Senate May End Judicial Filibusters Today
Reid may move to scrap most judicial filibusters as soon as today, reports Bloomberg: " Reid said Nov. 19 that he wouldn’t accept anything short of having all of the latest D.C. Circuit nominees approved. 'I insist on getting all three,' he said. 'Any president, not just President Obama, Democrat or Republican, needs to be able to have the team that he wants in place.'"
@chucktodd: "Harry Reid's decision to hold this vote on the so-called nuke option strengthened after getting support for Feinstein, who was a holdout"
No sign GOP will stand down. W. Post: "This marks at least the fourth time in three years that Reid has rattled his saber on the filibuster rules, each time yielding to a bipartisan compromise brokered by the chamber’s elder statesmen. As of Wednesday night, no bipartisan talks had emerged. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the main negotiator who brokered recent deals to avert such a showdown, as well as one in 2005, met with Reid on Wednesday, but neither side reported progress."
Budget Talks In Holding Pattern
Rep. Ryan offers "bland" update on status of talks. Roll Call: "Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., was asked about the House chairman’s level of optimism that a deal will be reached, to which he responded: 'He seemed like they were talking and he thought they might get something done, but I don’t think anyone is … placing big bets.'"
Conservative leaders, mostly, do not want another shutdown. Politico: "Conservative leaders from more than a dozen outside groups warned congressional Tea Party Caucus members against another government shutdown ... The consensus in the meeting was that House Republicans should work to avoid another government funding fight when current funding levels expire on Jan. 15 — 'though there was a vocal minority cheering it on,' according to an attendee..."
"Sequestration Is Starving Programs That Serve Seniors" reports ThinkProgress: "About three-quarters of the agencies surveyed have reduced nutrition services this year in the face of budget cuts, including Meals on Wheels as well as meals served at congregate sites. Half have reduced transportation services, which help the elderly get to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, and other necessary destinations. And nearly 40 percent have reduced the support they offer family members and informal caregivers."
Fed nears "taper" of monetary stimulus. Bloomberg: "Federal Reserve officials signaled they may taper their $85 billion in monthly bond buying 'in coming months' if the economy improves as anticipated. Policy makers 'generally expected that the data would prove consistent with the committee’s outlook for ongoing improvement in labor market conditions and would thus warrant trimming the pace of purchases in coming months,' according to the record of the Federal Open Market Committee’s Oct. 29-30 gathering, released yesterday in Washington."
Grandfather Clause Tweak May Impact Little
State insurance commissioners may not take Obama's grandfather clause offer, in order to keep premiums down. The Hill: " The commissioners ... warned Obama that different rules for different policies could result in higher premiums for consumers. But [National Association of Insurance Commissioners president Jim] Donelon seemed more encouraged after the 50-minute meeting in the Oval Office than last week ... He said that [in] the meeting ... Obama acknowledged that there was a 'unique statutory situation' in each state ... The more congenial tone might be because it appeared that President Obama did not vigorously lobby the commissioners to alter their state regulations."
Insurers likely to reject as well. Mother Jones: "Seven major health insurers—including United Health Group, Humana, and Kaiser Permanente—tell Mother Jones they're not sure what they'll do yet, and are waiting for direction from state insurance commissioners, many of whom have yet to decide whether they'll back Obama's idea. But health care experts say it's likely that many insurance companies will not adopt Obama's fix, because doing so would be an administrative hassle and create uncertainty, costing insurers money."
