TPMDC Morning Roundup

WaPo: Rise In Stock Ownership Among Lawmakers Brings Ethics Concerns
The Washington Post reports on the increasing trend of lawmakers' private investment portfolios creating an appearance of conflict on various issues, with the problem happening on both sides of the aisle: "This juxtaposition of investments and policy has become more common as stock ownership has soared on Capitol Hill over the past two decades. The investments increasingly put lawmakers in the position of voting or advocating on matters that could affect their personal wealth, whether the lawmakers realize it or not."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at 11:40 a.m. ET, at an event highlighting several initiatives designed to boost science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. He will have lunch with Vice President Biden at 12:35 p.m. ET, and meet with the Cabinet at 1:45 p.m. ET. He will meet at 4:50 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. At 5:50 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks and present the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.

Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will travel to Philadelphia in the morning, to deliver remarks at an event for the Committee of Seventy. He will then travel back to Washington, and have lunch with President Obama at 12:35 p.m. ET, and attend the 1:45 p.m. ET Cabinet meeting. In the evening, the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden will host a Thanksgiving dinner at the Naval Observatory for wounded veterans and their families.

U.S. Facing High Debt Payments In Ten Years
The New York Times reports that the United States will be facing a debt crunch in the next ten years: "With the national debt now topping $12 trillion, the White House estimates that the government's tab for servicing the debt will exceed $700 billion a year in 2019, up from $202 billion this year, even if annual budget deficits shrink drastically. Other forecasters say the figure could be much higher. In concrete terms, an additional $500 billion a year in interest expense would total more than the combined federal budgets this year for education, energy, homeland security and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Catholic Bishop: 'I Am Disappointed' That Patrick Kennedy Announced My Statement To Him About Communion
Thomas Tobin, the Catholic Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, has confirmed that he told Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) to no longer participate in Communion: "I am disappointed that the congressman would make public my request of nearly three years ago that sought to provide solely for his spiritual well-being." The diocese had denied another aspect of Kennedy's statement, when he alleged that Tobin told priests in the diocese to deny him Communion if asked.

Democrats Eyeing More Modest Site For Annual Retreat
Roll Call reports that House Democrats are seeking to hold their annual policy retreat at a less luxurious location than usual, and are already rejecting the usual site in Williamsburg, Virginia, and another in Charleston, South Carolina. Said a senior House Dem aide: "This thing could be symbolically helpful in showing Congress is committed to moving the economy forward and creating jobs."

Christian Science Seeking Prayer-Service Funding In Health Care Bill
The Washington Post reports that the Christian Science church are fighting to have prayer services included in the health care bill: "Leaders of the Church of Christ, Scientist, are pushing a proposal that would help patients pay someone ... for prayer by having insurers reimburse the $20 to $40 cost."