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- President Obama signed executive orders today reversing much of the Bush administration's anti-labor policies and announced that Vice President Joe Biden would head a middle class task force that will rely on leadership from economist Jared Bernstein. In addition, Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill has introduced a bill that would put a cap on the extravagant salaries and bonuses that so irked the president yesterday, as long as those firms continue to receive federal bailout money. Finally, Sam Stein reports on the conference call held between conservative activists and recipients of federal bailout money last Fall to organize opposition to labor initiatives being pursued by Democrats.
- Today New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg confirmed rumors late last night that the Obama administration is considering him for commerce secretary. Gregg, a Republican, could be replaced by a Democrat, giving them a 60-seat majority in the Senate (assuming Al Franken prevails in Minnesota).
- After several rounds of ballots and candidates dropping out, Michael Steele was elected RNC chairman, the first African-American to hold the position. Although, if the comments of Mitch McConnell are any indication, the GOP faces a substantial challenge to reinvent itself as a competitive national party; their best electoral chances currently consist of rooting for the Democrats' economic stimulus package to fail.
- Following a similar vote in the U.S. House two weeks ago, the Senate passed SCHIP expansion that won't find itself in danger of tasting former president Bush's veto pen. Additionally, President Obama has signaled that the the family planning aid that was stripped from the House stimulus bill this week will get dedicated treatment, potentially as early as next week.
- Someone ought to tell John McCain that he's no longer running for president and hence doesn't need to make gestures to the conservative base to gain their support. Either that or the Arizona Senator actually believes Rush Limbaugh has a "wide viewing audience" and that it was wrong for President Obama to criticize him. Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that Limbaugh is about as reviled a conservative figure as George Bush is.
- You know, there actually are conservative economists out there who have voiced reasonable criticism of the economic stimulus package making its way though Congress and are able to make arguments with which liberals can engage. So I'm a bit baffled that in addition to the usual supply-side wizardry extolled by House Republicans, their own stimulus bill relies on fuzzy math that Mitt Romney has decided to double down on.
- Samatha Power -- exiled from the Obama primary campaign for calling Hillary Clinton a "monster" -- has been brought back into the fold to serve as senior director for multilateral affairs at the National Security Council, a position that will involve working closely with the new secretary of state. I predict the D.C. gossip mongers will have a field day with this one and be oblivious to the fact that Power and Clinton are both, you know, professionals who can do their jobs without resorting to petty conflict.
- I have no idea why Arlen Specter thinks that three judges nominated by former president Bush ought to be renominated by President Obama. Did he sleep through the election?
--Mori Dinauer
