TPMDC Morning Roundup

Biden: I've Never Seen The Filibuster Be 'Standard Operating Procedure' Before
Vice President Biden is continuing his criticism of the increased use of the filibuster. "It's a useful tool, it is legitimate. But from my perspective, having served here, elected to the Senate seven times, I've never seen a time when it's become standard operating procedure. You want to get anything done, you have to have a supermajority," Biden told reporters, also adding: "Any President in the future, having to move through anything he or she wants, requiring a supermajority, it's not a good way to do business."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the economic daily briefing at 9 a.m. ET, and the presidential daily briefing at 9:15 a.m. ET. He will attend and deliver remarks at a memorial service at CIA Headquarters, at 10:30 a.m. ET. He will meet with a group of small business owners at 12:10 p.m. ET in Lanham, Maryland, and deliver remarks on job creation and small business initiatives. He will meet at the White House with the 2009 Little League World Champions, at 2:20 p.m. ET. He will meet at 2:45 p.m. ET with senior advisers.

Baucus, Grassley Working On Jobs Bill
The Hill reports that Senate Democrats are attempting to work with Republicans in crafting a jobs bill. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the chairman and ranking member of the Finance Committee, are working on a tax-credit package that would serve as a main vehicle. "The hope is if you make it a Republican-enough bill we can get Republicans to sign on," said a source familiar with the talks

Report: Franken Criticizes Axelrod In Democratic Meeting
Politico reports that Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) vocally criticized White House senior adviser David Axelrod, during a meeting between Axelrod and Senate Democrats, over the Obama administration's failure to provide direction on health care reform and other bills. "It was all about leadership and health care and what the plan was going to be," said an anonymous Democratic source.

Brown's Independence Could Face Senate Test
Political experts say that Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) could face some serious tests of his self-described independence, now that he has gone from his upset win in Massachusetts to the Senate in Washington. "The problem for (Brown) is the Republican Party that will welcome him in Washington is the Republican Party that will prevent him from getting re-elected in Massachusetts in a couple of years," said Wendy Schiller, a Brown University political science professor. "If he goes into that party and he toes the line with that party, he can't get re-elected."

Party-Switcher Griffith Gets Plum Committee Post
Roll Call reports that House Republicans have given Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL), who switched from the Democrats to the Republicans in December, is being given a good committee slot by his new party's leadership. Griffith will be taking a seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, a seat that is being vacated by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) as he is joining the GOP leadership.

Obama Statue To Be Moved Out Of Indonesian Park
The statue of President Obama that was erected in an Indonesian park, depicting Obama at the age of ten when he lived in the country, will be moved out of the park. It will instead be moved to the elementary school that he attended. "Obama is a very good man, he's a good dreamer," said Heru Nugroho, who founded a Facebook campaign to remove the statue from the park. "But he has no contribution for Indonesia."