Today is Obama's last day in Hawaii.
Via Hawaii News Now
Saturday, January 05, 2013
Friday, January 04, 2013
Christine Gregoire Could Replace Lisa Jackson at EPA
President Obama is about to nominate outgoing Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire as the new head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a very private prediction from a very senior source in Washington’s congressional delegation.
Gregoire was director of Washington’s Department of Ecology before being elected Attorney General in 1992. The future governor made her reputation by negotiating a Hanford nuclear waste cleanup agreement with the first Bush administration, which has held up in court through efforts by the feds’ to wiggle out of their commitments. Seattle PI
Obama Expected to Name Chuck Hagel for Defense
President Barack Obama is expected to name Chuck Hagel as his choice for defense secretary as early as Monday, as critics of the former Nebraska senator prepare to go to war to fight his expected nomination. Foreign Policy
House Democrats Support Some Spending Cuts
The way I understand it, the debt ceiling is non-negotiable and will be raised because that debt has already been incurred. Obama holds all the cards on that one. We simply can't play with the economy and our credit rating.
Separate of the debt ceiling, is the debate on spending cuts to reduce the deficit (difference between how much government takes in and what it spends) and debt (how much we owe in total, or accumulated deficits). The media, of course, is making the most of the dysfunction in Congress for its own self interest.
Separate of the debt ceiling, is the debate on spending cuts to reduce the deficit (difference between how much government takes in and what it spends) and debt (how much we owe in total, or accumulated deficits). The media, of course, is making the most of the dysfunction in Congress for its own self interest.
Congress Passes $9.7 Billion in Aid for Sandy Relief
After Boehner fumbled and was berated by Chris Christie and others, Congress, alas, passed a Sandy relief package:
The House and Senate today passed a bill approving more than $9 billion in aid for regions impacted by superstorm Sandy, the first of two Sandy relief measures making their way through Congress between now and the end of the month.
The measure, which allows FEMA to temporarily increase the National Flood Insurance program's borrowing limit by $9.7 billion, will now head to the White House for the president's signature. cbs
Thursday, January 03, 2013
John Boehner Chokes Up During Speaker Speech
People mock Boehner for his public emotions, but it is one of the things I like about him. Though I'd rather see Pelosi as Speaker, Boehner is better than Cantor.
113th more diverse:
113th more diverse:
Obama Eases Immigration Rule Effective March 4
Obama begins the push for immigration reform.
The policy, announced Wednesday by the Obama administration and effective March 4, allows immigrants who entered the country illegally to remain in the United States during a waiver process that typically takes up to a year to complete.Read more in the Chicago Tribune. The rule affects parents, children and spouses.
.....
The policy "reduces long periods of separation between U.S. citizens and their immediate relatives," Alejandro Mayorkas, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said Wednesday in a conference call. Santa Cruz Sentinel
Biden Swears in New Senators Jan 3
Obama will remain in Hawaii with his family until Saturday.
Joe Biden swore in new Senators in the 113th Congress. Here is Sen. Elizabeth Warren:
See the Democratic women of the 113th House.
The Bidens schedule today:
11:00 AM
Jill Biden joins the Delaware Army National Guard for the deployment ceremony of the 153rd Military Police Company.
7:00 PM
Biden and Jill Biden attend an event with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute to welcome new members.
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Obama Urges Congress to Vote on Sandy Aid
Update: After Christie publicly tore Boehner to shreds (he went a bit overboard in my opinion), House will vote on Sandy funding on Friday.
Boehner decided not to take up the bill.
Chris Christie? Not pleased. Christie held a press conference ripping Boehner (partial video below). Call me a cynic, but I think Peter King and Christie would rather see Cantor as speaker of the House. Christie's also got his eye on the White House.
Christie says Obama called him today, but Boehner refused Christie's calls.
I also think that when Christie gets mad, he needs to expel his anger on a public stage or else he'd simply explode.
Chris Christie? Not pleased. Christie held a press conference ripping Boehner (partial video below). Call me a cynic, but I think Peter King and Christie would rather see Cantor as speaker of the House. Christie's also got his eye on the White House.
Christie says Obama called him today, but Boehner refused Christie's calls.
I also think that when Christie gets mad, he needs to expel his anger on a public stage or else he'd simply explode.
It has only been two months since Hurricane Sandy devastated communities across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut as well as other eastern states. Our citizens are still trying to put their lives back together. Our states are still trying to rebuild vital infrastructure. And so, last month, working closely with the Governors of the affected states, I sent Congress an urgent request to support their efforts to rebuild and recover. The Senate passed this request with bipartisan support. But the House of Representatives has refused to act, even as there are families and communities who still need our help to rebuild in the months and years ahead, and who also still need immediate support with the bulk of winter still in front of us.
When tragedy strikes, Americans come together to support those in need. I urge Republicans in the House of Representatives to do the same, bring this important request to a vote today, and pass it without delay for our fellow Americans.
