Eric Kleefeld April 28, 2010, 9:02 AM

Dem Battle Plan: Make GOP Vote On Financial Reform — Over And Over
Roll Call reports: “Senate Democrats think they have figured out how to go on offense against a united GOP intent on watering down and frustrating their agenda: Make them vote. Again, and again, and again, if need be. In what could be a template for the rest of the year, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has taken off the gloves and forced Republicans into a corner on financial reform, putting the onus on them to explain to the public why they are voting repeatedly to block debate on the bill.”

Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will depart at 10:30 a.m. ET this morning from Des Moines, Iowa, arriving at 11:15 a.m. ET in Quincy, Illinois. At 1:20 p.m. Et, he will tour POET Biorefining in Macon, Missouri, and deliver remarks at 2 p.m. ET on rebuilding the economy. At 3:20 p.m. ET, he will tour a local farm in Palmyra, Missouri, and meet with the family that operates the farm. He will deliver remarks 5 p.m. ET in Quincy, Illinois, on the need to pass financial reform. He will depart form Quincy at 6:15 p.m. ET, arriving back in Washington at Andrews Air Force Base at 8:05 p.m. ET, and at the White House at 8:20 p.m. ET.

Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will deliver remarks at 10:30 a.m. ET to the Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride, a program that provides rehabilitation opportunities to wounded veterans, on the South Lawn of the White House. At 1 p.m. ET, Biden will meet with the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Representative for Iraq Ad Melkert. At 3:15 p.m. ET, Biden will meet with the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek. At 6:15 p.m. ET, Biden will attend an event for the Democratic National Committee.

NYT: Immigration Poses Complex Test For Democrats And Republicans
The New York Times reports that the issue of immigration, which has been brought to the fore by the drastic new anti-illegal immigration law in Arizona, presents hazards for both parties. “This is an issue on which Republicans salivate over short-term gains without much thought to the longer-term damage it will do the party,” said Mark McKinnon, a former adviser to President George W. Bush. However, McKinnon also added: “Arizona may force the Democrats’ hand to push for immigration reform. Unfortunately, an election year is the worst time to move good public policy on this issue.”

Kaine To Cast Dems AS ‘Results Party’
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine is set to roll out a public relations strategy today casting Democrat as the “Results Party,” compared to the Republicans who Kaine says have practiced “politically motivated obstruction.” The Associated Press suggests that Kaine’s prepared remarks show that Democrats are trying not to make the 2010 elections a referendum on President Obama.

Kerry: EPA To Start Climate Bill Analysis
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) announced that he is sending his proposed climate bill to be analyzed by the Environmental Protection Agency, despite a recent pullout from the bill by co-author Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “We are sending the bill to be modeled now with Lindsey Graham’s consent,” said Kerry.

House To Vote On Puerto Rico’s Status
Roll Call reports that the House is set to vote this week on a bill to hold an official plebiscite in Puerto Rico, on whether the island should become a state or remain a commonwealth. Pedro Pierluisi (D), Puerto Rico’s delegate to Congress, is hoping to get the bill passed by a wide margin. “I know that then the bill will get a life of its own and its chances will be much better in the Senate,” said Pierluisi. “Now I’m fighting for every vote because I know that if the margin is very slight then I might be getting only a resolution from the Senate rather than a bill.”

2010 elections, Barack Obama, DNC, Financial Reform, Immigration, Joe Biden, John Kerry, Lindsey Graham, Puerto Rico, Roundup