Politics

Congress Links -- SCOTUS And More Edition

By Sunlight Foundation & Participatory Politics Foundation

Today was a busy day in the Washington, D.C. with subjects such as health care to the Supreme Court grabbing headlines. Here’s a look at some worthwhile articles and blog posts you might have missed:

• As Donny Shaw pointed out earlier, House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi [D, CA-8] says she does not have enough votes in the House to pass the Senate health care bill. It wouldn’t be surprising to see conservative and moderate House Democrats abandon the bill, but liberals too? Speaking for a dozen House progressives, Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7] told Pelosi yesterday, ?We cannot support the Senate bill ? period.? Among other objections, House progressives oppose the tax on ?Cadillac? health insurance plans that exists in the Senate bill. (The Plum Line)
• Adding to the notion that the Republicans are being more tech-savvy than the Democrats this year, The Atlantic’s Chris Good notes that the GOP is dominating on YouTube. (The Atlantic)
• Former Bush speechwriter and conservative iconoclast David Frum wonders if the GOP is learning the right lessons from Scott Brown’s victory. ?Scott Brown may have saved the Republic from a filibuster-proof Democratic Senate,? Frum said. ?Remember that it was past Republican mistakes that awarded the Dems that filibuster-proof Senate in the first place.? (FrumForum)
• President Obama and Congressional Democrats say they will work together to craft a legislative response to today’s stunning Supreme Court decision lifting the ban on corporate dollars in elections. Though no specifics are currently available, Sen. Charles Schumer [D, NY] plans to hold hearings on the matter and expects to have legislation curbing corporate and union money in politics by Election Day. (The Hill)
• National Journal has compiled an interesting list of Obama appointees who have received ethics waivers from an order signed by the president imposing a two-year waiting period for lobbyists who wish to work in the executive branch. (National Journal)
• While Scott Brown’s surprise victory may have caused Democrats to express doubts about health care, it seems to be having the opposite effect on financial regulation. Today, President Obama announced his proposal to limit bank size and risk. Speaking in far more combative terms than he has been known for, Obama issued a warning to financial regulation opponents saying, ?If these folks want a fight, it’s a fight I’m ready to have." This is another in a line of recent proposals from Democrats targeting Wall Street. (The Wall Street Journal)

Full post as published by Open Congress on January 21, 2010 (boomark / email).