Obama urges Congress to 'finish its work' on reform bill

By William Branigin and Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 3, 2010; 3:28 PM

President Obama urged Congress on Wednesday to "finish its work" on health-care reform legislation and indicated support for a Democratic legislative strategy that includes a politically risky procedure known as reconciliation.

...

Before Obama spoke, senior aides made it clear that the White House would launch an aggressive, final push for health-care reform during the next several weeks.

"Whatever it takes to get health care done" said Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. Asked what Obama wants done in that period, Gibbs said: "the whole thing getting done."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/03/AR2010030302213_pf.html

Palin working on book about virtues and strengths

Publisher HarperCollins announced Wednesday that the former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate is working on a "celebration of American virtues and strengths." The book is currently untitled and no release date has been set.

Palin's memoir, Going Rogue, released last fall by HarperCollins, has sold more than 2 million copies. Her new work will "include selections from classic and contemporary readings that have inspired her, as well as portraits of some of the extraordinary men and women she admires and who embody her love of country, faith, and family," the publisher's statement reads.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2010-03-03-palin-book_N.htm

Via Breitbart.tv:

Obama Now Selling Judgeships for Health Care Votes?

Obama names brother of undecided House Dem to Appeals Court.

BY John McCormack

Via Allahpundit:

Union opposition to Teach for America volunteers blocks progress in Detroit

Union opposition to Teach for America volunteers may keep a valuable education resource out of Detroit

The Detroit News

No other big city needs great teachers more than Detroit, home to the nation's worst-performing urban schools. Yet the city's teachers union is trying to undermine efforts to bring some of the country's brightest young educators to the Motor City.

Leaders from both the Detroit Public Schools and city charter schools are working to lure Teach for America -- the nonprofit that supplies highly motivated young college graduates to poor urban classrooms. But the effort is threatened by opposition from the Detroit Federation of Teachers.

The union has succeeded in blocking Teach for America before. About 50 of the nonprofit's members taught in the Detroit Public Schools from 2001-03, when the union successfully demanded they be thrown out, saying they took union jobs.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100228/OPINION01/2280310/1008/Union-opposition-to-Teach-for-America-volunteers-blocks-progress-in-Detroit

Scott Brown: Let’s give stimulus back to workers

By Jessica Van Sack
Wednesday, March 3, 2010

U.S. Sen. Scott Brown’s first piece of legislation is a proposal to return unspent stimulus cash in the form of a payroll tax cut for workers, a proposal that came as the Bay State Republican was named to the prestigious Armed Services committee.

“The best way to revive our economy and spur job creation is by returning money directly to the American people so they can save and put money back into the economy,” Brown said yesterday. “Families are still hurting and their hard-earned tax dollars are sitting unused in a stimulus slush fund in Washington.”

Aides described Brown’s proposal as a temporary tax cut that applies to workers making roughly $200,000 or less a year, designed to “help out people who make less more.” It would kick in immediately upon passage, saving the average worker about $100 a month for a total of at least $500 for individuals and $1,000 for working couples, the senator’s aides said.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20100303scott_brown_lets_give_stimulus_back_to_workers/srvc=home&position=also

Child Directed Traffic at N.Y.'s JFK Airport, Air Traffic Controller Suspended

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

An air traffic controller at New York's Kennedy Airport was suspended for allowing his young son to radio instructions to several pilots.

The few quick exchanges between the elementary-school-aged child and jets waiting to take off from JFK, one of the nation's busiest airports, appeared to delight pilots at the time.

"I wish I could bring my kid to work," one said, wistfully.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587801,00.html

Key House liberal may vote against healthcare bill

Rep. Raúl Grijalva, co-chairman of a progressive caucus, says he's "leaning toward" opposing the legislation

WASHINGTON -- An influential House progressive says he's less likely to vote for the final healthcare reform bill now that the White House has incorporated Republican ideas -- which could indicate a serious problem is brewing among liberals as Democratic leaders try to figure out a way to finish work on the legislation.

"As I weigh it, I think -- for me -- a 'no' vote is something that I continue to lean toward," Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., the co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told Salon in a brief interview off the House floor Wednesday. "Especially the last additions -- that was kind of a slap in the face for all of us who fought for the public option."

