March 2010 - Posts
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
But it is pushing back today by sending around a list of what the Democratic National Committee has spent money on, including more than $2 million on luxury hotels and caterers, $75,000 for car services, and $262,000 for "other events" at the Kennedy Center, Fenway Park, and a D.C. nightclub.
An e-mail for response to the DNC was not immediately returned. We will update when we hear back.
The full list after the jump:
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From NBC's Ali Weinberg President Obama today announced that he would be expanding oil and natural gas drilling to areas off the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico -- a decision that represents his evolution on the subject since it first arose during the 2008 presidential general election.
"This is not a decision that I've made lightly," Obama said, while speaking to a group of military personnel and energy officials at Andrews Air Force Base late this morning. "But the bottom line is this: Given our energy needs, in order to sustain economic growth, produce jobs, and keep our businesses competitive, we're going to need to harness traditional sources of fuel even as we ramp up production of new sources of renewable, homegrown energy."
The plan, which needs congressional approval to be implemented, would permit drilling off the coast of Virginia, as well as end a moratorium on drilling 125 miles from Florida's west coast. Certain areas of Alaska would also be open to drilling, although the coast of Bristol Bay in southwestern Alaska would remain off limits. CONTINUED >>
Barbara Bush has been discharged from a hospital in Texas. A "mild relapse" of Graves disease is cited. It is, per the release below, "a thyroid condition" and she had been treated for it 20 years ago. She is "expected to make a full recovery."
Here's the full statement:
Former First Lady Barbara Bush was discharged Wednesday from The Methodist Hospital in Houston after undergoing a series of tests. Doctors believe Mrs. Bush, 84, may have had a mild relapse of her Graves disease, a thyroid condition for which she was treated in 1989. As a result, her physicians at Methodist have adjusted her medication. Upon discharge she was alert, talkative and appeared to be getting stronger as she prepared to return home.
Mrs. Bush arrived Saturday at the hospital, where she received a number of tests including blood tests and imaging studies. Just over a year ago Mrs. Bush received a replacement aortic valve at Methodist, which doctors said is working very well.
Mrs. Bush is expected to make a full recovery and should soon return to her normal activities.
From NBC's Mark Murray Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) today announced that she would complete her Senate term, which expires in 2012, despite earlier promises that she would resign her seat.
Hutchison gave this reason why she was staying: Barack Obama .
“For family reasons, I had planned to begin making a transition home to Texas this spring,” Hutchison said, according to a statement. “But it is clear to me that the stakes in our nation’s capitol have never been higher. President Obama’s victory on health care legislation has emboldened those who want an even bigger and more intrusive federal government.”
More: “On a personal level, this has been a most difficult decision, but after much deliberation, I have decided to complete my term. I will work alongside our great Texas congressional delegation to repeal and replace President Obama’s massive health bill, to stop cap and trade legislation and to cut the deficit the President is building that is putting our economy in peril.”
From NBC's Pete Williams
The man, a native of Honduras named Jose Padilla (no relation to the terrorism case subject), has lived in the U.S. for more than 40 years and fought in the American military in Vietnam. In September 2001, he agreed to haul almost 1,000 pounds of marijuana, but his cargo was discovered at a truck weigh station in Kentucky and he was arrested. His lawyer advised him to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of five years in prison.
The lawyer told Padilla that he did not need to worry about jeopardizing his immigration status, since he had been in the U.S. for so long. That turned out to be bad advice, because the U.S. sought to have him deported.
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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro President Obama opposed offshore drilling in the summer of 2008, he did start talking about a comprehensive energy plan that -- yes -- included offshore drilling, the White House points out.
The president "campaigned to increase oil and gas production as part of a comprehensive energy strategy," administration spokesman Ben LaBolt said in an e-mail to First Read. He added, "It's important to note that he said this during the campaign -- this wasn't new when he became president."
He points to the following:
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Obama picks up the “drill, baby, drill” mantra (although with some important qualifications)… It’s a Nixon-goes-to-China-like moment for the president… Romney-care might have lasting power through 2011 and 2012 because the likely GOP presidential candidates agree on almost ALL the issues, a la the ’08 Dem field… It looks like Kay Bailey Hutchison is staying the U.S. Senate… Mark Kirk gets boxed in on repeal… Dems see their fortunes turn around in OH? And today’s Super Senate Tuesday update: the 9/11 back-and-forth between Trey Grayson and Rand Paul.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Drill, baby, drill: During the 2008 presidential campaign, Republicans of all stripes voiced this battle cry -- “Drill, baby, drill” -- to argue for offshore oil drilling as gas prices spiked to record levels. Then-candidate Barack Obama opposed it, however . (“Offshore drilling would not lower gas prices today,” he said. “It would not lower gas prices tomorrow. It would not lower gas prices this year. It would not lower gas prices five years from now. In fact, President Bush’s own Energy Department says we won’t see a drop of oil from [offshore drilling] until 2017.”) But now in what appears to be a Nixon-goes-to-China moment -- as well as a significant departure from the campaign -- President Obama will announce at 11:05 am ET new plans to drill for oil and natural gas off American coasts, the L.A. Times reports. But he will rule out drilling off the West Coast and the coasts above Delaware. “Obama's plans will include opening new areas of coastal Virginia and other parts of the mid-Atlantic region, Alaska and the eastern Gulf of Mexico for drilling. But officials say the president will block drilling in Alaska's Bristol Bay.”
*** What say you, Sierra Club? The announcement is stunning for those of us who paid close attention to the presidential race. And it will be yet another test for Obama’s Democratic base -- in this case, environmentalists. As the New York Times writes, “But while Mr. Obama has staked out middle ground on other environmental matters -- supporting nuclear power, for example -- the sheer breadth of the offshore drilling decision will take some of his supporters aback.” That said, Obama floated this idea at his State of the Union address as perhaps a way to get Republicans to back a comprehensive energy bill. “To create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives,” he said in that January speech. “And that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.” Of course, Obama isn't the first major Democrat to make this reversal on oil drilling. During the height of the last major gas price spike, Speaker Pelosi had to relent and allow legislation on oil drilling to go forward as many members of her own caucus wanted to support it. Still, this announcement will be a bitter birthday present for Al Gore, who turns 62 today.
*** We can disagree to agree: As the early jockeying for the 2012 presidential race begins, we and others have asked this question: Just how big of a problem will health care’s passage be for Mitt Romney given the fact that Obama-care looks a whole lot like Romney-care? On the one hand, you have folks who believe it’s a campaign killer; on the other hand, there are those who wisely point out that health care could be an afterthought a year or two from now. But here’s one thing to keep in mind: In a potential 2012 field that could include Romney, Palin, Pawlenty, Thune, Gingrich, or even Daniels, these guys agree pretty much on everything. On abortion. On taxes. On Afghanistan/Iraq. And on Obama’s health-care law. So 2011 and early 2012 will largely be fought over the 1% where they disagree vs. the 99% where they agree. And that’s why the Obama-care/Romney-care story could be important. Yesterday, Pawlenty walked back some personal criticism of Romney, saying that had Romney still been governor of Massachusetts when his plan was implemented, it wouldn't be in such bad financial shape.
*** 2008 vs. 2012: Indeed, what turned out to be fascinating about the GOP’s 2008 presidential field were all the issue contrasts. Rudy Giuliani supported abortion rights; John McCain favored comprehensive immigration reform; Ron Paul opposed the Iraq war; and Romney had once favored abortion rights, expanded gay rights, and stem-cell research. But the 2012 field will probably end up resembling the 2008 Dem one, where the candidates agreed on pretty much everything -- but instead fought over broad themes (change vs. experience), qualifications (who could answer that 3:00 am phone call), and who presented the clearest contrast to Bush. That’s why Hillary Clinton’s Iraq war vote proved to be so consequential. And so too could the health plan that Romney helped erect in Massachusetts.
*** Shrewd politics: Of course, Obama is being quite shrewd politically in comparing his plan to Romney’s, as he did in his interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer; after all, if history is a guide, Romney is the most likely GOP nominee (and perhaps the candidate the White House fears most?). “I think that the Republican Party made a calculated decision, a political decision, that they would not support whatever we did,” he said in the interview that aired yesterday morning. “And I think that's unfortunate because when you actually look at the bill itself, it incorporates all sorts of Republican ideas. I mean, a lot of commentators have said, you know, this is sort of similar to the bill that Mitt Romney … passed in Massachusetts.”
*** KBH going to stick around? At 11:00 am ET today, Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) is holding a news conference in San Antonio with GOP leaders Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn, the Dallas Morning News reports. A Republican source with knowledge of the decision tells First Read that Hutchison is expected to announce that she is NOT resigning her Senate seat. Remember, Hutchison had said that she would leave the Senate after her March 2 gubernatorial primary against Gov. Rick Perry, which she lost (and lost decisively). A resignation would have triggered a special election for the seat. The GOP source believes that Hutchison will say that she is remaining in the Senate until her term expires in 2012, although she could also announce that she is staying until this year ends. Republican leaders Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn (a fellow Texas senator) will be joining Hutchison at this news conference, which offers the biggest hint as to what she'll be announcing. Expect her to say that she has listened to Texans and her GOP colleagues, and that these times are too important for her to leave the Senate.
*** The appeal of Repeal? It appears that Illinois GOP Senate nominee Mark Kirk has become the first Republican candidate to get boxed in by the debate to repeal the health-care law. Let us recap: First, Kirk signed the Club for Growth’s repeal petition and told a closed-press fundraiser that he would lead the effort to repeal the law. Then yesterday, he refused to answer reporters’ questions whether he was still intent on repeal. And now the Club for Growth has reminded Kirk of his previous pledge, per Greg Sargent . “He said that he’s going to do this,” Club for Growth spokesman Mike Connolly said. “We expect him to live up to his pledge.”
*** An Ohio turnaround? A new Quinnipiac poll suggests that Democrats may have regained their mojo in the Buckeye State. In the Senate contest, Dem front-runner Lee Fisher now leads Republican Rob Portman by four points (41%-37%) after trailing Portman by three points (40%-37%) last month. In addition, Obama’s approval rating in the state has bounced up from 44%-52% last month to 47%-48% now. And Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) maintains his five-point lead over John Kasich (R). This is a big change in perhaps the country’s most important swing state.
*** Super Senate Tuesday: In Kentucky, as we wrote yesterday, Rand Paul and Trey Grayson are battling over 9/11. In a past ad , Grayson claimed that Paul has "strange ideas" on defense, noting his support of closing the Guantanamo Bay prison facility and past statements suggesting Paul downplays the threat of Afghan extremists. "Even though the 9/11 attacks began there, Paul thinks that Afghanistan is not a threat to our national security," Grayson said in the ad released on March 10. But Paul's new 30-second ad first affirms his outrage at the 9/11 attacks and support of the war in Afghanistan. Then it strongly criticizes Grayson for his claims. "America was attacked and fighting back was the right thing to do," Paul says. "Now, desperate Trey Grayson is using 9/11 to attack my integrity and my patriotism." He continues, "Trey Grayson, your shameful TV ad is a lie, and it dishonors you."
*** Other midterm news: In California, Meg Whitman has another TV ad … In Florida’s gubernatorial race, Bill McCollum (R) is leading Alex Sink (D) by 15 points (just asking, but who believed that by April 1, 2010, Democrat Bill White would be in better shape in TX GOV than Democrat Alex Sink in FL GOV?)… And also in Florida, Charlie Crist is being hounded by a controversial comment one of his supporters made.
Countdown to IN, NC, and OH primaries: 34 days
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The Los Angeles Times : “President Obama will announce new plans to drill for oil and natural gas off America's coasts Wednesday but will rule out drilling off California, Oregon and Washington state through 2017, administration officials say. Obama's plans will include opening new areas of coastal Virginia and other parts of the mid-Atlantic region, Alaska and the eastern Gulf of Mexico for drilling. But officials say the president will block drilling in Alaska's Bristol Bay, where the George W. Bush administration's drilling plans in 2007 angered environmentalists.”
The New York Times adds, “But while Mr. Obama has staked out middle ground on other environmental matters -- supporting nuclear power, for example -- the sheer breadth of the offshore drilling decision will take some of his supporters aback.”
“President Obama interrupted a diplomatic love fest with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday to declare Iran will face tougher international sanctions within weeks,” the New York Daily News reports. Obama said, "I'm not interested in waiting months for a sanctions regime to be in place; I'm interested in seeing that regime in place within weeks.”
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“Massachusetts Senator John Kerry -- who is juggling climate change, aid to Pakistan and Congressional oversight of the war in Afghanistan -- plunges this week into yet another major international conundrum: Middle East peace,” the Globe writes. “Kerry departs today to the region ‘to investigate the political situation in Syria and Lebanon and the prospects for progress in the Arab-Israeli Peace Process,’ according to a schedule provided by his office.”
“Rep. Mike Pence has apologized to Sen. Chris Dodd over a policy brief that included a personal attack,” The Hill writes.
“Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) was hospitalized Monday for an irregular heartbeat, less than one week after the 65-year-old was treated for a bacterial infection,” Roll Call writes.
The Hill looks at the relationship Michael Steele has with congressional Republican leaders: “Republican leaders in Congress have moved to distance themselves from GOP national chairman Michael Steele, but that job will become more difficult as the spotlight on the midterm election intensifies.
"A GOP lawmaker who requested anonymity said the Republican National Committee chairman’s relationship with House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is ‘not good at all.’ The legislator added, ‘Steele lacks a base of support. The donors, the activists will all drop him if they sense he might squander the electoral opportunity of the decade.’”
CALIFORNIA: Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman released another TV ad , laying out her 48 page plan for California.
FLORIDA: "A new poll confirms that Attorney General Bill McCollum has widened his lead over state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink in the race for governor of Florida. McCollum, the leading Republican in the race, beat Sink, the likely Democratic nominee, by 15 points in the poll -- 49 percent for McCollum to 34 percent for Sink, with 17 percent undecided."
MISSOURI: “A Missouri man is counting on write-in votes -- and racist radio ads -- to catapult him into the United States Senate,” The New York Daily News reports. “69-year-old bigot Glenn Miller, a leader of the White Patriot's Party during the 1980s, has paid for a series of offensive advertisements to be played on a local station. And there apparently is nothing the radio station can do about it. … One of the statements Miller makes in his ads includes, ‘Jews control the federal government and the media. Surely you don't still believe white men are in control, do ya? It's the Jews, stupid.’ In another, he states: ‘The future of white children will be a nightmare.’” He also ran in 2006 and got 40 votes.
NEVADA: Dawn Gibbons, the soon-to-be-divorced wife of Gov. Jim Gibbons, took to the airwaves yesterday for a new radio show, the Reno Gazette-Journal reports. Today, she interviews Republican Brian Sandoval, her husband's primary challenger. "Only in Nevada does a soon-to-be ex-wife interview a man vying for her husband's job," the Gazette-Journal writes.
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From NBC's Ali Weinberg At his second bill-signing ceremony in two weeks,
President Obama today signed into law legislation that not only "fixes" the already-passed health-care overhaul but also reforms the student loan system.
Obama said that this student loan reform, when paired with the health-care law, represented the ability of Washington to overcome political gridlock and accomplish major legislation.
"Today we mark an important milestone on the road to health insurance reform and higher education reform. But more broadly, this day affirms our ability to overcome the challenges of our politics and meet the challenges of our time," the president said, speaking to a boisterous crowd at Northern Virginia Community College, an institution where
Dr. Jill Biden , the vice president's wife, teaches English. Dr. Biden also introduced Obama at the event.
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From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama used the conservative Heritage Foundation as an example of how the health-care law has incorporated GOP and conservative ideas.
[W]hen you actually look at the bill itself, it incorporates all sorts of Republican ideas. I mean, a lot of commentators have said, you know, this is sort of similar to the bill that Mitt Romney , the Republican governor and now presidential candidate, passed in Massachusetts. A lot of the ideas in terms of the exchange, just being able to pool and improve the purchasing power of individuals in the insurance market. That originated from the Heritage Foundation.
Not surprisingly, Heritage Foundation President Ed Feulner has fired back at the president in a blog post . While he doesn't exactly refute that the health exchanges are based on the conservative think tank's market-based ideas, Feulner contends that they go too far in regulations and federal standards.
But the President knows full well—or he ought to learn before he speaks—that the exchanges we and most others support are very different from those in his package. True exchanges are simply a market mechanism to enable families to choose their health insurance. President Obama’s exchanges, by contrast, are a vehicle to introduce sweeping regulation and federal standardization on health insurance.
From NBC's Ali Weinberg Grayson and Rand Paul continues, with the release of Paul's newest TV ad. In it, Paul counters Grayson's accusations that he would be weak on national security issues. ad released on March 10 .
In an interview with NBC’s Lauer, Obama calls health care law “a critical first step” and “middle of the road”… Says the GOP made a calculated decision to defeat the legislation… Remarks that Afghan President Karzai is listening, but that his progress “is too slow”… Admits that he hasn’t changed the polarized political culture in DC yet… USA Today/Gallup poll finds no bounce for Obama, while a CNN poll shows a five-point bump… RNC’s problems have turned Steele and the committee into a punching bag… And introducing “Super Senate Tuesday.”
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Obama on 'TODAY': In his first interview since health care’s passage, President Obama told NBC’s Matt Lauer that the law he signed into law last week -- as well as the reconciliation fixes he signs into law later this morning-- is “a critical first step in making a health-care system that works for all Americans.” Obama added, “It's not gonna be the only thing. We're still gonna have adjustments that have to be made to further reduce costs.” Asked to respond to the fact that not a single Republican voted for the legislation, he answered, “I think that the Republican Party made a calculated decision, a political decision, that they would not support whatever we did… And I think that's unfortunate because when you actually look at the bill itself, it incorporates all sorts of Republican ideas. I mean, a lot of commentators have said, you know, this is sort of similar to the bill that Mitt Romney … passed in Massachusetts.”
*** Middle of the road: “So it’s all politics?” Lauer followed up. Obama’s reply: “I will say that any objective observer looking at this bill would say that this is a middle-of-the-road centrist approach to providing coverage to people and making sure that we are also reducing costs.” More Obama: “What I've tried to say throughout is I will continually reach out to Republicans. I will continue to incorporate their ideas even when they don't vote for the ideas that I've presented. But what I'm not gonna be dissuaded from is us going ahead taking on these big challenges that are critical in terms of America's long-term economic health.”
*** Karzai is listening, but progress is too slow: Asked whether Afghanistan President Karzai is getting it on the importance to end the corruption in that country, Obama answered: “I think he is listening, but I think that progress is too slow. And what we've been trying to emphasize is the fierce urgency of now… Look, obviously this is a country that has been stressed in war one way or another for decades now. It's not gonna transform itself overnight. But my hope is that President Karzai can recognize the incredible opportunity he has to be the father of a modern Afghanistan.”
*** I haven’t solved the political culture in DC yet: And Lauer asked Obama this provocative question: After the divisive health-care debate, do you have a different opinion of the job George W. Bush did in office? “You know, I think that having sat in the Oval Office as president, I am much more sympathetic to all presidents generally,” he responded. “Because what is true is that there are big tough decisions that you make. And you know that unless you try to avoid those problems, whatever you decide is gonna make some people happy and some people unhappy. And I think there's things that George Bush has done that were smart and the right thing to do, I've said that before.” But then Obama mentioned the polarization in DC -- a topic he even brought up in his speech in Afghanistan on Sunday. “There's something about the political culture here in Washington that is a chronic problem. I haven't solved it yet.” It's truly remarkable that the president felt the need to bring up, ON HIS OWN, the polarization in his speech to troops in Afghanistan. Remember, there isn't a heated debate about the war in Afghanistan right now; the president was referring to DOMESTIC politics in his troop speech; more remarkable when framed that way.
*** Where’s the bounce? This question was commonly asked during the 2008 presidential campaign, especially after Obama finally defeated Hillary Clinton in the primary season. And it’s a question that folks are going to ask after this new USA Today/Gallup poll , which shows Obama with a 47%-50% approval rating after health care’s passage. What’s more, the survey finds that nearly two-thirds believe that the health overhaul costs too much and that it expands the government’s role too much. And: “Half call passage of the bill ‘a bad thing’ and 47% ‘a good thing.’ That differs from a one-day USA TODAY poll taken March 22 -- a day after the House approved the legislation -- in which a 49%-40% plurality called the bill ‘a good thing.’” On the other hand, however, a new CNN poll shows Obama’s approval rising from 46% to 51% since health care’s passage. Bottom line: Post-health care, there's, at best, only an improvement in the intensity of the president's support. But the same level of intensity against him is still there.
*** Obama’s day: As mentioned above, President Obama signs the health-care reconciliation fixes and also student-loan reform into law at Northern Virginia Community College at 11:05 am. Then, at 3:00 pm, he meets in the Oval Office with French President Sarkozy (which is closed to the press). And at 6:30 pm, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have dinner with Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni.
*** Risqué Business: Yesterday’s news about the RNC -- that it approved (among other things) a $2,000 charge at a sex-themed West Hollywood nightclub -- is just the latest embarrassment to trickle out of the committee in Michael Steele’s year-plus tenure as chairman. In fact, Steele’s embarrassments/gaffes are now too many to count: Calling abortion a “personal choice”… Saying Rush Limbaugh was an “entertainer” who was “ugly” and “incendiary” (although later apologizing)… Giving paid speeches… Doubting that the GOP could win back control of Congress this year… Going on a book tour (without other GOP officials knowing about it)… And holding the RNC’s winter meeting in Hawaii, after criticizing the Obama administration’s spending during a recession. To top it off, the usually deep-pocketed RNC has just $9.4 million in the bank after starting with $22 million cash on hand at the beginning of Steele’s tenure.
*** Nightmare on 310 First Street: None of these embarrassments/gaffes, individually, is a problem. But collectively, they’ve turned Steele and the RNC into an easy target for ridicule. The RNC is supposed to be about two things: money and message. And it hasn’t managed either well. The RNC did act as fast as it could in dismissing the staffer who approved of the $2,000 charge. But the episode raises the question of whether Steele is running a tight ship. And while this sex club issue is a "talker" for the chattering class, it also brings attention to what has been lackluster fundraising for the RNC. Already, we've heard plenty of anecdotes of how the three other national GOP committees (RGA, NRSC, and NRCC) raise money against Steele -- at least with big donors. This will only make it easier for them to continue this quiet campaign. It also means Steele's got a big fat target on his head post-midterms, especially if fundraising continues to be mediocre by RNC standards and the GOP comes up short at the ballot box. Of course, this story also has exploded because of the relatively quiet news week. What if the Daily Caller had uncovered this story two weeks ago in the midst of the health care finale?
*** The Steele routine: Politico's Martin makes a very good point: "It has almost become routine now: There is some controversy surrounding Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, Republican professionals are embarrassed, some of them gripe about the latest episode and then they move on -- until it happens again. This is not to discount the latest revelations of a consultant's apparent night out at party expense at a not-so-family-friendly West Hollywood nightclub... But like the many other reports involving Steele that make GOP operatives cringe, this one isn't likely to change these political facts of life: He is the party chairman through January of next year and will be so until either a) he resigns or b) he's forced out by a two-thirds vote of the national committee... What will be interesting, though, is what moves are made by party elders after the midterms. Should Steele consider another term, there will almost certainly be an effort to either ease him out pre-emptively or at least find somebody to take him on."
*** Super Senate Tuesday: Today through May 18, we’re going to have daily updates on the fantastic Dem and GOP primaries that will take place that third Tuesday in May -- Lincoln vs. Halter in Arkansas, Grayson vs. Paul in Kentucky, Conway vs. Mongiardo in Kentucky, and Specter vs. Sestak in Pennsylvania. Today’s updates: In Arkansas, Bill Halter has a new TV ad portraying himself as the outsider in his race against Blanche Lincoln. (“Washington and Wall Street reject these values and line their pockets with insider deals and stick Arkansas families with the bill. I’m Bill Halter and I approve this message because it’s past time we had a Senator who will stand up to special interests and put Arkansas families first.").
*** More midterm news: In the next two or three weeks, the Arizona Republican Party will decide whether to close its August primary only to Republican voters, a party spokesman tells First Read. (Currently, statewide GOP primaries in Arizona are open to independents and other third-party voters.) This decision could have a BIG impact on the McCain-vs.-Hayworth Senate contest, because limiting the August primary only to Republicans could end up benefiting Hayworth -- despite all that McCain has done to put himself in a position to win in August. By the way, this decision also has an impact on the governor's race. Acting Gov. Jan Brewer (R) is facing a tough primary as well. This decision will tell us just how much influence McCain has inside the STATE party, something that's been a question mark over the years.
Countdown to IN, NC, and OH primaries: 35 days
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"During a February RNC trip to Los Angeles, a $1,946.25 tab was racked up at Voyeur, a West Hollywood nightclub that features topless dancers and has been a hangout for Lindsay Lohan and other celebs," the New York Post writes. "A red-faced spokesman for the RNC said the group was reclaiming the cash from a donor who wrongly got reimbursed, and said the expenses were improper in the first place. He said RNC Chairman Michael Steele didn't go to the nightclub… Voyeur features a net suspended from the ceiling where topless women perform, and a glass booth with even racier performances, according to reviews." Washington Post : "The RNC spent more than $17,000 on private jet travel in February as well as nearly $13,000 for limousines and car services, and also ran up tabs at luxe hotels including the Beverly Hills Hotel ($9,000); the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons ($6,600) and the W Hotel in Washington ($15,000). The GOP's controversial midwinter meeting in Hawaii ended up costing the party $43,000 in expenses, not including airfare, the records show. Steele has come under steady fire for his financial stewardship of the organization. The RNC had more than $22 million on hand when Steele arrived last year, but is down to under $10 million now despite raising $96 million during that time, records show." fired an unidentified staff member as a result of the disbursement and emphasized Monday that Steele had not visited the club and was not aware of the expenditure. The reimbursement went to Erik Brown, a Southern California GOP donor who has spent time with Steele in the past and whose marketing firm has earned more than $160,000 from the RNC and other Republican committees, according to campaign disclosure records." New York Times profiles the club: "High-end strip clubs here -- where patrons shell out hundreds in “bottle fees” to sip vodka and Champagne and watch women conduct all manner of business -- are a far cry from their hole-in-the-wall-with-a-stripper-pole counterparts in small cities. The clubs are often used by high rollers, couples and celebrities as hang-out spots to see, be seen and, well, see a lot more. And in Los Angeles, strip clubs are often at the crossroads of acting, modeling and a job that pays the bills… 'The dancers are beautiful, and the S-and-M show was fantastic,' a reviewer from Washington wrote on Yelp.com. 'Wish we had places like this back in D.C.!'" New York Daily News' lead: "Talk about grand ol' partying."
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"President Barack Obama is asking the vice president's wife to convene a White House summit on community colleges," the AP writes. "White House officials said Tuesday that Jill Biden's office would release details about the summit in coming weeks."
The AP looks at Obama's humor: "Does Barack Obama have a funny bone? The president certainly doesn't seem to see himself as a natural comic. But more often than he gets credit for, he flashes a sharp and wry humor. It's an important component of his style, helping to humanize an otherwise detached persona in ways that could prove valuable in the political wars ahead."
"Ex-Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) denied charges that he abused his Congressional office for personal gain, according to a letter released Monday by the Office of Congressional Ethics as part of its investigation of the former lawmaker,"
Roll Call writes, adding, "Deal, who resigned from the House on March 21 in favor of his gubernatorial campaign, denied any wrongdoing in a letter published with the report, and his attorney criticized the document as “inaccurate” in an interview Monday."
NRSC Chairman John Cornyn is releasing this memo this morning on the health-care law. “Just hours after popping the champagne and patting themselves on the back for passing a trillion dollar government health care plan that raises taxes by hundreds of millions of dollars, reality is setting in for the Democrats. The Department of Labor reported last Friday that the already-high unemployment rate rose again in 27 states during the month of February 2010, setting records in four states.”
More: “Businesses across the country -- including American job creators John Deere and Caterpillar -- announced that this massive legislation will cost their shareholders tens of millions of dollars, placing them in an even more vulnerable economic position against their global competitors. AT&T announced that they would assess, and likely reduce, the health care benefits provided currently to employees. California reported that the bill will add another $2 to $3 billion annually in increased costs, which will ultimately be passed on to taxpayers in the form of higher fees and property taxes. And critical state industries – such as the ski industry in New Hampshire and Colorado – announced they will likely hire fewer workers because they simply cannot afford the higher costs and mandates resulting from this bill.”
CONNECTICUT: Businessman Peter Schiff (R), who has until recently been running an under-the-radar campaign for Connecticut's open Senate seat, released his first TV ad . Schiff doesn't mention his party affiliation and sounds many of the Tea Party themes of liberty and freedom.
Mitt Romney endorsed former Ireland ambassador Tom Foley for governor, Hotline reports.
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From NBC's Luke Russert Philadelphia Inquirer reports :
A Philadelphia man has been arrested and charged with threatening to kill the Republican party whip in the U.S. House of Representatives, officials announced today.
The FBI says Norman Leboon, 38, told investigators he was the "son of the god of Enoch" and that he had posted a video on the Internet threatening the lives of Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia and his family.
An FBI affidavit makes no mention of an incident last Tuesday when a bullet smashed through a window at Cantor's campaign office in Richmond about 1 a.m. Police have said their investigation indicated the bullet was a stray from a randomly fired handgun.
According to the affidavit, Leboon allegedly said in the video: "Remember Eric . . . our judgment time, the final Yom Kippur has been given. You are a liar, you're a Lucifer, you're a pig, a greedy [expletive] pig. You're an abomination. You receive my bullets in your office. Remember they will be placed in your heads. You and your children are Lucifer's abominations."
Cantor's office had this to say: “Over the weekend, Congressman Cantor was notified by law enforcement that a threat was made against his life. Law enforcement officials informed Congressman Cantor that the threat was determined as credible and they were responding accordingly. The Congressman was later notified that an arrest was made and a suspect was in custody."
From NBC’s Will Brown Rep. Kendrick Meek , held a conference call with reporters announcing his qualification for the election by petition.
“A Democrat qualifying by petition is historic,” Meek claimed. “It’s a lot to have someone sign their name and give their personal information to put me on the ballot.”
Florida election law allows candidates to pay a $10,000 filing fee to qualify for the ballot or submit 112,476 signatures to the Supervisor of Elections. Meek will be the first statewide candidate to qualify by petition when his campaign submits roughly 145,000 signatures today.
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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
First Read also found more than $1,500 in "equipment rental" charges from "Casino Parties" in Tampa, FL.
The Web site Club Planet describes the sex-themed club, Voyeur West Hollywood, this way:
"In Los Angeles, it takes a lot to shock and awe. When you walk into Voyeur on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, you might not be completely shocked at the almost naked women writhing on each other but you will undoubtedly be in awe. Voyeur is an intimate space, provocative and sexy, sophisticated and interesting. Inspired by Eyes Wide Shut and London lounge, Annabelle’s of London, Voyeur transports you to a world of risqué sexuality and eroticism. In fact, even if you tried to escape looking at the naked women all around you, you would ultimately fail. But then again, why would you even try?
"Of course the guests are sexy, but the walls are also lined with black and white pictures of beautiful naked girls from decades past while temptresses wearing nothing more than pasties and a black thong “stretch” on tables or in large glass boxes. Yes, the women don’t strip or show off their outdone go-go girl dance moves. Instead, they hold onto ropes on the walls and literally stretch, like yoga class but much sexier (and probably more naked).
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From NBC's Scott Foster and Mark Murray President Obama will throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington National's opening game against the Phillies next Monday, according to White House officials.
Obama did not throw the first pitch on Opening Day last year. But he did throw the ceremonial first pitch at the All-Star game.
From NBC's Pete Williams
According to court documents, the plan was to attack law enforcement vehicles during a funeral procession with homemade bombs.
Prosecutors say one of the militia members downloaded information about how to build the devices from the Internet and emailed diagrams of them to someone he believed was capable of making them. The militia member directed his son and others to begin gathering the materials requires to make them.
Justice Department officials say that nine people -- six from Michigan, two from Ohio, and one from Indiana -- have been charged in what they say was this plot to attack local police.
It's clear that the FBI has had this group under close watch for months, and had the capacity to shut it down whenever investigators believed it was planning to go operational, which is just what happened over the weekend.
Obama returns from his surprise visit to Afghanistan… A more combative Obama makes 15 recess appointments… Dems close enthusiasm gap, according to Washington Post poll… Republicans have an enthusiasm gap over the Census, which could possibly cost them congressional seats… Wrapping up Sunday’s Crist-vs.-Rubio debate… Wrapping up Palin campaigning against Harry Reid in Searchlight, NV… And Meg Whitman spends $4 per second? Wow.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Obama’s surprise visit : President Obama clearly didn't want the most successful (and consequential) week of his presidency to end. Yesterday, he made a surprise visit to Afghanistan, where he reportedly pressured Afghan President Karzai and also spoke to U.S. troops. “I want you to understand, there’s no visit that I considered more important than this visit,” Obama said. “So my main job here today is to say thank you on behalf of the entire American people.” It was fitting that he ended the week in a military setting, given that the week was perhaps his most combative as president (pushing health care over the finish line, apparently talking tough with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and making his first batch of recess appointments). Obama is set to return to the White House later this morning, and he will sit down for an interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer, which will air on “TODAY” tomorrow morning.
*** Recess time! Less surprising over the weekend was Obama’s decision to make his first recess appointments as president -- 15 of them to be exact, including controversial National Labor Relations Board pick Craig Becker, whose nomination was filibustered last month by Senate Republicans and two Democrats. The recess appointments will be able to serve through 2011 without Senate confirmation. “The United States Senate has the responsibility to approve or disapprove of my nominees,” Obama said in a statement on Saturday. “But if, in the interest of scoring political points, Republicans in the Senate refuse to exercise that responsibility, I must act in the interest of the American people and exercise my authority to fill these positions on an interim basis.” As the New York Times reported, “Mr. Obama’s action puts him on a par with Mr. Bush, who had made 15 recess appointments by this point in his presidency… [D]uring the course of his two terms in office, he made a total of 171 recess appointments, although 72 were to part-time positions, according to the Congressional Research Service. President Clinton made 139 recess appointments.”
*** Obama’s week: Later today, Obama participates in a credentialing ceremony for foreign ambassadors. On Tuesday, in Northern Virginia, he will sign the reconciliation bill (with its fixes to health care and its change in student loans) into law. On Wednesday, he will speak at the Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington. On Thursday, he heads to Portland, ME to promote the health-care law. And on Friday -- on the day the new job numbers come out -- Obama travels to Charlotte, NC to talk about the economy.
*** Closing the enthusiasm gap : As we said on Friday, perhaps the biggest result for Democrats from health care’s passage -- at least in the short term -- was energizing a previously ho-hum Democratic base. And now we have poll numbers backing that up. In a new Washington Post survey , 76% of registered Democrats said they were enthusiastic about the upcoming midterms, versus 75% of registered Republicans who said that. While this is just one poll, it’s the first we’ve seen in a long time where Democrats break even with Republicans on such a question. By the way, the poll shows Democrats with a four-point advantage (48%-44%) among registered voters on a generic ballot test.
*** Another enthusiasm gap -- over the Census : Could Republicans’ anti-government sentiments end up costing them congressional seats after the Census? Check out this Houston Chronicle article: “As of Friday afternoon, only 27 percent of Texas households had filled in and returned their census forms — well below the national average of 34 percent — according to computer data from the U.S. Census Bureau… In Texas, some of the counties with the lowest census return rates are among the state's most Republican, including Briscoe County in the Panhandle, 8 percent; King County, near Lubbock, 5 percent; Culberson County, near El Paso, 11 percent; and Newton County, in deep East Texas, 18 percent.”
*** Crist vs. Rubio : Yesterday’s televised Crist-Rubio debate wasn’t your normal first debate, where the candidates refrain from engaging. Rubio was really debating the Obama administration more than Crist, casting himself as someone who would stand up to President Obama in the U.S. Senate, a la Jim DeMint. “People are looking for leaders that will go to Washington, D.C. and stand up to this agenda and offer a clear alternative,” Rubio said. Crist, meanwhile, described himself as a “pragmatic, commonsense conservative” who would be more of a Lindsey Graham than a DeMint. The current Florida governor also questioned Rubio’s commitment to serving the public. “I view public service as a calling, something that you do to try to help other people,” Crist said. “Unfortunately, recent news accounts in Florida have come out that indicate, in fact, that Speaker Rubio views public service as a way to enhance his personal enrichment. And that's just wrong.”
*** Crist’s back against the wall : Perhaps the biggest reason why Rubio is leading this GOP primary is because Republicans see opposition to Obama (DeMint-ism) more important than pragmatic conservatism (Graham-ism). In fact, Crist certainly acted like a candidate who is trailing by double digits and has his back against the wall. Was Rubio ready for prime time? Eye of the beholder. What we do know is this election is going to be nasty over the next five months, and the beneficiary might be Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek.
*** Tea time : The AP says that on Saturday, at least 9,000 Tea Party folks gathered in tiny Searchlight, NV -- Harry Reid’s hometown -- to hear Sarah Palin speak and to drum up support to defeat Reid in November. Palin told them the big-government, big-debt spending spree of the Senate majority leader, Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is over. ‘You're fired!’ Palin said.” Interestingly, the Washington Post’s Cillizza reports that Democratic consultant Craig Varoga has formed a PAC to target candidates who run under the Tea Party banner. "Americans need to confront the dangerous ideas of the tea party movement head on, without any fear, before they gain any additional traction in the legislative process or the 2010 elections," Varoga told Cillizza. More: “Varoga added that the group planned to concentrate its efforts, which are likely to include television and radio ads, on 12 to 15 races where a candidate affiliated with the tea party is running.”
*** More midterm news : In California, Meg Whitman has a new TV ad, in which she says that California needs to be run more like a business… Also the San Jose Mercury News (hat tip: Taegan Goddard) reports that Whitman has spent more than $4 per second so far this year. Wow…. And in Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn announced that his preferring running mate is Sheila Simon, daughter of the late Paul Simon.
Countdown to IN, NC, and OH primaries: 36 days
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President Obama released this statement on the suicide bombings in Moscow: “The American people stand united with the people of Russia in opposition to violent extremism and heinous terrorist attacks that demonstrate such disregard for human life, and we condemn these outrageous acts. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones, and I wish all who sustained injuries a succesful recovery.”
“In his first visit as commander in chief to the war zone he has remade, President Obama on Sunday pushed for greater cooperation from the government of his Afghan counterpart, a stagnant and corruption-laced administration that poses perhaps the biggest threat to U.S. success against the Taliban insurgency,” the Washington Post reports.
The New York Times adds, “President Obama personally delivered pointed criticism to President Hamid Karzai in a face-to-face meeting on Sunday, flying here for an unannounced visit that reflected growing vexation with Mr. Karzai as America’s military commitment to defeat the Taliban insurgency has deepened.”
The New York Daily News : "Making a surprise visit, his first as commander in chief, Obama arrived in the war-ravaged nation under the cover of darkness aboard Air Force One."
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On “Meet the Press” yesterday, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham said that health care’s passage -- without Republican support -- will make it difficult for Democrats to win over members of the GOP for future immigration and climate change legislation, NBC’s Andrew Rafferty notes. "Tough sledding lies ahead because of that, the acrimony around health care," Graham said. In his appearance, the Republican senator also railed against President Obama -- not only on health care -- but also for governing "from the left ditch in a right of center nation." Still, Graham did leave the door open for some future bipartisanship. "On financial regulations we'll get a bill. I hope it's a good bill, not some liberal bill with a few -- few Republicans," he said.
Meanwhile, "Sen. Chuck Schumer said the health care reform bill will grow on voters -- but a GOP detractor countered Sunday it will hold no appeal come November," the New York Daily News writes. " 'I would predict to you ...that as people learn about what's actually in the bill, six months from now, by election time, this is going to be a plus,' Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Sunday on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' But Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the back-room finagling 'was sleazy.'"
"Democrats may want to pivot from their bruising, yet ultimately victorious, health care debate to the economy and jobs, but they also are faced with the arduous task of making sure their constituents understand exactly what it is they already did," Roll Call writes, adding, "Congressional leaders have told Members to highlight provisions that take effect this year, such as tax credits for small businesses that offer health insurance, prohibitions on denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions and the start of the effort to close the Medicare prescription drug “doughnut hole,” among other things."
The New York Times covers how the debate is playing in members’ congressional districts. “Around the country this weekend, members of Congress found a bewildering crosscurrent of political forces awaiting them, on-the-ground evidence of how the issue has divided the country by party, race and region… The receptions members of Congress received were a contrast to the seething anger visible immediately after the bill passed. Voters were more concerned and engaged than enraged.”
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The Washington Post examines the role reversal between Sen. John McCain and his 2008 running mate Sarah Palin: “The understudy is now the star… Cable news was fixed on Palin as she delivered her introduction of McCain at a rally in Tucson on Friday afternoon. Minutes after McCain took the microphone, they cut away from the rally for other news.”
The AP on the “Searchlight Showdown,” a Tea Party rally held in Sen. Reid’s birthplace: “At least 9,000 people [on Saturday] streamed into tiny Searchlight, a former mining town 60 miles south of Las Vegas, bringing American flags, ‘Don't Tread on Me’ signs and outspoken anger toward Reid, President Barack Obama, the health care overhaul and other Democrats who supported it. Palin told them the big-government, big-debt spending spree of the Senate majority leader, Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is over. ‘You're fired!’ Palin said.”
The New York Times adds, "Waving her 'poor man’s teleprompter' as she called her hand, she hit all the Tea Party high notes about the need to bring the government back in line with the Constitution, as well as some of her now-standard punch lines. ('How’s that hopey-changey thing working out for you?' and, 'We need a commander in chief, not a professor of constitutional law giving us a lecture.')"
With anger toward Washington high, Stu Rothenberg asks (and answers), "So is this the time for third-party candidates and Independents to show their political muscle and become serious players in the fall campaigns and in November? In a few places the answer is 'yes.' In most, it’s still a thundering 'no.' There are really three types of Independent hopefuls: contenders, spoilers and pretenders."
FLORIDA : The St. Pete Times on yesterday’s Crist-Rubio debate: “Fox News Sunday cast it as a ‘rough and tumble battle,’ and for 40 minutes, Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio gave a national audience just that, arguing about a lot of things that ultimately were about two: money and President Barack Obama. It was Gov. Crist, who has worked hard to cultivate a nice-guy image, immediately and aggressively questioning Rubio's character over reports he misused Republican Party money and a campaign ‘slush fund’ for ‘personal enrichment.’”
The New York Times says the debate came down to dollars and cents. “The question posed to the state’s Republican voters was which is worse: Mr. Rubio’s use of campaign contributions for personal expenses when he served in the Florida Legislature, including as speaker of the House? Or Mr. Crist’s support of the federal stimulus package?”
The Times also says there were surprises. “Mr. Rubio … said that, if elected, he would consider raising the age for Social Security benefit payouts and slowing the cost-of-living increases for recipients in his generation when they reach retirement age. Mr. Crist, 53, said repeatedly and almost unequivocally that although he was behind in the polls by double digits, he would stay in the Republican column and not run as an independent.”
Politico : “Crist not only defended his embrace of the stimulus but said that he would have voted for it had he been in the Senate… But, recognizing that discussing the merits of the stimulus won’t help him make up ground in the primary, Crist used the session to take aim at Rubio’s character.”
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A look at the Week Ahead in politics. Health care's wrapped up. What's next? Financial reform. House if off; Senate's in session. Economy still tops concerns. Palin campaigns for McCain in AZ, Tea Party in Harry Reid's hometown. Romney's on the road again, heads to... Iowa. Crist-Rubio debate. And Meet the Press has Graham vs. Schumer.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL VIDEO. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy
From NBC's Pete Williams The
Obama administration has offered an unusually public and detailed justification for its expanded use of unmanned drones to kill suspected al Qaeda and Taliban figures in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Some civil liberties groups have questioned the practice, arguing that it amounts to illegal assassination. But Harold Koh, the State Department's top lawyer, said in a speech Thursday night that the accelerated use of drones complies fully with the law of war.
Koh said the decision to carry out a drone attack depends on who and where the target is, how much of a threat that person is considered to be, and whether the country in which the target is located has shown willingness to suppress the threat.
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From NBC's Pete Williams Mary Landrieu (D) are prepared to plead guilty, legal sources say, in return for reduced charges.
Federal prosecutors today filed misdemeanor charges against the four. James O'Keefe, who became a media sensation last year for his videos involving ACORN employees, and three others were charged with entering federal property under false pretenses. Two of them went to her office pretending to be telephone repairmen. The charges said all four were in on the plan.
Because the charge is a misdemeanor -- and not a felony -- the maximum sentence is six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The government dropped its earlier, more serious, charges of tampering with government phone lines.
From NBC's Ali Weinberg Eric Cantor’s Virginia office was not, in fact, directly aimed at his window.AMERICAblog’s John Aravosis reacts to a report that the bullet, claimed by Cantor to have been aimed at his window, actually “had been fired into the air,” according to Richmond police, and “finished its random arc back to earth at a sharp downward trajectory, breaking a window pane on the bottom floor of the two-story brick building where Cantor’s campaign leases the top floor.” Aravosis writes that Cantor’s version of the story reaffirms the narrative that “Teabaggers are the only ones menacing members of Congress, and the targets are Democrats.”
Jed Lewison at Daily Kos relates Cantor’s exaggeration of the incident to that of Hillary Clinton, who during the Democratic presidential primary race spoke of dodging sniper fire in Bosnia, when in fact she had walked calmly across a tarmac after landing in the war zone: “It's Tuzla sniper fire, only worse, because Eric Cantor cried wolf about something that actually matters, all in a pathetic, dishonest attempt to smear Democrats.”
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From NBC's Norah O'Donnell Sarah Palin will deliver a "meaty" speech -- the bulk of which is about the Arizona senator -- at today's McCain-Palin rally here.
The adviser estimates the event will start at 3:15 pm ET. Cindy McCain will intro Palin, and Palin will speak about 10-12 minutes, while John McCain will speak for about five minutes.
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama today announced a new START Treaty with Russia that would cut the number of nuclear weapons each country deploys by roughly a third.
Under the new agreement, which would bring these weapons levels "significantly below" those agreed to in the 1991 START Treaty or the 2002 Moscow Treaty, each country will be limited to 1,550 deployed warheads; 800 deployed and non-deployed intercontinental ballistic missile launchers, submarine launched ballistic missile launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear weapons; and 700 for deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear weapons.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , Defense Secretary Robert Gates , and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen joined Obama at this morning's announcement, each delivering a brief statement.
Ridding the world of nuclear weapons has long been a goal for Obama, albeit one he said might not happen in his lifetime. The new treaty, which he and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev will sign in Prague on April 8, brings that goal one step closer. This morning's conversation between the two presidents was their 14th direct meeting or phone call to discuss the topic. And both Obama and Clinton stressed that today's agreement was a result of efforts to strengthen the "very complex" U.S.-Russia relationship. Obama also touched on the two country's work together on issues including Afghanistan, the economy, and Iran.
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Did Democrats get their groove back?... The most important thing to watch post-health care: the middle of the electorate… The House last night approved final passage of the reconciliation bill, which now goes to Obama’s desk… Obama and Russia prez to verbally agree to new START treaty by phone today at 10:00 am ET… It looks like we’re about to have another SCOTUS nomination fight… McCain and Palin -- reunited and it feels so good… Palin then heads to Searchlight, NV… What about Bob (Bennett)?... And First Read’s Top 10 primaries.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg The week that was: Did Democrats get their groove back after this week’s passage of the most expansive social legislation in decades? It sure looks like it. President Obama had a pep in his step in Iowa yesterday; Democratic members of Congress have looked downright giddy; the Internet Left, despite its disappointment over the past year, appears more energized; and Democratic candidates are playing offense on health care. (Paul Hodes’ campaign for New Hampshire Senate fired off this email on Wednesday: “If elected, would Kelly Ayotte tell New Hampshire's small businesses to give their tax credits back?”) Of course, one week doesn’t erase the Democratic Party’s problems, and the biggest news for Dems could very well come next Friday, when the March job numbers are released. But party energy is important. The hallmark of the last three change elections -- in 1994, 2006, and 2008 -- was not just enthusiasm inside the party OUT OF POWER, but a depressed base for the party IN power.
*** Stuck in the middle with you: Yet the biggest political question might be this: How is the middle viewing all of this -- not only the legislation, but also the reported death threats/vandalism and yesterday’s back-and-forth over the threats/vandalism? Much of Obama’s speech in Iowa yesterday appeared directed at the center. “Leaders of the Republican Party, they called the passage of this bill ‘Armageddon,’” the president said yesterday. “Armageddon. End of freedom as we know it. So after I signed the bill, I looked around to see if there [were] any asteroids falling or some cracks opening up in the Earth. It turned out it was a nice day. Birds were chirping. Folks were strolling down the Mall. People still have their doctors.” Indeed, if they had to do it all over again, would GOP leaders have described the health legislation in such apocalyptic terms (Armageddon, socialism, the death of freedom)? Because what if those things don’t happen? GOP strategist Steve Lombardo says Republicans should not take the Democratic bait right now and continue this health care debate; instead, he advises them to focus on the economy.
*** Final passage: Around 9:00 pm ET last night, the House approved final passage of the reconciliation “fixes” bill by a 220-207 vote. The controversial (but also entertaining) Rep. Alan Grayson (D) cast the final 220th vote, NBC’s Shawna Thomas notes. House Speaker Pelosi actually kept the roll call open so Grayson could cast his vote. And in true form, Thomas adds, Grayson came running down the aisle extremely late looking like Big Bird to a loud ovation from his colleagues. He then cast his vote, Speaker Pelosi closed the call, and health-care reform passed the House for the final time. Now what? An enrollment ceremony takes place on Capitol Hill this morning, and then the legislation heads to the White House for Obama’s signature. The president will sign the bill sometime early next week.
*** Let’s get it START-ed…: Breaking news: The new START nuclear disarmament treaty will be verbally agreed to by President Obama and Russia’s president by phone at 10:00 am ET, sources tell NBC News. Signing will take place in Prague in early April. More details to come…
*** Let’s get ready to rumble … again: Well, it looks like we might have another SCOTUS nomination fight on our hands soon. The New York Times : “Although Justice Stevens has not disclosed his intentions, he has suggested he may announce as soon as next month plans to step down after 35 years on the bench, providing President Obama his second opportunity to shape the nation’s highest court. A new nomination could set off another charged ideological battle heading into the fall midterm campaign.” By the way, will Obama make his first recess appointment, with NLRB pick Craig Becker?
*** Reunited And It Feels So Good : John McCain and Sarah Palin are back together again. Today, Palin attends a rally for McCain in Tucson at 3:00 pm ET. According to the AP , they'll also “hold a fundraiser on Friday at the same Phoenix hotel where they conceded the presidential election on Nov. 4, 2008." And they will campaign again on Saturday in Mesa at noon ET. McCain’s GOP primary opponent, J.D. Hayworth, appears on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” which airs at 1:00 pm ET.
*** Searchlight, here we come: Also on Saturday, Palin will speak at a Tea Party Express rally in Searchlight, NV, Harry Reid’s hometown, in an effort to drum up support to defeat Reid in November. (USA Today reports that this is part of a 44-stop tour.) Reid spokesman Jon Summers tells First Read that Reid will be at the Clark Country Shooting Park in Las Vegas that day, so he'll miss the event. “Wayne LaPierre of the NRA will also be joining him as his guest,” Summers adds. “Reid helped get the land and the $60 million needed to build this facility, which is the largest facility of its kind.” The Reid campaign also will be serving tea and donut holes (har, har) to the Tea Party activists.
*** What about Bob? While McCain vs. Hayworth and Crist vs. Rubio (the two men debate on Sunday) have gotten most the political world’s attention, the GOP senator who looks to be in the most trouble is Utah Sen. Bob Bennett, who gets front-page treatment in the New York Times. “For all the anger directed at President Obama and his party from the right, especially after the passage of health care legislation, the first opportunities for Tea Party members and the groups seeking to channel their antigovernment energy into electoral politics are in Republican primaries. Mr. Bennett is especially exposed to the grass-roots anger.” Bennett’s biggest offense, in the eyes of Club for Growth and other conservative activists? Reaching across the aisle to work on a bipartisan health plan.
*** First Read’s Top 10 Primaries: If it’s Friday, it’s another First Read Top 10 list -- this time our look at the Top 10 primaries this midterm season. 1. FL SEN -- R (1): This remains No. 1 on our list -- due to all the back-and-forth -- but we're probably not the only ones who feel it might be moving down a spot or two next month2. AR SEN -- D (unranked): A new Research 2000 poll shows Bill Halter trailing Blanche Lincoln by double digits, but this is now the Dem primary to watch 3. KY SEN -- R (4): Establishment (Trey Grayson) vs. the grassroots (Rand Paul), Duke (where Paul went to med school) vs. Kentucky, what's not to like?4. UT SEN -- R (6): Tuesday's caucuses were not good news for incumbent Bob Bennett5. PA SEN -- D (3): Joe Sestak has failed to catch on in the polls, and it falls to our second-best Dem primary6. KY SEN -- R (unranked): Another KY primary where Duke (Jack Conway's alma mater) vs. Kentucky (Dan Mongiardo's) has played a role, and Conway is now trying to make health care the issue in the race7. SC GOV -- R (7): Front-runner AG Henry McMaster got plenty of press with his lawsuit against health care, so did Nikki Haley with her Romney endorsement 8. AZ SEN -- R (5): John McCain -- right now -- has done everything right so far, including today's campaigning with Palin, and Hayworth has yet to hang on. 9. CO SEN -- D (unranked): Has Andrew Romanoff found a reason for Colorado Dems to fire Michael Bennet? 10. NV SEN -- R (unranked): The Senate field is still lackluster, but both Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian are still leading Harry Reid in general-election hypotheticals
Countdown to IN, NC, and OH primaries: 39 days
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"President Obama took his new health-care law into the heartland yesterday and dared Republicans to run campaigns this fall pledging to repeal it," the New York Post writes. "Go for it,' the president taunted, insisting that the bill will become more popular with time. 'This is a common-sense bill,' Obama told the wildly supportive crowd gathered in a field house at the University of Iowa."
The New York Times : “The Obama administration on Friday will announce broad new initiatives to help troubled homeowners, potentially refinancing several million of them into fresh government-backed mortgages with lower payments.”
What’s next for health care? The New Republic’s Jon Cohn says the Obama administration now faces the hard part on health care -- delivering the deliverables, educating the public, handling the insurers, and bending the cost curve. “Much as the Iraq war wasn’t over when American forces conquered Baghdad, so health care reform didn’t end when President Obama signed the bill. If carrying out the legislation doesn’t get the same sustained attention that passing it did, then this week’s historic victory will lose much of its luster.”
"Insurgents are preparing a campaign of suicide bombings and other high-profile attacks in the bustling but poorly protected Afghan capital of Kabul this summer, posing a new threat to the fragile Afghan government and the recent military gains of the American-led counterinsurgency, according to several US officials and advisers briefed on recent intelligence reports," the Boston Globe says.
Simply put: "The Congressional Democratic push to overhaul health care is finally, at very long last, done," Roll Call writes. So what did they pass in this package of changes? "The package makes a number of changes to the Senate-authored health care overhaul demanded by House Democrats. It dramatically scales back and delays until 2018 a tax on high-cost “Cadillac” insurance plans, strikes some special deals cut with individual Senators, boosts affordability credits, and adds a revamp of the student-loan industry."
The Boston Globe adds, "Congress put the final touches on a sweeping health care package last night, but the historic votes were clouded by the growing drama over threats to congressmen who voted for the package and the reaction from colleagues who tried to stop the bill. While Democrats reported harassment and threats -- including a coffin that showed up on the lawn of Russ Carnahan, Democrat of Missouri -- a senior Republican leader went on the offensive, accusing the majority party of using the behavior for political gain."
"Amid reports of vandalism and threats directed at House Democrats, a dispute has arisen between Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-Mo., and a local conservative activist over the meaning of a protest that occurred Sunday at the congressman's home," USA Today writes. "A Carnahan spokesman criticized health care bill opponents who carried a coffin as part of a non-violent protest outside the congressman's office and home on Sunday. Carnahan spokesman Jim Hubbard called the demonstration 'over the line.'" More: "Video of the protest taken by television station KDSK shows protesters gathered peacefully around the coffin, lighting candles and praying. 'This represents death to part of what we grew up with: our freedom,' conservative activist Jim Hoft told the television station at the protest."
Here's video from a local affiliate.
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The New Hampshire Union Leader covers Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's (R) stop in New Hampshire yesterday. "Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty told state Republicans last night that just because you're a conservative candidate in a left-leaning state, doesn't mean you can't win. Pawlenty told the more than 200 people who came to hear him speak at the Manchester Republican Committee 2010 Lincoln-Reagan Day dinner that he hails from the state that produced liberal Democratic Sens. Paul Wellstone and Al Franken, but was elected on a conservative platform of lower taxes and smaller budgets."
"'In eight months, conservatives all over the country and Republicans all over this country are going to get elected and turn around the mistakes of this administration,' said Pawlenty."
ARIZONA: AP tees up today’s McCain-Palin rally: "John McCain helped Sarah Palin launch her national political career two years ago. Now, she's trying to help McCain save his. The former running mates will campaign together Friday for the first time since losing the presidential race in 2008… McCain is fighting for his political life. Fending off a primary challenge from the right, the four-term Arizona senator is facing the toughest re-election campaign of his Senate career… Palin will help McCain tout his conservative credentials at rallies in Tucson on Friday and the Phoenix suburb of Mesa on Saturday. They'll hold a fundraiser on Friday at the same Phoenix hotel where they conceded the presidential election on Nov. 4, 2008."ARKANSAS: A new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll shows that “the gap has been closing” between Sen. Blanche Lincoln and primary challenger Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, the liberal blog Talking Points Memo reports. "With Halter gaining on Lincoln, who holds a 44%-31% margin “it's also possible that Halter could be the stronger Democrat for the general election.” NEVADA: Republican Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian is up with his first two ads , one touting his conservative endorsements and the other targeting government waste in the form of turtle tunnels . renounces declared Tea Party Senate candidate Scott Ashjian, telling him to “get lost.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Courtney Kube Secretary Gates' announcement this morning that the changes to Don't Ask," Don't Tell" are "unanimously supported" by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, one three-star general has expressed his disagreement publicly -- and now it may cost him his uniform.
Lt. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, the commander of U.S. Army Pacific, wrote a letter to the Army newspaper Stars and Stripes recently that outlined his opposition to repealing the law. (Full letter after the jump.)
When asked about Mixon's letter this morning, both Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen called Mixon's actions "inappropriate" because in his leadership position, Mixon has great influence on other men and women in uniform.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Athena Jones Barack Obama 's quixotic quest for the presidency began and this is the city where, seven months before the caucuses, he laid out his plan for overhauling the nation's health care system. Two facts the president touched on here, during his first trip since signing the landmark health care bill into law.
Today's visit was part victory lap, part sales pitch as the president tries to reassure voters who are still skeptical about the law that it will help not hurt their health coverage. The White House is well aware that many of the Democrats who supported the legislation did so at some political cost and that it's imperative for them to try to frame the debate over the law as a victory for ordinary Americans over insurance companies.
"Today, health insurance reform is the law of the land all across America," he told the crowd packed into a field house at the University of Iowa. "This is your victory, because when the special interests sent an army of lobbyists to Congress, they blanketed the airwaves with million of dollars of negative ads, you mobilized and you organized and you refused to give up."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray and Pete Williams Eric Cantor told reporters that a "bullet was shot through my campaign office in Richmond this week."
The Richmond Police Department just released a statement on the shooting. The skinny, per a preliminary investigation: A gun was fired into air; a bullet struck window in down direction; it broke a windowpane but did not cause any additional damage.
March 25, 2010
The Richmond Police Department is investigating an act of vandalism at the Reagan Building, 25 E. Main St., Richmond, Virginia. A first floor window was struck by a bullet at approximately 1 a.m. on Tuesday, March 23. The building, which has several tenants including an office used by Congressman Eric Cantor, was unoccupied at the time.
A Richmond Police detective was assigned to the case. A preliminary investigation shows that a bullet was fired into the air and struck the window in a downward direction, landing on the floor about a foot from the window. The round struck with enough force to break the windowpane but did not penetrate the window blinds. There was no other damage to the room, which is used occasionally for meetings by the congressman.
The Richmond Police Department is sharing information about the incident with appropriate law enforcement agencies.
At this time there are no suspects.
From NBC's Mark Murray criticizing Republican Party leaders for their total opposition to President Obama's health-care plans, former Bush speechwriter David Frum announced that his relationship with the conservative American Enterprise Institute think tank was terminated.
From Frum's blog :
I have been a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute since 2003. At lunch today, AEI President Arthur Brooks and I came to a termination of that relationship.
Below is the text of my letter of resignation.
Dear Arthur,
I have had many fruitful years at the American Enterprise Institute, and I do regret this abrupt and unexpected conclusion of our relationship.
Very truly yours,
*** UPDATE *** Greg Sargent spoke with Frum, who dismisses the perception that he was angrily fired over his criticism (despite his use of the word "termination"):
He claims AEI president Brooks at lunch today actually lauded him for making so much noise with that post.
“He said the thought might occur to me that this had to do with that,” Frum says. “He wanted to ally my anxieties on that score. He was very empatic.” Frum adds that Brooks “welcomed and celebrated” the debate he’d stirred up.
“He asked me if I’d like to work for AEI on a non salary basis,” Frum added. “He said it had nothing to do with my work and that after all these are hard times.”
“Big bad conservative think tank axes writer for criticizing GOP intransigence” is a seductive storyline for our times, but according to Frum, it’s false.
From NBC's Mark Murray Breaking News President Obama is talking health care in Iowa: "Senate passes bill reshaping new health care law; House final approval is next," the AP reports.
NBC's Ken Strickland said the vote was 56-43. Three Democrats voted no: Blanche Lincoln (AR), Ben Nelson (NE), and Mark Pryor (AR). One Republican, Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson , didn't vote.
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell Judd Gregg just announced that Republicans have offered their LAST AMENDMENT on the health care reform reconciliation bill. That will be followed by more "points of order" or the procedural challenges that gave Republicans their one victory of sorts last night.
By the way, Vice President Biden is presiding today in the Senate.
From NBC's Shawna Thomas Minority Leader John Boehner's weekly news conference today was shorter than usual. It clocked in around eight minutes; he took seven questions -- all on the threats to members of Congress and then left.
VIDEO: House Minority Leader John Boehner discusses the heated rhetoric around the health care debate, and distinguishes it from threats against lawmakers, which he condemns.
He began by railing against the health care law. "It's been a somber week for the American people," he said. "With the stroke of a pen, President Obama signed away another share of American's freedom."
He called the threats against some members of Congress "unacceptable" and asked people to find other ways to make their voices heard. "Find your candidate," he said. "Call your Congressman. Go out and register people to vote. Volunteer on a campaign. Make your voice heard, but do it the right way."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray John Boehner did just minutes earlier, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor said that all threats of violence and vandalism against members of Congress are wrong.
Like Boehner, Cantor mentioned that Republicans had been targets of these threats and vandalism, too (Cantor said he had received threatening calls because he is Jewish, adding that a gun had been fired outside his Virginia office).
But unlike Boehner, Cantor accused DNC Chairman Tim Kaine and DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen of "dangerously fanning the flames" of the reported threats and vandalism against Democrats and using them "as a political weapon."
"To use such threats as political threats is reprehensible," Cantor added. "Enough is enough. It has to stop."
Cantor didn't take any questions from the press.
*** UPDATE ***
*** UPDATE 2 *** Here's the full video of the press conference.
A brief clip is below:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy
*** UPDATE 3 ***
From msnbc.com’s Carrie Dann and NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell
If all goes as planned, Senate Republicans have until around 2:00 pm ET -- when a final vote is expected in that chamber -- to continue searching for amendments and points of order that could force further modifications to the reconciliation bill.
After the Senate votes to approve the bill -- and it will take 51 votes to do so -- the bill returns to the House for final approval. “If [the Senate] finishes their work later today as planned, the House will take up the improvements bill with technical corrections this evening,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said in a statement this morning.
Democrats expect to then bring the measure to the House floor for debate this afternoon, with a final vote between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Lawmakers are eager to skip town after the vote for a two-week spring recess.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama returns to Iowa City, where he unveiled his health-care plan as a presidential candidate nearly three year ago (on May 29, 2007).
Revisiting some of the lines from that Iowa City speech is instructive to see where Obama fulfilled his promises on health care -- and where he didn't.
People who watch as every year, candidates offer up detailed health care plans with great fanfare and promise, only to see them crushed under the weight of Washington politics and drug and insurance industry lobbying once the campaign is over.
Unlike his predecessors, Obama passed health-care reform, although the debate came at a cost for the president. And while the insurance industry campaigned against the reform, the drug industry (PhRMA) backed it after extracting concessions from the administration.
We can do this. The climate is far different than it was the last time we tried this in the early nineties.
He was correct.
My plan begins by covering every American… If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don’t have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law.
The law is estimated to insure an additional 32 million Americans, but it will not cover every American.
CONTINUED >>
Obama heads to Iowa City, IA, the very place he unveiled his health-care plan nearly three years ago… Senate Republicans score a moral victory from the Senate parliamentarian, meaning that the reconciliation bill must go back to the House to be passed… A few conservative activists, as well as the GOP, haven’t reacted too well to losing in the health-care debate… DNC goes up with TV and radio ads…. Crist and Rubio spar over the airwaves… And does Dick Cheney endorsing Trey Grayson in KY really help Grayson?
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg *** Back to Iowa : At 2:00 pm ET today, President Obama promotes his health-care law in Iowa City, IA -- which happens to be the place where he originally unveiled his health-care plan almost three years ago (on May 29, 2007). “Never forget that we have it within our power to shape history in this country,” Obama said back then. “It is not in our character to sit idly by as victims of fate or circumstance, for we are a people of action and innovation, forever pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Now is the time to push those boundaries once more.” But today’s speech in Iowa is more than a victory lap. Iowa, after all, is home to many seniors, who have been among the most skeptical groups about health care. Yet seniors are a group that he can win back, because these folks -- who receive Social Security and Medicare -- know firsthand how government can work for them. And, of course, these are the same seniors who caucused for him back in Jan. 2008. But getting his message right and selling seniors is perhaps the most important thing he can do for his party in the short term, given that seniors are the most dominant voting bloc in a midterm election.
*** Frumin! It’s not Jerry Seinfeld’s Newman; it’s Alan Frumin, the Senate parliamentarian. Per NBC’s Ken Strickland, Senate Republicans scored small victory late last night when the parliamentarian ruled in their favor eliminating two minor provisions from a health care bill. Once the Senate completes its work on the so-called "fixes" bill, it must be sent back to the House for another vote. This is really only a moral victory for Republicans, Strick adds, because the provisions struck from the bill pertain to student loans and will have virtually no impact on the substance or cost of the health care components. All it does is the process for a day and requires the House to take another vote. Senate Democrats are confident the House will take up the bill as early as Thursday night and pass it quickly and easily. At about 2:00 pm ET today, after voting on the remaining amendments, the Senate is expected to take up final passage on the fixes bill. It's then sent to the House for their final vote.
*** Over the line : If you’ve played organized sports, you heard many a coach say something like this: You learn a lot more about someone after they lose rather than after they win. Well, we've learned quite a bit from a few conservative activists, as well as the some in the GOP, during and after health care's passage. Let’s first start with the vandalism and threats of violence against House Democrats who voted for the health-care legislation. “The pitched battle over health care has unleashed a rash of vandalism and attacks directed at politicians, with at least 10 House Democrats reporting death threats or incidents of harassment or vandalism at their district offices over the past week,” the Washington Post writes. House Minority Leader John Boehner said the incidents were unacceptable and needed to be channeled in a better way. NBC’s Luke Russert reports that Boehner will address the violence/threats at his weekly press conference today. This is a danger for Republicans right now as the skeptical middle (not happy about the health care plan but also unhappy about the tone in Washington) watches all this unfold.
*** Stay classy, San Diego : But it’s not just a few conservative activists who’ve reacted poorly to losing the health-care debate. It’s also elected Republican politicians and the GOP. First, there was Rep. Randy Neugebauer’s (R) “baby killer” remark that appeared directed at Rep. Bart Stupak (D), who has since received death threats. Then there was Sen. John McCain’s (R) vow that there “will be no cooperation for the rest of the year" because Senate Democrats were using reconciliation to pass fixes to the health-care law. And then on Tuesday and Wednesday, Senate Republicans blocked committee hearings past 2:00 pm ET because of their anger over health care.
*** Some caution for everyone : All of this is a reminder to Republicans, Democrats, and the media: There is a danger in overreaching and under reacting. Democrats are walking a line of genuine concern and playing politics; Republicans need to be careful not to come across too dismissive and simply write this off as politics as usual; and the media have to be careful because over-coverage could end up encouraging more behavior (at the same time, we can't ignore what's out there). There is also a difference between angry rants and actual death threats; many in the media know the difference and receive rants, well, every day.
*** The TV ads cometh : Staying with health care, the DNC is now running TV ads thanking and defending 25 House Democrats who voted for health care, including potentially vulnerable Reps. Betsy Markey (CO), Tom Perriello (VA), Tim Bishop (NY), and John Boccieri (OH). Here’s an example of one of those ads . In addition, the DNC is running radio ads hitting 10 Republicans representing congressional districts that Obama won who voted against health care -- like Mary Bono Mack (CA), Mark Kirk (IL), and Mike Castle (DE).
*** The Crist-vs.-Rubio ad war : Speaking of TV ads, Charlie Crist yesterday went up with his first TV ad , and it directly attacks Marco Rubio, accusing him of being a lobbyist, being an insider, and using political donations to fund “his lavish lifestyle.” Well, the Rubio camp has responded with a pair of TV ads that simply show Crist stumping with Obama over the stimulus from last year. Game on? Remember, Crist has about three times as much in the bank as Rubio does.
*** The Establishment to the rescue? Yesterday, Dick Cheney endorsed Trey Grayson in his GOP Senate primary against Rand Paul. And so far this cycle, we’ve seen establishment-favored GOP candidates get similar endorsements – Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove are backing Bob Bennett in Utah, and the Bush clan and Cheney backed Kay Bailey Hutchison. But as that KBH example proved, do these endorsements actually help? Or do they hurt? The goal for these so-called establishment Republicans is to inoculate themselves from the charge that they aren't "real conservatives.” The hope is that by getting endorsements from conservatives the left "loves to hate," it can make it harder for their primary opponents to paint them as RINOs or Washington insiders. But it didn't work for Hutchison; Bennett's struggling; and Grayson's down double digits.
Countdown to IN, NC, and OH primaries: 40 days
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The New York Times : “The United States and Russia have broken a logjam in arms control negotiations and expect to sign a treaty next month to slash their nuclear arsenals to the lowest levels in half a century, officials in both nations said Wednesday.”
“The U.S. and Israel failed to heal their deepest dispute in decades as a two-day visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ended late Wednesday without resolving a rift over new Israeli housing planned in east Jerusalem,” the New York Daily News writes.
The Washington Post previews Obama’s stop in Iowa today. “President Obama will return Thursday to the place where he first called for health-care legislation, aiming now to convince Americans of the benefits of the measure he just signed into law.”
John Boehner has an op-ed in the Des Moines Register pre-butting Obama’s Iowa visit.
Time’s Joe Klein : “Obama Delivers on His Promise of Change.”
No big f’deal : “At a Baltimore fund-raiser last night, Biden said President Obama brought up his faux pas at a White House morning briefing and remarked: ‘You know what the best thing about yesterday was? Joe's comment.’ Biden said he replied to Obama, ‘If you thought it was so good, why didn't you say it?’”
“Senate Republicans succeeded early Thursday in forcing a change in a measure altering President Obama's newly enacted health care overhaul, meaning the bill will have to return to the House for final congressional approval,” the New York Daily News writes.
“A potential Republican majority may not be able to repeal healthcare reform, but they'd probably refuse to fund it, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said,” The Hill notes. "It's going to take appropriated funds to actually come through the process to fund the hiring of new employees to create these new bureaucracies," Boehner said on FOX. "I can't imagine that a Republican Congress is going to give this president the money to begin this process."
“The FBI is investigating threats against lawmakers stemming from intense opposition to the health care overhaul law,” the AP says. “House majority leader Steny Hoyer said more than 10 Democratic lawmakers have reported incidents. The FBI and Capitol Police, Hoyer said, have briefed lawmakers on how to handle perceived security threats… While not directly criticizing Republican lawmakers, Hoyer said: “Any show of appreciation for such actions encourages such action.”
Roll Call : “A spike in security threats in the wake of the House health care vote continued to rattle Democratic Members on Wednesday, with several accusing Republican leaders of stoking an already incendiary environment.”
“Despite opposing a financial regulatory overhaul bill in the Senate Banking Committee earlier this week, Republican Senators Robert Corker and Judd Gregg said yesterday that Congress will approve the legislation this year,” the Boston Globe writes. “There’s a ‘100 percent chance’ the legislation will be passed this year, Gregg of New Hampshire told members of a US Chamber of Commerce meeting in Washington. This is an issue that almost every American wants to see passed,’ Corker said. ‘There will be a lot of pressure on every senator and every House member.’ The banking panel voted 13 to 10 Monday to pass a bill written by Senator Chris Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat who leads the committee. Corker said Republicans, who unanimously opposed Dodd’s plan, made a ‘strategic error’ by letting the committee approve the measure without offering or debating amendments.”
FLORIDA : “With Florida’s primary now five months -- to the day -- away, the two leading Republican Senate candidates in the Sunshine State spent Wednesday firing political punches at each other,” the New York Times says. Gov. Crist released a television spot as well as a radio ad, while Rubio unveiled a new web video as well as two television ads, the New York Times adds.
KENTUCKY : " Former Vice President Dick Cheney endorsed Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson Wednesday in the U.S. Senate race, underscoring what Grayson believes could be a fatal flaw in his chief opponent [Rand Paul's] campaign," namely weakness on defense issues, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.
MARYLAND : CQ quotes a report from WJLA-TV saying, “Ex-Gov. Bob Ehrlich is going to try for a comeback,” and will announce his challenge to incumbent Martin O’Malley (D) on April 7th.
MASSACHUSETTS : “Governor Deval Patrick returned from a fund-raising trip to California to find his two main rivals in the governor’s race pummeling each other furiously, underscoring the increasingly fierce fight between Republican Charles D. Baker Jr. and independent Timothy P. Cahill to become the prime alternative to the Democratic incumbent,” the Boston Globe writes. “With both challengers chasing disaffected voters, Cahill has attacked Baker for his involvement in the financing of the Big Dig and for his views on health care. Baker returned fire yesterday by challenging Cahill’s fund-raising methods and the transparency in his office, calling for new disclosures on donors connected directly or indirectly with business interests before the treasurer. Polls suggest that Patrick’s best chance to win will be if both challengers fight to the end, splitting the anti-incumbent vote.”
NEVADA : “The Tea Party Express plans today to launch an ad denouncing Scott Ashjian for running his U.S. Senate campaign under the Tea Party of Nevada banner without backing from local and national members of the movement,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
From NBC's Shawna Thomas and Luke Russert
Since this weekend's historic vote, at least 10 Democratic representatives have received verbal and written threats. The House Seargent at Arms, FBI, and U.S. Capitol Police all met with House members "to address security concerns."
VIDEO: Some lawmakers are taking extra security precautions after receiving death threats over their votes in favor of health reform legislation. MSNBC’s David Shuster reports.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy
One of the offices that has received multiple threatening and vulgar messages is Rep. Bart Stupa k (D-MI). Stupak's yes vote on health care was key to getting the Democrats over the 216 mark.
One anonymous caller to Stupak's office said, "There are millions of people across the country who wish you ill and all of those thoughts projected on you will materialize into something that's not very good for you."
Another man who leaves his address on the recording said, "You're a cowardly punk, Stupak. That's what you are. You and your family is scum. You oughta fill your pockets with lead and jump in the Potomac."
Stupak's office also received a faxed picture of a noose. There are reports of Majority Whip Clyburn's office receiving a similar fax, as well as threatening phone calls to his home. When asked about the calls, Clyburn said: "My wife is pretty used to this. She didn't share all the conversations with me. We turned over the phone numbers... For five years before I came to Congress, I was under constant state protection so we know how to do this."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Tom Perriello (D) issued this statement about the news that his brother's gas line was cut, after the home address was posted on a local Tea Party Web sites mistakenly believing it was the congressman's home:
My number one priority right now is ensuring the safety of my brother's family, and I am grateful to law enforcement for their excellent work. While it is too early to say anything definitive regarding political motivations behind this act, it's never too early for political leaders to condemn threats of violence, particularly as threats to other Members of Congress and their children escalate. And so I ask every member of House and Senate leadership to state unequivocally tonight that it is never OK to harm or threaten elected officials and their families with anything more than political retribution. Here in America, we settle our political differences at the ballot box.
From NBC's Ken Strickland Max Baucus says the vote-o-rama on the amendments to the health reconciliation bill should start approximately at 5:10 pm ET.
He says there are 21 amendments pending, but he expects several more to be filed. Baucus adds that it usually takes an hour to vote on three amendments.
He expects the Senate to be voting beyond midnight.
From NBC's Mark Murray
And some of them are now getting backlash for wading into what seems to be a very political story: trying to overturn a law that was passed by Congress and signed into law.
Here's the Palm Beach Post's editorial on Florida AG Bill McCollum, who's running for governor: "Having lost in the Capitol, after refusing to play, Republicans who claim to hate judicial activism want the judicial branch to overrule the legislative and executive branches."
Here's the Detroit Free Press on Michigan AG Mike Cox, running for governor: "As a candidate for his party's gubernatorial nomination, Cox has every right to pander to the Tea Party adherents many believe will play a decisive role in August's Republican primary. As Michigan's top law enforcement officer, he should know better than to pursue his specious claim that Congress has exceeded its constitutional authority."
And here's a front-page Washington Post piece on Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli: "The move was classic Cuccinelli -- bold, defiant and in-your-face, an effort to use any means at his disposal to stop what he sees as a federal government gone wild. That approach has transformed him in just a few months from being a fairly obscure state senator into a national conservative folk hero -- a tea partier with conviction and, more importantly, power."
From NBC's Pete Williams
Investigators have reached no conclusions about how or why it happened. But the line was cut after the home's address was posted on a blog and a Facebook page, both maintained by members of a local Tea Party group who thought it was the home of Rep. Tom Perriello , a Virginia Democrat who voted in favor of the health-care bill.
One said, "This is Rep. Thomas Stuart Price Perriello's home address," and added, "I ain't holding back anymore!!" The other urged readers to "drop by" the home and "express their thanks" for the vote.
The cut in the gas line, which runs from a propane tank to a gas grill on a screened-in porch, was discovered Tuesday, the day after the address was posted. When they realized that it was incorrect, the operators of the blog and Faceboook page took the address off.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Charlie Specht
“This whole campaign challenging the constitutionality is just the latest chapter in conservative right-wing scare tactics designed to frighten people,” said Simon Lazarus, public policy counsel to the National Senior Citizens Law Center. “It really is a natural heir to the death panels, the natural heir to the government takeover. Frankly they’re embarrassing from a legal standpoint. I am confident they will be summarily dismissed by even conservative federal judges.”
Erwin Chemerinsky, founding dean and distinguished professor of law at University of California-Irvine School of Law, said public opinion doesn’t determine constitutionality.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Dan Senor to the growing list of Democrats and Republicans who have decided NOT to challenge NY Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), following Harold Ford Jr ., Mort Zuckerman , and Rudy Giuliani .
Senor's statement:
"Over the past few weeks, I took a very serious look at running for the Senate seat in New York," Senor said in a statement. "I ultimately decided this wasn't the right time in my family and business life for me to run."
Senor added, "I was privileged to meet so many thoughtful, impressive, and energetic people as I explored this race, and I was very gratified by their enthusiasm. I will continue to look for ways to advance the policy debate here in New York, especially on issues that I am most concerned about: America's declining economic competitiveness, skyrocketing deficits and taxes, a national security strategy that is drifting and a morally equivalent foreign policy that is troubling."
And he concluded, "There are a number of terrific opportunities for Republicans in 2010 -- including in this Senate race -- and I will lend a hand wherever I can be helpful. I love this state, and I intend to stay involved in matters that affect it."
From NBC's Mark Murray Sarah Palin , Tim Pawlenty , Rick Perry , Haley Barbour , Newt Gingrich , Mike Pence -- will gather in New Orleans to speak at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference. Mitt Romney was the only prominent potential 2012-er who was skipping the event.
But the AP is reporting that Pawlenty is now pulling out. "Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has withdrawn from a major Republican gathering in New Orleans next month to attend a welcome-home ceremony for soldiers returning from Iraq. Pawlenty canceled his planned April 10 trip to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, billed as 'the most prominent GOP gathering prior to the next national convention.' A recognition ceremony for the Minnesota National Guard's 34th Red Bull Infantry Division is set for the same day in Minneapolis."
Pawlenty spokesman Alex Conant emails First Read: "SRLC is a great event and the governor was looking forward to meeting a lot of conservatives activists there. But he can't be in two places at once. As Commander-in-Chief of the Minnesota National Guard, he had a responsibility to welcome home these troops from their mission in Iraq."
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama is touting in his health-care law is that it would prohibit insurers from denying children with pre-existing conditions. “This year, tens of thousands of uninsured Americans with a preexisting condition and parents whose children have a preexisting condition will finally be able to purchase the coverage they need," Obama said yesterday.
But, according to the AP , that provision for children isn't ironclad -- this year.
Hours after President Barack Obama signed historic health care legislation, a potential problem emerged. Administration officials are now scrambling to fix a gap in highly touted benefits for children.
Obama made better coverage for children a centerpiece of his health care remake, but it turns out the letter of the law provided a less-than-complete guarantee that kids with health problems would not be shut out of coverage.
Under the new law, insurance companies still would be able to refuse new coverage to children because of a pre-existing medical problem, said Karen Lightfoot, spokeswoman for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the main congressional panels that wrote the bill Obama signed into law Tuesday.
However, if a child is accepted for coverage, or is already covered, the insurer cannot exclude payment for treating a particular illness, as sometimes happens now. For example, if a child has asthma, the insurance company cannot write a policy that excludes that condition from coverage. The new safeguard will be in place later this year.
Full protection for children would not come until 2014, said Kate Cyrul, a spokeswoman for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, another panel that authored the legislation.
*** UPDATE ***
From NBC’s Ken Strickland Harry Reid (D-NV) just yielded back all of the Democratic time in the debate, at least seven hours worth. That means there are about eight hours left in the debate before the vote-o-rama starts.
It also means all the remaining speeches will likely be on Republican side.
So, the vote-o-rama could start tonight and carry over into tomorrow. It's also possible the Republicans could give back their time later too.
The Senate burned through seven of the 20 hours of debate for the reconciliation bill of health-care fixes yesterday. There were no votes, and Republicans have made no parliamentary challenges so far on the floor.
Debate began at 9 a.m. and may stretch late into the evening. Votes are expected this afternoon on amendments offered by Republicans. They offered more than 20 yesterday. At this point, Democrats are not planning to offer any since their goal is not to change the bill.
CONTINUED >>
Did Obama yesterday preview his argument for re-election?... Contrasting how Obama sold the stimulus vs. how he’s selling health care… Senate vote-a-rama could begin today on the health reconciliation bill… How much appeal does repeal have?... If you thought health care was tough, just try Middle East peace… And Condi Rice endorsed Carly Fiorina in California’s Senate race.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Obama’s re-elect argument: Yesterday, did we hear the line that could very well serve as the basis for President Obama’s re-election in 2012? Here’s what he said in his second event (at the Interior Department) touting the health-care bill he signed into law: “Despite decades in which Washington failed to tackle our toughest challenges, despite the smallness of so much of what passes for politics these days, despite those who said that progress was impossible, you made people believe that people who love this country can still change it.” Translation: The health bill largely fulfills his promise of change -- despite his inability to change the tone or the partisan divide in Washington. It's one of those message frames that actually is similar to Bush's in 2004, implying that he's tough even in the face of opposition and that you know where he stands even if you don’t always agree with him.
*** Lesson learned: It also appeared yesterday that the White House learned its lesson from how it sold the stimulus a year ago. Here’s what President Obama said upon signing it into law: “What makes this recovery plan so important is not just that it will create or save three and a half million jobs over the next two years, including nearly 60,000 in Colorado. It's that we are putting Americans to work doing the work that America needs done in critical areas.” By comparison, Obama yesterday was much more specific what health reform would mean for Americans, even using the refrain "this year" over and over. “This year, we’ll start offering tax credits to about 4 million small businesses to help them cover the cost of coverage,” he said. “And that means that folks like Ryan will immediately get a tax break so that he can better afford the coverage he’s already providing for his employees.”
*** Selling the law: Obama continued, “This year, tens of thousands of uninsured Americans with a preexisting condition and parents whose children have a preexisting condition will finally be able to purchase the coverage they need… This year, insurance companies will no longer be able to drop people’s coverage when they get sick, or place lifetime limits or restrictive annual limits on the amount of care they can receive. This year, all new insurance plans will be required to offer free preventive care. And this year, young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ policies until they’re 26 years old. That all happens this year.”
*** The vote-a-rama: The Senate, according to The Hill newspaper, adjourned at 10:30 pm ET last night after completing seven hours (out of the mandatory 20) of debate on the health reconciliation bill. It gets back to business at 9:00 am, and the voting on amendments -- the “vote-a-rama” -- could begin as early as this afternoon. As NBC’s Ken Strickland reports, Republicans plan to offer a dozen amendments that are designed to attract Democratic support. Why? Adding an amendment would be a victory of sorts for Republicans, because the reconciliation "fixes" bill would have to go back to the House for another vote. For example, GOP Sen. Tom Coburn is offering one amendment banning erectile dysfunction drugs for sex offenders, and GOP Sen. John McCain is offering one to eliminate any remaining “sweetheart deals” in the health legislation, like the so-called “Louisiana Purchase” benefiting Dem Sen. Mary Landrieu. Strick adds that Republicans also claim they’re offering amendments to correct what they see are flaws in the legislation. Many of these amendments are worded so that they can easily be turned into 30-second TV ads.
*** The appeal of repeal? Many of the NRSC’s top Senate candidates this cycle have signed the Club for Growth’s petition to repeal the health-care law: Kelly Ayotte (NH), Roy Blunt (MO), John Boozman (AR), Trey Grayson/Rand Paul (KY), Mark Kirk (IL), Sue Lowden/Danny Tarkanian (NV), and Pat Toomey (PA). But others haven’t: Mike Castle (DE), Dan Coats (IN), John Hoeven (ND), Jane Norton (CO), and Rob Portman (OH). A Coats spokesman tells First Read that the GOP candidate favors repeal but wants to replace it with bipartisan health legislation. Norton also has embraced the “repeal and replace” campaign. But note that there’s a big difference between signing the Club petition and arguing for the “softer repeal and replace.” Here's how Mitch McConnell is putting it, which appears to be an attempt to have a middle ground on this repeal issue: "No one that I know in the Republican conference in the Senate believes that no action is appropriate. We all think there are things that should be done."
*** Palin’s 20 targets: Sarah Palin isn’t only getting into the reality-show business; she’s also targeting House Democrats who voted for health care on Sunday night. “We’re paying particular attention to those House members who voted in favor of Obamacare and represent districts that Sen. John McCain and I carried during the 2008 election,” she wrote on her Facebook page. “Three of these House members are retiring – from Arkansas’s 2nd district, Indiana’s 8th district, and Tennessee’s 6th district – but we’ll be working to make sure that those who replace them are Commonsense Conservatives. The others are running for re-election, and we’re going to hold them accountable for this disastrous Obamacare vote. They are: Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-1), Harry E. Mitchell (AZ-5), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8), John Salazar (CO-3), Betsy Markey (CO-4). Allen Boyd (FL-2), Suzanne M. Kosmas (FL-24), Baron P. Hill (IN-9), Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL), Charlie Wilson (OH-6), John Boccieri (OH-16), Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3), Christopher Carney (PA-10), John M. Spratt, Jr. (SC-5), Tom Perriello (VA-5), Alan B. Mollohan (WV-1), and Nick J. Rahall (WV-3).”
*** And you thought health care was tough: While it was under the media’s white-hot intensity, last night's meetings between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu may have been the most dramatic and important to date. Netanyahu came to the meeting, according to sources, with a list of detailed steps he was willing to take to help jump start the peace process. The White House WASN’T unimpressed with the series of steps. But there is a "trust but verified" aspect to the relationship right now between the two sides. Translation: the U.S. isn't convinced that what Netanyahu says he'll do is what he'll do once he gets back home.
*** Bibi gets a second meeting: And it turns out that Obama had a second meeting with Netanyahu yesterday. Per NBC’s Athena Jones, the president met with Netanyahu from 5:34 pm to 7:03 pm ET, but Netanyahu didn't leave the White House until 9:04 pm. So what was he doing for all that time? A White House official responds that Netanyahu requested a second meeting. “After the (initial) meeting, the president went to the residence. PM Netanyahu remained at the White House to consult with his staff in the Roosevelt room. PM Netanyahu requested another meeting with the President, who returned to the Oval office to meet with PM Netanyahu from 8:20pm to 8:55pm.” Details of what exactly the two sides are negotiating are being kept close to the vest. We're told talks between the two sides continued well past midnight and will continue this morning on a staff level (those participating on the American side include George Mitchell, Tom Donilon and Dennis Ross). There’s optimism on both sides that something about "next steps" can be announced before Netanyahu leaves the country. That said, there was no photo-op or even an official White House photograph of the meeting(s).
*** Midterm news: In California, Condi Rice has endorsed Carly Fiorina (R)… In Indiana, Hotline reported that Evan Bayh gave $1 million of his campaign cash to help Brad Ellsworth’s (D) Senate campaign… In South Carolina, the Dem and GOP gubernatorial candidates participated in a debate on education… And in Utah, state residents took part on their caucuses .
Countdown to IN, NC, and OH primaries: 41 days
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President Obama will “sign an executive order Wednesday reaffirming long-standing restrictions on federal funding of abortion.”
The Washington Post on Obama signing the health-care law into legislation yesterday: “Rich with symbolism and ceremony, the White House event provided clues about how the administration plans to sell the measure to a skeptical public: as a moral necessity of historic proportion. Obama told his audience of allies that ‘we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations.’ But his central challenge remains convincing an anxious nation that it can afford to help all, even at a time of rising debt, high unemployment and two distant wars. In a 10-minute speech interrupted more than 20 times by ovations, Obama suggested that those Republicans and Democrats who opposed the measure sit now on the wrong side of history. But Republicans have promised to defeat his argument at the ballot box in November and take back those swing-district seats that Obama's once-towering popularity turned Democratic in 2008.”
“[E]ven as hundreds of supporters snapped photographs and savored the climactic moment in the East Room of the White House, Senate Republicans were working to undermine the effort on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue,” the Boston Globe writes.
The New York Times’ Leonhardt sees the reform as an effort to tackle income inequality. “For all the political and economic uncertainties about health reform, at least one thing seems clear: The bill that President Obama signed on Tuesday is the federal government’s biggest attack on economic inequality since inequality began rising more than three decades ago. Over most of that period, government policy and market forces have been moving in the same direction, both increasing inequality. The pretax incomes of the wealthy have soared since the late 1970s, while their tax rates have fallen more than rates for the middle class and poor.”
CONTINUED >>
According to The Hill : “The Senate adjourned late Tuesday night after a chaotic seven hours of debate on a landmark healthcare reform reconciliation bill, with Democratic leaders inching towards a final vote by the end of the week. The chamber adjourned about 10:30 p.m., with plans to reconvene at 9 a.m. Wednesday. In all, the Senate burned up more than seven-and-a-half hours of the 20 mandatory hours of debate required by the reconciliation process.”
More: Mary Landrieu went after McCain for an amendment that included the words “sweetheart deal.” “It is beneath the senator from Arizona, who at one time was a candidate for president of this country,” Landrieu said. “Normally the only time I see the word ‘sweetheart’ is when my husband sends me a dozen roses on Valentine’s Day… To actually draft an amendment like this that uses the words ‘sweetheart deal’ is really an insult to the people of our country, and I would expect more from him.” And remember the “boost in Medicaid funds for Louisiana” she sought, she said, was “at the request of Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal (La.).”
Tom Coburn of Oklahoma submitted nine of the 13 amendments, including one banning erectile dysfunction drugs, like Viagra, for sex offenders. The New York Times : “As a result, some amendments will be constructed in an artful way in hopes of making them politically difficult for senators to oppose.”
Here are Coburn’s amendments from his Web site.
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FLORIDA: Republican Gov. Charlie Crist released a statement yesterday saying he “fully support[s] Attorney General Bill McCollum’s efforts to challenge the Constitutionality of a provision in the bill that mandates all Americans to purchase health insurance or face a fine,” the Palm Beach Post reports.
INDIANA: “Retiring Sen. Evan Bayh has donated $1 million to help elect Rep. Brad Ellsworth, who is running to succeed him.”
KENTUCKY: “A grassroots driven Money Bomb for leading Kentucky senate candidate Rand Paul raised well over $100,000 in its first few hours” yesterday, Business Wire reports.
PENNSYLVANIA: “On the day that President Barack Obama signed health care reform legislation, Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican candidate for governor, was slammed by Democrats for his decision to join a lawsuit that calls the bill unconstitutional,” the Patriot-News reports. Rep. Joe Sestak said that the decision, “once again places politics over principle.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Ken Strickland
There are a few certainties about this process, but most of it -- when votes happen, when it ends, etc., -- are unknown and will play out in its own way.
We do expect some votes today. However, most of the votes -- dozens of votes -- will happen at the end of the debate in what is commonly referred to as the "vote-o-rama," back-to-back votes with a couple of minutes of debate in between.
Here is your talking points memo, and users' guide:
-- A reconciliation (recon) bill cannot be filibustered. It takes only 51 votes for passage. The only 60-vote threshold in the entire process is to override the parliamentarian. (More on that below.)
-- The goal for Democrats is to pass the bill without any changes -- nothing taken out, nothing added. If there is a single change -- even a minor one -- it goes back to the House for another vote. Democrats will need to defeat every single amendment and have the Senate parliamentarian rule in their favor every time. History suggests it's a tall order.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama today used 20 pens to sign landmark legislation extending health-care coverage to 32 million Americans.
Saying he was signing the bill into law on behalf of his late mother and millions of others who had fought with insurers over coverage, Obama also invoked past leaders who had worked to overhaul the system from the Clintons to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy , whose wife Vicki, son Patrick , and niece Caroline were in the audience.
Also on hand for the event were Democratic leaders from both houses of Congress -- many of whom excitedly posed for pictures with one another before the event began -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (whose agency will be in charge of implementing the changes in the bill), and Connie Anderson (the sister of a Ohio woman who became the White House's symbol for ordinary people facing sky-rocketing premiums after writing to the president late last year).
"The bill I'm signing will set in motion reforms that generations of Americans have fought for, and marched for, and hungered to see," the president said. "Our presence here today is remarkable and improbable. With all the punditry, all of the lobbying, all of the game-playing that passes for governing in Washington, it's been easy at times to doubt our ability to do such a big thing, such a complicated thing."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Alicia Jennings, Scott Foster and Domenico Montanaro
Vice President Biden certainly thinks so.
A replay of the tape reveals that after Biden introduced the president in the East Room, while embracing him, he tells Obama, "This is a big f---ing deal."
Obama nods his head with a somewhat impatient look and takes the podium.
Watch for video coming soon.
*** UPDATE *** tweets , "And yes Mr. Vice President, you're right."
*** UPDATE 2 *** Click here for the video.
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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro AP's Liz Sidoti asks, "Is this the 'change' voters believe in?"
"Details aside, the president kept his overall pledge to overhaul health care even as he trampled on his other vow to break a decades-old partisan logjam, to do things differently in Washington. He maintained the appearance of bipartisanship; he held a meeting with Republicans and Democrats, included GOP amendments in the final measure and allowed senators to work for weeks on a bipartisan bill last year. ...
"He promised change; we got change.
"Like it or not."
From NBC's Mark Murray Sarah Palin won't be running for president? Variety reports:
Discovery Communications is expected to announce that it has won the Sarah Palin tourney. The cabler had been a front-runner to land the untitled Alaska-themed series, to be produced by Mark Burnett Prods., along with A&E...
"Sarah Palin's Alaska" will center on interesting characters, traditions and attractions in the 49th state -- with the ex-VP candidate as a guide. Burnett and Palin pitched the show to all four major networks -- but given the travelogue nature of the series, cable expressed more interest in the project.
Of course, wouldn't a better name for the show be, "Pallin' around with the Palins"?
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Michael Capuano is known for his strong opinions.
And in a hearing on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, sitting about 100 feet from Randy Neugebauer -- the Texas congressman who shouted "baby killer" during Sunday's health care vote -- Capuano just couldn't help himself.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
“My emotions might overcome me and I might be tempted to scream out that someone, or something or some group of people might be a ‘homeownership killer’ if they got rid of Fannie and Freddie,” Capuano said.
Neugebauer didn’t respond to the barb, which caused a surprised gasp from both Republican and Democratic staff members, who briefly dropped their practiced straight-ahead gaze.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro First Thoughts the Republicans' dilemma in response to health care's passage: "What do they do now they’ve lost? Launch a full repeal campaign (as many Republicans like McCain are advocating), or steer a more pragmatic course (as David Frum is arguing)?"
But Rep. Darrel Issa , ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, had this response to Frum, a former Bush speechwriter, per the Huffington Post (the story, by the way, was sent around by Issa's staff):
"A former staffer, and you're calling it credible?" Issa said. "We have an obligation to vote, at the end of the day, based on whether we believe it's the right direction, the wrong direction, not withstanding some former Bush staffer. Remember, President Bush was the administration that got us voted out of office. They were the big spenders. So the credibility of the Bush administration on domestic economic policy ain't so good, period. And this is an unaccountable person."
"When you are a staffer, you're unaccountable," Issa went on. "When you're a former staffer, you're really unaccountable. The way it's supposed to work, and the way it does work, when it works, is if you make a good suggestion in the form of an amendment, it is adopted. Good ideas by the controlling party should be incorporated because they're good for America. And to say 'I will only incorporate your good idea if you vote for the bill' is logrolling. It's a quid pro quo, and is tantamount to a bribe. Is that what you're asking for?"
From NBC's Athena Jones and Alicia Jennings President Obama 's bill signing:
The president will be introduced by Vice President Biden . The White House says Obama will be using 20 pens to sign the bill.
Some of the attendees at the bill signing aside from the members of Congress: Vicki Kennedy, Connie Anderson, Ryan Smith, Marcelas Owens,
Per the White House, here are bios for Anderson, Smith, and Owens:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro New York Daily News :
" 'The day that that bill was passed will be remembered just as 9/11 was remembered in history,' Carl Paladino, a Buffalo businessman seeking the Republican and Conservative Party lines, told host Curtis Sliwa on AM 970 The Apple this morning. 'It was an attempt by these people in Washington to defy the Constitution. It is clearly in conflict with all of the basic precepts of the Constitution.'"
