TPMDC
John Kerry

Reid Outlines Bill For Caucus, Warns Conservative Dems That Reconciliation Is Still An Option

Brian Beutler | November 18, 2009, 6:45PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)

At a special evening meeting of the Democratic caucus tonight, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid outlined, in broad strokes, the details of his health care bill, which the CBO has found, in a preliminary analysis, will expand coverage to 94 percent of Americans while reducing the deficit. And earlier in the day, during a separate meeting about floor procedure, Reid let three of his party's key skeptics know that if they join Republicans at any stage of the process to block the bill, he still retains the option of passing major parts of it through the filibuster proof budget reconciliation process.

In response to a question from TPMDC Nelson told reporters that, at a meeting this afternoon with Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Reid "talked about process, procedure, discussion about reconciliation and a whole host of issues of that sort."

"Nobody's really jumping up and down to push for reconciliation," Nelson said, "he's not threatening that, but anybody can conclude that if you don't move something on to the floor, that is one of the possibilities."

Nelson said he has still not committed to vote for even the first procedural vote, but in a sign that he's leaning toward bringing a bill to the floor, he emphasized his view that the floor debate is a chance to improve the legislation. "I wanted to make it clear that that is, unlike some are suggesting, is not the vote...it's a motion to enter into the debate and possible amendments and improvements of the legislation" Nelson said. "The vote is the second cloture vote, and that is the cloture on a motion to cease debate, and I wanted that clear, because I've already begun to see people out there say, 'oh no, no, if you vote [to take it up] you've voted for health care."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has explicitly stated that the Republican party will treat Democrats who vote for any procedural motion as if they've voted for the entire health care bill.

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Topics: Abortion, Barbara Boxer, Bart Stupak, Ben Nelson, Bob Casey, Congressional Budget Office, Democrats, Harry Reid, Health Care, John Kerry, Public Option, Senate

Climate Change

Senators To U.N.: We'll Make No Climate Change Before It's Time

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 10, 2009, 6:55PM

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon stopped by the Capitol today to lobby Senators to get on board with comprehensive climate change legislation in advance of next month's U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen.

The response he got from Senators mired in the debate over health care reform? Get in line, pal.

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) joined Moon with reporters after his closed-door meeting with the Senators. All three said that there was no chance a climate change bill will make it out of the Senate by Copenhagen, and slim chance it will come after that. Kerry said the bill comes after health care and financial services reform in terms of Senate priority.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Climate Change, John Kerry

Roundup

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 9:02AM

NYT: Behind The White House Vs. Fox News Fight
The New York Times reports on the White House-Fox News feud, and how it followed an unsuccessful attempt by senior adviser David Axelrod and Fox head Roger Ailes to work out their problems. "We simply decided to stop abiding by the fiction, which is aided and abetted by the mainstream press, that Fox is a traditional news organization," said deputy White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will depart form the White House at 10:05 a.m. ET, arriving in Boston at 11:30 a.m. ET. He will tour a research laboratory at MIT, at 12 p.m. ET, and will deliver remarks on clean energy at 12:30 p.m. ET. He will deliver remarks at a fundraising reception for Gov. Deval Patrick at 2:05 p.m. ET, and will speak at a fundraising event for Patrick at 2:45 p.m. ET. He will depart from Boston at 3:40 p.m. ET, arriving at 4:35 p.m. ET in New York City. He will join Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), and tour a small business at 5:15 p.m. ET. He will deliver remarks at a Dodd fundraising dinner at 6:45 p.m. ET. He will depart from New York at 8 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 9:10 p.m. ET.

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Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Bob Corker, CT-SEN, Chris Dodd, David Axelrod, Deval Patrick, Fox News, Japan, Joe Biden, John Kerry, MA-GOV, Missile Defense, Roundup, Senate '10

Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 18, 2009, 1:02PM

Jarrett: Obama 'Not Demanding' Public Option
Appearing on Meet The Press, White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett made it clear that President Obama is not demanding that a public option must be included in the health care bill: "He's not demanding that it's in there. He thinks it's the best possible choice. But I think, David [Gregory], let's not underestimate how much progress we've made. The fact that there's agreement on so much means that we are right on the brink of delivering for the American people, and that's a positive sign for our country."

