Obama Heading To The Hill Tomorrow

Barack Obama will head to the Hill tomorrow for perhaps the final time before he takes the oath of office.

The president-elect will be attending the Senate's weekly Democratic caucus meeting on Tuesday, a Senate aide tells Huffington Post. A transition official confirmed the Tuesday plans and said that Obama is expected to discuss the makeup of an economic stimulus package and the Troubled Asset Relief Program, among a host of other topics.

Reflecting his post-partisan demeanor, Obama will be meeting with the Republican Senate conference sometime after he becomes president, the official confirms.

Obama's economic advisers have been working with legislators on the Hill for much of the last week in efforts to grease the wheels on the construction of an economic stimulus package. The president-elect himself has also been in consultation with members of Congress. Tomorrow's visit, however, comes after Obama -- through the Bush administration -- requested that the Treasury Department release the second $350 billion tranche of TARP money.

The Obama team has the political power to secure the funds without Congress' approval - the House and Senate can vote against the release of the money but the president can veto that disapproval. Unless Congress can override his veto, the funds would be released. Nevertheless, Obama will have to use a bit of legislative finesse to assuage concerns about the programs' lack of transparency and the direction of its funds.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank has said he would sign off on the money if Obama gave "his word" that he would implement major portions of his legislation, according to a House Democratic aide.

The Senate seems destined to move a bit slower. As Jim Manley, a spokesman for Majority leader Harry Reid, told the Huffington Post: "As you're about to find out, the Senate is not the House. We're going to have to rely on [Obama's] assurances to some extent."

Comments

[hortonhearsawho2]

MEMO: The Big guy will be in...

[rogerze]

I hope Reid doesn't bar him because of his "qualifications".

[smag]

He just may since he is no longer a Senator and Reid doesn't work for BO. What a bunch of clowns.

[kevenseven]

Perhaps Reid will find a Hamas connection and have him deported?

[ProgressDon]

Talk about pouring down rain on a parade....who care's about reelection. We just made histroy a month ago, we're going to celebrate it, then get to work and the rest will be history.

[HappyIdiot2009]

I cannot even imagine how I will feel on January 20 and I don't care who thinks I'm a sap or a dork. I never believed this day would happen in my lifetime and I could not be happier. Do not rain on my parade, please!

[PippiLongstocking]

You go right ahead and be happy!

[jtown]

Harry Reid must go. They gave Bush a damn American express Card, and now they want to give Obama a Visa with a 500.00 credit limit. I've had it with the DEMS, I will only support Obama at this point going forward.

[LCLiberal]

Does Obama try to pull off a quid pro quo with Congressional Dems to get their support for the bailout in return for Obama dropping the contentious tax cuts from the stimulus? Seems like the perfect opportunity for such a deal¦

http://www.political-buzz.com/

[HappyIdiot2009]

Once again, Obama proves he is brilliant. I knew it.

[smag]

You are easily satisfied. What did he do that was brilliant? He won the election. Ok. A few other people have done that before. It's show time now. Forget all that campaign talk. There will be some tokens thrown to the left but he has left the land of OZ and now he is back in Kansas. So far I couldn"t be happier if McCain had won. Just keep on doing what you are doing BO.

[Totto]

Prez-elect Obama's favorite card game is poker. Harry Reid's is "Old Maid".

[jdmccl]

What is Barney Franks? Queens wild? Screw thy neighbor(and all their neighbors)? Why is this joker still being listened to? Does PE want the same housing junk loans going on?

[k6007]

I hope he takes his 'lickinstick' with him.

[vjoseph]

Can I be invited? What I wouldn't give to be amongst that crowd?

[HappyIdiot2009]

I sure hope you mean that in a good way.

[vjoseph]

Yes I do. I would love to hear Obama speak to the Dems and watch him listen. I would be in awe, that's for sure

[lagumbo]

We now have a president. We are so luck to have elected someone who will do the peoples work. Someone who is brilliant, compassionate and one of us. People we have so much to be thankful for now. Lets pray for PRESIDENT OBAMA and his lovely family and wish them well. We will be alright now.

[HappyIdiot2009]

We will as long as we work with him to make it happen. I know you will!

[williamina]

weird

[vjoseph]

weird

[Bitsko]

How convenient that Biden is out of the country during this meeting. What does the Mossad have against Biden anyway?

By the way, that's a satirical slam for all you conspi-racists out there.

[vjoseph]

HAHAHA, Bitsko, you're funny

[Bitsko]

Thanks, vjoseph. You have your moments also.

[cdub1991]

Obama seems to be chomping at the bit--barely unable to contain himself until next Tuesday.

[BabsfromKansas]

We all are!!

[Bitsko]

I figure if I swallow 37 'luudes with a bottle of Chivas right now I'll wake up exactly at swearing in time. Don't want to endure another day under the Bush/Cheney regime.

[thinkagain2]

all of us...including a 'me too' from Kansas!!!

[Stud99]

He can't wait to flush a trillion dollars down the toilet.

[jdmccl]

Healthcare and the toilet...what a pair. Lets see how many pork earmarks are going to be attached. A little more Resco action perhaps?

[harriscrl3]

Flush away its better to go down the toilet on the American people than to build infrastructure in Iraq.

Carol

[McChimp]

Finally, a President for the people and by the people, how anyone can not like this man is beyond me.

[HappyIdiot2009]

Amazes me everyday.

[odan]

Give it a year and then ask people that same question.

[vjoseph]

We will still say the same thing

[obamagal]

Agree (*shaking head*);

[AnnieRae]

A true national leader - I think we picked a winner for President!

[HappyIdiot2009]

Yes We Did!

[JMBrodie]

Wow. A real president. So that's what it looks like.

[CenterLeft2009]

I knew it existed. I've never seen it. All I can is "Wow."

[coot]

WOW !!!

[chicagoike]

Obama's Harvard professors would say that Obama would enter the room, argue the case on both side and leave. Everyone on both sides felt good because he seem to validate their points, but said the professor, you would not know what position he really took.

To be brilliant is to hold two positions at the same time and defend them so well that one cannot be called on them.

[vjoseph]

That is quite interesting. Thanks for the info, it was quite insightful

[odan]

Hmmm, sounds like one hell of a con man; he should be President. Oh wait, he is going to be President.

[williamina]

right, seek help

[vjoseph]

weird

[PippiLongstocking]

I'm glad you're going to seek help. You'll feel better.

[jdmccl]

That is PE motis operandie so far. The right doesn't seem surprised at the total lack of substance. Wait until the first press conference after Hamas calls PE the next devil. I think sta-puff will do what he always does.

[vjoseph]

YAWN

[BabsfromKansas]

House Republicans have invited President-elect Barack Obama to speak before the entire GOP conference, hoping to set a different tone to the partisan wars of the last two years in which congressional Democrats battled President Bush.

In a letter dated Jan. 9, the Republican leadership team asked Obama to attend one of their regular meetings with the 178-member GOP conference "at your earliest convenience" after he is sworn-in as the 44th president.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2009/01/12/house_republicans_invite_obama.html

[rasit]

Good start...Now I hope the GOP conference attendees listen carefully to President Obama...that will be very good for the country

[Seven7s]

Not to sound overly dramatic. But sounds like a trap to me.

The only thing I agree with the right on is abortion and not even for their Jesus Freaky reasons. BUt if this was really a righteous invite then I say he does it.

[vjoseph]

Dude ENOUGH