With 60 Democrats in the Senate, the party has enough votes to pass any bill it pleases -- but that total includes two independents that caucus with the party and leaves no room for error. The tight margin is on display once again as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) searches for enough support to both bring health care reform up for a vote and actually pass it.

While many Republicans do not support passing comprehensive reform at all, Reid is struggling to win over the centrist members of his own party on a couple sticking points: a government-run insurance option and banning federal funding for abortions.

Following House passage of its reform legislation Saturday night, President Obama expressed confidence that the Senate would follow suit. The president has done his part, meeting personally with a number of centrist Democrats to discuss reform. How successful he and Reid can be remains to be seen, but there is consensus on the fact that it will be far more difficult than passing it out of the House.

As the Senate awaits cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office this week, all eyes remain on a select group of senators whose support or opposition could alter the ultimate success of the bill. Here are Five Senators To Watch as Senate Democratic leadership looks to pass its own health care reform by the end of the month:

Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska)

As the Almanac of American Politics puts it, "He often is found in the middle of battles between the extremes of both parties." That was true in 2005, when he was part of the Gang of 14 that sought to allow President Bush's judicial nominations to move forward, and it remains true today, as Nelson continues to be at the heart of each battle over health care.

Nelson is against the public option, even with an opt-out clause, which had been the center of debate until this week. Now, since House Democrats passed a bill Saturday that bars federal dollars from being spent on abortions, Nelson says he will not support a bill that doesn't do the same thing. "If it doesn't make it clear that it does not pay for abortion then I wouldn't support it," Nelson told reporters Monday, according to Reuters.

The second term senator could introduce his own amendment that would solve the issue. House Democratic leaders were forced to include the Stupak amendment to get enough Dem votes for passage, and Senate Democratic leadership will likely be in the same boat.

Olympia Snowe (R-Maine)

As a moderate Republican who has joined Democrats in previous key votes, Snowe is often mentioned in the health care debate. Her vote in the Senate Finance Committee helped move health care reform to the cusp of the Senate floor. However, she made sure to note at the time that she will not necessarily support the final bill that is introduced to the full Senate.

Snowe's voting record pits her in the middle of the Senate, and Democrats are hoping to win her support on this crucial vote. But Snowe has said she does not support a public option, even with an opt-out clause. So winning her vote does not appear likely -- as Reid announced the bill will indeed include it -- unless Democrats decide to give the public option a "trigger," which Snowe supports.

Continue reading "Five Senators To Watch On Health Care" »

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 07:30 AM | Email Author | Permalink

House Democrats were able to pass comprehensive health care reform Saturday night by a 220-215 vote, despite the defection of 39 members of the Democratic caucus. The tight margin is indicative of the divisive nature of the bill, as well as the volatile political atmosphere of the country.

Members know that each major vote cast on the floor of the House chamber could be the issue that defeats them in the following election. All but one Republican opposed the bill, and the party, down 81 seats, is already using the vote as a wedge issue for next year's midterm elections.

The National Republican Congressional Committee released the following statement shortly after the vote to media in the congressional districts of nearly 50 of the Democrats who supported the bill:

"As the country recoils against the Democrats' reckless crusade for higher spending and more government control, Dina Titus just walked off a cliff at the request of her party bosses by voting for a bill that hikes taxes, slashes Medicare, kills jobs, and puts small businesses and middle class Nevada families in an even bigger bind."

In 2008, John McCain won 49 districts that also elected a Democrat to the House. On Saturday, 31 of the 39 Democrats who opposed the bill represent districts McCain carried, including 19 where McCain won 55 percent of the vote or more. Of the 31 McCain districts, 11 are represented by freshmen.

Fifteen of the 41 Democrats elected in 2008 voted against the bill, while just two from the even larger 2006 class opposed it. Just fewer than half of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition, whose votes the Democratic leadership aggressively lobbied for, voted against the bill -- the 24 Blue Dogs made up more than 60 percent of the bill's Democratic opposition.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), one of the most liberal members of Congress and whose Cleveland-based district Obama won with 59 percent, opposed the bill because it didn't go far enough. Kucinich favored a "robust" public option, which leadership eventually concluded could not win enough support to pass.

Two of the opposing votes came from Members who are running for higher office next year -- Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.), who's running for governor, and Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.), who is challenging Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). McCain won at least 59 percent in both states in 2008.

Other noteworthy opposing votes came from Reps. Rick Boucher and Glenn Nye, both from Virginia, whose congressional districts were won Tuesday by Republican Bob McDonnell in the race for governor. The other two
Virginia Democrats whose districts McDonnell won, Reps. Gerry Connolly and Tom Perriello, voted in favor of the bill.

The lone Republican to support the bill was Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.), whose district leans heavily Democratic and has one of the 10 highest percentages of African American voters. Cao is widely considered the most vulnerable incumbent in the country, as his election in 2008 hinged on ethical and legal woes of incumbent Bill Jefferson (D-La.).

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 07:30 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Republicans argue that Tuesday's election results were enough to make some Democratic lawmakers - especially moderates from districts that lean Republican -nervous about their re-election viability, and in turn, cause them to think twice before voting to enact comprehensive health care reform.

But one of the Democrats who fits that description, Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia's 11th Congressional District, told RCP in an interview that using the gubernatorial results on Tuesday to determine vulnerability in the 2010 midterm elections makes no sense, and that he's not reading much into them.

"Prudence dictates you don't overanalyze one election," Connolly told RealClearPolitics.

However, none of the four Democrats in Virginia whose congressional districts were won by the Republican gubernatorial nominee have said which way they will vote tomorrow night. While all four are on record professing skepticism of the House reform bill well before Tuesday, any 'No' votes will likely be construed as a political decision.

Calling his colleagues "principled individuals," Connolly says "they're not going to be somehow spooked by one election cycle."

Wednesday morning, the National Republican Congressional Committee singled out the four Virginia Dems who could be feeling the heat after Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell (R) won their districts -- Reps. Rick Boucher, Glenn Nye, Tom Perriello and Connolly. The latter three are freshmen serving in districts long held by Republicans, and John McCain's largest vote percentage came in the 14-term Boucher's 9th District.

"Turn the clock back," said Connolly, referring to Virginia Democrats' success at the House, Senate and presidential level in 2008. "If I had said Bob McDonnell was in trouble a year ago, how would my comment look now?"

"Everything ultimately hinges on the economy" improving, he said. "We've got a whole year for that to happen."

Of the four, Connolly may have the least to worry about, even though his Northern Virginia district was represented by Republican Tom Davis for 14 of its 17-year existence. With Davis retiring last year, Connolly won 55 percent against businessman Keith Fimian; President Obama won 57 percent there -- his third largest percentage in the state.

McDonnell's 55 percent take in the 11th District Tuesday was his smallest of the four Democratic districts he won. Fimian, who outspent Connolly last year, is taking on the congressman again in 2010.

Republicans, including Republican Governors Association Chairman Haley Barbour, quickly began comparing this year's gubernatorial results in New Jersey and Virginia to 1993, when Republicans also swept the two elections and went on to win back Congress the following year.

Connolly says that to ensure nothing like that happens again, Democrats need to "prove we can govern. That's why passing health care reform is so important."

According to his spokesman, as of this afternoon Connolly is leaning toward voting for the health care reform bill that will likely come up for a vote Saturday night, but so far he's alone in that category. Jessica Barba, Perriello's spokesman, told RCP this afternoon that the congressman is still undecided, while spokesman Clark Pettig confirms Nye has not yet announced his decision. Boucher did not return a request for comment.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Currently down 81 seats in the House and 20 seats in the Senate, Republicans represent a minority of Americans in Congress. However, they continue to contend that they stand with mainstream America in opposing the Democrats' "tax and spend" agenda, including health care reform.

Calling Democrats' efforts to pass health care reform "gangster government at its worst," Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) invited people from all over the country to the Capitol today, to "tell their Representatives to vote no to a government take-over of one-fifth of our economy." Thousands of people showed up to the West Front of the Capitol as House GOP leaders, Bachmann, actor Jon Voight, and radio host Mark Levin bashed President Obama and congressional Democrats.

The event used populist themes in its disapproval of reform, as the word "freedom" was uttered countless times by speakers. Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) called the Dems' bill "the greatest threat to freedom that I've seen in my 19 years in Congress."

"I'm going to stand with you and all freedom-loving Americans against this bill," he continued.

Asked at a press conference later in the day about some racist signs that turned up in the crowd, Boehner said he didn't see any. Asked if he worried that the signs that appeared on the Capitol grounds today might show that the GOP is out of the mainstream, Boehner said it was just the opposite.

"I think Republicans are standing with the mainstream in opposition to Pelosi-care," he said.

Earlier in the day, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) said she was excited for Democrats' special election victories Tuesday in California and New York, not only because it gave her two more votes for health care reform, but because "health care was the issue" in both races. She did not mention the Democrats' losses in the New Jersey and Virginia governor's races.

Asked about Pelosi's comments, Boehner laughed and said he disagreed with her analysis of the races. As evidence, he pointed to the election results in New York's 23rd District, where 46 percent voted for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman and 5 percent voted for GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava, who left the race days before the election.

"A majority of the people who voted in that election in New York on Tuesday night voted against the Obama-Pelosi agenda here in Washington," he said. "And so they can spin it any way they want, the leaders can, but let me tell you what: Their members saw what happened Tuesday night."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

In a statement from the House floor today that is surely already making the rounds in Democratic circles and in the liberal netroots, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said Americans should be more fearful of Congress passing the Democrats' health care reform legislation than terrorism.

"I believe that the greatest fear that we all should have to our freedom comes from this room -- this very room and what may happen later this week in terms of a tax increase bill masquerading as a health care bill," Foxx said. "I believe we have more to fear from the potential of that bill passing than we do from any terrorist right now in any country."

National Democratic campaign committees are e-mailing video of the statement by Foxx, of teapot museum earmark fame. Democratic National Committee spokesman Brad Woodhouse called her "an extreme right wing Republican" and criticized her for making such an "outrageous" comparison. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reacted similarly.

"Representative Foxx believes that reducing health care costs for consumers is a greater danger to Americans than terrorists?" asked DCCC spokesman Jesse Ferguson. "It is outrageous that a representative of our nation that was hit by terrorists would have the gall to claim that Americans reducing their health care costs is a greater threat. The question is: Does Virginia Foxx's leadership agree with this Republican extreme right wing ideology?"

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Just when you thought you weren't connected enough to the Capitol, the House Republican Whip team is launching a BlackBerry application to provide up-to-the-minute updates and news.

"Today's launch of the WhipCast BlackBerry app is the latest demonstration of our commitment to modernize the way we communicate with Americans from coast-to-coast," said Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.). "The WhipCast enables the Whip Team to communicate with the public in a faster, smarter, and more effective way."

Not only will the app demonstrate that the GOP is up with new technology, it will also allow the party to more directly connect with voters. Professional athletes and other celebrities have taken to new technologies like Twitter, and found it to be an effective way to circumvent the media.

The app will feature "talking points, policy discussions, polling information, floor schedule updates, and more," according to Cantor's website, as well as video and audio updates.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:55 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leaders today announced House Democrats' health care reform legislation, which will cost less than $900 billion over 10 years and expand coverage to 36 million currently uninsured Americans. As Pelosi has stated many times in recent weeks, the bill "will not add one dime to the deficit."

The principles of the legislation, titled, "Affordable Health Care for America Act," are "affordability for the middle class, security for our seniors, responsibility to our children," said Pelosi, who noted that the bill will include "a public option to boost competition" and "will end discrimination for a pre-existing medical condition."

Speaking at a grand ceremony on the west front of the Capitol, Pelosi promised that the bill will be online for all Americans to review, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said much of the bill has been available online for more than three months. Republicans have criticized Democrats for not allowing enough time for proper review, but Hoyer said it will be available for 72 hours before it goes up for a vote.

Congress, Hoyer said, is "one step further on a long, hard road -- a road to bring quality, affordable health care to every one of our fellow citizens."

"I told members of the press and the public over and over and over again, there is not one member of our caucus -- from every region of the country -- who did not say to us, 'We need to adopt health care reform,' " said Hoyer, indicating any argument within the House Democratic caucus has been on the details, not the overall goal.

The Congressional Budget Office will release its scoring of the bill later today, and the speaker's office says the bill will cost $894 billion over 10 years and is fully paid for.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 10:50 AM | Email Author | Permalink

When it comes to health care reform, Republicans in Congress are trusted less than their colleagues across the aisle and President Obama, according to a new Gallup survey (Oct. 16-19, 1521 A).

Just more than one-third (37%) of American adults have a great deal or fair amount of trust in congressional Republicans on reforming the nation's health care system, while nearly half (48%) trust congressional Dems and more than half (55%) trust the president.

Only counting those who said they have a "great deal of trust," 4% said Republicans, 10% said Democrats and 23% said Obama.

Republicans not only lag in trustworthiness among the nation as a whole, but also among members of their own party. Just 61% of Republicans nationwide trust the Republicans in Congress on health care, while 81% of Democrats trust congressional Dems and 86% of Democrats trust Obama.

As for independents, 36% trust Republicans in Congress, 39% trust Democrats and 51% trust Obama.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Two-thirds of the country could opt out of the public option, based on a Real Clear Politics analysis.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is promoting a federal government-run insurance option that states would be able choose whether or not to participate in. But if the decision falls to the state legislatures and governors, as indications are it would, the vast majority of states could choose to opt out.

Ten states are completely controlled by Republicans (including the state House, Senate and governor's mansion). Meanwhile, Republicans have control of at least one chamber of the state legislature or the governor's mansion in 23 states.

Potentially, any state with at least partial Republican control could choose to opt out of the public option. That would leave 33 states, totaling 200 million people, that would not be included in the most decisive, and divisive, portion of health care reform.

If only states totally controlled by Republicans were to opt out, 70 million people would be without a public option.

In Virginia, Democrats currently control the state Senate and governor's mansion, but Republican Bob McDonnell leads by more than 10 points with one week to go in the gubernatorial election. Should he become governor and the option be available, McDonnell would opt out.

"Bob McDonnell does not support nationalized heath care," said McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin. "As a result, he does not support Virginia's participation in a federal public health insurance system. As governor he would opt Virginia out of such a system."

Whether or not Reid's proposal ever goes up for a vote on the Senate floor remains in flux, however. Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) said today he was against the public option, even with an opt-out clause, and would join Republicans in withholding it from a floor vote.

Should Reid's plan make it through both chambers of Congress, the public option would likely remain in at least 17 states where Democrats have complete control and 97 million people reside.

Washington D.C. was not included in RCP's analysis. Population data was taken from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2008 population estimates.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 05:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced today that the House will stay in session beyond its scheduled adjournment date in order to pass health care reform legislation.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) blasted Democrats this week for wasting time on the House floor with unimportant bills instead of working to improve the economy. It's unclear how the minority leader will respond to news of overtime hours being scheduled to pass comprehensive health care reform, which most Republicans do not support.

Here is Hoyer's statement:

"After months of work addressing critical issues like economic recovery and protecting American consumers, the House will meet beyond the targeted adjournment date as we continue to advance health insurance reform legislation and other matters. As is often the case when we come to the end of a session, the voting schedule is subject to change as the House and Senate work together to complete action on legislation, as well as to accommodate committee work and provide time for Members to review major legislation before voting.