(Hat tip: Ben Smith .)
Rice endorses Fiorina Condi Rice will endorse Carly Fiorina, the L.A. Times reports:
“California needs a representative in the U.S. Senate who is prepared to make the tough decisions necessary to address our most pressing challenges, including job creation and national security. Based on my personal experience, I know Carly is the best person to send to Washington to advocate for the people of our great state in the Senate,” Rice said in a written statement. “Carly is an experienced and respected leader who has delivered results for those she has served in the midst of immense challenges. I am proud to endorse her today.”
CONTINUED >>
Obama signs Senate health-care bill into law at 11:15 am ET… After that, the political world shifts its attention to other issues, like financial reform… On the reconciliation bill, the Senate parliamentarian makes his first ruling -- in favor of the Democrats… McCain vows not to work with the White House or Democrats for the rest of the year… The GOP’s dilemma on what do now that health care has passed… NBC’s Pete Williams breaks down the legal challenges to health care… And Meg Whitman has already spent $46 million on her race.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Moving on : At 11:15 am ET, President Obama will sign the Senate health-care bill into law. And later this afternoon, the Senate will begin its debate on the reconciliation fixes to the health bill. But beyond the drama over whether Senate Republicans can stymie those fixes -- and they failed in their first attempt -- the political world now begins to move on to other issues. Financial reform (the Senate Banking Committee moved its bill to the Senate floor). Immigration reform (after Sunday’s march in DC). Middle East peace (with Obama’s closed-door meeting at 5:30 pm with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu). The economy. Afghanistan. Iraq. Energy. And the upcoming midterm elections.
*** Dodd’s push : Turning to financial reform, the Senate Banking Committee approved Chris Dodd’s (D) bill on a party-line vote, sending the legislation to the Senate floor. “All 10 Senate Banking Committee Republicans opposed the measure proposed by Dodd,” BusinessWeek says. “The 13-10 vote in Washington yesterday means negotiations will continue as the bill moves to the Senate floor.” Why did Dodd force the legislation through committee? Answer: to get this on senate floor and find a few more Republicans to possibly support the bill, like Bob Corker and Judd Gregg. MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown” interviews Gregg this morning. Neither Corker nor Gregg seemed thrilled with Dodd's decision to simply get the bill out of committee, but both issued optimistic statements saying they could make the changes they wanted on the floor. Even some Committee Democrats aren't happy with what Dodd pushed through, but everyone seems on the "fix it on the floor" page.
*** The parliamentarian makes his first ruling : The latest guidance, according to NBC’s Ken Strickland, is that the Senate won’t take up the reconciliation bill until after 2:15 pm ET. But Roll Call reports that Senate Democrats already scored their first victory with the parliamentarian. “Senate Parliamentarian Alan Frumin late Monday ruled against a Republican challenge to the health care reconciliation package, a Senate aide confirmed. Senate Republicans Monday afternoon argued to Frumin that a provision of the reconciliation package approved by the House violated Section 310g of the Budget Act. Had Frumin ruled in the Republicans' favor, the bill would have been stripped of its reconciliation status.” By the way, both the White House and House Dems seem to doing everything they can to ignore the show in the Senate, simply expressing confidence that the Senate will approve MOST of the fixes. Steny Hoyer said on “Hardball” last night that the House was willing to re-take up a fixes bill if the Senate had to make some "minor" changes.
*** McCain vs. the White House : On the issue of immigration, we’ve long wondered whether John McCain -- who is facing a primary challenge this year from the right -- would end up working with the White House. Well, we got an answer yesterday. "There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year," McCain told an Arizona radio station, per the Washington Post . "They have poisoned the well in what they've done [on health care] and how they've done it." That remark prompted this response from White House adviser David Axelrod: "You know, that's okay on the sandlot, but that's not really okay when you're trying to govern a country and move a country forward. It's a disappointing attitude." And that drew this blistering comment from McCain’s spokeswoman: “Sen. John McCain will always stand on the side of the American people. Get used to it, Mr. Axelrod, that's what strong, independent members do -- you’d know that if you had ever worked for one.”
*** The GOP’s dilemma : The Republican responses to health care’s passage -- including McCain’s above -- present the GOP with this question: What do they do now they’ve lost? Launch a full repeal campaign (as many Republicans like McCain are advocating), or steer a more pragmatic course (as David Frum is arguing)? “In political terms, Republicans face strong crosscurrents,” the New York Times’ Nagourney writes. “Polls suggest that a sizable part of the nation is unenthusiastic about the bill or opposed to it. Conservatives see it as a strike at the heart of their small-government principles… But at the same time, many provisions of the bill that go into effect this year … are broadly popular with the public… And in a week when Democrats are celebrating the passage of a historic piece of legislation, Republicans find themselves again being portrayed as the party of no, associated with being on the losing side of an often acrid debate and failing to offer a persuasive alternative agenda.” The Paul Ryan solution is "Repeal and Reform"; can the GOP strike that compromise?
*** Breaking down the legal challenges : NBC’s Pete Williams has a good explainer on the legal challenges that at least nine GOP state attorneys general are mounting against the health care legislation. They claim that the bill's "individual mandate," designed to push the uninsured into buying health insurance, is unconstitutional. Here’s the issue, Williams says: The Constitution gives Congress authority "to regulate commerce." In general, once someone engages in commerce, the government can regulate it. But opponents say that does not include the power to require an individual to buy something -- like health insurance. Supporters of the bill, however, say Congress does have the power to regulate activities that have a cumulative effect on the economy -- like health care. Our question: Can these lawsuits be filed BEFORE the mandates go into effect? Or do they have to wait until 2014?
*** Midterm news : In California, Meg Whitman has already spent $46 million on her gubernatorial campaign, putting her well on pace to spend more than $100 million if she’s the GOP nominee… In Illinois, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington says Alexi Giannoulias is a “dead man walking”… And in Utah, today is the first round of narrowing the candidate fields as the neighborhood caucuses take place .
Countdown to IN, NC, and OH primaries: 42 days
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The Washington Post is the latest to look at how Democrats rescued health care after Scott Brown’s victory two months ago. “The remarkable change in political fortunes thrust Obama into a period of uncertainty and demonstrated the ability of one person to control the balance of power in Washington. On Jan. 19, that person seemed to be Brown. But as the next 61 days would show, culminating in Sunday night's historic vote, the fate of the legislation ultimately rested in the hands of Obama.”
Some advice from Dem pollster Stan Greenberg : "One closing suggestion for President Obama. I worry that he is tempted to talk about how ‘America waited a hundred years’ for this moment, as he did Sunday night, just as Republicans are talking about the dawn of socialism and the Europeanization of America. The health care reform victory was hard politics. The president should learn the bread-and-butter lesson of the last month: focus on telling voters what the insurance companies won’t be doing to you any more. And then, create some jobs — that would be a true game changer."
The Globe looks at the substance of the bill and that most of the major changes won't go into effect until 2014. "The law will take effect gradually. A series of modest changes kicks in this year -- tax credits to help small businesses purchase insurance for their employees, a $250 prescription drug rebate for seniors on Medicare who have hit a gap in their coverage, and a ban on excluding children from coverage because of preexisting conditions," the paper writes. "Insurers won’t be able to impose lifetime coverage limits or cancel policies unless an enrollee commits fraud, and within six months, the government will set up a high-risk pool to help people with preexisting conditions get coverage."
CONTINUED >>
"Democrats sent a massive Wall Street regulation bill to the full Senate on a party-line vote yesterday that left the bill’s chances for bipartisan passage in doubt," AP writes, adding, "Despite a conciliatory tone struck by the committee’s Democratic and Republican leaders, the development adds more uncertainty about Congress’s ability to pass a sweeping rewrite of financial regulations this year. The Senate would not take up the bill until next month, at the earliest."
Climate change next? "A group of 22 Democratic Senators urged Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Monday to take up comprehensive climate legislation this year, making the case that reform would be a boost for the economy. ... Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are expected to brief a bipartisan group of Members Tuesday on the climate proposal they have been developing for weeks." As of now, what's on the docket are more jobs packages and financial reform.
Democratic political strategist Mark Siegel said this about Nancy Pelosi: "She's Lyndon Johnson in a skirt." The New York Daily News notes that Pelosi is a "San Francisco grandmother, who turns 70 Friday. Siegel continued, "She was patient, tireless, persistent and cajoling -- and she pulled off what no one else could." Roll Call writes.
CONTINUED >>
Per Politico , “The only thing worse than winning ugly is losing uglier. The Democrats’ ungainly march toward a victory on health care reform Sunday night provoked a graceless response from angry House Republicans, who shouted insults across the chamber, encouraged outbursts from the galleries, brandished ‘Kill the bill’ placards from the Speaker’s Balcony and, apparently, left veiled threats of electoral retribution on the benches of undecided Democrats. And that all came before Texas Republican Rep. Randy Neugebauer shouted ‘baby killer!’ as anti-abortion Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) spoke on the House floor.”
Jim Clyburn says Randy Neugebauer should apologize on the House floor for his "baby killer" outburst.
'Satisfied with the tone of the debate? Rep. Randy "Neugebauer’s outburst reminded many of when Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouted, 'You lie!' at President Barack Obama during a joint address to Congress on healthcare last September," The Hill writes. "In the days following, Wilson’s website crashed as it overloaded with correspondence and he raised thousands of dollars from supporters. On Monday, parts of Neugebauer’s website were also not loading, perhaps because they were overloading with traffic.
Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund PAC already has a repeal pledge Web site. It names conservative candidates who have pledged to fight to repeal "ObamaCare" (and raises money).
Roll Call looks at Democrats running against Washington this fall. ARKANSAS : The Hill looks at how 27-year-old Sarah Huckabee came to be Rep. John Boozman's campaign manager. Boozman's running for Senate. "Huckabee’s upcoming wedding, showers and related events were enough to give her pause. After all, her dad had already paid for the wedding and the invitations had been sent. 'I said, 'John, I don’t think you understand -- literally one week after the primary, I’m getting married, and then I’m going on my honeymoon,'' she recalls. Boozman replied that 'the most important thing you’ll do all year is get married' and reassured her that they would work around whatever other wedding-related events she needed to attend, she says. Boozman’s first campaign crisis was averted. Huckabee accepted the job." GEORGIA : A special election to replace Rep. Nathan Deal will take place April 27. ILLINOIS : Democratic Senate candidate Alexi “Giannoulias is a dead man walking,” Chicago Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington writes. “Once President Obama's operatives finish sweeping up their sloppy health-care reform effort, they will turn their attention to holding on to the party's congressional majorities. A key agenda item: finding a new nominee to preserve Obama's Senate seat.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Reuters: "The U.S. Senate Banking Committee on Monday backed a bill to plug gaps in financial regulation and safeguard the country's financial system from future crises." The bill "includes new rules for banks, consumer financial products, derivatives and hedge funds."
Here's the actual bill.
And here's a summary of the bill from the Banking Committee.
From NBC's Athena Jones
Gibbs said the White Hosue is still working out logistics, but it will likely be some time in late morning and probably on the South Lawn -- weather-permitting.
The Washington Post: "White House officials said Obama intends to sign the bill during an event that will include a diverse group of guests, some of whom the president has showcased before to promote his health-care plans. He is hoping to do so on the South Lawn, aides said, but that could change if the weather is bad. Invitees will include doctors and nurses, citizens who will benefit from some of the bill's provisions, and members of Congress instrumental in passing it." And there's this: "Obama will travel Thursday to Iowa City, Iowa, to underscore the bill's immediate effects."
*** UPDATE ***
From NBC's Courtney Kube Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at State at 2:45 p.m. today, the meeting was just moved to the nearby Mayflower Hotel.
And, despite the fact the meeting was open to the media, now only "official" media are allowed to cover it.
Asked about the last-minute decision, State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley said the change in location was the "Israeli's prerogative," and that he "doesn't know why the shift was made."
Crowley warned "not to read too much into" the move, and side-stepped a question about whether the change had anything to do with Clinton's speech to the AIPAC Conference this morning.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Luke Russert Randy Neugebauer (pronounced NAH-guh-bower) was the member who made the "baby killer" comment last night, according to his office.
"Last night was the climax of weeks and months of debate on a health care bill that my constituents fear and do not support," Neugebauer said in a statement. "In the heat and emotion of the debate, I exclaimed the phrase 'it's a baby killer' in reference to the agreement reached by the Democratic leadership. While I remain heartbroken over the passage of this bill and the tragic consequences it will have for the unborn, I deeply regret that my actions were mistakenly interpreted as a direct reference to Congressman Stupak himself.
"I have apologized to Mr. Stupak and also apologize to my colleagues for the manner in which I expressed my disappointment about the bill. The House Chamber is a place of decorum and respect. The timing and tone of my comment last night was inappropriate."
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
The focus of the meeting is a Republican claim that the entire House reconciliation bill "is out of order" because Republicans say the bill violates a requirement for use of reconciliation under the Budget Act. That requirement states the measure cannot affect Social Security revenue. Republicans say the bill does. The Parliamentarian would make the call.
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Other "rolling meetings" are expected about various provisions within the House package to determine if they meet the criteria for use of the reconciliation voting method. The parliamentarian is a civil servant appointed by the majority who advises the Senate and interprets rules and procedures.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro Mitt Romney -- who as Massachusetts governor signed a very similar health-care legislation into law -- is calling for repeal of the legislation that the House passed last night.
How Romney balances supporting what he did in Massachusetts and opposing Obama's plan will be one of the more interesting stories between now and 2012, if Romney runs for president.
Romney's statement:
[Obama] calls his accomplishment “historic” — in this he is correct, although not for the reason he intends. Rather, it is an historic usurpation of the legislative process — he unleashed the nuclear option, enlisted not a single Republican vote in either chamber, bribed reluctant members of his own party, paid-off his union backers, scapegoated insurers, and justified his act with patently fraudulent accounting. What Barack Obama has ushered into the American political landscape is not good for our country; in the words of an ancient maxim, “what starts twisted, ends twisted.”
His health-care bill is unhealthy for America. It raises taxes, slashes the more private side of Medicare, installs price controls, and puts a new federal bureaucracy in charge of health care. It will create a new entitlement even as the ones we already have are bankrupt. For these reasons and more, the act should be repealed. That campaign begins today."
From NBC's Mark Murray
Indeed, the P.R. battle over the legislation has really only begun. (Remember that after the stimulus passed last year, Republicans were largely successful in defining that legislation on their terms.)
Health Care for America Now (HCAN) and the union group AFSCME say they are launching a $1 million TV ad campaign to thank 14 vulnerable or potentially vulnerable House Democrats who voted for the legislation. Here's a sample of one of the ads:
Those 14 members: Alan Mollohan (WV), Mary Jo Kilroy (OH), Chris Carney (PA), Allen Boyd (FL), Suzanne Kosmas (FL), Carol Shea-Porter (NH), Mark Schauer (MI), Gary Peters (MI), Bill Foster (IL), Brad Ellsworth (IN), Baron Hill (IN), Gerry Connolly (VA), Paul Kanjorski (PA), and Debbie Halvorson (IL).
Meanwhile, Americans United for Change has a TV ad (at a $100,000 buy) blasting controversial GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann for voting against the legislation.
From NBC's Wendy Jones Hillary Clinton delivered a sympathetic, but subtly tough, message to Israel in her 47 minute-long speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) conference in DC. Two topics received emphasis: 1) preventing Iran from becoming a state with nuclear weapons, and 2) encouraging peace and moderation in the Middle East.
Clinton stressed the United States' long history of support for Israel. "The relationship between the U.S. and Israel has never been more important," she said. "The U.S. has long recognized that a strong Israel is vital to our own strategic interests... The forces that threaten Israel also threaten the United States."
She also said this: "As Israel's friend it is our responsibility to give credit when it is due and to tell the truth when needed."
And: "This Administration will always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself... And for Israel there is no greater strategic threat than the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran."
Obama and Democrats go big -- and score… Comparing the long health-care debate to the long Democratic presidential nomination fight… What worked for Obama and what didn’t… Gotta give Nancy Pelosi her due… Boehner vs. Frum on the GOP’s opposition… Breaking down last night’s votes… The impact on the upcoming midterms… Few were happy with the abortion compromise with Stupak… And Hillary speaks to AIPAC this morning.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Going big: No Drama Obama has proved to provide nothing but drama. Late last night after hours of debate, the U.S. House of Representatives passed historic health-care legislation by a 219-212 vote, sending it to President Obama’s desk for his signature. The House also passed a reconciliation bill with fixes to the legislation (as well as a student loan overhaul) by a 220-211 vote, which the Senate will take up this week. “We proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things and tackling our biggest challenges,” Obama said after the House passed both pieces of legislation, adding later: “This is what change looks like.” Going big is consistent with his stated desire during the presidential campaign to change the trajectory of America (remember when he said he wanted to be more Reagan than Clinton during the primary campaign?) It also countered Sen. Lamar Alexander’s argument at last month’s bipartisan health summit that Congress doesn’t do big well -- passing comprehensive health, energy, and immigration changes. "We don't do comprehensive well," he said back then. "Our country is too big, too complicated, too decentralized.” And now we'll find out.
*** Shades of June 2008? Are we alone in seeing comparisons between the long health-care debate and the long Democratic nomination fight of 2008? Both were extended due to the opposition’s political victories (Scott Brown’s win vs. Hillary’s wins in OH and PA). Both resulted in tough news cycles for Obama (the narrative about his disappointing first year in office vs. the Wright/”bitter”/”why has he been unable to seal the deal?” stories). Both saw a lot of overheated rhetoric (the Tea Party protests vs. the PUMA ones). And on both, Obama was ultimately victorious due to the math (the Dems’ congressional majorities vs. the delegate count) and due to his perseverance to simply outlast his opponents. Ultimately, the long Democratic nomination made Obama a stronger general-election candidate, because it forced him to focus more on the economy, it gave him additional opportunities for one-on-one debates, and it ended up putting IN and NC in play. And that long fight also gave him the confidence that eventually he can wear down his opposition. That said: What lessons did he learn from the health debate?
*** What worked, what didn’t: What DIDN’T prove to work for Obama and the Democrats was allowing the Senate (and especially the Senate Finance Committee) to take as long as it did; losing Olympia Snowe (and her public-option trigger); enabling process to dominate the debate; allowing much of the debate, for months, to center on the public option -- a topic Obama never discussed during the presidential campaign; and underestimating, early last year as the White House embarked on health care, how bad the economy turned out to be. But what DID work was going big rather than small; tying the fate of his presidency to the bill’s success; holding that bipartisan health-care summit, which served to rally Democrats behind the legislation; trusting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to get 216 votes; becoming Candidate Obama again; and allowing Congress to steer much of the legislative work before taking control of the wheel. Indeed, his approach -- hands off at first, all hands on deck at the end -- worked.
*** Give Pelosi her due: Of course, last night’s passage wasn’t Obama’s success alone. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her lieutenants were able to get the votes needed to pass the legislation -- something that many thought was unlikely after Scott Brown’s win two months ago. As the New York Times wrote on Sunday in a piece detailing how Democrats saved health care after Massachusetts: “It is the story of how a struggling president partnered with a pair of experienced legislators -- Ms. Pelosi and, to a lesser extent, Mr. Reid -- to reach for a goal that Mr. Obama has often said had eluded his predecessors going back to Theodore Roosevelt. Their journey over the last two months, interviews with White House aides, lawmakers, outside advisers, lobbyists and political strategists show, involved tensions, resolve, political spadework -- and a little bit of luck.” Also, the DNC's issue arm, OFA, also seemed to work closer to the "an intended" model than they have so far. As the Tea Party movement gained more prominence, the White House needed OFA to work and it appears, while not as prominent, it did. The biggest example may be the flips of No voters to Yes. Boehner vs. Frum: As for the Republicans, House Minority Leader John Boehner gave a fiery speech before the votes, in which he argued that Democrats would pay a political price for passing the legislation. “Shame on us. Shame on this body. Shame on each and every one of you who substitutes your will and your desires above those of your fellow countrymen,” he said. “If we pass this bill, there will be no turning back. It will be the last straw for the American people. In a democracy, you can only ignore the will of the people for so long and get away with it. If we defy the will of our fellow citizens and pass this bill, we will be held to account by those who have placed their trust in us.” On the other hand, conservative writer David Frum contended that last night was the GOP’s “most crushing legislative defeat since the 1960s.” His reason: “At the beginning of this process we made a strategic decision: unlike, say, Democrats in 2001 when President Bush proposed his first tax cut, we would make no deal with the administration. No negotiations, no compromise, nothing. We were going for all the marbles. This would be Obama’s Waterloo -- just as healthcare was Clinton’s in 1994… This time, when we went for all the marbles, we ended with none.” This debate will dominate the conservative blogosphere. Check out today's DAILY RUNDOWN; former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist seems to walk the line of "they'll run on repeal" but doesn't seem enthusiastic that it's the right call.
*** Breaking down the vote(s): In last night’s 219-212 vote approving the Senate health bill, 34 Democrats voted no, while no Republican voted yes. The 34 Dems voting no: Adler (NJ), Altmire (PA), Arcuri (NY), Barrow (GA), Berry (AR), Boren (OK), Boucher (VA), Bright (AL), Chandler (KY), Childers (MS), Davis (AL), Davis (TN), Edwards (TX), Herseth Sandlin (SD), Holden (MO), Kissell (NC), Kratovil (MD), Lipinski (IL), Lynch (MA), Marshall (GA), Matheson (UT), McIntyre (NC), McMahon (NY), Melancon (LA), Minnick (ID), Nye (VA), Peterson (MN), Ross (AR), Shuler (NC), Skelton (MO), Space (OH), Tanner (TN), Taylor (MS), and Teague (NM). The 220-211 vote approving the reconciliation fixes was pretty similar, but there were a few differences. Lynch (MA) and Lipinski (IL) voted FOR it, while Jim Cooper (TN) -- who voted for the Senate bill -- voted AGAINST the reconciliation bill.
*** The 2010 impact: Of course, last night’s activity will certainly have an impact on the November midterm elections. One obvious person to watch is Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth, who voted “yes” and is now running for the Senate. Some other vulnerable House Dems who voted yes include John Boccieri (OH), Betsy Markey (CO), and Scott Murphy (NY) -- all three of whom voted “no” last year but switched their votes last night. Then again, there were vulnerable Dems who voted “no” who are still going to face tough GOP challenges: Frank Kratovil (MD), Zack Space (OH), and Harry Teague (NM).
*** You know what they say when no one is happy…: As it turned out, the agreement that the White House/Dem leaders reached with Bart Stupak on abortion yesterday made neither the pro-choice or anti-abortion interest groups happy. Said National Right to Life: “A lawmaker who votes for this bill is voting to require federal agencies to subsidize and administer health plans that will pay for elective abortion.” The Susan B. Anthony List stripped Stupak of his “Defender of Life” award. On the other hand, pro-choice were angry – but Said NARAL: "On a day when Americans are expected to see passage of legislation that will make health care more affordable for more than 30 million citizens, it is deeply disappointing that Bart Stupak and other anti-choice politicians would demand the restatement of the Hyde amendment.” Added Planned Parenthood: “We regret that a pro-choice president of a pro-choice nation was forced to sign an Executive Order that further codifies the proposed anti-choice language in the health care reform bill.”
*** Besides health care…: In non-health care news today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addresses AIPAC at 9:00 am; other speakers include Steny Hoyer (D), Eric Cantor (R), Lindsey Graham (R), Chuck Schumer (D), and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Also today, Geithner speaks on financial reform at 4:30 pm ET before the American Enterprise Institute.
Countdown to IN, NC, and OH primaries: 43 days
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“Congress completed action Sunday night on the major portion of President Obama's top priority, a historic restructuring of the nation's health care system that has eluded his predecessors for more than a century,” USA Today writes. “The 219-212 House vote, coming after a tumultuous day of protests and rancorous debate, paves the way for Obama to sign into law most of his 10-year, $940 billion plan within the next few days. The House also approved a package of changes to the bill by a 220-211 vote shortly before midnight and sent it to the Senate for final action, perhaps later this week.”
The Washington Post : “The bill will affect virtually every man, woman and child in the United States in some way, from the 20-somethings who constitute one of the largest uninsured groups to poor, childless adults who don't qualify for Medicaid in most states to well-paid professionals who could see their benefits shrink. The health-care debate touched on many highly charged moral issues in American life, and a handful of antiabortion Democrats held up a final deal until late Sunday afternoon, before reaching a breakthrough with the White House.”
Dana Milbank focuses on the Tea Party protests outside the Capitol. “Thousands of conservative "tea party" activists had massed on the south side of the Capitol, pushing to within about 50 feet of the building. Some Democrats worried aloud about the risk of violence, and police tried to keep the crowd away from the building. But rather than calm the demonstrators, Republican congressmen whipped the masses into a frenzy. There on the House balcony, the GOP lawmakers' legislative dissent and the tea-party protest merged into one. Some lawmakers waved handwritten signs and led the crowd in chants of ‘Kill the bill.’ A few waved the yellow ‘Don't Tread on Me’ flag of the tea-party movement. Still others fired up the demonstrators with campaign-style signs mocking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.”
The Hill gives Nancy Pelosi her due: "Nancy Pelosi showed Sunday why she is one of the most powerful Speakers in history. In shepherding one of the most controversial bills through the House, Pelosi achieved what some thought what was impossible after Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts two months ago."
CONTINUED >>
The AP's Sidoti : "The initial blush of President Barack Obama's health care triumph immediately gives way to a sober political reality -- he must sell the landmark legislation to an angry and unpredictable electorate, still reeling from the recession." Democrats are unlikely to see a short-term political gain from health care, but rather, "Obama's political boost may come later. 'There's a bump for the history books,' said Fred Greenstein, a Princeton University presidential scholar. 'When historians ask if this is a kind of squandered presidency, there will be health care to point to.'"
The Comeback Kid? The Boston Globe says, "President Obama scored a stunning political and legislative victory on health care last night that not only will earn him a place in history books, but promises to establish him as a stronger leader of the Democratic Party after a tumultuous first year… But once the unexpected election of GOP Senator Scott Brown in January’s Massachusetts special election left Democrats dispirited and groping for a new strategy, Obama rallied. The president displayed fresh political acumen that brought momentum back to the Democrats and resurrected their centerpiece domestic issue, lawmakers and political specialists said, helping the House pass a broad overhaul measure last night. Just two months ago his administration appeared to be struggling. Now, in the face of intense adversity, he is about to achieve a goal that has eluded presidents for decades."
The New York Times’ Sanger : “Whether it was a historic achievement or political suicide for his party -- perhaps both -- he succeeded where President Bill Clinton failed in trying to remake American health care. President George W. Bush also failed to enact a landmark change in a domestic program, his second-term effort to create private accounts in the Social Security system.”
The New York Daily News' cover is simply: "Historic!" The paper's story: "It's not just change to believe in -- it's change that's real after the U.S. House of Representatives voted Sunday night for a sweeping overhaul of American health care. Making the nation's medical system work better and cover Americans was the signature issue of President Obama's campaign. In his second year, he has won a historic reform that some rank with such milestone achievements as civil rights acts and the creation of Social Security."
“Tens of thousands of immigrants and activists rallied here on Sunday, calling for legislation this year to give legal status to millions of illegal immigrants and seeking to pressure President Obama to keep working on the contentious issue once the health care debate is behind him,” the New York Times reports.
“Demonstrators filled five lengthy blocks of the Washington Mall, down the hill from the Capitol where last-minute negotiations were under way on the health care bill. The immigrant activists, chanting Mr. Obama’s campaign slogan of ‘Yes we can’ in Spanish and English, tried to compete with their numbers for public and media attention which were mainly focused on the climactic health care events in the House of Representatives.”
CALIFORNIA: An independent expenditure group, made up of labor unions and Democratic consultants, has created a new ad attacking Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, the New York Times reports. The spot features “a technically impressive avatar of the candidate [Meg-a-Tar ], talking trash about herself.”
And Whitman’s primary opponent Steve Poizner “is promising to end taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants in a TV commercial that blames liberals for ‘doing too much for too many,’ the San Jose Mercury News reports.
KENTUCKY: Attorney General and Senate candidate Jack Conway released a new ad on Friday focusing on his work combating cyber crime. NEVADA: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes that Tea Party Senate contender Jon Ashjian may face a lawsuit challenging his candidacy on the basis that he was a registered Republican when he filed to run as a Tea Party candidate.
From NBC's Mark Murray *** UPDATE ***
The Senate then must also pass those fixes -- with a simple 51-vote majority -- in order for it to be signed into law.
The Senate is expected to take up that task in the next week.
From NBC's Mark Murray and Shawna Thomas
*** UPDATE*** Joseph Cao -- voted for it.
Next, the House will consider a GOP effort to recommit the reconciliation "fixes" to the Senate bill.
Then -- about 25 minuts later -- the House will vote on those reconcilation fixes.
President Obama is expected to deliver remarks after that. *** UPDATE II ***
From NBC's Mark Murray Bart Stupak (D) announced he would vote for the health-care bill, after the White House said President Obama will sign -- after the bill becomes law -- an executive order affirming that no federal funds will be used for abortions under the legislation.
The support from Stupak and the other pro-life Democrats all but ensures that the legislation will pass later tonight. "We are well past 216," Stupak said during the Q&A with reporters.
Right before Stupak's announcement, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer issued a release, saying: "While the legislation as written maintains current law, the executive order provides additional safeguards to ensure that the status quo is upheld and enforced, and that the health care legislation’s restrictions against the public funding of abortions cannot be circumvented."
From NBC's Betsy Cline Nancy Pelosi emerged from the last Democratic caucus meeting this afternoon wielding a sledgehammer-sized gavel. She promised to use it tonight when the House votes on health care.
"It was used in the enactment of the Medicare law," Pelosi told reporters, "I will use it this evening when we cast a very successful for this important legislation."
The gavel was lent to her by Rep. John Dingell (D), who used the same gavel when the House voted on Medicare in 1965.
From NBC's Mark Murray Bart Stupak WILL VOTE for the health-care bill.
*** UPDATE *** Henry Waxman says party leaders have been able to secure the support of Stupak. Waxman says they were able to win the promise of a "yes" vote on the health care bill by having Obama issue an executive order that reaffirms existing law barring federal dollars for abortions."
More: "Stupak had favored stronger language in the legislation restricting taxpayer money for abortion. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. said lawmakers who favor abortion rights shouldn't have a problem with the executive order."
From NBC's Mark Murray and Rebecca Samuels Steny Hoyer suggested that House Democrats might not have the 216 votes to pass health care right now, but they will have them when the roll call takes place.
REP. HOYER: We're going to get those 216 votes because we believe that they understand that Americans want health care reform by an overwhelming majority.
And here was House Minority Leader John Boehner on whether Democrats have the votes:
MR. GREGORY: Leader Boehner, are they going to have the votes?
From NBC's Mike Viqueira
This is all a back of the envelope calculation. Please do not use for any actual cash wager, and please keep in mind that even during procedural debate, there will be discussion of the larger underlying health-care reform issues:
- 1:00 pm ET: House comes in for 10 "ONE MINUTE" speeches.John Boehner has asked for a manual vote, which would take much longer than a normal electronic vote. He isn't likely to get it, however.)
If the GOP decides to use dilatory motions throughout the day, they can do that. In that case, it goes even later. But it's doubtful they will.
From NBC's Luke Russert and Domenico Montanaro Senate Democrats tried to bridge that chasm of trust between House and Senate Democrats with a letter assuring them they will pass the reconciliation bill.
Click here for the full letter.
Here's what House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer had to say about it:
"I can't quote it verbatim. I saw it, I read it, it essentially says we are for reconciliation, we will vote for the reconciliation and we will vote for it and we'll vote for the reconciliation bill sent to us by the House. ...
"What we are hopeful for, when we considered it, we could treat this like a conference report, where you do the amendments and then you do the bill."
From NBC's Luke Russert The Tea Party protests got ugly today.
African-American Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), a protege of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who helped organize the March on Washington, went to the House floor today to tell Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) that a Tea Party protester called him a "n-----."
Another Democratic source confirms to NBC News that openly gay Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) was called a "f--" by somebody in the Tea Party crowd.
Rep. Emanaul Cleaver (D-MO), another African-American member, was apparently spit on by a Tea Party protester.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Shawna Thomas From the House pool note:
From the House Democratic Caucus meeting, this from House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson (D-CT). He says "shortly after 2, we will have an hour of debate on the rule." This is the rule to allow reconcilation to get to the floor.
They would then vote on the rule, sans deem and pass. He then says there will then be "two hours of debate on the bill."
Larson did not elude to passing the Senate bill later. But he did say they would do this "in the light of day."
In conclusion, Larson added that the Senate bill "will become law tomorrow evening with the president's signature."
From NBC's Mike Viqueira, Luke Russert, and Tracy Kennedy
There is discussion now with Bart Stupak about the possibility of having the president issue an executive order on how abortion procedures would be covered for those recieving government subsidies on the insurance exchange.
They wouldn't even be considering this if they weren't short votes. IF it were to happen, the pro-choice members are bound to be very upset. (They are led by Degette and Lowey ).
If they can somehow do this without Stupak and his group, they will certainly do so.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told a crowd of reporters that there will be no additional abortion bill or abortion language on the floor to placate Stupak (D-MI).
This seems to suggest she can go forward without his support and that of his gang.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Luke Russert and Shawna Thomas Located at the West Front of the Capitol in the grassy area below the steps, are according to two Capitol Hill Police officers between 1,500 to 2,000 Tea Party protesters.
They are loud, vocal and many hold signs that say, "Kill the Bill" and "Don't Tread on Me."
Mike Pence (R-IN) and Tom Price (R-GA) have addressed the crowd and currently Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) is stirring them up into a tizzy.
Tea partiers are also trickling into the halls of the House builidngs wearing 9/12 tshirts and Marco Rubio pins. They have lists of undecideds whose offices they're trying to visit. Talking to a few who came up from Florida, they say they're here to preserve their and their children's freedom.
From NBC's Shawna Thomas, Luke Russert and Mike Viqueira
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Luke Russert
According to a Democratic member, the Senate Parliamentarian, alerted the Democratic Leadership this afternoon that they COULD in fact pass a fix it bill BEFORE the Senate bill. Prior to today the idea was that that would not be allowed. For this reason, the Leadership opted out of using "deem and pass."
A Democratic aide tells us that the House tomorrow will vote first one the rule for debate, then on the fixes to the Senate bill and then on the Senate bill itself.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Here's a quick look to how the weekend will go after discussions with House Democratic leadership aides:
Today: As we're seeing now the Rules Committee holds a hearing that is expected to last all day. The committee will vote to move the bill to the floor. The FULL House can't vote on it in the same day.
Tomorrow: There will be a full "rule" vote with a vote on the reconciliation bill some time after 2:07 p.m. ET.
What to expect today: The Rules Committee met at 10 a.m. ET. Eight chairmen will testify; 94 amendments will be considered. The meeting is expected to last all day.
A look at the week ahead in politics.
Confused by all the process and maneuvers? We break it down, classroom-style. Plus, Cuomo to DC for fundraiser, Pawlenty to New Hampshire, Romney's book tour continues, and a McCain-Palin reunion.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL VIDEO. A brief clip is below:
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From NBC's Shawna Thomas and Mark Murray Scott Murphy (D) will switch his vote from no to yes on the health-care reform package.
The Albany Times Union first reported the news.
From NBC's Luke Russert NBC News has confirmed that Florida Congresswoman
Suzanne Kosmas will switch from no to yes, becoming the sixth Democrat in recent days to announce that switch.
From NBC's Luke Russert and Mark Murray
They also maintained that Democrats don't have the votes to pass the bill, and they said that the sole House Republican to vote for the House health-care bill last November -- Joseph Cao of Louisiana -- will vote against the current legislation.
"This bill is a budget Frankenstein," said GOP Rep. Paul Ryan , ranking member of the House Budget Committee. "It is a house of cards. It's going to give us a huge deficit now and an even larger deficit in the future, and we can very clearly map this out with CBO numbers."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell Allen Boyd has become the fifth Dem no-to-yes vote.
Said Boyd:
"Throughout this entire debate, I have consistently said that responsible healthcare reform will embody four key principles: it will reduce costs, increase access, ensure patient choice, and not add to the federal deficit. This bill is not perfect, but I believe it meets these four principles of responsible reform by providing the largest middle class tax credits for healthcare in our nation's history and preserving a patient's ability to choose their own doctor."
Meanwhile, another previous no vote -- Jason Altmire -- reportedly will remain in the no column .
From NBC's Mark Murray
An AFL official tells First Read that John Sweeney , the federation's former president, is making calls to House Democrats who are undecided due to the health-care legislation's abortion language.
"Sweeney is a life-long devout Catholic who believes in the importance of the church in fighting for social and economic justice," AFL spokesman Eddie Vale says. "He will be making a moral case about the importance and necessity of health care for our country."
From NBC's Pete Williams
A spokeswoman for Attorney General Bill McCollum tells NBC News that he is prepared to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the deem and pass gambit. McCollum was elected to his current post in 2006. He spent 20 years as a US congressman from central Florida, and he's currently running for governor.
McCollum becomes the second state attorney general to say he'll challenge the House maneuver. Virginia's attorney general, Ken Cuccinelli, wrote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday suggesting he would challenge the method for passing the health-care bill.
Legal scholars are divided on whether the method would violate the constitution and, if it would, whether the federal courts would entertain a challenge.
From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mike Viqueira President Obama will be meeting with the entire House Democratic Caucus tomorrow at 4:00 pm ET. NBC News is getting conflicting reports as to WHERE this meeting will take place.
House aides insist the president come up to the Hill. But the White House has already decided to host them in the East Room at the White House. Sources acknowledge that there is some disagreement about where this meeting should be. *** UPDATE *** Harry Reid will be attending tomorrow's Obama-House Dem meeting.
From NBC's Athena Jones FAIRFAX, VA -- One day after announcing he was postponing an important trip to the Asia-Pacific region, President Obama today called this weekend's expected health-care vote in the House a "historic" opportunity to do what's "right" for the American people.
The speech at George Mason University was Obama's fourth off-campus health-care event in the past two weeks. In it, he framed the vote as a choice between a victory for the insurers or a victory for the American public.
"We are going to do something historic this weekend," the president told a cheering crowd that frequently interrupted him with chants of "Yes we can". "The only question left is this: Are we going to let the special interests win once again? Or are we going to make this vote a victory for the American people?"
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray John Boccieri (D) today became the fourth House Democrat to switch from no to yes, Hotline yesterday reported on one House Dem who plans to switch from yes to no: New York Rep. Michael Arcuri (D).
Greg Sargent and Politico's Ben Smith note that New York labor groups are planning to recruit a primary challenger to face off against Arcuri.
Ben Smith :
New York's Working Families Party, which has outsized influence in state politics and its own ballot line, is actively recruiting a candidate to run against Upstate Rep. Mike Arcuri, who says he'll vote against health care legislation.
"If Rep. Arcuri sides with the insurance companies against the middle-class and working-class voters of his district, they'll go elsewhere, and we are in active conversation with several people who we think would make excellent third-line challengers in this race," WFP executive director Dan Cantor told me.
Greg Sargent :
It appears SEIU is dead serious about this business about yanking support for House Dems who vote No on the health bill.
The SEIU bluntly informed Dem Rep Michael Arcuri of New York yesterday that it’s pulling support for him in the wake of the news that he’s an all-but-certain No, I’m told. And the search for a primary or third-party challenger is underway.
Jerry Dennis, the president of SEIU local 200, which represents 14,000 workers statewide in New York, called Arcuri yesterday and delivered the news, SEIU spokesman Matt Nerzig tells me.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro, Mark Murray, Kelly O'Donnell, and Shawna Thomas Ohio Congressman John Boccieri announced he will switch his vote to yes on health care.
"If in this job I can save one life one family one person," he said, "this job is worth it."
Boccieri becomes the fourth no-to-yes vote, as Democrats try to corral enough votes to pass health legislation this weekend. The others: Dennis Kucinich (OH), Betsy Markey (CO), and Bart Gordon (TN)
"A lot of people are telling me this decision could cost me my job," Boccieri said. "I want my mom to know I'm standing up today, and I'm doing what I believe in."
Interestingly, Boccieri gave remarks and introduced constituents to tell their health care stories and did not explicitly declare his vote until he was asked a question about it. He had given a speech that signaled his position but needed prodding to say it aloud.
"Yes," he said, "I will be voting yes for the bill."
Boccieri is a freshman from a conservative-leaning district. He has been under intense pressure to oppose the bill. One sign of the pressure, the congressman says a plane has flown above his district trailing a sign urging him to vote no.
After a couple of months of catching very few breaks, Dems have the momentum on health care… But that doesn’t mean everything will be smooth sailing between now and Sunday… First Read names names on Dems that still need convincing… NBC’s Mike Viqueira on past close House votes… The GOP’s game plan… Obama’s final health-care rally (how many times have we said that?)… Breaking down what’s in the bill (in our Congress section)… Why so little scrutiny on John Ensign?… And First Read’s Top 10 Senate takeovers. From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Dems and Big Mo : Ever since the Senate passed its health-care bill on Christmas Eve, Democrats and the Obama White House have caught very few breaks. You had Scott Brown’s surprise victory in Massachusetts, the Rangel and Massa news, and even a February jobs report that would have been MUCH better had it not been for all the snow in the Northeast. But with the fate of health care on the line this week, almost everything has gone their way -- whether it was picking up Dennis Kucinich’s “yes” vote on Wednesday, getting two more no-to-yes converts (Bart Gordon and Betsy Markey), and getting a very positive preliminary score from the CBO ($138 billion in deficit reduction over 10 years and $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction over the next 10 years).Three more days of herding cats : But that doesn’t mean everything is going to be smooth sailing between now and the final House vote, which is set for Sunday afternoon. Although we reported yesterday that Democrats were just about five votes short of the 216 needed for passage, President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are going to have to spend the next three days herding cats. One plugged-in Democratic Capitol Hill source tells us that several Dems who voted FOR last November’s health bill -- Michael Arcuri (NY), Stephen Lynch (MA), Jerry Costello (IL), Paul Kanjorski (PA), Marion Berry (AR), and Marcy Kaptor (OH) -- still need convincing. And the source says that they’re trying to get a few more no-to-yes switches like Scott Murphy (NY), Jason Altmire (PA), and Alan Boyd (FL).
*** Breaking down the undecideds : There are a few ways you can group these Democrats above. Costello is your longtime party stalwart who chairs an important aviation subcommittee (would he really walk away from his party when they need him?); Altmire is one the majority-makers from 2006, who represents a swing district; Berry is an upcoming retirement; Boyd is one of the party’s southern conservatives; and Murphy is a guy who, in part, owes the White House and Pelosi for his election last year in a special. Getting all these folks on board requires different selling points and convincing. In short, it’s why getting to 216 isn’t an easy task.
*** Let’s get ready to rumble : As NBC’s Mike Viqueira points out, close votes on the House floor are a lot like championship fights, and they don’t happen all that often (the Clinton budget vote in ’93, the Medicare prescription-drug law in ’03, and the TARP vote in ‘08). You have members hanging on the rail at the back of the chamber, watching the vote tally that is illuminated with each members name above the press gallery, hoping that they won't get a tap on the shoulder from a leader calling in a chit and making them vote "yes." The whip team roams the aisles carrying their whip list. Each deputy whip is assigned certain members to keep track of and see that they vote the way they are expected to. And the opposition will be standing there taking it all in and marking down those who take tough votes.
*** The GOP’s game plan : So what are Republicans planning to do, especially if the reform measure passes? The Wall Street Journal has a good write-up: “Republicans are looking beyond Sunday's expected vote on the Democrats' health-care overhaul to focus on strategies for striking back should it pass, ranging from challenges to the measure by individual states to a national repeal campaign. Opponents say they can still defeat the bill this weekend. By talking about the tactics now, and showing how they intend to rally the public, they hope to sway wavering lawmakers to vote no. And if the bill passes, they have a head start on a strategy to knock off all or parts of the legislation.” The GOP has an interesting task ahead of them: keep the issue in the news for the long haul (at least until November), especially since so little of this health-care plan goes into effect this year.
*** Obama’s final rally : At 11:35 am ET in Fairfax, VA, President Obama holds what could very well be his final rally (how many times have we written that?) to sell health-care reform. And it’s his fourth event in a battleground state in the past two weeks -- the other stops were in Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Ohio.
*** Massa vs. Ensign : Turning to non-health care news… Here's a question a few have begun asking: How did the Eric Massa mess dominate the news for an entire week, while the latest allegations surrounding John Ensign -- which include an ACTUAL FBI investigation -- have registered just a blip on the media radar? (Yesterday, it was reported that a grand jury has issued subpoenas for an inquiry into whether Ensign broke laws by financially helping the husband of his ex-mistress.) As the Washington Monthly’s Steve Benen recently wrote, “Sen. John Ensign (R) of Nevada is caught in a truly humiliating sex scandal -- and remember, the media generally loves political sex scandals -- involving a shameless hypocrite, who ran on a ‘family-values’ platform, committing adultery with one of his own aides, who happens to be married to another aide. The scandal involves the immediate affair, plus alleged ethics violations, hush money, and official corruption. And yet, no media frenzy. No reporters staked out in front of Ensign's home. No op-eds speculating about the need for Ensign to resign in disgrace.”
*** Refuse To resign : Of course, maybe this "refuse to resign" strategy by Ensign is working for New York's Democratic Gov. David Paterson who also seems to be defying political gravity. By the way, the one senator who does NOT want to see a new frenzy begin with Ensign is David Vitter, who is up for re-election this year and so far as avoided dealing with his past transgressions on the campaign trail.
*** First Read's Top 10 Senate takeovers : If it's Friday, it means another First Read Top 10 -- this time our monthly look at the Top 10 Senate takeovers. Like last month, GOP pick-up opportunities dominate our list (eight of the 10 are Democratic held seats). But we have a few changes from February: We've moved Indiana down a couple of spots; moved Illinois up one; moved Pennsylvania down two; moved Missouri up one; and dropped Ohio out of the Top 10. The number in parentheses is our ranking from last month.
*** More midterm news : In Florida, a new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll shows Marco Rubio “leading Gov. Charlie Crist by 58% to 30%, while “in the general election, Crist leads the Democrat Meek by 45%-36% -- but Rubio only has a statistically insignificant edge over Meek of 41%-40%,” Talking Points Memo says… In Iowa, today is the filing deadline… In New York, Rick Lazio took shots at his competition for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, Steve Levy… In Pennsylvania, a new Susquehanna (R) poll “shows the upcoming special election to replace the late Congressman John Murtha is a near dead heat, with Democrat special election nominee Mark Critz holding a tenuous 36/31 lead over Republican nominee Tim Burns; 31% of likely voters remain undecided.”.. And in Utah, today is the filing deadline.
Countdown to IN, NC, and OH primaries: 46 days
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"House Democrats yesterday unveiled a $940 billion compromise health care package they said would reduce the deficit and vastly expand health insurance coverage, continuing a march toward what leaders predicted will be final House passage Sunday of a sweeping overhaul that has bitterly divided both Congress and the public," the Boston Globe reports.
The Washington Post summarizes what’s in the health bill and reconciliation fixes. “The compromise would extend coverage to an additional 32 million Americans over the next decade by expanding Medicaid eligibility and creating state-run insurance exchanges and federal subsidies for lower-income families who lack access to employer-provided coverage. All Americans would be required for the first time to obtain insurance or face an annual penalty of $695; employers could face penalties of $2,000 per worker for not offering affordable coverage. In exchange for the new business, private insurers would be subject to an array of rules, including a ban on the practice of denying coverage to people with preexisting medical conditions and a requirement that adult children be permitted to stay on their parents' policies until age 26.”
More: “It would eliminate the most politically contentious of several deals cut to win the votes of recalcitrant lawmakers by extending to all states a promise of Medicaid funding that had originally been offered only to Nebraska. And it would delay until 2018 the implementation of a 40 percent tax on high-cost insurance policies. To cover the cost of those changes, the compromise would impose a 3.8 percent Medicare tax on investment income for wealthy taxpayers, a levy that would come in addition to a Senate-proposed increase in the regular payroll tax for those families. And it would slice an additional $60 billion from Medicare, with the privately run program known as Medicare Advantage targeted for particularly deep cuts, bringing the total reduction in projected spending on the program to more than $500 billion over the next decade.”
Here’s a good example -- courtesy of the LA Times -- why House Dem leaders are as optimistic as ever on getting health care passed. "After the caucus meeting, Indiana Rep. Baron P. Hill, a conservative Democrat whom leaders were trying to stop from switching from yes to no on the healthcare legislation, said he was closer to supporting the bill. ‘I'm pretty happy about the numbers,’ Hill said. ‘That moves me a step forward.’”
CONTINUED >>
National Journal's Ron Brownstein has two takeaways on Obama from this health-care fight. First: "Win or lose, Obama has pursued health care reform as tenaciously as any president has pursued any domestic initiative in decades. Health care has now been his presidency’s central domestic focus for a full year. That’s about as long as it took to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, originally introduced by John F. Kennedy and driven home by Lyndon Johnson. Rarely since World War II has a president devoted so much time, at so much political cost, to shouldering a single priority through Congress."
Second: "The key here is his 2008 campaign assertion that 'Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America' more than Richard Nixon or Bill Clinton did. The health care struggle suggests that Obama views changing that trajectory as the ultimate measure of a presidency’s success. His aim is to establish a long-term political direction—one centered on a more activist government that shapes and polices the market to strengthen the foundation for sustainable, broadly-shared growth. Everything else—the legislative tactics, even most individual policies—is negotiable. He wants to chart the course for the supertanker, not to steer it around each wave or decide which crates are loaded into its hull."
