44 - Politics and Policy in Obama's Washington - March 14, 2010

Pelosi rejects Stupak abortion solution

By Lori Montgomery, Ben Pershing and Paul Kane House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Saturday...

By Multiplatform Editor | March 20, 2010; 1:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (70)
Categories: Capitol Briefing | Tags: abortion provision, health care, pelosi, stupak
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Reid to visit House with 'whip check' in hand

By Michael D. Shear President Obama may be the guest of honor at the House...

By Steve Reiss | March 20, 2010; 10:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Capitol Briefing
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Obama warns that he'll fight on behalf Dodd's financial proposals

Even as his health care fight appeared to be nearing a conclusion, President Obama hailed the opening of another war on Saturday -- the beginning of congressional hearings on a revamping of financial regulation.

By Michael D. Shear | March 20, 2010; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Obama offers another New Year's message to Iran

For the second year in a row, President Obama offered a message to the Iranian people on that country's New Year's holiday, known as Nowruz.

By Michael D. Shear | March 20, 2010; 12:01 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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It's Sharpton vs. Jackson on Smiley vs. Obama

The Rev. Al Sharpton broke with other prominent black leaders to criticize Tavis Smiley's "We Count! The Black Agenda is the American Agenda" conference taking place in Chicago this weekend, saying the PBS commentator would use it to criticize President Obama even though he didn't subject the last Democratic president to the same scrutiny.

By Hamil R. Harris | March 19, 2010; 6:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Barack Obama, Cast of Characters
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Altmire a 'no,' but Ellsworth and Kosmas on board

Rep. Jason Altmire said Friday he would vote against the health reform bill, while Reps. Suzanne Kosmas and Brad Ellsworth said they would support it.

By Ben Pershing | March 19, 2010; 6:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Capitol Briefing, Health Care
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Rhee turns to White House veteran Anita Dunn

Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, whose image has been battered by a series of high-profile controversies, is turning to a veteran of the Obama White House to help her with communications strategy. DCPS confirmed Friday that it is negotiating a contract with former White House communications director and veteran Democratic media consultant Anita Dunn.

By Bill Turque | March 19, 2010; 4:38 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Education
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A last-minute, high-stakes debate over Medicare reimbursement rates

A long-running tussle in Congress over regional Medicare reimbursement rates has erupted into a last-minute clash that has at least one House Democrat threatening to withdraw his support for the health-care overhaul up for a vote Sunday.

By Alec MacGillis | March 19, 2010; 4:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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Today in photos

Click here for today's best political pictures.

By Rachel Weiner | March 19, 2010; 3:51 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Perriello wants promise from Senate on health bill before he'll vote yes

Virginia Rep. Tom Perriello (D) said Friday that he would vote in favor of Democrats' health package this weekend, but only after he gets a promise from the Senate that it will pass "fixes" to the bill designed to make it more palatable to the House.

By Ben Pershing | March 19, 2010; 3:13 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: Capitol Briefing, Health Care
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Democrats pick up more votes for health bill

Democrats picked up another vote in favor of their Friday, as Ohio Rep. John Boccieri (D) announced that he would support the final measure after having opposed the original House bill in November.

By Ben Pershing | March 19, 2010; 11:33 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (186)
Categories: Capitol Briefing, Health Care
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Health bill gains steam ahead of Sunday climax

More than five months after House leaders muscled the first version of health legislation through their chamber, the revised package is lumbering toward a final roll call Sunday, picking up votes, momentum and more controversy along the way.

By Ben Pershing | March 19, 2010; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (23)
Categories: Health Care, The Rundown
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Health-care showdown to start at 1 p.m. Sunday

Final vote on President Obama's health-care legislation is likely to come late Sunday.

By Post Editor | March 18, 2010; 9:17 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: 43, 44 The Obama Presidency
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Reps. Gordon and Markey switch from no to yes on health-care bill

Reps. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) and Betsy Markey (D-Colo.) will now support the health-care legislation before the House, reversing the opposition that led them to vote against it on Nov. 7.

By Paul Kane | March 18, 2010; 5:44 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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AFL-CIO throws its weight behind the health-care bill, despite earlier doubts

Trumka said in a conference call with reporters Thursday afternoon that the labor federation has voted overwhelmingly to support the final version of the health-care bill, despite the fact that it lacks many elements the AFL has sought.

By Alec MacGillis | March 18, 2010; 5:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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David Kris gaining support for post as deputy AG

Senate Republicans are said to be lining up behind David Kris, now assistant attorney general for the National Security Division, for the still-vacant deputy attorney general post.

By Al Kamen | March 18, 2010; 4:40 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Cast of Characters, In the Loop
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Congressional Hispanics announce support for health-care bill

Allaying a lingering concern about immigration issues in the health-care battle, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus announced its unanimous support for President Obama's key domestic agenda initiative.

