Interests: Politics, Government, Media, Transportation, Space, Social Media, Civic Engagement, Washington, DC Following: The Obama Presidency, Decision 2012, The 112th Congress Work: myImpact.org- a non-profit working at the intersection of social media & citizen engagement
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
The Golden Report for Tuesday September 27
HAPPENING NOW: At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California- New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie is delivering a major speech as speculation in the political universe about Christie’s potential entry into the Republican primary release reaches almost feverish pace. For his part, Christie’s brother went on the record today saying that his brother was not going to run. But that has done nothing to tamper the media’s rampant speculation this week- the first story about Christie- the second asking if Republicans will ever be satisfied with the candidate they put forward.
Former Bush White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer (and newly named CNN contributor) wrote a piece today in which he laid out the practical case against Christie’s entry. Several of these points- organizing and launching a national political campaign and managing the media- are those that we discussed earlier this week on THE EVENING REPORT.
BUDGET NEXT STEPS: Congress narrowly averted a government shutdown this week- the third threat this year. The continuing resolution involved in the agreement will fund the government in the new fiscal year through November 18. That presents the next significant opportunity for a partisan-driven shutdown. In the Washington Post’s Wonkbook this morning, five reasons were presented why this is the case- summarized below:
1/ We’re no longer talking about continuing funding for FY2011 [the cause of the near-government shutdown earlier this year]. Saturday marks the beginning of a new federal fiscal year- and although Congress has agreed in principal to a non-discretionary spending reduction- that will likely not be an all-out across-the-board cut
2/ Congress may consider an omnibus (the more likely option, to lump all appropriation bills together in one package), may attempt to pass some bills separately between now and November, or may break up the 13 annual bills in smaller bite-size packages. Consider that many House Republicans against the very omnibus that may be proposed- and after a vote to raise the debt ceiling that they opposed (and some swallowed), there may be no appetite for repetition
3/ The parties are no where close to a resolution on any of the spending bills- or even a baseline. Negotiations have not begun and the amount of work to do to bridge the gulf and produce a reasonable actionable bill is lofty over the next two months.
4/ The bill could potentially become a lightning rod for policy riders. Remember that it were these riders- including for abortion funding in the District of Columbia- that was the eventual carrot dangled by the President at House Republicans to avoid a government shutdown. Any bill that becomes “must-past”- as government funding is- could turn into a “Christmas Tree” with many different interests trying to hang an ornament
5/ November 18 is just 5 days before the Congressional supercommittee is scheduled to report its deficit reduction proposal. A few weeks ago, there was speculation that the supercommittee may take on FY2012 funding as part of its work (along with a jobs package) but so far there is no indication they are moving in that direction.
WALL STREET continued to reverse last week’s losses today, although they ended their day about halfway off their highs of the session
TUESDAY TIDBITS:
FINALLY: The Postal Service will change its rules next year to allow for living individuals to be honored with a postage stamp. “This change will enable us to pay tribute to individuals for their achievements while they are still alive to enjoy the honor. These remarkable individuals — through their transformative achievements in their respective fields — have made enduring contributions to the United States of America. Honoring living individuals expands the interest in stamp topics and keeps our program timely, relevant and contemporary,” said USPS Postmaster General. Patrick Donahoe. The service is encouraging suggestions for honorees via Facebook and Twitter.
The Golden Report for Monday September 26
JUST IN: POLITICO’s Mike Allen is reporting that WH Deputy Senior Advisor Stephanie Cutter will leave the West Wing at the end of the year to move to Chicago and become to Obama 2012 “deputy campaign manager overseeing communications, press, policy and research, with responsibility for managing the long-term message plan”
Cutter was born 10/28/1968 in Taunton, Massachusetts. A graduate of Smith College and Georgetown Law, she has worked as Deputy Communications Director for President Clinton, Communications Director for Sen. Ted Kennedy and the Democratic National Committee and was Chief of Staff to Michelle Obama during the 2008 campaign. At the White House, she was chiefly in charge of messaging strategy for the year-long health care reform effort.
HEALTH REFORM: Today the Justice Department declined an opportunity to have the full 11th Circuit Court of Appeals review a ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. In August, a 3-judge panel of the Court ruled the law’s individual mandate section to be unconstitutional. The Administration could have had the full Court issue a ruling, but this decision sets up a likely Supreme Court decision as early as this coming term. The 6th and 4th Circuit Courts of Appeals have ruled the law constitutional and a ruling is still pending in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
SHUTDOWN AVERTED?: Tonight the Senate voted 79-12 on a stopgap budget resolution which would keep the government funded through the middle of November, provided for additional funding for FEMA and avert a government shutdown by allowing the House to approve the funding in two waves- through next Tuesday (which would happen via voice vote in a pro forma session) and then by recorded vote through November. The level of funding for FEMA- $2.65B- is less than Senate Democrats had wanted- but the bill does not include the additional cuts in domestic discretionary spending that some Republicans demanded. Earlier today, FEMA announced they had enough funding to last through the end of the week- enough cover for a deal that has the auspices of bi-partisanship to be reached.
NEW CNN/ORC POLL (with changes from last survey):
President Obama Job Approval Rating: Approve: 45% (+2), Disapprove: 52% (-3)
ON WALL STREET: News from Europe that discussions were underway to expand borrowing authority as a potential solution to the Euro Zone debt crisis (although nothing has been confirmed) was enough to reverse last Thursday’s losses.
ALSO.. “A technical issue kept the Dow from accurately updating for 12 minutes at the beginning of trading in New York. The index opened flat as its component stocks and other indexes rose in the minutes after the opening bell” the New York Times reports
PRESIDENT OBAMA was in Mountain View, CA today for the LinkedIn Town Hall Meeting and is in Los Angeles and San Diego tonight for DNC fundraisers. Tomorrow, he’ll be in Denver.
WATCH THIS VIDEO the National Park Service released today- showing tourists racing down the stairs inside the Washington Monument at the time of last month’s 5.8 magnitude earthquake- as debris from the Monument fall from the ceiling. The Park Service said today that they have been assessing the damage since the quake and that the Monument will remain closed for an indefinite period of time.
FINALLY.. FACEBOOK FORMS A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE: From Spokesperson Andrew Noyes (an American University alum!) “FB PAC will give our employees a way to make their voice heard in the political process by supporting candidates who share our goals of promoting the value of innovation to our economy while giving people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.” And- fun fact- Facebook’s COO Sharyl Standberg, who hosted last night’s fundraiser for President Obama attended by a who’s-who of Hollywood, including Lady Gaga, was mentioned four separate times in POLITICO’s Playbook this morning. For more on Standberg- see this New Yorker profile from earlier this year.
