Castle Considering Independent Bid

Delaware Rep. Mike Castle (R), who lost his Senate primary race to conservative challenger Christine O’Donnell earlier this month, will commission polls to gauge his chances of winning as an Independent, according to Politico…

Rouse Ready If Emanuel Bolts

Pete Rouse, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, has offered to serve as White House Chief of Staff on an interim basis should current COS Rahm Emanuel decide to run for Mayor of Chicago. Politico has more…

Landrieu Blocks OMB Confirmation

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) on Thursday used her authority to place a hold on President Barack Obama’s nominee to become the next Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, Jacob ‘Jack’ Lew. The Louisiana Democrat said she would block Lew’s confirmation until the administration either lifts or significantly alters a six-month moratorium it placed on offshore deepwater drilling.

“Although Mr. Lew clearly possesses the expertise necessary to serve as one of the President’s most important economic advisors, I found that he lacked sufficient concern for the host of economic challenges confronting the Gulf Coast,” Sen. Landrieu wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

“The fact that the most acute of these economic challenges, the moratorium, results from a direct (and reversible) federal action only serves to harden my stance on Mr. Lew’s nomination. I cannot support further action on Mr. Lew’s nomination to be a key economic advisor to the President until I am convinced that the President and his Administration understand the detrimental impacts that the actual and de facto moratoria continue to have on the Gulf Coast.”

Before Landrieu announced her hold, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 22-1 to confirm Lew and send his nomination to the floor.

Obama Blames GOP For Blocking DISCLOSE Act

The White House released the following statement from President Barack Obama in response to today’s 59-39 vote in the Senate that prevented cloture from being reached on the Disclose Act:

“I am deeply disappointed by the unanimous Republican blockade in the Senate of the DISCLOSE Act, a critical piece of legislation that would control the flood of special interest money into our elections. Today’s decision by a partisan minority to block this legislation is a victory for special interests and U.S. corporations – including foreign-controlled ones – who are now allowed to spend unlimited money to fill our airwaves, mailboxes and phone lines right up until Election Day. And it comes at the expense of the American people, who no longer have the right to know who is financing these ads in an attempt to influence an election for their preferred candidate. Wall Street, the insurance lobby, oil companies and other special interests are now one step closer to taking Congress back and returning to the days when lobbyists wrote the laws. But despite today’s setback, I will continue fighting to ensure that our democracy stays where it belongs — in the hands of the American people.” 

Sanders Will Not Vote To Confirm OMB Nominee

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a liberal lawmaker who caucuses with the Democrats, has released a statement saying he will not support the nomination of Jacob ‘Jack’ Lew to become President Obama’s next OMB Director.

“Jack Lew was kind enough to meet with me last week in my office and to answer my questions at a Senate Budget Committee hearing. Frankly, I found too many echoes of the failed policies of the past in his responses to my questions on trade policy, Social Security, deregulation of banks and other issues.,” Sanders said.

“Reluctantly, I will not vote to confirm Mr. Lew to be director of the Office of Management and Budget,” he added.