"To that end, we are scheduled to be in session for the entire week of November 2, and are prepared to be in session the first weekend of November if necessary. We are also scheduled to be in session the entire week of November 16. In addition, we have marked several days on the calendar for Members to reserve in case they need to be here to pass health insurance reform. Those days are: Monday, November 9th; Tuesday, November 10th; Monday, November 23rd; and Tuesday, November 24th."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:50 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced today that the health care reform bill that hits the Senate floor in the coming weeks will include a public option. The decision to include or exclude government-run health insurance had been in flux, as one of the two Senate bills being merged over the past week did not include it.

"I believe that a public option can achieve the goal of bringing meaningful reform to our broken system, will protect consumers, keep insurers honest, and ensure competition," Reid said at an afternoon press conference in the Capitol. "And that's why we intend to include it in the bill that will be sent to the Senate."

Reid and senior advisers from the White House have been involved in backroom negotiations with the leaders of the two Senate committees that passed health care bills -- Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who ushered a bill through the HELP Committee, and Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.). In doing so, a compromise was brokered to allow states to opt out of the public option by 2014.

"As we've gone through this process I've concluded, with the support of the White House and Senators Dodd and Baucus, that the best way to move forward is with the public option with the opt-out provision for states," said Reid, who cited recent national polling as evidence that the American public is in favor of the public option. "Under this concept states will be able to determine whether the public option works well for them and will have the ability to opt out if they so choose."

Republicans have argued that a government-run insurance plan would lead to the demise of private insurance companies, while Democrats say its purpose is to keep the insurance companies honest and protect consumers by promoting competition.

"It will be a thousand-page, trillion-dollar bill that raises premiums, raises taxes and slashes Medicare for our seniors to create new government spending programs. That's not reform," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has previously said he is against comprehensive health care reform, with or without a public option. "So, wholly aside from the debate over whether the government gets into the insurance business, the core of the proposal is a bill that the American public clearly does not like, and doesn't support."

Reid said he was disappointed that so few Republicans appear willing to negotiate on health care reform, or many other issues that have come before the Senate this year, including extending unemployment benefits, which is currently being debated on the Senate floor.

"I'm always looking for Republicans" to support legislation, Reid said. "It's just a little hard to find them. ... When I came here to the Senate, we had a lot of moderate Republicans who worked with us on everything, and we worked with them. But of course now the moderates are extremely limited. I can count them on two fingers."

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) was the only Republican on the Finance Committee to vote in favor of the Baucus bill, but she does not support a public option of any kind -- including one with an opt-out provision for states. However, Reid hopes she will eventually support the bill.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs released a statement saying President Obama is "pleased that the Senate has decided to include a public option for health coverage, in this case with an allowance for states to opt out. As he said to Congress and the nation in September, he supports the public option because it has the potential to play an essential role in holding insurance companies accountable through choice and competition."

Later this afternoon, Reid will send the Congressional Budget Office a series of proposals that includes alternative versions of a melded bill, and he'll wait to hear back on how much each version would cost. Democrats need 60 votes to pass the bill, so Reid is looking for the most cost-effective, yet comprehensive, plan to do so. While there are 60 Democratic senators, not all of them have indicated support for the bill.

"As soon as we get the bill back from CBO and people have a chance to look at it," said Reid, "I believe that we will clearly have the support of my caucus to move to this bill and begin legislating."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:15 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Close followers of the health care reform debate in Congress may want to keep their eyes glued to the TV at 3:15 p.m. today, when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is scheduled to make an announcement regarding Senate legislation.

The Reid press conference comes as he, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), and senior White House advisers are completing negotiations on merging the two health care bills that have passed out of separate committees. A scoring from the Congressional Budget Office is expected this week, though Reid's press conference will provide further details on exactly where in the legislative process health care reform is, and perhaps what the merged bill will look like.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:25 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Three in 10 Congressional Democrats say their party leadership is not doing enough to police ethics enforcement in the Democratic Party, according to National Journal's latest Congressional Insiders Poll.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has caught the most heat for refusing to make any moves regarding Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), chairman of the powerful Appropriations Defense subcommittee, despite numerous investigative media reports depicting potential misdeeds. Despite calls for Rangel to step down from his post, Pelosi has maintained that she will wait for the ethics committee to complete its investigation.

"Leaders should not attempt to influence the timing or outcome of an ethics investigation," one Democrat, who thinks leadership isn't doing enough, told National Journal. "However, they should ask any subject of an investigation to step down from positions of leadership during the review of serious charges."

Just 62 percent of House and Senate Democrats surveyed said party leadership was doing enough, nearly 20 points less than the number of Republicans who say the same about their own leadership. But, reminds one Democrat, "Let's not forget: It wasn't until the Democrats took over the majority that Congress adopted strengthened rules of ethical oversight."

While 19 percent of Republicans say their party leaders are not doing enough, most say the tables have turned since 2006, when Democrats rode a "drain-the-swamp" wave back to power.

"All of the Republican ethical issues resulted in them losing power--lesson learned," said one Republican.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Pushing back on a Politico article this morning, which reported Republicans are worried about a 2010 electoral backlash to conservative activists and media personalities, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) took to the House floor today and called it "hogwash."

"Lately the national media has taken aim at conservative commentators in radio and television -- suggesting that they only speak for a small group of activists, and even suggesting in one report today that Republicans in Washington are 'worried about their electoral effect.' Well, that's hogwash," Pence said. "So to my friends in the so-called 'mainstream media' I say, conservative talk show hosts may not speak for everybody but they speak for more Americans than you do."

You can download and watch the clip here.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Democrats are promoting a national survey released this afternoon by CNN/Opinion Research (Oct. 16-18, 1038 A, MoE +/- 3%), which finds 61% of Americans in favor of a government-run health insurance plan to compete with private insurance companies. The poll comes as the House and Senate are each merging separate health care reform bills for an eventual vote on the chamber floors.

At a morning press conference, CNN's Dana Bash asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid whether the fact that six-in-10 Americans approve of a public option has any effect on whether it would be included in the Senate plan. Reid refused to answer, as he remains deep in negotiations with Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), whose bill does not include the option, and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who as the acting chairman of the HELP Committee included the option in his committee's bill.

The press conference was held to announce that Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy's (D-Vt.) Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009 will be introduced as an amendment to the eventual bill that reaches the Senate floor. The amendment would strip insurance companies of their antitrust exemption status, which Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) described as "an accident of American history."

Schumer said that in 40 states, two insurance companies dominate the market, allowing them to raise health care costs on consumers . "This exemption is antiquated, out of date, and doesn't belong," he said. "We can't pass effective health care reform if we don't hold health insurance companies to the same standards as other American industries."

The CNN poll found 49% favor President Obama's health care plan overall, while 49% oppose it. However, when asked which would be better for the country, passing a bill similar to Obama's plan or leaving the current system in place with no changes, 53% say Obama's plan would be better compared with 44% who say nothing should change.

The 61% of Americans in favor of the public option is up 5 points since late August.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

As the head of the House of the Representatives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a divisive figure in the national political scene, but a new poll finds unhappiness with her even in her home state and among members of her own party.

A Field Poll released over the weekend found just 51% of Democrats in California approve of the job Pelosi's doing as speaker, while 23% disapprove and 26% have no opinion. Overall, she has a 34% approval -- her lowest since May 2008 -- and 44% disapproval rating. Just 7% of California Republicans approve of the speaker, while independents are split.

The two months Pelosi was most popular were March 2007, just after becoming speaker, and March 2009, following President Obama's inauguration.

The state's two Democratic senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, have positive approval ratings, though both are under 50%. Boxer, who's up for re-election next year, has a 44% approval and 37% disapproval rating, while 46% approve of and 35% disapprove of Feinstein.

The survey was conducted of 509 registered voters from Sept. 18 to Oct. 5 with a margin of error of +/- 3.2%.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:45 AM | Email Author | Permalink

The issue of White House policy "czars" is heading back to the Hill next week. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee announced today it is holding a hearing Thursday to examine the history of czars in the White House, as well as their policy implications and oversight considerations.

This will be the second Senate hearing this month on the topic.

The hearing, titled, "Presidential Advice and Senate Consent: The Past, Present, and Future of Policy Czars," will feature the following witnesses:
--Tom Ridge, former Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Secretary of Homeland Security
--James Pfiffner, public policy professor, George Mason University
--Lee Casey, partner of Baker Hostetler law firm and former Attorney-Advisory Legal Counsel office at DOJ
--Harold Relyea, former Congressional Research Service specialist in American National Government

Obama's czars have been a hot topic of discussion this year, with Republicans criticizing the lack of advise-and-consent usually attached to top presidential appointments. However, some Democrats have joined in the criticism. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.), chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, has been outspoken on the topic and held a hearing last week.

Democrats argue that Bush had at least as many czars as Obama, so GOP criticism amounts to the pot calling the kettle black.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is not giving up his fight on behalf of Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight boxing champion. McCain and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) sent a letter to President Obama today asking for a posthumous pardon for the boxer, who was imprisoned in 1913 for his romantic relationships with white women.

In the letter, McCain and King "say it is regrettable that neither Obama nor anyone from his administration responded to their first letter, sent in August," AP reports. "They say they hope Obama would be eager to erase what they call an 'act of racism' that sent the first black heavyweight champ to prison."

McCain and King introduced legislation in April calling on Obama to pardon Johnson. At the time, McCain said Obama "will be more than eager" and "the last person I have to convince." The Senate passed the resolution June 24 and the House followed suit July 29, both without the need for a roll call vote.

The White House had no immediate comment, according to AP.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:20 PM | Email Author | Permalink

In her weekly press conference, Speaker Nancy Pelosi once again argued for the need for a government health insurance option.

"The need for a public option is very clear, and, as I have said, our House bill will have a public option," she said. With a mandate included and news that private insurance rates will increase next year, "the idea that we would have health insurance reform without a public option becomes less likely."

The Senate is currently blending the two bills passed out of the Finance and HELP committees, and Pelosi said the House will finish merging its three bills in the next week. Should the blended bills pass the House and Senate, they would be sent to a joint conference, followed by each chamber voting on one combined bill.

Pelosi demurred when asked if Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the lone Republican on the Finance Committee to support the Baucus plan, has more influence than the Speaker in the health care debate. Snowe has said that the kind of robust public option Pelosi prefers is one she could not support, and Senate Democrats and the White House want her support in order to make it a bipartisan bill.

"It is not about who has what kind of influence. It is the question of what is the best approach for America's middle class when it comes to affordability, and a public option, in our view, is what takes down cost," Pelosi said. "The robust public option that is being considered in the House saves $110 billion. How can you ignore that: $110 billion?"

Pelosi cited two polls released this week by CBS and Marist -- each found more than 60 percent of Americans approve of the public option. That statistic may come in handy not only in debate with Republicans, but in negotations with centrist Democrats in both chambers.

"We are also saying if you are going to mandate that people must buy insurance, why would you throw them into the lion's den of the insurance industry without some leverage with a public option?" said Pelosi.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:25 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) announced this morning he is stepping down from his Congressional seat to accept the position of president of the Center for Middle East Peace, a D.C.-based think tank aimed at ending the Arab-Israeli conflict. Wexler announced the decision this morning at his Boca Raton office, and his exit from Congress is effective as of January 2010.

"Taking over as president of the Center for Middle East Peace offers me an unparalleled opportunity to work on behalf of Middle East peace for an important and influential non-profit institute," Wexler said. "After much discussion with my family, I have decided that I cannot pass up on this opportunity."

Wexler, one of the more liberal members of Congress, was an outspoken surrogate of Barack Obama last year during the presidential primaries and general election campaign, and he served as the campaign's Middle East adviser. He currently serves as the chairman of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Europe and sits on the Middle East subcommittee.

The congressman is in his seventh term representing the 19th District of Florida -- a long and skinny stretch in Palm Beach and Broward counties, landlocked by the 22nd and 23rd districts. It has one of the highest percentages of Jewish residents, and is firmly Democratic. President Obama won 66% of the vote in 2008, the same as John Kerry in 2004 but down from Al Gore's 73% in 2000.

"I am proud that everyday I have sought to advocate for and provide a voice to my constituents: whether it was fighting for a legitimate vote during the 2000 election, working toward enacting a voter verified paper trail in Florida, or advocating for health care, education, Social Security and countless other issues," said Wexler.

Gov. Charlie Crist (R) must now set a special election date to fill the vacant seat. While the winning party is in little doubt, there will surely be a group of ambitious Democrats lining up to run. They include state senators Jeremy Ring and Ted Deutch, West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel, Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter and former Broward County Commissioner Ben Graber, according to the Miami Herald.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:30 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Following the Finance Committee's 14-9 vote to pass Chairman Max Baucus's health care bill, the Democratic and Republican Senate campaign committees quickly released statements calling out members from the opposite party for their votes. Meanwhile, the Democratic and Republican Senate leaders focused their statements on Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the lone Republican to vote in favor of the plan.

"Sen. Snowe is also to be commended for voting for this proposal in the face of immense pressure from opponents of reform," said Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.). "Her courage to stick with her principles in the face of an increasingly partisan environment in Washington, DC is heartening and should serve as a reminder that health care is an issue that should defy party labels."

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), firmly against the bill, focused on Snowe's continued reservations with the plan, which she voiced this morning to McConnell as well as in committee.

"Sen. Snowe called me this morning to let me know that while she continues to have serious, substantive policy reservations with this proposal, she wanted to keep the process moving," said McConnell. "I share her concerns about the direction of this bill once it leaves the committee, and her call for transparency before we vote to proceed to any bill on the floor."

Both leaders recognized that while this was an important vote that continued to move Democrats' health care reform initiatives forward, this bill is not the one that will end up on the Senate floor. Reid and a committee of senators will now merge the Finance bill with the one passed three months ago in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, formerly chaired by Ted Kennedy.

That will not be a simple process, as the HELP bill contains a public insurance option, unlike the Finance bill. Should a bill pass the full Senate, it would then need to be combined with the House bill and voted on again. Snowe maintained that by voting today, it did not guarantee her continued support.

"My vote today is my vote today, it doesn't forecast what my vote will be tomorrow," said Snowe.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is focusing on Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who is up for re-election next year and whose vulnerability could be decided by how she votes on health care and other issues.

"It very troubling that Senator Lincoln went back on her word and decided to vote in favor of a bill that will ultimately shift costs to voters in Arkansas who are still struggling to make ends meet," said NRSC spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson Marchand. "Despite her assertions to the contrary, Blanche Lincoln has effectively opened the door with this vote for a government-run program that will come between her constituents and their doctors and potentially cause over 88 million Americans to lose their coverage."

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee went after Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the Finance ranking member. Grassley is up for re-election next year as well, but not considered vulnerable at this point.

"With today's vote, Senator Grassley affirmed his loyalty to insurance companies," said DSCC spokesman Eric Schultz. "Instead of championing the people he pledged to serve, Grassley sided with the special interests and toed the Republican Party line by voting to obstruct progress at every turn. Senator Grassley owes the people of Iowa an explanation."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The House Ethics committee announced today it will expand its investigation of Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) to determine if he "violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation or other standard of conduct applicable to his conduct in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities with respect to all Financial Disclosure Statements and all amendments filed in calendar year 2009 by or on behalf of" Rangel.

The committee said that in its year-long investigation into Rangel, it has so far issued 150 subpoenas, interviewed 34 witnesses for more than 2,100 pages of transcripts, reviewed more than 12,000 pages of documents, and held more than 30 investigative subcommittee meetings.

A Republican resolution introduced in the House yesterday to remove Rangel from his role as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee was shot down by Democrats in a legislative maneuver. It was the second resolution filed this year by Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), with both ending similarly.

Republicans have already jumped on the Ethics committee's announcemnt, calling on Speaker Pelosi to remove Rangel until the committee has completed its investigation.

