Bernanke: ‘The Unemployment Rate Is Just Not Going Down’
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said in an interview with 60 Minutes: “The unemployment rate is just not going down. Unemployment is just about the same as it was in mid-2009, when the economy started growing. So, that’s a major concern. And it looks that at current rates, that it may take some years before the unemployment rate is back down to more normal levels.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:15 a.m. ET. He will depart from the White House at 9:50 a.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 10:05 a.m. ET, and will arrive at 11:05 a.m. ET in Greensboro, North Carolina. He will tour Bio Tech Facilities at Forsyth Technical Community College at 11:45 a.m. ET, and deliver remarks to workers at 12:20 p.m. ET. He will depart from Greensboro at 1:55 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews air Force Base at 2:55 p.m. Et, and back at the White House at 3:10 p.m. ET. He will meet at 3:15 p.m. ET with senior advisers.
Short Goodnight Expected For The DREAM Act During Lame Duck
The Hill reports: “The DREAM Act — a priority of Democrats in both Congress and the White House — faces a difficult future in the lame duck. Even as Democrats in both chambers prepare to consider the measure this week, Republicans and centrist Democrats are already lining up to shoot it down. The climb is particularly steep in the Senate, where Republicans will filibuster the hot-button bill, and even former sponsors now stand in opposition.”
Incoming GOP Freshmen Rapidly Embracing Big-Money Fundraisers
The Washington Post reports that freshman House Republicans, elected on an outsider message, have quickly embraced the culture of Washington fundraising: “Dozens of freshmen lawmakers have held receptions at Capitol Hill bistros and corporate townhouses in recent weeks, taking money from K Street lobbyists and other powerbrokers within days of their victories. Newly elected House members have raised at least $2 million since the election, according to preliminary Federal Election Commission records filed last week, and many more contributions have yet to be tallied.”
Palin Leads House Donations Among Prospective 2012 GOPers
Roll Call reports: “In the crowded field of potential 2012 Republican presidential contenders, no one spent more to help the GOP reclaim the House majority in the days before the midterm elections than Sarah Palin. Palin funneled $244,000 to federal candidates and committees in the most recent reporting period — all but a few thousand dollars going to 44 House candidates and a handful of state parties in the 19 days before the elections.”
For Federal Employees, A Feeling Of Being Targets In The Budget Wars
The New York Times reports: “During the midterm elections, the federal work force became a target for Republicans in particular. In a speech in Cleveland, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the top Republican in the House, called it “nonsense” that ‘taxpayers are subsidizing the fattened salaries and pensions of federal bureaucrats.’ And last week, President Obama proposed a two-year freeze on the salaries of federal employees.”