Specter: GOP 'A Party Of Obstructionism' With No Plan
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) blasted his former party: "On the Republican side, it is no, no, no -- a party of obstructionism. You have responsible Republicans who had been in the Senate -- like Howard Baker, Bob Dole, or Bill Frist -- who say Republicans ought to cooperate. Well, they're not cooperating ... Take a look at the absence of any Republican plan."

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (17) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: Afghanistan, Arlen Specter, David Axelrod, Fox News, Health Care, John Kerry, Jon Kyl, Rahm Emanuel, Roundup, Valerie Jarrett

Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 3:23PM

Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod.

• CBS, Face The Nation: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH).

• CNN, State Of The Union: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA).

• Fox News Sunday: Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), Sen. John Thune (R-SD), former Bush White House adviser Karl Rove, former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe.

• NBC, Meet The Press: White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ), California First Lady Maria Shriver, Center for American Progress president John Podesta.

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Topics: Arlen Specter, Chris Dodd, David Axelrod, John Kerry, John Thune, Jon Kyl, Karl Rove, Kent Conrad, Rahm Emanuel, Sunday Shows, Terry McAuliffe

John McCain

Fly On The Wall: Details Emerge On Obama's Exchanges In WH Afghanistan Meeting

Christina Bellantoni | October 6, 2009, 10:35PM

Details are still emerging about President Obama's 90-minute closed-door session with 31 members of Congress today about his plan for Afghanistan, but mentioned in some stories is that Sen. John McCain had a terse exchange with his onetime rival.

Both the New York Times and Politico are reporting tonight that McCain (R-AZ) suggested Obama was making the decision about whether to send a surge of troops at a "leisurely" pace and was rebuffed.

While disputing the suggestion of a tense moment, sources confirmed the general sense of the exchange -- and that Obama assured everyone that he was moving as quickly as he believes prudence allows.

TPMDC checked in with McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan, who said the senator was "astonished" by early reports characterizing the exchange as an argument because they aren't accurate. The White House also suggested there weren't any fireworks.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (36) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)
Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Carl Levin, John Kerry, John McCain

Jim DeMint

How Did Kerry Try To Thwart DeMint's Honduras Trip -- And How Did DeMint Foil Him?

Eric Kleefeld | October 2, 2009, 1:37PM

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)

So what exactly is the deal with Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-SC) trip to Honduras -- which is being done in an effort to support the recent military coup, contrary to current U.S. foreign policy -- and the failed effort by Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) to stop it?

Frederick Jones, communications director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a Kerry spokesman, explained the distinction to us: Kerry was not blocking DeMint from going to Honduras -- any American can legally travel there -- but the issue was over government funding and plane travel for an official fact-finding mission. "Clearly, as an American citizen, Sen. DeMint is free to travel to Honduras commercially."

Kerry, as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, blocked DeMint's funding because DeMint has been holding up key nominations for foreign policy officials in Latin America -- thus obstructing the committee's business and the U.S. government overall in working on the region. In response, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stepped in and obtained the funding for DeMint from another source, which has not yet been identified.

Calls to the DeMint and McConnell offices were not returned. Jones' statement, firing back at DeMint for blocking the nominations, is available after the jump.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (38) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: Honduras, Jim DeMint, John Kerry

Jim DeMint

UPDATED: Obama, Kerry Put Kibosh on DeMint Trip to Honduras

Brian Beutler | October 2, 2009, 9:55AM

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) may believe health care reform will be President Obama's Waterloo. But the coup in Honduras may become DeMint's Little Bighorn.

DeMint announced earlier this week that he planned to visit the Central American nation to offer support to the illegitimate government of Roberto Micheletti, who was installed into power after the military overthrew President Manuel Zelaya on orders of the Honduran Supreme Court.

