Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Obama To Vist Newton Today - President Obama will meet with the families of the 27 victims of Friday’s shooting, including the 20 small children slain inside their elementary school. Obama will then speak at an interfaith vigil in the evening in Newtown, Connecticut.

Obama made similar visits to Fort Hood, Tex., in 2009, Tucson in 2011 and Aurora, Colo. , this July — each time, in the aftermath of a gunman’s spree. Obama has tended to focus on emotion and healing in these moments, touching only lightly on the subject of guns and gun control.  The Washington Post has more here.

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Bloomberg Urges New Gun Laws - New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg urged Congress to renew the ban on certain semi-automatic firearms that expired in 2004. He also called for improved databases to trace gun ownership, stricter enforcement against illegal gun trafficking and more laws to prevent sales to criminals. Bloomberg.com has more here.

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) immediately called for the reinstatement by Congress of the assault weapon ban and for the establishment of a violence commission. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calf.) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY said they will introduce legislation in the new Congress to ban assault weapons. 

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Boehner Proposes "Millionaire Tax" - House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), in the latest exchange of proposals has offered an increase in taxes to those earning more than $1 million in exchange for more spending cuts.

This is the first time Republicans have indicated they would accept any tax increases.  President Obama has stated taxes must go up for the upper 2% of wage earners who make over $250,000. 

If an agreement is not reached by January 1, automatic spending cuts and tax increases for all will go into effect.  You can read more here. 

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Obama To Nominate Kerry for Secretary of State - ABC News is reporting Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) will be nominated by the President.  It is anticipated the announcement will come before Christmas.

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Benghazi Report To Be Released This Week - a report prepared by an independent review ordered by secretary of state Hillary Clinton will be presented to the State Department on Monday.  On Thursday, Clinton deputies Bill Burns and Tom Nides are scheduled to testify before a House committee.  They are substituting for Clinton, who suffered a concussion after fainting due to dehydration from a stomach illness.  You can read more here.

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