Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Obama-Boehner Meet as Differences Remain in "Fiscal Cliff" Negotiations - the two are meeting at the white House this morning after House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) relented and proposed a tax increase on those making more than $1 million, but total new revenue was $1 trillion v. President Obama's revised offer of $1.4 trillion and tax hikes for those earning more than $250,000.

In a significant shift, Boehner also offered to put off talks on raising the debt limit for one year.

The two sides are remain apart on cuts to entitlement programs.  Reuters.com has more here.

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Action By Congress on Assault Weapons Likely - in the wake of the tragedy in Newton, Connecticut, lawmakers are speaking up to reinstitute the ban on assault weapons.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has vowed to introduce legislation to ban assault weapons at the start of the next Congress. Retiring Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) has also called for reinstating the ban, which expired in 2004.

“I don’t know anyone in the sporting or hunting arena that goes out with an assault rifle,” Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) said on “Morning Joe” on Monday. “I don’t know anyone that needs 30 rounds in a clip to go hunting.”  The Washington Post has more here.

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Scott To Replace DeMint in Senate - reports indicate Governor Nikki Haley (R-S.C.) will appoint Represenative Tim Scott (R) to replace Seantor Jim DeMint who announced his resignation recently to run the Heritage Foundation.

Mr. Scott will become South Carolina’s first black senator, and the first black Republican in the Senate since Edward Brooke of Massachusetts left in 1979. Over all, he will be the seventh black senator, and the chamber’s fourth black Republican.  The NY Times has more here.

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Dukakis May Be Interim Replacement for Kerry - if, Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) is nominated by President Obama to become the Secretary of State, as expected, Governor Deval Patrick (D-Mass.) may select former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis to serve until a special election is held next year.  TheHill.com has more here.

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Electoral College Makes it Official Today - November 6 saw Obama pass the electoral threshold of 270 – from a total of 538 votes - as ballots from Ohio rolled in, besting Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Ultimately, Obama won 332 electoral votes, with 51% of the popular vote, to Romney's 207, with 47% of the popular vote.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the president and vice president are elected indirectly by electors, who are elected by popular vote.

Electors meet in their respective state capitals on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December. Each state has electors equal to its representation in Congress. CNN.com has more here.
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