By Paul Kane | March 18, 2010; 3:36 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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Conrad requests special provision for North Dakota bank be removed from health bill

Buried in the bill Democrats unveiled Thursday afternoon was a provision related to student loans that may be aimed at winning support from the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.

By Nick Anderson | March 18, 2010; 3:12 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Education, Health Care
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House sidesteps 2 anti-'deem and pass' resolutions

The House voted 222-203 Thursday to set aside a resolution that would have required an up-or-down tally on the Senate health bill.

By Ben Pershing | March 18, 2010; 2:55 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (113)
Categories: Capitol Briefing
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Lynch is key defector against health care

President Obama lost a former supporter of his health-care initiative Thursday, as Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) told reporters he's opposed to the legislation.

By Kendra Nichols | March 18, 2010; 2:51 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (38)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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House Rules Committee unveils health-care package

The House Rules Committee on Thursday posted the final element of President Obama's health-care package,...

By 44 Editor | March 18, 2010; 2:16 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (46)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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Liberals embrace health bill, but with frustration

Some of the more liberal voices in the Democratic Party have dropped their insistence that any health-care legislation include a Medicare-style insurance option and instead are demanding all Democrats vote for the bill being considered now, which does not include such as provision.

By Kendra Nichols | March 18, 2010; 1:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (77)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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Congress deeply unpopular as economic woes, health-care battle fuel a disapproving mood

The long health-care battle and the economy have certainly taken a toll on President Obama and his administration. But the damage has been, if anything, more severe to the Congress.

By Dan Balz | March 18, 2010; 12:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Dan Balz's Take
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Obama signs jobs bill

President Obama signed an $18 billion jobs bill into law in a Rose Garden ceremony this morning, providing tax breaks for businesses that hire previously unemployed workers and extending funding for infrastructure and transportation projects.

By Michael D. Shear | March 18, 2010; 11:57 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Barack Obama, Economy
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CBO scores health-care bill at $940 billion, Dems say

Congressional Democrats on Thursday will unveil a final version of their comprehensive health-care plan, with House leaders saying the bill would cut the federal deficit by more than $100 billion over the next decade and more than $1 trillion over by 2030.

By Paul Kane | March 18, 2010; 9:32 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Reform backers appear to gain momentum

Democratic backers of health-care reform had their best day in awhile Wednesday, buoyed by a pair of key vote announcements and consensus in much of the press coverage that momentum is on their side.

By Ben Pershing | March 18, 2010; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Health Care, The Rundown
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Gibbs, WH press corps will take daily briefing into the sunshine Thursday

In what may be a first, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs will conduct his daily press briefing Thursday in the Rose Garden, moving the cantankerous press corps out of the cramped, low-ceilinged building that connects the West Wing to the White House residence.

By Michael D. Shear | March 17, 2010; 8:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Cast of Characters
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Anti-abortion Democrat Kildee says he will vote yes on health care bill

Anti-abortion forces who oppose President Obama's health-care overhaul suffered a significant defection Wednesday when Rep Dale E. Kildee (D-Mich.) announced that he would vote in favor of the proposal.

By Peter Slevin | March 17, 2010; 5:24 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (38)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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Woodhouse brothers at it again, over a health-care ad

After the fact-checking site Politifact gave a recent ad from Americans for Prosperity a "Pants on Fire" rating for egregiously inaccurate claims, the Democratic National Committee's communications director called on the conservative advocacy group's North Carolina state director "to pull the ad." A man who is also his brother.

By Garance Franke-Ruta | March 17, 2010; 4:32 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Obama's Fox News interview marked by interruptions, focus on 'special deals'

In a rare interview with Fox News, President Obama said Wednesday that procedural maneuvers involving his health-care bill will not shield Democrats from those who want to criticize their stance on the issue.

By Michael D. Shear | March 17, 2010; 3:58 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (842)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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Democrats spar with AP over health-care fact check

Democrats responded quickly Wednesday to an AP story that suggested health insurance premiums would go up if Congress passes health care legislation, blasting the news agency's fact check as inaccurate.

By Alec MacGillis | March 17, 2010; 2:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (60)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Barack Obama, Capitol Briefing, Health Care
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Obama picks Jayhawks as NCAA champs

President sees national championship going to Kansas.

By 44 Editor | March 17, 2010; 2:02 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Health-care bill not yet a law, but Republicans already organizing to repeal it

Can Republicans win this fall by campaigning to repeal the health-care legislation Congress is on the verge of passing?

By Perry Bacon Jr. | March 17, 2010; 12:51 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (417)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Maryland b-ball bill stirs up partisan trouble on the Hill

Are House Republicans rooting against the Terps in the Big Dance?

By Ben Pershing | March 17, 2010; 12:48 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (28)
Categories: Capitol Briefing
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Survey: Americans in a pessimistic mood

A new survey portrays Americans as pessimistic, believing the nation is in decline and that quality of life for future generations may be lower than it is today.

