Politics Today: Sotomayor, Health Care and the CIA
Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in Politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
**Sotomayor confirmation hearings begin today...
**Congress continues wrangling over health care legislation...
**Democrats call for investigation over secret CIA programs...
SOTOMAYOR: The Senate Judiciary Committee kicks off its confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor this morning at 10 a.m. ET. If confirmed, she would become the Court's first-ever Hispanic justice.
Yesterday, President Obama called to wish her luck; today, committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont and committee ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, start the proceedings off. After a lunch break, Sotomayor will deliver her opening statement.
**DURING THE LUNCH BREAK, check out "Washington Unplugged" on CBSNews.com for in-depth analysis of the Sotomayor hearings.
While the fireworks are expected to be kept to a minimum throughout the week due to the lack of major controversy in her background plus the Democratic majority in the Senate, Sotomayor is expected to be easily confirmed.
But that's not stopping the committee's 7 Republicans (there are 12 Democrats on the committee) from trying to get her to create some controversy this week. Expect to hear Sessions and his fellow Republicans focus on her refrain in past speeches that "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male."
Also, GOP committee members will most likely focus on her recent decision in a reverse discrimination case involving New Haven, Conn., firefighters that was overturned by the Supreme Court last week. And, of course, there will be plenty of questions on guns and the Second Amendment as well as abortion and Roe vs. Wade.
Sessions argued on CBS News' "Early Show" this morning that her liberal philosophy "will flower" after she joins the Supreme Court. He also previewed his party's line of questioning on CBS News' "Face the Nation" yesterday, telling moderator Bob Schieffer, that she's going to have to answer for her "wise Latina" comments.
"Every judge must be committed every day to not let their personal politics, their ethnic background, their biases, sympathies influence the nature of their decision-making process," Sessions said, adding, "I am really flabbergasted by the depth and consistency of her philosophical critique of the ideal of impartial justice. ... I think that's a real expression of hers."
However, there's a real political tightrope the Republicans are walking, potentially risking alienating Hispanic voters if they hit her too hard. The GOP saw Hispanic voters flee to the Democratic Party in 2008 and is worried that trend will continue in next year's midterm elections.
The chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Judiciary Committee member Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is acutely aware of the political issues. "A third of my constituents are Hispanic and I understand that what they want, and what every nominee deserves, is for the nominee to be treated with respect. And we will," Cornyn said on "Fox News Sunday."
This week, the committee will call several witnesses, on behalf of Sotomayor and on behalf of the Republicans. Republican witnesses: New Haven, Conn., firefighter Frank Ricci; Linda Chavez , Center for Equal Opportunity; Sandy Froman, National Rifle Association; Dr. Charmaine Yoest, Americans United for Life; John McGinnis, Northwestern University School of Law professor.
Democrats' witnesses: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg; former FBI Director Louis Freeh; Kate Stith , Yale Law School professor; Chuck Canterbury , Fraternal Order of Police; former Major League Baseball pitcher David Cone.
Watch the confirmation hearings live.
CBS News Poll: Most Undecided About Sotomayor
CBS News Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen, "Sotomayor's Confirmation To-Do List"
Politico's Glenn Thrush, "What to watch in Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings"
Wall Street Journal's Jess Bravin, "Parties Set to Paint Opposing Pictures of Nominee"
USA Today's Joan Biskupic, "With Sotomayor enters a new era in judicial politics"
Washington Post's Michael D. Shear, "Hearings Not Just About Sotomayor – Judicial Confirmation Process Could Be a Partisan Platform and a Barometer"
New York Times' Adam Liptak, "Path to the Supreme Court – Speak Capably, Say Little"
Associated Press' Laurie Kellman, "Cast of characters on committee quizzing Sotomayor"
HEALTH CARE: "Lawmakers from both parties are telling the White House they will go on vacation next month and leave behind — and incomplete — President Barack Obama's health care overhaul," reports the Associated Press' Philip Elliot.
"White House officials sought a massive reworking of the nation's health care system before Congress left on August recess, but key lawmakers signaled on Sunday the administration would be disappointed. Work was set to continue Monday on the Senate's version, although officials acknowledge they are far from finished with a plan that could cost taxpayers trillions over the next decade and reshape how Americans receive care.
"'Well, we don't expect it to be signed into law by the August recess,' said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. 'But we expect the House and Senate to have passed bills, yes.'"