"Given the expanded investigation announced today, it is past time for Speaker Pelosi to insist that Chairman Rangel step aside until the Ethics Committee completes its work," Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a released statement within minutes of the Ethics committee's announcement. "The American people won't stand for having a chairman of the House's tax-writing committee who is under investigation for not paying his taxes. What more has to happen before Speaker Pelosi does the right thing?"

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:25 PM | Email Author | Permalink

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) criticized Democrats for attaching a hate crimes measure to the Defense Authorization bill, scheduled for a vote today on the House floor. Boehner is opposed not only to adding charges to a crime if the accused committed a violent act based on the victim's sexuality, but mostly the Democrats' use of a troop-funding measure to get it passed.

"This is just an abuse of the legislative process," Boehner said during his weekly press conference. "It's an abuse of power by Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid. And it's offensive, it's offensive to me and a lot of my colleagues. And that is why I will vote no and urge my colleagues to vote no."

Boehner will not be alone in voting against the bill, as Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Conference Chair Mike Pence (R-Ind.) have also stated that they will not support the bill. Cantor called it a "political ploy and symbolic of everything that is wrong with Washington."

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also criticized the Democrats' legislative maneuver during a briefing with reporters yesterday, but he said he will likely vote for it when it hits the Senate floor.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:25 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded this morning to a National Republican Congressional Committee press release that stated General McChrystal should "put her in her place" regarding Afghanistan war policy.

"It's really sad they don't understand how inappropriate that is," Pelsoi said. "I'm in my place, I'm the Speaker of the House, the first woman Speaker of the House. I'm in my place because the House of Representatives voted me there. But that language is something I haven't heard in decades."

Pelosi was asked for her reaction during her weekly press conference, which focused on health care and the economy.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:25 PM | Email Author | Permalink

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid met with President Obama at the White House this afternoon to discuss the economy and the potential for further spending bills to stimulate more growth. In a statement released following the meeting, Pelosi indicates her willingness to do so:

"Today's meeting with President Obama reaffirmed our top priority as a nation: getting Americans back to work. The President, Leader Reid, and I all agree that we must respond to the urgent need to promote the creation of good jobs, rebuild our workforce, and restore stability to our neighborhoods. Congress stands ready to partner with the White House to keep our economy moving in the right direction and lay the foundation for growth long into the future.

"Our recovery efforts have brought our economy back from the brink. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Cash for Clunkers, and a series of other steps have halted the freefall and have begun put us back on the path to long-term prosperity. The House has passed measures to invest in the clean energy jobs and to extend unemployment benefits to workers hardest hit by the recession.

"We are beginning to see signs that the economy is turning around. But we are committed to take further action on behalf of the millions of Americans out of work or at risk of losing their jobs, their savings and their homes."

Here is Reid's statement:

Continue reading "Pelosi, Reid: Open To a Second Stimulus" »

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 05:25 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The Congressional Budget Office said today that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus's (D-Mont.) health care bill would cost $829 billion and reduce the federal government's annual deficit by $81 billion during the years 2010 to 2019. By 2015, 94 percent of Americans would have health insurance, according to CBO's preliminary analysis (large .pdf).

The CBO score appears to be the "clean bill of health" Baucus had been hoping for, and the Finance Committee could vote on the plan as early as tomorrow. Should the committee pass the bill, a conference will gather to mesh the plan with the one passed in July by the HELP Committee.

The report also indicated that states would take on an additional $33 billion in Medicaid costs from 2010-2019, something that governors around the country are worried about.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 05:10 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Here is my story today on the Democrats' efforts to pressure Republicans to support comprehensive health care reform:

While the Senate Finance Committee awaits a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office on Chairman Max Baucus's (D-Mont.) health care bill, Democrats are ramping up their efforts to build support among the American people and pressure Republicans to eventually back comprehensive reform.

In a briefing with reporters Thursday, Senate Democratic leadership focused solely on what they referred to as the Republicans' obstructionist efforts on reform.

...

In pressuring Republicans, Democrats have also utilized recent quotes from prominent Republicans around the country who have stated a desire for Congress to work in a bipartisan fashion to pass reform this year.

Read the rest here.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:35 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Rep. John Carter (R-Tex.) is again working to remove Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) from his post as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee until the House ethics committee completes its investigation into his potential impropriety.

Carter read aloud his privileged resolution on the House floor at 12:55 p.m. today, and by rule it will be voted on. However, his previous resolution, introduced in February, was tabled by Democrats and today's vote appears to fare a similar outcome.

"We cannot tolerate a double standard in this country, one for the common man and another for the rich and powerful," Carter said in a press release this morning. "To allow Mr. Rangel to continue to serve as Chairman of the very committee with IRS oversight, without paying a nickel in penalties, and with no end in sight to his ethics investigation, sends a clear message to the American public that this government refuses to abide by the same laws they impose on the working people of this country."

An investigation into Rangel has continued for more than a year now, as the ethics committee first announced on Sept. 24, 2008, the formation of an investigative subcommittee to look into his dealings. The committee announced a separate inquiry in June for trips he has taken to the Caribbean.

The full text of the resolution can be read here.

UPDATE (1:51 p.m.): The House voted to refer the resolution to the ethics committee, ending the chance for any debate. The resolution is now dead as the committee has no mandate to do anything with it.

Two Democrats voted with the Republicans to not refer the motion to committee: Reps. Gene Taylor and Travis Childers, both of Mississippi. Childers represents a swing district, but Taylor is regularly re-elected with well more than 60% of the vote.

"These votes show that support for the Democratic Leaders' decision to sweep this matter under the rug is starting to crack," said Michael Steel, spokesman for Minority Leader John Boehner.

Continue reading "Carter Again Seeks To Remove Rangel From Ways & Means" »

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The Senate Finance Committee is awaiting a cost estimate, or "score," from the Congressional Budget Office, and Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said today he's unsure when it will come.

"I'm hopeful it's tomorrow, but I can't guarantee it," Baucus said after emerging from the Senate Democrats' weekly luncheon.

Movement on his health care bill has stalled so senators on the committee, especially Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), can cast their vote knowing how much the bill will cost. As for when a vote will take place, Baucus said it all depends what the CBO score looks like.

"If it's a clean bill of health," the vote will take place sooner, said Baucus.

Asked if he had spoken with CBO during the process and what he expected in the score, Baucus smiled and said, "I'm not discouraged."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:15 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Here is a list of the bipartisan group of congressional party and committee leaders who trekked down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House this afternoon for a briefing with President Obama and Vice President Biden on Afghanistan and Pakistan:

US Senate
• Senator Harry Reid, Majority Leader, D-NV
• Senator Dick Durbin, Majority Whip, D-IL
• Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican Leader, R-KY
• Senator Jon Kyl, Republican Whip, R-AZ
• Senator Carl Levin, Armed Services Chairman, D-MI
• Senator John McCain, Armed Services Ranking Member, R-AZ
• Senator Daniel Inouye, Appropriations Chairman and Defense Subcommittee Chairman, D-HI
• Senator Thad Cochran, Appropriations Ranking Member and Defense Subcommittee Ranking, R-MS
• Senator John Kerry, Foreign Affairs Chairman, D-MA
• Senator Richard Lugar, Foreign Affairs Ranking Member, R-IN
• Senator Patrick Leahy, Foreign Operations Appropriations Chairman, D-VT
• Senator Judd Gregg, Foreign Operations Appropriations Ranking Member, R-NH
• Senator Dianne Feinstein, Intelligence Committee Chair, D-CA
• Senator Kit Bond, Intelligence Committee Ranking Member, R-MO

US House
• Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA
• Representative Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader, D-MD
• Representative John Boehner, Republican Leader, R-OH
• Representative James Clyburn, Majority Whip, D-SC
• Representative Eric Cantor, Republican Whip, R-VA
• Representative Ike Skelton, Armed Services Chairman, D-MO
• Representative Howard McKeon, Armed Services Ranking Member, R-CA
• Representative Howard Berman, Foreign Affairs Chairman, D-CA
• Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Foreign Affairs Ranking Member, R-FL
• Representative David Obey, Appropriations Chairman, D-WI
• Representative Jerry Lewis, Appropriations Ranking Member, R-CA
• Representative Nita Lowey, Foreign Operations Appropriations Chairman, D-NY
• Representative Kay Granger, Foreign Operations Appropriations Ranking Member, R-TX
• Representative John Murtha, Appropriations, Defense Subcommittee Chairman, D-PA
• Representative Bill Young, Appropriations, Defense Subcommittee Ranking Member, R-FL
• Representative Silvestre Reyes, Intelligence Committee Chairman, D-TX
• Representative Peter Hoekstra, Intelligence Committee Ranking Member, R-MI

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:05 PM | Email Author | Permalink

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will speak Nov. 3 to a joint session of Congress, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office announced today. Merkel will be the first German leader in 52 years to address the legislative body, and her speech comes just six days before the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

"Congress will warmly welcome Chancellor Merkel to the Capitol next month as part of her visit to the United States," Pelosi said in a released statement. "We look forward to hearing the Chancellor's views on how we can continue to work together to confront international security threats, to implement necessary climate change measures, and to resolve the global financial crisis."

The last German leader to speak before Congress was Konrad Adenauer, a German spokesman said at a news conference held this morning to announce Merkel's speech.

Reuters reports that "Adenauer, like Merkel a member of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), was West Germany's first postwar chancellor and an ally of the United States in the Cold War."

Merkel's speech will take place Nov. 3 at 10:30 a.m. in the House chamber.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:50 PM | Email Author | Permalink

While Republicans have repeated the phrase, "Where are the jobs?" all year as a criticism of the Democrats' economic stimulus package, Democrats continue to request a Republican alternative to health insurance reform.

"I think it's important to spend a little bit of time on the Republicans' plan," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said this afternoon at the weekly Democratic leadership briefing with reporters. "It's very clear what that is -- and that is to keep things the way they are, the status quo."

Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) conceded that as the "loyal opposition," it's no surprise that Republicans have been critical of the Democrats' proposals. Still, he said, he'd like to see how they would tackle the imminent problem of the rising costs of health care.

"At the end of the day they don't have anything to offer the American people," said Durbin. "The Grand Ol' Party's coffers are empty when it comes to health care reform."

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) offered a financial metaphor as well in criticizing the GOP.

"All you have to do is sit at the Finance Committee and you realize the bankruptcy of the Republican Party," said Schumer. "The number of positive amendments, even if you disagreed with them, was small. Almost every amendment was negative, aimed at some kind of message and doing nothing to move health care forward. They have nothing to say. They have nothing to offer."

Schumer went on to say that the GOP's strategy may have worked in 1980, "when the American people were feeling good about themselves and feeling everything was fine -- they don't need government anymore," but not in 2009.

Following the briefing, Schumer told a scrum of reporters that he's spoken with "almost all of the moderate Democratic Senators and they are open to" the public option. That includes Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), whose bill does not include the option and who voted against the amendments introduced by Schumer and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) that would have added the option to his bill.

Baucus told Schumer he was not ideologically against the public option -- he just doesn't think Democrats can get 60 votes if it's included in the bill.

"I said, give us a chance to show you," said Schumer. "And he said, fine. So that's what we're trying to do."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Speaker Nancy Pelosi didn't say Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) should apologize for his recent comments about Republicans and health care, but she did say that if he does apologize the Republicans who have used similar language on the House floor should apologize as well.

"If anybody is going to apologize, everybody should apologize," Pelosi said this morning at her weekly press conference. "Apparently Republicans are holding Democrats to a higher level than they hold their own members."

During a late Tuesday speech on the House floor, Grayson was criticizing Republians when he uttered the words that have caused an uproar within the GOP.

"If you get sick, America, the Republican plan is this: Die quickly," said Grayson. "That's right, the Republicans want you to die quickly if you get sick."

Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.) has threatened to introduce a privileged resolution of disapproval for Grayson's comments if he does not apologize -- similar to the tack taken by Democrats following Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-S.C.) "You lie!" outburst during President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress last month.

However, as Pelosi noted, Republicans have made similar comments on the House floor.

In July, Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.) said from the floor that the Democrats' plan was a message to senior citizens to "drop dead."

"Last week Democrats released a health care bill, which essentially said to America's seniors, 'Drop dead,'" Brown-Waite said.

Pelosi said she'd prefer to move on to a discussion on the issues within health care reform, rather than focus on these distractions. "Republicans are using this as a distraction from the fact that they have no plan to move us forward," she said.

The Speaker reconfirmed that the Democrats' House reform bill will include a public option and reiterated that it will not go to the House floor until it is fully paid for.

"We will know we are ready when the bill is deficit neutral," she said. "We won't go to the floor until we're ready."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:40 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) introduced today the Senate version of a climate change bill, one they call "The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act."

"Our health, our security, our economy, our environment, all demand we reinvent the way America uses energy," Kerry said in a statement announcing the bill. "Our addiction to foreign oil hurts our economy, helps our enemies and risks our security. By taking decisive action, we can and will stop climate change from becoming a 'threat multiplier' that makes an already dangerous world staggeringly more so."

The Senate Republican leader quickly released a statement criticizing the bill for the costs he says will be taken on by the American public -- the same argument House Republicans consistently used earlier this year.

"While many details are missing, this latest draft of the Democrats' new national energy tax appears to be even more expensive for consumers and for our economy than the bill that passed the House," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). "The last thing American families need right now is to be hit with a new energy tax every time they flip on a lightswitch, or fill up their car--but that's exactly what this bill would do."

The House passed its version, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, on June 26 by a narrow, 219-212 margin. Here are some reactions from House leaders, Democrat and Republican, on the new Senate bill...

Continue reading "Kerry, Boxer Introduce New Climate Change Bill" »

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

From the AP:

The Senate Finance Committee has voted against creating a new government health insurance plan to compete with the private market.

The 15-to-8 vote could forecast the fate of the public option in the Senate as a whole. The outcome was expected but still a defeat for liberals who view government-sponsored insurance for the middle class as a key component of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

Five committee Democrats, including Chairman Max Baucus, joined with all 10 committee Republicans to defeat the measure by Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) also has an amendment that includes a public option up for a vote today, though the Rockefeller amendment vote result makes Schumer's proposal a long-shot, even though it is less progressive than Rockefeller's.

You can follow along on the New York Times' excellent live-blog of the committee proceedings.

UPDATED 3:51 p.m.: The committee just voted down Schumer's amendment on a 10-13 vote.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:15 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Pro Publica pulls back the curtain on the Leadership PACs of members of Congress, and the fact that they allow lobbyists to provide public officials with some of life's luxuries they might not otherwise be able to afford.

When it comes to golf, Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., has champagne taste.

...

Fortunately for Chambliss, a political fund covers the costs of his golf hobby. The fund received $692,618 during the 2008 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Almost all of it came from lobbyists, political action committees (PACs) and corporate leaders.

The public might be forgiven for thinking the days are gone when lobbyists and special interests could pay for a lawmaker's cross-country golf outings. After all, both the House and Senate in 2007 responded to a spate of scandals by banning members of Congress from accepting gifts of any value from lobbyists or the companies that hire them.

But those reforms preserved a major loophole: leadership PACs like Chambliss' Republican Majority Fund [1], which have far looser rules and get far less scrutiny than campaign committees. At first, only a few rising stars in Congress had them. Now, 70 percent of the members do. So do a dozen former members.

Click here to see how your member of Congress spends his Leadership PAC money.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:35 PM | Email Author | Permalink

House Democrats are still waiting for Republicans to introduce their own health care proposal, which Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), chairman of the GOP's health care working group, guaranteed in June they would do. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's (D-Md.) office released a timeline today to illustrate the point, and the DCCC sent out a reminder Thursday night that Friday marked 100 days since Blunt's promise.

DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said that night on MSNBC that the GOP hasn't introduced it's own proposal "because they're afraid that people will realize that the plan they're putting forward won't do the job."

Since June, party leaders have gone back and forth in remarks to reporters on whether a bill would indeed come forth from their side of the aisle, though they've maintained that whether they have a complete bill or not, the party has presented alternatives to President Obama's plan.

Most recently, though, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has said the party's most imminent goal is stopping the Democrats' bill. "The problem right now is they're in this big rush to pass this bill, and the American people want us to do everything we can to stop it," he said Sept. 9, the day Obama spoke to a joint session of Congress.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:05 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Asked at a press conference today if she was concerned that "anti-government rhetoric" could lead to violence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi alluded to the assassination of gay rights leader Harvey Milk and said people will "have to take responsibility for any incitement that they may cause."

"We are a free country and this balance between freedom and safety is one that we have to carefully balance," she said. "I have concerns about some of the language that is being used because I saw this myself in the late '70s in San Francisco, this kind of rhetoric was very frightening and it gave -- it created a climate in which ... violence took place."

Pelosi, of course, represents San Francisco. Though she doesn't reference President Obama, it's a delicate matter to be discussing political assassination when there is real concern about the president's safety. The remarks are especially stunning when you consider the uproar caused by comments Hillary Clinton made late in the 2008 Democratic primary about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, which some viewed as her suggesting then-Senator Obama could be killed as well.

Pelosi said she wishes people would "curb our enthusiasm" since some who are hearing some strong rhetoric "are not as balanced as the person making the statement might assume."

"Again, our country is great because people can say what they think and they believe, but I also think that they have to take responsibility for any incitement that they may cause."

You can see the question that lead to these comments, and the speaker's full response, after the jump.

Continue reading "Pelosi Concerned Rhetoric Could Incite Violence" »

Posted by Mike Memoli at 12:46 PM | Email Author | Permalink

In a statement released to the press this afternoon, Speaker Nancy Pelosi compares the proposals that came out of the three House committees working on health care reform to the plan released today by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.):

"We are pleased that Senator Baucus' plan mirrors some key provisions in the House proposal, including sweeping insurance reforms and consumer protections. The House bill clearly does more to make coverage affordable for more Americans and provides more competition to drive insurance companies to charge lower premiums and improve coverage. The House bill also does more to help seniors afford prescription coverage, closing the donut hole completely, while the Baucus proposal simply reduces the cost of brand name drugs in the donut hole.

"As this proposal evolves, we hope to see modifications that result in the Senate bill better reflecting the work of the House to make health care more affordable for all Americans and promote competition that is key to keeping costs lower. I believe the public option is the best way to achieve that goal."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:20 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (a.k.a. the Ethics Committee) announced today that it is investigating potential misconduct by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), but will defer its consideration of the matter until the U.S. Department of Justice concludes its investigation into the scandal over President Obama's former Senate seat. An indictment of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is still pending.

In a letter sent Friday to Ethics Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich requested the committee "defer further action" until the Blagojevich trial and "related investigations" are complete.

The Board of the Office of Congressional Ethics voted July 24 to recommend the Ethics Committee begin an investigation into Jackson and his efforts to secure Obama's Senate seat. The Board recommended the inquiry based on evidence that a Jackson "emissary" offered to raise money for Blagojevich in exchange for the Senate appointment and that "staff resources" in Jackson's D.C. and Chicago congressional offices were used to mount a "public campaign" for the appointment.

The committee is also investigating Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) for separate incidents. The committee did not identify the reasons for the Graves or Waters investigations, but Roll Call reports that Graves "invited his friend and neighbor Brooks Hurst to testify before a Congressional hearing on renewable fuels, without mentioning that his wife and Hurst are investors together in renewable fuels plants in Missouri." Waters was questioned in the media earlier this year for her role in securing OneUnited Bank $12 million in federal bailout funds.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:15 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Here is the resolution of disapproval for Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-S.C.) behavior during President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress next week:

Raising a question of the privileges of the House.

Whereas on September 9, 2009, during the joint session of Congress convened pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution 179, the President of the United States, speaking at the invitation of the House and Senate, had his remarks interrupted by the Representative from South Carolina, Mr. Wilson; and

Wheras the conduct of the Representative from South Carolina was a breach of decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session, to the discredit of the House: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved that the House of Representatives disapproves of the behavior of the Representative from South Carolina, Mr. Wilson, during the joint session of Congress held on September 9, 2009.

The House is currently in temporary recess, though House members have now been called to the chamber to discuss and vote on the resolution.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:15 PM | Email Author | Permalink

From a gaggle on Air Force One today with Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton:

Q Actually, Bill, do you have a comment on the resolution on Joe Wilson -- now on the floor today?

MR. BURTON: I don't. That's House business. The President has already -- Congressman Wilson called the White House to apologize. The President accepted his apology. And this is something that the House is doing.

Posted by Mike Memoli at 01:35 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) spoke on the House floor today, just a few feet from where President Obama stood last Wednesday when Wilson yelled "you lie!" Wilson was on the floor for the opening prayer and pledge of allegience, and gave a short statement on health care. Wilson spoke on the floor yesterday as well.

Later today, Democrats are expected to introduce a resolution of disapproval for Wilson's actions during Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress. Some Republicans are expected to support the measure, though Minority Leader John Boehner announced yesterday he would not be one of them.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:06 PM | Email Author | Permalink

If it was ever in question, it isn't anymore. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced today that he will vote 'No' on a potential resolution that condemns Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-S.C.) actions last week during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress.

Greg Sargent reported today that Democrats are planning a "resolution of disapproval," the lowest of four levels of condemnation in the House (below reprimand, censure and expulsion).

"Rep. Wilson has apologized to the President, and the President accepted his apology," Boehner said in a released statement. "Last Thursday, Speaker Pelosi said that she believed it was time to move on and discuss health care. I couldn't agree more, and that's why I plan to vote 'no' on this resolution. Instead of pursuing this type of petty partisanship, we should be working together to lower costs and expand access to affordable, high-quality health coverage on behalf of the American people."

Since Wilson's "You lie!" outburst last Wednesday, both he and his Democratic challenger in the 2010 election, Rob Miller, have reportedly raised more than $1 million. The action has clearly energized both conservatives and liberals.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said today he plans to introduce his health care reform proposal tomorrow and begin mark up on the plan next week.

"I believe that by the end we'll have some significant bipartisan support," said Baucus.

Baucus was speaking with reporters after emerging from a morning meeting with a bipartisan group of six senators on the Senate Finance Committee who have been meeting regularly to negotiate a reform bill. Baucus said they discussed Medicaid, medical malpractice and immigration. Baucus said they were working to ensure no immigrants that are in the country illegally would receive benefits.

The issue of illigal immigrants hit the fan last week after Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-S.C.) now-infamous interruption of President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress.

"We continue to work together toward a mutual goal of reforming our health care system to reduce costs -- and I want to underline that," Baucus said. "I don't think that's been emphasized enough in all the discussions on health care reform. It is to reduce the rate of growth in health care spending in America."

On Medicaid expansion, Baucus said states will be "pleasantly surprised" with the committee's proposal, which he says would not cost states "as much as originally feared." Governors had expressed to the president and Congress their concern with states bearing the brunt of increased Medicaid costs.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:05 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Senate Armed Forces Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said today, on the eighth anniversary of 9/11, that further steps to equip the Afghanistan army should be taken before sending additional U.S. troops into the country.

"We've been pressing this issue: more trainers, a larger Afghan army, more equipment to Afghanistan for about six months at least," Levin said at a press conference today. "These are the steps that we need to take before we consider additional combat forces in Afghanistan."

"I think there is a major consensus in strengthening the Afghan army," Levin continued. "I think the American people support and I support, I think most of my colleagues would support, getting essential equipment...to the Afghan army so that they can take major responsibility for their own security."

In May, President Obama committed 21,000 additional troops to the country with the same goals Levin outlined today. After August became the deadliest month yet, Gen. Stanley McChrystal called for a "revised implementation strategy" and was expected to call for more troops.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday that she sees little support within Congress for sending additional troops to the country.

Asked about her comment at the White House daily briefing yesterday, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said "the assessment that has been delivered to Central Command, to the Pentagon, and to the White House from General McChrystal is part of a rigorous assessment process that the President wanted instituted upon coming into office, and to reassess our strategy in this very important region of the world. That continues to be discussed here and at the Pentagon."

Levin, asked today if he agrees with Pelosi, said, "I think there is a significant number of people in the country that have...questions about deepening our military involvement in Afghanistan."

Levin discussed the issue on the Senate floor this morning as well.

"I believe that taking those steps on an urgent basis, while completing the previously planned and announced increase in U.S. combat forces, provides the best chance of success for our mission: preventing Afghanistan from again being run by a Taliban government which harbors and supports Al-Qaeda," he said.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:25 PM | Email Author | Permalink

At a press conference announcing the latest changes in Senate chairmanships, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Finance Committee, announced he will introduce a health care bill in the committee next week, with markup planned for the following Monday (Sept. 21).

Baucus said he will introduce the bill "whether there is bipartisan support or not," though he insisted a bipartisan plan is still his goal. He also said it will not include a public option. He plans to meet with the bipartisan Group of Six this afternoon as negotiations continue.

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), as has been previously reported, will not leave his current post as chairman of the Banking Committee to take over the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee chairmanship left vacant by Kennedy's death. Taking over the HELP Committee will be Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), current chairman of the Agricultre Committee. Replacing Harkin on Agriculture will be Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.).

In July, Dodd helped shepherd a health care bill through Kennedy's committee.

"The HELP Committee couldn't be in better hands," Dodd said at a group press conference with Majority Leader Harry Reid, Baucus, Harkin and Lincoln.

Harkin has been in the Senate for 25 years and previously served five terms in the House. He's chaired Agriculture since 2007, but now hands the reins over to Lincoln, who's facing a difficult political atmosphere back home as she runs for re-election next year.

"It is a daunting prospect" taking over Kennedy's committee, Harkin said at the press conference, "one that I appreciate."

While not the next most senior member on the committee, Lincoln takes the helm of Agriculture because Sens. Patrick Leahy (Judiciary), Kent Conrad (Budget) and Baucus (Finance) already chair other, more prestigious, committees. Lincoln becomes the first woman and first Arkansan to hold the Ag chairmanship.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:15 PM | Email Author | Permalink

It's hard to figure how many Republicans in the House and Senate the president will be able to reach tonight as he delivers the second address to Congress of his still young presidential term. Many, including the minority leaders of the House and Senate, are simply against a comprehensive health care reform bill -- with or without a public option.

"What I hope I won't hear tonight is that we have to do a massive, comprehensive bill or nothing," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, speaking at a joint press conference this afternoon with House Minority Leader John Boehner. "That strikes us as not the way to move forward."

Boehner is hoping the president says he wants to start over on a reform bill, something few expect the president to say. The American people, Boehner said, simply "want the current system to work better; they don't want to replace it with a big, government-run plan."

Neither side of the aisle feels there's been much bipartisan cooperation on the issue of health care reform, though McConnell outlined certain fundamentals of reform Republicans would be open to working with Democrats on: strengthen the care and insurance people have, making insurance more accessible to the uninsured and lower costs for all. "Those are the kinds of principles around which we could rally, I think, a broad bipartisan agreement," McConnell said.

McConnell wants Congress to "skinny" the bill down and target issues such as "junk lawsuits" and insurance reform -- passing smaller, more focused bills.

"We're all interested in what he has to say," said Boehner. "But I hope he's been listening to the American people, because I think over the course of August they've made their voices loud and clear that they don't want this massive government takeover of our health care system. But it appears the president is going to double down tonight, and try to put lipstick on this pig and call it something else."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Appearing with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at the White House after a meeting with President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi had this to say regarding the inclusion of a public health insurance option in a reform bill, per our White House reporter Mike Memoli: "I believe that the public option will be essential to our passing a bill in the House of Representatives."

The message was certainly different, if not opposite, of the one given this morning by House Democrats' No. 2, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. He said a reform bill that did not include the public option could still be "very good" and that he would support it, though his preference would be to include the option -- which he called "an alternative that people ought to have."

"If the public option weren't in there, I still could support a bill because I think there is a lot in there that is good," he said.

Hoyer discussed the August break, saying that during his nearly three decades in Congress he hasn't seen a time when "more people have gotten more engaged in an issue than this one."

"Some 82 percent of the American public believes that changes are required," said Hoyer. "There is not a consensus, as you've seen, on exactly what those changes should be. But there is no doubt that there is consensus among the American people that change is needed."

At an off-camera briefing with reporters this afternoon, Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and Ways and Means ranking member Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said employers in this economic climate would dump their employees from their health insurance rolls if a public option were available. "The government competes with the private sector the way an alligator competes with a duck," Pence said.

They said Obama and congressional Democrats should listen to the American people, who "don't want a government-run health care plan."

Obama will speak to a joint session of Congress tomorrow night, and both Republicans said they were open to hearing what the president has to say. But, Pence said, Americans "don't want another health care speech, they want another health care plan."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:25 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to the White House today inviting the president to address a joint session of Congress on Sept. 9.

Here is the full text of the letter, as provided to reporters:

September 2, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Our nation is closer than ever to achieving health insurance reform that will lower costs, retain choice, improve quality and expand coverage. We are committed to reaching this goal.

We would like to invite you to address a Joint Session of the Congress on Wednesday, September 9 on health insurance reform.

Thank you for considering this invitation to speak to the Congress and the nation.

Sincerely,


HARRY REID NANCY PELOSI
Majority Leader of the Senate Speaker of the House

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:25 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The White House released the following statement from National Security Adviser Jim Jones:

As a young Senate Liaison officer during the early 1980's, I had the opportunity to get to know Senator Edward Kennedy who was then a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Senator Kennedy and his staff were among some of the best supporters the Marine Corps ever had on Capitol Hill. Despite his many responsibilities, he always made time for me on issues of importance to Marines and their families. Always gracious and well informed, the Senator was instrumental in the passage of the landmark legislation known as Goldwater-Nichols and military pay reforms, which ushered in the most comprehensive reforms of our military and defense establishment since the end of World War II.

Senator Kennedy, among the many things he will be remembered for, deserves to be honored for his genuine care and compassion for our men and women in uniform - his tireless work and his voting record clearly supports this distinction. While he never shied from challenging our senior military leadership during hundreds of committee hearings, he could always be counted on to be fair and open-minded in letting witnesses like me make our case to the committee and to the American people. He contributed a great deal to my "Washington education", and I'm sure he is most proud of the contributions many of his former staff members continue to make to our nation today.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

National Journal has a string of interesting anecdotes and testimony from former Kennedy staffers remembering the senator.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 09:50 AM | Email Author | Permalink

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio):

"The people of Massachusetts and the United States Congress have lost a tireless public servant.

"Ted Kennedy was my friend. While there were few political issues on which he and I agreed, our relationship was never disagreeable, and was always marked by good humor, hard work, and a desire to find common ground.

"Ted Kennedy was also a friend to inner-city children and teachers. For the better part of the last decade, Ted and I worked together to support struggling Catholic grade schools in inner-city Washington. By helping these schools keep their doors open and helping them retain their committed teachers and faculty, this joint effort made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of inner-city children, who otherwise would have been denied the opportunity for a quality education. It wouldn't have been possible without Senator Kennedy and his genuine desire to give something back to help inner-city students in the city in which he'd served for so many years. I'm proud to have worked with Senator Kennedy on this project, and I will dearly miss his friendship and his partnership in this cause.

"Debbie and I extend our thoughts and prayers to Vicki and the entire Kennedy family at this difficult time."