"In seeking enough votes to overhaul the nation's health care system, President Barack Obama is telling nervous Democratic lawmakers that their political fates are linked to the bill's passage, discouraging the notion that they can save themselves by opposing it, House members say," the AP writes. "They also say the president's not asking lawmakers to save his skin either, while the White House insists that no special favors in exchange for votes are being offered or accepted."
CONTINUED >>
"The federal grand jury investigating Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) subpoenaed the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), a sign the Justice Department is ramping up its efforts to determine whether Ensign abused his office in the aftermath of an affair he had with a top aide’s wife,"
The Hill writes. "'The NRSC has responded appropriately to questions concerning matters related to the 2008 election cycle timeframe,' said Sean Cairncross, the NRSC’s general counsel, in a statement. The FBI and the Senate Ethics Committee are investigating the two-term Nevada senator for allegedly trying to limit political damage from an affair with the wife of one of his former Senate aides by conspiring to help the former aide secure lobbying work and using his influence to pressure several parties to keep quiet about it."
ARIZONA : “As Sen. John McCain works to beat back a primary challenge from the right, Arizona businesswoman Nan Stockholm Walden is taking a look at entering the Senate race on the Democratic side, according to Democrats in Arizona and in Washington,”
Politico reports.
FLORIDA : A new Research 2000 poll conducted for the liberal blog Daily Kos shows Marco Rubio leading Gov. Charlie Crist by 58% to 30%, while “in the general election, Crist leads the Democrat Meek by 45%-36% -- but Rubio only has a statistically insignificant edge over Meek of 41%-40%,”
Talking Points Memo writes.
NEW YORK : "Gov. Paterson says he's a leaker," the
New York Daily News writes. "Paterson, during an appearance on 'The John Gambling Show' Thursday morning, suggested that he was the one who first tipped the media about his efforts to contact Sherr-una Booker, the Bronx woman who filed a domestic violence complaint against his top aide David Johnson. 'I don't want to go into it but the person who informed others that there was such a conversation was me,' Paterson said."
“The campaign for the Republican nomination for governor was blown wide open on Thursday as the party’s presumptive frontrunner, Rick A. Lazio, lost key support after a last-minute entry into the race by a conservative Long Island Democrat,” Steve Levy, the
New York Times reports.
PENNSYLVANIA : “A new poll sponsored by the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in conjunction with Pennsylvania-based Susquehanna Polling and Research shows the upcoming special election to replace the late Congressman John Murtha is a near dead heat,” according to the polling firm, “with Democrat special election nominee Mark Critz holding a tenuous 36/31 lead over Republican nominee Tim Burns; 31% of likely voters remain undecided.” It's worth pointing out, however, that the Tribune-Review is a conservative-leaning newspaper and Susquehanna is a conservative firm.
From NBC's Mark Murray
The first :
Gov. Mark Sanford has agreed to pay $74,000 in fines to resolve dozens of charges that he violated state ethics laws with his campaign spending and travel, including a taxpayer-funded rendezvous with his Argentine mistress, the State Ethics Commission said Thursday.
The second :
A judge has finalized South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's divorce from his wife Jenny, ending their 20-year marriage. Court records show Family Court Judge Jocelyn Cate issued her ruling Thursday, less than three weeks after the first lady appeared, asking to end the marriage because of her husband's adultery.
From NBC's Mark Murray and Mike Viqueira
Last week, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D) said he was opposed to the legislation (due to its restrictions on illegal immigrants), but he left himself some wiggle room to eventually support it.
Well, Gutierrez today told reporters that he would end up voting for it on Sunday.
But Democrats have many more cats to herd until they get to 216. Per MSNBC's Brooke Brower, the Boston Globe is reporting that Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch -- who voted for last year's House bill -- "said today that he will vote against President Obama’s health care overhaul when it comes to the House floor, contending that it doesn’t put enough pressure on insurance companies to reduce costs."
And Hotline reports that New York Rep. Michael Arcuri (D) -- who also voted for last year's bill -- plans to vote against it, according to Democratic officials.
*** UPDATE ***
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
It's being called the "Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010."
Here it is.
*** UPDATE *** Here is the Democrats' summary of what's in the legislation.
From NBC's Mike Viqueira and Domenico Montanaro Barney Frank took up a defense of congressional staffers in response to Minority Leader John Boehner being quoted as describing some as "little punk staffers."
Frank wrote a letter to Boehner urging him to apologize.
Here is Frank's full letter:
The Honorable John A. Boehner
Dear Minority Leader Boehner,
I was very disappointed to read a quote from you in the Market Watch article by Ronald Orol, on March 17th, in which you say “Don’t let those little punk staffers take advantage of you and stand up for yourselves.”
I am appalled that a Leader of the House, who must know what good work is done by our staffs, would take such an inaccurate cheap-shot at these people, for the purpose of ingratiating himself with bankers or any other group. As Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, I work closely with a large number of the staff members whom you are demeaning by this statement, and while I obviously have closer working relationships with the members of the majority staff, I am familiar with the work done by a number of the minority staff members as well, both for the Committee and on personal staffs. Your reference to “punk staffers” trying to “take advantage” of people in the financial industry is wholly unfair to a lot of hardworking men and women, the majority of whom, in my judgment, could be making more money if they were working elsewhere, and working under less stressful conditions and shorter hours. It is of course possible that you were misquoted, and if that is the case, I urge you to quickly make that clear. But if Mr. Orol accurately quoted you in referring to the people who work so hard in the public interest as “little punk staffers,” I urge you to apologize to them.
I understand that you differ with what we and the majority are doing in what we believe is appropriate, tough regulation of the financial industry. And of course you are free to defend that industry and work with them to try to defeat those regulations. But picking on members of the staff is unworthy of you. I urge you to confine your campaign against financial regulation to debates with other Members of Congress, and not engage in this sort of personal attack on staff members who, as you know, are constrained by our rules against even defending themselves from your name-calling.
BARNEY FRANK
From NBC's Ali Weinberg President Obama will be postponing until some time in June his trip to Indonesia and Australia which was scheduled for Sunday, March 21st
The president had originally been scheduled to leave on March 18th, but that was pushed back in order to stick around for the health care debate.
A vote is likely at this point to take place Sunday. And the president would then be able to sign it.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave a hint at what their proposed package of reconciliation fixes legislation will look like. She said the full bill should be posted online within the hour:
How would it be paid for:
Some other "fixes":
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell and Courtney Kube TWICE brushed off questions about whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called her yet with a response to U.S. objections to a new housing development in East Jerusalem.
Asked whether Netanyahu has called yet, Clinton said, "When there is something to announce ... you'll be the first to hear."
Despite the fact that Netanyahu continues to brush off Clinton, she said that the ongoing disagreement between the U.S. and Israel will not impact her end goal at the quartet meeting.
"Our goals remain the same, it is to re-launch negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians on a path that will lead to a two-state solution," she said, adding, "nothing has happened that in any way effects out commitment to pursuing that."
Clinton confirmed that George Mitchell , the U.S. Envoy to the Middle East, arrived in Moscow earlier today to attend the quartet meeting tomorrow.
*** UPDATE ***
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama said Congressional Budget Office estimates showed the health-care bill would have a have a significant impact on the deficit, citing that as one more reason to support the legislation.
The CBO estimates the bill would cost $940 billion over a decade and that it would cut the deficit by $130 billion in the first 10 years and some $1.2 trillion in the second 10 years.
"That makes this legislation the most significant effort to reduce deficits since the Balanced Budget Act in the 1990s," Obama said during a Rose Garden signing ceremony for a jobs bill. "This is but one virtue of a reform that will bring new accountability to the insurance industry and greater economic security for all Americans, so I urge every member of Congress to consider this as they prepare for their important vote this weekend.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama touted the new Congressional Budget Office numbers on the health-care bill -- which show the legislation cuts the deficit by $130 billion over 10 years and $1.2 trillion in the following 10 years.
Obama called the bill "the most significant effort to reduce the deficit since the balanced-budget efforts of the 1990s." He concluded, "I urge every member of Congress to consider this as they prepare for their important vote this weekend."
But hold on a second...
Rep. Paul Ryan , ranking member of the House Budget Committee, released this statement on the news about the Congressional Budget Office score of the health-care bill:
The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that there is currently no official cost estimate. Yet House Democrats are touting to the press – and spinning for partisan gain – numbers that have not been released and are impossible to confirm. Rep. James Clyburn stated he was “giddy” about these unsubstantiated numbers. This is the latest outrageous exploitation by the Majority – in this case abusing the confidentiality of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office – to pass their massive health care overhaul at any cost.
Indeed, the CBO's letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the numbers are preliminary.
Although CBO completed a preliminary review of legislative language prior to its
The CBO score is in… Do the numbers influence House Dems who voted against last year’s House bill and also against the Stupak amendment?... NBC/WSJ poll finds that a third of the country knows “a lot” about the filibuster procedure… Jobs bill sent to Obama’s desk, which he plans to sign today… Whitman inches ahead of Brown in new CA Field Poll… And MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown” interviews Tom Daschle and Bart Stupak.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Start the clock, CBO is in: BREAKING NEWS: Washington Post writes, "said he stands by what he told Obama: He still needs to see the specifics of the new House bill, including a forthcoming analysis from the Congressional Budget Office."
*** The prime no-to-yes targets: Baird, according to our count, is one of at least 14 House Democrats who voted against last year’s House bill and also against the anti-abortion Stupak amendment. Consequently, these are folks that the White House could be able to convince to vote for the same Senate bill that Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, and even Blanche Lincoln supported. Remember, the Senate bill has no public option, and it reduces costs more than the House bill did. Of course, the politics on health care drastically changed on health care after Scott Brown’s Senate victory in January. These are the 14 Dems we counted who voted no on Stupak and no on last year’s House bill: Adler (NJ), Baird (WA), Boyd (FL), Edwards (TX), Herseth Sandlin (SD), Kissell (NC), Kosmas (FL), Kratovil (MD), Kucinich (OH, who switched yesterday), Markey (CO), McMahon (NY), Minnick (ID), Murphy (NY), and Nye (VA).
*** A third of the nation is highly engaged: According to our latest NBC/WSJ poll, one-third say they know “a lot” about the filibuster procedure in the Senate. And these folks are split on whether reconciliation should be used to bypass a filibuster on health care: 44% of them say they favor Democrats using the procedure, while 42% say they oppose it. These folks are the people in the country that are paying a significant amount of attention to the health-care debate. By comparison, a combined 40% said they haven’t heard/seen anything or much about reconciliation. We'll dig more into this sub-group later, but think of them as the unofficial opinion leaders of the country -- the most informed. It's a larger group than some might have believed.
*** Lost: Lost in the intense focus on the health-care debate was this news from yesterday: “In a rare bipartisan vote, the Senate approved and sent to President Obama on Wednesday a bill intended to spur employment by providing businesses with incentives to hire new workers -- an approach that Congressional Democrats hope to repeat,” the New York Times reports. “The legislation, approved 68 to 29, would give employers an exemption from payroll taxes through the end of 2010 on workers they hire who have been unemployed for at least 60 days. It also extends the federal highway construction program, shifts $20 billion to road and bridge building and takes other steps to bolster public improvement projects.” This passage yesterday is the reason why the White House needs to get health-care passed ASAP. The health-care debate is drowning out all news, even news on the economy. By the way, the DSCC has a Web ad hitting Republicans who voted against the legislation.
*** Just one of the guys? It’s worth remembering that, despite the angry town halls and all the boisterous Tea Party rallies, the GOP’s biggest success stories in 2009 and early 2010 were Bob McDonnell, Chris Christie, and Scott Brown. One thing they all had in common -- beyond winning their races in blue and purple states -- was not directly criticizing President Obama. Why are we mentioning this? Because the Republican candidate running for Obama’s old Senate seat in the blue state of Illinois, Mark Kirk (R), was caught on tape at a closed-press fundraiser saying that Republicans were “on the way to making this guy a one-termer,” referring to Obama. Kirk also said he would lead the effort to repeal health care. Well, Alexi Giannoulias’ campaign and the White House fired back. Said David Axelrod in a statement: "Given the great challenges America, and families across Illinois face today, the last thing we need is another Republican senator in Washington who is more focused on tearing down the President than he is on solving problems." Honest question: With his primary over, why is Kirk playing to the base and not the middle, even at fundraisers?
*** Whitman inches ahead of Brown: In California’s gubernatorial contest, a new Field Poll shows Meg Whitman (R) leading former Gov. Jerry Brown (D) by three points in a hypothetical match-up, 46%-43%. Brown had held double-digit leads in previous Field polls. Of course, Whitman's been on the air to support her primary bid, and Brown has not. Also, the typical response we're hearing from Democrats on this poll is that the undecided vote will likely break Brown’s way in this blue state, and that Whitman hasn’t really been that great of a candidate. But remember that we heard similar stuff about the undecided vote in New Jersey and Chris Christie. And guess what -- Christie won.
*** More midterm news: In Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln has a new TV ad touting her work on the Senate Ag Committee (compare that with the recent Michael Bennet in which he didn’t say he was running for the Senate!)… In Connecticut, Linda McMahon is now leading Rob Simmons, according to a new Quinnipiac poll (does this mean that McMahon will finally start receiving the scrutiny the front-runner often gets?)… And in New York, a Democrat is switching parties to run for the GOP nomination for New York governor.
Countdown to IA, UT filing deadlines: 1 day
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President Obama signs the jobs bill into law today.
“In a rare bipartisan vote, the Senate approved and sent to President Obama on Wednesday a bill intended to spur employment by providing businesses with incentives to hire new workers -- an approach that Congressional Democrats hope to repeat,” the New York Times notes. “The legislation, approved 68 to 29, would give employers an exemption from payroll taxes through the end of 2010 on workers they hire who have been unemployed for at least 60 days. It also extends the federal highway construction program, shifts $20 billion to road and bridge building and takes other steps to bolster public improvement projects.”
In his FOX interview, Obama said this about the self-executing rule: "I don't spend a lot of time worrying about what the procedural rules are in the House or Senate. What I can tell you is that the vote that's taken in the House will be a vote for health-care reform… If people vote yes, whatever form that takes, that is going to be a vote for health-care reform. And I don't think we should pretend otherwise. And if they don't, if they vote against it, then they're going to be voting against health-care reform, and they're going to be voting in favor of the status quo." He added, “And yes, I have said that this is an ugly process. It was ugly when Republicans were in charge. It was ugly when Democrats were in charge."
President Obama defended the plan to give Medicaid money to Louisiana. “The so-called ‘Louisiana purchase’ would give extra Medicaid funding to any state in which every county has been declared a disaster area. Louisiana would qualify due to Hurricane Katrina,” The Hill writes. “Hawaii may also qualify due to the recent earthquake.”
The Hill says the Fox interview with Obama got “combative.” From the article: “Fox News's exclusive interview with President Obama airing [last night] is notably combative, with a frustrated President Obama repeatedly lamenting that Fox's Bret Baier won't let him finish his sentences.‘Bret, let me finish my answers here,’ Obama said at one point.”
“The dominoes started falling into place for House Democratic leaders whipping their health care overhaul Wednesday, with a slow trickle of key undecided Members announcing their support for the bill or signaling they were leaning that way,” Roll Call writes. “With a Congressional Budget Office score and text of the reconciliation bill imminent but still elusive, several undecided Democrats continued to cite the need to read the final text before declaring how they would vote. As of Wednesday evening, Democratic leaders were eyeing a best-case scenario for final passage on Saturday. But they are looking to post the bill text 72 hours before the vote, and as the hours ticked by with no such language publicly available, a vote on Sunday or later appeared increasingly likely.”
The New York Times : "House Democrats are inching toward the majority they need to pass health care legislation, giving them added confidence as they work out the last details of the bill and gird for a showdown as soon as this weekend. House Democrats are inching toward the majority they need to pass health care legislation, giving them added confidence as they work out the last details of the bill and gird for a showdown as soon as this weekend."
“Roman Catholic opposition to the health care overhaul package is crumbling, with some church officials and lawmakers concluding that their long-sought goal of health care overhaul trumps the desire to adopt the severest restrictions on abortion funding,” the Boston Globe writes. “A coalition of 59,000 nuns released a letter yesterday calling on Congress to approve the overhaul, defying the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, which opposes the measure. The Catholic Health Association, which represents 1,200 Catholic hospitals, has endorsed the package, as have Catholics United and Catholic groups promoting social justice. That split mirrors a division among some antiabortion US representatives.”
CONTINUED >>
ARKANSAS: Sen. Blanche Lincoln launches a new TV ad , touting her role as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
CALIFORNIA: “[Jerry] Brown, the state attorney general who held double-digit leads over Whitman in Field Poll surveys taken in October and January, now trails the former eBay Inc. chief executive by 43 percent to 46 percent in a two-way matchup,” Reuters writes. “Whitman also widened her advantage over her rival for the Republican nomination, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, 63 percent to 14 percent.”
And “[former Rep. Tom] Campbell leading former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina 28 percent to 22 percent among likely Republican voters in the June 8 primary, while Assemblyman Chuck DeVore had support from 9 percent,” the Fresno Bee writes.
CONNECTICUT: “Former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, who has spent millions on TV and radio ads and glossy mailers, now leads the GOP field in the U.S. Senate race [with 44% of registered voters], a new Quinnipiac University poll found,” although McMahon still trails Democratic candidate and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal by 30 points, the Hartford Courant reports.
CONTINUED >>
From msnbc.com's Carrie Dann, Tom Curry and NBC's Ken Strickland
If the music and lyrics seem a little baffling to you, you’re not alone. Deeming? Whipping? Reconciling? Even staff members on Capitol Hill are trying to keep the steps straight: Whip, vote, vote, sign, debate, vote, sign.
If you want to dance along, here are the steps that must happen for the whole process to be completed: whip, vote, vote, sign, debate, vote, sign.
Read the full guide here.
From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro Michael Bennet (D) isn't the only sitting Democratic lawmaker running for the Senate this year who's portraying himself as a Washington outsider ("I've been in Washington for only a year, but it didn't take that long to see the whole place is broken," he says in a new TV ad ).
Paul Hodes (D), a two-term New Hampshire congressman who's vying for the state's open Senate seat, echoed that message in an interview today with First Read. "I've been in Washington long enough to see what's broken, but not long enough to be contaminated," he said after describing his opposition to earmarks and his support of ways to reduce the deficit.
When more than three in four Americans disapprove of Congress' job and in a political environment that does not favor Democrats, Bennet and Hodes clearly see this inside-outside strategy as their path to victory.
And Missouri Senate candidate Robin Carnahan (D) -- whose mother and brother all serve or have served in Congress -- is playing the outsider card, too. "Last night's Senate vote against reining in earmarks shows how badly broken Washington really is," she said in a statement. "At a time when all of us in Missouri are tightening our belts, Washington ought to be doing the same.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Pete Williams
First, the method. A bill coming to the House floor for a final vote needs a ticket for admission. It gets one from the House Rules Committee, which dictates whether and how it can be amended. When the bill comes up on the floor, the House votes first on the rule and then on the actual bill.
Here's what the Democratic leadership is apparently proposing to do when the House gets its turn to vote on the Senate version of the health care bill. The House will focus its attention on a package of changes to the Senate version, one that would eliminate the special deals for certain states and other provisions objectionable to a majority of the House.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Rahm Emanuel is tough?
The vote on health care is getting close, and President Obama may have a new secret weapon to shore up the votes -- Kansas State men's basketball coach Frank Martin . Martin is fiery. Describing him as intense may be an understatement.
"He's a scary dude," Obama said of Martin, as he laid out his NCAA Tournament bracket on ESPN. ESPN's Andy Katz suggested Martin perhaps should work for the Secret Service.
"I could use him," Obama said, but for something else. "I could send him up to Congress to get 'em to vote for health care."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland
"From our point of view, it would be unfair to ask the House to vote unless we could get it done, too," Sen. Chuck Schumer , the chamber's No. 3 Democrat, said today.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had repeatedly said her members need assurances, in writing, that the Senate will pass a "fixes" bill that addresses the concerns of her members. But based on reconciliation rules in the Senate and unified GOP opposition, there is NO GUARANTEE Senate Democrats can keep a fixes bill intact.
When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was asked by reporters earlier today what type of written assurances he could give the House he said, "We'll see." Schumer had the same "We'll see" response when the question was put to him.
"Nancy [Pelosi] is moving along very well, but she certainly wants some assurances -- in one form or another -- that we will move after she moves and that's what caucus is about," Schumer said.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro President Obama 's personal lobbying of Rep. Dennis Kucinich , one of the staunchest advocates of a single-payer system and who opposed the House bill in the first go round from the left, has apparently worked.
"I have decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation," Kucinich said at a Capitol Hill news conference this morning. He said he'd made the decision after "careful discussions" with Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , and his wife.
He said he doesn't believe this bill moves toward what he'd prefer -- a single-payer system -- but he hopes it moves "in the direction of comprehensive reform."
Kucinich invoked Obama going to his district, the work his local office does with constituents, his personal battle with Crohn's Disease and the historic nature of the pending vote.
CONTINUED >>
New NBC/WSJ poll shows a divided nation on health care and Obama… But eight out of 10 Americans agree that Congress is broken… Poll also shows GOP gaining ground on issues like health care and the economy, and taking the lead on the deficit and taxes… Setting everyone straight on “deem and pass”… Dennis the Menace or Dennis the Hero?... Blanche Lincoln unveils tough response TV ad… And Romanoff bests Bennet in last night’s Colorado caucuses, but it perhaps wasn’t enough to make the case that Bennet is unacceptable to state activists.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg A divided nation: From 2001 to 2005, political analysts were often fond of describing the country as a 50-50, or maybe 51-49, nation. The Democratic routs in '06 and '08 scuttled that kind of talk, but our new NBC/WSJ poll might bring it back. In the survey, the public is split on whether Congress should pass the health-care bill (46%-45%), on President Obama's approval rating (48%-47%), and on which political party would do a better job handling the economy (31%-31%). In the short term, the partisan divide could end up helping Obama and the Democrats, especially on health care. NBC/WSJ co-pollster Peter Hart (D) argues that Democrats’ strong support of health care -- they think it’s a good idea by a 64%-16% margin -- could ultimately persuade on-the-fence Dem congressmen to back the legislation. But in the long term, Obama did promise to usher in a new, post-partisan age. And looking at our poll, it sure looks more like the country after the '00 election or even the '04 one.
*** But eight out of 10 Americans agree…: But if the country is divided on health care and Obama, there is one thing all Americans -- including majorities of Dems, Republicans, independents -- agree on: Congress is broken. In the poll, just 17% approve of Congress’ job, while a whopping 77% disapprove. Given the choice, half of respondents say they would vote to defeat every single member of Congress, including their own representative. And asked which one or two phrases best described their feelings about Congress, the top four responses were all negative: only interested in staying in office (37%), too close to special interest groups (28%), too partisan (19%), and supporting pork projects and waste (16%). Perhaps this is why rookie Sen. Michael Bennet (D) in his first TV ad does everything possible to distance himself from Washington. Not only does he not mention his party (a common practice in many races this year), he doesn't even mention the office he sits in or is running for; the only hint is a chyron that says "U.S. senator."
*** GOP gaining ground: Maybe the most striking finding in the poll is the ground the GOP has gained on the issues. Not yet 14 months since Bush left office, Republicans have pulled even with Democrats on which party better handles the economy (31%-31%), have moved ahead on reducing the deficit (30%-24%) and taxes (36%-25%), and have maintained their edge on combating terrorism (36%-22%). Democrats lead on health care by nine points (although that down from their 36-point lead back in Jan. 2008) and by 24 points on global warming (down from 45 points in Jan. 2008). And demonstrating the Obama White House’s communication failures, check this out: By a 46%-45% margin, Americans DON’T believe the U.S. economy would have gone into a greater economic downturn without the stimulus.
*** To deem the impossible deem: Want to know one of the reasons why 77% disapprove of Congress? It’s because there has been more attention on process and sausage-making than there has ever been. And the latest process story, as we wrote yesterday, is “deem and pass” or the “self-executing” rule. We have noticed some of our media brethren note that “deem and pass” is bypassing or skipping a vote that’s required (like on the Senate health-care bill). That’s not true; there will be a vote on it when the House adopts the rules of debate for the reconciliation bill. The best way to describe the process is that “deem and pass” avoids a direct or explicit vote. By the way, congressional scholar Norm Ornstein notes that Republicans frequently used “deem and pass” when they were in the majority. And as Time’s Tumulty writes, Democrats like Steny Hoyer complained about the process when they were in the minority. Proving a new (or is it old?) Washington axiom these days, everyone’s a hypocrite, especially the other guy.
*** Dennis, the Menace -- or hero? This could either give the Obama White House and House Democrats some momentum on passing health care, or it could be a poke in the eye: At 10:00 am ET, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) holds a press conference to announce how he’ll vote on the bill. Despite being one of the most liberal members in the House, Kucinich voted against the original House bill. Why? Because it wasn't liberal enough. No one knows what the congressman will say today. His office told First Read yesterday he was a "firm no." But at the same time as his office was saying that, he was being lobbied by President Obama on Air Force One and called out to "Vote Yes!" at Obama's event in his congressional district. This would be a real slap in the president's face if Kucinich decided to hold a press conference and re-state his opposition.
*** Midterm news: In Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln is up with a tough response ad to the negative advertisement that labor groups are airing in the state. Like Bennet’s ad above, Lincoln’s distances herself from Washington and tries to make Halter’s support look like it’s coming from out-of-state folks; this was always the danger for Halter that his campaign could get painted as a bunch of outsiders (in orange caps?) invading Arkansas. … In California, today is the filing deadline… And in Colorado, Andrew Romanoff defeated Bennet in the state’s caucuses . But it was far from a knockout blow -- Romanoff needed to make the case that Bennet was unacceptable to state party activists. He didn’t appear do that. By the way, don't overlook the fact that Jane Norton's campaign couldn't keep a Tea Party activist from getting a place on the primary ballot, either.
Countdown to IA, UT filing deadlines: 2 days
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Here's the Wall Street Journal's take on the new NBC/WSJ poll: "[O]pinions have solidified around the health-care legislation, with 48% calling it a 'bad idea' and 36% viewing it as a 'good idea' when presented with a choice between those two. That gap is consistent with surveys dating to the fall. At the same time, Democratic voters strongly favor the legislation being pushed by President Barack Obama, particularly constituencies such as blacks, Latinos and self-described liberals. Those groups mobilized in 2008 to help elect Mr. Obama, but are far less enthusiastic than core Republicans about voting in this year's midterm elections."
"The survey found a 21-point enthusiasm gap between the parties, with 67% of Republicans saying they are very interested in the November elections, compared with 46% of Democrats. 'If the Democrats are going to close that gap, they've got to get their people excited. And I don't see how you get those people if you vote no' on the party's health-care legislation, said Democratic pollster Peter Hart, who conducted the survey with Republican Bill McInturff."
Here’s our take : “As Congress prepares for a crucial and possibly decisive vote on the fate of President Barack Obama’s health care plan, the American public is evenly divided about whether the legislation should be passed or rejected, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Americans are also split on which would be worse for their congressional representative’s re-election chances -- a vote for the overhaul bill or a vote against it.”
“And they’re divided on Obama’s overall job performance, as well as -- for the first time in six years -- whether the Democratic Party or the Republican Party better handles the economy. But they overwhelmingly agree on this: The nation is on the wrong track, the economy has negatively affected the country, and Congress is broken.”
CONTINUED >>
Here's our explainer on how the "Self-Executing Rule," a.k.a. "Deem and Pass works": The health-care bill would be voted on INDIRECTLY, tucked into what's known as "the rule." The rule essentially outlines the rules for an upcoming vote -- in this case, it would be the vote on the package of reconciliation fixes. By passing "the rule," the House also would "deem" the Senate bill passed (with a "hereby" statement. "We hereby deem..."). The House would then vote on the package of reconciliation fixes.
Here's how the New York Times describes "Deem and Pass." (Note the use of the word explicit when describing whether or not there's a vote): "House Democrats are so skittish about the piece of legislation that is now the vehicle for overhauling the health care system -- the bill passed by the Senate in December -- that they are considering a maneuver that would allow them to pass it without explicitly voting for it. Under that approach, House Democrats would approve a package of changes to the Senate bill in a budget reconciliation bill. The Senate bill would be 'deemed passed' if and when the House adopts rules for debate on the reconciliation bill -- or perhaps when the House passes that reconciliation bill."
Roll Call: "House Republicans had Democratic leaders tied in knots Tuesday trying to defend a special rule to enact the Senate’s health care bill without a separate vote, even as Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) insisted she had not yet decided whether to use it." More: "Democratic leaders broadly projected confidence that they were building toward majority support and passage in short order. But the only thing certain on Tuesday was how uncertain the leadership team continued to be on all the particulars -- of support, process and timing." And: “On timing, Clyburn said in an interview with McClatchy Newspapers over the weekend that the vote could slide past Easter Sunday -- April 4 -- while others said they believe the package can clear the chamber late this week."
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CALIFORNIA: “A national group opposed to gay marriage on Monday launched 30-second ads attacking Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tom Campbell for his stance against Proposition 8, the 2008 voter-approved initiative to define marriage in the state constitution as between a man and a woman. The New Jersey-based National Organization for Marriage said it is spending $275,000 on ads that suggest Campbell, a moderate Republican, is not much different from 'liberal Barbara Boxer.'"
COLORADO: In last night’s first round of Democratic and Republican caucuses, “Andrew Romanoff defeated [Democratic Sen. Michael] Bennet handily, even though Bennet swamped him in fundraising and had the blessing of top Democrats,” while “in Republican caucuses, former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton lost narrowly to Ken Buck, a northern Colorado prosecutor,” the AP reports.
Romanoff defeated Bennet by a 51%-42% margin. Fewer than 22,000 total voters participated.
Bennet, meanwhile, is up with his first campaign ad .
FLORIDA: “Former Florida Speaker Marco Rubio is set to announce that Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.) is endorsing his Senate campaign,” CQ reports.
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From NBC's Mark Murray
As Congress prepares for a crucial and possibly decisive vote on the fate of President Barack Obama’s health care plan, the American public is evenly divided about whether the legislation should be passed or rejected, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.
Americans are also split on which would be worse for their congressional representative’s re-election chances — a vote for the overhaul bill or a vote against it.
And they’re divided on Obama’s overall job performance, as well as —for the first time in six years — whether the Democratic Party or the Republican Party better handles the economy.
But they overwhelmingly agree on this: The nation is on the wrong track, the economy has negatively affected the country, and Congress is broken.
"The memo is pretty simple — ‘Americans to Congress: You stink,’" says Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted the survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff.
"The public is disgusted and unhappy," Hart adds. "To me, this is an exceptionally important story."
Click here for the rest of the story.
From NBC's Luke Russert
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer offered a resolution to honor the University of Maryland for making the NCAA Tournament and for having the ACC Player of the Year, as well as the Coach of the Year on the same team.
Well, California Rep. John Campbell (R) spoke against the measure because last year, Hoyer apparently pulled a resolution from the floor honoring the University of California Irvine's Men's Volleyball team for winning the 2009 national championship.
Campbell made a point of saying Maryland wasn't that special because they didn't win a national title and have only made the tournament. He then laid into the Terps for having an 8% graduation rate.
Campbell went on to ask for a recorded vote on the measure, which almost never happens. The vote started around 6:00 pm ET.
NOTE: Members offer resolutions honoring all sorts of things. Both sides honor universities, sports team, public figures, ethnic groups, social service organization, etc. Rarely are they challenged.
From NBC's Mark Murray are divided about how their congressman should vote on the health-care bill, the same can't be said for their views on Congress.
According to the new NBC/WSJ poll, whose full results will be released beginning at 6:30 pm ET, only 17% approve of Congress' job.
What's more, given the opportunity, half (50%) say they would vote to defeat every single member of Congress, including their own representative.
Asked if they would still vote to replace every single member of Congress if that resulted in Democrats still controlling Congress, nearly three-quarters (72%) said yes.
And asked if they would still vote to replace every member if that resulted in Republicans controlling Congress, a virtually identical number (73%) said yes.
From NBC's Duncan McKenna President Bill Clinton said he worried America is no longer competitive in the international health-care community.
Compared to other countries our costs are astounding, he said.
"We pay too much and get too little," Clinton said.
He cited that Americans spend 17% of their income on health care compared to the 10% Canadians spend creating a $1-trillion difference.
He joked about his own health problems: "We are great at some things... great at solving heart problems, or else someone else would be giving this speech right now."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Courtney Kube Hillary Clinton knocked down the idea that U.S.-Israeli relations are at their worst point in 35 years today.
"Oh, I don't buy that," she said. "I have been around, not that long, but a long time. We have an absolute commitment to Israel's security, we have a close unshakable bond between the United States and Israel."
Appearing just one week after Vice President Biden was blind-sided during a trip to Israel when the Israelis announced a new housing development in East Jerusalem, Clinton said that both nations are "committed to a two-state solution, but that doesn't mean we are going to agree on everything."
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From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Republicans are looking for a way to block Democrats use of a procedural tactic known as "Deem and Pass ."
The text of the House GOP measure follows:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro J.D. Hayworth suggesting that Massachusetts' allowance of same-sex marriage would lead to people marrying horses:
To be clear, First Read went and looked up the 2003 Goodridge Massachusetts court decision that legalized same-sex marriage in Massachsetts.
It clearly specifies "people" and "persons":
"This court concluded that barring an individual from the protections, benefits, and obligations of civil marriage solely because that person would marry a person of the same sex violated the Massachusetts Constitution in that such a marriage ban did not meet the rational basis test for either due process or equal protection, where the Commonwealth failed to identify any constitutionally adequate reason for denying civil marriage to same-sex couples. [327-342] GREANEY, J., concurring; SPINA, J., SOSMAN, J., CORDY, J., dissenting.
"This court reformulated the common-law definition of civil marriage to mean the voluntary union of two persons as spouses, to the exclusion of all others...."
From NBC's Ali Weinberg In support of the "deem and pass" strategy for health care reform now being floated in the House, both liberal and conservative bloggers employ arguments seen before, most recently in the debate over whether to use reconciliation to pass fixes to the Senate bill. Liberal bloggers invoke a defense used on both sides of the aisle: "the opposition has done it too." In order to skirt that debate, conservatives assert that a bill of this size and scope should only be passed through a roll call vote, just like
School House Rock says.
NRO's Jim Geraghty posts House Majority Whip James Clyburn's denial on Fox News that the health care bill is too big to pass through parliamentary maneuvering. Responding to an anchor's "skepticism" that "you're talking about a trillion dollar bill," Clyburn says, "let's get away from the trillion dollar bill. Remember, we're still talking about the bill that was passed by the Senate. And last time I checked the score on the Senate bill was, like, $850 billion."
Writes Geraghty, "So we're only enacting a $850 billion bill without a vote in the House. I think for a bill this huge and with such enormous ramifications, the Speaker shouldn't be allowed to use any maneuvers that the little guy below [a picture of the bill from School House ROck] didn't sing about."
Brian Darling at Red State writes that deem/pass is "a very complicated procedure being used to pull a fast one on the American people," citing, again, the bill's size. CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ali Weinberg Tim Kaine said that while passing health care is a "heavy lift," he believes that the fears and complaints of the American public will disspiate once the bill is passed and its policies are implemented.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House after a closed-press lunch meeting with President Obama , Kaine denied that multiple delays in passing the bill indicated it should be scrapped. "If it were easy somebody else would have done it," he said.
When asked whether debate over the bill's merits would end with its passage, Kaine said that "there are some immediate deliverables" that the public would appreciate. He added that passing the bill would help clarify some of the bill's misconceptions. "They'll wonder gosh, is there a death panel? No. It didn't exist, it never existed," he said.
Kaine was also asked about a statement by Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, caught on tape, that seemed to depict Cuccinelli as open to legally challenging President Obama's citizenship--an interpretation that Cucinelli's office denied to NBC.
"I scratch my head in amazement that somebody of that altitude would say something like that," Kaine said.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro dove into that competitive South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary by endorsing state Rep. Nikki Haley .
“Ann and I got to know Nikki Haley during my campaign for president and came away enormously impressed with her as a person of character and as the spokesperson for a new generation of leadership for South Carolina," Romney said in a statement released by his PAC. "She has a proven conservative record of fighting wasteful spending and advocating for smaller, more efficient government. I'm honored to call her my friend and prouder still to endorse her campaign for governor."
His PAC is also donating the maximum $3,500 primary election contribution to her campaign, and Romney will campaign with her April 1.
The frontrunners in the race are considered state Attorney General Henry McMaster and Rep. Gresham Barrett with Haley behind them. Haley is liked by the right. Red State endorsed her , and some would argue that Romney needs the endorsement of a bonafide conservative in South Carolina if he wants to win the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. As we've pointed out every time we write about Republicans and South Carolina -- no Republican has won the GOP presidential nomination without winning the Palmetto State since 1980, the first time that primary mattered.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro and Mark Murray President Obama called on members of Congress to have "courage" at his event yesterday. And it's hard to say that Rep. Tom Perriello , one of the most vulnerable Democratic members in the House, doesn't have lots of it. (Whether or not that helps him in his reelection bid is another story.)
Today, he put out a statement saying that he is OK with the Senate abortion language.
“As health care experts and pro-life leaders agree, the abortion language in the Senate bill upholds the Hyde Amendment standard. The Senate health care bill prevents federal taxpayer dollars from funding abortions, as the Catholic Hospital Association and legal experts have recently stated and as my own research has confirmed.
First Read previously fact-checked whether or not the Senate bill directly subsidizes abortion. Our conclusion: "[W]ill the federal government directly subsidize and pay for abortion coverage? Not if you read the fine print ."
Here's Perriello's full statement:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Washington Post's Howard Kurtz reports that President Obama is going on Fox tomorrow. He'll be on the 6:00 pm ET newscast "Special Report."
Kurtz writes:
"This would be unremarkable -- the president is constantly on TV -- except for last year's White House campaign attacking Fox News as an arm of the Republican Party. Fox executives insisted there is an important distinction between its news operation and opinionated hosts such as Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity. In sitting down with Baier, Obama -- who cordially greeted Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes at a White House Christmas party -- seems to be accepting that distinction."
From NBC's Mark Murray
According to the poll, if their congressman votes with Republicans to defeat the bill, 34% say they would be less likely to re-elect that member, 31% say they would be more likely to vote for him/her, and 34% say it makes no difference.
However, if their congressman votes with Democrats to pass the legislation, 36% say they would be less likely to re-elect that member, 28% say they would be more likely to vote for him/her, and 34% say it makes no difference.
Translation: "There is no easy place right now in the health-care debate," says Republican pollster Bill McInturff, who conducted the NBC/WSJ survey with Democratic pollster Peter Hart.
Hart adds, "It would be nice if there was consensus. There really isn't."
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro and Ken Strickland There have been lots of stories today on the latest legislative tactic Democratic leaders are considering using to try and pass the Senate health-care bill through the House.
This has a variety of names, including its technical one -- the "Self-Executing Rule," the more colloquial "Deem and Pass," or by what Republicans are calling "The Slaughter Rule." (This is named after New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter , the chairwoman of the House Rules Committee.)
Some stories have implied that there would not be a vote. For example, the Washington Post had this headline today: "House may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it."
This is true in the sense that there would not be a DIRECT vote. But the health-care bill would be voted on INDIRECTLY, tucked into what's known as "the rule." The rule essentially outlines the rules for an upcoming vote -- in this case, it would be the vote on the package of reconciliation fixes.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Pete Williams Sen. Robert Menendez .
The court ruled against New Jersey's secretary of state, who refused to let the group circulate petitions to get a recall measure on the ballot. The secretary of state said recalling a U.S. senator would violate the U.S. Constitution and therefore refused to let the group proceed with its petitions.
But the court said New Jersey law explicitly gives voters "the power to recall ... any United States senator or representative elected from this state." For that reason, the court said, in an unsigned unanimous opinion, the secretary of state must accept the petition.
As for the larger question, of whether such an effort would violate the federal Constitution, the court said it was expressing no opinion. "We should not be understood as passing on the ultimate validity of the recall process regarding a United States Senator or any other underlying issue," today's decision said.
The court put the effect of today's ruling on hold to give the state and Menendez the opportunity to appeal.
The White House and Dem leaders are arm-twisting everyone... If process is a problem for Dems, then why is Pelosi opting for the “deem and pass” or so-called “Slaughter Rule” to pass the Senate bill?... NBC/WSJ poll comes out tonight… Breaking down the 37 House Democrats who voted against the House bill last year… Politico writes that big Dem donors aren’t giving big bucks to the DNC… And “Daily Rundown” interviews Marjorie Margolies (who lost her congressional seat after voting for Clinton’s budget in ’93), while “Andrea Mitchell Reports” has Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano. From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Arm-twisting everyone : President Obama’s shout-outs yesterday to Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) -- plus that Air Force One ride -- pretty much summed up where things stand on health care right now. The White House and Democratic congressional leaders are arm-twisting everyone, regardless of ideology. During Obama’s remarks yesterday in Ohio, after he mentioned Kucinich’s name, an audience member yelled, “Vote yes!” Obama interjected, "Did you hear that, Dennis? Go ahead, say it again." Meanwhile, the AP reports that Obama has recently met, one-on-one, with two rookie House members who voted against the House health-care bill last November: Florida’s Suzanne Kosmas and New York’s Scott Murphy. Obama’s most fascinating line yesterday was his talk about the “courage” needed to pass the bill, which was a message to his own party. “We need courage,” he said. “You know, in the end, this debate is about far more than politics. It comes down to what kind of country do we want to be."
*** The politics of process : A while back, we noted how successful the Republican Party has been in using process -- the sweetheart deals, reconciliation, the lack of C-Span cameras -- as a weapon in the health-care debate. Well, Obama’s chief pollster, Joel Benenson, has released a memo noting that process has been a mess for Democrats. “Independents’ concerns about health care reform are not about specific provisions in the bills passed by the Senate or House, but instead reflect concerns about reforms’ stagnation and the backroom deal-cutting, particularly those that benefit the constituents of key swing senators or special interests, such as the pharmaceutical industry,” he writes. But if process is the problem, then why does House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prefer using “deem and pass” or the so-called “Slaughter Rule” to pass the Senate bill? Do House Democrats really believe they can somehow "hide" their vote for the Senate bill?
*** Deem and pass : The Washington Post’s Ezra Klein explains “deem and pass” and the politics behind it. “Rather than passing the Senate bill and then passing the fixes, the House will pass the fixes under a rule that says the House ‘deems’ the Senate bill passed after the House passes the fixes. The virtue of this, for Pelosi's members, is that they don't actually vote on the Senate bill. They only vote on the reconciliation package. But their vote on the reconciliation package functions as a vote on the Senate bill… It's a circuitous strategy born of necessity. Pelosi doesn't have votes for the Senate bill without the reconciliation package.” John Boehner and Mitch McConnell pen a Wall Street Journal op-ed criticizing that move. “This bill is so toxic that House Democrats are concocting a scheme by which they would pass it but spare themselves the embarrassment of actually voting for it… No legislative sleight-of-hand can make this bill more palatable.”
*** NBC/WSJ poll day! What are Americans’ thoughts on the health-care debate? Would they be more likely to vote for a member of Congress who supports/opposes health care? How do they view Obama on the subject? What about congressional Republicans? For the answers to these questions and more, tune into NBC Nightly News, or click on to MSNBC.com, beginning at 6:30 pm ET for the latest results from our NBC/WSJ poll.
*** Breaking down the vote : Yesterday, we took a look at the handful of House Dems -- who voted yes and no for last year’s House health-care bill -- who are running for governor or the Senate this year. Today, we break down the 37 House Dems who voted against that legislation into two groups: those who represent districts that Obama won in 2008, and those who represent districts that McCain won. Of those 37, eight represent districts Obama carried: Adler (NJ), Baird (WA), Barrow (GA), Artur Davis (AL), Kissell (NC), Kucinich (OH), Scott Murphy (NY), and Nye (VA).
And 29 of the them represent districts McCain won: Altmire (PA), Boccieri (OH), Boren (OK), Boucher (VA), Boyd (FL), Bright (AL), Chandler (KY), Childers (MS), Lincoln Davis (TN), Edwards (TX), Gordon (TN), Herseth Sandlin (SD), Holden (PA), Kosmas (FL), Kratovil (MD), Markey (CO), Marshall (GA), Matheson (UT), McIntyre (NC), McMahon (NY), Melancon (LA), Minnick (ID), Peterson (MN), Ross (AR), Shuler (NC), Skelton (MO), Tanner (TN), Taylor (MS), and Teague (NM).
*** Other health care odds and ends : AFSCME and Americans United for Change are up with a closing TV ad pushing for health-care reform. The ad’s buy is $200,000 and it will air on cable (to influence lawmakers and opinion) and also on CBS during the first round of the NCAA tournament… The Chamber of Commerce says it polled ten key Democratic congressional districts (AZ-8, CO-4, FL-2, NC-8, NV-3, NY-24, OH-1, PA-4, TX-17, and VA-2) and found support for the health-care measure in the mid-to-low 30s; a GOP polling firm conducted the survey… And the NRSC is up with a Web ad targeting Indiana Democratic Rep. (and Senate hopeful) Brad Ellsworth, who hasn’t yet decided if he will vote for the health-care bill; Ellsworth voted for the House bill last year.
*** DNC concerns? President Obama doesn’t have many notable events on his schedule today, keeping it relatively free (it seems) to arm-twist various House Democrats on health care. But he has lunch with DNC Chairman Tim Kaine at noon ET, and we wonder if this Politico story will be a topic of conversation. “According to an analysis by POLITICO, only 15 — or just 10 percent — of the 150 biggest fundraisers for the Obama campaign gave the maximum $30,400 to the DNC last year... To be sure, the DNC’s fundraising is humming along at a record pace, bringing in about $30 million more than it did in 2005, the last midterm election season, and giving the committee a small (less than $1 million) but rare cash advantage over the Republican National Committee. Still, the committee lags behind the records set by Republicans when they controlled both the White House and Congress.” This perception of the DNC is a growing one among activists who aren't sure if OFA and the DNC are working hand-in-hand.
*** Programming notes : MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown” interviews Marjorie Margolies (who lost her congressional seat after voting for Clinton’s budget in ’93). And MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” which airs beginning at 1:00 pm ET, speaks with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
*** Midterm news : In California, GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner debated last night… In Colorado, the state’s caucuses begin tonight , “with thousands of people headed to neighborhood precinct caucuses to begin the process of nominating their parties' candidates”… And in Pennsylvania, after we noted two polls showing Arlen Specter (D) leading Pat Toomey, the Toomey campaign pointed to a Susquehanna poll showing Toomey ahead by six points, 42%-36%.
Countdown to CA filing deadline: 1 day
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The AP looks at President Obama's focus on the big picture or the Long View: "It's a high-minded notion that elected leaders love to invoke, both privately and publicly. It makes politicians seem above the dirtiest aspects of campaigning and governing. They rarely adhere to it. With all of the House and a third of the Senate going before the voters every two years, and a media environment that moves by the minute, the long view can get pretty short. Scoring a point -- now -- can itself feel like a do-or-die achievement in the long slog to pass prized legislation or survive re-election.”
The New York Times on Obama stumping for health-care reform yesterday in Ohio: “Declaring that ‘every argument has been made’ on his health care overhaul, President Obama sought to seal the deal with Congress and the American people Monday by focusing on a single patient: a self-employed cleaning woman who dropped her costly insurance plan and just discovered she has leukemia.”
Politics Daily’s Jill Lawrence has this advice to liberals still trying to insert the public option into reconciliation: “The public health insurance option is dead, get over it.”
CONTINUED >>
"With passage of sweeping health care reform finally in view, House Democratic leaders are launching an all-out assault to win over the final pockets of resistance within their rank and file," Roll Call writes, adding: "The strategy so far appears to combine a call for party loyalty with an argument for the measure on its merits -- while publicly creating a sense of inevitability around its passage. And leaders are also pursuing targeted carrot-and-stick appeals to the self-interests of Members nervous about their re-election prospects. 'It’s conversations about your future around this place and, with the White House, about what you’re going to get' in terms of political support, one senior Democratic aide said." Some of those being courted: Rep. Scott Murphy (D-NY) was asked to the White House, Dennis Kucinich who said yesterday he was undecided, and Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-NY).
Here's Roll Call's handy Whip Chart , highlighting specific members who could switch their votes. The Hill's updated whip count . Roll Call looks at the health-care ad war.
The Washington Post on the process: “After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate's health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it. Instead, Pelosi (D-Calif.) would rely on a procedural sleight of hand: The House would vote on a more popular package of fixes to the Senate bill; under the House rule for that vote, passage would signify that lawmakers "deem" the health-care bill to be passed.”
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CALIFORNIA : The L.A. Times writes that a debate like last night’s gubernatorial faceoff between Republicans Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman “can showcase the verbal tics politicians have. For Steve Poizner, there is a tendency to shout random words in the middle of sentences, for instance, ‘I believe that our environmental rules need to be IN SYNC!!! with what's going on in the rest of the country.’ For Meg Whitman, it is a habit of beginning nearly every answer with the word, ‘So.’ ‘So, let's do another fact-check on Steve's record on immigration.’ San Jose Mercury News writes. COLORADO : It’s caucus day in Colorado. “The 2010 Colorado elections will formally get under way Tuesday night, with thousands of people headed to neighborhood precinct caucuses to begin the process of nominating their parties' candidates,” the Coloradoan reports. “Colorado Republicans, who are hoping to stage a comeback after suffering significant setbacks in each election since 2004, will face the most choices at Tuesday's caucuses, with contested races for governor, U.S. senator, Congress and sheriff.”