But the Obama administration, which has been unsupportive of the coup, and has begun to revoke the visas of the coup's wealthy supporters, ain't havin' none of that. Last night, the White House, with an assist from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry deep-sixed DeMint's plans.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Honduras, Jim DeMint, John Kerry, Mitch McConnell, White House

Barbara Boxer

Kerry, Boxer Unveil Climate Bill Draft...So What's Next?

Brian Beutler | September 30, 2009, 11:57AM

Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA)--chairs of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Environment and Public Works Committee respectively--have unveiled a draft of a climate change bill calling for significant reductions in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions in both the near and short term. The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.

Though the draft will change considerably over the coming weeks, it is the basis for the upper chamber's coming legislative push, which, if successful, will, when combined with an already-completed House climate bill, become the most significant piece of energy legislation in the nation's history.

But between now and then, it will meet the many machetes of the Senate--an institution that hasn't been too kind to previous, failed climate change bills.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (8) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: Barbara Boxer, Blanche Lincoln, Cap-and-Trade, Climate Change, Jeff Bingaman, John Kerry, Max Baucus, Senate Finance Committee

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 11, 2009, 9:14AM

Obama's First 9/11 As President
The Associated Press points out that today is President Obama's first September 11 as president, looking at the changes in policy that have occurred between him and the Bush administration, and the challenges Obama still has ahead: "Eight years later, Obama has the bullhorn. And the way forward in the fight against terrorism is anything but clear. Obama approaches his first 9-11 anniversary as president saddled with two wars that followed the 2001 terrorist attacks, and confronted at every turn by difficult leftovers from Bush's response to them."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama observed a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. ET, remember the September 11 attacks. President Obama will deliver remarks at a 9:30 a.m. ET wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon Memorial.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (9) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Carl Levin, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Joe Wilson, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi

MA-SEN

Kerry Testifies For Senate Appointment Bill -- Admits Kennedy Made Mistake Pushing For No Appointments In 2004

Eric Kleefeld | September 9, 2009, 3:57PM

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) spoke today before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Election Laws, testifying in favor of the proposed law to empower Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint a Senator to Ted Kennedy's seat until the special election in January.

"This is no time for the people of Massachusetts to not be represented fully in Washington. We need to be in the strongest position possible," said Kerry. "Big decisions are being made now -- not in five months. And important votes are coming now -- not in five months. Massachusetts cannot and should not be underrepresented."

There's a certain irony in Kerry coming before the committee -- the legislation that took away the power of governors to appoint Senators was passed by the state Democrats in 2004, when they thought that Kerry himself might get elected President while Republican Mitt Romney was Governor. The old law had provided for an appointment until the next regular general election, and legislators rejected the possibility of even having an appointment combined with an expedited special election.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (1) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: John Kerry, MA-SEN, Senate '10, Ted Kennedy

Dick Cheney

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | August 30, 2009, 1:01PM

Cheney: CIA Investigation "Offends The Hell Out Of Me," Obama Administration Should Be Asking Us For Advice
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, former Vice President Dick Cheney lambasted the Obama administration for investigation CIA interrogation methods, calling it an "outrageous political act." "I guess the other thing that offends the hell out of me, frankly, Chris [Wallace], is we had a track record now of eight years of defending the nation against any further mass casualty attacks from Al Qaeda," said Cheney. "The approach of the Obama administration should be to come to those people who were involved in that policy and say, how did you do it? What were the keys to keeping this country safe over that period of time?"

Kerry: Kennedy Would Fight For Public Option -- But Would Accept A Bill Without It
Appearing on This Week, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) said that Ted Kennedy would not have rejected a health care bill that lacked a public option: "He would fight for it, and he would do everything in his power to get it, just like he did for the minimum wage or like he did for children's health care, et cetera. But if he didn't see the ability to be able to get it done, he would not throw the baby out with the bathwater. He would not say no to anything because we have to reduce the cost. We have to make these changes. And he would find the best way forward."