Unemployment Insurance Battle Rejoined
Dems renew push for jobless aid. The Hill: "Democrats will hold a national conference call Friday to highlight that the number of people who have lost unemployment benefits has reached 1.6 million ... Democratic lawmakers plan to launch a 'tweetstorm' shortly after 1 p.m. Friday to build political momentum for another Senate vote on the issue."
NYT speculates that Obama may seek compromises to address inequality in SOTU: "If Republicans resist taking action on the White House proposals, Democrats say that at least Mr. Obama will have helped to sharpen distinctions between the parties in a midterm election year, particularly on issues like the minimum wage ... Administration officials took encouragement for the coming year when Republicans, led by Mr. Ryan, agreed this month to a budget deal that provided more money for Obama priorities, like quality preschool education, than the White House expected."
Debt Limit Lines Drawn
Senate Budget Chair Patty Murray rules out any conditions to raise debt limit. Politico: "[She] also wants House Republicans to declare that they will allow a clean debt-limit increase at their annual retreat in Cambridge, Md., next week ...:"
While House Budget Chair Paul Ryan tries to take Obamacare hostage. Politico: "...Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Republicans are considering getting rid of 'insurance company bailouts' when they lift the nation’s borrowing cap in the next few months ... Republicans have already introduced bills targeting two complex pieces of Obamacare — called the reinsurance fund and risk corridors – that they say amount to bailout of the insurance companies, likening them to the “too big to fail” policies of the banking crisis. Both policies are designed to limit the risk insurers have to take and try to prevent premium spikes. Backers of the health law say the provisions are needed to help insurance companies balance the cost of accepting all patients, some of whom are very expensive. The provisions are only designed to last three years until the insurance pools are more balanced."
Boehner mocks shutdown, blames his caucus, on The Tonight Show. Roll Call: "'It was a very predictable disaster, and the sooner we got it over with, the better,' the Ohio Republican said ... 'I told my colleagues in July I didn’t think shutting down the government over Obamacare would work because the President said, "I’m not going to negotiate,"' Boehner continued. 'And so I told them in August "Probably not a good idea." Told them in early September. But when you have my job, there’s something you have to learn … When I looked up, I saw my colleagues going this way. And you learn that a leader without followers is simply a man taking a walk … So I said, "You want to fight this fight? I’ll go fight the fight with you."'"
Immigration Summer?
House GOP eyes immigration votes in summer. Politico: "Most people close to the planning expect votes on four bills by the end of the summer, including one that would give undocumented workers legal status. And though none of the bills is likely to offer a path to full citizenship, the fact Republicans are preparing to take on immigration at all is a sign the party is coming to grips with a political reality: if they want to win elections in the long run, they’ll have to face the issue. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), speaking to local chambers of commerce in San Antonio Thursday, peeled back the curtain on the plans, saying Republicans must help illegal immigrants 'come out of the shadows and reintegrate into society.' That would include requiring immigrants learn English, civics, pay taxes and pay a fine — a process that is sure to be decried by opponents as amnesty."
Detroit wants immigrants. NYT: "Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan on Thursday announced plans to seek federal help in bringing 50,000 immigrants to the bankrupt city over five years as part of a visa program aimed at those with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities in science, business or the arts."
Breakfast Sides
Jamie Dimon gets a raise. NYT: "A year after an embarrassing trading blowup led to millions of dollars being docked from Jamie Dimon’s paycheck ... JPMorgan’s board voted this week to increase Mr. Dimon’s annual compensation for 2013, hashing out the pay package after a series of meetings that turned heated at times, according to several executives briefed on the matter. The raise — the details were not made public on Thursday — follows a move by the board last year to slash Mr. Dimon’s compensation by half, to $11.5 million."
Utah will accept Obamacare Medicaid expansion. National Journal: "The governor is considering two expansion plans offered by the state legislature, both of which involve using the Medicaid dollars toward private plans. A similar strategy to be implemented in Arkansas has been approved by the administration. Pressure is increasing on Republican governors who have thus far declined to expand Medicaid in their states, denying coverage to large numbers of low-income residents. Taxpayers still end up paying for the expansion, but those in non-expanding states do not reap the benefits. Utah will be the 26th state, along with D.C., to opt in to Medicaid expansion."
Obama sees climate regs as path to global agreement. National Journal: "President Obama is under no illusion that U.S. climate policies alone can rein in global warming. In newly published comments in The New Yorker, Obama says they're crucial to working with China and India ... 'This is why I'm putting a big priority on our carbon action plan here. It's not because I'm ignorant of the fact that these emerging countries are going to be a bigger problem than us. It's because it's very hard for me to get in that conversation if we're making no effort,' Obama said."
