Mike Lillis
Economists, Democrats Criticize Obama Tax Cut Plan
President-elect Barack Obama tried to kill two birds with one stone by keeping a campaign promise and reaching out to the GOP, but now he’s in danger of losing Democratic allies.
Waxman Cleaning House in Energy Committee
Literally.
It was no mystery that Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Cal.) was intent on making environment-friendly changes when he swept the chairmanship of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee from beneath auto-friendly Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) in November. And this week, that house-cleaning began in earnest.
A $1.3 Trillion Stimulus?
It’s not impossible. In an interview with CNBC yesterday, President-elect Barack Obama threw out the $1.3 trillion figure as the upper-end of the suggestions his economic team is hearing from experts.
[I]t’s important to note that every economist, conservative or liberal, at this point agrees that we have to have a substantial recovery plan that helps [...]
Burris Win Could Spell Trouble For Franken
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune points out today what we did yesterday: Senate Democrats — having made state-based election certification a mandatory condition for seating Illinois appointee Roland Burris — might be waiting awhile for the arrival of Minnesota Democrat Al Franken. From the Star-Tribune:
Democratic leaders made Burris’ claim on the seat contingent on his ability to [...]
House to Vote on Pay-Equity Bill Friday
Lilly Ledbetter is coming back.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced today that the chamber will vote Friday on legislation making it easier for workers to pursue payment-discrimination claims.
CBPP: Many States Couldn’t Accept Loans Anyways
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal policy analysis group, just issued its take on the recent GOP suggestion that states should be given loans, not grants, as part of the Democrats’ soon-to-be-unveiled stimulus package. A point we missed earlier: Because 49 states have some form of legal balanced budget requirement, many wouldn’t [...]
CBO: Deficit to Hit $1.2 Trillion
Well, I guess we knew this was coming…
The 2009 federal budget deficit is projected to be $1.2 trillion, the Congressional Budget Office announced today — NOT INCLUDING THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE EARLY NEXT MONTH.
From USA Today:
In the first official reckoning of the damage caused by the severe recession, the report paints a [...]
Fate of Burris Still in Limbo
Following a 45-minute meeting with Roland Burris, Senate Democratic leaders said Wednesday that several steps remain before they’ll decide whether to seat the former Illinois attorney general to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the upper chamber.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters in the Capitol that Senate rules dictate that Burris must have the [...]
Reid’s Office Won’t Confirm AP Report on Seating Burris
The office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is denying that Democrats have agreed to seat Roland Burris to replace Barack Obama in the Senate, as The Associated Press reported this morning.
“I do not know where that came from,” a Reid spokesperson wrote moments ago.
Reid and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the Democrats’ No. 2 [...]
Report: Reid Caves; Burris to the Senate
From The Associated Press: Senate leaders have caved in their efforts to block Roland Burris from replacing President-elect Barack Obama in the upper chamber. Burris had been appointed to the post last month by Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who’s facing charges that he tried to sell the seat following Obama’s promotion.
Democratic leaders feared that [...]