By Dan Balz | March 17, 2010; 11:58 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Economy
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Senate clears jobs bill for Obama's desk

The Senate cleared an $18 billion jobs bill for President Obama's signature Wednesday, a down payment on what Democrats hope will be a significant election-year investment in boosting the economy.

By Ben Pershing | March 17, 2010; 10:52 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (66)
Categories: Capitol Briefing
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Understanding the 'self-executing rule'

As the House moves toward a vote on health-care legislation, one possible route to passage involves a procedural measure called a "self-executing rule," or "deem and pass."

By Kenneth W. Smith Jr. | March 17, 2010; 10:33 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Kucinich drops opposition to health-care bill

Saying "I take this vote with the utmost seriousness," Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) announced Wednesday morning that he will vote for the health-care bill now before the House, despite his reservations.

By Perry Bacon Jr. and Garance Franke-Ruta | March 17, 2010; 10:18 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (204)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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More distractions, more delays for reform

After the health-reform fight is over -- and after House Democrats either have or haven't used the "deem and pass" strategyto get the bill through -- Nancy Pelosi and her allies will have to look back at this week and wonder whether it was worth all the obvious distraction this has caused.

By Ben Pershing | March 17, 2010; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Health Care, The Rundown
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But wait! One more health-care rally to come from Obama

President Obama will give hold a final, pre-vote rally for health care in Fairfax County, Virginia on Friday, White House officials announced today.

By Michael D. Shear | March 16, 2010; 6:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (30)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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Kaine promises DNC help for Dems who vote 'yes' on health-care reform

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine promised an army of volunteers will campaign for lawmakers who vote for health-care reform this week, though he declined to say whether the DNC will withhold help from those who don't.

By Michael D. Shear | March 16, 2010; 5:51 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Cast of Characters, Democratic Party
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Obama picks his NCAA teams -- but they're a secret still

Obama just picked his men's and women's NCAA brackets.

By Michael D. Shear | March 16, 2010; 4:39 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Gibbs on 'deem and pass'

Nowhere did Gibbs say whether the president liked the procedural tactic, or didn't like it.

By Michael D. Shear | March 16, 2010; 4:23 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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GOP to force vote on 'deem and pass' strategy

Just in case the process for passing health care wasn't confusing enough already, House Republicans announced a plan Tuesday that would force Democrats to vote on whether they should have a vote.

By Ben Pershing | March 16, 2010; 4:12 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (142)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Deem and pass strategy #deemed worthy of a hash-tag

The proposed House "deem and pass" vote strategy is already meeting with one of the most insidious enemies of political strategy: online mockery.

By Garance Franke-Ruta | March 16, 2010; 2:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Obama to appear on Fox News Wednesday

President Obama is going on Fox News.

By Howard Kurtz | March 16, 2010; 1:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (94)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Tea party protesters say it's not too late to block health bill

Hundreds of conservative "tea party" activists gathered outside the U.S. Capitol Tuesday to protest health-care legislation up for a final vote by the House this week, urging Congress to "kill the bill."

By Sandhya Somashekhar | March 16, 2010; 11:51 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (91)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Tea Party
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Menendez recall petition effort can proceed, court rules

A state appellate court ruled Tuesday that the New Jersey secretary of state must accept...

By 44 Editor | March 16, 2010; 10:34 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care, Health Care
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House GOP unveils health reform attack ad

Updated 1:45 p.m. By Ben Pershing House Republicans issued a clear threat Tuesday to Democrats...

By Ben Pershing | March 16, 2010; 10:28 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (32)
Categories: 2010 Election, 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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Reform strategy keeps focus on process over policy

Democrats' desire to shift the health-reform focus from process to policy may have to wait a bit longer, as House leaders are weighing a path to passage that ensures yet more debate over parliamentary procedure.

By Ben Pershing | March 16, 2010; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Health Care, The Rundown
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Kucinich in Obama's crosshairs

President Obama invited Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who says he plans to vote no on the health-care bill, to the ultimate pressure cooker as he tries to nail down a majority for his top domestic priority.

By Michael D. Shear and Peter Slevin | March 15, 2010; 6:32 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (151)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care
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Biden raising money for undecided Democrats

Vice President Biden traveled to Ohio Monday to raise money for an endangered freshman Democratic congressman who has yet to declare his support for health-care reform legislation.

By Scott Wilson | March 15, 2010; 4:44 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Joe Biden
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Va. attorney general Cuccinelli denies being a 'birther'

Virginia Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli denied accusations Monday that he is a birther, saying that audio posted online of him saying it is not "beyond the realm of possibility" President Obama was born in Kenya reflected "a hypothetical legal answer" to a question.

By Garance Franke-Ruta and Rosalind S. Helderman | March 15, 2010; 4:21 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Cast of Characters, The Debate Rages On...
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44: March 14, 2010 - March 20, 2010