Daily Political Wire 8-6-2010

George Wenschhof

Today, President Obama will visit Gelberg Signs in D.C. - a small business that the president will say benefited from small business loans. Unemployment has stayed at 9.5%, so the "Recovery Summer" theme has definitely fallen flat.

While the argument is strong, unemployment figures would have probably been larger, had the 787 billion Stimulus bill not been passed last year, unemployment remains too high. Expect this to be the main issue in the fall elections. No public service jobs component has been implemented and the money spent on infrastructure such as roads and high speed rail has been small portion of the total bill and ineffective - a major disappointment.

Later, in the day, the president will host a reception at the White House for new Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan.

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Christina Romer to Exit as White House Economic Adviser - the first of what may turn out to be several to hit the bricks due to the dismal economy. She announced she will be leaving in December. FirstRead has more here.

Some speculate to some infighting between her and the Director of The National Economic Council Larry Summers. But don't count on his job security as the 787 billion Stimulus bill has fallen short of expectations.

I felt Romer would not last very long as her appearances on the Sunday morning "Talking Heads" made her look more like a elementary school teacher, rather than an economic adviser for the White House. Look for more shake ups in the White House, especially if Democrats lose control of the House.

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Senate President Harry Reid (D-Nev.) keeps Small business relief bill alive - deal making into the night, Reid set up a vote for September 14 on the bill. A major concession was to agree to repeal a new tax reporting requirement on small businesses, which would hopefully win the support of several Republicans which would lead to passage. Politico.com has more here.

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Senate approve 600 million to secure U.S. - Mexican Border - money will be used to hire an additional 1500 border security guards and for the use of drones and other electronic equipment to monitor the border. CNN.com has more here.

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Bill Haslam beats Zach Wampler in Tennessee Republican Primary - Haslam will now face Democrat Mike McWherter for Governor of the state. Mike McWherter's father Ned was former governor of the state. Cillizza has more here.

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