| Jamie Dupree |
January 2009 Archives
We have witnessed in recent years how a groundswell of public opinion can change the course of legislation, as voters call and write their lawmakers to demand action.
... continue reading Making Your Voices Heard. Even as the Senate preps for a debate next week on an economic stimulus bill, it's already obvious that "change" has come to Washington, D.C., ten days after Barack Obama was sworn in as President.
... continue reading Change Is Here Already. After watching Democrats steamroll to victory in the House the day before on a massive economic stimulus bill, Senate Republicans are trying to figure how best to grapple with Democrats on this bill.
... continue reading GOP Looks For Stimulus Traction. Here is the text of S. 336, the Senate economic stimulus bill, the companion to H.R. 1, the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" which was approved by the House.
... continue reading Text of the Senate Stimulus Bill. A lot of people have been emailing me asking for more information about the stimulus legislation in the Congress, as the debate on this shifts over to the Senate.
... continue reading Highlights of the House Stimulus Bill. I can write the story two different ways about how Republicans in the House all voted against President Obama's over $800 billion economic stimulus bill.
... continue reading Playing Politics or Standing On Principle. About the only thing we didn't know going into the vote on Wednesday in the House on the Democratic economic stimulus bill was how many Republicans would vote for it.
... continue reading Not A Stimulating Debate. While I was knee deep in coverage on Wednesday of the economic stimulus bill in the House, I suddenly saw an "Urgent" cross the Associated Press wire about the Postal Service raising the idea of delivering mail only five days a week.
... continue reading No Mail Delivery On Saturdays?. Here is a statement from the White House on the approval in the U.S. House of the over $800 billion economic stimulus bill designed by Democrats:
... continue reading White House Reaction to Stimulus Vote. Democrats in the House are ready today to provide President Barack Obama with approval of an $825 billion economic stimulus package, sending it on to the Senate, where the real battling will take place.
While the spending portion of the economic stimulus bill up for a vote today in the House have attracted a lot of attention, there is also a hefty chunk of tax relief in the bill.
... continue reading Don't Forget The Tax Cuts. A day after he went up to meet behind closed doors with Republicans in both the House and Senate, President Obama will see if that drew any votes as the House votes on his economic stimulus plans.
The House Rules Committee has decided the parameters of the debate Wednesday on the $825 billion economic stimulus bill, and there's been a few changes along the way.
I'll give the Democrats some credit for the way they have devised this stimulus bill, because along with extra spending that they want, they are using the bill to push a series of policy initiatives as well.
... continue reading Stimulus Bill As Policy Engine. President Obama will make two stops to see Republican lawmakers in the Congress today, as he meets with House and Senate members, urging their support for his economic stimulus legislation.
... continue reading Obama Looks For GOP Votes. President Barack Obama said earlier this month that he would not allow the economic stimulus bill to be filled with pork barrel projects. Is that what Congress is going to do?
... continue reading Is There Pork In The Stimulus Bill. As Congress and the White House get deep into the debate over an economic stimulus bill this week, I must observe that this debate hasn't moved very far, despite the difficult times facing this nation.
... continue reading Tired Old Arguments and Solutions. The big battle this week in the Congress will be in the House of Representatives, which is set for a vote on an economic stimulus plan developed by Democrats.
... continue reading Stimulating Debate Looms. President Barack Obama will get one more of his Cabinet nominees on the job officially today, as the Senate is expected to confirm Timothy Geithner as Secretary of Treasury.
What follows are a number of the spending projects included in the economic stimulus bill filed by Democrats late on Friday, which will be voted on in coming days by the House of Representatives.
I know I have better things to do this weekend, and you probably do too, but if you're at all interested in the $825 billion economic stimulus bill that the House will vote on in coming days, then you've got some work to do.
... continue reading House Stimulus Bill Released. I know most people think the news media is in the bag for Barack Obama. But the natural friction between the press corps and a President is already in full view.
... continue reading The Press v Obama. Congressional leaders from both parties head down to the White House today for their first joint meeting with President Barack Obama.
... continue reading White House Sitdown. It's been an interesting week for my email Inbox, which has almost melted from some of the anti-Obama screeds being sent my way.
... continue reading The Anti-Obama Venom. I don't know if it would really have the force of law, but some in the Congress want to cut Gov. Rod Blagojevitch of Illinois out of a major economic stimulus bill .
... continue reading Congress To Blago: Drop Dead. The first day plus of the Obama Administration has given us a lot of symbolic change. A newly designed website. New ethical rules for White House aides. Quicker Freedom of Information Act rules.
