Finally Focused On Jobs

Jan 26, 2010 — Politico

Martin Kady II

HEALTH CARE LITE: Many Democrats don’t like the scaled back bill idea, and they don’t trust Republicans to help them pass it. POLITICO’s Chris Frates: “Democrats have precious few options left to pass health care reform – and one of their top choices is drawing fire from some of their biggest supporters, complicating an already tough situation. Demoralized Democrats left in a lurch by Republican Scott Brown’s upset victory a week ago in the Massachusetts special Senate election have proposed crafting a scaled-down reform bill that could attract bipartisan support, a crucial consideration now that Democrats no longer have a 60-vote, supermajority in the Senate.

“The idea, floated last week by President Barack Obama and some congressional Democrats, is to pluck reform’s most popular ideas and write a new bill with enough support to breeze through Congress. But there are many pitfalls that could doom such an effort. After more than a year of work, lawmakers are trying to finish reform quickly and a new bill would have to be written and approved by both chambers, essentially redoing months of work. The new bill would need 60 votes to thwart a filibuster and pass the Senate, which leaves it vulnerable to Republican opposition and the possibility that Democrats could end up back at square one. And many reform supporters are opposed to drafting a scaled-down bill, arguing that any legislation that gets bipartisan support would be watered down and ineffective.”

SOTU ON HEALTH CARE: Roll Call’s Steven Dennis: “President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address on Wednesday may give him his last, best chance to reboot his health care agenda in the minds of the public and regain momentum shattered by the loss of the Senate Democrats’ 60-seat supermajority. House and Senate Democratic leaders have been talking behind the scenes about possible ways to revive their legislation but still don’t have a plan a week after Republican Scott Brown rocked their world by winning the Massachusetts Senate special election, aides said. … Obama’s speech isn’t expected to resolve every detail, but it could serve as an opportunity to smooth over the intraparty warring that has taken place since the Massachusetts election and make more clear whether he will still push hard for a comprehensive health care bill or dramatically scale back his ambitions, aides said.”

JOBS BILL: More on the economic agenda front, from Silla Brush in The Hill: “Senate Democrats are considering a jobs bill in the range of $80 billion. The package is subject to change, but a draft summary of proposals under discussion includes small business credits, tens of billions of dollars in infrastructure spending, energy efficiency programs, money to hire police and firefighters and billions to boost lending to small businesses.

“A Senate Democratic aide on Monday confirmed the package is under consideration. The proposals will likely be discussed at the Senate Democratic lunch on Tuesday, the aide said.”

USING TARP MONEY: Peter Cohn in CongressDaily with more details about the jobs bill: “The Senate's emerging job-creation bill might divert billions of dollars in unspent bank bailout funds to free up small business credit and ease pension funding requirements for cash-strapped companies to meet payroll or buy equipment.

“Those initiatives and others make up a package whose price tag was in flux Monday, but was shaping up to be at least $82.5 billion based on a document circulating on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers and aides cautioned the plan was under development, but Senate Democratic leaders hoped to have a bill ready for today's policy luncheon."We're close," said Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, who is helping to steer the bill through his chamber. "We had a really good meeting [Friday], and we're close to putting together what we need."

HOYER ON ECON AGENDA: The Huddle gets a sneak preview of a Steny Hoyer speech set for 9 a.m. at the National Press Club, where the majority leader will talk about the jobs bill. From the speech:“… So it is crucial for the Senate to work with the House to get a jobs bill to the President’s desk as soon as possible, and to join us in listening to the most innovative job-creation ideas from economists, small businesses, and communities—including those initiatives just laid out by the White House’s Middle Class Task Force. If Republicans continue to stand in the way of Americans going back to work, it is crucial to make them own their record.”