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.):

"I am saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy. Senator Kennedy's service in the Senate spanned nearly a half-century, and his influence upon that institution and the Democratic Party is undeniable. I offer our deepest prayers and condolences to his wife Vicki and the entire Kennedy family."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 09:15 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) served alongside Ted Kennedy for more than 33 years in the Senate. He released the following statement today:

"Today America lost a great elder statesman, a committed public servant, and leader of the Senate. And today I lost a treasured friend. Ted Kennedy was an iconic, larger than life United States senator whose influence cannot be overstated. Many have come before, and many will come after, but Ted Kennedy's name will always be remembered as someone who lived and breathed the United States Senate and the work completed within its chamber."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 08:15 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Sen. Ted Kennedy's office released the following statement from the Kennedy family:

"Edward M. Kennedy -- the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply -- died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port. We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever. We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all. He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it. He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it's hard to imagine any of them without him."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 08:00 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released the following statement:

"Today, with the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the American people have lost a great patriot, and the Kennedy family has lost a beloved patriarch. Over a lifetime of leadership, Senator Kennedy's statesmanship and political prowess produced a wealth of accomplishment that has improved opportunity for every American. Senator Kennedy had a grand vision for America, and an unparalleled ability to effect change. Rooted in his deep patriotism, his abiding faith, and his deep concern for the least among us, no one has done more than Senator Kennedy to educate our children, care for our seniors, and ensure equality for all Americans. Ted Kennedy's dream of quality health care for all Americans will be made real this year because of his leadership and his inspiration. Sadly, Senator Kennedy left us exactly one year after he inspired the nation with his speech of optimism, vitality, and courage at the Convention in Denver. On behalf of all Members of Congress, and personally on behalf of my family, today and in the days ahead, our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Kennedy family, especially with Senator Kennedy's devoted wife Vicki, and with Kara, Teddy Jr., and our colleague Patrick, who made their father so proud. I hope it is a comfort to them that our nation and the world mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 07:55 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who served more than 22 years in the Senate with Ted Kennedy, released the following statement:

"The Kennedy family and the Senate family have together lost our patriarch. My thoughts, and those of the entire United States Senate, are with Vicki, Senator Kennedy's children, his many nieces and nephews, and his entire family. "It was the thrill of my lifetime to work with Ted Kennedy. He was a friend, the model of public service and an American icon.

"As we mourn his loss, we rededicate ourselves to the causes for which he so dutifully dedicated his life. Senator Kennedy's legacy stands with the greatest, the most devoted, the most patriotic men and women to ever serve in these halls.

"Because of Ted Kennedy, more young children could afford to become healthy. More young adults could afford to become students. More of our oldest citizens and our poorest citizens could get the care they need to live longer, fuller lives. More minorities, women and immigrants could realize the rights our founding documents promised them. And more Americans could be proud of their country.

"Ted Kennedy's America was one in which all could pursue justice, enjoy equality and know freedom. Ted Kennedy's life was driven by his love of a family that loved him, and his belief in a country that believed in him. Ted Kennedy's dream was the one for which the founding fathers fought and his brothers sought to realize.

"The liberal lion's mighty roar may now fall silent, but his dream shall never die."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 07:45 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Club for Growth, the limited government, anti-tax group that most often targets incumbent Democrats, is now taking on Utah Sen. Robert Bennett (R), who co-sponsored a health care bill with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The third-term senator is up for re-election next year, and a number of conservative Republicans are lining up to challenge him in the primary.

"We believe it's important for Senator Bennett's constituents to know that he's pushing for massive tax increases and government-run healthcare," said CfG president Chris Chocola, a former Indiana congressman. "Empowering bureaucrats at the expense of patients and doctors is the wrong medicine for our health system. It's time for Senator Bennett to scrap his costly government takeover and focus on patient-centered solutions that ensure more Americans have access to real, quality care."

Chocola is also attempting to pressure Bennett from within his own state party. He is sending a letter to the more than 3,000 delegates to next year's state party convention, requesting they "call on" Bennett to drop his bill -- which Chocola says is "in some respects...worse" than the Democrats' plan.

The TV ad in Utah is part of a nationwide $1.2 million ad buy, though it's unknown how much is being spent in Utah.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 10:15 AM | Email Author | Permalink

As liberals worry that President Obama may be resigned to signing a health care reform bill without a public option, Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a statement this afternoon calling a public option the "best option":

"As the President stated in March, 'The thinking on the public option has been that it gives consumers more choices and it helps keep the private sector honest, because there's some competition out there.'

"We agree with the President that a public option will keep insurance companies honest and increase competition.

"There is strong support in the House for a public option. In the House, all three of our bills contain a public option, as does the bill from the Senate HELP Committee.

"A public option is the best option to lower costs, improve the quality of health care, ensure choice and expand coverage.

"The public option brings real reform to lower costs over the 10-year period of the bill."

A second press release minutes later took aim at the media for repeating "a myth opponents of health insurance reform have been spreading: that people would be 'forced' to choose a public health insurance option." Pelosi's office cited AP, ABC's Jake Tapper, FOX News's Chris Wallace and NBC's David Gregory.

The public option "simply provides...a choice between various private plans and a public plan," the Speaker's office wrote.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:10 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Republicans are celebrating today the six-month anniversary of President Obama's signing of the economic stimulus package -- a $787 billion bill designed to quickly infuse cash into an economy in deep recession.

"By any objective standard, the Democrats' trillion-dollar 'stimulus' isn't working," House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) said today in a released statement. "The Administration promised the 'stimulus' would provide a 'jolt' to our economy and create jobs immediately, but 2.8 million more Americans have lost their jobs since the 'stimulus' became law."

Boehner and other GOP leaders highlight a new USA Today/Gallup poll that found 57 percent of American adults think the stimulus is either having no impact on the economy at all or is making it worse; it also found that 60 percent think it will do little to help the economy in the near future.

"With the loss of more than two million jobs since the stimulus was signed and unemployment at 9.4%, the results are in: the stimulus isn't working. This Administration and this Congress have failed to keep their promise to the American people," said GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.). "In the next six months, Democrats in Washington should start working with House Republicans on real solutions to get this economy back on track."

Democrats argue that without the stimulus bill the economy would be even worse. At a townhall event in Belgrade, Montana on Friday, Obama said the stimulus stopped an economic "freefall" and "there is no doubt that the recovery plan is doing what we said it would: putting us on the road to recovery."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:40 AM | Email Author | Permalink

A press release this afternoon from the office of Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.):

Today the Office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid responded to automated calls from unidentified sources that have been made to appear as though they originated from the Majority Leader's office. These calls, which were not made from Senator Reid's office, were directed to numerous Congressional and government offices.

"An unidentified organization is dishonestly using Senator Reid's office number to mislead people and to create yet another distraction from the important issues our country needs to address," said Reid spokesman, Rodell Mollineau. "American families are suffering and every day that defenders of the status quo spend on misleading and disruptive tactics like this is a wasted opportunity to be working on finding real solutions."

Senator Reid's office is working with the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms office to look into this matter.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:15 PM | Email Author | Permalink

President Obama, on his 48th birthday, invited the Senate Democratic Caucus over for lunch to discuss various topics -- the most pressing one being health care. Following the event, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released the following statement:

"We had a productive meeting this afternoon and greatly appreciate the President's time and graciousness. Both the President and the Senate have said from the start that we are committed to getting health insurance reform done this year and we will.

"We share the same goals as the President in achieving reform in a bipartisan manner and we hope our Republican colleagues want to work together. This debate over health insurance reform is too important to be overtaken by those who want to mislead, misrepresent the truth and spread misinformation all for the sake of standing in the way of reform.

"We are closer to real health insurance reform than ever before and while it's easy to focus on the areas where we still need to find agreement, it's important to be mindful of the common ground already shared by all parties involved.

"Democrats stand united with hospitals, doctors, nurse and businesses - we all recognize the gravity of this moment and the significance of this effort. We remain committed to achieving reform."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:40 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Organizing for America is welcoming some potentially vulnerable Democrat members of Congress back to their districts with a new radio ad praising their votes on health care -- both the SCHIP extension and a reform proposal still working its way through Congress. Here's the list, per the DNC:

"These members have been part of one of the most ambitious, historic and successful opening months of a Congressional session in our nation's history," OFA Director Mitch Stewart says in a statement.

You can read a sample script after the jump. 

Continue reading "OFA Radio Ad Boosts Swing District Dems On Health Care" »

Posted by Mike Memoli at 01:03 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) often dismisses reporters' questions on the possibility of reconciliation for health care reform, as his goal has always been to win bipartisan agreement on a plan. Today, though, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), vice chairman of the Democratic Conference, left no doubt that the maneuver -- which allows the majority party to pass a bill with just 51 votes rather than 60 -- remains on the table.

"No matter what happens, we're going to enact health care reform by the end of the year," Schumer said on a conference call with reporters. "And we hope it can be struck in a compromise with our Republican colleagues by September 15, but if the Republicans are not able to produce an agreement we will have contingencies in place. These plans will likely only be considered as a last resort, but make no mistake about it, they remain on the table."

Schumer later clarified that reconciliation was indeed one of the "contingincies in place," though he stressed that getting a bipartisan bill was everyone's priority.

"We hope to get a bipartisan agreement. That's goal one. If we can't do that, the second goal is to get a bill done," he said.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Most of the 60-member Senate Democratic caucus will head to the White House tomorrow for their weekly luncheon, with plans to discuss a range of issues with President Obama on what happens to be his 48th birthday.

"Chuck E. Cheese was booked," press secretary Robert Gibbs joked today.

It's also in part a continuation of the White House's mid-year review. The president huddled with his Cabinet this weekend. Gibbs said he expected health care and the economy to be a focus, with Obama also likely pushing the upper chamber to act on legislation to continue the Cash for Clunkers program.

"Without some help from the Senate ... the program will have to be stopped by the end of the week," he warned.

Obama marked his birthday over the weekend by having some friends at Camp David for dinner, and to play basketball and bowl. Gibbs said Obama tallied 144 in the latter, including three strikes and a 9-of-10 in his final four frames.

"I told the president, if you had done this in Pennsylvania my life would have been a little easier last spring," he said.

Posted by Mike Memoli at 02:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said today he will not vote to confirm Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court. The Senate is set to vote on her confirmation this week after the Judiciary Committee approved her nomination July 28.

"For 220 years, presidents have sought out judges and justices who fulfill the requirement that they put aside any personal opinions and apply appropriate U.S. law to impartially resolve disputes," Kyl wrote in a long statement. "I have not been persuaded that Judge Sotomayor will uphold this important tradition. For these reasons, and others, I will oppose her confirmation."

Kyl, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, first announced his opposition to Sotomayor's nomination July 22. Just one Republican on the committee, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, voted to send her nomination to the floor of the Senate.

Kyl said Sotomayor's judicial record gives him "reason to believe she will not set aside her own personal biases when deciding a case."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer released the following joint statement this afternoon on the progress of health care legislation:

"Congress is closer than ever before in history to passing comprehensive health insurance reform. Already, the House Ways and Means Committee and the Education and Labor Committee have reported out this critical legislation. This afternoon, the Energy and Commerce Committee will resume its markup and will report out a bill this week. Over August, the three House committees will work to reconcile their versions and produce strong legislation.

"We are pleased with the full participation of all our Members, who have reviewed the legislation and proposed significant changes. At this time, we want to particularly recognize the valued leadership of the Blue Dog Coalition to lower costs, to make the legislation work better for their constituents, and to assist small businesses. These are goals shared by all Members of the Caucus. At the request of the Blue Dog Coalition, in order to allow more time to carefully review the additional proposed legislative language, we will bring the bill to the House floor in September.

"Health insurance reform directly touches every American life and we need to get this right. It is crucial to our nation's fiscal health and for our businesses to be competitive in a global marketplace.

"In September, Congress will pass legislation that puts Americans and their doctors back in charge, holds insurance companies accountable, guarantees stability and peace of mind, lowers costs, and provides more choices for higher quality care."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 08:20 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Here is my piece today on fundraising in districts won by incumbents with 55% or less:

As Democrats gear up for 2010, they face a daunting historical fact: since Abraham Lincoln, only two newly-elected presidents have seen their party gain seats in Congress in their first midterm election.

Aside from the weight of history, there are other ominous signs for Democrats, who now have complete control of the government and are laboring to govern through an ongoing economic recession: Obama's approval ratings are slipping, unemployment remains high, Congress is taking up a string of big-ticket items in health care reform and climate change, and the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia look favorable for the GOP.

A bright spot for Democrats, however, is the strength of their fundraising in congressional swing districts.

A RealClearPolitics analysis of fundraising by some of the most vulnerable incumbents shows Democrats in good shape. And the campaign finance reports released this month offer fresh data for the Democratic and Republican campaign committees as they refine their search for vulnerable incumbents in 2010.

Read the rest here.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:15 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved today the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court, voting 13-6 in her favor. All 12 Democrats on the committee and one Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), voted to report the nomination to the Senate floor.

"As her record and her testimony before the Committee reinforced, she is a restrained, fair and impartial judge who applies the law to the facts to decide cases," said Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy prior to the vote. "Ironically, the few decisions for which she has been criticized are cases in which she did not reach out to change the law or defy judicial precedent - in other words, cases in which she refused to 'make law' from the bench."

He continued, "I have every confidence that she will be that kind of Justice of the United States Supreme Court."

The Senate is expected to confirm Sotomayor to the bench within the next two weeks, before it leaves for August recess.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

For the first time in his Senate career, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will cast a no vote on the confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee. He explained his decision in an interview with the Des Moines Register:

Grassley said Sotomayor did little to dispel his suspicions that the federal appeals court judge would not defer to the role of Congress in making law and the separation of powers. He said that has been a nagging concern for him about retiring Justice David Souter, whom Sotomayor would succeed on the court.

"And consequently, I don't want someone succeeding him who doesn't have a clear role of what the Supreme Court is," Grassley told The Des Moines Register.

Of the seven Republican members of the Judiciary Committee, all but one so far is voting against Sotomayor. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) is the only yes vote; Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has not yet announced his choice.

Posted by Mike Memoli at 03:40 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Members on opposite sides of the Congressional aisle had opposite reactions to the national minimum wage rising today to $7.25 an hour. Here are excerpts from Members who released statements...

Speaker Pelosi: "Tomorrow, millions of hardworking Americans will be getting a raise. As the final step of the minimum wage increase goes into effect, studies have shown we are also stimulating the economy by giving hardworking Americans the income they need to buy groceries, fill up their gas tanks, and get their children ready to head back-to school."

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer: "Tomorrow's increase in the minimum wage couldn't come at a time when it was more needed--for our families or our economy. For minimum-wage workers and their families, the raise will make it easier to make ends meet. And our economy will benefit from the increased consumer spending that will result, which, in turn, can help preserve jobs."

Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price: "America is often called the Land of Opportunity, but misguided policies like minimum wage mandates make job opportunities harder and harder to find. This wage hike will hurt the very same Americans it is intended to help by putting strain on the payrolls of the small businesses that drive job creation. When employers can't afford to pay the higher wages, they will respond by cutting workers' hours, laying off employees, and refusing to make new hires."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:30 AM | Email Author | Permalink

The ladies of the House GOP will hold a press conference tomorrow morning at the Capitol "to highlight the consequences of Democrats' health care legislation," according to a press release from the House Republican Conference.

"The press conference will also be attended by working mothers who will share personal stories about how the Democrats' health care legislation will hurt women and affect their day-to-day lives," the release states.