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2010/03/03/grijalva/

Nothing temporary about Rangel's Resignation

Interesting development in today’s letter from Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) seeking a “leave of absence” as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

• According to a variety of sources, and according to House rules, there is nothing “interim” or “temporary” about Rangel’s departure from the chairmanship.

• According to House rules, the institution interprets all such letters, using a variety of descriptions as “resignations.” In the eyes of the House, you are either the chair or you aren’t (as echoed on-cam this morning by Minority Leader John Boehner). What this means is that if Rangel were to try to come back as chairman, the entire House would have to approve that decision.

Below are the actual terms of art used this morning when the House Reading Clerk read Rangel’s letter to the body…and the response from Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) who was presiding at the time.

THE CLERK: The honorable the Speaker, House of Representatives, madam, i respectfully request a leave of absence from my duties and responsibilities as chairman of the committee of ways and means until such time as the committee on standards completes its findings on the review currently under way. signed, Charles B. Rangel.

THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: without objection, the resignation is accepted.

http://congress.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/03/nothing-temporary-about-rangels-resignation/

Exclusive: Unknown DOJ Lawyers Identified

March 3, 2010 - 2:07 PM | by: Mike Levine

A day after a conservative group released a video condemning the Justice Department for refusing to identify seven lawyers who previously represented or advocated for terror suspects, Fox News has uncovered the identities of the seven lawyers.

The names were confirmed by a Justice Department spokesman, who said "politics has overtaken facts and reality" in a tug-of-war over the lawyers' identities.

"Department of Justice attorneys work around the clock to keep this country safe, and it is offensive that their patriotism is being questioned," said Justice Department Spokesman Matt Miller.

The video by the group Keep America Safe, which dubbed the seven lawyers "The Al Qaeda 7," is the latest salvo in a lengthty political battle.

For several months, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has led an effort to uncover politically-appointed lawyers within the Justice Department who have advocated for Guantanamo Bay detainees or other terror suspects.

"The administration has made many highly questionable decisions when it comes to national security, " Grassley said in a recent statement. "[Americans] have a right to know who advises the Attorney General and the President on these critical matters."

An extensive review of court documents and media reports by Fox News suggests many of the seven lawyers in question played only minor or short-lived roles in advocating for detainees. However, it's unclear what roles, if any, they have played in detainee-related matters since joining the Justice Department.

http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/03/exclusive-unknown-doj-lawyers-identified/

http://patterico.com/2010/03/03/more-debunking-of-liberal-myths-on-acorn/

Stupak Rejects Hoyer’s New Claim that Senate Health Bill Bars Funding of Abortion
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
By Matt Cover, Staff Writer
(CNSNews.com) - Rep. Bart Stupak (D.-Mich.), sponsor of the successful amendment to the House version of the health care bill that prohibits federal funds from going to any health care plan that covers abortions, rejected the assertion made Tuesday by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D.-Md.) that the health care bill that passed the Senate prohibits federal funding of abortion.
 
This is important because President Obama’s current plan to enact health-care reform requires the House to pass the Senate bill, a bill that Stupak has said he will not support.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/62186

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has picked liberal firebrand Rep. Pete Stark to replace ousted Chairman Charles Rangel on the tax-writing committee, according to a House leadership aide.

The decision was made during a Wednesday morning leadership meeting following Rangel's announcement that he would temporarily step aside as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, the aide said.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/84677-rangel-to-give-up-ways-and-means-gavel-while-ethics-investigation-continues

ORLANDO, Fla. — The nation’s union leaders said on Tuesday that they were “appalled” at remarks made by President Obama condoning the mass firing of teachers at a Rhode Island high school.

Coming the day after union presidents sharply complained to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. over stubbornly high unemployment, stagnant wages and the administration’s failure to do more to create jobs, the statement — voicing a rare vehemence toward a Democratic president — underlined the disillusionment of an important Democratic constituency.

Because unions have been so crucial to the Democrats election after election, political experts say labor’s ambivalence, or worse, toward the Democrats could greatly deepen that party’s woes this fall.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/business/03labor.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1267648528-zccLAuqTP1UVojEzUEmsfw