U.S. Enters Into New Arms Deal With Saudi Arabia

White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest issued the following statement regarding the U.S.’s decision to sell military aircraft and other arms to Saudi Arabia:

“The United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have signed a government-to-government agreement under the Foreign Military Sales program to provide advanced F-15SA combat aircraft to the Royal Saudi Air Force.”

“Valued at $29.4 billion, this agreement includes production of 84 new aircraft and the modernization of 70 existing aircraft as well as munitions, spare parts, training, maintenance and logistics.  These F-15SA aircraft, manufactured by The Boeing Company, are among the most sophisticated and capable aircraft in the world.”

“This agreement will positively impact the U.S. economy and further advances the president’s commitment to create jobs by increasing exports.  According to industry experts, this agreement will support more than 50,000 American jobs, engaging 600 suppliers in 44 states, and providing $3.5 billion in annual economic impact to the U.S. economy.”

“This agreement reinforces the strong and enduring relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a strong Saudi defense capability as a key component to regional security.”

Santorum Camp Feeling Good About Iowa

The campaign of GOP hopeful Rick Santorum liked what they saw in a new CNN/Time poll that was released on Wednesday.

The survey showed Santorum pulling into third place, behind Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. The 16 percent of the vote that Santorum received marks his strongest performance yet in any Hawkeye State poll.

“This new polling confirms that Mike Huckabee is right — Rick Santorum will be the “surprise candidate” in Iowa next week,” said campaign manager, Mike Biundo.

Biundo added; “This new poll confirms that Rick Santorum has leapfrogged into 3rd place — more than tripling his support from the beginning of the month. Rick is now polling ahead of Newt Gingrich, who was considered to be the frontrunner.”

Rockefeller Concerned About Web Domain Expansion

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) is worried about a large expansion of internet domain names.

“I’m concerned that this expansion of generic, top-level domains, if it proceeds as planned, will have adverse consequences for the millions of American consumers, companies, and non-profit organizations that use the Internet on a daily basis,” Rockefeller wrote in a letter to Commerce Secretary John Bryson and NTIA Administrator Lawrence Strickling.

“I am now asking that you work with your international counterparts and ICANN to ensure that ICANN’s plan to expand top-level domains is implemented in a cautious, limited manner, which minimizes the likelihood of negative impacts,” Rockefeller added.

Obama Taps Two For Fed Board

President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that he will be nominating Jerome Powell and Jeremy Stein for the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors.

Powell previously served as a Treasury official in George H. Bush administration. Stein is an Economics Professor at Harvard and served as a member of MIT’s finance faculty for a decade.

“I am grateful that these individuals have agreed to serve their nation at this important time for our economy,” Obama said in a statement. “Their distinguished backgrounds and experience coupled with their impressive knowledge of economic and monetary policy make them tremendously qualified to serve in these important roles.”


Obama Hits Romney On Transparency Record

President Obama’s re-elect team is highlighting a new Washington Post editorial that blasted GOP hopeful Mitt Romney for refusing to disclose his tax returns or the identities of his bundlers.

The Obama for America campaign today blasted out a link to the editorial, which accused Romney of being “zero for two when it comes to transparency in campaigning.”

The editorial described Romney’s remark this past week that he has no plans to release his tax forms as “unacceptable.”

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