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Obama Speaks on Passage of Fiscal Deal Jan. 1
Obama is set to sign the bill passed by the Senate and the House. What's in the deal?
Obama made it clear that he's not going to put up with debt ceiling shenanigans - not paying for bills Congress has already incurred.
With that, good riddance to the 112th, the least productive Congress in decades. Meet the freshman of the 113th. Obama heads back to Hawaii tonight for some quality family time.
Obama made it clear that he's not going to put up with debt ceiling shenanigans - not paying for bills Congress has already incurred.
With that, good riddance to the 112th, the least productive Congress in decades. Meet the freshman of the 113th. Obama heads back to Hawaii tonight for some quality family time.
Obama to Make Statement | House Expected to Pass Senate Bill
Video of Obama's statement is now up here.
Update 11:05 pm ET: Bill passes 257-167. Cantor, McCarthy vote no. Paul Ryan was a yes. Surprise. Fiscal disaster averted.
Update 11 pm ET: Boehner votes yes. Looks like it will pass.
Update 9:40 pm ET: Senate fiscal bill clears procedural vote in House of Representatives. Now they'll debate (for one hour, ugh) and vote on the actual bill.
The House is expected to pass the Senate bill without changes, and Obama is set to make a statement tonight. He'll probably also sign the bill tonight. BTW, Obama is not in Hawaii. He arrived back in DC the day after Christmas. I'll post live stream when (if) it's up. Here is Obama's earlier statement when the Senate bill passed.
Update 11:05 pm ET: Bill passes 257-167. Cantor, McCarthy vote no. Paul Ryan was a yes. Surprise. Fiscal disaster averted.
Update 11 pm ET: Boehner votes yes. Looks like it will pass.
Update 9:40 pm ET: Senate fiscal bill clears procedural vote in House of Representatives. Now they'll debate (for one hour, ugh) and vote on the actual bill.
The House is expected to pass the Senate bill without changes, and Obama is set to make a statement tonight. He'll probably also sign the bill tonight. BTW, Obama is not in Hawaii. He arrived back in DC the day after Christmas. I'll post live stream when (if) it's up. Here is Obama's earlier statement when the Senate bill passed.
Eight Senators Who Voted Against Fiscal Cliff Bill
Five Republicans and three Democrats voted against the bill: Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.).
Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) missed the vote. The Hill
What's in the Senate Fiscal Cliff Plan?
Update Jan. 2: more of what's in the bill:
The House is expected to vote on the bill in the next couple of days. The bill extends unemployment benefits for a year. It also extends for five years the child tax credit, the earned income tax credit and the college tuition tax credit. It delays cuts to defense and other agency budgets for two months.
The House is expected to vote on the bill in the next couple of days. The bill extends unemployment benefits for a year. It also extends for five years the child tax credit, the earned income tax credit and the college tuition tax credit. It delays cuts to defense and other agency budgets for two months.
Senate Passes Fiscal Cliff Bill 89-8
Update: Outmaneuvered, it looks like House trolls will vote on unamended bill tonight.
Update: It's looking like House trolls will eat the bill! Note that if this Congress expires (in about 40 hours) before further damage from the slope is averted (it's never really been a cliff), the Senate bill is moot. The new Congress has to begin again. See the eight senators who voted against the bill.
The Biden, just prior to the vote, in good spirits and getting the job done when republicans got stuck in their own muck:
The House trolls arrive for work today. Boehner said the House would consider the Senate bill. But who knows what the House will do. They'll probably eat the bill:
Obama's statement:
Update: It's looking like House trolls will eat the bill! Note that if this Congress expires (in about 40 hours) before further damage from the slope is averted (it's never really been a cliff), the Senate bill is moot. The new Congress has to begin again. See the eight senators who voted against the bill.
The Biden, just prior to the vote, in good spirits and getting the job done when republicans got stuck in their own muck:
The House trolls arrive for work today. Boehner said the House would consider the Senate bill. But who knows what the House will do. They'll probably eat the bill:
Obama's statement:
Leaders from both parties in the Senate came together to reach an agreement that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support today that protects 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small business owners from a middle class tax hike. While neither Democrats nor Republicans got everything they wanted, this agreement is the right thing to do for our country and the House should pass it without delay.
This agreement will also grow the economy and shrink our deficits in a balanced way – by investing in our middle class, and by asking the wealthy to pay a little more.
What's more, today's agreement builds on previous efforts to reduce our deficits. Last year, I worked with Democrats and Republicans to cut spending by more than $1 trillion. Tonight’s agreement does even more by asking millionaires and billionaires to begin to pay their fair share for the first time in twenty years. As promised, that increase will be immediate, and it will be permanent.
There’s more work to do to reduce our deficits, and I’m willing to do it. But tonight’s agreement ensures that, going forward, we will continue to reduce the deficit through a combination of new spending cuts and new revenues from the wealthiest Americans. And as we address our ongoing fiscal challenges, I will continue to fight every day on behalf of the middle class and all those fighting to get into the middle class to forge an economy that grows from the middle out, not from the top down.
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