Politico: Obama will meet with House and Senate Democratic leaders at the White House tomorrow at 4:45 p.m., according to Democrats familiar with the arrangement.In Obama's live interview (see it here) prior to the Super Bowl, he said he expects the stimulus to be refined and says, ultimately it will pass, though he didn't venture a guess as to how many republicans would support it.
The stimulus package will likely be the chief topic of discussion as the president looks to ease the tensions between Democrats and Republicans over the content and makeup of the bill.
David Brooks says it will pass but also suggests the bill will change. He says the items that don't create jobs fast need to be stripped from the bill. Brooks is growing on me.
Democrats are showing a willingness to compromise:
NYT: Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said that Senate Democrats were interested in considering Republican proposals to do more to help the sputtering housing market, including instituting a $15,000 tax credit for all home buyers.
“One of the Republican proposals is to raise the $7,500 tax credit we give to new home buyers, raise it to up $15,000 and do it for all home buyers,” Senator Schumer said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “That’s something that we look favorably upon.”
Mr. Schumer, who is a member of the Finance Committee, also said he was also interested in passing legislation aimed at getting mortgage rates down to 4.5 percent, although he said he thought that might go in the next part of the bailout measure approved by Congress last year, not the stimulus package.
He added, “I think we will get real agreement on the housing part.”
