Daily Political Wire 3-30-2010

George Wenschhof

This morning, President Barack Obama will sign the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act - it will take place in Alexandria, Virginia at Northern Virginia Community College at 11:00 AM ET.

Later today, the President will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss foreign policy issues and will host Sarkozy and his wife for dinner at the White House. The french have been resistant to sending additional troops to Afghanistan, so expect that issue to be included in the conversation.

Obama appeared on NBC "Today" with Matt Lauer this morning in an earlier taped interview.



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RNC $2,000 "Bondage Club" expense raises eyebrows - seems a group of folks decided to go out for a night on the town following a Republican National Committee event. Republican consultant Erik Brown was ultimately reimbursed for the expense incurred at a West Hollywood club. Today, the RNC has said a staffer has been fired, but did not identify who. Politico.com has more here.

While the expense at a risque nightclub has received the headlines, the real story is the incredible expenses being racked up by RNC chair Michael Steele. The story first appeared in the Daily Caller who reported $17,500 was spent on private aircraft and $12,500 on limos during the month of February - yes, that's right - one month! Also reported was $9,000 spent at the Beverly Hills Hotel and $6,500 spent at the Four Seasons. Michael Steele even suggested the RNC buy a private jet. The Daily Caller has more here.

....and you wonder why the Republican Party has a hard time identifying with the working men and women? Will Michael Steele make it to the mid term elections as RNC chair? - probably, due to how close the elections are, the inability to hire someone fast enough and the negative impact the firing would have on the Republican Party prior to the mid term elections. Will Steele make it as RNC chair to the 2012 presidential election? - Doubtful.

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Cracks appearing in the Republican Party of "No" strategy - perhaps realizing they were elected to do more than say no, some Republican Senators are now signaling they are willing to work with Democrats on upcoming legislation dealing with energy, immigration and finance reform. TheHill.com has more here.

Republican Senators Olympia Snowe (Maine), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Judd Gregg (N.H.) and Bob Corker (Tenn.) have all indicated their desire to work with Democrats to advance legislation - what a novel idea...did someone say the mid term elections are approaching?...

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