Senate Democrats brought in "real" people today to a press conference on health care to explain why the Democrats' reform plan is necessary, and yesterday House Dems included doctors and other health care industry workers at a press conference hosted by Members who work in health care in their other lives.

Attending tomorrow's GOP event: Conference vice chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mary Fallin (R-OK), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Kay Granger (R-TX), Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Candice Miller (R-MI), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Jean Schmidt (R-OH).

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:40 PM | Email Author | Permalink

At a midday press conference, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, "Something has to get done," and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said, "This is our chance." At an afternoon press conference, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said, "The present situation is unsustainable" and "we don't have the luxury of not getting it," and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, "The current costs [of health care] cannot be sustained."

However, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) said today, the urgency to pass a health care reform bill is not great enough to rush a bill before the Senate recesses in two weeks.

"It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through," he told reporters today. "The decision [to not rush a bill to the floor] was made to give the Finance Committee more time to get a bipartisan bill."

"All this is no big surprise to anyone," Reid continued. "The president wants something done by the end of the year."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

President Obama will address the American people tonight in a primetime news conference that will focus on health care reform. In recent days, Obama has called out Congressional Republicans for attempting to block his efforts for reform and chalked it up to playing politics.

In anticipation of Obama's remarks, the Republican leaders of the Senate and House held their own news conference at the Capitol this afternoon. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) said to expect Obama to repeat his criticism of the party, which they say is unfounded.

"I continue to hear suggestions that members of the Republican Conference in the Senate are not for health care," McConnell said. "I can't find a single member who is not for trying to improve America's health care system."

"Tonight we'll hear the president likely repeat some of the myths that he's been repeating over the last several months," said Boehner. The "myths" he listed included that Americans would be able to keep their health care plan if they want to; that the bill would reduce costs; that it will not add to the deficit.

Boehner also said he heard the president would likely say he "rescued the economy."

"If they try to fix our health care system like they're trying to rescue our economy, I think we're in really, really big trouble," he said. McConnell brought up the stimulus bill as well and criticized the speed it went through Congress. "We don't need a do-over of that kind of procedure," McConnell said.

Asked whether he thinks Speaker Pelosi has the votes to pass the health care bill in the House, Boehner said, "Well I don't know whether she has the votes are not. I'm not quite sure she knows whether she's got the votes or not." He added that what's clear is Democrats will push the bill to the floor next week.

Tonight, Obama will do his part in selling the plan to Members' constituents.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:23 PM | Email Author | Permalink

From Roll Call:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that she has the votes to pass a health care overhaul in the House, even as the bill remains stalled in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

"I have no question that we have the votes on the floor of the House to pass this legislation," Pelosi told reporters.

The Speaker said she still intends to put the package to a vote next week but left open the possibility of keeping the House in session past the chamber's scheduled adjournment of July 31. The Senate is poised to adjourn one week later on Aug. 7, but that date also may slip because of health care reform.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is already trying to pinpoint who may have changed their minds. Here is an excerpt from a press release the NRCC distributed just after Pelosi made the announcement:

"After expressing serious concern over a government takeover of the health care industry, has Jason Altmire suddenly changed his position? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) is suddenly claiming she has the votes. With the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) stating that the Democrats' government-run health care bill will increase costs, run up the deficit and raise taxes, Jason Altmire's constituents can only hope that he isn't planning on supporting such a disastrous policy."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

With President Obama set for a primetime news conference tonight on health care, Congressional Republican leaders have announced their own news conference for mid-afternoon.

In a rare joint appearance, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner will meet the press at 3:30 p.m. in the Capitol "to discuss the need for health care reform," according to a press release.

The move comes a day after Obama blasted Republicans who "openly declare their intention to block reform."

"These opponents of reform would rather score political points than offer relief to Americans who've seen premiums double and costs grow three times faster than wages," he said.

At the daily briefing, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs followed up Obama's point that Republicans are politicizing the debate. "I think there are some Republicans that have decided that this isn't about health care, it's about politics and it's about scoring political points and it's about perpetuating the political games that have dominated Washington for far longer than even the debates on health care reform," Gibbs said

McConnell took to the Senate floor this morning, previewing what he may say later.

"All of us recognize the need for reform," he said. "That's not in question. And that's why day after day, I have come to the floor of the Senate and proposed concrete, common-sense reforms that all of us can agree on, reforms that would increase access, decrease costs, and guarantee that no one in this country would be forced to give up the care they currently have."

While the president and Congress go back and forth on the details of a health care reform bill, Gallup reported today that 16 percent of American adults do not have health insurance.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 10:15 AM | Email Author | Permalink

President Obama spent an hour meeting with Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, talks a key conservative Democrat called productive, though no final decisions on a key concern -- cost containment.

"There's a number of potential cost-cutting measures which I think the American people expect before we consider any kind of new revenue," Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), head of the Blue Dog Democrats' health care task force, told reporters after the meeting today. "They want us to squeeze every ounce of savings we can out of the current system. That's what we're demanding."

Ross said the entire meeting focused "specifically on cost containment," and said there are "a lot of ideas out there." But he and his colleagues want to see another CBO score that factors in projected savings before agreeing to any specific terms.

Energy and Commerce Committee chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said that Obama "expressed to us his great, strong, firm commitment that the legislation that he signed will have to be deficit neutral and will hold down the cost in the future."

Meanwhile, the White House hinted today that it may be open to taxing a portion of health insurance benefits, on so-called "Cadillac" plans. Press secretary Robert Gibbs echoed comments the president made last night in an interview with Jim Lehrer, differentiating Obama's opposition to ending the deductibility of health insurance benefits altogether with such a limited exclusion being lifted on the most expensive plans.

"He doesn't support what Senator McCain proposed in the campaign, which, as you know, wasn't a tax on a certain level of the exclusion but instead to remove the entire tax deductibility," Gibbs said.

Posted by Mike Memoli at 05:20 PM | Email Author | Permalink

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters today that conservative Democrats aren't the only members of the caucus with concerns about the health care bill currently being formulated in the House.

"Members have concerns," Hoyer said, "but they're not just Blue Dogs. Progressives, Blue Dogs and everyone in between."

The bill has already been approved by two of the three committees with jurisdiction over the plan, with the Energy and Commerce Committee still to go. Prompting concerns among freshmen members and Blue Dogs is a new tax that Democratic leaders are considering including to help pay for the massive plan.

"Every Democrat I've talked to agrees we need health care reform," Hoyer said. "They have various concerns of how that ought to be accomplished."

Hoyer deflected a question regarding whether Democrats had the votes to pass the bill, joking that reporters had asked him up until the last second whether the climate change bill would pass. It did pass June 26, but by a margin of only seven votes.

The majority leader, who controls what bills hit the floor, said it was his intention to bring the bill up next week, but it's possible it could be delayed until after the August recess -- which begins August 1.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Democratic leaders are encouraged by the progress of a health care reform bill that is making its way through three House committees and are certain the full House will pass it. They held a news conference this afternoon to tout the still-evolving plan.

"Over 100,00 people will have health insurance who didn't have it before," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Over a hundred million dollars in meeting the needs of public health hospitals will be there. And just a very few people called upon to help with the revenue stream."

Those "very few people" Pelosi was referring to are couples making more than $350,000 per year, whose taxes will go up to pay for the $1 trillion bill.

The three committees involved in marking up the bill are the Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and Ways and Means. The latter two approved the bill this morning.

Joining Pelosi at the news conference were Education and Labor Chairman George Miller (Calif.), Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (N.Y.), Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (S.C.), and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.), among others.

"The American people are demanding health care reform," said Hoyer. "Do we have good health care in America? We do. But it's not accessible to many, and it costs twice as much as most countries of the world."

"We are going to pass health reform," he said.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (N.Y.), Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (Calif.) and other House Democratic leaders are scheduled for a 12:30 news conference to discuss the health care bill being marked up in committees.

The Ways and Means Committee approved it early this morning on a 23-18 vote.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:30 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Sonia Sotomayor completed three days of question-and-answer sessions today, and now must wait until July 28 to find out whether the Senate Judiciary Committee will approve her nomination. If she's approved, as expected, leaders in both parties have said a vote will come before the August recess.

While members of both parties expect Sotomayor to receive bi-partisan support when the full Senate votes, some organizations are playing up her answers on the 2nd Amendment in a push for Republicans to oppose her.

In a lengthy statement, the National Rifle Association announced today it opposes Sotomayor's confirmation based on her answers on the 2nd Amendment. The Republican National Committee released a web video, titled "Tough to Say," that questions what Sotomayor's stance on the 2nd Amendment is.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:10 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Barring a serious challenge from within her own party, Democrat Judy Chu can look forward to a long career in Washington. The 56-year-old will become the newest member of Congress today after winning Tuesday's special election in California's 32nd District.

Ms. Chu defeated Republican Betty Chu, her cousin by marriage, with 62% of the vote and replaces former five-term Congresswoman Hilda Solis, who now serves as the U.S. Secretary of Labor.

The 32nd District, shaped like the state of Virginia and lying east of Los Angeles, is majority-Hispanic and friendly Democratic territory. President Obama won 68% of the vote in 2008, while Ms. Solis went unchallenged. In fact, the last time Ms. Solis faced a Republican challenger was 2002, when she won 69%. Betty Chu, a Monterey Park city councilmember who had switched parties to become a Republican, had only one hope of winning: a fluke victory due to exceptionally low turnout. But though winner Judy Chu ended up collecting a mere 15,238 votes, her tally was twice cousin Betty's.

This was the second special election Ms. Chu has won in her political career. Before her election in 2006 to the California Board of Equalization, a state tax administration board, Ms. Chu was elected to the State Assembly in May 2001 and served three terms. Term-limited in 2006, she was succeeded by her husband, Mike Eng.

Ms. Solis was a state legislator in her pre-Washington days as well. In 1994 she became the first Latina elected to the California Senate. After she's sworn in today by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ms. Chu will become the first Chinese-American elected to Congress (for which she earned a Twitter message of congratulations from Barack Obama).

Her election leaves just one remaining vacancy in the House. Former California congresswoman Ellen Tauscher left her 10th District seat last month after being appointed as undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. A special election for her Bay Area seat will be held September 1.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) believe Sonia Sotomayor won't need to rely solely on Democratic votes for confirmation.

The three Democratic leaders, along with Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), lavished praise on the Supreme Court nominee today in their weekly off-camera briefing with reporters and said they expect some of their colleagues from the other side of aisle to back President Obama's nominee.

"I think that when it's all over, it's not going to be just Democrats who" vote for her, Reid said. "I think there's going to be a vote with a number of Republicans voting for her."

Durbin said "a number of Republicans" have spoken with him, and it's his belief that "she will receive a substantial number of Republican votes. I can't tell you how many."

Schumer, who formally introduced Sotomayor to the Judiciary Committee on Monday, concurred. "I think we're going to get a good number of Republican votes," Schumer said.

"She's just wowed the committee," said Schumer. "A number of Republicans came over to me after the first day and then the second day and said, 'Wow, she is good.' They knew they didn't lay much of a glove on her."

Reid said he hopes the committee hearings will "end soon" so Sotomayor's confirmation can be brought up for a vote "as soon as possible." He also indicated that before the Senate breaks August 7 for its month-long recess the chamber will vote on the Department of Defense Authorization Act, Sotomayor's confirmation and health care.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:35 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Republicans on the House floor booed and hissed as Democrats held the vote open on the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. H. Res. 644 ended up passing 216-213.

The spending legislation appeared to not pass as time ran out on the vote, with the Nays up by two votes. However, the Democratic Nay votes began decreasing while the Yeas simultaneously increased, still with "0:00" remaining.

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) was the last to vote, as he hobbled on crutches to the front of the floor and turned in his green voting card, boosting the margin of passage to three votes.

After a GOP parliamentary inquiry, asked to the acting speaker, regarding whether the vote was held open to change the outcome of the vote, the speaker responded: "The vote was held open for the minimum amount of time ... There is no maximum."

The Republicans responded: "Boo!"

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:20 PM | Email Author | Permalink

"I don't think the nominee's answers today are any clearer than they have been," Judiciary ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) told reporters during the 15-minute break in confirmation hearings this morning. "It's muddled, confusing, backtracking on issue after issue. I frankly am a bit disappointed in the lack of clarity and consistency in her answers."

"We have not yet had satisfactory answers," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).

Republicans aren't happy with what Sonia Sotomayor has had to say today, through four questioners -- two Democrats and two Republicans. Unfortunately for the GOP, though, they're out of members.

Just four Democrats are left to ask Sotomayor 30 minutes worth of questions, though Republicans will have a another shot at her in the second round, with 20 minutes allotted to each.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The Senate Judiciary Committee is closing in on two hours of question-and-answer with Sonia Sotomayor today. Starting 9:30 a.m., with 30 minutes alloted to each senator, Sotomayor's has faced questions from John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

The remaining four members of the committee -- all Democrats -- will question Sotomayor today as well. They include, in order, Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Ed Kaufman (Del.), Arlen Specter (Pa.) and Al Franken (Minn.).

Eleven committe members questioned Sotomayor yesterday -- the most tense moments coming in the afternoon during Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-S.C.) 30 minutes. For more on Graham and his approach to the confirmation hearings, check out my story today.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) has bigger plans for the Supreme Court confirmation hearings than simply scrutinizing Sonia Sotomayor's judicial record and credentials. Graham wants to show the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee that disagreeing with a nominee's ideology is not reason enough to vote against them.

Watch the hearings live at RealClearPolitics Video.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:30 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has called into recess the hearings on the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Eleven of the 19 committee members questioned the nominee today, and questioning will begin again tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.

Following the hearing's conclusion, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said Sotomayor put on "a bravura performance." Asked if he'd learned anything about the nomninee over the last couple of days of confirmation hearings, Leahy said, "Not really."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 05:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Many, including some Republican senators, believe Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation is a foregone conclusion -- barring a "complete meltdown," as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) put it today in his opening remarks. However, it's unclear how much support Sotomayor, nominated by President Obama, will have among GOP senators.

Here is a breakdown of the Supreme Court confirmation votes under the previous three presidents and how supportive the opposing party has been.

(President George W. Bush nominated Samuel Alito and John G. Roberts. President Bill Clinton nominated Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. President George H.W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas and David Souter.)

Nominee....Nominated By....Roll Call...Opposing Party Yea Votes
Alito.............Bush 43............58-42.............4 Dems
Roberts........Bush 43............78-22.............22 Dems
Breyer..........Clinton..............87-9...............33 GOPers
Ginsburg......Clinton...............96-3...............41 GOPers
Thomas.........Bush 41...........52-48.............11 Dems (1 GOPer opposed)
Souter...........Bush 41...........90-9...............46 Dems

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:40 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made statements from the Senate floor this morning regarding the opening of Judiciary Committee hearings on the Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor. Here are excerpts of their remarks:

Reid:

"Today, July 13, is an historic day in America. Right now, Judge Sonia Sotomayor is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee as President Obama's nominee for the highest court in our country. As we all know, she is the first Hispanic American to do so. Judge Sotomayor has a wide-range of experience not just in the legal world, but in the real world as well. Her understanding of the law is grounded not only in theory, but also in practice. Her record and qualifications are tremendous. She has worked at almost every level of our judicial system - as a prosecutor, litigator, a trial court judge and an appellate judge.

"That's exactly the type of experience we need on the Supreme Court. And when she is confirmed, she will bring to the bench more judicial experience than any sitting justice had when they joined the Court. Judge Sotomayor has been nominated by both Democratic and Republican presidents. She has been confirmed twice by the Senate with strong, bipartisan support. Her record is well-known and well-respected.