... continue reading Change Comes To The White House. Not many people get to give the President of the United States the oath of office at an Inauguration. And not many people get the chance to administer that oath a second time to get it right.
... continue reading A Mulligan For The Chief. I do find the beginning of a new Presidential Administration very interesting to watch from the outside, because no matter what they say, it's gotta be a weird feeling to go to suddenly start going to work at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
... continue reading Obama Makes His First Moves. Maybe Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid is just toying with the press. Or maybe he's just blowing smoke up Al Franken's tailpipe.
... continue reading Dems Start To Think Of Senator Franken. A day after President Barack Obama urged the nation and the Congress to put their political differences and work together, lawmakers of both parties held hands and promised never to differ again.
The morning after the Inauguration of Barack Obama, a key U.S. House committee gets down to work on an $825 billion economic plan.
I'm not going to try to proclaim President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address to be the best ever or anything like that, but let's take a minute to go through it, the morning after.
... continue reading The Obama Message. As has become custom on Inauguration Day, the Senate moved on Tuesday to confirm as many Cabinet nominees as possible for the new President.
... continue reading A Little Bit Of Hardball. The moment that thousands have been waiting for is almost here, and as you can see, there isn't much room for anyone to squeeze into at this point.
The crowds are simply unbelievable for the Obama Inauguration. As of 8am, if you didn't have a ticket, you aren't going to get a glimpse of anything.
No one is quite sure how many people will show up in Washington, D.C. for the Inauguration of Barack Obama. Estimates run anywhere from 1.5 to 3 million. I almost wonder if it's going to be on the high side.
The inauguration of any President has many, many stories to go with it, as Americans from all walks of life come to Washington, D.C. for this peaceful change in government. But when it comes to this inaugural, I'm just scratching the surface.
The two terms of President George W. Bush come to an end today, as he mainly be an afterthought on a day dominated by the swearing-in of President Elect Barack Obama.
As I left the Capitol building on Monday evening and headed to the train station a few blocks away, the security fencing was going up on Constitution Avenue and around the Capitol building.
There is neat feeling of excitement with every new President, even if it is only with members of that person's political party for the most part. But this time, it's a little more intense.
We can have all kinds of arguments about all kinds of subjects relating to the eight years of President George W. Bush. I'll just serve a few things from my viewpoint.
... continue reading Looking Back On The Bush Years. It looks like I will get to go to the Capitol to cover the Obama Inauguration after all, as my application for a press credential finally got approved.
... continue reading My Prized Possession. The street closures and security measures began in earnest over the weekend in Washington, D.C., as the city readies for Barack Obama's Inauguration as President.
Just how much is the upcoming Inaugural affecting life in Washington, D.C. right now? A heck of a lot is the answer, as everyone tries to figure out how to deal with all the security measures being put in place in coming days.
... continue reading More Inaugural Fear and Loathing. It wasn't George Washington's Farewell Address, but then again, nothing ever will be. But President Bush's Farewell to the American people was about what I expected.
... continue reading Bush's Farewell Address. What follows is the text of President Bush's speech last night from the White House, his final address to the American people before the end of his second term in office.
... continue reading The Bush Farewell. The summary of the economic stimulus bill introduced by Democrats yesterday is chock full or details. Whether it can actually stimulate economic growth is up to the beholder.
... continue reading A Visually Stimulating Plan. House Democrats today released the details of their economic stimulus bill developed with input from aides to President Elect Barack Obama.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that the Political Calculus of Washington, D.C. is about to change big time in the next five days when Barack Obama moves into the White House, as Democrats will be In Charge.
... continue reading Dems Move Their Agenda. It should be an interesting day in the Senate when it comes to the confirmability of one key Obama Cabinet official, as Attorney General designate Eric Holder goes before Senators.
... continue reading New Obama Confirmation Troubles. So here we are, just five days before the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States, and just like four years ago, I'm waiting for my press credentials.
... continue reading Inaugural Press Credentials On Hold. During the two days that I was with my wife in the hospital this week, we talked about one subject almost as much as our new baby - next week's Inauguration.
... continue reading Inaugural Fear And Loathing. 
Theodore "Teddy" Dupree made his appearance on Monday afternoon. All is fine now with son and wife. He weighed in at 9 lbs 6 oz, which was the most of the three Dupree children, who have all been above 8 1/2 pounds. The reaction of the kids was muted. One didn't say a thing, while the other responded by puking wildly on Grandma's carpeting and floors. We assume the birth did not cause that :-)
One week before Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States, the Senate swings into high gear when it comes to confirmation hearings for members of his Cabinet.