NEVADA : “Sarah Palin's father endorsed GOP U.S. Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian in his first radio ad as the primaries kick into high gear... ‘You supported my daughter Sarah Palin, now please join me in supporting another strong conservative: Danny Tarkanian,’ Heath says in the 60-second spot,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes.
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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Kentucky -Duke fight on the GOP side of the Bluegrass State Senate primary between Trey (aptly named for this time of year) Grayson and Rand Paul .
Well, Democrats have their own Wildcats-Blue Devils fight.
Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo went to Kentucky, but Attorney General Jack Conway is a Duke grad. Mongiardo tried to bait Conway into a bet on who would go further -- Kentucky or Duke. Conway's campaign declined and said he actually picked Kentucky to win the national championship.
That drew a heated response from Mongiardo's campaign.
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From NBC's Scott Foster President Obama today made another forceful case for his health-care reform plan today to an energized crowd here.
This time, he added a new line to his argument -- one provided by a supporter in the audience who interrupted him.
"We need courage," a woman shouted as Obama called for an up-or-down vote from Congress.
The president seized on that comment, saying, "Did you hear what somebody just said? That's what we need. That's why I came here today. We need courage. We need courage. You know, in the end, this debate is about far more than politics. It comes down to what kind of country do we want to be."
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From NBC's John Yang
It involves Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty -- a potential 2012 presidential candidate eager to burnish his reputation as a get-tough-with-Democrats fiscal conservative -- and a unique provision in Minnesota law called "unallotment." That provision allows a governor to unilaterally rescind state funding in appropriations bills passed by the legislature and signed into law. The question the state Supreme Court is considering, however, is under what circumstances can he execute those powers.
As in other states, Minnesota's constitution requires a balanced budget (the state operates under two-year budgets). Unable to reach a budget deal with the Democrats who control the legislature, Pawlenty signed all the spending bills lawmakers sent him, but vetoed a bill that would have raised taxes to pay for them. After the legislature adjourned, Pawlenty used the allotment law to cut $2.7 billion in spending. Beneficiaries of a $500 million food program sued, and in December a state district judge ruled that Pawlenty "crossed the line" and usurped the legislature's role, violating the separation of powers.
David Schultz, a Hamline University political scientist, says the law is intended for emergency situations, such as when revenues drop unexpectedly after the legislature has adjourned -- not when a governor and lawmakers reach an impasse. Pawlenty, he says, is "creating the emergency conditions that allow him to use it. He appears to not want to negotiate in good faith. Working with the legislature is supposed to be a cooperative venture, not take-it-or-leave-it."
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From NBC’s Will Brown The group Independent Women’s Voice held a conference call with reporters today to discuss its poll released today that surveyed health-care opinions in 35 Democratic-held swing districts.
The poll found that 40% of respondents support starting from scratch with a bipartisan proposal and 20% want Congress to stop working on health care this year; 36% support passing the current legislation or passing current legislation and then making changes.
“There’s a certain sourness if not bitterness among these voters,” Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway said. “Voters really want Congress to hit the reset button.”
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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Kentucky and Duke have No. 1 seeds.
But in a new ad Trey Grayson is raising allegiance to the home-state Wildcats a campaign issue in his Republican primary against Rand Paul . Paul, the son of Rep. Ron Paul , got his medical degree from Duke. And Grayson dug up a clip of Paul, saying, "I'm Rand Paul, and I'm a Duke Blue Devil."
Grayson wryly follows with, "I'm proud to say I'm a University of Kentucky Wildcat."
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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Ken Cuccinelli is recorded by the Virginia blog "Not Larry Sabato " as appearing to try to find a legal way to contest President Obama's citizenship.
Cuccinelli's office has not yet returned a phone message and e-mail seeking a response. *** UPDATE *** Cuccinelli's office sends along this response to First Read in Cuccinelli's name:
“I absolutely believe that President Obama was born in the United States. I don’t buy into the claims that he wasn’t. On the recording, I was asked a hypothetical legal question, and I gave a hypothetical legal answer in response.
“As I said previously, this issue was not a part of my campaign, and it is not part of what I am doing now as attorney general.
(Hat tip: Ben Smith .)
Here's what Cuccinelli says, per the audio: (transcript after the jump)
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro President Obama today campaigning for health reform in Dennis Kucinich 's congressional district, Kucinich's office reiterated to First Read that "he is a firm no," according to spokesman Nathan White.
The health bill isn't progressive enough for Kucinich, who voted against even the House-passed bill, which included a public option.
Kucinich wrote an op-ed in Sunday's Cleveland Plain-Dealer , outlining his position. He said, in part:
"Unfortunately, the president's plan, as it currently stands, leaves patients financially vulnerable to insurance companies. It requires all Americans to buy private health insurance policies, while failing to ensure those policies do what they are supposed to do -- protect people from financial catastrophe caused by injury or illness. ...
"Absent a strong public option or legal protection for states that wish to pursue single payer, the bill that the president is proposing is a step in the wrong direction. Even with the few modest improvements in the bill, the insurance companies will still have dozens of loopholes to deny care and continue to find ways to leave Americans with the unpayable bill."
The final countdown on health care… The final campaigning includes Obama stopping today in the Cleveland area represented by Dennis Kucinich (who has said he’s opposed to voting for the Senate bill)… Looking at the handful of House Dems who are running for governor or the Senate… Dodd unveils financial reform bill… White House unveils education blueprint… A Dem resurgence in Illinois and Pennsylvania?... But a GOP resurgence in Wisconsin? And DeMint and Rubio together in South Carolina.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg The final countdown: It’s time to crank up that great ‘80s hit from the band Europe, because we’ve reached the final countdown … on health care. Today, per the Washington Post , the Congressional Budget Office is supposed to release its final cost estimates, and the House Budget Committee is scheduled to vote on the reconciliation fixes. The Post adds, “It would then go to the House Rules Committee, where Chairman Louise M. Slaughter (D-N.Y.) could package it with the $875 billion measure the Senate passed on Christmas Eve. The package is also expected to include Obama's proposed overhaul of the student-loan system. The full House is expected to vote on both measures by week's end, with the climactic moment coming as soon as Thursday but, more likely, Friday or Saturday, aides said.” (That’s why Obama postponed his overseas trip.)
*** The final campaigning: Democrats, of course, will need 216 votes to pass the Senate health-care bill. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn admitted on “Meet the Press” yesterday that Democrats don’t have the votes yet, but he and White House senior adviser David Axelrod said they were optimistic they’ll get there. And the White House, congressional Democrats, and Dem-leaning interest groups are pulling out all the stops. Today at 1:05 pm ET, President Obama campaigns on health-care reform in Strongsville, OH, which is represented by Dennis Kucinich (who voted against the House bill and has stated his opposition to the Senate one). Also today, Vice President Joe Biden raises money for Ohio Rep. Steve Driehaus (who voted for the House bill last year, but who tells the Cincinnati Enquirer he plans to vote against the Senate bill due to its abortion language). And MoveOn is now asking its millions of members to pledge money to support primary challengers against any Democrat who votes no. Meanwhile, as the New York Times writes, business groups opposed to health care -- including the Chamber of Commerce -- have already spent $11 million this month alone “singling out 27 Democrats who supported the health care bill last year and 13 who opposed it.”
*** Breaking down the vote: By now, you might know the names of the 37 House Democrats who voted no on the House health-care bill last year; the three House Dems who voted no who are retiring (Baird, Gordon, Tanner); the several yes votes who could vote no (like Arcuri, Cao, and Stupak), the three yes votes who are no longer in the House (Abercrombie, Murtha, Wexler); and the one no vote who is no longer in the House (Massa). But today, we take a look at the handful of Dems -- yes votes and no votes -- who are running for governor or the Senate this year. Among the yes votes: Brad Ellsworth (Indiana Senate), and Paul Hodes (New Hampshire Senate), and Kendrick Meek (Florida Senate). And the no votes: Artur Davis (Alabama governor) and Charlie Melancon (Louisiana Senate).
*** Dodd’s day: Outside of today’s action on health care, Sen. Chris Dodd (D) is unveiling his financial reform plan, which no longer has support from Sen. Bob Corker (R). Per the Los Angeles Times , “Legislation to be unveiled Monday by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd to overhaul the financial regulatory system is likely to be more modest than either the Obama administration's proposal last summer or a plan Dodd pushed last fall… Dodd's proposal, which was still being drafted Sunday, is expected to abandon the stand-alone Consumer Financial Protection Agency that was proposed by Obama and was included in Dodd's original plan as well as overhaul legislation passed by the House in December. Instead, Dodd is likely to propose a new consumer agency, with a director appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, that would be part of the Federal Reserve.” If Dodd is ratcheting back the consumer financial protection aspect of this, doesn't that leave the door open for Corker to come back into talks?
*** And Duncan’s day, too: Also today, President Obama is supposed to unveil his education blueprint. As the New York Times reported over the weekend, the plan “strikes a careful balance, retaining some key features of the Bush-era [No Child Left Behind law], including its requirement for annual reading and math tests, while proposing far-reaching changes. The administration would replace the law’s pass-fail school grading system with one that would measure individual students’ academic growth and judge schools based not on test scores alone but also on indicators like pupil attendance, graduation rates and learning climate. And while the proposal calls for more vigorous interventions in failing schools, it would also reward top performers and lessen federal interference in tens of thousands of reasonably well-run schools in the middle.” Of course, this education rollout will be overshadowed by health care…
*** A Dem resurgence in blue states? It’s hard to believe, but Scott Brown’s (R) victory in Massachusetts took place just two months ago. What that victory did was cement the perception that not only were Senate Democrats vulnerable in red and purple states, but in blue states, too. Yet in some recent polling, Dems in the blue states of Illinois and Pennsylvania look stronger than they did a month or two ago. In Illinois, Alexi Giannoulias (D) -- despite all the problems he’s currently facing -- is ahead of Mark Kirk (R) by seven points, according to a recent Research 2000/Daily Kos poll (and there are private polls also showing Alexi ahead; if Kirk were leading in his own poll, wouldn't we see the numbers by now?). And in Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter leads Pat Toomey (R) by seven and six points, respectively, in recent Quinnipiac and Research 2000 polls. That certainly doesn’t mean either Democrat is on easy street, but their standing looks better than it did a couple months ago. And for Republicans, winning in Illinois and Pennsylvania is the difference between a great Election Night (picking up 6-8 seats) and a pretty good Election Night (picking up 4-6 seats). And both Colorado and Ohio, two red states that went blue in 2008 both also look better for Democrats today than they did two months ago.
*** But what about Wisconsin? But are Democrats looking shaky in Wisconsin? A new poll by the conservative Wisconsin Policy Research Institute shows Tommy Thompson (R) -- who hasn’t yet announced he’s running for the Senate -- beating incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold (D), 51%-39%. But Democrats are denouncing the poll. Still, the pollster who conducted the poll has a solid background. Privately, Democrats dispute the Thompson lead, but no one disputes the fact that if Thompson ran, the race would be an immediate dead heat. And there are plenty of polls indicating that.
*** American Dreamz: Xavier University (OH) has released a poll today on the American Dream -- conducted by pollster Paul Maslin (D) -- that shows plenty of pessimism from the public: 60% think that reaching the American Dream is harder than it was for their parents' generation; 68% think reaching the American Dream will be harder for their children and grandchildren; and 58% believe the U.S. is one the decline. What's more, the survey finds that folks in the Midwest -- where Obama happens to be today -- are the most pessimistic about the American Dream. That said, there is some optimism: 67% believe they can achieve the American Dream in their lifetime, and African Americans, Latinos, and immigrants are more positive than others about the state of the American Dream.
*** DeMint and Rubio, sitting in a tree…: Today, Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R) heads to South Carolina to raise money in events (closed to the press) organized by conservative Sen. Jim DeMint (R). As we’ve written before, the fundraisers in this important GOP presidential primary state could appear to be a bit presumptuous for the young Senate candidate. And Rubio tying himself so closely to DeMint could potentially raise general-election problems (remember that Florida, which Obama won in ’08, ain’t South Carolina…) Meanwhile, we’ll find out if Rubio is Mr. Teflon after this story : “Marco Rubio was barely solvent as a young lawmaker climbing his way to the top post in the Florida House, but special interest donations and political perks allowed him to spend big money with little scrutiny. About $600,000 in contributions was stowed in two inconspicuous political committees controlled by Rubio, now the Republican front-runner for the U.S. Senate, and his wife.”
*** More midterm news: In Arkansas, the coalition of labor groups pledging some $4 million to defeat Blanche Lincoln are up with their first attack ads … In California, Carly Fiorina’s campaign releases another Demon Sheep-esque Web ad -- this one aimed at Barbara Boxer… Also in California, Whitman and Poizner have a debate… In Illinois, Mark Kirk is up with his first TV ad … In New Hampshire, John McCain campaigned for Kelly Ayotte over the weekend… And in Pennsylvania, the DNC is whacking Pat Toomey in a new Web ad.
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The New York Times looks at the final campaigning and advertising in the health-care fight. “The yearlong legislative fight over health care is drawing to a frenzied close as a multimillion-dollar wave of advertising that rivals the ferocity of a presidential campaign takes aim at about 40 House Democrats whose votes will help determine the fate of President Obama’s top domestic priority. The coalition of groups opposing the legislation, led by the United States Chamber of Commerce, is singling out 27 Democrats who supported the health care bill last year and 13 who opposed it. The organizations have already spent $11 million this month focusing on these lawmakers, with more spending to come before an expected vote next weekend.”
President Obama travels to Strongsville, OH today to stump for health care. "Strongsville is the home of cancer patient Natoma Canfield, who wrote the president she gave up her health insurance after it rose to $8,500 a year," the AP writes. "Canfield's sister, Connie Anderson, is scheduled to introduce the president at the event."
The Washington Post covers the Obama administration’s next legislative priorities: financial reform and ways to mitigate the Supreme Court’s recent campaign-finance decision. “Those priorities, although still difficult to achieve in a partisan Congress, are highly popular with the Democratic base and could force Republicans to choose between supporting the president or defending Wall Street when much of the country blames big business for the economic decline. Such an agenda will give the rest of the legislative calendar, compressed by the midterm election season, a distinctly political cast. It will also push energy and immigration reform, two of Obama's most far-reaching campaign pledges, into the next Congress, which is likely to be more influenced by the Republican opposition.”
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GQ has an interview (and photo shoot) with Rielle Hunter, John Edwards' mistress.
"I feel comfortable talking now," she says, "because Johnny went public and made a statement admitting paternity. I didn't feel like I could ever speak until he did that. Because had I spoken, I would have emasculated him. And I could not emasculate him. Also, it is not my desire to teach my daughter that when Mommy's upset with Daddy, you take matters into your own hands and fix Daddy's mistakes. Which I view as one of the biggest problems in all female-and-male relationships."
Appearing on “Meet the Press” yesterday, House Majority Whip James Clyburn said that there were not enough votes to pass health reform as of Sunday morning, NBC’s Andrew Rafferty reports. Still, both Clyburn and White House senior adviser David Axelrod said they were optimistic the legislation will pass. "We've been working this thing all weekend. We'll be working it on into the week," Rep. Clyburn said. "I'm also very confident that we'll get this done."
According to the Washington Post , House Democrats expect to receive a final cost estimate by Monday afternoon, when the House Budget Committee is scheduled to vote on the reconciliation package. It would then go to the House Rules Committee, where Chairman Louise M. Slaughter (D-N.Y.) could package it with the $875 billion measure the Senate passed on Christmas Eve. The package is also expected to include Obama's proposed overhaul of the student-loan system. The full House is expected to vote on both measures by week's end, with the climactic moment coming as soon as Thursday but, more likely, Friday or Saturday, aides said.”
"Because their whip efforts have been so sensitive, leaders wouldn’t say it outright last week, but they essentially have a deal on what to include in the crucial health care reconciliation bill," Roll Call writes. "The chief uncertainties are whether they can get 216 House Members and 51 Senators to vote for it and whether the measure will remain intact during an expected onslaught of amendments and points of order from Senate Republicans. 'After many fits and starts, we are finally in the homestretch here,' said one senior Senate Democratic aide. 'Most people can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and leaders in both chambers are confident they will have the votes.'"
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So You're Sayin' There's a Chance? Minority Leader John Boehner said on CNN's State of the Union that Republicans “have a chance " of taking control of the House. "It’s a steep climb, but it’s doable." Politico surveys tea party leaders from around the country, finding that the movement’s least favorite Republicans include Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Govs. Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. CALIFORNIA: Senate candidate Carly Fiorina’s campaign releases another “Demon Sheep”-esque, eight-minute-long attack Web ad -- this time targeting Sen. Barbara Boxer, turning her head into a giant tax-increasing blimp, which crashes into the ocean at the end. Los Angeles Times on this weekend’s California Republican party convention: “What all five have in common as they look toward the June 8 primary is a determination to tap what they see as public fury over the failures of government.”
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A look at the week ahead in politics. Here's the full video: Democrats are close on health reform, but the cake's not quite baked. We look at the hurdles left for Democrats to jump before they can assure passage. Also, we have a fresh look at health care, Obama's standing, the economy, Iraq and Afghanistan on Tuesday with a new NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy
With apologies to our viewers, due to some technical difficulties, The Week Ahead is being posted later than usual.
From NBC's Mark Murray McCain -Feingold's soft-money ban, which stopped the unlimited political contributions that the RNC and DNC used to be able to raise.
Per NBC's Pete Williams, the lawsuit was filed sometime back and is now pending in the appeals court. And today's news is that if the RNC loses, it will ask Olson to represent them in a Supreme Court challenge.
“I am thrilled that Ted Olson will be joining our team,” RNC Chairman Michael Steele said in a statement. “Ted is second to none when it comes to winning important cases in the Supreme Court, and I am bringing him on board because I am fully committed to restoring our constitutional rights and leveling the political playing field. We refuse to take a back seat to the likes of George Soros, MoveOn.org, Hollywood, and big labor.”
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court -- in a controversial 5-4 decision -- overturned restrictions on corporate and union spending in political campaigns.
From NBC's Ken Strickland
The man who will lead the fight for Senate Republicans says that Democrats have every reason to be nervous about the road ahead. "There are going to be a lot of very tough votes on this bill," Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) told reporters yesterday. "Very tough votes that our colleagues of the other side of the aisle will have to take."
The three steps Democrats must clear three hurdles in order to get to a final version of the health-care bill that most legislators in their party can live with.
First, the House must pass the Senate's version of the health-care bill and send it to the president for his signature. It would immediately become law.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Charlie Rangel's and Erica Massa's troubles.
Now the Democratic National Committee is responding with its own TV ad -- which seizes on the John Ensign's and David Vitter's troubles.
From NBC's Luke Russert Nancy Pelosi suggested that the health-care bill will pass the House before President Obama travels overseas on his now-pushed-backed March 21 departure date.
Pelosi: I am delighted that the president will be here for the passage of the bill. It's going to be historic, and it would not have been possible without his tremendous, tremendous leadership, his persistence and concern for the American people, always guided by his statement that we will measure our success by the progress being made by America's working families this legislation not only makes history, but it'll make progress for America's working families.
NBC News: So are you saying you will have a healthcare bill passed by March 21?
Pelosi: I said we will take the time we need to pass the legislation. I am hoping that it'll be in that time frame. Our clock can't start ticking until we get the CBO score. That increases the prospect that he will be here, because he will be here three more days.
Note: A source close to the Democratic leadership said that it looks like Saturday, March 20th will be the date of the health-care vote, if things proceed the way Dems think they will. It obviously could happen any time later in the week but the source said, "If I were to bet, I'd bet on Saturday."
From NBC's Mark Murray
For instance, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor's office today distributed a clip from The Hill , which noted Rep. Luis Gutierrez's (D) statement on "Hardball" yesterday that he might not vote for the health-care bill, due to its provision that illegal immigrants are barred from purchasing plans on the exchange. "They are enough [issues] to say I can't support this bill," the congressman told NBC's Chuck Todd, who was filling in for Chris Matthews.
The title of the Cantor office email to reporters: "Gutierrez To Switch From 'Yes' To 'No.'"
But in that very "Hardball" interview, Gutierrez suggested he very well could end up being a "yes" vote.
TODD: I guess my question is, if the president says to you, Congressman Gutierrez, here‘s what I‘m going to do, you‘re going to have to live with this Senate language. However, I‘m taking on immigration this year, I‘m not putting it off to next year, I‘m taking it on next year. I had a good meeting with Senator Graham, with Senator Schumer, who were both at the White House today. Would that be enough to get your vote?
GUTIERREZ: You know, it would be enough—to be quite honest with you, it would be enough to enter into a conversation with the president of the United States. I think we need to deal with this in a macro way. I want to be helpful.
There's a lot of posturing and negotiating going on...
*** UPDATE *** Greg Sargent's Plum Line blog -- which Cantor's office also passed around -- got this statement from Gutierrez's office: “At this time, I am a ‘no’ vote on health care,” Gutierrez said in the statement.
Of course, that "at this time" is precisely the type of wiggle room we're talking about.
Yesterday’s Senate parliamentarian ruling forces 1) House Dems to trust the Senate on following through with reconciliation and 2) the White House to perhaps consider postponing Obama’s upcoming overseas trip…And breaking news, per the AP -- the trip is being delayed... Liberal group goes up with ads motivating African-American voters to back the health-care bill… David Brooks breaks down Obama… And First Read breaks down the Top 10 TV ads of the 2010 cycle (so far). From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Trust and the trip : Yesterday, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that President Obama must sign the Senate health-care bill into law before Democrats can use reconciliation to make the fixes to the bill. That means a couple things. First, House Democrats -- before voting for the Senate bill -- are going to want some concrete assurances that the Senate will actually follow through on the fixes via reconciliation. We’ve heard that House Dems may want something in writing, LITERALLY -- perhaps a letter signed by at least 51 Senate Democrats pledging to make these fixes. Second, the parliamentarian’s ruling might mean that Obama is going to have to postpone his trip late next week to Indonesia and Australia. Even if the House is able to pass the Senate bill by the March 18 deadline before he’s set to go abroad, just think about the House-Senate trust issues if Obama is away while the Senate is working on reconciliation. And here's breaking news, per the AP: "US President Barack Obama delaying Asia trip from March 18 to March 21 to work on health care." So there you go...
*** A matter of priorities : Why the delay? It would have been a P.R. disaster if the president goes through with this trip before health care is finished. (If Obama is selling health care’s passage to Democrats as essential to his agenda and his presidency, then what message does it send to these Democrats if Obama heads to Indonesia and Australia before it’s finished?) There's no doubt that good relations with those two countries matter, and that it's a good thing for the president to travel there, particularly Indonesia, where there is a good counter-terrorism story to tell. But if the only sense of urgency to go next week is because of the family spring break holiday, then postponing seems like an easy call, right?
*** Health-care air war heats up, part 2 : Yesterday, we noted the round of health-care TV ads popping up with the finish line in sight. Well, the Democratic-leaning group Americans United for Change says it will announce today a $500,000 TV and radio campaign to motivate African-American voters in support of the health-care bill. Here’s one TV ad that Americans United for Change will run beginning tomorrow on BET. By the way, did anyone notice that one high-profile health business that had been considered an opponent of the president's health-care plan -- the Mayo Clinic -- is now indicating support to the new fixes?
*** Who is Barack Obama? In his New York Times column today, David Brooks has an intriguing summary of who Barack Obama is -- and who he isn’t. Despite his disagreements with the president on health care, the debt, and the role of government in society, Brooks calls Obama “the most realistic and reasonable major player in Washington.” He adds, “Liberals are wrong to call him weak and indecisive. He’s just not always pursuing their aims. Conservatives are wrong to call him a big-government liberal. That’s just not a fair reading of his agenda.” And Brooks concludes, “We live in a country in which many people live in information cocoons in which they only talk to members of their own party and read blogs of their own sect. They come away with perceptions fundamentally at odds with reality, fundamentally misunderstanding the man in the Oval Office.” We can only imagine how the left and right in the blogosphere will find ways to somehow beat the living daylights out of Brooks for this column.
*** First Read’s Top 10 TV ads : If it’s Friday, it’s time for another First Read Top 10 -- this time a look at the top TV ads of the cycle (so far): Web video rather than an actual TV ad.) 2. “One Tough Nerd:” Michigan gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder, a former Gateway exec, has made a splash with his quirky “One Tough Nerd” ad campaign ; he even aired one of the spots during the Super Bowl. This had to be nastiest race for coroner ever: “Igor, Igor, I need a heart, a spleen and a liver for tonight’s sale,” one says to another. “Yes, Dr. Minyard,” comes the response. This is for Orleans Parish Coroner. The man running the ad, by the way, a Dwight McKenna, is a convicted tax evader who served nine months in prison. As it turns out, Minyard won the race last month. is betting, in part, on this line to get reelected : “America’s most powerful senator, Harry Reid.” attacks Hayworth for identifying with birthers (Like "Demon Sheep," this is a Web video.) most brutal ad of the 2010 season. This spot, by challenger Dan Hynes, featured an old clip by late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington saying he wished he had fired Pat Quinn, who's now governor of Illinois. Quinn won the primary, but ouch… this tough ad against Roy Blunt in Missouri (as well as against Michele Bachmann in Minnesota): “There’s a stain on Roy Blunt’s record,” the ad says. Then a character supposed to be Blunt shakes hands with voters and leaves oil stains on all of them. her kick-off ad , facing a primary Democratic challenge from Bill Halter, she separates herself from Washington -- and her own party. uses a football coach to make his point .
*** More midterm news : California and Nevada have their filing deadlines today… In Florida, Rudy Giuliani today campaigns with gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum (R)... In Kentucky, Trey Grayson (R) has a new Web site , whose banner reads, “Rand Paul: Strange Ideas” and whose bottom says, “Rand Paul for Senate? Are you kidding?”… And in Missouri, Politico says Robin Carnahan (D) is attempting to position herself to the right of Congressman Roy Blunt on fiscal issues by calling for a ban on all earmarks.”
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In a piece looking at Democratic fiscal hawks who might be on the fence on health care, National Journal’s Ron Brownstein looks at the price of inaction if health care doesn’t pass. "If Obama’s plan fails, as President Clinton’s did, it’s likely that no president will attempt to seriously expand coverage for many years. The independent Medicare actuary has projected that under current trends the number of uninsured will increase by 10 million, to about 57 million, by 2019. Providing uncompensated care to so many uninsured people would further strain physicians and hospitals—and inflate premiums as those providers shift costs to their insured patients."
More: “Weighing such factors, [George Mason University’s Len] Nichols concludes that the ‘risk of doing nothing’ exceeds the risk of passing the bill. In interviews, Emory University’s Kenneth Thorpe and Stanford University’s Alan Garber, two other leading health economists, guardedly echoed his conclusion. Both men believe that the current proposal could move faster to control costs. But both also agree that it contains valuable first steps and establishes what Garber calls ‘a good platform’ for further reform. By contrast, Thorpe says, ‘under the do-nothing scenario, everything gets worse.’ For Democratic fiscal hawks uncertain that approving Obama’s plan will cure what ails U.S. health care, the real question may be whether defeating it guarantees that the system’s chronic afflictions will metastasize further.”
Paul Krugman makes a similar point.
On the other hand -- and perhaps ironically -- two pollsters who worked with Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter write a Washington Post op-ed that Obama is making a mistake on health care. “[T]he battle for public opinion has been lost. Comprehensive health care has been lost. If it fails, as appears possible, Democrats will face the brunt of the electorate's reaction. If it passes, however, Democrats will face a far greater calamitous reaction at the polls. Wishing, praying or pretending will not change these outcomes.”
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USA Today : “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's wife and daughter were hospitalized Thursday after their minivan was rear-ended by tractor-trailer truck on an interstate in suburban Virginia, authorities said. Reid's wife, Landra, 69, broke her back and neck in the accident, Reid spokesman Jim Manley said. Mrs. Reid was listed in serious condition at Inova Faifax Hospital in Falls Church, Va., an aide said, but she was not expected to require surgery. The couple's daughter, Lana Barringer, 49, was expected to be released from the hospital Thursday night, Reid aides said.”
“The Senate parliamentarian has delivered a blow to Democrats by ruling President Barack Obama must sign the broader Senate healthcare legislation before the upper chamber can take up changes demanded by the House,” The Hill writes. “The ruling means House Democrats would have to rely on a good-faith promise that senators will pass the changes after the healthcare bill is signed into law, a difficult prospect at a time when lower-chamber lawmakers have grown distrustful of their Senate counterparts.”
The New York Times notes that House Democrats are still waiting for the CBO of the health-care bill. “Leaving a meeting of the House Democratic Caucus, lawmakers said they had received few details about what would be in the legislation, on which they may be asked to vote in the next week or two. ‘Everyone expressed frustration that we do not have comprehensive cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office,’ said Representative Gerald E. Connolly, Democrat of Virginia.”
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KENTUCKY : Per The Hill , Senate candidate Trey Grayson has a new website, the focus of which appears to be marginalizing his opponent Rand Paul. “Rand Paul: Strange Ideas” is the banner, while the bottom of the site reads “Rand Paul for Senate? Are you kidding?”
MISSOURI : “Missouri Democratic Senate candidate Robin Carnahan is attempting to position herself to the right of Congressman Roy Blunt on fiscal issues by calling for a ban on all earmarks,” Politico reports. “[Retiring Republican Sen. Kit] Bond hit back, saying that Carnahan’s move would help give Obama administration bureaucrats more control over purse strings.”
NEVADA : A conservative group is taking aim at Harry Reid for his proposed use of reconciliation with a $250,000 TV ad running statewide, starting last night. The American Future Fund is behind the ad, which weaves clips together of Democrats previously being against reconciliation. The ad refers to it as the nuclear option and is the language chosen by Democrats in the clips from 2005. The Bush administration used reconciliation to pass sweeping tax cuts. Reconciliation, in this case, would be used for adjustments to the health-care plan, since comprehensive bills have already passed the House and Senate.
NEW YORK : “Embattled Gov. Paterson is getting a 21 percent job-approval rating in a Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday, compared to 61 percent who disapprove of how he's doing," the New York Post writes. “But 50 percent say they'd like to see the governor finish the final months of his term in office, an improvement from the 46 percent who felt that way in a March 5 poll.”
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From NBC's Jessica Stringfield President Obama today announced the 10 different charities that will split the $1.4 million award he won from his Nobel Peace Prize.
“These organizations do extraordinary work in the United States and abroad helping students, veterans, and countless others in need,” President Obama said in a statement. “I’m proud to support their work.”
The 10 charities getting donations:
From NBC's Shawna Thomas The hullabaloo over RNC mailers that some feel look deceptively like United States Census forms continued yesterday with the House’s unanimous passage of H.R. 4621, the Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), “would require any mailing with an envelope marked 'Census' to clearly indicate the sender and return address. It would also trigger an existing requirement in federal law to include a disclaimer that the mailing is not from, or affiliated with, the federal government.”
Maloney said Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) was ready to introduce the bill in the Senate as soon as it passed the House. However, a source close to the Carper said that while he does intend to move forward with the legislation, there is no timeline.
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From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama on Thursday.
The president met with the grassroots group ahead of another meeting he was set to have with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to discuss the progress made in their efforts toward producing a bipartisan bill to fix what the White House calls "the broken immigration system."
"We believe that his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform is real, but we also know we want results and so that's what we'll be expecting within the next couple of weeks," said Angelica Salas, director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA).
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From NBC's Ron Allen and Mark Murray Andrew Cuomo today announced he was appointing an independent counsel to investigate Gov. David Paterson (D).
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has recused himself in the investigation of whether Gov. David Paterson interfered with a domestic violence case involving a top aide. Former Chief Judge Judith Kaye will also probe whether the governor lied about his intentions to pay for World Series tickets.
Cuomo, who is widely expected to run for governor, came under criticism for investigating Paterson's role in the case in which a woman accused a trusted Paterson adviser of roughing her up. Some said a Cuomo probe would be a conflict of interest.
From NBC's Ken Strickland Mitch McConnell , Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he will use the reconciliation process to pass part of the health-care reform bill: a process that prevents Republicans from filibustering.
"[W]e plan to use the regular budget reconciliation process that the Republican caucus has used many times," he wrote.
While Reid and other Democratic leaders have long suggested reconciliation would be the path forward -- in passing key fixes to the already-passed Senate health-care bill into law -- today's letter makes it explicitly clear in a very pointed letter.
From NBC's Luke Russert John Boehner's resolution for the House Ethics Committee to fully investigate what House Democratic leaders knew about ex-Rep. Eric Massa (D) passed, 404-2, with 15 members voting present.
According to a GOP aide, the Democrats, "are trying to sweep this under the rug" by simply "referring the resolution to the House Ethics Committee."
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D) went on the floor and at the behest of the Democratic leadership urging the House chamber to refer Boehner's resolution to the Ethics Committee.
While this vote puts Boehner's resolution before the Ethics Committee, it DOES NOT require the House Ethics Committee to act on it.
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama announced a series of proposals aimed doubling U.S. exports over the next five years, a goal he set in his State of the Union address.
America is already the world's No. 1 exporter and the White House intends to stay in the lead, said a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the president's National Export Initiative ahead of the speech.
The president believes that increasing exports, along with strengthening the country's education system and promoting clean energy jobs, are key to making sure America can compete in the 21st century global economy. Nationwide unemployment remains high at 9.7 percent as the country struggles to recover from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and Obama said doubling the nation's exports will support two million jobs.
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From NBC's Shawna Thomas and Betsy Cline Boehner told reporters that House Republicans will ban all earmarks for the rest of this year. He said the process would provide more transparency and accountability for the American people.
Boehner also commented on the ever-growing Massa scandal. He just offered a privileged resolution to "get to the bottom" of allegations and controversy surrounding the ex-New York Democratic congressman.
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor said he would support Boehner's resolution and took aim at Democrats for failing to live up to their promise of the "cleanest and most ethical Congress in history."
"That promise is being broken every day," Cantor said.
From NBC's Mark Murray Meg Whitman's press event that wasn't a press event received yesterday):
NBC producer Terry Pickard received word that Marco Rubio's fundraising events in South Carolina next week with Sen. Jim DeMint will be closed to the press.
Rubio spokesperson Alex Burgos confirms the news to First Read. "Since the purpose of next Monday’s South Carolina trip has always been fundraising, the day’s events will be closed press. There will not be any media availabilities," he said.
Of course, we remember that plenty of fundraising events during the 2008 presidential election were closed to the press.
From NBC's Mark Murray Duke Cunningham , Tom DeLay , Bob Ney , William Jefferson -- we played the delicious theme song from "COPS":
Four years later, looking back at the past week, we're probably not the only ones who have begun to hum that theme song when thinking about Congress.
Consider:Charlie Rangel stepped down from the House Ways and Means Committee due to the ethics admonishment he received Eric Massa story, which gets stranger by the wayNew York Times story -- via emails turned over the FBI and Senate Ethics Committee -- that John Ensign allegedly steered lobbying work to the embittered husband of his ex-mistress John Conyers (D) was sentenced to 37 months in jail on bribery charges.
Of course, members of Congress getting into ethical trouble isn't news. But the wave we're seeing -- Rangel/Massa/Ensign -- is reminiscent of 2006.
White House pursues inside-outside strategy on health care… Rahm cites “progress” after meeting last night on Capitol Hill… House Democrats and Republicans try to one-up each other on earmarks… Ensign is back in the news, and it’s worth asking -- is this news worse than Rangel’s or Massa’s?... Dan Senor seriously considering NY Senate bid… Conflicting robo-polls in Colorado…
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Inside and outside: Exactly one week until the White House’s self-imposed deadline for the House to pass the Senate health-care bill -- before President Obama travels overseas -- the White House is pursuing an inside-outside strategy. Outside, Obama yesterday was stumping for reform in the St. Louis area, and we’ve learned that he plans to hit Cleveland on Monday (what say you, Dennis Kucinich?). Inside, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel last night was meeting with House and Senate leaders to resolve outstanding issues. “I feel like we made a lot of progress towards achieving the goal of health-care reform," Emanuel said after the meeting, per NBC’s Luke Russert. “Everybody is working diligently with the sense that we right now have, that we see the goal line and we know where we have to go." As we understand it, the biggest UNRESOLVED issue remains abortion. Still, the fact that we’re seeing Rahm and not just his deputies on the Hill means that we’re close to a vote.
*** Health-care air war heating up: With the finish line apparently in sight on health care, the TV air war is heating up. A couple of days ago, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce went up with an ad arguing that Democrats in Congress are trying to “use special rules” to “ram through their same trillion-dollar health-care bill… Tell Congress: Stop this health-care bill we can’t afford to pay.” Meanwhile, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) has a TV ad contending that health insurers aren’t to blame for rising costs. And now, Greg Sargent reports that organized labor and other Dem-leaning groups supporting health care plan to go up with their own TV ads to provide cover for Democrats who are considering voting for the Senate bill.
*** John McCain wins? At the first presidential debate between Obama and McCain, Obama had this pretty effective rebuttal to McCain’s intense focus on earmarks. “[L]et’s be clear: Earmarks account for $18 billion in last year's budget. Sen. McCain is proposing -- and this is a fundamental difference between us -- $300 billion in tax cuts.” Translation: Earmarks like that infamous “Bridge to Nowhere” are problems, but are far down the list. Yet now we’re seeing Democrats and Republicans fighting over who's tougher on earmarks. Yesterday, the House Democrats banned earmarks to private industry. Meanwhile, House Republicans today will hold a press conference where they will announce a party-wide moratorium on all earmarks. We ask again: Does the president regret not vetoing that supplemental bill from early '09, which had a plethora of earmarks in it?
*** Obama’s Day: At 11:15 am ET, Obama addresses the Export-Import Bank’s annual conference… At 1:45 pm, he meets with members of the Congressional Black Caucus… At 3:00 pm, he talks immigration with Sens. Chuck Schumer (D) and Lindsey Graham (R)… At 3:45 pm, he meets with Secretary of State Clinton, who has amassed quite the operation at the State Department, according to the Washington Post … And at 6:20 pm, he meets with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
*** Ensign’s back in the news… : “Previously undisclosed e-mail messages turned over to the F.B.I. and Senate ethics investigators provide new evidence about Senator John Ensign’s efforts to steer lobbying work to the embittered husband of his former mistress and could deepen his legal and political troubles,” the New York Times says. “Mr. Ensign … suggested that a Las Vegas development firm hire the husband, Douglas Hampton, after it had sought the senator’s help on several energy projects in 2008.” Ensign's office responds: “Senator Ensign has stated clearly, he has not violated any law or Senate ethics rule. If Doug Hampton violated federal law or rules, Senator Ensign did not advise him to do so, did not suggest that he do so, and did not cooperate with his doing so.” Question: When it comes to the allegations of what the senator himself did, isn't this story worse than Rangel’s and Massa’s, just not as "salacious"?
*** … And Massa stays in the news: Speaking of Massa, the Washington Post reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office was notified in October by then-Rep. Eric Massa's top aide of concerns about the New York Democrat's behavior, two congressional sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday night. Joe Racalto, Massa's chief of staff, was uneasy that Massa, 50, was living with several young, unmarried male staffers and using sexually explicit language with them, one source said. But what finally prompted him to call Pelosi's director of member services, the source said, was a lunch date that Massa made with a congressional aide in his 20s who worked in the office of Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.).” Pelosi’s office tells NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell that Pelosi did not know about actual allegations of harassment until February. Aides say Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's office was notified of allegations Feb. 8 and reported that to the Speaker's Office.
*** Hola, Senor: After being unable to get Rudy Giuliani, George Pataki, and most recently Mort Zuckerman to challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), New York Republicans are trying to get Dan Senor -- a private equity executive and former chief spokesman to Paul Bremer at the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq -- to enter the race. And Senor is seriously considering it, the New York Times reports. “The Republican leaders, who cautioned that they were not backing any single candidate, have told Mr. Senor that his deep ties in the party, expertise on national security and background as a businessman would make him a formidable candidate. His New York roots do not hurt, either: he was born in Utica, which could appeal to upstate voters wary of his Manhattan address.” If Senor decides to run, it might be one of the biggest tests whether the Bush brand -- Bremer’s Coalition Provisional Authority wasn’t necessarily one of the bright spots in Iraq -- is still toxic or not. Then again, with Iraq appearing to finally turn around, are the initial Bush-era failures in Iraq ancient history?
*** Robo-Cop: There are two robo-polls in Colorado’s governor’s race that reach two VERY different conclusions. One robo-poll has Democrat John Hickenlooper up by double digits. While the other one has Republican Scott McInnis up by six. It’s a chief example why we have little confidence in these types of polls. We know so many number starved folks desperately want to look at even bad polls just to scratch an itch. But trust us: It's like “Raiders of the Lost Ark ” -- if you look, eventually you'll burn your eyes out, and maybe even melt or have your entire brain turn to mush.
*** More midterm news: In California, the Meg Whitman press event that wasn’t really a press event continues to get attention… And in Texas, “Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison hasn't announced whether she will resign, as she has said she would after the GOP gubernatorial primary, but that's not stopping most of those who want her U.S. Senate seat,” including at least five Senate hopefuls who have already announced their intention to run, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Countdown to CA, NV filing deadlines: 1 day
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“President Obama slammed the health insurance industry and Republicans yesterday as the enemies of health care overhaul,” the AP writes. “But the president’s immediate roadblocks to achieving his top domestic priority are within his own Democratic Party, as congressional lawmakers remain unable to find a procedural and political path to final passage.”
The New York Times : “President Obama continued his drive for a health care overhaul on Wednesday, ordering a crackdown on Medicare and Medicaid waste and fraud, while in Washington, House leaders said they hoped to have a completed bill to present to rank and file members Thursday morning.”
This is interesting: “As they push to finish health-care legislation by the end of the month, Democratic leaders in Congress are weighing whether to add another of President Obama's priorities to the package: a popular proposal to overhaul the federal student loan program. The move could clear the way for Obama to claim victory on two of his most significant domestic initiatives in a single signing ceremony. Administration officials and House leaders have pressed aggressively for the addition in recent days. But key senators are objecting to the move, arguing that political resistance in the Senate and the rapidly rising cost of the education measure could jeopardize efforts to push health-care reform to final passage. ‘I think it threatens the health-care bill,’ said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) ‘It would threaten to sink them both.’”
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The Boston Globe : “Small defense companies, energy firms, and other technology start-ups throughout New England could lose tens of millions of dollars a year because of a decision by House Democrats yesterday to abruptly halt budget earmarks for companies. The decision follows a House ethics probe into an alleged pay-to-play system in which investigators followed a trail of campaign contributions and linked them to earmarks -- a provision added to a bill that directs money to a specific project, in this case, a private company. Although the House Ethics Committee cleared members of specific wrongdoing, House leaders remained sensitive to the appearance of a rampant quid-pro-quo system that has stoked outrage around the country.”
The New York Times adds, “House Democratic leaders on Wednesday banned budget earmarks to private industry, ending a practice that has steered billions of dollars in no-bid contracts to companies and set off corruption scandals. The ban is the most forceful step yet in a three-year effort in Congress to curb abuses in the use of earmarks, which allow individual lawmakers to award financing for pet projects to groups and businesses, many of them campaign donors.”
I’ll see your earmarks, and raise them… “A day after House Democrats announced a ban on earmarks for private companies, their Republican counterparts hope to dramatically up the ante with a unilateral prohibition on all targeted spending projects,” Roll Call writes. “If approved, the Republican policy would restrict GOP lawmakers from sponsoring any earmarks at all -- broadening the Democratic ban to cover earmarks for nonprofit entities and tax and tariff breaks approved through the Ways and Means Committee.”
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In Time , Joe Klein writes, “There is not much news in Karl Rove's memoir, Courage and Consequence, which is something of a moral triumph for the author. Rove is nothing if not loyal, and these sorts of books tend to create a stir only when they betray the boss. A significant amount of dirt is dished here -- an astonishing amount, actually; this is a work of titanic pettiness -- but it's all tossed at enemies of George W. Bush.”
“One example: Hillary Clinton is criticized for sitting down, rather than standing, for a photo with rescue workers three days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Bush, who had just arrived at ground zero, is standing for photos, and it simply doesn't occur to Rove that Clinton had already spent most of the past several days there, working desperately for her constituents. Rove is not always so unfair; he manages to demolish more than a few of the sillier attacks against him and the President. But this book is primarily an act of vengeance -- and, in that sense, unintentionally revealing about the nature of the Bush presidency.”
Stu Rothenberg looks at three Democratic candidates who in a better environment might stand much better chances -- Suzan DelBene in WA-8, Jon Hulburd in AZ-3 and Brad Ellsworth running for Evan Bayh’s U.S. Senate seat in Indiana.
MASSACHUSETTS: The Boston Globe looks Gov. Deval Patrick’s ramped up campaign against Republican opponent Charles Baker.
MISSOURI: “The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) launched an effort Wednesday to tip the scales in the close Missouri Senate race against Rep. Roy Blunt (R) by playing up oil-industry contributions to the conservative lawmaker. LCV named Blunt to its 'Dirty Dozen' list of candidates whom it will work against in the 2010 cycle.”
NEVADA: “The Republican National Committee may have thought it was dogging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) by satirizing him as cartoon character Scooby Doo, but Reid is getting scrappy with the portrayal in his own fundraising appeal. "It's been a long time since I watched cartoons with my kids, but I recall Scooby Doo as a pretty good character," Reid said in a fundraising e-mail asking for donations of up to $50. "He solved mysteries and caught the bad guys, pretty impressive -- especially for a dog."
TEXAS: “Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison hasn't announced whether she will resign, as she has said she would after the GOP gubernatorial primary, but that's not stopping most of those who want her U.S. Senate seat,” including at least five Senate hopefuls who have already announced their intention to run, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
From NBC's Betsy Cline and Shawna Thomas Nancy Pelosi told reporters today that a compromise is not far off on resolving the differences between the Senate and House health care bills. "We're pretty close actually," she said. "It's being resolved because we need to find the solution and because we have no more time to think about it. Decision time is here, and that's it."
She suggested there may be additional legislation needed to get the full reform she wants. "There's some things that we anticipate might be complementary to it, which might not fit into a reconciliation bill, but I feel pretty good about where we are."
According to Pelosi, Democrats are now just waiting on scoring from the Congressional Budget Office. She also said they would meet tonight with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to assess their progress.
In a photo-op following a meeting with public hospital leaders, Pelosi also fielded questions about earmarks, the day's topic du jour. She said she promised this kind of reform when she became Speaker in 2007 and was proud of the Rep. Obey's announcement today that it will not approve for-profit earmarks.
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell Eric Massa case will continue. The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, also referred to as the Ethics Committee, has "no technical jurisdiction" over Massa following his resignation. In practical terms, sources say, "removal from office" is the ultimate sanction within the committee's power and the abrupt resignation makes that threat irrelevant.
Sources tell NBC News the Massa case had barely begun with no full-time staff assigned and no subcommittee empanelled. The work underway was described as some "collection of data" that included "vetters" checking to see if initial concerns raised were in fact, official complaints.
Going forward, the committee may have to figure out what it can do within House rules following a resignation. Formal requests to keep the investigation open could be made as the House Republican Leader seemed to suggest today. One potential consideration is cost to taxpayers since investigations are typically lengthy.
*** UPDATE *** Washington Post is reporting that the House Ethics Committee has closed the investigation.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Josh Green has some revealing new details on the continuing Eric Massa scandal, in an Atlantic piece just up :
[I]n conversations yesterday and today with some of Massa's Navy shipmates, it became clear that the behavior toward his subordinates that got Massa into trouble in Congress is part of pattern that dates to his time in the Navy.
According to Peter Clarke, a Navy shipmate, Massa was notorious for making unwanted advances toward subordinates. He tells the story of his friend Stuart Borsch, with whom Massa shared a hotel room while on leave during the first Gulf War. "Stuart's at the edge of the bed," Clarke says Borsch told him at the time, "and [Massa] starts massaging him. Massa said, 'You'll have to get one of my special massages.' He called them 'Massa Massages.'" Ron Moss, a Navy shipmate and Borsch's roommate, confirmed that Borsch told him this story at the time.
Borsch, now a history professor at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, didn't addresss that specific incident, but did confirm to me in an email that he was groped by Massa: "In 1990, aboard the U.S.S. Jouett, I was awakened when a senior officer, Lt. Commander Massa, seemed to be groping me. (I was a lieutenant at the time.) I believe he may have been drinking. I shouted at him and he left. I mentioned the incident to several other officers. I did not officially report it."
Clarke says that Massa's roommate, Tom Maxfield was also assaulted. "Tom lived on upper bunk," Clarke say. "When you're on ship, you're almost exhausted 24-7. So a lot of times you sleep with your uniform on. Tom and Massa shared a stateroom together. Massa climbed up on the top of his bunk, which is hard to do--you never crawl up on somebody else's bunk. He wakes up to Massa undoing his pants trying to snorkel him." Ron Moss also confirmed hearing this story from Maxfield.
From NBC's Charlie Specht Orrin Hatch (R) today called President Obama's remarks about the Supreme Court during his State of the Union Address "wrong," "disrespectful," and "completely unnecessary." Roberts is right; the president’s remarks were troubling and the State of the Union this year resembled a political pep rally."
Hatch's comments came a day after NBC's Pete Williams reported that Chief Justice John Roberts called the president's criticism of the court "troubling."
From NBC's Betsy Cline Kathleen Sebelius today faced leaders from the insurance industry, the same people the Obama administration has blamed for the current health care crisis.
