September 9th, 2010, Washington, DC–From ALG News’ Capitol Hill Correspondent Derek Baker: 
In the Senate, Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet has come out in opposition to Obama’s $50 billion infrastructure plan. Bennet stated, “I will not support additional spending in a second stimulus package. Any new transportation initiatives can be funded through the Recovery Act, which still contains unused funds.” To underscore his point and opposition to Obama’s proposal of increased spending, Bennet stated “We must make hard choices to significantly reduce the deficit.” Bennet did indicate he will support various tax credits that have been proposed, which most Republicans also support.
In a bit of odd news, a senior staffer for Sen. Barbara Boxer has been arrested after trying to bring in marijuana into Boxer’s Senate office. Marcus Stanley was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana on Tuesday after attempting to enter the Hart Senate Building with the substance. He resigned from Boxer’s office later the same day. Boxer is engaged in a heated race with Republican Carly Fiorina.
On the ongoing saga of Sen. Murkowski’s ruminations of launching a third-party run for her seat, Senate leadership members and staffers have indicated that Murkowski would be deposed of her leadership position if she attempts such a move. Murkowski is expected to announce her plans as early as today or tomorrow. Joe Miller, the Republican nominee who beat Murkowski in the primary, has stated that Murkowski would be breaking her word if she decided to run on a third-party ticket.
Bottom Line: Obama’s plan to have Congress pass legislation to authorize the $50 billion in infrastructure spending is taking direct hits before it’s even been written. It was already unlikely to pass before November 2nd, and with Bennet’s opposition and many House Democrats’ less than enthusiastic response, it may be dead-on-arrival. Which, of course, further necessitates an “October Surprise” by Obama. As desperation fully sets in at 1600 Penn, expect anything.
In the House, GOP Leader John Boehner yesterday made an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America and proposed cutting federal spending back to 2008 levels and freezing all current tax rates for two years. Boehner, speaking ahead of Obama’s economic speech later in the day, stated both parties should work together to promote job creation and offered these proposals as the best opportunity to do so. Regarding Obama’s new $50 billion spending proposal, Boehner stated “I think the president is missing the bigger point here. With all of the spending in Washington, and all the uncertainty facing small businesses – including the coming tax hikes on January 1st – until this uncertainty and spending is under control, I don’t think these are going to have much impact.”
There is a great deal of discussion going on regarding how Republicans would govern if they take back the House. Today’s Politico article on this subject is just one of many recent pieces that speculate how Boehner would lead, and if he would act as a strong conservative reformer that will stand up to Obama or be more of a centrist deal-maker who seeks common ground Obama and the Democrats, as some say has been his persona and expertise in the past.
Bottom Line: Republicans and conservatives alike are anxious at the opportunity to take back the House and blunt Obama’s socialist policy initiatives, though conservatives are wary and even skeptical of how a Republican majority will actually govern. For conservatives, a Speaker Boehner is far and away better than a Speaker Pelosi, but it’s simply not good enough if Republicans revert to their old habits and are simply “not as bad as the Democrats” on spending and taxes.
At the other end of the Avenue, Obama used his speech in Cleveland yesterday to attack Republicans and specifically John Boehner on the economy, stating “There was just the same philosophy we already tried for the last decade, the same philosophy that led to this mess in the first place: cut more taxes for millionaires and cut more rules for corporations.” Obama named Boehner in the speech eight times and ridiculed his economic proposals, stating “Make no mistake: he and his party believe we should also give a permanent tax cut to the wealthiest two percent of Americans.” Obama argued that tax rates should rise for higher income earners, arguing America “cannot afford the $700 billion price tag.”
Confirming what everybody already assumed, Obama’s decision to discuss White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s possible run for Chicago mayor makes clear the decision has already been made. Obama stated, “I think he would be an excellent mayor. He is an excellent chief of staff.” Obama alluded to the timing of a formal announcement from Emanuel by stating, “My expectation is he’d make a decision after these midterm elections.”
Bottom Line: BO’s favorite phrase lately is that “Republicans drove this economy into the ditch, and now they want the keys back.” It’s a line that works only in front of a hand-picked partisan audience, and one of BO’s more adroit and politically sensitive advisors ought to tip him off to that fact. Even if he were right, it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the electorate when you’re best argument for keeping your job is that it’s the other guys fault.
For that matter, that’s not a bad lesson for Republicans to learn as well.
P.S. – Check out America Speaking Out and share your thoughts on how we can return to a limited, constitutional government.
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