“Our country faces hard choices that can no longer be put off—so Congress intends to pass strong pay-as-you-go legislation, because the pledge to pay for what we buy is a proven deficit-reducer. President Obama just announced a freeze of non-defense discretionary spending. In addition, the greatest contributor to our deficit is the increasing cost of our entitlement programs, which is why I’m eager to work with a bipartisan commission to tackle our long-term budgetary challenges.”

BERNANKE WATCH: He’s gaining momentum, but he’s still not a lock. Sudeep Reddy and Greg Hitt in The Wall Street Journal: “The latest tally by Dow Jones Newswires showed 40 senators supporting confirmation and 17 opposed, with the rest not disclosing their positions. Democratic leaders remained confident they would have the 60 senators needed to move ahead when the vote comes. … Congressional aides estimated Monday that about 15 Republicans—and perhaps more— were ready to vote in favor … If so, he would need 45 votes from Democrats. So far, 29 Democrats and independents have voiced their support.”

SPEAKER’S SNOOPING: Looks like the speaker cares who’s doing Freedom of Information requests about her. Paul Singer in Roll Call: “Five months ago, Roll Call asked the Defense Department for documents relating to Congressional travel on military aircraft. The Pentagon has not yet responded to the request, but last week a spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) contacted Roll Call to inquire about “your FOIA request on the Speaker.”

“Apparently, the Defense Department notified Pelosi that Roll Call was asking for Congressional travel records that involve her office. Freedom of Information Act experts say there is probably nothing illegal about the military tipping off Members that a reporter is snooping around, as long as it is clear that a Member of Congress has no role in deciding what information the military is required to release. Pelosi’s office told Roll Call in a follow-up e-mail that she did not object to the release of any information — and was not provided the opportunity to object by the Pentagon.

“The Speaker strongly supports the Freedom of Information Act,” spokesman Drew Hammill wrote. “It is not unusual for agencies to provide such information nor is it particularly newsworthy to be notified that an agency is following the law by responding to a request under FOIA.”

BATTLEGROUND 2010:

DSCC ATTACK: The DSCC will distribute a memo Tuesday advising Democratic campaign managers to frame their opponents early — and to drive a wedge between moderate voters and tea-party-style conservatives, POLITICO’s Manu Raju and John Bresnahan with the exclusive: “Democrats are looking for someone to blame for their electoral woes — and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Robert Menendez is working hard to make sure it’s not him.

“Showing that they’ve learned the lesson of Massachusetts, Menendez and his staff will distribute a memo Tuesday advising Democratic campaign managers to frame their opponents early — and to drive a wedge between moderate voters and tea-party-style conservatives. “Given the pressure Republican candidates feel from the extreme right in their party, there is a critical — yet time-sensitive — opportunity for Democratic candidates,” the DSCC writes. “We have a finite window when Republicans candidates will feel susceptible to the extremists in their party. Given the urgent nature of this dynamic, we suggest an aggressive effort to get your opponents on the record.”

THE FULL MEMO

BEAU SAYS NO: Can you say Sen. Mike Castle (R-Del.)? Carl Hulse in the NYT: “Joseph R. Biden III, a son of the vice president, announced Monday that he would not seek the Delaware Senate seat vacated by his father last year, giving Republicans a good chance of taking over the Democratic slot.

“In an e-mail message sent to backers, Mr. Biden, currently the Delaware attorney general, said he would instead seek re-election to that office to focus on a major child molestation case his agency is pursuing against a pediatrician. “My first responsibilities are here in Delaware,” Mr. Biden’s message to his supporters said. “I have a duty to fulfill as attorney general — and the immediate need to focus on a case of great consequence. And that is what I must do. Therefore I cannot and will not run for the United States Senate in 2010.”

WHO’D HAVE THOUGHT: By election day 2010 Democrats may have lost the seats that once belonged to Vice President Biden, Ted Kennedy and President Obama.

WJLA WASHINGTON WEATHER: After highs just shy of 70 degrees yesterday, today will feel a lot different. Expect mixed skies and cooler temperatures in the mid 40s.