... continue reading Confirmation Hearings In High Gear. While much of the news focus today will be on Senate confirmation hearings for Barack Obama's Cabinet members, officials of the new administration will get some pointers at the White House in a special disaster exercise.
... continue reading Obama Gets Some Disaster Training. Yesterday I told you about the repeat snafu this Inaugural dealing with the issuance of press credentials. Now let's get to the real barnburner that has everyone talking.
... continue reading Inaugural Note: DC, Stay Home. I know that most people think the media is completely in the bag for Barack Obama. But he's losing his luster right now in the press corps over his economic stimulus plan.
... continue reading Obama Stimulus Grumbling. As if Congressional Republicans didn't have enough problems, they are getting another one, as Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio is set to announce that he is not running for re-election in 2010.
... continue reading Another GOP Senate Seat. The countdown is really now on for Barack Obama, as he takes office in just over a week, and the schedule in coming days is proof that change is on the horizon.
... continue reading A Busy Week Ahead For Team Obama. The Inauguration of Barack Obama is in eight days. And there is still no announced plan on when I will get my credentials that will allow me to cover this story. Just like four years ago.
... continue reading Inaugural Deja Vu All Over Again. No President ever gets everything that he wants in a bill usually, especially a high profile piece of legislation. That message was sent to Barack Obama yesterday by his own party.
... continue reading A Message For The Rookie. It hasn't taken long in the New Year for some long hours to be threatened, and the Senate may be heading towards that first this coming weekend.
... continue reading A Working Weekend Already?. In this first week of the new Congress, it's already obvious that Republicans are likely to be on the defensive in the Congressional mid term elections of 2010.
... continue reading Another GOP Seat Up For Grabs. President Elect Barack Obama gives a speech on the economy today, as lawmakers in the Congress continue to look for more details on what he wants in an economic recovery bill.
... continue reading Obama Moves On The Economy. As Senate confirmations hearings begin today for the first Cabinet choice of President Elect Barack Obama, I'm thinking that one of Obama's choices will get a pretty rough ride.
... continue reading Some Confirmation Thoughts. For most of you, this won't mean much, but I wanted to post the list of just a few of the road and bridge closures for the Inauguration, in order to give you an idea of the security clampdown that's going to go on here in the Washington, D.C. area.
... continue reading Inauguration Shuts Down DC. What a bizarre start to the year. What a bizarre start to a Senate career for Illinois Democrat Roland Burris, who looks like he soon will be in Barack Obama's Senate seat.
... continue reading Closer to Senator Burris. President Elect Barack Obama laid down a marker for the Congress yesterday on what he does not want to see in a major economic recovery bill, and that is pork barrel spending, otherwise known as earmarks.
... continue reading Obama Says No Stimulus Earmarks. It hasn't been a good week at all in the history of relations between the news media covering the Congress and officials of the House and Senate.
I just get the feeling that Democrats might not keep Roland Burris of Illinois out of the Senate after all, as he returns today for a meeting with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.
... continue reading Roland Burris, U.S. Senator?. With increased Democratic majorities, the new Congress convenes today in Washington, D.C., just two weeks before Barack Obama is sworn in as the next President of the United States.
... continue reading The 111th Congress Convenes. As the new Congress convenes today, we could have some sharp elbows flying over two disputed Senate seats, from Illinois and Minnesota.
... continue reading Rumble In The Senate, Vol 2. When I heard the news that Barack Obama had made his choice for CIA Director, I turned up the sound on the TV, because I really was interested in who he would pick.
... continue reading A Puzzling Pick For CIA Director. The history books will note that Barack Obama took the oath of office and became President on January 20, 2008. But from my view, power all but changed hands yesterday on January 5.
... continue reading The Transition Is Over. I have this saying about new presidential administrations, that there is often one Cabinet nominee who gets sacrificed along the way for whatever reason. For Barack Obama, that honor has gone to New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
This is not going to be a regular month in Washington, D.C. as the 111th Congress convenes tomorrow and a new President is sworn into office on January 20. So buckle up!
There are more than enough story lines as the Congress returns to work this week, but a couple of them are just heads and shoulders above the rest in the U.S. Senate.
... continue reading Rumble in the Senate!. The end of the Bush Administration got even closer in the reality of Political Washington, as President Elect Barack Obama arrived here on Sunday, settling in for the two week run to his Inaugural.
... continue reading Obama Returns To DC. The big news on Sunday was that Barack Obama has suffered his first casualty when it comes to assembling his Cabinet, as New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has pulled out as the choice for Commerce Secretary.
... continue reading Richardson Out As Commerce Secretary. advertisement
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