"We are committed to ensuring that Judge Sotomayor has a rigorous and reasonable confirmation hearing. We expect both sides to ask her tough questions, and we expect both the questions and their answers to be fair and honest."

Continue reading "Senate Leaders' Floor Comments on Sotomayor" »

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), chair of the House Intelligence subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, has called for a congressional investigation into the revelation that the CIA misled members of Congress during Intelligence Committee briefings. In a letter released Wednesday, CIA Director Leon Panetta revealed the fact that the CIA had been misleading Congress since 2001.

The Washington Post reported today that upon learning of a secret program the agency had hid from Congress, Panetta immediately canceled it and held a June 24 private meeting with members of the House and Senate intelligence committees.

In an interview with AP, Schakowsky said, "The program is a very, very serious program and certainly deserved a serious debate at the time and through the years ... But now it's over."

Schakowsky called for the investigation in a letter to Intelligence chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas):

Dear Chairman Reyes:

Over the course of the past eight years, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) leaders briefing the House Intelligence Committee have purposefully withheld information from Congress dealing with the national security of our country. The systematic deception by the CIA is a possible violation of the National Security Act and, at a minimum, a blatant disregard of this committee's oversight authority.
...
It is inexcusable for the CIA to lie, mislead, or withhold information from the Congress. The Intelligence Committee depends on the presentation of reliable and complete information when deliberating important decisions that impact the national security of the United States. Past practices of the CIA compromise the integrity of this committee and undermine the ability of committee members to fulfill our oversight obligations as members to the Select Committee. To ensure accountability and restore faith in the system, I strongly urge you to promptly launch an investigation into this critical matter.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The health care bill that was supposed to be finished today is still not ready, Roll Call reports, and it's now been "delayed indefinitely" so House Democratic leaders and the Blue Dogs can come to a consensus.

Committee chairmen had planned to release their bill on Friday and begin marking it up on Monday, but notices were sent out this morning noting that both the release and markup would be delayed.

Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), who chairs the Blue Dogs' health care task force, warned leadership in a two-hour meeting Thursday night that his group would bolt unless a series of demands were met, including altering reimbursement rates under a proposed public option so that they are not based on Medicare rates.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:20 AM | Email Author | Permalink

The two senior members of the Senate Judiciary Committee released a witness list for next week's hearings on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

Included on the Republicans' list of witnesses is Frank Ricci, a New Haven firefighter that brought suit against the city for denying him and 16 other white firefighters (and one Latino) a promotion because too few minorities passed an exam. As a U.S. appeals court judge, Sotomayor ruled against the group, though the Supreme Court overturned that ruling last week. Also appearing is Ben Vargas, the lone Latino petitioner who filed suit along with Ricci.

Democrats will call New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Major League Baseball pitcher David Cone, who played in New York a total of 13 seasons for both the Yankees and Mets.

Click through to see the entire list.

Continue reading "Sotomayor Hearings Witness List Released" »

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

In her weekly news conference, Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the health care bill in the process of being brought to the floor "essential" and said it would not include a tax on health benefits. "I promised the president that we would have legislation out of the House before we went into the August break. That is still my goal," she said.

The Speaker said she could not recall the last time she received an intelligence briefing from CIA Director Leon Panetta, who told Democratic lawmakers that the agency had "concealed significant actions" in previous briefings. She also said she does not believe a resolution that celebrates the life and career of Michael Jackson should be brought to the House floor.

On the stimulus, Pelosi said she was "committed to seeing through the first stimulus" and that "this third quarter is a very important one for" it.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:15 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The Atlantic is reporting that amid growing chatter of a potential second economic recovery package, "the White House is holding firm against the idea of a second major stimulus intervention" and will wait at least six months before deciding to move forward with another one.

Whether they sustain this position will test Obama's ironclad commitment to hold steady in the face of regular congressional (and even public) panics. And lest you wonder, White House officials are very much watching the new statewide polling data showing a drop in support among independent voters.

Republicans have been jumping on Vice President Biden's statement over the weekend that the administration had "misread" how bad the economy was, and it's criticizing Democrats for how relatively slow the money from the first stimulus is being spent.

At his weekly off-camera briefing with reporters yesterday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he would remain open to a second stimulus package, though he'd like to see how the first one turns out first:

To the extent that we are, as I said, just 130 days out on the adoption of a very, very major effort to get the economy moving, certainly I don't think we can make a determination as to whether or not that's been successful, and certainly as successful as we want it to be or certainly not as quickly as we want it to be. We would all like to have plus numbers in terms of the growing employment rather than a loss of jobs. But I think we need to be open to whether or not we need additional action.

Politico highlighted a difference of opinion on this among congressional Democrats.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:20 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Here's a bit from my piece today on the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings set to take place next week on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor:

The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to begin questioning a nominee for the United States Supreme Court for the third time in four years. Hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor begin Monday, though backroom strategizing and public persuasion efforts have transpired for weeks.

Senate Democrats, led by Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (Vt.) and Charles Schumer (N.Y.), are pushing the message that Sotomayor, a former prosecutor and federal appellate judge, has the judicial experience and mainstream record to warrant confirmation. She would become the first Latina to sit on the Supreme Court after being nominated June 1 by the first African American to serve as president.

Read the rest here.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 09:40 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), who helped lead a recognition of Michael Jackson's life on the House floor two weeks ago, spoke today at Jackson's memorial service in Los Angeles.

Jackson Lee said she was speaking on behalf of the members of Congress and the Congressional Black Caucus.

"I can tell you as a member of the United States Congress, we understand the Constitution, we understand laws and we know that people are innocent until proven otherwise," she said, presumably noting the child molestation charges Jackson had been acquited of. "That is what the Constitution stands for."

"America appreciates and thanks you for Michael Jackson's life," she said to the Jackson family, holding up a framed copy of a House bill. "For that reason, we have introduced into the House of Representatives this Resolution 600 that will be debated on the floor of the House that claims Michael Jackson as an American legend and musical icon, a world humanitarian -- someone who will be honored forever and forever and forever and forever."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:10 PM | Email Author | Permalink

As Al Franken stepped into the Senate chamber shortly after noon, his newest colleagues from both sides of the aisle gravitated in his direction offering hugs and congratulations. Franken then walked down the center aisle, accompanied by fellow Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) and former vice president and Minnesota senator Walter Mondale, and stepped up to be ceremoniously sworn in by Vice President Biden.

The Senate gallery was packed to the gills, with Capitol police forced to turn away visitors at the doors. Normally asked to be quiet, the gallery erupted in cheers and a standing ovation when Franken said, "I do," and Biden concluded, "Congratulations, Senator."

The ovation lasted a few minutes as Franken received more handshakes and hugs from Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Ensign (R-Nev.), John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), to name just a few.

The SEN fraternity is now complete.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:25 PM | Email Author | Permalink

A Senate Judiciary subcommittee will examine tomorrow the legitimacy and legality of the Bowl Championship Series -- college football's controversial ranking and bowl system. And, in timely fashion, RealClearSports has just posted its interview with BCS Coordinator John Swofford.

The hearing -- titled, "The Bowl Championship Series: Is it Fair and In Compliance with Antitrust Law?" -- will be run by Antitrust Subcommittee ranking member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who has been outspoken in his quest to place a congressional check on the multi-million dollar business operation that is college football.

"Personally, I believe that these kinds of decisions should be made in the context of higher education," Swofford told RealClearSports. "The business aspects of college football are not new; they have been a factor in the regular season and post-season for over a half-century."

Hatch recently made his case for holding the hearings in an op-ed in Sports Illustrated last week, in which he calls the BCS "biased" and "arcane" and writes that "there are serious questions regarding the legality of the BCS." RealClearSports also recently sat down with Hatch to discuss the BCS.

Among the witnesses appearing before the subcommittee will be Michael Young, president of the University of Utah. Based largely on the fact that Utah is in a "non-BCS" conference, the Utes were left out of the BCS national championship game this year despite an undefeated record, while Florida and Oklahoma -- the two championship participants -- had one loss apiece. Utah went on to defeat Alabama (which had been ranked No.1 during the regular season) of the Southeastern Conference by two touchdowns in the Sugar Bowl.

"These will be the fourth set of hearings since the BCS's inception 11 years ago," said Swofford. "Much of the time, the criticism of the BCS heats up when there's a particular school that feels it deserves the chance to play in the championship game and does not receive that opportunity."

Also appearing before the subcommittee are attorney Barry Brett of Troutman Sanders; Harvey Perlman, chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and attorney William Monts of Hogan and Hartson.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and Senator-elect Al Franken (D-Minn.) both took the focus off the magic number 60 today in remarks to reporters inside the Capitol. Following a state Supreme Court ruling in his favor last week and former senator Norm Coleman's concession, Franken will give the Democrats a supermajority of 60 senators when he is sworn in tomorrow.

"A lot has been made of this number 60. The number I'm focused on is the number 2. I see myself as the second senator from the state of Minnesota," Franken said. "I am going to work day and night to make sure our kids have a great future and that America's best days lay ahead. I'm ready to get to work."

Reid called on his Republican colleagues to take this occassion to reach out further across the aisle.

"Moving America forward will still require the cooperation of my Senate colleagues who are Repubclians," said Reid. "The last eight years have shown us the American people want us to work together. Democrats aren't looking to Sen. Franken's election as an opportunity to ram legislation through this body. In turn, Senate Republicans must understand that Senator-elect Franken's election does not abdicate from them the responsibilities to govern. That's why we have and will continue to offer Senate Republicans a seat at any negotiating table."

"It's up to them," he said. "I would hope that the 'Party of No' is coming to an end."

After two relatively short statements after their meeting, Reid said he and Franken would not take questions from the media until tomorrow.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:20 PM | Email Author | Permalink

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said the economic stimulus plan is not working and that some of the remaining money should be spent on assistance to small businesses.

"The first attempt at a stimulus bill did not stimulate the economy -- I think we all can agree on that now," Cantor said this morning on a conference call with reporters. "I will be requesting a meeting with the president to perhaps go about redirecting some of the monies in the first go-around that haven't worked."

Cantor's comments come on the heels of stimulus discussions on the Sunday talk shows.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.), appearing alongside Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) on "Fox News Sunday," called the stimulus "essential," despite the fact that he doesn't "think anybody can honestly say we're satisfied with the results so far."

On ABC's "This Week," Vice President Biden said the administration may have been too optimistic regarding the economy. However, regarding the stimulus package, Biden said, "We believe it is the right package given the circumstances we're in."

Cantor disagrees. "We heard the vice president on the Sunday talk shows indicate that he felt the administration misread the economy," he said. "There wasn't any misreading. It is my belief they didn't misread the economy -- they miswrote the stimulus bill and got the prescription wrong."

Cantor argued that the key was to provide access to more capital for small businesses, as did Boehner. "The way to help the economy grow is to help small businesses and American families keep more of what they earn because at the end of the day they're the ones who can get the economy going again," Boehner said.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today regarding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from most major cities in Iraq:

"Today marks a critical step toward the responsible withdrawal of American forces by December 2011 and the end of the war in Iraq, a war that tragically began more than six long years ago. This action is in keeping with the pledge made by President Obama and the Status of Forces agreement with the Iraqi government.

"Last month during my visit to Iraq, I met with U.S. military commanders, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Malaki, and Iraqi Parliament Speaker al-Samarraie. All agreed that Iraqi security forces have increased their capacities and are ready to assume responsibility for securing Iraq's cities. The Iraqi people have made clear their desire to assume responsibility for security in their country.

"All of us in Congress are forever grateful for the dedication and sacrifices of our troops, and to the brave men and women who continue to serve our country in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:05 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) just gave a fiery speech in support of the Waxman-Markey bill now in its third and final hour of House floor debate.

"We send American taxpayer dollars overseas: to Russia, to Saudi Arabia, Lybia, to Venezuela, all the people you have chimed about today," Larson said, in response to Republican arguments that the bill is tantamount to a national energy tax. "That's the real tax we are paying."

In response, Ways and Means ranking member Dave Camp (R-Mich.) quipped: "I wish the gentleman would reserve his passion to bringing this bill before the Ways and Means Committee." The committee skipped markup on the bill.

Earlier, Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) responded to one Republican who had argued the bill would disproportionately harm the poor.

"When the Republican Party becomes the protector of the poor, it's the day I've been waiting for," Rangel said, smiling.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:15 PM | Email Author | Permalink

As debate on the Waxman-Markey energy bill continues on the House floor, Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) brought a three-dimensional prop for his one minute of remarks in opposition to it. One of the most-used arguments by House Republicans has been the number of energy-producing jobs they say would be shipped overseas to China and India, and Latham's props were meant to illustrate that.

Latham's prop was a large, yellow, gift-wrapped box, one side of which read:
To: China
From: The U.S. Congress

When he opened the box, Latham pulled out a construction hard hat that read, "American Jobs," on one side.

(The screen shot above was taken from C-SPAN.org's live stream of the House floor proceedings.)

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

House Republicans refuse to tie President Obama to the Waxman-Markey energy bill that is being debated on the House floor today. Recent polling may explain why.

"It's clear it's Speaker Pelosi, Mr. Waxman and Mr. Markey who are driving this train here in Congress," Boehner said this morning. "And so it's theirs -- they're the ones offering it, they're the ones putting it on the floor today, and they're the ones who are out of touch with American families and small businesses."

Why the insistence that it's Pelosi's bill and not Obama's? Well, Obama is far more popular than Pelosi, so Republicans want the bill to be seen as the offspring of a "San Francisco liberal" -- not the gentleman in the White House.

Gallup's daily tracking poll of Obama's job performance found the president with a 61 percent approval rating today, and he's now at 59.7 percent in the RCP Average. He's hovered around 60 percent since mid-May.

By comparison, Congress has a 36 percent RCP Average approval rating, and a Washington Post-ABC News poll released this week found Pelosi with a 38 percent approval rating.

Perhaps the most important of the Post poll's findings was its comparison of who voters trust more on the major issues: Obama or Republicans. On each of the four issues tested -- health care reform, the economy, the federal budget deficit and the threat of terrorism -- at least 55 percent chose Obama over Republicans.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:50 PM | Email Author | Permalink

House Republicans this morning continued to frame the debate over the Waxman-Markey bill as an attack on middle America by the elite coasts.

Thirteen GOP leaders and rural Republicans railed against the bill at a morning press conference, with a vote expected sometime this afternoon.

"This is an assult on rural America and the poor in our country," said Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.). "We're voting no, and we're asking all our rural colleagues throughout -- especially the Midwest, from Pennsylvania to Wyoming -- to think about their constituents."

"Heartland Democrats are going to have a choice to make: Do they stand with middle class families and small businesses in their districts, or do they stand with Speaker Pelosi, Al Gore and the left wing special interests," said Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio). "There's a big difference between the heartland and San Francisco when it comes to Speaker Pelosi's national energy tax."

"This bill will hit middle-America family farmers the hardest," said Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kans.).

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:20 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Moments ago, the House of Representatives observed a moment of silence in the memory of pop icon Michael Jackson, who died yesterday at the age of 50. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) led the observance.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:05 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) was elected chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee today. He replaces Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), who recently stepped down after revealing an extramarital affair.

Thune, who had been serving as conference vice chair, was elected without opposition, according to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at an afternoon press conference.

Thune said he looked forward to helping "shape an agenda that I think will move America forward and will serve as a counter to some of the agenda items...that are currently being proposed by the president and Democrats in Congress."

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who had held an unofficial seat at the leadership table, will replace Thune as conference vice chair.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 05:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

At his weekly press conference, Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) once again asked where the jobs were that Democrats said would result from increased federal spending. The Waxman-Markey energy bill, he said, will only make the job situation worse.

