Daily Political Wire 6-2-2010

George Wenschhof

Today, President Obama heads to Pittsburgh to deliver speech on the economy - His speech will be at Carnegie Mellon at 1:30 PM. Time.com has more here.

Tonight, the President will host, at the White House, a concert by former Beatle; Paul McCartney. PBS will tape the concert for airing at a date to be determined this summer.

Tomorrow, the president will host Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and they will surely be talking border security and immigration. Reuters.com has more here.

The economy has been the biggest single issue for the Obama administration and the results have been mixed. While the 800 billion Stimulus program has kept the country from falling into a severe depression, unemployment has remained steady at an unacceptable near 10% level.

I have continuously called for the creation of and funding for a work experience program directed at public service employment. Instead, Congress continues to extend unemployment benefits as government and education lay-offs continue.

A public service work experience employment program would put some of the unemployed to work immediately and help local and state governments as well as the educational system and non-profits maintain the services they are currently providing to Americans across the country.

It is way past time to implement this type of program.

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U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announces investigation of BP Oil Rig disaster - in a statement yesterday, holder said the Justice Department would investigate civil and criminal violations of the law. This would involve actions taken by both government and BP officials prior to the accident. TheHill.com has more here.

This is a necessary reaction to the worst oil spill to affect the U.S., but in the meantime, oil remains flowing into the ocean. let's hope the most recent cut and cap approach by BP works.

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Alabama primary results provide more change - just two weeks after Democratic voters in Pennsylvania signaled they did not like political party changers by nominating Representative Joe Sestak over incumbent Senator Arlen Specter. TheFix.com has more here.

This time it was the Republicans who said good bye to party switching Representative Parker Griffith and voting for Mo Brooks. Also, on the Democratic side, voters choose Ron Sparks as their nominee for Governor over Democratic Party supported Artur Davis.

It is a good sign voters can see through self serving politicians who change party affiliation.

Meanwhile, the Arkansas Democratic run-off for Senate scheduled for Tuesday remains close between incumbent Blanche Lincoln and Lt. Governor Bill Halter. MSNBC.com has more here.

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