"I'm not here to vilify or blame insurance companies for the health-care system's problems," Sebelius told the audience. But, she added, "Americans, at the very least, deserve to know what's going on. They need transparency."
Sebelius said, on the one hand, she recognized the plight of insurers -- that young, healthy Americans are dropping out of the marketplace because of the economy. But, on the other hand, she said, "We've got to figure out a new strategy," she told the America's Health Insurance Plan (AHIP) policy conference. "We need to put ourselves in the shoes of the remaining customers."
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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Meg Whitman , a Republican running in the wide open California governor's race, had an awkward run-in with California press today.
She invited reporters to an event, then refused to take questions and then had her press aides escort reporters and cameras out.
The report below from a local TV station shows Whitman just smiling as a reporter asked a question. Appearing to not know what to do, she asked an aide through her smile, "How do you want to handle this Sarah?" Addressing the press she said, "I think we're not going to take questions right this very minute."
Whitman continued to smile and nervously laugh. Then reporters were escorted out and her camapign put up some a makeshift a shade to prevent further pictures.
The reporter for the local station below says that Whitman called him to apologize. But having these kinds of local reports is never a good thing.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Back wax? Come on, it was a "razor on the neck."
Yesterday, we mentioned Charlie CristMarco Rubio . And we mentioned Crist's defense of his healthy tan from 2006. Today, Rubio's team hits back :
"Marco paid $20 for a haircut with a razor on the neck, and he bought some items that went into a silent auction, including gift certificates. ... Charlie Crist's obsession with making up things about other people's grooming habits is bizarre for anyone, especially the sitting governor of Florida."
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Ralph Reed has decided against a run for Congress. Reed, the former executive director of the Christian Coalition, who's political star faded after the extent of his ties to convicted former lobbyist Jack Abramoff were revealed in 2006, made the announcement this morning.
He does appear to be not only leaving the door open to another run for at some point, but he also appears to be trying to undergo something of a resurgence with the founding of another faith group, the Faith and Freedom Coalition. Reed was in Iowa yesterday speaking to the Iowa Christian Alliance talking about his fundraising goals and how to take back Iowa with a Christian resurgence.
Here's his statement, per Christian Broadcasting Network's Brody:
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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Marco Rubio 's kickoff ad, which lays the groundwork for Rubio's line of attack against Gov. Charlie Crist in the GOP primary:
*** UPDATE ***
“As the truth begins to surface about Speaker Rubio’s double billing of taxpayers, lavish spending of Republican money, and, just today, excessive pork spending, no ad will be able to stop voters from seeing he is not who he claims to be," spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in a statement. "A Miami lobbyist, Speaker Rubio has proved he is just another typical politician who uses his public office for personal gain and only comes clean once caught. Floridians deserve a true steward of their hard earned taxpayer dollars and public servant who does the right thing, even when no one is looking.”
Obama heads to St. Louis to sell health care… Robin Carnahan WON’T be there… The White House and the new Gang of 14 make progress on energy… Israel’s shot at Biden… Fact-checking Stupak and looking at his main beef with the Senate health bill -- it doesn’t codify the Hyde Amendment… John Roberts vs. Obama… Marco Rubio vs. Crist heats up… And wrapping up Giannoulias’ day at the White House.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Spirit of St. Louis : President Obama is back on the road to sell health care -- this time to St. Louis, where he gives a speech at 4:50 pm ET. Later that night, he helps raise money for Sen. Claire McCaskill (D), an early and staunch supporter during the 2008 presidential primaries who is NOT up for re-election this year (but in 2012). Leading up to the White House’s self-imposed deadline of March 18 -- next week! -- for the House to pass the Senate health-care bill, we’ve learned that the White House is adding more stops to Obama’s health-care tour. He’s supposed to hit the road again on Monday, and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that there might be more campaign-style stops. Meanwhile, the White House isn’t backing away from that March 18 deadline. On “TODAY” this morning, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer accidentally supported that deadline by saying, "That's our objective." Then Hoyer backtracked, saying they hope to vote before the House’s Easter recess, which is set to begin on March 29. The White House and other non-congressional Dems are a bit confused as to why a week longer helps.
*** Carnahan won’t be there : While Obama will be with McCaskill, Robin Carnahan -- who is running THIS YEAR to be the Show Me State’s other female Democratic senator -- won’t be in attendance. Instead, she’ll be in D.C., of all places. Carnahan will be meeting with the National Association of Securities Administrators Association and members of the Senate Budget Committee "to demand strong financial reforms to hold Wall St. bankers accountable," Carnahan spokesman Linden Zakula told First Read. Zakula added the D.C. event was planned long ago and "I'm sure we'll be seeing both of them [McCaskill and Obama] on the campaign trail." Of course, Carnahan is also raising money while in D.C.
*** The new Gang of 14 : Lost in yesterday’s Massa mess on cable TV -- and all we can say about it is “wow” -- was real progress on energy. Yesterday, President Obama met with 14 Democratic and Republican senators to discuss energy. And per Politico , the meeting came near the release of a revamped energy bill by Sens. John Kerry (D), Lindsey Graham (R), and Joe Lieberman (I-D). “Those three senators have dropped the idea of an economy-wide cap in favor of imposing different emissions curbs on different industries. The legislation would also provide new federal assistance to nuclear power plants, carbon sequestration, storage projects at coal plants and offshore oil exploration – proposals aimed at attracting Republican support.” Graham had positive things to say after the White House meeting. “… Graham (R-SC) was impressed by Obama's commitment to a comprehensive approach and urged his GOP colleagues to back the bill. ‘I'm not going to support some half-assed reform,’ he exclaimed.” Graham added that it has to be comprehensive, because for individual ideas like off-shore oil drilling, nuclear power expansion, or major climate change initiatives, there aren't 60 votes. But collectively, Graham is confident there are 60 votes.
*** With friends like these… : On the very day Vice President Biden visited Israel, that country displayed -- to put it very kindly -- an amazing show of independence by announcing more settlement development, this time saying it plans to build 1,600 housing units in traditionally Arab East Jerusalem. Writes the L.A. Times : “In the midst of a high-profile trip by Vice President Joe Biden, Israel unveiled plans for new housing in disputed Jerusalem on Tuesday, a surprise step that embarrassed and angered the highest ranking Obama administration official yet to visit the country.” It may be Bibi Netanyahu playing domestic politics, but it underscores why the president's early attempts to jump start the peace process have failed and apparently badly.
*** Stupak and the Hyde Amendment : Yesterday, one of us fact-checked Rep. Bart Stupak's (D) claim that the Senate health-care bill directly subsidizes abortion, which we concluded was incorrect when you read the language of the bill. But Stupak’s main beef has to with the Hyde Amendment, which bars federal financing of abortion (except in cases of rape or incest or when the mother’s life is at risk). “[T]he Senate bill remains a departure from current law which prohibits federal funding and subsidies for abortion… In fact, the Senate bill creates an unprecedented accounting scheme to replace the long-standing Hyde Amendment.” According to some who follow the issue closely, Stupak’s amendment, which was part of the House bill, codifies Hyde while the Senate bill doesn’t.
*** Hyde isn’t permanent law : As Slate’s Timothy Noah wrote last week, ”A common misconception is that the government's ban on abortion funding through the Hyde Amendment … has the force of permanent law. It does not. It is merely a rider routinely attached to annual appropriations bills. Should the appropriations committees in Congress decide one year not to attach it, then HHS will become free to fund abortions. Pro-lifers live in fear that this will happen, but they don't want to draw too much attention to the possibility, lest they discourage the public from thinking the Hyde Amendment is writ in stone. If Congress ever did tire of the Hyde Amendment (which at this point has outlived Hyde), Stupak wouldn't want to see abortion restrictions evaporate from health reform, too. But that's exactly what would happen under the Senate bill. Its legislative language deliberately defines abortion ‘based on the law [governing HHS appropriations] as in effect as of the date that is six months before the beginning of the plan year involved.’”
*** John Roberts vs. Obama : Who knew that President Obama’s criticism of the Supreme Court’s controversial campaign-finance decision – and Justice Alito’s visible reaction to it -- would continue to be a story a month and a half after he delivered his State of the Union address? As NBC’s Pete Williams reported , Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts yesterday called Obama's SOTU criticism "very troubling." Speaking to a law school class in Alabama on Tuesday, Roberts said while anyone is free to criticize the court, the sight of a president dressing down the justices in front of Congress was "very troubling." Roberts also said he wonders if justices should attend State of the Union addresses anymore. By the way, for those who still have both the PREPARED text of Obama's SOTU and the ACTUAL remarks handy, you'll notice how the president seemed to attempt to back off what was going to be harsher criticism of court.
*** Rubio vs. Crist heats up : From the look of things, it appears that Marco Rubio's campaign is trying to knock out Charlie Crist -- almost six months before their August primary. Yesterday, Team Rubio released a memo from campaign pollster Whit Ayres: “The trend is obvious and striking: Marco Rubio, without running a single television ad, has gone from low single digits to a majority of the vote on the primary ballot, in the process passing a sitting governor. In almost thirty years of polling for Republican candidates, I have never seen a comparable phenomenon. This trend presents Charlie Crist with a significant strategic dilemma. How does an incumbent governor who currently stands at about one-third of the primary vote grow his support?” Be sure to tune to MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown” for an exclusive on the Rubio-Crist race.
*** Giannoulias’ day at the White House : Yesterday’s White House visit by Illinois Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias (D) – as part of the White House’s Greek Independence Day celebration – was mainly about reassuring Democrats in Washington, in light of the bank problem that threatens Giannoulias’ candidacy. His campaign released this press release yesterday: “White House Reiterates Strong Support for Alexi Giannoulias' Candidacy.” And it included this line for Robert Gibbs: "Alexi Giannoulias is the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate, and has the support and the backing of the White House." (However, the NRSC seized on this less than encouraging line from Obama yesterday: “We’ve got at least one potential member of Congress -- Alexi, stand up -- from the state of Illinois.” Asked the NRSC, “Potential member”?) The question we have: How will the actual event of the bank failure play out in the Chicago and Illinois media? It's one thing to poll the idea before it happens, but no one knows for sure how the actual event ends up playing out. Is it a local news obsession? Is it a one-day story? Does all this pre-emptive action help make it "old news" by the time it actually shuts down?
*** More midterm news : In Arizona, J.D. Hayworth has a radio ad touting his Christian beliefs and values… In Georgia, Roll Call says Ralph Reed is expected to announce that he WON’T run for Congress… And in Louisiana, “U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon’s campaign manager has filed a complaint with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics accusing U.S. Sen. David Vitter of sending out an illegal campaign fund solicitation” that featured a facsimile of the eagle on the great seal of the United States, which is illegal, the Shreveport Times reports.
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President Obama is on the cover of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ahead of his trip there. The paper's table-setting lead: "President Barack Obama will try to rally a skeptical public behind his health insurance overhaul in a speech in St. Charles today that may remind Missourians of Obama's days as a hard-charging candidate. Hoping to bring a sense of urgency to the debate, the White House is pursuing a campaign-style approach that aims broadsides at the insurance industry and warns of a rash of higher premiums."
Obama's job approval in a new AP-GFK poll holds at 53%. "Obama's overall standing hasn't really moved since January," AP's Sidoti writes. "Neither have his ratings on health care and the economy." Even though 56% say the country is headed in the wrong direction, Obama remains more popular than Congress (22% approval), Republicans (30%), or Democrats generally (36%). The president also got a boost on Iraq (55% approve) and Afghanistan (57% approve). Democrats still lead in the generic ballot 44%-38%. But this is key: "By 67 percent to 59 percent, more independents disapprove of Democrats in Congress than disapprove of Republicans."
With friends like these…? "Israel blindsided Vice President Joe Biden's fence-mending mission Tuesday by announcing a settler building boom in East Jerusalem," the New York Daily News reports. "The move to expand an Orthodox Jewish settlement by 1,600 units embarrassed Biden, who was trying to jump-start 'indirect' talks with the Palestinians. "Biden showed his anger by arriving 90 minutes late for dinner at the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'I condemn the decision' by Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai to build in the area of the West Bank annexed to Jerusalem by Israel, Biden said in an unusually undiplomatic statement. He called the announcement 'precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I've had here in Israel.'"
CONTINUED >>
The Washington Post : “Massa went on television Tuesday night for the first time since the allegations surfaced, but his comments in two cable television interviews contradicted earlier statements, serving only to raise more questions.”
Groping? Just a tickle monster? “Now they’re saying I groped a male staffer,” Massa told host Glenn Beck. “I did. I tickled him until he couldn’t breathe.” When asked if there could be new allegations or if there were phone and electronic messages, he said, “I’m sure there’s text messages. We bantered back and forth all the time." New York Post says Massa's in a "tickle pickle." told Larry King. He denied having touched anyone inappropriately during the incident. He later added: “I never admitted groping.” He added, “When you grab someone and you’re wrestling, I don’t know how to describe that word.” More: "Massa said that he had been unaware, until informed by Larry King, that his former deputy chief of staff, Ron Hikel, had first reported allegations to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's (D-Md.) office and then to the ethics committee in February."
Turning to health care… Roll Call sees three paths to resolving the abortion issue to pass health reform: (1) "find the votes to pass the Senate’s less restrictive abortion language over the objections of the Catholic bishops, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and a clutch of House Democrats who oppose abortion rights." (That's the speaker's preference.); (2) "punt the abortion debate with promises that the issue will be subject to future floor votes"; (3) "forcing new abortion language through the Senate, either on a reconciliation bill of fixes or on another bill, but that will require 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles."
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Rick Santorum
made his second trip to Iowa : "Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum passionately defended his record against abortion Tuesday night amid an underground effort to discredit him. 'There are a lot of people who vote pro-life. There are very few people who stand up and fight pro-life. There is a reason for that. You pay a price if you stand up in the foxhole and fight for pro-life instead of just voting for pro-life,' Santorum said." There are currently
robo-calls against Santorum making the rounds in Iowa.
Despite the losses most observers expect Democrats to incur this fall, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is seeking to show it's still on offense -- or at least in a good position to defend open seats -- in several districts. Today, the DCCC announces 13 candidates who have qualified for its "Red to Blue" program. “These candidates have come out of the gate strong and the Red to Blue Program will give them the financial and structural edge to be even more competitive in November,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), chairman of the DCCC. “These candidates are generating excitement back home and are making the case to voters that their commitment to creating jobs and standing up for the middle class is far better than turning back the clock to the failed Bush policies of the past.”CQ reports that the House Conservatives Fund will endorse 10 candidates today, giving them each $5,000. ALABAMA : When asked whether he would return $7,000 in campaign contributions from former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Charlie Rangel, Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. Parker Griffith said, "I don't have a relationship with Congressman Rangel, and I'm not sure about the money trail,” local news channel WAFF reports. ARIZONA : Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth has a new radio ad out, touting his Christian beliefs and values. GEORGIA : "Former Christian Coalition architect Ralph Reed, who is known to be considering a possible bid in Georgia’s open 7th district, announced Tuesday that he’d make his future plans known on Wednesday," Roll Call reports. "But multiple Georgia GOP insiders said Tuesday afternoon that they believe the former lieutenant governor candidate will simply be announcing that he will pass on the Congressional contest."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Bart Stupak's (D-MI) office has responded to our earlier fact-check on his claim that the Senate health care directly subsidizes abortion.
“Although the Senate bill requires one of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) plans to exclude abortion coverage and the associated $1 charge for reproductive services, the other OPM plans will include abortion services and will require all enrollees to pay the $1 per month fee. While the Americans who make the effort to seek out a plan that does not cover abortion will not be subject to this unprecedented charge, many more Americans will enroll in plans unaware that a portion of their monthly premium is earmarked for abortion. No where in federal law does it allow for a fee for abortion coverage. All health care plans currently administered by OPM – those offered to federal employees through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program – are prohibited from including abortion coverage. In order to be consistent with current law the Senate bill must be modified to ensure that no plans administered by OPM cover abortion services.
Even if the $1 per month issue is addressed, the Senate bill remains a departure from current law which prohibits federal funding and subsidies for abortion. The annual Labor-HHS appropriations bill and seven other federal health programs include language that specifically prohibits the use of federal funds to assist in the purchase of health care coverage that includes abortion. No such language appears in the Senate bill. In fact, the Senate bill creates an unprecedented accounting scheme to replace the long-standing Hyde amendment. The law of the land is that – except in cases of rape, incest or life of the mother – the federal government does not pay for abortion or any portion of a health insurance policy that covers abortion. This law must be maintained in health care reform legislation.”
The first paragraph doesn't appear to knock down what we wrote earlier: that the Senate legislation doesn't directly subsidize abortion. The second paragraph hits at what we've heard is Stupak's (and National Right to Life's) main beef with the Senate legislation: that it doesn't codify the Hyde amendment.
From NBC's Katherine Andrew Wilmington (DE) News Journal reports that conservative commentator Christine O’Donnell will challenge Rep. Mike Castle (R) in Delaware's GOP Senate primary.
O’Donnell, who will make her formal announcement tomorrow at 10:30 a.m ET tomorrow morning, is no stranger to the campaign scene, having run unsuccessfully for the Delaware Senate in 2006 and 2008.
The primary is on Sept. 14.
New Castle County Executive Chris Coons is the Democrat running in the race.
From NBC's Pete Williams John Roberts today called President Obama's remarks about the court during the State of the Union message "very troubling."
Speaking to a law school class today in Alabama, Roberts said while anyone is free to criticize the court, the sight of a president dressing down the justices in front of Congress was "very troubling."
Roberts said he wonders if justices should attend State of the Union addresses anymore.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro The national Republican midterm political strategy is beginning to take shape. Yesterday, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-TX) stressed health care -- not necessarily even the economy -- as the top issue for the midterms.
Earlier this week, the Republican National Committee took to the airwaves with a fundraising solicitation that strikes many of the Tea Party themes. In it, RNC Chairman Michael Steele invokes the phrase "take their government back" and he says the word "freedom" eight times in 30 seconds.
In a turn from 2006, Republicans are also now seizing the mantle of ethics. The RNC is now going up with another ad -- hitting Democrats on the subject. They were handed Charlie Rangel and Eric Massa in the same day, and they use both in the ad as well as targeting the unpopular House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her response. Republican strategist John Feehery on MSNBC added in Rod Blagojevich and David Paterson .
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray
Last November, the House of Representatives narrowly passed its health-care bill, 220-215, only after it included an amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) barring any federal funding in the legislation from being used for abortion coverage (except in cases of rape, incest, or if the mother's life is in danger). A month later, Senate Democrats secured their 60th -- and decisive -- vote after agreeing to Sen. Ben Nelson's (D-NE) similar (though less restrictive) changes on abortion.
And now, with the House poised to vote later this month on the already-passed Senate health-care bill, Stupak is claiming that he and 11 other House Democrats who voted for the legislation in November will vote against the Senate bill, unless it adopts the House's abortion language. (Stupak tells the AP he's "optimistic" he can resolve this abortion dispute with the White House and Democratic leaders.)
"In the Senate bill," Stupak told MSNBC's Chris Matthews last week, "it says you must offer insurance policies that will be paid for by the federal government that covers abortion. You must do so."
The Michigan congressman later said this to ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "The bill that they're using as the vehicle is the Senate bill, and if you go to page 2,069 through page 2,078, you will find in there the federal government would directly subsidize abortions, plus every enrollee in the Office of Personnel Management enrolled plan, every enrollee has to pay a minimum of $1 per month towards reproductive rights, which includes abortion."
Stupak's Democratic allies have adopted his rationale. As the office of Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) -- ostensibly one of the Stupak Twelve -- has said : "Congressman Lipinski will not vote for a health care bill that provides federal funding for abortion."
But is Stupak right -- that the Senate bill directly subsidizes abortions? The answer appears to be no.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Ralph Reed , once left for dead politically, is trying to stage a comeback.
Reed, the 48-year-old former executive director of the Christian coalition, saw his meteoric rise take an even harder fall in 2006 after the extent of his ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff were revealed. He saw sizable, early leads in the polls disintegrate in his bid for Georgia lieutenant governor, and he wound up losing in the GOP primary.
But in a changed environment, the first one favoring Republicans since 2006, Reed is plotting a bid for Congress. The Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody reports Reed will announce tomorrow morning whether or not he will run for retiring Georgia Congressman John Linder's seat. (Linder announced his retirement on Feb. 27. The seventh congressional district is a solidly Republican one. McCain won it with 60% of the vote; Bush did so with 70%.)
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray, Chuck Todd, and Domenico Montanaro Crain's Chicago Business story with him?
The family of Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias stands to collect more than $10 million in federal tax refunds even if its Broadway Bank fails, which Mr. Giannoulias said last week is likely... The possibility of family members pocketing millions in tax refunds as Broadway slides toward insolvency and federal receivership is likely to fuel more controversy for Mr. Giannoulias, who already is under fire for his role in the bank's woes. In an interview last week, he took some responsibility for a disastrous expansion of real estate lending when he was senior lender at Broadway in the mid-2000s, before winning election as Illinois treasurer in 2006.
*** UPDATE ***
*** UPDATE 2 ***
MYTH: The Giannoulias family stands to benefit millions if Broadway Bank fails.
TRUTH: The idea that the Giannoulias family will benefit in any way if the bank fails is absolutely false. Like the millions of Americans who overpay their income taxes each year, the family is owed tax refunds. They are actively pursuing a refund of this money as a way to help save the bank. They would not profit in any way if the bank fails. Alexi has said repeatedly that he will do whatever he can give to save the bank, which includes using any tax refund he might get on his 3.6% share to recapitalize the bank. If the bank does indeed fail, the Giannoulias family, who are sole shareholders, will bear the full brunt of the loss.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Gov. David Paterson .
But with Democrat Eric Massa 's decision to resign from Congress, Paterson holds the key to when a special election might be held -- if one is held at all.
Constituents in New York's 29th district are currently without representation, and could be until the fall. Paterson can choose not to set a date at all and, instead, leave the seat vacant until the general election in the fall, according to the New York State Board of Elections.
"If he's going to have a special, then he issues a proclamation" and an election would be held no less than 30 days -- and no more than 40 -- after the proclamation was issued, said John Conklin, a spokesman for the board of elections. But, Conklin added, the governor hasn't contacted their office.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Mitt Romney 's appearance on "Fox News Sunday" and the criticism he faced over his Massachusetts health-care proposal.
First Thoughts, March 8:
Chris Wallace put Romney on the defensive on this issue. WALLACE: “But, Governor, let's look at the plan that you signed into law in Massachusetts in 2006. You have an individual mandate. You have an employer mandate. You have subsidiaries for some of the uninsured. You set minimum insurance coverage standards.” ROMNEY: A big difference -- a state plan versus a federal plan. No new taxes, unlike his plan. No cut in Medicare, unlike his plan. And no controls over insurance premiums, price controls, cost controls like his plan. So very, very different in that regard.” Still, you can see the line of attack that is going to develop on Romney in conservative circles… Of course, let's remember, as bad as immigration was for McCain in 2007, it didn't end his bid; he still got the nomination. But there are a lot of similarities between Romney and health care and McCain and immigration.
The fallout from that interview continues today, as fiscally conservative group, The Club for Growth takes a shot at Romney for saying his health-care proposal was “the ultimate conservative plan.” The Club says if Romney thinks that, he's “in the wrong party," according to Greg Sargent .
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro spend any money" in the Florida primary, but it is still helping raise money for Charlie Crist .
"I endorsed Gov. Crist early on, really before this became a real contest," Sen. John Cornyn, the Texas senator who heads the committee said at a briefing with reporters yesterday . "I’m not going to do anything to change that. I think I’m honor-bound to leave it as is. But it doesn’t that mean we’re going to spend any money in the primary. It doesn’t mean we’re going to be saying anything bad about Marco Rubio ."
But a Florida paper got its hands on part of an NRSC memo (the full memo was also forwarded to First Read by a Democratic source), listing a series of upcoming fundraisers for Republican candidates. There are eight for Crist and none for Rubio.
That's not surprising given that the committee recruited and endorsed Crist, and NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh stressed that spending money versus helping raise money is "a very important difference."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Charlie Crist is bringing up back waxing as it relates to Marco Rubio (and today is Greek Independence Day), remember this nugget from the 2006 election?
St. Petersburg Times, July 30, 2006:
"I mean my goodness - because I happen to have Greek heritage and if I go out in the sun for a half-hour and it looks like I've been out there for four hours because I have a darker complexion than somebody - honestly Jim, I thought we were at the place in this country where the color of somebody's skin or the complexion that they have is not something that's an issue of political debate anymore," Crist said. "I've been fighting for civil rights for all of our people as attorney general, and for the Democratic Party to kind of poke fun of something like that was really beneath" them.
Have we returned to the health-care conversation before Scott Brown?... Candidate Obama was back yesterday in Pennsylvania… Nuggets galore in a new Democracy Corps poll… Massa becomes cause célèbre among conservatives, despite his “fracking” story and his timeline that doesn’t make much sense… Obama meets with bipartisan senators to talk about energy reform… And he also meets with Alexi Giannoulias, to the NRSC’s delight.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Back to Jan. 4: Ironically, at the very time the New Yorker has a piece on “Obama’s Lost Year” and the New York Times magazine discusses the administration’s first-year failures, it seems we’ve returned to Jan. 4, 2010, before Scott Brown became a national story. While news organizations are whipping out their whip counts to see if the Senate health-care bill can pass the House, the story also has returned to whether the GOP will mount a campaign to repeal health-care or whether states like Virginia can pass legislation forbidding a mandate that Americans have health insurance -- subjects we were talking about before Brown’s victory. What’s more, the conversation also has turned back to the thorny issue of abortion, which two months ago was the last real stumbling block in the House-Senate reconciliation talk. Of course, this doesn’t mean that health care is going to pass, but it does mean that more and more people are beginning to act like it will.
*** Candidate Obama is back: Yesterday, for the first time in six months, President Obama was back on the campaign trail for the sole purpose of passing health-care reform. He rolled up his sleeves, took off his jacket, and blasted the insurance industry and Republicans. In fact, he mentioned the word “insurance” 54 times versus the 27 times he said “health care,” which tells you the White House’s focus. Also, Democrats after the speech were relieved to hear Obama’s tone, as many Capitol Hill Democrats believe the White House’s best pitch to wavering Democrats is to get them to rally around the party flag. As Sen. Arlen Specter, who accompanied Obama to Pennsylvania yesterday, said: "There is a lot of determination that's building to [pass health care], and I think the president is providing more fiery leadership now."
*** Nuggets galore: There are lots of nuggets in a new Democracy Corps (D) poll . For those looking at Campaign 2010, what immediately jumps is the Dem performance among "drop-off" voters vs. "likely voters" in general. Indeed, Obama’s job approval among likely voters is 47%, but among "drop-off" voters it’s 59%. What’s more, GOP leads on the congressional ballot 47%-44% among likely voters. Yet among drop-offs, Dems lead 55%-30%. So there’s a big gap there. The main thrust of new Democracy Corps poll is on national security. While Obama gets good marks in general on various national security issues, it doesn't trickle down to Dems, who trail the GOP by various margins on different aspects of national security. We'll dig deeper into this Obama-Democrat gap with pollster Stan Greenberg, who will be on MSNBC’s "The Daily Rundown" later this morning. Speaking of MSNBC programming, “Andrea Mitchell Reports” speaks to Sen. Specter and MSNBC’s Chris Matthews about his interview with Vice President Biden in the Middle East.
*** More Massa mess: Per NBC’s Shawna Thomas, Rep. Eric Massa’s (D) resignation notice will be read on the House floor at 2:00 pm ET. And later this afternoon, the ex-congressman will appear on Glenn Beck’s show (and then on Larry King). Indeed, Massa has suddenly become a cause célèbre among conservatives after his suggestion that Democratic leaders wanted him out of Congress because of his “no” vote on health care last year. “Now they’ve gotten rid of me and it will pass,” he told a New York state radio station on Sunday. (These conservatives, including Drudge, have focused less attention to his story that he told a male subordinate, “Well, what I really ought to be doing is fracking you” and then touched the subordinate’s hair, which would be a fire-able offense at most private companies, or at least cause for a lawsuit.) But as the New York Daily News reported yesterday, Massa’s timeline alleging he was forced out due to his health-care vote doesn’t make much sense. Democrats’ magic number to pass health care was already at 216 when House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s office revealed, on March 3, that it had received a complaint of sexual harassment by Massa. Then, on March 4, GOP Rep. Nathan Deal announced he was postponing his resignation, which brought the magic number up to 217.
*** The timeline doesn’t make much sense: Massa’s resignation now brings the magic number back to 216. But it’s difficult to allege that Hoyer’s office wanted him out when it revealed the news on March 3, because his resignation then -- before the Deal news -- would have left the magic number at 216 (a majority of 430 House members is still 216). Here’s one other irony to the fact that Massa has now become a hero among conservatives: A la Dennis Kucinich, he opposed the House health-care last year because it WASN’T EXPANSIVE ENOUGH. “While this bill does contain a public option, it is far from a ‘robust’ one and Rep. Massa pledged, in a letter months ago, to vote against anything less than that,” Massa’s statement back then said. “The public option in this bill is available for only about 2% of the American population and its premium rates will match private health insurance, guaranteeing no effective competition in the marketplace.” One final question: If Massa is so upset with Democrats, why quit? This story has "side show" and "shiny metal object" written all over it.
*** Talking energy: At 4:30 pm ET, President Obama meets with a bipartisan group of senators to discuss energy reform. And most interestingly are the GOP participants: Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham, Judd Gregg, George LeMieux, Dick Lugar, and Lisa Murkowski. These are the real bipartisan players on the issue. Also notice there’s no leadership attending this time -- the White House is going around the leadership. Why hasn’t it done this more? When political parties are in the minority, their leadership elections are about one thing: who can best lead them back to the majority. That’s why the White House spending so much time working through leadership to try and become bipartisan never made political sense. McConnell and Boehner and their elected lieutenants are judged at the ballot box, not on how much then can successfully water down legislation.
*** Giannoulias at the White House: Also today, Obama meets with Greece’s prime minister (at 2:00 pm ET) and then delivers remarks at a reception honoring Greek Independence Day. Guess who will be coming to the reception? Alexi Giannoulias. Indeed, Republicans are seizing on Giannoulias' visit to the White House. The NRSC says it’s "encouraging reporters to ask Axelrod and other White House officials whether or not their concerns were assuaged after Giannoulias’ 'clearing the air' tour last week. And they will "highlight the contrast between Giannoulias and the President’s recent comments about bankers." As you’ll remember, it was just two months ago during the Mass special election that President Obama said: 'Bankers don’t need another vote in the U.S. Senate,' and decried 'fat cats' who are getting 'rewarded for their failure.' Considering there’s now a 'fat cat' banker who is running for the his former Senate seat and looking to get rewarded for his own banking failures, we will encourage folks to ask the White House: Does President Obama stand by Giannoulias’ candidacy, and if so, how does he differ from these 'fat cats' who the President vehemently condemned?" (But was Giannoulias’ bank really a fat-cat bank?) This is actually an important unofficial confrontation between Giannoulias and the White House. If the Chicago-White House folks want to send a message, they'll do it tonight.
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The New York Daily News' lead after Obama's campaign-style event yesterday: "President Obama turned up his vintage campaign-style fire Monday to rip Republicans and insurers for obstructing health care reform."
The Washington Post : “The White House is mounting a stinging, sustained broadside against health insurance rate increases as President Obama and his aides enter what they hope will be the final stretch of a year-long political war over health-care reform... The messages are part of a strategy that Obama and those around him have begun to employ lately, to ratchet up the pace and the populist appeal of their rhetoric against the health insurance industry. The barbed tone moves far beyond that of the 2008 presidential campaign, when Obama began to say that medical coverage should be accessible and affordable for more Americans.”
The New York Times adds, “President Obama challenged wavering members of his party on Monday not to give in to political fears about supporting health care legislation, asserting that the urgency of getting a bill through Congress should trump any concern about the consequences for Democrats in November.”
The AP tees up Obama's meeting today with Greece's prime minister: "Greek officials want to see the United States impose stricter regulations on hedge funds and currency traders, which Athens believes aggravated their crisis. In his meeting Tuesday with Obama, and in sessions during the week with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Papandreou will outline the steps Greece is taking to stem its financial bleeding and reform its economy. Papandreou's trip to Washington with his finance minister, George Papaconstantinou, comes as Greece tries to climb out of a steep economic hole that widened after Papandreou's Socialist party came to power in October and revealed that its budget deficit was far worse than the previous government had disclosed."
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GOP WATCH: ‘Good enough for God’New York Daily News reports. ‘I am gay,' state Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) said, breaking his silence on a conservative AM talk radio show based in his working-class California district. 'Those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long.'"
Meanwhile, the DNC is a launching what it's calling a "Fight the Fear" campaign. (This is a play off from its earlier "Fight the Smears" campaign.) "If the Republicans are going to offer 'fear' tactics instead of new ideas, as we learned from their internal strategy memo is their express strategy," a DNC source said, "we are going to hold them accountable by making sure folks are aware of how they are trying to scare the American people and they have the truth." An e-mail is going out to supporters, asking them "to let us know at FightFear@DNC.org when Republican candidates or groups: Air misleading ads or offer false claims intended to poison the political debate; Incite fear of President Obama and Democratic leaders in an attempt to stir up their base; or Align themselves with the most extreme fringes of the Republican Party."
"Senate Democrats and Republicans are poised to have a knock-down, drag-out fight over the arcane budget reconciliation process and equally esoteric rules as Congress races to pass a health care bill before Easter," Roll Call writes. "Policy disagreements have become almost an afterthought as Republicans charge Democrats with twisting Senate rules to pass what they say is an unpopular bill while Democrats say the GOP’s 'obstructionism' and hypocrisy have reached new heights." The Hill is the latest to try and do a whip count on health care and finds that several committee chairman are declaring themselves undecided.
Here’s the Hotline’s whip count.
Roll Call's lead on Massa: "Scandal-tinged Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) ended his short but combustible Congressional career Monday night, acknowledging inappropriate behavior as he battled allegations that he sexually harassed a male staffer. And in a development with far-reaching political implications, Massa left office preparing to take to the national airwaves to point fingers at House leaders, who, he insisted, were eager to get rid of him because he did not support their health care reform legislation."
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NEW JERSEY: The Hill looks at GOP hopes for House races. "New Jersey Republicans argue Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) impressive performance in several House districts during last year’s gubernatorial race will help the party pick up seats in the midterm elections. Christie beat Gov. Jon Corzine (D) 56-39 in freshman Rep. John Adler’s (D) district and won 51-43 in Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.’s (D) district, according to an analysis of the 2009 results. Christie also ran up impressive vote totals in Democratic strongholds like Bergen County." NEW YORK: Another good New York Post Paterson headline: "Lonesome Gov." Siena poll shows a majority of voters, 55% would prefer Paterson serve out the remainder of his term, versus 37% who want him to resign. Watertown Daily Times reports.
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From NBC's Ali Weinberg President Obama’s fervent call for health-care reform this morning, the blogosphere offers its latest takes on the fate of the legislation.
Quoting Obama’s line this morning that “the time for talk is over,” National Review Online's Jim Geraghty recalls previous speeches where Obama employed the same now-or-never tactic. “The last time President Obama declared that ‘the time for talk is over’ was at the U.N. climate-change summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, where no major deal was reached, and talk continued,” Geraghty writes. “By the way,” he continues, “nothing more effectively communicates that ‘the time for talk is over’ than spending your week traveling to Pennsylvania and Missouri and giving speeches about your health-care plan.”
Red State’s Dan Perrin also seems to doubt the pledges Obama and congressional Democrats have made. “The Speaker and the White House can not allow themselves to believe anything other than they will win, because they have developed the intellectual behavior of the politically irrational,” Perrin writes. He also writes that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s inability to dictate the bill’s passage, from the House to the Senate to the President’s desk, is harming the Democrats’ efforts. “[Speaker Pelosi] is acting unstable,” Perrin writes, noting her denial that the House would not vote before the Senate before she said the House would, in fact, vote first. “One day she insists the sky is yellow, then the next she says the sky is purple,” he continues.
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From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro Sen. John Cornyn , head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said he did not regret recruiting and endorsing Charlie Crist for a Florida Senate run.
Seeking to thread a needle between the endorsement of Crist and the Marco Rubio /Tea Party enthusiasm, Cornyn said he was “honor-bound” not to abandon his endorsement of Crist, but he also praised Rubio.
Cornyn, reflecting on the recruiting process, said he began the process in Florida by courting former Gov. Jeb Bush during a December 2008 meeting in Miami. “[F]or about a month or so, he was talking about running, but decided not to,” Cornyn said of Bush. “And then I looked around to see who was the most popular Republican in the state, and somebody who was a good fundraiser, and that person was Charlie Crist. And, selfishly, given the limited resources we have and the national scope of our responsibilities here, I didn’t want to have to spend any money in Florida if we didn’t have to help. So Charlie Crist seemed like the ideal candidate.”
Careful to toe the line with Rubio, Cornyn then said, “And this had nothing to do with Marco Rubio, who I subsequently met and have a lot of respect for. So, I think our posture here is, I endorsed Gov. Crist early on, really before this became a real contest. I’m not going to do anything to change that. I think I’m honor-bound to leave it as is. But it doesn’t that mean we’re going to spend any money in the primary. It doesn’t mean we’re going to be saying anything bad about Marco Rubio. To the contrary, I think Marco Rubio, if he wins the nomination, will beat Kendrick Meek .”
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From NBC's Will Brown
HCAN national campaign manager Richard Kirsch used the call to attack “the right-wing corporate agenda handicapping health care and climate change legislation” and asked: “Will Congress listen to the insurance companies or the American people?”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined Kirsch on the call to promote the week’s events and echo HCAN’s criticisms of the health insurance industry.
“The simple reality is that middle-class families and small businesses can’t afford these kind of rate hikes when insurance companies are posting massive profits,” Shaheen explained.
Tomorrow, HCAN plans to hold a “mock arrest” at the DC Ritz-Carlton, where insurance company executives are gathering to meet. The coalition expects 3,000 people to participate in this week’s events.
From NBC's Mark Murray The New York Times magazine is the latest to profile White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel , who has been the subject of a fair amount of attention in Washington lately. Here are a few nuggets...
He is the bête noire of conservatives who see him as the chief architect of Obama’s big-government program and of liberals who consider him an accommodationist who undermines the very same agenda. The criticism has been searing and conflicting. He didn’t work enough across party lines. He tried too hard to work across party lines. He pushed for too much. He didn’t push for enough. The crossfire underscores his contradictions — how can Emanuel be so intensely partisan without being all that liberal and so relentlessly pragmatic without being bipartisan? And just as salient these days, how can he be so independent-minded and still remain loyal to a team operation?
On how he cannot fail:
Emanuel, who declined to talk to me on the record for this article, generally shrugs off most of the commentary, scorning armchair critics who haven’t spent time in the White House or Congress actually trying to accomplish something. But at least some of this is bravado. “He is obviously going through a tough patch,” William Daley, a former commerce secretary and a close friend, says. “Everybody wants to dump on him because they don’t want to dump on the president.” Daley told me it is eating away at Emanuel: “Contrary to what he says, this stuff does bother him. He cannot fail. And if he thinks people think he failed, it depresses him. He can’t stand the thought that he’s failed, and he’s hearing that from too many people now.”
And on Rahm's short-term future:
Does he want to run for mayor of Chicago someday? Of course. With House speaker now off the table, Emanuel would like to lead his hometown and openly communicates that to people, including his friend Richard Daley, the incumbent mayor. But Emanuel would not run against the mayor, and William Daley told me that he thinks his brother will probably run again next year when his latest term expires.
So that leaves Obama and Emanuel together in Washington, for as long as the president wants him there. If they manage to pull off health care despite the odds, Emanuel will be hailed as a savior. If not, well, he does not even allow for that possibility.
From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro Sen. John Cornyn , chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee made it clear he wants his candidates to focus on health care.
Because Democrats have said passing their health-reform bills would lower costs, the question Cornyn said that should be asked of voters will be, "Are your health-care costs lower now in Nov. 2010 by virtue of passing this health care bill,” the Texas Republican, wearing his signature black cowboy boots under a dark pinstripe suit, told a roomful of reporters at a Monday morning briefing about the 2010 Senate landscape. "And I think the answer to that will be, ‘No, they’re not.’"
Whether that’s a fair question, however, is one to be debated, since the Congressional Budget Office said the Democrats’ bill would lower costs. Observers have noted that because of the bill’s design much of the benefits, however, would not take effect for years after passage. Republicans would therefore be benefiting from something politically in the short term that could wind up having positive effects later.
Cornyn seemed to tacitly acknowledge that. “Of course, most of the pain will begin immediately,” he said, “and the gain, if you look at it as gain, will come years down the road.”
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From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama delivered his most straight-forward, energized message in months in support of his proposal to overhaul the health-care system, spelling out what his plan would do and arguing that it is time for members of Congress to hold an up-or-down vote on the bill.
The administration has acknowledged this is their final push -- and their last best hope -- to get a health-care bill to the president's desk after a long and winding political saga.
Obama shed his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves here at Arcadia University outside Philadelphia, as he explained in simple terms what his plan would do and asked his supporters to hit the streets to campaign for its passage.
"We need to give families and businesses more control over their own health insurance and that's why we need to pass health care reform, not next year, not five years from, now not 10 years from now, but now," Obama said. "If not now, when? If not us, who?"
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From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro John Cornyn , chairman of the GOP Senate campaign committee, whether he was encouraging his Republican candidates to run on repealing health care -- if it ends up becoming law.
Cornyn hedged a bit. "In one form or the other, it will be a referendum on the health-care bill," he said.
"Daily Rundown" co-host Savannah Guthrie followed up with the same question: Will you make repeal a specific platform?
Cornyn's answer: "One way or the other, whether you call it repeal whether you call it a referendum... This is going to be the issue on which the November 2010 elections will be decided."
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However, about 30 minutes later at a NRSC pen-and-pad session, reporters asked Cornyn whether GOP candidates should run on repeal, he replied, "I believe so."
Also on the MSNBC program, Cornyn said he hopes Kay Bailey Hutchison -- after her failed gubernatorial bid -- doesn't resign from the Senate. "I'll hope she'll continue to serve, perhaps for the remainder of her term" -- which expires in 2012.
Obama hits the road to talk health care at 11:00 am ET… The New York Times’ one-two punch at the White House’s communications woes… Profiling bureaucratic “superstar” Tim Geithner… Yesterday’s voting in Iraq… Massa resigns from Congress at 5:00 pm ET. What the frack? And FOX’s Wallace puts Romney on the defensive on health care.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg On the road again : Do you remember the last time President Obama was on the road -- outside the DC Beltway -- for the sole reason to sell health-care reform? This might surprise you: It was Sept. 12, 2009 in Minneapolis. Of course, Obama almost always talks about health care, in some form or fashion, at every event inside or outside the Beltway.) But this is the first time in six months he's done an outside event OUTSIDE DC solely on health care. Well, Obama is back on the road, today talking about the issue at Arcadia University in Glenside, PA at 11:00 am ET. And on Wednesday, he goes to St. Louis, MO to promote his health-reform plans. The question we have today: Is Obama going to make more news on health care, or on the BCS (when he meets with the University of Alabama football team at 1:50 pm ET)? We noticed he did NOT invite Boise State today…
*** Message in a bottle : As Obama tries to sell health reform to a public that has increasingly become skeptical about the overall plan -- though perhaps not its individual components -- the New York Times delivered a one-two punch on Sunday regarding the White House’s communications woes. The first was a profile of the White House’s message impresario, David Axelrod: “The Obama White House has lost the narrative in the way that the Obama campaign never did,” Brown University political scientist James Morone said in that piece. “They essentially took the president’s great strength as a messenger and failed to use it smartly.” Second was this Frank Rich column : “In governing, Obama has yet to find a theme that is remotely as arresting to the majority of Americans who still like him and are desperate for him to succeed. The problem is not necessarily that Obama is trying to do too much, but that there is no consistent, clear message to unite all that he is trying to do.” (Did anyone else notice a silent Frank Rich in the middle of an "SNL" skit on Saturday night, er, Sunday morning?)
*** National Treasure? Speaking of the administration’s communications problems, two new profiles of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner reach a similar conclusion: Geithner and the Obama administration helped save the U.S. economy, but they are getting little credit for it. Here’s Josh Green’s profile of Geithner in The Atlantic Monthly : “[I]t’s possible to view him as someone who was indispensable in halting the crisis … while still doubting whether someone so steeped in the institutional cultures of Washington and Wall Street has the necessary distance to direct their reform.” And here’s the New Yorker’s : “‘My basic view is that we did a pretty successful job of putting out a severe financial crisis and avoiding a Great Depression or Great Deflation type of thing,’ [Geithner] said. “‘We saved the economy, but we kind of lost the public doing it.’”
*** Bureaucratic superstar : Green’s piece, by the way, has the best description we’ve read about Geithner: “He lacks the fully realized public persona most government officials develop by the time they’re chosen for important Cabinet positions. He doesn’t look like a Treasury secretary. He lacks presence. He’s trim and small, practically elfin, and, at 48, young for the job (he looks even younger). He doesn’t fit the Treasury secretary’s typical profile, either, since he is neither a businessman nor an economist nor a party eminence serving out a comfortable valedictory. Geithner is something else entirely—a superstar of the bureaucracy, whose rapid rise during the 1990s came in the Treasury Department he now runs. At heart, he’s an institutionalist."
*** Votes and violence in Iraq : The big news over the weekend was Sunday's election in Iraq. “Defying a sustained barrage of mortars and rockets in Baghdad and other cities, Iraqis went to the polls in strength on Sunday to choose a new Parliament meant to outlast the American military presence here,” the New York Times writes. “The shrugging response of voters could signal a fundamental weakening of the insurgency’s potency. At least 38 people were killed in Baghdad. But by day’s end, turnout was higher than expected, and certainly higher than in the last parliamentary election in 2005, marred by a similar level of violence.” Said Obama yesterday: “Today, in the face of violence from those who would only destroy, Iraqis took a step forward in the hard work of building up their country. The United States will continue to help them in that effort as we responsibly end this war, and support the Iraqi people as they take control of their future.”
*** The Massa mess : At 5:00 pm ET today, embattled Rep. Eric Massa officially resigns from Congress (which, it turns out, brings the magic number on health care back to 216). In fact, in a radio interview yesterday, Massa -- who voted against health care back in November -- suggested that Democratic leaders wanted him out of Congress because of that vote. “Now they’ve gotten rid of me and it will pass,” Massa said. (And we assume that Democrats are eager to lose his seat to the GOP, right?) Also in that radio interview, Massa described the salty language that started the controversy that led to his resignation. At a recent wedding, Massa said a “staff member made an intonation to me that maybe I should be chasing after the bridesmaid and his points were clear and his words were far more colorful than that,” Massa said. “And I grabbed the staff member sitting next to me and said, ‘Well, what I really ought to be doing is fracking you.’ And then [I] tossled the guy’s hair and left, went to my room, because I knew the party was getting to a point where it wasn’t right for me to be there. Now was that inappropriate of me? Absolutely. Am I guilty? Yes.”
*** Previewing Romney's primary fight? Last week, we noted the similarities between Romney-care and Obama-care -- and how they could be a political liability for him in the 2012 GOP primaries. On “FOX News Sunday” yesterday, Chris Wallace put Romney on the defensive on this issue. WALLACE: “But, Governor, let's look at the plan that you signed into law in Massachusetts in 2006. You have an individual mandate. You have an employer mandate. You have subsidiaries for some of the uninsured. You set minimum insurance coverage standards.” ROMNEY: A big difference -- a state plan versus a federal plan. No new taxes, unlike his plan. No cut in Medicare, unlike his plan. And no controls over insurance premiums, price controls, cost controls like his plan. So very, very different in that regard.” Still, you can see the line of attack that is going to develop on Romney in conservative circles… Of course, let's remember, as bad as immigration was for McCain in 2007, it didn't end his bid; he still got the nomination. But there are a lot of similarities between Romney and health care and McCain and immigration.
*** Harding to TSA : Per NBC's Athena Jones, the White House confirms that Obama plans to appoint retired Gen. Robert Harding -- a former senior Army official with a career in intelligence -- as head of the Transportation Security Administration.
*** More midterm news : In Arkansas, today is the filing deadline… In California, Carly Fiorina (R) officially files her Senate candidacy… In Nevada, Harry Reid officially files his candidacy, too … And in New York, embattled Gov. David Paterson yesterday said “he was the victim of innuendo and lies and that he would finish his term to ‘fulfill the mission in which God placed me,’” the New York Times says. Paterson also holds a town hall today .
Countdown to OR, PA filing deadlines: 1 day
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The Washington Post on yesterday’s election in Iraq: “On a day that began with the thundering explosion of insurgent mortar rounds and ended with outbursts of celebratory gunfire by hopeful political activists, millions of Iraqis voted Sunday to elect lawmakers who will rule this country for years as U.S. forces withdraw.”
Said Obama: “On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the Iraqi people on their courage throughout this historic election. Today, in the face of violence from those who would only destroy, Iraqis took a step forward in the hard work of building up their country. The United States will continue to help them in that effort as we responsibly end this war, and support the Iraqi people as they take control of their future.”
The Boston Globe goes to Richmond, Va.: "Here in the former capital of the Old Confederacy, where resistance to the supremacy of federal law has a long and tortuous history, a new battle is being waged over a question that could undercut a key part of President Obama’s health care proposal: whether Washington can require that most Americans have health insurance. The Virginia Legislature this week is poised to become the first state to pass legislation that says citizens cannot be required to have medical insurance. Dozens of other states are considering similar measures, possibly setting the stage for one of the greatest tests of federal power over the states since the civil rights era."