"When it comes to energy, Washington Democrats are poised to make matters worse by imposing a job-killing energy tax courtesy of Speaker Pelosi," Boehner said. "This really is about shipping millions of American jobs overseas."

At her weekly press conference earlier in the morning, Pelosi called the legislation a "jobs bill" and said energy independence and lowering pollution in the air was in the country's interest. Boehner disagreed.

"This bill will also cost 2.3 to 2.7 million Americans their jobs," said Boehner. "That's because high-energy industries like the steel-making industry won't be located in the United States anymore. They are going to be shipped to our competitors such as China, India, South Korea who don't even have half of the EPA guidelines and environmental guidelines that we have here in America."

While confident they'll have enough votes to pass the bill, Pelosi said the vote count is never really known until the actual roll call takes place. When asked about vote count, Boehner was skeptical it would even get to the House floor tomorrow, as Democrats still haven't put it on the official schedule. "Rumors," Boehner said. "I don't think they have the votes yet."

"Mark my words, the American people are going to remember this vote," Boehner said. "This will be a defininig moment and a defining vote in this Congress. And the real question is where are the Democrats going to stand on this issue."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

After announcing last night that former Vice President Al Gore would appear with House Democrats at the Capitol today to discuss energy, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office said this morning that the event had been canceled.

Just after the announcement was released, the White House updated President Obama's schedule to include a Rose Garden speech on "the importance of passing a historic energy bill." The speech is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. -- the Gore event had been scheduled for 2 p.m.

Later in the morning at her weekly press conference, Pelosi said the number of Democrats undecided on the Waxman-Markey energy and climate change bill had decreased, so Gore's trip from Tennessee was unnecessary.

Minority Leader John Boehner's office later distributed a press release calling Gore "too toxic" for battleground state Democrats to appear with. The release included a blue/red state map of the 2000 electoral college results. As might be remembered, the entire middle of the country (aside from four upper Midwestern states) was red.

UPDATE: NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain sends out this comment on the subject: "How is a Democrat sitting in a swing district going to tell their constituents with a straight face that they were undecided on whether or not to support a national energy tax until Al Gore or Nancy Pelosi convinced them it was the right thing to do? The cast of characters forcing this vote are putting dozens of Democrat House members into a position they won't be able to defend come 2010."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:20 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The House Ethics committee has opened an investigation into trips taken to the Caribbean by Rep. Charles Rangel (N.Y.) and four other House Democrats.

The official release from the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct states that a newly formed investigative subcommittee will look into "officially-connected travel in 2007 and 2008 that was sponsored, funded or organized by an organization known as Carib News or Carib News Foundation."

Along with Rangel, the inquiry will include four other members of the Congressional Black Caucus: Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (Mich.), Donald Payne (N.J.), Bennie Thompson (Miss.), and Virgin Islands Delegate Donna Christensen.

This marks the latest in a run of ethics issues for Rangel, who chairs the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Previous reports indicate potential financial disclosure issues and allegations that he helped obtain a tax loophole for a donor to the Charles B. Rangel Center at the City College of New York.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 11:30 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Outside the west front of the Capitol this afternoon, House Democrats held a campaign rally-style press conference to tout the Waxman-Markey energy bill that is heading to the House floor Friday.

The sunny, hot weather served as a better backdrop than previous outdoor events on climate change. Supporters stood behind the podium holding signs that read, "Make Our Energy Clean/Make it American."

Speaking at the event were the architects of the bill -- Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) -- as well as freshman Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) and Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), a member of Waxman's committee.

The deal struck last night between Waxman and Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), chairman of the Agriculture Committee, has given Democrats a feeling of momentum toward the passage of the plan. In the middle of a scrum of reporters following his remarks, Doyle said he thinks Peterson's approval is "going to move some of the fence-sitters in the Agriculture Committee into the 'Yes' column."

Doyle said behind-the-scenes vote counting is still taking place, but "there are so many leaning in the 'Yes' column, that there's a sense when it goes to the House floor" the bill will be approved.

At a press conference this morning, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) said he heard Democrats had well below the number of votes necessary to pass legislation. He said Democrats had "maybe 190 votes, and that falls way short of the necessary 218."

Cantor also questioned the latest scoring of the bill from the Congressional Budget Office, which said the plan would cost an average of $175 per household each year, well below the $3,000 figure Republicans have pushed for more than a month. "I think that calls into question the validity of this particular study because clearly this is a job killer," he said.

In their remarks at the rally, both Markey and Waxman leveled praise on the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the importance of President Obama's election to the bill's existence. Markey called it "the most important energy and environment bill in the history of the United States of America" and said it will "create a green energy revolution, not only for our country, but for the entire world."

Following his remarks, Markey told a scrum of reporters that House Democrats and the Obama administration are "arm-in-arm" on the contents of the bill.

"This is one of President Obama's top three priorities," said Markey. "The White House is very active in helping us right now. The White House is making very clear that they want this legislation to pass this week."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Here is my story today on House Republicans' opposition to the Waxman-Markey energy bill:

Following an agreement last night with Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), House Democrats are poised this week to pass an energy and climate change bill that has stewed in uncertainty since being passed out of committee one month ago.

The bill will now hit the House floor on Friday, with a vote likely to take place by Saturday. The House is in recess next week.

The sudden accord followed weeks of debate within the Democratic Caucus and set off an equally quick response from Republicans, whose leadership continues to oppose the plan offered by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.).

"House Republicans are opposed to the national energy tax that is reportedly making its way to the House floor this week," House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference on health care. "This is a very bad idea."

Read the rest here.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 10:00 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Following a return to the Capitol yesterday a week after revealing a months-long affair with a former aide, Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) today snuck in the back door of the weekly Republican policy lunch -- eluding a large group of reporters awaiting his arrival near the room's front door.

Reporters held place at a stakeout location outside a set of elevators that most senators use on their way to the lunch. One-by-one, senators would step off an elevator, but each time it wasn't the right one.

Judd Gregg, nope. Olympia Snowe, not even close. A few reporters gathered around John McCain and Lindsey Graham, but they weren't who everyone was waiting for.

Roland Burris? Not even the right party.

Finally, word spread that Ensign had gone up a back stairwell and slipped in the back door without being noticed.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 01:25 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office announced last night that the energy and climate change bill will go to the House floor Friday, following a strenuous route through the Agriculture Committee. A new version of the bill was filed with the House Rules Committee last night.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who sets the floor schedule, reiterated the point today during his weekly off-camera briefing with reporters and called it "one of our signature issues in this session of Congress."

"It's quite possible, or even probable, we will go to the energy bill on Friday," Hoyer said. "We are close enough that we announced it last night. We all were confident enough that we were close enough to resolving the issues in the Agriculture Commitee and Mr. Peterson to bring it to the House floor."

Standing in the way of the bill has been Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), who announced two weeks ago that he and Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), an architect of the bill, could not reach agreement and that he had close to 50 Democrats ready to vote against it.

Hoyer said today that Peterson had up to seven issues with the bill, though he believed all would be resolved this week. The majority leader did not specify what those issues are, but some likely include concerns that rural areas would pay a disproportionate amount as a result of the cap-and-trade plans.

"We really do want to have a bill that at least has consensus on our side, and hopefully some Republicans will join us," Hoyer said. "So we want to have agreement with Mr. Peterson ... and we expect to have agreement with Mr. Peterson."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:22 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Democratic leaders introduced a "discussion draft" of a health care proposal, which the chairmen of the three committees with jurisdiction over health care policy developed over the past several months.

Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (N.Y.), Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (Calif.) and Chairman Emeritus John Dingell (Mich.), and Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (Calif.) announced the plan in a joint press conference this afternoon.

They said it was consistent with President Obama's goals -- building on the existing system -- while providing coverage for more Americans than any other proposal.

"This proposal would improve the affordability, availability, and quality of health care and represents a major step toward the our goal of fixing what is broken about health care while building on what works," Obama said in a released statement.

According to the bill's text, its purpose is "to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending." It would also "guarantee that almost every American is covered by a health care plan that is both affordable and offers quality, standard benefits by 2019," according to a Miller press release.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele released a statement just minutes after the Democrats' press conference began. "The Democrats don't want to admit it, but their health care tax-fest will include higher taxes on Medicare, soft drinks, alcohol, employers -- even a new national sales tax," Steele said. "All of this despite the president's promise to voters during the campaign that he would not raise taxes on 95% of taxpayers and would make health care cost less."

Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the proposal a "historic and a critical step forward in meeting our commitment to the American people: to deliver an American solution for quality affordable health care."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The Federal Election Commission issued an advisory opinion yesterday that Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.) may use campaign funds to pay for legal fees related to the federal investigation into his ties with PMA Group.

Visclosky, chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Energy and Water, is being investigated for improper political contributions received through PMA, a defunct lobbying firm that was raided by the FBI in November. The investigation includes other senior Democrats as well, including Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), chairman of the Appropriations Defense subcommittee.

In a letter to Visclosky's campaign, the commission said Visclosky may use the funds "because the allegations relate to Representative Visclosky's campaign and duties as a Federal officeholder, and the legal fees and expenses would not exist irrespective of Representative Visclosky's campaign or duties as a Federal officeholder."

Commissioners voted 6-0 to approve the opinion.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The United States Senate passed a resolution today "apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African Americans," according to the legislation's title.

"It is important for the people of the United States, who legally recognized slavery through the Constitution and the laws of the United States, to make a formal apology for slavery and for its successor, Jim Crow, so they can move forward and seek reconciliation, justice, and harmony for all people of the United States," the resolution states.

The House passed a similar measure on a voice vote last July, and the Senate passed an apology for Native Americans in February 2008.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released the following statement after the resolution's passage:

Continue reading "Senate Apologizes for Slavery, Segregation" »

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:05 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Ct.), chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, called today for legislation giving same-sex partners of federal employees the same benefits received by married spouses. Lieberman's statement comes in reaction to and support of President Obama's recent push toward the same goal.

Here is Lieberman's full statement:

"President Obama's instruction that agencies provide same-sex partners the benefits that married spouses already receive is a significant step towards improving fairness and equality in the federal workplace, but there is still a need for legislation on this subject.

"The bipartisan Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, which I have introduced with Senator Susan Collins, R-Me., and which the President endorsed, would extend the presidential order to include all federal employees and all benefits that are currently available to married spouses of federal employees. This is not only a matter of fairness, but would also help the federal government attract, recruit and retain the most qualified workers, at a time when the number of federal employees eligible to retire is steadily increasing.

"Congress must take the next step to ensure that all partners of federal employees are treated equally under the law by passing S. 1102."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 04:55 PM | Email Author | Permalink

The announcement yesterday by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) that he had an extramarital affair and today's news that Senate leadership has removed him as head of the Republican Policy Committee (the No. 4 slot on the totem pole) means the Republican Party has lost a leading voice in its efforts to deride Democratic policies and promote its own.

Ensign led a credible, yet unsuccessful, effort as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 2008 election cycle, and in this Congress has been at the forefront of several policy debates. Perhaps his biggest victory of the year was the gun amendment Ensign added on to the D.C. Voting Rights bill, which ultimately led to its demise in the House of Representatives.

Now in his second term representing a state increasingly important to presidential elections, Ensign was twice elected with 55 percent of the vote -- in 2000 and 2006 -- and regularly carries far better approval ratings than his Nevada counterpart, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). A survey released last month found Ensign with a 53 percent approval rating compared to Reid's 38 percent.

Whether Ensign was preparing for a presidential bid or not, his fall from grace seems just as far.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 03:45 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Today, President Obama "will lay out a comprehensive regulatory reform plan to modernize and protect the integrity of our financial system," the White House says. He meets with regulators in the Roosevelt Room, before making a public announcement in the East Room. Later, he meets with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. And he'll later sign a Presidential Memorandum extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.

After begin called back last night for votes, the House will hold a marathon of votes on the 127 amendments added on to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Votes are expected as early as 10 a.m. The Senate will resume consideration of the Travel Promotion bill, and at some point will take up the war supplemental appropriations conference report that the House passed yesterday.

The Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee is hosting a Green Jobs Summit on the Hill. Vice President Joe Biden will deliver the keynote address. House Republicans will introduce an alternative health care plan at a morning press conference.

Tonight lawmakers will have a chance to blow off some steam in the annual Democrats vs. Republicans Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park.

Continue reading "Strategy Memo: Late Night in the House" »

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 09:00 AM | Email Author | Permalink

While reporters awaited an outdoor press conference with Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) pulled up in his brand new ride -- a silver Ford Fusion hybrid, fresh with 30-day tags. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was riding shotgun.

Heading toward a metal U.S. Capitol traffic blocker, McCain flashed a grin and gave reporters the thumbs up, as he pulled off an effortless three-point turn and headed back in the opposite direction.

McCain announced his new car choice on his Twitter account yesterday. "His office says he's getting the 2010 hybrid in silver and was impressed by its fuel-efficiency," AP reported yesterday.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, McCain's taste for Cadillacs became common knowledge, as it was reported that he had two. President Obama gave up his Chrysler sedan for a Ford SUV hybrid, though he now rolls in a Cadillac limousine.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:30 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) released a report this morning highlighting "100 examples of questionable stimulus projects" totaling $5.5 billion in federal government spending.

"This report does not attempt to prove that the stimulus is not working," Coburn wrote in a letter introducing the report. "Rather, the intent is to educate taxpayers, policymakers and the media on lessons that can be learned from some of the early missteps and prevent other questionable projects from moving forward."

Coburn ranked the top ten most wasteful projects, then listed the following 90 by region -- similar to a report released by Vice President Biden 100 days into the Obama administration that touted the projects the stimulus was helping fund around the country.

The most wasteful project, according to Coburn, is in his home state of Oklahoma -- a wastewater treatment plant in Perkins.

Rounding out Coburn's top five projects are the clean coal project in Illinois, FutureGen, which is a favorite project of the president; the repair of 37 bridges in rural Wisconsin "that hardly anyone uses"; $800,000 for the now infamous John Murtha Airport in Johnstown, Pa.; $3.4 million for a wildlife crossing in Jackson, Fla., allowing turtles and other animals to cross a road through a tunnel.

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 12:05 PM | Email Author | Permalink

House Republican leaders said this morning that the health care plan they'll unveil tomorrow will cost less and offer patients more freedoms than the public health option Democrats are pushing.

"The Republican plan has more," said Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kans.). More availability, choices and control, she said.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) said President Obama's "problem with the health care system is that we spend too much," yet the proposals being brought forward call for spending $1 trillion.

"It is troubleing when we're trying to save money to call for that kind of expenditure," said Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.).

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 10:45 AM | Email Author | Permalink

Senate Judicary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) have divergent ideas about when committee hearings on the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court should take place.

While admitting hearings in June would be too soon, Leahy indicated that by July he hoped to begin hearings -- particularly so Sotomayor can publicly defend herself from "some of the most vicious" attacks Leahy said he's ever seen.

The Senate is out of session for the month of August, so hearings would have to wait until September, just a month before the Supreme Court enters a new session -- and when there would be a vacancy should Sotomayor not be confirmed by then.

Sessions, who said he really enjoyed his conversation with Sotomayor, feels that July hearings would not give members of the Judiciary Committee enough time to look over her extensive record. "I hope the chairman keeps an open mind," Sessions said to a scrum of reporters waiting outside his office, as Sotomayor exited a side door on her way to her next appointment.

Asked about some of Sotomayor's comments that have stirred controversy, Leahy said, "Of course life experience shapes you," whether you're from the South Bronx or South Burlington, Vermont. Sotomayor told him that "ultimately and completely, as a judge you follow the law."

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 02:00 PM | Email Author | Permalink