The Wall Street Journal's Elizabeth Williamson adds: "Congress on Monday begins a make-or-break week, as it seeks to move forward with a sweeping health-care plan that would lower the country's health costs and expand coverage for uninsured Americans, ahead of its August recess. But lawmakers remain divided over how to pay for the program, which has been estimated to cost upward of one trillion dollars over 10 years.
"A House proposal unveiled last week would pay for part of the reform by taxing Americans who make more than $250,000 a year.
Bloomberg News' Kristin Jensen and Edwin Chen, "Obama Pressed to Get Health-Care Plan Back on Track in Congress"
Los Angeles Times' Noam N. Levey, "Concern grows that healthcare overhaul won't cut costs"
Washington Times' Jon Ward and Jennifer Haberkorn, "'Rationing' is GOP weapon against health reform"
CIA: "President Obama is facing new pressure to reverse himself and to ramp up investigations into the Bush-era security programs, despite the political risks," reports the New York Times' Scott Shane.
"Leading Democrats on Sunday demanded investigations of how a highly classified counterterrorism program was kept secret from the Congressional leadership on the orders of Vice President Dick Cheney. Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, who is the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Fox News Sunday called it a 'big problem.' Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, on "This Week' on ABC, agreed that the secrecy 'could be illegal' and demanded an inquiry. ...
"Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. is also close to assigning a prosecutor to look into whether prisoners in the campaign against terrorism were tortured, officials disclosed on Saturday. And after a report from five inspectors general about the National Security Agency's domestic eavesdropping said on Friday that there had been a number of undisclosed surveillance programs during the Bush years, Democrats sought more information."
CBS News' Kimberly Dozier, "Senators Criticize Cheney Cover-Up"
Wall Street Journal's Siobhan Gorman, "CIA Had Secret Al Qaeda Plan"
ALSO TODAY: "Today, President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers will release a report, 'Preparing the Workers of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow,' that offers an overview of how the U.S. labor market is expexted to grow and develop over the next few years. The report will also discuss the skills and training that will likely be most relevant in growing occupations, and the attributes of an education and training system designed to best equip the workers of today for the jobs of tomorrow," per a White House official. "Based on analysis of recent labor market data, the report identifies likely changes in the U.S. labor market as economic drivers shift from sectors like financial services to the growing sectors that are transforming our economy. The already-expanding health care sector and various environmental-related occupations, for example, are shown to be growing at a faster rate than the economy at large, creating opportunities in a variety of white collar and blue collar occupations."
The official continues: "The report also notes the expected rebound in construction and some manufacturing sectors as the Recovery Act continues to invest in projects around the country and the economy emerges from the recession. The report emphasizes the importance of worker flexibility given the dynamic nature of the U.S. labor market. Of particular interest is the expected shift towards jobs that require workers with greater analytical and interactive skills. In addition, it highlights the most important attributes of a well-functioning education and training system designed to provide the U.S. workforce with the skills needed to succeed in the jobs of the future."
Reuters, "Obama team sees jobs growth in health, environment"
President Obama will meet with labor leaders at the White House this afternoon before delivering remarks at the Urban and Metropolitan Policy Roundtable.
Also today, per the White House, "Jill Biden will be at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia for outpatient orthopedic surgery to relieve shoulder pain. The Vice President will accompany her to the hospital. They plan to spend the rest of Monday and Tuesday at their home in Delaware. The Vice President will return to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday evening."
GOV. SARAH PALIN
From "Meet the Press", Sen. John McCain on his former running mate's decision to resign her governorship: " I wasn't shocked. Obviously, I was a bit surprised, but I wasn't shocked. I understand that Sarah made the decision where she can be most effective for Alaska and for the country. I love and respect her and her family. I'm grateful that she agreed to run with me. I am confident she will be a major factor in the national scene, and in Alaska, as well."
LA Times' Mark Z. Barabak, "Republican pundits open fire on Sarah Palin"
NY Times' Jim Rutenberg and Serge F. Kovaleski, "Palin's Route to Resignation: Missteps and Ignored Advice"
Politics Daily's Bonnie Goldstein, "Did The Press Corps Unfairly Pick on Palin?"