And the Washington Post goes to Iowa. “The state that launched Barack Obama toward the presidency just two years ago is looking like a tough sell for Democrats in 2010. Culver is in trouble, Rep. Leonard Boswell (D) is threatened and President Obama's popularity has dropped by one-third since he took office.”
Nancy Pelosi as John McCain? "As they try to reclaim the ethical high ground during a difficult stretch, House Democratic leaders are considering a dramatic move: declaring a party-wide ban on earmarks this year. The idea, floated by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in a leadership huddle Tuesday, is for House Democrats to outflank their Republican counterparts, who have mulled and rejected such a moratorium in recent years."
Eric Massa, resigning effective today at 5 p.m., "suggested [during an interview on a New York radio show] that the ethics dust-up may have been orchestrated by Democratic leaders to get him out of office before the health care vote,"
Roll Call writes. He also details his side of the story of what happened that resulted in the ethics complaint:
“On New Year’s Eve, I went to a staff party. It was actually a wedding for a staff member of mine; there were over 250 people there. I was with my wife. And in fact we had a great time. She got the stomach flu,” he said. Massa explained that he then danced first with the bride, who was not identified, and then with a bridesmaid. He said multiple cameras recorded the incident. “I said goodnight to the bridesmaid,” Massa continued. “I sat down at the table where my whole staff was, all of them by the way bachelors.” “One of them looked at me and as they would do after, I don’t know, 15 gin and tonics, and goodness only knows how many bottles of champagne, a staff member made an intonation to me that maybe I should be chasing after the bridesmaid and his points were clear and his words were far more colorful than that,” Massa said. “And I grabbed the staff member sitting next to me and said, ‘Well, what I really ought to be doing is fracking you.’ And then [I] tossled the guy’s hair and left, went to my room, because I knew the party was getting to a point where it wasn’t right for me to be there. Now was that inappropriate of me? Absolutely. Am I guilty? Yes.”
"The RNC will launch a new TV ad featuring chairman Michael Steele next week, taking the unusual step of appealing for donations via the airwaves in heavily GOP markets," Hotline reported Friday. "The 60-second spots will run in Tulsa; Oklahoma City; Cincinnati; Greensboro, NC; and West Palm Beach, FL. Steele will follow up the ad with personal visits to each market, where he will hold fundraisers. 'Pres. Obama and Nancy Pelosi are experimenting with America. Massive government expansion, government takeovers, redistribution of wealth, and staggering debt to countries like China and the Middle East,' Steele says in the ad. 'It's wrong, we can't afford it. It threatens our freedom.'" He continues: "But if people pull together, people can take our government back. Go to OurFreedomMatters.com. Make a donation. Washington is not listening. The President is not listening. Make them listen. Join with us. Go to OurFreedomMatters.com. Or dial 1-800-524-9004. Make a donation today, because our freedom is worth fighting for."
On the Sunday shows, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) expressed their disapproval over the RNC's fundraising material: “I don’t like it and I don’t know anybody that does,” McConnell said, adding, “Typically, the way parties raise money is because people believe in the causes that they advocate. I think the way we raise money from donors across America is to stand for things that we think are important.”
*** UPDATE ***
Meanwhile, the DNC has a TV ad hitting the RNC.
“Saturday Night Live” parodied Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in their opening bit this weekend: President Obama, played by Fred Armisen, “brushed off the notion that a vote for this legislation is political suicide: ‘Does anyone seriously think Nancy Pelosi could lose in her San Francisco district? A place where Republican candidates often finish fourth, behind professional dominatrixes and homeless people.’ He was more skeptical of Reid's chances, as the health care bill is ‘angry mob unpopular’ in Nevada,” the Huffington Post recaps. ARKANSAS : The New York Times profiles the challenges in her home state that Sen. Blanche Lincoln faces as she runs for re-election: "Caught in a surge of antigovernment sentiment, Mrs. Lincoln has been blasted by conservatives for allowing health care legislation to proceed, and has already attracted a slate of potential Republican challengers. At the same time, in a state with a more centrist tradition than most others in the South, she has become a target of the left for opposing a government-run public health care option, easier organizing rules for unions and regulation to fight global warming." his second ad this weekend. CALIFORNIA : " Former congressman Tom Campbell on Friday used the first debate in the California Senate race to demand that his challengers [Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVore] not engage in a "whispering campaign" claiming he is against Israel or is an anti-Semite," the AP reports. "Campbell requested the debate after his opponents began questioning his support for Israel. Their attacks were based on his voting record when he served in the House of Representatives and on campaign money given by a donor who later was revealed to have ties to a U.S.-listed terrorist organization."
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A look at the Week Ahead in politics.
FULL VIDEO HERE: The Week Ahead turns 1 year old. We celebrate with a First Read After Dark Party at the manor, Obama pushes health reform outside the Beltway in Philadelphia and St. Louis, Bidens to the Middle East, Scott Brown campaigns for McCain, McCain in NH for Ayotte, Santorum to Iowa, Palin hits Canadian speakers' circuit, Karl Rove's memoir's out, Romney's tour continues in Florida, Michigan, and California.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro President Obama delivers his weekly address on Saturday as usual.
But Republicans are rolling out Congressman Parker Griffith of Alabama, who switched parties in December, to deliver the GOP response.
Democrats remind us of the following ad Republicans ran against Griffith -- when he was running as a Democrat -- in which they accused him of "warehousing cancer patients" and saying he "can't be trusted."
From NBC’s Ali Weinberg The Washington Post's report today that
"President Obama’s advisers are nearing a recommendation that
Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, be prosecuted in a military tribunal" instead of civilian court has both sides of the blogosphere criticizing the White House for what is alternately an abuse of presidential power or an admission of weakness.
Matthew Yglesias, who writes for the liberal Center for American Progress' blog ThinkProgress , suggests that President Obama's possible overruling of Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to try Mohammed in civilian court would represent a dangerous blow to the checks and balances system: "When what you have is an opposition that’s pressuring incumbent officials to seize more power for themselves the incentive structure is nuts and the constitution is going to be shredded."
Yglesias also warns that Republicans would not relent in their criticism even if the White House were to move KSM to a military tribunal; as he sees it, bowing to political pressure: "anyone in the White House who thinks the right-wing can’t just gin up some new 'soft on terror' talking point is living in a dream world," he writes.
David Waldman, writing at Daily Kos, voices a similar sentiment. With a touch of sarcasm, he writes of a possible court switch,"This would officially mark the end of Republican attacks against President Obama on terrorism and detainee policy! And that's awesome!"CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
[EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this post incorrectly noted that Massa was resigning today.]
*** UPDATE *** statement from Massa's on his House Web site :
Two days ago as I sat reading my new annual CAT scan, having been told that the anomalies in the films may or may not be scar tissue, I decided to finally take the advice that my doctors have repeatedly given me, and that is to take care of my family and myself before my profession. After I decided not to run again I was told, for the first time, that a member of my staff believed I had made statements that made him feel "uncomfortable." I was told that a report had been filed with the Congressional Ethics Committee. At no point prior to this had any member of the Ethics Committee communicated with me directly - if fact I first read it on the internet.
I own this reality. There is no doubt in my mind that I did in fact, use language in the privacy of my own home and in my inner office that, after 24 years in the Navy, might make a Chief Petty Officer feel uncomfortable. In fact, there is no doubt that this Ethics issue is my fault and mine alone. But in the incredibly toxic atmosphere that is Washington D.C., with the destruction of our elected leaders having become a blood sport, especially in talk radio and on the internet, there is also no doubt that an Ethics investigation would tear my family and my staff apart. Some would say that this is what happens when you stand apart from political parties, which I have done. Others will say that this is what happens to a non politician when they go to Washington DC. I want to make something perfectly clear. My difficulties are of my own making. Period. I am also aware that blogs and radio will have a field day with this in today's destructive and unforgiving political environment. In that investigators would be free to ask anything about me going back to my birth, I simply cannot rise to that level of perfection. God knows that I am a deeply flawed and imperfect person.
During long car rides, in the early hours of the evening, late at night and always in private, I know that my own language failed to meet the standards that I set for all around me and myself. I fell short and I believe now, as I have always believed, that it is not enough to simply talk the talk, but rather I must take action to hold myself accountable.
Therefore, effective at 5 PM on Monday the 8th of March I will resign my position as the Federal Representative of New York's 29th Congressional District in the 111th Congress. I do so with a profound sense of failure and a deep apology to all those whom, for the past year, I tried to represent as our Nation struggles with problems far greater than anyone can possibly imagine. I hope that my family, constituents, and fellow Members of Congress can accept this apology as being both genuine and heartfelt and I wish for them and all Americans only the best. I will take all actions possible to ensure that my personal health is secured in that I know that mine is a far more fragile lifeline than most. For the millions of fellow cancer survivors with whom I share this experience, they, more than anyone else, will understand the honesty and openness in this statement.
I ask that members of the press respect the privacy of my family, my staff, and me at this time.
NBC's Luke Russert has a timeline of events:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro state Sen. Bill Brady was declared the winner today.
Election officials declared "that he edged state Sen. Kirk Dillard by a margin of 193 votes," CQ reports.
Dillard is expected to concede at a 2:30 pm ET press conference.
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama used a trip to a company that promotes energy savings to tout his proposals to boost job creation and accelerate the country's recovery from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
His remarks came on the same day the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the unemployment rate held steady at 9.7 percent during the month of February, a sign that job growth remains flat. Even so, the 36,000 jobs lost during the month was less than the 50,000 many analysts had forecast. Administration officials had suggested the economy could lose as much as 200,000 jobs during the month as a consequence of severe winter storms.
"It shows that the measures that we're taking to turn our economy around are having some impact," he said. "But even though it's better than expected, it's more than we should tolerate. Far too many Americans remain out of work. Far too many families are still struggling in these difficult economic times and that's why I'm not going to rest, and my administration is not going to rest, in our efforts to help people who are looking to find a job; to help business owners who want to expand feel comfortable hiring again."
CONTINUED >>
The Democrats experience a pretty rough week, although a better-than-expected jobs report lessens the bad news… Republicans convince Nathan Deal to postpone his retirement (increasing the Dems’ magic number on health care to 217), while Democrats continue to herd cats… Is the Obama administration changing its mind on the KSM trial?… Looking numerically at McCain’s voting record… First Read’s Top 10 House takeovers (and also Top 10 toss-ups and majority-makers)… And William Delahunt becomes the latest House Dem to announce retirement.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Dems’ rough week: Simply put, this has been a rough week for Democrats. They now have a competitive Senate primary in Arkansas, which makes the party's chances of holding the Arkansas Senate seat look even less likely. Rep. Charlie Rangel had to step down as Ways and Means Committee chairman due to ethics problems. Rep. Eric Massa announced he was retiring, and no matter the reason, it gives Republicans an excellent pick-up opportunity in that Upstate New York district -- and also cements the "ethics problems hurting Democrats" storyline. And the capstone: Last night, we learned that Rep. William Delahunt is retiring, putting another Democratic House seat up for grabs (although Dems have a much better chance of holding on to that seat than Massa’s).
*** But on the bright side…: Still, the week wasn’t all bad news for Democrats. The Bunning blockade was a P.R. disaster for congressional Republicans. The new jobs report (the unemployment rate remains unchanged at 9.7%, with 36,000 jobs lost in February) was better than expected, though it’s more evidence that Dems can’t catch a break (had it not been for the snow in the Northeast, the report could have been VERY good news). And, despite the Democrats’ difficulty herding cats on health care (see below), everything we’re hearing suggests that they’re on course to pass health care. And they better: If Obama does NOT get health care, it'll paralyze the party and the president for the rest of the year.
*** Let’s make a deal: If you want to see the difference between Democrats and Republicans -- or more accurately, the difference between the majority and minority parties -- just consider what happened yesterday. On the Republican side, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor was able to convince Rep. Nathan Deal (R) to postpone his decision to resign from Congress to concentrate solely on his race for Georgia governor. That decision -- putting the party before the personal -- now means House Democrats will now need 217 votes to pass health care, not 216. On the other hand yesterday, Democrats were hearing Rep. Bart Stupak (D) say that he and a handful of other House Dems would vote against the health measure if he didn't get his way on abortion. One other thing: The White House’s deadline for the House to pass health care by March 18 may seem like a bit much for House Dems. But how does delay get them MORE votes? More time equals more public debate, no? What makes Dems think if they can't get the votes by 3/18 that they CAN get them by 3/25?
*** Backing down on KSM? The Washington Post has this scoop: “President Obama's advisers are nearing a recommendation that Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, be prosecuted in a military tribunal, administration officials said, a step that would reverse Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s plan to try him in civilian court in New York City. The president's advisers feel increasingly hemmed in by bipartisan opposition to a federal trial in New York and demands, mainly from Republicans, that Mohammed and his accused co-conspirators remain under military jurisdiction, officials said.” Of course, this does beg the question of the issue of "politics influencing the Justice Department." The only reason this is happening is due to politics.
*** McCain’s more conservative record: Today and tomorrow, John McCain campaigns in Arizona with Sen. Scott Brown (R). And you could say that McCain has done everything possible to protect his right flank as he faces a GOP primary challenge in this political environment. Besides stumping with Brown, McCain has embraced Sarah Palin (who campaigns for McCain later), and he has built up a more conservative voting record. How more conservative has it become? According to National Journal’s vote ratings, McCain’s composite conservative score in 1995 was 70.2, meaning that he was more conservative than 70.2% of the Senate (putting him in the middle of the GOP pack). Here are the other years:
1996: 75.3
*** All about Obama and the Dem Congress? If you make those numbers above into a linear graph, you can see that McCain became steadily less conservative -- especially during the Bush years -- before racking up his highest conservative rating last year. McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan tells First Read that McCain’s more conservative score in 2009 shouldn’t be surprising given the stimulus, omnibus, and health-care votes. “We are in different times,” she said. “We are right to this Congress and we are right to this administration.” She also says that McCain’s conservative score in 2009 came before J.D. Hayworth officially entered the race this year. And she adds that McCain’s votes against the Bush tax cuts, his support for immigration reform, etc. is reflected in his lower conservative scores from 2001 to 2006.
*** First Read’s Top 10 House Takeovers: If it’s Friday, it’s another First Read Top 10 list -- this time our look at what we consider the 10 most likely congressional districts to switch parties in November:
1. LA-2 (R-Cao): The Vietnamese-American, who surprisingly won this African-American majority district that was held by convicted William Jefferson, has been a Democratic target since his 2008 victory and is facing an uphill battle.2. TN-6 (D-Open-Gordon): The retirement of Democrat Bart Gordon makes this GOP-leaning district a nearly automatic pick-up for Republicans.3. DE-AL (R-Open-Castle): Mike Castle’s decision to run for the Senate gives Democrats an excellent chance of winning Delaware’s sole congressional seat. 4. LA-3 (D-Open-Melancon): Once again, a Senate committee's gain is the congressional committee's loss. Rep. Charlie Melancon's decision to run against David Vitter for Senate gives the GOP another good takeover opportunity.5. IN-8 (D-Open-Ellsworth): Brad Ellsworth's decision to run for the Senate seat opened up by Evan Bayh's exit puts this once-longtime GOP seat potentially back in the Republican column.6. NY-29 (D-Open-Massa): Whatever freshman Eric Massa's reason for not running for reelection, his retirement gives the GOP a very good chance in this Upstate New York district McCain carried in ‘08.7. MD-1 (D-Kratovil): Freshman Frank Kratovil, who eked out a narrow victory in ‘08, looks to be in danger in this traditionally Republican district. Obama may have won the state overwhelmingly, but McCain won the district 58%-40%. And there won't be an Obama surge this time.8. IL-10 (R-Open-Kirk): The third-best chance for Democrats this cycle is Mark Kirk's old seat; Kirk is running for the Senate.9. KS-3 (D-Open-Moore): Another retirement. Dennis Moore's decision to not run for re-election has given the GOP yet another target. And Democrats still don't have a candidate. Some think the best Dem could be Moore's wife, but she hasn't committed.10. OH-15 (D-Kilroy): This perennial target seat could be switching hands, as the incumbent Democrat here underperformed Obama in 2008
*** Top 10 House Toss-Ups: Here, in alphabetical order by state, are what we consider to be the 10 most competitive House districts, all of which are held by Democrats: CO-4 (D-Markey); ID-1 (D-Minnick); NM-2 (D-Teague); NH-2 (D-Open-Hodes); NV-3 (D-Titus); OH-1 (D-Driehaus); PA-7 (D-Open-Sestak);TN-8 (D-Open-Tanner); VA-5 (D-Perriello); and WA-3 (D-Open-Baird).
*** Top 10 Majority Makers: And here, in alphabetical order by state, are what we consider to be 10 districts -- where Democrats are currently favored -- that could tell us whether or not Republicans will win back control of the House: AZ-8 (D-Giffords); IA-3 (D-Boswell); MO-4 (D-Skelton); NY-1 (D-Bishop); OH-16 (D-Boccieri); OH-18 (D-Space); PA-8 (D-Murphy); SC-5 (D-Spratt); WV-1 (D-Mollohan); and WI-8 (D-Kagen).
*** More midterm news: In Arkansas, on the same day that Bill Clinton’s spokesman said that the former president was backing Blanche Lincoln in her Democratic primary, EMILY’s List said it wouldn’t be helping the incumbent Democrat… In Massachusetts, Rep. William Delahunt (D) announced his retirement ; the Rothenberg Political Report moved the district from “Safe” to “Democrat Favored”… And in Wyoming, Gov. Dave Freudenthal’s (D) announcement that he won’t seek another term gives Republicans an excellent shot at taking over the governor’s mansion.
*** Programming notes: MSNBC’s Daily Rundown interviews White House economic adviser Christina Romer on the jobs report. And MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” has Democratic Sens. Chris Dodd and Carl Levin, and new Ways and Means Chairman Sandy Levin (Carl’s brother).
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The Washington Post : “An aide to President Obama urged lawmakers on Thursday to make substantial progress on his health-care plan before he leaves on a foreign trip in mid-March, as Obama summoned wavering House Democrats to the White House for a private sales pitch. The president also made a surprise visit to insurance company chief executives, brandishing a letter from a cancer patient as he admonished them about what he has called excessive rate increases.”
“Taken together, the actions reflected the sense of urgency inside the West Wing for Congress to brush aside legislative delays and election-year politics and pass the president's top domestic priority.”
"Several lawmakers who were invited [to a Thursday meeting at the White House] said Obama didn’t tell them what the meetings were about, but that it was fairly obvious based on the guest list. 'It’s the problem children who are being invited,' said one Member who planned on attending the meeting."
On the charge that Obama has in the past spoken out against using a 50-plus-one legislative strategy, AP finds against White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, who said Obama was talking about electoral strategy. "Obama wasn't talking about polls or public opinion -- or only about electoral politics -- in the interview," the AP writes.
And: "The House Foreign Affairs Committee narrowly passed a nonbinding resolution yesterday that condemns the World War I-era killings of Armenians as genocide, despite warnings by the Obama administration that such a move would anger Turkey, a key US ally in the Middle East, and would put fragile reconciliation efforts between Turkey and Armenia at risk," the AP writes. As a result, Turkey pulled its ambassador .
"The House passed the Senate's $15 billion jobs bill in a 217-201 vote on Thursday," The Hill writes. "Lawmakers voted to approve the package, which provides a series of tax credits for job creation and other stimulus measures, after Democrats struggled to pass a rule for the legislation."
The New York Times adds, “The Senate passed the bill last week on a bipartisan vote. But because the House altered the measure, the Senate must approve the revised bill before President Obama can sign it into law. The Senate is expected to take it up again next week.”
The Times also links the Rangel, Massa, and Paterson news -- along with Edwards and Spitzer. “The ethical woes facing Democrats are piling up, with barely a day passing in recent weeks without headlines from Washington to New York and beyond filled with word of scandal or allegations of wrongdoing. The troubles of Gov. David A. Paterson of New York, followed by those of two of the state’s congressmen, Charles B. Rangel and Eric J. Massa, have added to the ranks of episodes involving prominent Democrats like Eliot Spitzer, Rod R. Blagojevich and John Edwards.”
CONTINUED >>
In his National Journal column, Ron Brownstein notes the contradiction of Romney portraying himself as a “Fix-It” man -- but also giving that combative CPAC speech and launching a broadside at Democrats at the end of his new book. “[T]hese messages vary enough to suggest that Romney still hasn’t entirely decided whether to take the pragmatist or crusader path if he runs in 2012.”
Brownstein concludes, “He seems determined to simultaneously convey that he is reasonable and angry. Reasonable suits Romney better, and yet now, as in 2008, he appears uncertain that he can capture the GOP’s heart while wearing the clothes that fit him best.”
Palin’s reality show? "No one ever doubted that Sarah Palin was a survivor, but she's taking that a step further by pitching a reality show with 'Survivor' producer Mark Burnett," the New York Daily News reports. "Palin and the master of reality television have been shopping a docudrama about Alaska to all the major broadcasters, multiple sources told EntertainmentWeekly.com. She and Burnett have taken meetings at ABC and CBS, with plans to stop by NBC. They also confabbed with reality chief Mike Darnell at Fox, where the Palin family seized the opportunity to visit 'American Idol,' though the former vice-presidential candidate stayed in the green room."
ARIZONA: The Boston Globe tees up Scott Brown's campaigning with Sen. John McCain, who it says "will attempt to enhance his conservative bona fides by hosting the party’s new darling." They'll hit a campaign rally and fundraiser in Phoenix today, then a trip to Tucson tomorrow where they'll take in a University of Arizona basketball game. "This will be the first campaign event outside Massachusetts for Brown, who was virtually unknown outside his Wrentham state Senate district just three months ago. The new senator has received dozens of invitations from candidates wanting him to campaign on their behalf around the nation, but he has no other events scheduled beyond McCain’s."
ARKANSAS: Sen. Blanche Lincoln released a new ad yesterday, featuring a room full of bickering children exemplifying “what it’s like in Washington these days.” And on the same day former President Bill Clinton endorsed Lincoln, the pro-choice group EMILY’s List reiterated its withdrawal of support for her, which was first announced in 1999.
GEORGIA: "Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) will not be leaving Congress on Monday , as he announced earlier this week, but will instead stay through the upcoming House vote on a health care overhaul." This means Democrats need one more vote, 217, to pass health care.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Bill Halter in his primary challenge to Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D), Greg Sargent reports that former President Bill Clinton is backing Lincoln.
"Sen. Lincoln asked President Clinton several months ago to support her reelection,” Clinton's spokesman told Sargent. “He said he would, and he does.”
"[The spokesman] confirmed that this applies to the Dem primary, too, and declined further comment."
From NBC's Betsy Cline Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader John Boehner touched briefly on the abortion controversy stemming from the Democrats' health care proposal.
Pelosi said she wouldn't have a debate about abortion, because "this is not about abortion, this is a bill about providing quality health care for all Americans." According to Pelosi, if everyone agrees that "there is no federally funded abortion, ... there is no change to the access to abortion," then there is a health care bill, Democrats can and will pass it.
When asked about reports of Democratic defections over the abortion controversy, including Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak's line in the sand on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthew yesterday, Pelosi said, "When people think there isn't going to be a bill, they can take whatever position they want," but now, "these members are saying, 'Let's talk'."
CONTINUED >>
*** UPDATE ***
From NBC's Luke Russert and Domenico Montanaro The $15 billion jobs bill, which passed the Senate last week 70-28, is on the House floor right now. The final vote will most likely be at around 3:00 pm ET.
A vote wasn't held earlier on the legislation because negotiations weren't complete with the Congressional Black Caucus, which saw the bill more as a tax-cut bill and not a jobs bill. Reportedly, a deal was cut to include an additional $1.5 billion "for a summer jobs program that sends funds to local organizations who hire unemployed youth during the summer," The Hill reported.
Republicans are upset because the final bill language was released at 9:35 am today, not giving them enough time to read the bill, they say.
Some details of the bill from Speaker Pelosi's office:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Athena Jones Kathleen Sebelius said companies should make information about their requests to raise insurance premiums available online.
Sebelius made the remarks after a meeting with executives from the nation's top insurance providers and a handful of state insurance commissioners on how to bring down health care costs.
"I'm hoping the CEOs respond to the call" of putting this information up in public so the administration can "shine a bright light" on their practices, she said.
The call comes just weeks after WellPoint's Anthem Blue Cross proposed raising premiums by as much as 39% in California. That rate increase request has been withdrawn for at least two months and the California insurance commission has opened an investigation into the matter, Sebelius said.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Blanche Lincoln , a Washington, D.C., Democrat?
Lincoln, one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents running for re-election this year, is up with a new ad seeking to distance herself from Washington -- and the Democratic Party.
The ad depicts Washington as rowdy schoolchildren. "This is why I voted against giving more money to Wall Street, against the auto company bailout, against the public option health care plan, and against the cap and trade bill that would have raised energy costs on Arkansans," Lincoln says in the ad. "None of those were right for Arkansas. Some in my party didn’t like it very much. But I approved this message because I don’t answer to my party. I answer to Arkansas."
The ad is running from March 5-12 statewide. A Lincoln source calls it "a substantial buy."
From NBC's Betsy Cline Nancy Pelosi said today the American people ought to know more about what she called "total obstruction" by the Republican Party in the Senate. Referring to Sen. Jim Bunning 's hold-up of unemployment benefits earlier this week, Pelosi said, "It's not about rules, it's about a decision they've made to obstruct."
"The idea you need 100 percent in order to proceed is something the American people should know more about," she said.
In her weekly briefing on Capitol Hill, Pelosi seemed encouraged about passing health reform: "Our members are very excited about what comes next," but she cautioned, "Every legislative vote is a heavy lift around here, assume nothing."
Pelosi was also asked if the Democratic Party was in crisis, to which she responded, "I feel strong. We were very effective in passing the Obama agenda in 2009," but she said, "When you're effective, you're a target.
From NBC's Pete Williams Dave Freudenthal will announce today that he will not run for a third term.
The two-term Democrat is hugely popular, winning re-election in 2006 by the largest margin in state history. His high approval ratings are especially surprising in a staunchly Republican state.
The Wyoming governorship will now almost certainly switch back to Republican control. No Democrats in the state have anything approaching Freudenthal's popularity. Republicans who have already announced their candidacies include Matt Mead, grandson of former Wyoming Sen. Cliff Hansen . Another who may now get into the race is state House Speaker Colin Simpson, son of former Wyoming Sen. Al Simpson .
Had Freudenthal decided to run again, he would have faced a state law limiting the state's top elected officials to two terms. But it was expected that he could have successfully mounted a challenge to the law under the state constitution. The Wyoming Supreme Court earlier invalidated a term limit for state legislators.
From NBC's Shawna Thomas and Domenico Montanaro Pete Stark 's tenure as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee may go down as the shortest chairmanship in history.
Democrats have chosen Michigan Congressman Sander Levin , 78, as Ways and Means chairman, replacing embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), who relinquished his chairmanship yesterday amid an ongoing ethics investigation, according to Rep. Chris Van Hollen . The decision does not have to go to the full house for a vote.
Here's some of AP's reporting: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the appointment at a closed door caucus meeting, the spokesman said. Democratic Rep. Pete Stark of California had been in line for the post based on seniority. But a Democratic lawmaker said he chose instead to remain chairman of the panel's health subcommittee."
Many Democrats had been concerned about some of Stark's prior comments, many of which have been highlighted by Republicans.
*** UPDATE ***
When asked if the full House needed to vote on Levin being the next chairman, Van Hollen said, "Under the rules of the temporary chairmanship, this is now complete."
Are we all experiencing 2006 déjà vu?... President Obama’s doubles down on health care… Rove admits in his book -- point blank -- that Bush went to war under false pretenses in Iraq… Trying to make sense of the Democrats’ Massa Mess… Co-chairs at Ways and Means? … Club for Growth goes after Bennett in Utah… Giannoulias’ struggles in Illinois… And the name (blame) game down in Texas. From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Back to the Future : Who else has the feeling we’ve jumped into a time machine -- DeLorean or hot tub, your pick -- and traveled back to 2006? A powerful congressional leader (swap Tom DeLay for Charlie Rangel) has stepped down from his powerful leadership post. A congressman hailing from the majority (swap Mark Foley for Eric Massa) is battling allegations of misconduct with underlings/staffers. The president’s top domestic priorities (swap Social Security and immigration for health care and cap-and-trade) are in trouble. And the party in power is staring at the distinct possibility of losing lots of seats, maybe even its majorities, in the upcoming midterms. Just to add to the 2006 déjà vu, Reuters has this news from Iraq (“Suicide bombers killed seven soldiers and wounded 25 in two separate attacks on polling centres in Baghdad as security forces, inmates and the infirm took part in early voting ahead of Iraq's national polls”), and Karl Rove is back in the news with his new memoir defending George W. Bush’s legacy.
*** Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast : What should be particularly striking is that the GOP woes in 2006 came after a decade in control of Congress and in Bush’s sixth year in office; for Democrats, this bad news is coming after three-plus years in the congressional majority and in their president’s second year. On the bright side for Democrats, we guess, is that these troubles are coming a full eight months before the midterms, giving them time to repair the damage and hope for better news (that the economy turns around, that health care gets passed). Still, folks should take a bit of a deep breath, because the key word in describing a volatile political environment is the word "volatile." And when there is time before an election, there's time for more volatility.
*** The health-care gamble : Turning to President Obama’s health-care speech yesterday, we thought this was his most striking line: ''At stake right now is not just our ability to solve this problem, but our ability to solve any problem. The American people want to know if it's still possible for Washington to look out for their interests and their future.'' The AP’s Ron Fournier interprets this line as Obama running against Washington, casting himself as the outsider as he sits inside the White House. But it's also an admission that if he CAN'T get this done now, it's proof that Washington is truly broken. Lost in all the debates over process -- should Senate Democrats use reconciliation, what kind of assurances should House Democrats receive from the Senate? -- is what a HUGE political gamble this now is for the president. He's doubling down on health care. And if he can't get this done, it will diminish his presidency as it will send a signal he can't lead his own party. It would also signal that, despite their significant majorities, congressional Democrats can’t govern, either. Which, of course, is what that line in the president's speech basically warned, and it's the LAST best political pitch the White House has with wavering House Democrats.
*** Rove’s admission : Speaking of Karl Rove’s new memoir, is it us, or does he admit in his book -- point blank -- that George W. Bush went to war in Iraq under false pretenses? “Would the Iraq war have occurred without W.M.D.? I doubt it,” Rove writes . “Congress was very unlikely to have supported the use-of-force resolution without the W.M.D. threat. The Bush administration itself would probably have sought other ways to constrain Saddam, bring about regime change, and deal with Iraq’s horrendous human rights violations.” Wow. Many in the chattering class take for granted the facts regarding WMD and Iraq now, but to have someone THIS close to the former president tell the world that this war was waged under false pretenses is stunning. Now partisans on both sides will get into their corners, but Rove has re-opened the Iraq debate again, and it's happening on the eve of one of the most crucial periods in THAT country's history.
*** The Massa mess : Regarding Rep. Eric Massa’s (D) retirement and the allegations of misconduct with his staffers (which he denies, saying his retirement is due to a recurrence of cancer), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s office released a statement that suggested there’s smoke to the proverbial fire. "The week of February 8th, a member of Rep. Massa's staff brought to the attention of Mr. Hoyer's staff allegations of misconduct that had been made against Mr. Massa. Mr. Hoyer's staff immediately informed him of what they had been told. Mr. Hoyer instructed his staff that if Mr. Massa or his staff did not bring the matter to the attention of the bipartisan Ethics Committee within 48 hours, Mr. Hoyer would do so. Within 48 hours, Mr. Hoyer received confirmation from both the Ethics Committee staff and Mr. Massa's staff that the Ethics Committee had been contacted and would review the allegations. Mr. Hoyer does not know whether the allegations are true or false, but wanted to ensure that the bipartisan committee charged with overseeing conduct of Members was immediately involved to determine the facts."
*** Another GOP pick-up opportunity : Still, we suggest that everyone take a deep breath with this story. It was pretty astonishing to watch all of collective Washington immediately jump to the Mark Foley comparisons. But there is one key difference: The Foley news came just weeks before Election Day 2006, while we’re still eight months away from the midterms. That said, Massa’s retirement is very good news for Republicans and bad news for Democrats. He represents a swing district in upstate New York that used to be reliably Republican. This is a huge opportunity for the GOP.
*** Leap frog game at Ways and Means : By the way, here’s our latest reporting on who will succeed Rangel at the House Ways and Means Committee. Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- as a compromise -- is pushing a co-chair idea for rest of this year for both Pete Stark and Sandy Levin. Stark offered to be chair until November only, but Ways and Means Democrats couldn't unite around that, either. Pelosi would like to avoid a full caucus vote on this issue, though Stark is pushing that. Ways and Means Democrats are meeting again today in an attempt to resolve this without having to go to entire Dem caucus.
*** The Club vs. Bennett : Pegged to Utah’s upcoming March 23 precinct caucuses, the Club for Growth is running a TV ad targeting Sen. Bob Bennett. We’ve said before that this is the best GOP primary no one is talking about. Here’s the TV ad : “Since Utahns last sent Senator Bob Bennett to Washington, he voted to bail out Wall Street, voted for billions in wasteful spending like Alaska’s ‘Bridge to Nowhere,’ even joined with liberals supporting big government health care. Had enough? On March 23rd, vote for a change at your local Utah Republican precinct caucus. To learn more, go to StopBobBennett.com.” Our question, the Club has targeted only two other incumbent senators -- Arlen Specter and Lincoln Chafee -- THIS aggressively in the past. But is Bennett really in the same ideological category as Specter and Chafee?
*** Alexi’s troubles : Meanwhile, in Illinois, Alexi Giannoulias is trying to get out in front of more damaging stories about his family’s bank. “Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias sought to blunt a potentially damaging political issue today about questions regarding his involvement in his family’s struggling bank, which he said he expects will likely fail in the coming months,” the Chicago Tribune reports. “But questions were still left unanswered following a more than 70-minute meeting with the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board. Among them were exactly what Giannoulias knew about convicted bookmaker Michael Giorango’s criminal past when he received loans from Broadway Bank, and how many of the bank's troubled loans were made while Giannoulias was working there.” Does the White House and Illinois Democratic Party deserve blame here for having a nominee with this kind of baggage? This wasn't news; everyone with Chicago ties that now resides in Washington was fully aware of this baggage, and even privately worried about it. How comfortable is the president of the United States going to be campaigning for the Dem nominee in his home state? Will every event Obama does in Illinois be a joint event with the governor or entire Dem Party?
*** The name game : Republican political consultants who are trying to improve the GOP’s standing with Latino voters might consider this a troubling development. In the Texas GOP primary Tuesday night, a virtually unknown CPA (David Porter) surprisingly defeated a sitting commissioner on the powerful Texas Railroad Commission (Victor Carrillo), despite being greatly outspent. And Carrillo is now attributing his loss to his Hispanic surname. “Given the choice between ‘Porter’ and ‘Carrillo’ -- unfortunately, the Hispanic-surname was a serious setback from which I could never recover although I did all in my power to overcome this built-in bias,” Carrillo said . “I saw it last time but was able to win because the ‘non-Carrillo’ vote was spread among three Anglo GOP primary opponents instead of just one. Also, the political dynamics have changed some since 2004.” Of course, Carrillo’s charge could simply be sour grapes. Still, it’s also clear -- with Rick Perry’s flirtation with secession and with Debra Medina getting 18% on Tuesday -- that this is no longer George W. Bush’s Texas GOP.
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The New York Times : "President Obama, beginning his final push for a health care overhaul, called Wednesday for Congress to allow an 'up or down vote' on the measure, and sketched out an ambitious — and, some Democrats said, unrealistic — timetable for his party to pass a bill on its own within weeks."
The Washington Post adds, “In a speech at the White House, Obama urged Congress to "finish its work" on health care and indicated support for a strategy that includes the budget maneuver known as reconciliation, which would protect the final product from a Republican filibuster in the Senate. Obama told an audience of medical professionals that Congress ‘owes the American people a final vote on health-care reform.’”
The Boston Globe : “Obama’s comments, the strongest public tactical direction he has offered in the 15-month battle over health care overhaul, were welcomed by Democrats, some of whom have been grousing privately that Obama needed to show more leadership.”
Roll Call writes of Obama’s message to Congress yesterday: “No more meetings. No more compromises. Pass a final health care reform bill within the next three weeks.”
CONTINUED >>
“Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that he has used ‘salty language’ with staff but that it's not the reason he's retiring, The Hill writes. Massa announced he would retire from Congress after just one term, but said reports that he is under investigation for sexually harassing a male staffer are besides the point.”
Roll Call : “Ironically, Massa prospered politically in part because of the whiff of scandal surrounding the man he ousted last cycle, then-Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-N.Y.). When Kuhl was first running for the seat in 2004, details of a prior drunken driving arrest and his messy divorce became public -- including testimony that he had threatened his ex-wife with two shotguns -- and Kuhl never really regained his political footing, even though he won two House terms (defeating Massa by 3 points in 2006). Kuhl on Wednesday night hinted that he might run for his old seat, but he mostly sent best wishes to Massa in a two-paragraph statement.”
Details of allegations of sexual harassment were not clear. “The incident, which was described only as a situation where a member of Massa’s staff was made to feel uncomfortable, was relayed on Feb. 8 by a Massa staff member to the staff of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), according to Hoyer’s office,” The Hill notes, adding that “the exact nature of the complaint itself remains shrouded in mystery. A Democratic aide said a Massa staffer was made to feel uncomfortable but it was not detailed how… Democratic aides said they understood the Ethics Committee was still gathering information about the complaint, meaning the committee may not have informed Massa that they had launched a formal inquiry.”
The AP adds, “The allegation involved a male staffer, a House aide told The Associated Press, but the aide wouldn't characterize the allegation further.”
CONTINUED >>
The Republican National Committee plans to raise money this election cycle through an aggressive campaign capitalizing on “fear” of President Barack Obama and a promise to "save the country from trending toward socialism,” Politico’s Ben Smith reports. “In neat PowerPoint pages, [the presentation] lifts the curtain on the often-cynical terms of political marketing, displaying an air of disdain for the party’s donors that is usually confined to the barroom conversations of political operatives.
"Karl Rove, the chief political adviser to President George W. Bush and architect of his two successful campaigns for the White House, says in a new memoir that Mr. Bush probably would not have invaded Iraq had he known there were no unconventional weapons there," the New York Times says. "Mr. Rove adamantly rejects accusations that the administration deliberately lied about the presence of such weapons in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. But he acknowledges that the failure to find them badly damaged Mr. Bush’s presidency, and he blames himself for not countering the narrative that 'Bush lied,' calling it 'one of the biggest mistakes of the Bush years.'"
ARIZONA: It's 2006 all over again, but not in the way you'd think: “Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is using J.D. Hayworth’s legal trust to hammer his primary opponent about his entanglement in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal,” The Hill reports.
CONNECTICUT : Senate candidate and WWE CEO Linda McMahon is out with a new campaign ad , with her daughter narrating Linda’s role in building up the wrestling empire.
ILLINOIS : State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias acknowledged Wednesday that his family bank, Broadway Bank, will probably fail,” the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Starting a tour of ‘clearing the air’ meetings with the media to talk about the bank that entered a consent decree with federal regulators just before the primary election, Giannoulias admitted, in hindsight, he probably should not have focused so much on real estate. ‘I take my share of responsibility for possibly concentrating too much in commercial real estate,’ Giannoulias told the Sun-Times’ editorial board.” KENTUCKY : Secretary of State and Senate candidate Trey Grayson is up with a new TV ad , playing up his record of cutting spending and reducing waste.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Brenda Shepard and Jessica Stringfield Paul Hodes (D) seized on GOP Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte's stated opposition to the $15 billion jobs bill that passed the Senate last week.
“Hodes is offering solutions, and all we’re getting from [Ayotte] is silence and political rhetoric,” Hodes Communications Director Mark Bergman said on the call.
Ayotte "hasn’t offered any real concrete ideas,” added Hodes Campaign Manager Martin. “This is the most important issue facing Granite Staters every day. They're worried about their jobs. They're worried about keeping their jobs, finding one. And she’s yet to put anything on the table that’s really substantive that would actually include the economy."
In an interview with ABC this week, Ayotte said this about the Senate jobs bill: “I don't think that particular proposal I would have supported... I did like pieces of it. I liked the payroll tax-cut piece. There were other pieces of spending in it that I don't think we would have; one of the concerns I had with the bill is how we're going to pay for it. And there wasn't a proposal on the table to say we're going to have corresponding cuts to pay for it, or even we're going to use existing stimulus money to pay for it.”
*** UPDATE ***
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama on Wednesday urged Congress to "finish its work" and get a bill to his desk.
Revamping the nation's health care system has long been at the top of the president's domestic agenda and the issue has sparked rancorous debate, especially during a series of town hall meetings last summer. Critics say Obama has spent too much time and too much political capital on the issue at the expense of focusing on efforts to put Americans back to work.
Today's brief remarks represented what the White House hopes will be the beginning of the final act in the long and winding saga to pass health care legislation. The goal is to get the bill through Congress in the "next few weeks" -- ideally before the Easter recess -- with the House passing the Senate bill with fixes and the Senate passing the fixes through reconciliation, which requires a simple majority rather than the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster. Obama today sought to make the case for moving forward quickly, given consistent and unified Republican opposition to the plan after a year of debate.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama hosts a reception at the White House thanking members of Congress for their efforts to pass pay-as-go (PAYGO) legislation -- something congressional Blue Dogs have championed. And as we mentioned earlier this morning, don't be surprised if the president tries to twist some arms on health care.
The White House has released a list of the 31 senators and members of Congress who will be attending. As it turns out, 10 of the House members attending voted against the health-care legislation that passed last year: Jason Altmire (PA), Allan Boyd (FL), Lincoln Davis (TN), Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (SD), Frank Kratovil (MD), Betsy Markey (CO), Jim Matheson (UT), Scott Murphy (NY), Heath Shuler (NC), and John Tanner (TN).
Sixteen House members attending this afternoon -- including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer -- voted for the bill.
And all five senators attending voted for the Senate bill that passed on Christmas Eve, but would probably be needed on a reconciliation vote: Mark Begich (AK), Michael Bennet (CO), Kent Conrad (ND), Claire McCaskill (MO), and Arlen Specter (PA).
From NBC's Luke Russert and Domenico Montanaro Rep. Eric Massa is not running for re-election.
There is no confirmation as to the reasoning at this point. Massa is expected to hold a 3:30 pm ET conference call to make the announcement.
Massa, a freshman, represents an Upstate New York district. Massa won the longtime GOP-held seat in 2008 by a 51%-49% margin over former Rep. Randy Kuhl . McCain won the district 51%-48% in 2008; Bush won it 56%-42% in 2004.
Massa's retirement gives Republicans yet another House target. He is 16th Democrat not running for re-election to their House seat this cycle. While more Republicans -- 20 -- won't be running for re-election, more of those Democratic seats are in competitive districts.
*** UPDATE ***
On the allegations that he is not running because of sexual harassment of a male staffer, he said, "Do I use salty language? Yes."
On a conference call earlier, he said, per Hotline , "Do I, or have I ever used salty language when I am angry, especially in the privacy of my inner office or even at home? Yes I have and I have apologized to those who where it's appropriate. But those kinds of articles, unsubstantiated without fact or backing, are a symptom of what's wrong with this city."
*** UPDATE 2 ***
"This last December I underwent my third major cancer recurrence scare. I kept this private only to members of my immediate family. I did not tell my Staff. It was a every intense and personal experience especially in light of having gone through this before. I am a direct, salty guy who runs at 100 miles per hour and my doctors have now clearly told me that I can no longer do that. It is only fair and right that I announce that I will not run again in time for others to consider a run for this office. I will now enter a final phase of my life at a more controlled pace and remained fully committed to helped the families of the 29th District.
"There are blogs that are saying that I am leaving because of charges of harassing my staff. Do I and have I used salty language? Yes, and I have tried to do better. But these blogs are a symptom of the problem in this city and I no longer have the life's energy to fight every battle. I make this decision based on being a cancer survivor who following the advice of my doctors in Washington and in New York, cannot and will not prevent others from serice in the contgress that I hold in such great esteem."
From NBC's Kelly Paice Joe Biden , Secretary of Defense Robert Gates , National Security Advisor James Jones , and House and Senate leaders and members gathered at the Capitol to remember the late Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) who died Feb. 8 at the age of 77.
Biden opened his remarks with, "To the Murtha clan, your dad was one hell of a guy."
Biden spoke of his first interaction with the late congressman, when he received a phone call from "a guy named Murtha" who was running in a special election in Pennsylvania and asked the then young Biden to campaign for him. Biden spoke of later inviting Murtha to sit on the porch of the vice president's house, seeking Murtha's advice on the way forward in the nation's current wars.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray First Thoughts , we noted the role that process has played in the health-care debate -- and how the GOP has been able to use it as a weapon.
But in her piece on the health debate in the latest issue of The New York Review of Books , journalist Elizabeth Drew criticizes the media's role in amplifying the process over the substance.
Drew writes:
But citizens who were so turned off by the Nelson deal that they were ready to give up on the health care bill weren't adequately informed about the bill itself, and this gets back to the treatment of the health issue in the press and on television and the Internet. The Nelson story was a big story; what was in the health care bill was not. The messiness and the anger on Capitol Hill were the story. The media also had a large part in polarizing the public over the bill. As cable outlets and blogs become more ideological, on both the left and the right, people have become more inclined to seek out the ones they agree with. And the outlets stir up ratings through exaggeration and combat.
From NBC's Ken Strickland There is now more clarity on how Congressional Democrats plan to use reconciliation (recon) to push the comprehensive health care bill across the finish line. There are three steps:
Step No. 1: The House must pass the Senate's version of the bill.Step No. 2: The House must pass a reconciliation bill that makes "fixes" and any other ideas from the president's proposal.Step No. 3: The Senate must pass the same reconciliation bill as the House.
While the path for final passage may be clear, it's a perilous one, according to Democratic senators and staff. Two critical, intertwined components are missing within the Democratic ranks: votes and trust. And they're shackled together.
In order for House Dems to VOTE for the Senate bill (step #1), they have to TRUST the Senate to pass the fixes through recon (step #3). While the House must also pass recon (step #2), the rules allow them to do it in a way that insures the bill remains intact, without changes. Pelosi, using the rules, can limit or restrict the bill from being amended.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama will deliver later this afternoon. According to the excerpts, the president will say that his health-care proposal contains "the best ideas" from Democrats and Republicans, and that it also removes some of the more noxious provisions -- like the infamous "Cornhusker Kickback."
Obama will say:
So this is our proposal. This is where we’ve ended up. It’s an approach that has been debated and changed and I believe improved over the last year. It incorporates the best ideas from Democrats and Republicans – including some of the ideas that Republicans offered during the health care summit, like funding state grants on medical malpractice reform and curbing waste, fraud, and abuse in the health care system. My proposal also gets rid of many of the provisions that had no place in health care reform – provisions that were more about winning individual votes in Congress than improving health care for all Americans.
Also:
At stake right now is not just our ability to solve this problem, but our ability to solve any problem. The American people want to know if it’s still possible for Washington to look out for their interests and their future. They are waiting for us to act. They are waiting for us to lead. And as long as I hold this office, I intend to provide that leadership. I don’t know how this plays politically, but I know it’s right. And so I ask Congress to finish its work, and I look forward to signing this reform into law.
From NBC's Mark Murray
After starting the 2010 cycle off with a bang -- getting GOP retirements in FL, MO, NH, OH -- the DSCC hasn't had a lot of good news to tout lately. North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan's (D) retirement essentially handed the Senate seat to the Republicans. Beau Biden's (D) decision not to run for his father's old seat gives Rep. Mike Castle (R) the clear advantage in Delaware. And then Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh (D) stunned the political world when he said he wouldn't run for re-election, giving the GOP another pick-up opportunity.
As it now stands, the top eight races on First Read's Top 10 Senate takeover list are Democratic seats -- including ND, DE, and IN -- that could flip to the GOP.
Despite that slew of bad news, however, the Democratic committee has enjoyed a pretty good last couple of weeks. First, about two weeks ago, Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D) entered the race to replace Bayh, giving Dems a solid chance at holding on to that seat. Then, on Monday night, Harold Ford Jr . opted not to challenge New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in a Democratic primary. And last night, wealthy publisher Mort Zuckerman said he wouldn't take on Gillibrand, either -- which likely means November will be a cakewalk for her.
What's more, a new Quinnipiac poll showed Sen. Arlen Specter (D) back ahead of Pat Toomey, 49%-42%, after the two were tied in December. (However, a recent Franklin & Marshall poll has Toomey ahead by 10 points.)
*** UPDATE ***
Politico : Heitkamp passes on Senate campaign
Chicago Tribune : Giannoulias seeks to blunt damage, says family bank likely to fail Arkansas News : AFL-CIO dumps Lincoln, backs Halter
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell and Domenico Montanaro
They are also sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner asking him to block funds for a specific project that could benefit from taxpayer money, they announced at a news conference this morning.
The project: A $1.5-billion wind farm in West Texas expected to receive $450 million in stimulus funds. The senators say ALMOST ALL of the jobs would be in China, where wind turbines would be built.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro, Luke Russert and Shawna Thomas Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) announced at a 9:00 am ET news conference that he was temporarily stepping aside from his post as chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee.
He did not take questions, but made a point of saying that he has previously made this offer to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi . As CNBC's John Harwood told NBC's Chuck Todd on MSNBC's The Daily Rundown this morning, Republicans were set to introduce a resolution against Rangel that would have forced Democrats -- in this election year -- to say whether they were with or against Rangel. Democrats didn't want that vote to take place.
