “Why should the liberals always cave?” Ellison also called on President Obama to take a strong stand on health care in his upcoming address to Congress: “He could say, ‘You know what, the public option is essential to reform.’ He could say that a public option is the only thing that’s going to hold insurance premiums down.”
