MORNING MESSAGE: Trade That Hurts
United Steelworkers' Leo Gerard: "'Uncertainty' is the pitchfork that corporations now effectively wield to prod politicians into action. It’s a threat, as in, if Congress doesn’t do this or that, such as avoid the fiscal cliff or raise the debt ceiling, then corporations will suffer the unbearable pain of 'uncertainty.' ... They’re unconcerned, however, when the American middle class suffers uncertainty. Or when government action shifts uncertainty to the middle class. Trade is the perfect example of that. In 2000, Congress ended China’s uncertainty about trade with the United States by transferring that pain to America’s middle class. It was an excruciating loss of certainty for American workers because over the next seven years, millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs disappeared. That’s trade that hurts."
Standoff As Debt Limit Approaches
Obama reiterates he won't negotiate debt limit. NYT: "'They will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy,' Mr. Obama vowed in the East Room..."
House GOP plans to negotiate the debt limit. Roll Call: "...House Republican leaders are considering a four-year debt limit increase [along with] major tax and entitlement changes ... In addition to the four-year plan, ideas for extending the debt ceiling ranged from a one- or two-year increase to one that would last only 30 or 60 days. Still, the ultimate decision on which path to take will not be forged until the rank and file have their say at the full conference retreat, which starts Wednesday..."
Geithner warns debt limit may be reached in a month. Roll Call: "In the letter, Geithner narrowed the period when the steps Treasury has been taking to stave off the day of reckoning to 'between mid-February and early March.' Geithner had said in a letter to Congress on Dec. 26, 2012, that the government was due to hit its borrowing limit in days but that the department would take 'extraordinary measures' that could keep operations running normally for about two months. And Geithner reiterated that the department could not prioritize payments, as some Republican lawmakers have suggested as a way to forestall default on obligations and keep some benefits moving."
Bernanke prods Republicans to raise debt limit. LAT: "Raising the debt ceiling, Bernanke said at a forum at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, 'gives the government the ability to pay its existing bills -- it doesn’t create new spending.' To drive home his point, Bernanke said that failing to lift the nation’s $16.4-trillion debt limit, expected to be reached between mid-February and March, would be like a family deciding not to pay its credit card bills because it was spending too much. Obama, in a news conference earlier in the day, used a similar analogy..."
Reid Hints At Filibuster Compromise
Reid suggests he will accept compromise on filibuster. TPM: "...Reid said he wants to require an obstructing minority of senators to occupy the floor and speak only after cloture has been invoked to begin debate. In other words, 41 senators could silently block debate from beginning, but once 60 senators vote to move to debate, filibustering senators must speak on the floor ... Reid wasn’t asked specifically about the proposal spearheaded by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tom Udall (D-NM), but signaled that he isn’t supporting its hard requirement that a minority seeking to stall the Senate’s business in any way occupy the floor and speak ceaselessly ... Jamal Raad, a spokesman for Merkley, told TPM that Reid’s ideas move in the right direction but aren’t enough to ease Senate paralysis. He says Merkley will keep fighting for his plan."
Top union launches ad campaign in support of "talking filibuster." HuffPost: "The effort includes more than $300,000 in advertising, beginning with cable TV ads that will run throughout the week of Jan. 14. The 30-second spot, 'The U.S. Senate Is Broken -- But We Can Fix It,' calls on the Senate to eliminate the silent filibuster and implement 'common sense' rules reforms ... A source familiar with the campaign said the CWA also plans action in certain targeted states."
WH Readies Gun Package
Executive action prepared regardless of congressional action. Politico: "Later this week, Obama will formally announce his proposals to reduce gun violence, which are expected to include renewal of the assault weapons ban, universal background checks and prohibition of high-capacity magazine clips ... The executive actions could include giving the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authority to conduct national research on guns, more aggressive enforcement of existing gun laws and pushing for wider sharing of existing gun databases among federal and state agencies ..."
Advocates ok with "piecemeal" approach. HuffPost: "Several gun control advocates have expressed concern that if the administration and allied Democrats were to push for one comprehensive package of reforms, it would be likely to be blocked by congressional Republicans. Instead, the advocates have urged the White House to consider a more piecemeal approach, in which the legislation that has broader agreement gets passed first, potentially building momentum for thornier items."
Reid lowers expectations. TPM: "...Reid said there’s no real chance of a new [assault weapons] ban passing the House. 'Is it something that can pass the Senate? Maybe. Is it something that can pass the House? I doubt it ... So I think there are things that we know we can do.'"
Republican threatens impeachment. CBS: "In a statement released Monday, Stockman said: 'The White House's recent announcement they will use executive orders and executive actions to infringe on our constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms is an unconstitutional and unconscionable attack on the very founding principles of this republic.' ... In his statement, Stockman said he 'will seek to thwart this action by any means necessary, including but not limited to eliminating funding for implementation, defunding the White House, and even filing articles of impeachment.'"
Executive Climate Action?
Draft report, commissioned by Congress, sounds alarm on climate. NYT: "'Climate change is already affecting the American people,' declares the opening paragraph of the report, issued under the auspices of the Global Change Research Program, which coordinates federally sponsored climate research. 'Certain types of weather events have become more frequent and/or intense, including heat waves, heavy downpours, and, in some regions, floods and droughts. Sea level is rising, oceans are becoming more acidic, and glaciers and Arctic sea ice are melting. These changes are part of the pattern of global climate change, which is primarily driven by human activity.'"
Enviros urge Obama to use executive authority on climate. Politico: "[Sierra Club] is demanding ... EPA regulations on fossil fuels, from emissions limits for power generation to tighter standards for gasoline; Tighter limits on imports and exports of fossil fuels; A renewed focus on financing and investing in clean energy ... Limits on drilling for fossil fuels on federal lands and protection of old-growth national forests that store carbon."
Breakfast Sides
House conservatives still gunning to reduce Sandy aid. AP: "House conservatives opposed to more deficit spending tried Monday to chip away at the $50.7 billion Superstorm Sandy aid package by requiring offsetting spending cuts to pay for recovery efforts and by stripping money for projects they say are unrelated to the Oct. 29 storm or not urgently needed. The push by budget hawks for amendments sets up a fight with Northeast lawmakers in both parties eager to provide recovery aid for one of the worst storms ever to strike the region as the House moves toward expected votes Tuesday on the emergency spending package."
AZ Gov. agrees to ObamaCare Medicaid expansion. The Hill: "A Tea Party favorite, Brewer has also been a strong critic of the healthcare law. But she reportedly said Monday that last summer's Supreme Court ruling and Obama's re-election mean the law is here to stay."
