Obama Gives Lawmakers on Both Sides More Say

Geithner and Summers speak loudly, cohesively, driving Obama's agenda

(NEWSER) - Among the policymaking din at the White House, the voices of Larry Summers and Tim Geithner have emerged as the loudest—and generally in unison, the Washington Post reports. The duo first teamed up to battle financial crises in Asia and Mexico in the mid-‘90s at the Treasury Department; a friendship formed, complete with tennis camp vacations, and the pair have once again become a potent voice representing an administration and an agenda. More»

(AP) - President Barack Obama and Senate Republicans bickered today over his historically huge economic recovery plan after states and schools lost tens of billions of dollars in a late-night bargain to save it, the AP reports. "We can't afford to make perfect the enemy of the absolutely necessary," Obama said. The Senate convened a rare Saturday session to debate a compromise forged between GOP moderates and the White House. More»

Hill leaders doubt plan's stimulus power, say prez-elect trying too hard to woo GOP

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama's proposed tax cuts are opening a rift with his former congressional colleagues, the Hill reports. Democratic lawmakers are skeptical as to whether the cuts—which are 40% of the proposed stimulus package—will give the economy the necessary boost. Some think the president-elect is trying too hard to win over Republicans, who remain largely unswayed by the plan. More»

Adding to already-enormous debt worries Republicans; excess of caution has other side jumpy

(NEWSER) - The GOP responded today to Barack Obama’s calls for immediate action on the economy, cautioning that too bold a move could have dire consequences, the Hill reports. “Let’s not use the obvious need as a way to make the problem worse,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, warning against “big mistakes that exacerbate the problem we already have, which is a dramatic, eye-popping deficit.” More»

(NEWSER) - Harry Reid called Rod Blagojevich after the election, but before the governor’s arrest, to discourage him from appointing unelectable candidates to Barack Obama’s Senate seat, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Senate majority leader sought to put the kibosh on Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Danny Davis, along with State Senate President Emil Jones. Reid suggested state AG Lisa Madigan or Illinois' veterans affairs chief Tammy Duckworth. More»