Daily Democratic Wire 7-9-2009

George Wenschhof

President Barack Obama still in L'Aquila, Italy as the second day of talks of the G-8 Summit continue - the economy, trade, and the environment continue to be discussed with an agreement reached to lower emissions by 80% by 2050. President Obama will hold a press conference today at 12:30 PM ET. BBC.com has more here.

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CNN/Opinion Research poll shows Obama with 61% approval rating - this poll was conducted from June 26-28. 70% felt President Obama was a strong and decisive leader. The president did drop 11 points since February of the year on the question that he had a clear plan for solving the country's problems. This poll showed him at 53% and he was at 64% in February. CNN has the poll results here.

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Today, Vice President Joe Biden will travel to cities in Ohio and NY to promote the Stimulus bill - in the morning, Biden will be in Dayton, Ohio at the American Can Company a development project which will be receiving HUD Community Block Grant funds. He will also travel to Saratoga County, NY in the afternoon. DaytonDailyNews.com has more here.

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Chair of House Intelligence Committee says CIA mislead Congress - Silvestre Reyes (D-Tex.) says CIA director Leon Panetta told Congress the CIA had mislead and concealed actions since 2001. House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) said similar things last month and Mr. Panetta issued a statement saying the CIA had not mislead Congress. So stay tuned as more details will surely follow. MSNBC.com has more here.

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Health Care reform talks continue in Senate - the senate bill has not yet been released from the Senate Finance Committee which has both liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans wondering what it will look like. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) met with some Republican members yesterday to assure them he was looking for a bipartisan bill on heath care reform. TheHill.com has more here.

Remember, since the Democrats used a legislative tactic earlier in regard to the approval of the budget, they can if necessary, can use budget reconciliation as a means to pass health care reform. This would only require a 51 vote majority and not the filibuster proof number of 60.

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Representative Joe Crowley (D-NY) to head new Democrat Coalition - today, he will assume the chair of this new coalition in the House which is a moderate and pro-business group. Politico.com has more here.

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