CONGRESS
Politico's Lisa Lerer, "Climate bill faces steep Senate climb"
Associated Press' Philip Elliott, "GOP unifies against any more stimulus spending"
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
Washington Post's Michael D. Shear, "In West Wing: Grueling Schedule, Bleary Eyes"
LA Times' Kristina Sherry, "Obama campaign plane emergency could have led to disaster"
GOV. MARK SANFORD
The State's John O'Connor, "Why tide against Sanford ebbed"
FUTURE RACES
Washington Times' Christina Bellantoni, "Obama enters fray in governors' races"
2009 NJ Governor: Associated Press, "Advertising goes negative early in N.J. governor's race"
2009 VA Governor: Martinsville Bulletin's Amanda Buck, "Candidates differ on opportunity fund"
2010 CO Governor: Denver Post's Jessica Fender, "Penry makes it a three-way race in GOP for governor"
2010 IL Senate: Washington Times' Donald Lambro, "GOP's chance in Illinois"
**Sotomayor confirmation hearings begin today...
**Congress continues wrangling over health care legislation...
**Democrats call for investigation over secret CIA programs...
(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Yesterday, President Obama called to wish her luck; today, committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont and committee ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, start the proceedings off. After a lunch break, Sotomayor will deliver her opening statement.
**DURING THE LUNCH BREAK, check out "Washington Unplugged" on CBSNews.com for in-depth analysis of the Sotomayor hearings.
While the fireworks are expected to be kept to a minimum throughout the week due to the lack of major controversy in her background plus the Democratic majority in the Senate, Sotomayor is expected to be easily confirmed.
But that's not stopping the committee's 7 Republicans (there are 12 Democrats on the committee) from trying to get her to create some controversy this week. Expect to hear Sessions and his fellow Republicans focus on her refrain in past speeches that "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male."
Also, GOP committee members will most likely focus on her recent decision in a reverse discrimination case involving New Haven, Conn., firefighters that was overturned by the Supreme Court last week. And, of course, there will be plenty of questions on guns and the Second Amendment as well as abortion and Roe vs. Wade.
(CBS)
"Every judge must be committed every day to not let their personal politics, their ethnic background, their biases, sympathies influence the nature of their decision-making process," Sessions said, adding, "I am really flabbergasted by the depth and consistency of her philosophical critique of the ideal of impartial justice. ... I think that's a real expression of hers."
However, there's a real political tightrope the Republicans are walking, potentially risking alienating Hispanic voters if they hit her too hard. The GOP saw Hispanic voters flee to the Democratic Party in 2008 and is worried that trend will continue in next year's midterm elections.
The chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Judiciary Committee member Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is acutely aware of the political issues. "A third of my constituents are Hispanic and I understand that what they want, and what every nominee deserves, is for the nominee to be treated with respect. And we will," Cornyn said on "Fox News Sunday."
This week, the committee will call several witnesses, on behalf of Sotomayor and on behalf of the Republicans. Republican witnesses: New Haven, Conn., firefighter Frank Ricci; Linda Chavez , Center for Equal Opportunity; Sandy Froman, National Rifle Association; Dr. Charmaine Yoest, Americans United for Life; John McGinnis, Northwestern University School of Law professor.
Democrats' witnesses: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg; former FBI Director Louis Freeh; Kate Stith , Yale Law School professor; Chuck Canterbury , Fraternal Order of Police; former Major League Baseball pitcher David Cone.
Watch the confirmation hearings live.
CBS News Poll: Most Undecided About Sotomayor
CBS News Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen, "Sotomayor's Confirmation To-Do List"
Politico's Glenn Thrush, "What to watch in Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings"
Wall Street Journal's Jess Bravin, "Parties Set to Paint Opposing Pictures of Nominee"
USA Today's Joan Biskupic, "With Sotomayor enters a new era in judicial politics"
Washington Post's Michael D. Shear, "Hearings Not Just About Sotomayor – Judicial Confirmation Process Could Be a Partisan Platform and a Barometer"
New York Times' Adam Liptak, "Path to the Supreme Court – Speak Capably, Say Little"
Associated Press' Laurie Kellman, "Cast of characters on committee quizzing Sotomayor"
(IStockPhoto)
"White House officials sought a massive reworking of the nation's health care system before Congress left on August recess, but key lawmakers signaled on Sunday the administration would be disappointed. Work was set to continue Monday on the Senate's version, although officials acknowledge they are far from finished with a plan that could cost taxpayers trillions over the next decade and reshape how Americans receive care.
"'Well, we don't expect it to be signed into law by the August recess,' said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. 'But we expect the House and Senate to have passed bills, yes.'"
The Wall Street Journal's Elizabeth Williamson adds: "Congress on Monday begins a make-or-break week, as it seeks to move forward with a sweeping health-care plan that would lower the country's health costs and expand coverage for uninsured Americans, ahead of its August recess. But lawmakers remain divided over how to pay for the program, which has been estimated to cost upward of one trillion dollars over 10 years.
"A House proposal unveiled last week would pay for part of the reform by taxing Americans who make more than $250,000 a year.
Bloomberg News' Kristin Jensen and Edwin Chen, "Obama Pressed to Get Health-Care Plan Back on Track in Congress"
Washington Times' Jon Ward and Jennifer Haberkorn, "'Rationing' is GOP weapon against health reform"
(AP Photo)
"Leading Democrats on Sunday demanded investigations of how a highly classified counterterrorism program was kept secret from the Congressional leadership on the orders of Vice President Dick Cheney. Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, who is the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Fox News Sunday called it a 'big problem.' Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, on "This Week' on ABC, agreed that the secrecy 'could be illegal' and demanded an inquiry. ...
"Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. is also close to assigning a prosecutor to look into whether prisoners in the campaign against terrorism were tortured, officials disclosed on Saturday. And after a report from five inspectors general about the National Security Agency's domestic eavesdropping said on Friday that there had been a number of undisclosed surveillance programs during the Bush years, Democrats sought more information."
CBS News' Kimberly Dozier, "Senators Criticize Cheney Cover-Up"
Wall Street Journal's Siobhan Gorman, "CIA Had Secret Al Qaeda Plan"
ALSO TODAY: "Today, President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers will release a report, 'Preparing the Workers of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow,' that offers an overview of how the U.S. labor market is expexted to grow and develop over the next few years. The report will also discuss the skills and training that will likely be most relevant in growing occupations, and the attributes of an education and training system designed to best equip the workers of today for the jobs of tomorrow," per a White House official. "Based on analysis of recent labor market data, the report identifies likely changes in the U.S. labor market as economic drivers shift from sectors like financial services to the growing sectors that are transforming our economy. The already-expanding health care sector and various environmental-related occupations, for example, are shown to be growing at a faster rate than the economy at large, creating opportunities in a variety of white collar and blue collar occupations."
The official continues: "The report also notes the expected rebound in construction and some manufacturing sectors as the Recovery Act continues to invest in projects around the country and the economy emerges from the recession. The report emphasizes the importance of worker flexibility given the dynamic nature of the U.S. labor market. Of particular interest is the expected shift towards jobs that require workers with greater analytical and interactive skills. In addition, it highlights the most important attributes of a well-functioning education and training system designed to provide the U.S. workforce with the skills needed to succeed in the jobs of the future."
Reuters, "Obama team sees jobs growth in health, environment"
President Obama will meet with labor leaders at the White House this afternoon before delivering remarks at the Urban and Metropolitan Policy Roundtable.
Also today, per the White House, "Jill Biden will be at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia for outpatient orthopedic surgery to relieve shoulder pain. The Vice President will accompany her to the hospital. They plan to spend the rest of Monday and Tuesday at their home in Delaware. The Vice President will return to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday evening."
GOV. SARAH PALIN
From "Meet the Press", Sen. John McCain on his former running mate's decision to resign her governorship: " I wasn't shocked. Obviously, I was a bit surprised, but I wasn't shocked. I understand that Sarah made the decision where she can be most effective for Alaska and for the country. I love and respect her and her family. I'm grateful that she agreed to run with me. I am confident she will be a major factor in the national scene, and in Alaska, as well."
LA Times' Mark Z. Barabak, "Republican pundits open fire on Sarah Palin"
NY Times' Jim Rutenberg and Serge F. Kovaleski, "Palin's Route to Resignation: Missteps and Ignored Advice"
Politics Daily's Bonnie Goldstein, "Did The Press Corps Unfairly Pick on Palin?"
CONGRESS
Politico's Lisa Lerer, "Climate bill faces steep Senate climb"
Associated Press' Philip Elliott, "GOP unifies against any more stimulus spending"
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
Washington Post's Michael D. Shear, "In West Wing: Grueling Schedule, Bleary Eyes"
LA Times' Kristina Sherry, "Obama campaign plane emergency could have led to disaster"
GOV. MARK SANFORD
The State's John O'Connor, "Why tide against Sanford ebbed"
FUTURE RACES
Washington Times' Christina Bellantoni, "Obama enters fray in governors' races"
2009 NJ Governor: Associated Press, "Advertising goes negative early in N.J. governor's race"
2009 VA Governor: Martinsville Bulletin's Amanda Buck, "Candidates differ on opportunity fund"
2010 CO Governor: Denver Post's Jessica Fender, "Penry makes it a three-way race in GOP for governor"
2010 IL Senate: Washington Times' Donald Lambro, "GOP's chance in Illinois"
Ex-NBA ref Tim Donaghy 