Today At TRNS

The Washington, D.C. Bureau will be covering the following events:

-A conference call with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) on the 2010 Senate races.

-A panel discussion with former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

-A briefing on "The Next 100 Days: Some Final Hurdles to Health Reform" by the Alliance for Health Reform.

-A conference call by Freedomworks on the upcoming march on Washington.

-A news conference on the Iranian refugee residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq held by the U.S. Committee for Camp Ashraf Residents.

Economic recovery package has bipartisan backing

According to Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the process of drafting the economic recovery package has been a smooth, bipartisan effort.

"We all know there is no longer a debate as to whether there should be a stimulus package, only what's going to be part of it," said Schumer during a press conference with Senator Rober Menendez (D-N.J.). Also in attendance were the Presidents of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

"There is a broad agreement on both sides of the aisle that a package, a large, broad package is necessary. That's made negotiations very productive,” said Schumer.

The Senator from New York commented that there have not been any attempts by Members of Congress to alter the package by leveraging their influence.

"I haven't heard a single member say 'if this isn't in or that isn't in, I'm not voting for the package'. Usually when you have large, comprehensive packages at this stage in the negotiations that's what you hear," Schumer noted.

Schumer went on to describe the benefits of the package, noting that there are provisions aimed at rebuilding the nation's infrastructure, creating jobs, and providing individual states with fiscal relief.

In addition, Schumer stated that education will be a key aim of the package, made evident by provisions for tax credits to improve college affordability and upgrades for failing schools.

Schumer complimented President Elect Obama's handling of the package, saying that he had provided Congress with a basic outline and leaving the specific details for their discretion. He also mused that this has helped it gain popularity among his colleagues.

Secretary Jackson Met with Both Criticism and Support Over H.U.D. Oversight and Funding

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson testified before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee today regarding oversight of HUD program and its fiscal year 2009 budget. Jackson’s comments about the HUD program were met with both criticism and support from Senators of both parties.

Jackson’s program was particularly called into question by democrats skeptical that the funding requested by the Bush Administration for HUD was insufficient in helping to slow the increasingly high rate of housing foreclosures dooming homeowners across the nation.

Chaired by Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Senators Casey (D-PA) and Menendez (D-NJ) engaged in often heated discussion with Jackson over not only their frustration with his lack of success as Secretary, but also over allegations that members of his staff had acted in a controversial manner. Jackson, citing the fact that the case was still not being made public, refused to discuss the case in front of Congress. The verbal jabs of Casey and Menendez were met with support for Jackson and his efforts by other Senators, particularly Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO).