George Wenschhof
Today, President Obama will meet with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - after meetings and a working lunch they will hold a joint press conference from the White House. Relations have been strained since Israel announced approval of building permits for the West Bank and Israeli commandos stormed a aid ship bound for the Gaza Strip. Reuters.com has more here.
All of which has made the job of U.S. Middle East Envoy George Mitchell even more difficult as he mediates "proximity talks" between Israel and Palestine.
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Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass.) signals he is now ready to support Financial Reform bill - after forcing Senate Majority Leader to postpone the vote on the bill prior to the 4th of July recess, Brown now says after the Bank fee has been amended, he is ready to support.
The vote delay was caused by the loss of Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), Brown and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.); who is now saying she will support. TheHill.com has more here.
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RNC Chair Michael Steele likely to survive through 2010 elections - even as high profile republicans such as Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) call for his resignation. Changing leadership only four months before the elections is doubtful. However, it is safe to say Michael Steele is one gaffe away from the exit door. FirstRead.com has more here.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Daily Political Wire 7-6-2010
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Democratic Chatter 2-26-2009
George Wenschhof Bio
Today, President Barack Obama will send his first Budget to Congress - this will be for fiscal year 2010 which begins October 1, 2009. Early reports indicate it will include a 10 year 634 billion health care plan and 537 billion for military spending. Reuters.com has more here.
The President will also be at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina today where he will lay out his U.S. troop withdrawal plan for Iraq. As we indicated yesterday, the plan will call for two-thirds of the troops out in 19 months with a residual force of 50,000 to remain in country. House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) has already said she wants less troops to remain in Iraq.
If you missed President Obama's speech to congress and the nation on Tuesday night, you can watch some of the clips here.
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Meanwhile, the House voted yesterday 245-178 to pass a increase in the budget for the remainder of this year - this is a 410 billion budget in spending for the remainder of the current fiscal year which ends September 30 and represents a 8% increase from the previous year. As expected the bill passed mostly along party lines. The Senate still needs to vote on their version. MSNBC.com has more here.
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In a symbolic move of "I feel your pain", the House voted to freeze pay increases - they automatically receive annual cost-of-living increases every year. Their current annual salary is $174.000. The Senate has yet to vote on freezing their salaries. TheHill.com has more here.
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Housing industry continues to suffer - reports out yesterday showed that home prices dropped 18.2% over the last three months of 2008. Since the peak in the second quarter of 2006, home prices are down 26.7%. CNN.com has more here.
Compounding the problem, the National Association of Realtors reported that sales in January dropped 5.3% to the lowest level since July 1997. WTOP.com has more here.
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Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) asks President Obama to define executive privilege - he sent the president a letter yesterday in which he questions the White House appointments of Czars for health care, energy, urban affairs and others. His concern is do these positions have responsibility to Congress or do they fall outside of their scope of power. A good constitution question. President Obama is also facing a decision as to his position pertaining to Karl Rove, the former White House chief of staff for President George W. Bush. Rove is claiming executive privilege while refusing to answer a subpoena from the House Judiciary committee in regard to his role in the firing of 9 U.S. attorneys. Politico.com has more here.
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