As we noted in First Thoughts this morning, "As for whether Pete Stark or Sandy Levin replaces Rangel... Eventually, it's probably going to be Levin, but Stark may get it temporarily if Rangel simply gives it up temporarily. But for the long term, Levin is the preferred choice among the Dem leadership. And even if Stark gets the gavel, his health problems may prevent him for truly running the committee, giving Levin de facto control."
CONTINUED >>
Obama delivers a speech at 1:45 pm ET making his final push for health care… Did the White House win the battle over appearances from last week’s Blair House Project?... How appearances and process have become weapons in the health-care debate… Bunning ends his blockade… Democrats wrangle with Rangel over his chairmanship… Rick Perry trounces KBH in Texas, and will face Bill White in the general election… Mort Zuckerman says no to Senate bid in New York, leaving the GOP without a real candidate… Jerry Brown’s back… And the RNC picks its date for the 2012 GOP convention.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg The final push: At 1:45 pm ET, President Obama will deliver a speech at the White House on how to move forward on health care. To put it simply, today is the LAST ... FINAL ... PUSH by Obama on this issue. (He swears.) The new deadline to get this done -- have the House pass the Senate bill plus the fixes to that legislation, and then have the Senate pass the fixes via reconciliation -- is Easter (or even the day the president leaves for Indonesia on March 18). If Democrats can't get a vote in the House by then, we’ll know if this last push is in trouble. Also, at 5:30 pm, Obama hosts a reception at the White House thanking members of Congress for their efforts to pass pay-as-go legislation. Translation: This is an opportunity for the president to give some love to the Blue Dogs who back PAYGO and whose arms will need to be twisted to pass health care.
*** Appearances matter: Of course, little has changed -- surprise, surprise -- after Thursday’s Blair House Project health-care summit. In his letter to congressional leaders yesterday, Obama offered to consider four GOP ideas (medical malpractice pilot programs, expanding HSAs, cracking down on fraud, and increasing Medicaid payments to doctors). Republican leaders summarily dismissed the offer (“There is no reason to lump sensible proposals into a fundamentally-flawed 2,000-page bill,” John Boehner said). And in his letter yesterday, Obama vowed to press on with reform (both parties “should agree that it's just not an option to walk away from the millions of American families and business owners counting on reform”). Still, appearances matter, and the White House seems to have gotten what it wanted, even if these GOP ideas are small bore. One, they got this headline in the Washington Post: “Obama reaches out to GOP on health-care bill.” And two, the gesture to Republicans seems to have resonated with conservative Democrats. "I like the idea that the president is working with Republicans and trying to find common ground," said Sen. Mark Pryor told the AP . "I think that's a good place to be for him, I think that's what the American people want to see." A tad bit of irony: These new GOP ideas the president's embracing can ONLY be passed into law via reconciliation.
*** Process as a weapon: Why all the attention on appearances and process? It’s because appearances and process have been surprising weapons in the health-care debate. In politics, the maxim has usually been: If you’re talking process, you’re losing. But that’s no longer the case -- whether we’re talking about reconciliation, sweetheart deals like the so-called “Cornhusker Kickback” and the “Louisiana Purchase,” and the cry for all negotiations to be broadcast on C-Span. To be sure, President Obama upped the ante on process when he promised to change the ways of Washington, which he has been unable to do in his first year-plus in office. Still, it’s amazing that commonplace activities like reconciliation, securing pork for districts and states, and offering sweetheart deals to on-the-fence lawmakers have become so politically toxic. It’s the equivalent of NFL fans and opposing teams suddenly railing against trick plays (reverses, flea-flickers, surprise on-side kicks) when they’re legal and used by everyone. But this is where the Republicans deserve credit; process has been a BIG political loser for the president and not hurt the out-of-power GOP.
*** Bunning ends his blockade: Speaking of process and appearances, GOP Sen. Jim Bunning dropped his blockade last night on legislation extending unemployment benefits and paying for transportation programs and personnel. Roll Call says the standstill “tied Republicans in knots: Some defended him, some criticized him and still others -- like Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) -- just wanted the whole thing to go away. Bunning ultimately dropped his demands Tuesday night that the $10 billion package be fully paid for, but not before causing a major headache for his party. And equally troubling for Republicans was that it reminded them of Bunning’s erratic behavior of last year, when he repeatedly clashed with his leadership over whether he should retire or run for a third term.”
*** Rangel-ing with Rangel: Also in Congress last night, the House Democratic leadership thought it had a deal with embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel (D) to give up his chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee. And then Rangel got second thoughts. Still, we can confidently say that Rangel won't be running the committee by the end of the day. The only question is whether he goes willingly -- or gets his post stripped. He can't survive a vote, and that was made clear to him. By the way, as for whether Pete Stark or Sandy Levin replaces Rangel... Eventually, it's probably going to be Levin, but Stark may get it temporarily if Rangel simply gives it up temporarily. But for the long term, Levin is the preferred choice among the Dem leadership. And even if Stark gets the gavel, his health problems may prevent him for truly running the committee, giving Levin de facto control.
*** Perry trounces KBH: Last night in Texas, incumbent Gov. Rick Perry trounced Kay Bailey Hutchison in the GOP gubernatorial primary, winning a clear majority to avoid a run-off. With 98% of precincts reporting, per the Houston Chronicle , Perry captured 51% of the vote, Hutchison got 30%, and Tea Party favorite Debra Medina got 18.5% -- an impressive showing considering her remarks sympathizing with questions whether 9/11 was an inside job. In November’s general election, Perry will face off against ex-Houston Mayor Bill White, who cruised to victory in the Democratic primary. Last night, Perry made it clear that he would use the same strategy against White that he used against KBH: tie him to Washington. “It is clear the Obama administration and their allies already have Texas in their cross hairs,” Perry said in his victory speech. White countered with this at his own election night party: “They’ll point fingers at Washington and talk about the alarming growth in government in Washington so you won’t notice the alarming growth in government in Austin.”
*** Sizing up Perry vs. White: While White gives the Democrats their best chance of winning the governor’s mansion since Ann Richards in the 1990s, Perry starts out with the numerical advantage in this red state. Nearly 1.5 million voted in last night’s GOP gubernatorial primary, versus 675,000 who turned out in the Dem primary -- a more than 2-to-1 advantage for the Republicans. Yet White got some help last night when former AFL-CIO leader Linda Chavez-Thompson won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, which puts an Hispanic woman on the ticket (and could lead to extra AFL cash in this race because the group will feel compelled to support a former national officer). White’s path to victory includes mobilizing Hispanics, African Americans, Democrats, and disaffected Hutchison voters. But for all the talk we’re hearing about KBH voters who might vote for White in the fall, remember that we heard the same thing about Hillary Clinton supporters voting for McCain in 2008. And that didn’t happen.
*** Start spreading the news … the GOP (in NY) is leaving today: You’d think that Republicans would be able to capitalize in New York, given the Paterson mess and Gillibrand’s potential vulnerability. But with Mort Zuckerman’s decision yesterday not to challenge Gillibrand for the Senate, it leaves the GOP without a real opponent here in November. And in the governors race, the likely Republican nominee is … Rick Lazio. If Republicans can’t win in New York in this environment, when can they win here? Actually, forget winning: If Republicans can't find credible CANDIDATES in this environment, then what's the point of the party in New York? Of course, there's still time; filing deadline is a ways away.
*** Guess who's back … back again … Jerry’s back … tell a friend: The re-re-re-re-invention of Jerry Brown (D) -- who announced his bid for California governor yesterday -- is one of the more fascinating stories of 2010. Gone are the mock turtle necks; he had good 'ol suit and tie in his announcement video. He also had a no-new-taxes pledge (unless VOTERS approve), and he had a message that was aimed directly at tying Arnold to Meg Whitman...
*** 2012 watch: Last night, the Republican National Committee announced that it has picked the date for its 2012 convention: the week of August 27. The three cities under consideration to host the convention: Tampa FL, Salt Lake City UT, and Phoenix AZ. Looking at this list, is it fair to call Phoenix the frontrunner? One, the GOP needs to make a western and Hispanic comeback to win the White House. Two, does the GOP and potential nominee Mitt Romney want a focus on the Mormon church during a Salt Lake convention? Three, while Tampa hasn't been hit DIRECTLY by a hurricane in quite some time, it's the heart of hurricane season; can the Republicans risk that?
*** Programming note: MSNBC's "Daily Rundown" has former Reagan Chief of Staff Ken Duberstein on to talk about the Obama White House, as well as DSCC Chair Bob Menendez. MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” which airs at 1:00 pm ET, interviews GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe.
Countdown to AR filing deadline: 5 days
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The AP : “Gov. Rick Perry easily dispatched Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to win the Republican nomination for Texas governor on Tuesday in a heated primary that highlighted the growing anti-Washington mood among voters in this year's midterm elections.” CQ reports. Texas Tribune : “There are some folks who watched in 2008, and they started to celebrate what they thought to be the end of the Republican Party and the final nail in the coffin of American conservatism. Well, there was a victory in New Jersey, a victory in Virginia, a victory in Massachusetts. Now there’s been a victory in Texas." He added, "I think the message is pretty clear. Conservatism has never been stronger than it is today. We're taking our country back, one vote at a time, one election at a time."
CONTINUED >>
"The White House is bracing for an ugly unemployment report on Friday that is expected to be worse because of the three winter storms that hit the East Coast last month," The Hill writes. "Goldman Sachs predicted the economy will lose as many as 100,000 jobs in February due to blizzard-like conditions that kept employers and prospective hires from getting to the office. That could bump the 9.7 percent unemployment rate closer to 10, dealing a blow to Democrats hoping for a steady economic recovery in the months leading up to November’s midterm elections."
"Defense Secretary Robert Gates circulated a letter to military leaders Tuesday detailing the implementation for repealing the controversial 'don’t ask, don’t tell' policy, offering the latest push to end the policy this year," Roll Call writes, adding: "The letter’s release Tuesday comes on the eve of a scheduled news conference in which Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) will officially introduce legislation that would repeal the policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military."
"Some Republicans are dismissing a planned nine-month Pentagon study on gays in the military as biased because it assumes Congress will eventually repeal the 1993 law known as 'don't ask, don't tell," the AP writes. "GOP lawmakers are likely to use the argument to try to chip away at the credibility of the assessment, which Defense Secretary Robert Gates envisions as the first comprehensive look at the policy in its 17-year lifetime."
CONTINUED >>
*** UPDATE ***
As CNBC's John Harwood told NBC's Chuck Todd on MSNBC's The Daily Rundown this morning, Republicans were set to introduce a resolution against Rangel that would have forced Democrats -- in this election year -- to say whether they were with or against Rangel. Democrats didn't want that vote to take place.
Roll Call : "A senior Democratic source told Roll Call late Tuesday night that House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) still plans to give up his gavel Wednesday despite his public protestations to the contrary. 'The long and short of it is he has decided to step down temporarily,' the source said. 'I think he just wants to do it on his own terms.'" Daily News ."
"Democrats cannot afford to make any missteps on their road to final passage for a health care bill, even as they press for passage before the Easter break that begins in a scant four weeks, aides acknowledged," Roll Call writes. "The process they have tentatively agreed to involves three separate and difficult votes: House approval of the $871 billion Senate-passed bill, and House and Senate approval of a precooked budget reconciliation bill that addresses House complaints about the Senate measure.
CONTINUED >>
On “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” last night, Sarah Palin
poked fun at herself -- for those notes written on her hand. Before the show began, Leno was told they weren't using cue cards tonight. And then Palin appeared with notes written on her hand, "We're going old school tonight." The words read, "Good evening and welcome to 'The Tonight Show'"
She did a monologue/standup routine with one joke about the difference between Alaska and L.A. -- that when people in L.A. have a frozen look on their faces it's because of botox. She warned that people should show up to her speech at a gun-rights convention. "Be there, or else," she joked. And she said she's glad she's not vice president. "I would not know what to do with all that free time," she said. She also joked that she would play Tina Fey in Las Vegas.
About those notes, "She said she picked up the habit years ago from her father, a teacher, and 'I'm going to keep doing it.'"
The
AP got a copy of Karl Rove's memoir, officially out March 9th. In it, he says, per AP, "the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq badly damaged the Bush administration's credibility and led to dwindling public support for the war." But "he calls the 2003 invasion the most consequential act of the Bush presidency and a justifiable response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, even though Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden, not Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, were responsible."
ARIZONA: Here are the
details of Scott Brown's campaign stops for John McCain later this week.
ARKANSAS: In an
interview with liberal blogger Greg Sargent , newly announced Democratic Senate candidate Bill Halter said he supports a public health insurance plan and expects it to be an issue in his campaign against centrist Sen. Blanche Lincoln.
MISSOURI: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty
endorsed Rep. Roy Blunt for Senate.
NEW YORK: Mort Zuckerman
won't run for U.S. Senate.
"The scandal engulfing Gov. Paterson claimed another victim last night as State Police Superintendent Harry Corbitt was forced out after he came under fire for allowing a senior officer to repeatedly contact a woman who charged she was attacked by a top aide to the governor. Corbitt, handpicked for the job by Paterson, contended he had decided on his own to retire at the end of today -- but sources told
The [New York] Post he had little choice but to get out or find himself fired because of his conduct."
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) would need to be there to object each time. Practically speaking, Democrats need to round up volunteers to stay and make speeches.
Senior Democratic aides also say they are trying to work out a vote tonight on the 30-day package of benefits and spending and would plan to give Bunning one amendment. This is not resolved.
On the floor earlier Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) hinted at a late night to force Bunning to give up his objection.
"I hope that today we'll see the end," Boxer said. "If we don't, we're going to have to have a long, long night ahead of us to make the point that it's wrong for one senator to stop our people, our American people, from getting the help they deserve, from getting the jobs they deserve to have in the highway fund and the help they need while they're looking for work."
From NBC's Luke Russert and Domenico Montanaro Barack Obama and Snooki from MTV's "Jersey Shore" have in common?
Not a whole lot. But a Georgia congressman actually found a way to draw the comparison, taking the rhetoric on Capitol Hill -- incredibly -- to a whole new low.
Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), a medical doctor who Republicans have continually put forward to discuss health care, said in a press release today, "Snookie, from the Jersey Shore, has more substance than President Obama's offer."
The reference is to Obama adopting more Republican ideas before his speech tomorrow on the way forward for health care.
Broun even brings "The Situation" into this.
The bigger question in all this: Who knew Broun was a Jersey Shore fan?
Here's Broun's full release:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told NBC's Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports this afternoon that Harold Ford "underestimated" her.
"I think at the end of the day he may have underestimated me," Gillibrand said of Ford, who announced he would drop his intention to primary the sitting U.S. Senator from New York.
She added, "Only Harold Ford knows why he's not running. But I don't think there was a path for victory there for him. I've been running a very vigorous campaign. I've been working very hard on behalf of New Yorkers. And we had a very different record. And a very different vision for the state. Who we fight for was quite different. ... [H]e may well be disappointed that people will have chosen me over him but that is the reality of trying to earn the support of 20 million people."
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Scott Foster President Obama traveled here today to announce a new rebate program designed to encourage Americans to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes.
Modeled after last year's popular "Cash for Clunkers" program, the White House hopes this "Homestar" plan will create thousands of new green jobs in the hard-hit construction industry.
Before his remarks at Savannah Technical College, Obama got a first-hand look at some of that construction work as several high school students were laying bricks in a program funded by stimulus. "You're building a whole house as we speak," he told the group, later jokingly telling the students not to get cement on his shoes.
In his remarks, the president outlined the $6 billion Homestar plan, which offers rebates of up to $3,000 for Americans who retrofit their homes with such energy-efficient upgrades on insulation, HVAC units, roofing, and doors.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Jerry Brown made his gubernatorial bid official today, releasing this video.
The Republican candidates vying for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner , released statements knocking Brown for his LONG tenure in California politics.
Whitman: "I welcome Jerry Brown to the race and look forward to an important conversation with Californians. Never before have voters had a bigger choice about the future. I have spent my career in the private sector, creating jobs and delivering results. Jerry Brown has had a 40-year career in politics which has resulted in a trail of failed experiments, undelivered promises, big government spending and higher taxes."
Poizner: "This election will be about the future of California, not the past. Our state needs bold, new conservative solutions that will jumpstart our economy and bring jobs back to California. We cannot fall prey to the same high-tax policies and special interest-run government that has led our state into a fiscal disaster. The next governor will need specific economic solutions, like my plan for across-the-board tax cuts, and also be willing to stand up to the powerful unions who control Sacramento."
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama is set to discuss the "way forward" on health care at an event tomorrow at the White House, but whether his remarks will focus on policy matters as well as the process of actually getting a bill to his desk is still up in the air.
During Monday's press briefing, White House Press Secetary Robert Gibbs said the president would outline the "next steps" on moving health-care legislation forward and that what the president "discusses will point toward not just a policy, but a process moving forward." But he was far less definitive today when he told reporters gathered in his West Wing office, "We'll leave process until after the president's announcement." And later: "I don't know how deeply ... he's gonna get into all of the process of this."
Another change? The location of the speech. Yesterday, Gibbs said it would "likely be off campus" but in the Washington, D.C., area. Today, he said it would likely take place at the White House -- an apparent indication that the president's staff is unsure of how to go about unveiling what Gibbs agreed could be called the beginning of the "final act" in the health-care overhaul saga. An off-campus speech often signals the White House wants to draw more attention to the subject.
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From NBC's Mark Murray Bill Halter officially filed to challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln in a Democratic primary.
Halter's campaign also announced that, beginning tonight, it will begin running a TV ad that will air in all of the state's major media markets.
Script: HALTER: I'm Bill Halter. My old football coach always said:
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Before that hearing, proponents of a repeal of the policy -- or those on the fence -- got a boost from centrist group Third Way.
First Read obtained a memo from the group, touting its support of a repeal . The letter was sent to senior staff and members on Capitol Hill, senior administration officials, as well as influential members of the LGBT community.
The memo argues that public opinion has shifted in favor of a repeal since the mid-1990s when the policy was first instituted. And it offers talking points for moderates and independents.
"Our country has changed dramatically since Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was enacted, and the law has become a relic of the past," the memo states. "In 1993, when the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law was enacted, only 23% of Americans knew an openly gay person -- now, three-fourths of the country does. At the time the law was passed, no state provided any kind of legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples, and only a handful protected employees from being fired from their job because they were gay. Now, five states recognize marriages between gay and lesbian couples and nine others provide legal recognition to those couples, and 21 states have made it illegal to fire someone for being gay. And while in 1993 only 44% of Americans supported allowing gay and lesbian people to serve openly in the military, now three-fourths of the country holds that view, including 77% of Independents and 64% of Republicans."
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From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
President Obama will ask them to consider four areas that Republicans suggested:
-- Medicare Fraud (Coburn)
The president is expected to tell Congress he supports a comprehensive approach and that he does not believe "piece meal" will work.
He will say good things about the Blair House Summit and everyone's participation.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro How about this for GOTV?
What say you, T-Pain?
EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this post misspelled Mr. Pain's name. Apologies to him and Thomas Payne.
From NBC's Mark Murray Jim Bunning blocking the extension of unemployment insurance and transportation spending has now spilled over to the Senate race to succeed him.
Democrat Jack Conway , who's running to replace the retiring Bunning, has issued a petition demanding that Bunning end his blockage.
Conway is competing against Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo in the Democratic primary, and Mongiardo also has criticized Bunning here. The Republicans in the race are Rand Paul (Ron Paul's son) and Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson , and both are supporting Bunning's block.
Below is Conway's petition....
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From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell Susan Collins was on the floor this morning and asked that the Senate move to consider the short-term unemployment benefits package that Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) stopped with his objection.
Collins said she was acting on behalf of several unnamed Republicans and, in effect, goes against Bunning.
Majority Leader Harry Reid said that his "friend from Kentucky has made his point and made it well."
However, Bunning restated his objection, so the short-term benefits extention goes nowhere.
CONTINUED >>
It’s Primary Day in Texas… Polls close at 8:00 pm ET in most parts of the state and at 9:00 pm ET in the El Paso area… Harold Ford drops NY Senate primary bid… The Washington Post stokes a Rahm vs. Obama rift… Obama-care vs. Romney-care… Bill Halter vs. J.D. Hayworth… And Obama today heads to Georgia to talk jobs, and will talk about health care tomorrow.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg The eyes of the political world are upon you: Today is Primary Day in Texas, where the marquee race is the GOP gubernatorial primary featuring incumbent Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Tea Party fav Debra Medina. The winner needs 50% to avoid an April 13 run-off. On the Democratic side, ex-Houston Mayor Bill White is the overwhelming front-runner. Over the past few weeks, we’ve recounted the various themes here: Kay Bailey Hutchison’s struggles, how Perry has used Hutchison’s work in Washington against her, Medina’s rise (and fall?), and White’s fighting chance against Perry in a general election match-up. Polls open at 8:00 am ET and close at 8:00 pm ET, but in El Paso and the surrounding area, they close at 9:00 pm ET. By the way, today just happens to be Texas Independence Day down in the Lone Star State…
*** Rick Perry’s playbook: So it's an anti-incumbent year, right? Well, then how did the second-longest-serving governor in the country (and longest in Texas history) apparently survive this primary challenge, if the polls are correct? The answer: Being an incumbent in WASHINGTON is worse than being an incumbent in AUSTIN, apparently. Staying with how Perry has used Hutchison’s work in Washington against her, it’s worth pointing out that at least nine senators and House members are running for governor this cycle: Hutchison in Texas, Sam Brownback in Kansas, Neil Abercrombie in Hawaii, Gresham Barrett in South Carolina, Artur Davis in Alabama, Nathan Deal in Georgia, Mary Fallin in Oklahoma, Pete Hoekstra in Michigan, and Zack Wamp in Tennessee. Did Rick Perry provide their opponents with a playbook how to win in a cycle when Washington is so unpopular?
*** Ford tough? For the second time in the past four days, we've seen a prominent New York Democrat decide not to run for office this year. On Friday, it was Gov. David Paterson; on Monday night, it was Harold Ford Jr. In a New York Times op-ed , Ford writes, “If I run, the likely result would be a brutal and highly negative Democratic primary -- a primary where the winner emerges weakened and the Republican strengthened. I refuse to do anything that would help Republicans win a Senate seat in New York, and give the Senate majority to the Republicans.” Yet much of the rest of his op-ed criticizes the Democratic Party, especially those who were backing Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. “These are tough times, and the New Yorkers I have met are facing economic adversity with grace and dignity… And yet too few in the Democratic Party are really willing to break with orthodoxy to meet these challenges. We need leaders as good as the people they represent -- leaders focused on creating jobs, keeping taxes low, helping small businesses and restoring faith in government.”
*** Ford’s stumbles, Gillibrand’s vulnerability: Yet Ford’s op-ed neglects to mention his own stumbles out of the gate -- his New York Times interview in which he said he visited Staten Island via helicopter, the fact that he wasn't paying New York taxes, or the rude reception he received from New York gays. One Democratic aide poses this question to First Read: “Who had a worse foray into their race: Dan Coats or Harold Ford?” Still, you could argue that Ford's potential challenge did expose to a larger audience of political elites in New York and DC that Gillibrand is vulnerable (despite the lack of a real GOP challenger right now) -- and it seems to have spurred Mort Zuckerman to think about running. Also, it’s worth speculating whether Paterson dropping out hurt Ford, since he may have been counting on a competitive gubernatorial primary to help drive up African-American turnout. As for Zuckerman, we're hearing he's trying to figure out a way to run, a la Bloomberg the first time, in a fusion like way as an indie/GOPer. Many New York Republicans are surprisingly receptive to the supposed left-of-center billionaire. Sound familiar? MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports," which begins airing at 1:00 pm ET, interviews Gillibrand today.
*** The Rahm rift: Outside of these campaign happenings, here’s the story generating the most buzz in DC this morning: A week after the Washington Post’s Milbank wrote a piece vigorously defending White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (“Arguably, Emanuel is the only person keeping Obama from becoming Jimmy Carter”), the Post today runs a front-page story suggesting that Emanuel and other White House staffers aren’t on the same page. From the story: “[I]n the search for what has gone wrong, influential Democrats are -- in unusually frank terms -- blaming Obama and his closest campaign aides for not listening to Emanuel,” especially Rahm’s argument not to try Khalid Sheik Mohammed in civilian court. Rahm backers are pushing back against the Post story (“They are just trying to stir the pot,” one White House aide says of the Post; other argue this Post story is nothing more than an expanded Milbank column), but these two stories create the perception that the president and his chief of staff aren’t on the same page -- something we did NOT see publicly with past chiefs of staff like Andy Card, Josh Bolten, John Podesta.
*** Keeping it in the family? Of course, internal dissent can be a good thing. But what may irritate the president and the campaign-era brain trust is what this Post story implies: Rahm shared his personal dissent on KSM and health care with others outside "the family." Remember, we never saw these types of stories about Team Obama during the presidential campaign; it was something we expected from Teams Clinton and McCain. Then again, Rahm was never part of that Obama campaign team; he cut his teeth in the Clinton era, when that president seemed to handle or even embrace the public dissent. What the president and other White House staffers might find particularly frustrating is that -- regardless whether this perception is true or not -- they can’t make a chief of staff change right now. Emanuel is too important in getting health-care done. Also, a Rahm departure would allow the Lindsey Grahams to further criticize the White House on KSM and national security and paint the president as on an island.
*** Perception matters: Also, there's much to Emanuel that the president likes, and he is fiercely loyal once the "play is called" as one person indicated in the Post story. But the issue some may have with Rahm at this point is the PERCEPTION that he worries too much about his own reputation -- at the expense of the president. By the way, for Rahm's practical political future, nothing will irritate him more in this Post story than the Luis Gutierrez criticism, since that's one less endorsement he can count on if he ever runs for Chicago mayor.
*** Obama-care = Romney-care? Today’s also the day that Mitt Romney’s new book, “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness” is released; tomorrow, he begins a nearly three-month book tour that will take him to early primary states (like IA, NH, NV, SC) and battleground states (like CO, FL, MI, OH). As Romney kicks off his book tour -- and begins laying the foundation for a presidential bid -- one of the more underreported stories is whether his effort to reform Massachusetts health-care system could come back to haunt him in an environment where the entire GOP, including Romney, is against Obama’s health reforms. "Americans said no because Obama-care is bad care for America!" Romney declared at CPAC last month. But as health-care policy experts know, Obama-care looks a whole lot like Romney-care in Massachusetts -- it gives subsidies for the poor, it mandates that all have insurance, it prohibits insurers from denying those with pre-existing conditions; and it sets up an exchange (or the equivalent) where folks can purchase insurance plans. On “TODAY” this morning, Romney said: “Our health-care plan was a heck of a lot better… Let the states resolve these issues,” not have a federal one-size-fits-all approach.
*** Halter vs. Hayworth: It’s worth comparing how Bill Halter in Arkansas and J.D. Hayworth in Arizona rolled out their primary bids. Halter at least had figured out how to get the maximum out of his base (MoveOn, Hamsher, DailyKos all immediately backed him and raised an impressive sum of money; there's also the quick AFL-CIO nod), while Hayworth couldn’t even get a press release endorsement from the Tea Party folks in Arizona. Now we don't know if there are enough progressives/liberals in Arkansas to vault Halter to victory, a la Ned Lamont. But the first day energy OUTSIDE OF THE STATE between Lamont and Halter is there.
*** Obama today and tomorrow: Today President Obama takes his White House to Main Street tour to Savannah, GA, where he tours Savannah Technical College at 11:55 am ET, delivers remarks on the economy at 12:30 pm, tours a local manufacturing facility at 1:20 pm, and tours a local small business at 2:50 pm. Tomorrow, the New York Times reports, Obama will talk about a way forward on health care. “President Obama this week will begin a climactic push to rally restive Congressional Democrats to pass major health care legislation by hammering the argument that the costs of failure will be higher insurance premiums and lost coverage for individuals and businesses.”
Countdown to AR filing deadline: 6 days
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The New York Times : “President Obama this week will begin a climactic push to rally restive Congressional Democrats to pass major health care legislation by hammering the argument that the costs of failure will be higher insurance premiums and lost coverage for individuals and businesses… Mr. Obama on Wednesday ‘will talk about the merits of the legislation, mainly about the costs of doing nothing versus the cost of doing something and what this will accomplish,’ said his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.”
“Obama will discuss both the ‘process and policy’ of his plan during a speech that he will deliver somewhere in the Washington, D.C., area, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday,” Roll Call adds. “Gibbs said Obama has ‘absolutely’ been involved in crafting a final proposal since last week’s bipartisan health care summit. He said Obama will post his revised plan -- which will not be in legislative form and which will be smaller than the House bill -- on the White House Web site that day.”
Obama's Organizing for America is running a full-page ad in USA Today pledging support for members of Congress who vote for health reform. OFA says it's pledging "over 8 million hours to support members of Congress who fight for real health reform."
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Roll Call on Bunning’s filibuster: “By blocking a short-term extension of unemployment and health insurance benefits, highway funding and Medicare payments to doctors, Bunning has unwittingly given Democrats measurable evidence that the much-maligned Republican filibuster is the real reason for Washington’s gridlock.” New York Daily News’ headline on Sen. Jim Bunning’s hold on unemployment benefits: “Bird-flipping Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning blocking checks to 8,000 unemployed New Yorkers.” Roll Call says. “And with politically vulnerable Democrats starting to peel off and join the call, top party strategists are wondering how long the Harlem Democrat can maintain his perch atop the tax-writing panel.”
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The
Boston Globe on Mitt Romney’s new book, which comes out today: “As Mitt Romney sets out this week to promote his new book, 'No Apology,' he is also auditioning for a rapidly disappearing role in American politics: a politician who is speaking out against the 'temptations of populism.'”
He told the Globe in an interview, “The populism I’m referring to is, if you will, demonizing certain members of society: going after businesspeople, going after Wall Street, going after people who are highly educated, people who are CEOs. That kind of ‘All of our problems are due to that group’ is something that is unproductive.”
More: “The former Massachusetts governor and highly successful businessman says his critique of populist politics applies to both President Obama, who is battling bankers over Wall Street rules, and Republican leaders who have courted the ‘tea party’’ movement by turning their anger on corporate leaders along with government."
The Globe’s Issenberg writes, "A prominent Washington journalist and former Globe reporter is among the many advisers and political experts who helped Mitt Romney write ‘No Apologies,’ according to the book’s acknowledgments… Easton, a former Globe deputy Washington bureau chief and author of several political books, is Washington bureau chief for Fortune and a regular analyst for Fox News. She is married to Russ Schriefer, a Republican media consultant who worked on Romney’s 2008 campaign.”
CALIFORNIA: Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner releases his first TV spot today, “painting himself as the race's true conservative and dissing his Republican rival Meg Whitman,” the L.A. Times reports.
The New York Times’ Nagourney parachutes into Barbara Boxer’s re-election bid. “Early polls in California suggest that Sen. Barbara Boxer is facing what could be the toughest election of her career,” he writes. “Her difficulties in a state that has for 20 years proved reliably Democratic in national elections suggests how the pendulum has swung against Democrats in just a year.”
ILLINOIS: The campaign of Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias yesterday called Mark Kirk’s criticism of Giannoulias’ involvement with his family back “outlandish.” Yesterday, Kirk said Giannoulias “bears direct responsibility for reckless loans that could bankrupt the Broadway Bank,” the Chicago Tribune reported. Kirk said of Giannoulias : "Alexi Giannoulias engaged in the same kind of reckless lending that brought our U.S. economy to its knees," Kirk said.
NEW YORK: In a New York Times op-ed today, former Rep. Harold Ford explains why he will not be running for Senate: “I’ve examined this race in every possible way, and I keep returning to the same fundamental conclusion: If I run, the likely result would be a brutal and highly negative Democratic primary -- a primary where the winner emerges weakened and the Republican strengthened.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray, Chuck Todd and Domenico Montanaro Drudge Report has a provocative photo and link to a story on President Obama's recent physical exam. It shows Obama drinking a beer at a basketball game with this headline: "PAPER: Obama doctors recommend 'moderation of alcohol intake'..." And it links to a Guardian newspaper account of Obama's physical, which contains this final line: "The doctors also recommended 'moderation of alcohol intake.'"
But when you read the actual report, it's clear that this alcohol recommendation is akin to your dentist telling you to floss daily and brush your teeth twice a day.
Recommendations: Follow-up colorectal cancer screening is recommended in 5 years for routine colon cancer screening. Continue smoking cessation efforts, a daily exercise program, healthy diet, moderation in alcohol intake, periodic dental care, and remain up-to-date with recommended immunizations. Continue modified exercise regimen, and lower extremity muscle strengthening program, for occasional left patella-femoral pain secondary to chronic tendonitis. Recommend dietary modification to reduce LDL cholesterol below 130.
Here's a link to the entire doctor's report.
From NBC's Mark Murray Crist vs. Rubio in Florida, McCain vs. Hayworth in Arizona, Grayson vs. Paul in Kentucky, and the challenge Robert Bennett will get in Utah) will end up minimizing GOP gains in November.
But with Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D) challenging incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D), Democrats now have an ideologically charged primary of their own.
While Arlen Specter vs. Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania and Michael Bennet vs. Andrew Romanoff in Colorado are competitive Democratic primaries, they haven't featured the same level of involvement from the left that we're now seeing in the Lincoln-vs.-Halter race.
Consider this immediate endorsement that Halter received from MoveOn:
"Blanche Lincoln is one of the worst corporate Democrats in Washington. That's why 92 percent of Arkansas MoveOn members voted to support Bill Halter over Blanche Lincoln in a primary election. Instead of fighting for the health care reform Arkansas families desperately need, she took nearly a million ($866,000) from Big Insurance and HMO interests and then played a leading role in opposing the public health insurance option. She took $1.3 million from Wall Street banks and helped kill legislation that would've allowed struggling homeowners to stay in their homes. And she sponsored a bill to roll back the Clean Air Act to protect corporate profits. With Bill Halter, our Arkansas members see a candidate who will stand up to special interests. Arkansans deserve someone who'll fight for them, not Wall Street."
Here's FireDogLake's Jane Hamsher :
Blanche Lincoln stands for everything that's wrong with both parties: her primary loyalty is to her DC cohorts and her corporate donors, and she thinks it's her job to pick the taxpayer pocket on their behalf. As the head of the Agriculture Committee and a member of the Finance Committee, Lincoln has stood at the front of the line when it comes to repaying her corporate donors with political favors. She has personally been the recipient of big ag subsidies, and her continued tenure as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee would mean the death of sustainable agriculture for a generation. She's the prime target for an accountability campaign.
Some in the media will try to paint this as a "purge" of "moderates" from the Democratic party. It's not. Blanche Lincoln is a radical corporatist. That's not the "center" of anything. Conservatives and liberals alike are tired of watching Senators like Lincoln raise millions in campaign cash and vote for one bailout after another, as if there's no connection.
And here's Markos Moulitsas urging supporters to raise money for Halter:
Today, we're looking for 1,000 charter contributors to the Halter campaign, so if you're angry at our corrupt, corporate-owned government, strike a blow by helping rid the Senate of one of its worst corporatists.
From NBC's Ken Strickland Vice President Biden , in his capacity as president of the Senate, could overrule the parliamentarian. But the chance of that happening is virtually none.
Dove himself says no vice president has played an active role in the Senate since Humphrey . And here's a historic context as to why as illustrated in Robert Caro bio on LBJ :
After LBJ became VP, when wanted to come back to the Senate and essentially run the Democratic caucus as he had as when he was Senate Majority Leader.
Caro wrote, "[Senator Clint] Anderson said, the Vice President was an official of the Executive Branch. Selection of a member of that branch to preside over a senatorial body would not only shatter the principle of separation of powers but would also make the Senate 'look ridiculous.' "
You might also remember that Senate Republicans flirted with a similar move to end the judicial showdown during Bill Frist's reign as majority leader. But a number of senior Republican senators objected.
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama announced $900 million in grants, part of his 2011 budget, to help turn around the nation's lowest-performing schools.
While health care and the economy have dominated much of the policy talk in the capital this past year, education reform has been a recurring focus for Obama since the campaign and one his administration wants to draw more attention to.
The president often speaks about the importance of having a highly educated workforce to compete globally in the 21st century "knowledge economy." By 2020, Obama wants America to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.
"High school dropouts are more likely to be teen parents, more likely to commit crime, more likely to rely on public assistance, more likely to lead shattered lives," the president told the crowd gathered in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hall of Flags. "What's more, they cost our economy hundreds of billions of dollars over the course of a lifetime in lower wages and higher public expenses."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro could play a bigger role when it comes to the health-care process going forward than most people previously understood.
Former Senate parliamentarian of 37 years Robert Dove said on MSNBC's The Daily Rundown that the vice president, who also functions as the president of the Senate, can override the parliamentarian when it comes to what qualifies under reconciliation.
"The parliamentarian only can advise," Dove said. "It is the vice president who rules."
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It is widely understood that the parliamentarian would rule whether or not items under reconciliation are germaine to the budget. It wasn't always the case that items under reconciliation had to pertain to the budget. But it had been used so often to defeat filibusters, Dove said, that in the 1980s Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) instituted a the budget rule. It is now known as the Byrd Rule. The parliamentarian currently is Alan Frumin .
Not since Hubert Humphrey , Dove said, has there been a vice president played such a powerful role. But as NBC's Chuck Todd, who co-hosts the show, pointed out, perhaps not since Humphrey has the U.S. seen a vice president as comfortable with the rules of the Senate as Biden.
"That's why I brought this up," Dove said. "Yes. Humphrey had been the majority whip. He had been in the Senate since 1948. He felt very comfortable playing an important role. And it's quite possible that Vice President Biden [would]."
CONTINUED >>
Dems might pick up two health-care votes today (with Nathan Deal’s retirement in Georgia and Blanche Lincoln’s primary challenge… It’s another busy week in politics -- TX Gov primary on Tuesday, Mitt Romney’s book on Tuesday, Obama in Georgia on Tuesday, and jobs numbers on Friday… Mission accomplished in Iraq?... Can the White House make political hay out of Bunning’s obstruction?... And Baron Hill says no to a Senate bid, meaning that Brad Ellsworth more than likely will be the Dem nominee in Indiana.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Dems pick up two votes? Are Democrats having their best health-care day in quite some time? Oddly enough, maybe. Today, it appears they’ve picked up two votes for THEIR effort to pass health-care. First, Rep. Nathan Deal (R) announces his resignation today to concentrate on his bid for Georgia governor. And with Deal’s retirement, that means there are 431 House members, so the magic number to pass health care in the House is now 216 votes, down from last week’s 217. Second, in Arkansas, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D) today announced he’s launching a primary challenge against Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D). While Arkansas isn’t Pennsylvania -- where Joe Sestak’s primary has pushed Arlen Specter to the left -- Halter’s challenge probably ensures that Lincoln ends up voting for reconciliation, assuming that Lincoln wants to remain in the Senate. We have more on the Deal and Halter news below…
*** Another busy week : Fasten your seatbelts for another busy week in politics. Today, President Obama gives a speech in DC on education at an event hosted by Colin Powell’s America’s Promise Alliance (an issue that does have bipartisan support, but the question of funding is a real sticking point). On Tuesday, there’s the Texas gubernatorial primary, the release of Mitt Romney’s new book, Sarah Palin’s appearance on “Leno,” and Obama heading to Georgia to talk about the economy. On Wednesday, the president is expected to make remarks on how he hopes Congress proceeds on health care. And on Friday, we’ll see new monthly job numbers from the Labor Department (which the winter storms and the days off of work for so many will make the numbers look worse than expected), while GOP Sen. Scott Brown campaigns for John McCain in Arizona.
*** Mission accomplished? And on Sunday, Iraq’s parliamentary elections will take place. Pegged to those elections, the latest issue of Newsweek runs a provocative cover story with this headline: “Victory at Last: The Emergence of a Democratic Iraq.” From the story: “[George W.] Bush's rhetoric about democracy came to sound as bitterly ironic as his pumped-up appearance on an aircraft carrier a few months earlier, in front of an enormous banner that declared MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. And yet it has to be said and it should be understood—now, almost seven hellish years later—that something that looks mighty like democracy is emerging in Iraq. And while it may not be a beacon of inspiration to the region, it most certainly is a watershed event that could come to represent a whole new era in the history of the massively undemocratic Middle East.” The New York Times notes, however, that Prime Minister’s Nuri al-Maliki’s might have a difficult time winning a majority on March 7.
*** Shades of 1995-1996? The Obama White House is oddly happy about stories like this one : “Two thousand federal transportation workers will be furloughed without pay on Monday, and the Obama administration said they have a Kentucky senator to blame for it… The furloughs and freeze on payments were the result of a decision last week by Republican Sen. Jim Bunning to block passage of legislation that would have extended federal highway and transit programs,” as well as unemployment benefits. The more the GOP is seen as actively obstructing, the better shot the White House thinks it can make the case to the American public that the Republicans aren't interested in governing. By the way, the AP notes that last year saw a Senate record of 112 cloture votes (i.e., filibusters). And get this: “In the first two months of 2010, the number already exceeds 40.”
*** ‘Cause I gotta have faith : With Democrats and Republicans unable to come together on health care -- let alone on this transportation/unemployment benefits spending -- the AP runs a story noting a favorite First Read topic that we've tracked for years now: the loss of faith in ALL institutions (not just politics, but business, sports, religion, universities, etc). “What does it mean if people have lost faith in the government to solve the most pressing issues, lost faith in companies to deliver workable products -- and lost faith in the belief that either will take responsibility for failure?” the AP asks. “Short term, the public's distrust doesn't bode well for any politician up for election this fall, particularly Democrats who control Congress… It may not bode well for companies such as Toyota that are seeking to restore credibility; consumers are only loyal to a point… Long term, such a lack of confidence in the nation's biggest institutions could turn society's skepticism to debilitating cynicism. It could spread animosity throughout society, crimping America's historic optimism, fueling incivility -- if not paranoia -- among the people and encouraging disrespect of authorities of all types, at all levels.”
*** Not a good time to be a member of Congress running for governor : It’s one day until the GOP gubernatorial primary in Texas. And over the weekend, the Washington Post’s Dan Balz had a great piece explaining Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s (R) troubles against incumbent Gov. Rick Perry (R). “At a time of rising anger toward Washington, Perry has hung Hutchison's service in the nation's capital around her neck. His campaign calls her ‘Kay Bailout’ for her support of the financial industry rescue. He has attacked her for the earmark projects she has secured for Texas, which he describes as symptomatic of out-of-control spending in Washington. ‘He definitely has made it more difficult for me,’ [Hutchison] said aboard her campaign bus. ‘I've protected Texas. I've brought Texas taxpayer dollars back to Texas very successfully, and I've voted for Texas values. I didn't think that anyone could turn my success in producing results for Texas into a negative.’” By the way, there are a number of sitting members of Congress trying to become governor (Brownback in KS, Hoekstra in MI, Deal in GA, etc). What will opponents and those running learn from this potentially disastrous showing by Hutchison?
*** Blanche Lincoln gets primary challenge : With Arkansas’ filing deadline a week from today, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D) announced that he will challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) in a Democratic primary. “I’m going to spend the rest of today phoning friends, family and supporters, and making a courtesy call to Sen. Blanche Lincoln,” Halter said in a press release. “I look forward to joining my wife and father tomorrow morning at the state capitol where we’ll make official my campaign to put Arkansans first.” Halter also has this announcement video . The question is whether Lincoln -- whose poll numbers are abysmal -- decides not to seek re-election with the filing deadline next week. Before this news, it was pretty clear she was focused on running. Assuming she does stay in, this sets up an odd primary fight between the progressive wing of the party and the White House. By the way, this also could be a test of Bill Clinton's sway, if he chooses to engage; something tells us he'd be itching for this fight.
*** More midterm news : In Georgia, Rep. John Linder (R) announced that he won’t be seeking re-election; his district is a conservative one, where McCain got 60% of the vote in 2008… Also in Georgia, Rep. Nathan Deal (R) announced he’s resigning his House seat to focus on his gubernatorial bid… In Indiana, Rep. Baron Hill (D) said he wouldn’t run for the Senate, which means that Rep. Brad Ellsworth is going to be the Dem nominee… In Michigan, an EPIC-MRA poll shows Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R) leading the Republican gubernatorial race with 27%, followed by 21% for Mike Cox (R) and Rick Snyder at 12%, per Taegan Goddard… And in Pennsylvania, a new Franklin and Marshall poll finds Sen. Arlen Specter (D) leading primary challenger Joe Sestak (D), 33% to 16%, while Specter trails Pat Toomey (R) by 10 points in a general election match-up.
Countdown to TX primary: 1 day
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"President Barack Obama will announce Monday a national effort to reduce the high school dropout rate and better prepare students for successful college careers," The Hill writes. "The administration has committed $3.5 billion to fund changes in persistently low-performing schools around the country, with priority given to high schools with graduation rates below 60 percent."
“As President Obama begins making final decisions on a broad new nuclear strategy for the United States, senior aides say he will permanently reduce America’s arsenal by thousands of weapons. But the administration has rejected proposals that the United States declare it would never be the first to use nuclear weapons,” the New York Times says. “Mr. Obama’s new strategy — which would annul or reverse several initiatives by the Bush administration — will be contained in a nearly completed document called the Nuclear Posture Review, which all presidents undertake. Aides said Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates will present Mr. Obama with several options on Monday to address unresolved issues in that document, which have been hotly debated within the administration.”
"The White House appointed a Washington insider on Saturday to replace Desirée Rogers, President Obama’s social secretary who has announced that she will be leaving the post soon," Reuters writes. "The new social secretary, Julianna Smoot, was finance director of Mr. Obama’s presidential campaign and has worked for four senators. She is currently chief of staff to Ron Kirk, the United States trade representative."
Was his doctor's evaluation a sign that Obama is still smoking or at least struggling to quit?
The New York Times : “President Obama ‘is in excellent health’ and likely to remain able to carry out his duties for the rest of his term, his doctor said Sunday after completing Mr. Obama’s first routine medical checkup since he took office. But Mr. Obama, 48, continues to struggle to stop his 30-year smoking habit and needs to modify his diet, said Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, a Navy captain who led the medical team that performed Mr. Obama’s physical.”
Per the New York Times , “Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she is confident she will be able to get the votes needed to pass sweeping health care legislation in the House, even if it threatens the political careers of some members of her party.”
More: ‘Ms. Pelosi was asked what she would say to House Democrats who were ‘in real fear of losing their seats in November if they support you now.’ ‘Our members, every one of them, wants health care,’ Ms. Pelosi said. ‘They know that this will take courage. It took courage to pass Social Security. It took courage to pass Medicare. And many of the same forces that were at work decades ago are at work again against this bill.’ ‘But,’ Ms. Pelosi continued, ‘the American people need it. Why are we here? We’re not here just to self-perpetuate our service in Congress. We’re here to do the job for the American people, to get them results that give them not only health security, but economic security.’”
Meanwhile… Only in Washington can reconciliation push people farther apart, NBC’s Andrew Rafferty notes. Republicans John McCain and Eric Cantor appeared on “Meet the Press” yesterday to continue their call for Democrats to start over on a health-care bill and not use reconciliation to pass the legislation through the Senate. Cantor predicted Democrats would lose their majority in the House if "Speaker Pelosi rams this bill through the House using reconciliation," and McCain pushed his argument that the parliamentary maneuver was not meant to pass major changes in policy. However, it is the GOP that has taken heat for their history of finding ways to avoid a filibuster. McCain has on nine occasions voted for legislation that was passed through reconciliation. He said on Sunday, “Yes, I have voted for them, but I objected strenuously to us changing the rules of the Senate so that 51 votes would prevail."
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Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich suggested that an overly partisan, poorly articulated agenda had pulled President Obama down from the peak of public approval to the point where his party may lose its majority status in Congress.
Speaking at a pen-and-pad discussion with reporters last week, Gingrich, who led the 1994 “Republican revolution” in which the GOP regained the majority midway through President Clinton’s first term, said that the spirit of change in which Obama was elected gave him the opportunity to “build out from that in a genuinely bipartisan way,” risking the frustration of his party’s leaders in the process.
Rather, he continued, Obama and congressional Democrats chose to embark on a strictly partisan agenda, setting a benchmark, he said, with “the act of passing a $787 billion [stimulus] bill with no elected official.”
Stu Rothenberg throws cold water on Rasmussen, the hype around people being offered jobs in the White House so they don't run and the Tea Party candidate in Nevada. On the White House supposedly having offered Joe Sestak a job not to run against Arlen Specter: "What’s the big deal? This kind of thing happens all of the time. There is nothing immoral or unethical about it. It’s politics. The White House embraced Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) when he switched parties, and now they are trying to clear the primary field for him. As news goes, it’s interesting but hardly shocking or outrageous. But it was treated as a big deal."
GEORGIA : "U.S. Rep. John Linder, the conservative Republican who has represented much of Gwinnett and surrounding counties for nearly two decades, abruptly announced on Saturday he will not seek re-election in November, immediately setting off a scramble for his congressional seat," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, adding that among the rumored replacements is Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz.
MLB.com , though reported: "Atlanta-Journal Constitution political insider Jim Galloway reported on Saturday that Republicans are thinking about approaching Smoltz to run for the congressional seat that will be vacated when U.S. Rep. John Linder retires at the end of his current term. 'This is not in my plans,' Smoltz replied via a text message on Sunday morning.'" Smoltz apparently assisted with the campaigns of Rep. Tom Price and Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
And Rep. Nathan Deal is reportedly resigning today to focus on his run for governor. That would trigger a special election for his GA-9 seat.
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