First Read

Senate health bill moves forward

Domenico Montanaro — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:55:00 GMT

From NBC's Domenico MontanaroAfter hours of debating whether to allow debate to begin on a health reform bill, the Senate voted in favor of letting that happen tonight along strictly partisan lines, 60-39.The outcome had become all but assured earlier today when Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a moderate Democrat from Arkansas, the last Democratic holdout, said she would vote with her caucus.It is important to realize that this is just the beginning, the opening kickoff if you will. Lincoln, Sen. Ben Nelson...(read more)

Dobbs to Latinos: One of 'greatest friends'

Domenico Montanaro — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:47:00 GMT

Check out this interview with Lou Dobbs on Telemundo, describing himself as one of Latinos "greatest friends." By the way, he sure sounds like he's running for something. But what? And where?Here's the full video. Here's a clip: Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy...(read more)

Week Ahead: Saturday Night Fever

Domenico Montanaro — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:20:00 GMT

THE WEEK AHEAD: Congress is back for another Saturday night health care vote, Obama's first state dinner, Palin's tour continues, plus a special peek inside the First Read Man Cave with a special goateed guest. Happy Thanksgiving. Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy See how many sports teams/memorabilia items you can spot! Win fun prizes (not!)...(read more)

Obama approval drops below 50%

Domenico Montanaro — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:43:00 GMT

From NBC's Domenico MontanaroPresident Obama has now dropped, for the first time, below 50% approval in the Gallup poll. It's the second poll this week to show that result. This puts Obama on par with Ronald Reagan, who also fell below 50% 10 months into the job -- and better than Bill Clinton, who fell below in his fourth month. Reagan was dealing with similar economic numbers. For context, here's what we wrote about this when the possibility was first floated that Obama could fall below 50%...(read more)

Nelson's a 'yes'

Domenico Montanaro — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:37:00 GMT

From NBC's Ken Strickland
As was expected after Sen. Ben Nelson's (D-NE) statement yesterday explaining what a vote for cloture would mean, he has now released a statement saying that he will vote with Democrats.

His full written statement after the jump:

...(read more)

Lincoln 'still reviewing' health bill

Domenico Montanaro — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:33:00 GMT

From NBC's Ken StricklandAfter reading reports that Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) has already told Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) how she'll vote tomorrow on issue of whether to bring the healthcare bill to the floor, Lincoln's office was quick respond. "No other Senator speaks for Senator Lincoln," Lincoln's spokeswoman told NBC in an email. "She is still reviewing the bill." Earlier in the day, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat Dick Durbin told several reporters that Lincoln had already...(read more)

Durbin: Lincoln has told Reid

Domenico Montanaro — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:51:00 GMT

From NBC's Ken StricklandAt a news conference this morning, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) pre-emptively gave the his answer to the question everyone's been asking over the past few weeks: does Majority Leader Harry Reid have the 60 votes needed to bring the healthcare bill to the floor. "We're not assuming a thing," Durbin said, "we're working hard to bring all Democrats together for the 60 votes necessary to proceed to this historic debate." But it's possible Durbin and Reid are playing coy and already...(read more)

First thoughts: More Sat. Night Fever

Domenico Montanaro — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:47:00 GMT

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** More Saturday Night Fever: The Senate is expected to take its vote to proceed on Senate Majority Leader Reid’s bill on Saturday. Democrats will need 60 votes -- i.e., their entire caucus -- to clear this initial procedural hurdle. Per NBC’s Ken Strickland, the vote is expected to take place around 8:00 pm ET. At this point, Strick adds, it doesn’t look like there will be any Senate work on Sunday, nor will there be any effort to...(read more)

Obama agenda: A very rough Thursday

Domenico Montanaro — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:44:00 GMT

“Growing discontent over the economy and frustration with efforts to speed its recovery boiled over Thursday on Capitol Hill in a wave of criticism and outright anger directed at the Obama administration,” the Washington Post writes. “President Obama's allies in the Congressional Black Caucus, exasperated by the administration's handling of the economy, unexpectedly blocked one his top priorities, using a legislative maneuver to postpone the approval of financial reform legislation by a key House committee.”

“Two buildings away, at a session of the Joint Economic Committee, Republicans escalated their attacks on Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, including a call for his resignation.”

In addition, per the Wall Street Journal: “The House Financial Services Committee voted, 43-26, to approve a measure sponsored by Texas Republican Ron Paul, vociferously opposed by the Fed, that would direct the congressional Government Accountability Office to expand its audits of the Fed to include decisions about interest rates and lending to individual banks. The Fed says the provision threatens its ability to make monetary policy without political interference.”

"Geithner is coming under new pressure from conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats to resign," The Hill writes. "Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Kevin Brady (R-Texas) this week joined a small group of lawmakers publicly calling for Geithner to step down. Former Republican Rep. Rob Simmons, who is challenging Sen. Chris Dodd (D) for Senate in Connecticut, has made Geithner’s resignation a campaign issue. Geithner was forced to defend himself Thursday at a public hearing on Capitol Hill during which he was pointedly asked by Brady to resign."

...(read more)

Congress: Opt out of opt out?

Domenico Montanaro — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:43:00 GMT

Per the Washington Post, the Congressional Budget Office said the public option “opt out” in Reid’s bill “would have relatively little impact on the current system, would charge ‘somewhat higher’ premiums than its private competitors and would draw only about 4 million subscribers. The decision to permit states to opt out of the public plan is partly to blame for the Reid proposal's lack of reach, as it would leave about a third of the people in the country without access to the program, according...(read more)