TPMDC Morning Roundup

New DNC Ad: Tell Republicans To "Stop The Lies" On Health Reform
The Democratic National Committee has a new ad on health care, attacking Republican leaders for "trying to scare seniors about health reform." The ad will air on national cable and in Washington, D.C.

"Tell Republicans: Stop the lies on health reform," the announcer says.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will tour a laboratory at the National Institutes of Health at 10:25 a.m. ET, with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. Obama will make a major announcement regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at 11 a.m. ET. He will sign the Arnold Palmer Gold Medal Act in the Oval Office at 1:30 p.m. ET, honoring the legendary golfer. At 3 p.m. ET, he will meet with his national security team on Afghanistan.

Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden and his wife Jill will travel to Dover, Delaware, for a welcome-home ceremony honoring Delaware Army National Guard 261st Signal Brigade -- including his son Beau Biden, who is returning from Iraq. At 3 p.m. ET, Biden will attend the President's meeting with the national security team on Afghanistan.

Michelle Obama In Denmark
First Lady Michelle Obama arrived in Copenhagen earlier today, a day ahead of her husband, to lobby for the 2016 Olympics to be held in Chicago. She will visit the U.S. Embassy, meet with International Olympic Committee members, and attend a welcome reception for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

Senate Committee To Roll Out Climate-Change Bill
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is set to unveil a draft of the climate-change bill today. The bill will be somewhat more permissive than the Waxman-Markey bill that narrowly passed the House, increasing the available pool of domestic carbon offsets by 40 percent in comparison.

Santorum To Visit Iowa
Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), who lost re-election by nearly 20 points in 2006, is headed to Iowa this week -- stoking speculation about a possible presidential campaign. "I have no plans and just the opposite," Santorum told reporters. "It's not that I'm not going to plan, but this is an opportunity to speak and lend my voice to what I hope to be a conservative movement and a Republican moment to change the direction that Barack Obama wants to take us."

Franken Jokes With Other Senators: Let's Do Away With Seniority
The Hill reports that Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) is slowly acclimating himself to life in the Senate, and has mostly shed his old role as a comedian -- but couldn't resist getting in a humorous suggestion at a recent Democratic caucus lunch. "Al said we should do away with the seniority system," said an anonymous Democratic Senator. "Which was pretty funny, considering how low down he is in seniority."