June 1st, 2010, Washington, DC–From ALG News’ Capitol Hill Correspondent Derek Baker: 
In the Senate, Members in both chambers are back in their respective states and districts for the Memorial week recess. One issue likely to be addressed by Republicans over the break is Obama’s choice to run Medicaid and Medicare (CMS), Donald Berwick. Senate Republicans have vowed to challenge Berwick’s nomination, stating his aim is to turn America’s healthcare system into Britain’s nationalized healthcare system. Sen. Cornyn stated, “He is, as far as I’m concerned, bad news. If he wants to turn America into the National Health Service in England – he thinks that is the model – he is going to find a lot of pushback.”
Berwick has called Britain’s healthcare system “one of the greatest healthcare institutions in human history” and a “global treasure.” Of course, during the fight to pass ObamaCare, Republicans repeatedly called it “socialized medicine” and warned that Obama’s goal was to nationalize healthcare. With the nomination of a self-avowed devotee of government-run healthcare, Obama has underscored the Republicans main point and created a fresh fight on the healthcare issue.
Bottom Line: Republicans are keenly aware of recent polls that still show a majority of Americans opposed to ObamaCare. While defeating Berwick’s nomination does nothing to alter the law, it would send a powerful and humiliating message to the White House that ObamaCare will serve as a millstone around the neck of Democrats for the foreseeable future.
In the House, following Charles Djou’s win in the special election in Hawaii to replace Rep. Abercrombie, former Rep. Ed Case has announced he will not run in the November election. Djou won the special, in part, because Case and Colleen Hanabusa split the Democrat vote.
Meanwhile, Rep. Lamar Smith – as the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, stated yesterday that he is considering options in launching an investigation into the Sestak bribery affair if the Obama Administration does not heed repeated calls to launch its own inquiry. Rep. Smith’s efforts are in addition to Rep. Issa’s, who has led the effort in the House in questioning the legality of the “offer” made to Sestak to drop out of the race.
Bottom Line: Though the Sestak controversy surrounds a Senate race and a potential White House cover-up, it has heretofore been left up to aggressive House members to take the lead in pressing the issue and demanding that the White House come clean. Considering it is a felony to bribe an individual to drop out of a federal race in exchange for a job offer, the incident has serious ramifications and must be investigated. The irony is this is coming from a president and White House that vowed to be the most open and honest in history.
At the other end of the Avenue, the White House announced that Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen will be giving a solo daily press briefing starting today. Since the “top kill” effort to stop the spill failed over the weekend and the massive oil spill enters its 41st day, Obama & Co. are employing various public relations efforts to give the appearance of a “government in charge” of the situation.
An increasing number of interested observers have noted that Obama’s frequent public denunciations of BP and all those involved in reacting to the spill have done nothing to help the situation. A thoughtful RedState post today makes this point today, and states in closing “Face it, you [Obama] need those Big Bad Oil People on your side, pulling for this thing to be fixed ASAP. Instead of rooting for you to fail.”
Bottom Line: While it is appropriate and even necessary to determine if there was any negligence or criminal violations involved in the lead-up to the Gulf oil spill, this is best addressed after the spill is contained. The actions by the Obama Administration and Democrat Congress could not be more counter-productive on this point.
Rather than a single-minded focus on containing the spill and providing support to those involved in this massive effort, Obama and the Democrats have publicly ridiculed BP officials, suggested they are incompetent, stated the government will keeps its “boot on their neck,” and has launched at least five congressional hearings to grill executives involved. To make matters even worse, today Obama dispatched U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to the region to “survey areas affected by the Gulf oil spill” and meet with federal and state prosecutors from the region. In other words, Obama has sent Holder to Louisiana to intimidate and harass the very people who are daily engaged in the vital effort to stop this unfolding disaster. Yeah, this should work out great.
The New Jersey Plan
Before Chris Christie came along, New Jersey was some 31 percent over-budget with a $10.9 billion budget gap.
Bottom of the Ocean
Divers find something else at the watery Abyss.
Damning Admissions by White House on Sestak Job Offer
The White House really did break the law to entice Joe Sestak to leave the Pennsylvania Senate race.
Scared to Death of the Estate Tax
Never should a tax provide incentive for one to end their life.
Union-Leader: Stimulus flop—Reality vs. the hype
New Hampshire 20,060 jobs short of Carol Shea-Porter’s promise for jobs created.
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