We noted earlier today that President Barack Obama wasted no time in laying out a series of executive orders designed to set the tone for an open, transparent government that is responsive to the American public. Part of that effort comes in the form of an ethics pledge that every political appointee will have to sign. The pledge applies to all appointees brought on board after Jan. 20 — including every non-career appointee to the Senior Executive Service or equivalent systems, policymaking and confidential jobs under Schedule C, and all other noncareer slots filled by the president or vice president.…
Monthly Archives: January, 2009
The Senate just voted to confirm Hillary Clinton as the secretary of state. The final vote was 94-to-2: Only Sens. David Vitter, R-La., and Jim DeMint, R-S.C., voted ‘nay.’ But the Senate Judiciary committee is postponing its vote on Eric Holder’s nomination as attorney general. The Republicans on the committee apparently asked for the delay. Holder has proved controversial because of decisions he made as a deputy attorney general during the Clinton administration.
President Obama put a freeze on new regulation yesterday — nothing will be approved until his Cabinet secretaries have a chance to review it. The announcement came after months of frantic “midnight regulation” by federal agencies. And it’s obviously intended to block new rules left unfinished by the Bush administration. But will it affect some of the most controversial Bush-era regulations? I’ve been digging through old copies of the Federal Register — a fun way to spend the afternoon, I assure you — and the answer is a resounding “no.” Some of the most controversial rules are already in effect.…
… but he doesn’t blame the tax preparation software for his tax problems. Just one of many exciting facts from the Treasury secretary-designate’s confirmation hearing this morning. Geithner, by the way, is likely to be confirmed despite the tax issue. Senate Finance committee chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana, plans to hold a vote tomorrow, despite objections from several Republican committee members. The nomination would then go before the full Senate.
President Barack Obama greeted his new White House staff this afternoon with a few announcements that he said “represent a clean break from business as usual.” According to this Associated Press report, President Obama said he’s instituting a pay freeze for the roughly 100 White House employees who make more than $100,000 a year. The move is a direct response to the economic crisis gripping the nation. In another move, Obama issued new rules that attempt to crack down on lobbyists influencing the administration. The rules restrict political appointees who leave the administration from lobbying former friends and colleagues for at least…
So we all know President Barack Obama was sworn in Tuesday after what seemed like a decade-long transition process. Apparently it’s hard to get out of that transition mode, as several senators and witnesses at congressional hearings this morning repeatedly referred to President-elect Obama, even as aides looked at each other nervously and were hesitant to correct their bosses. I know the presidential oath was botched yesterday, but Obama is now the president. It may take a few days to break that habit of calling him the president-elect!
What’s the first thing on the new president’s to-do list today? Barack Obama told ABC News’ Robin Roberts at the Neighborhood Ball last night: We’ll be making a series of announcements both on domestic and on foreign policy that I think will be critical for us to act swiftly on. We’re not going to be able to delay — there have been a lot of things that have been pressing. Fortunately, we’ve seen Congress immediately start working on the economic recovery package — getting that passed and putting people back to work, that’s going to be the thing that we’re…
It’s the first full day of the Obama administration and it promises to be a busy one. Here are some stories we’ll be following for you: Tim Geithner, Obama’s Treasury Secretary nominee, will be before the Senate Finance Committee this morning. The hearing was delayed following the revelation that he had owed back taxes, which have now been paid. If confirmed, Geithner will, of course, oversee the IRS. The House Appropriations committee will mark up the stimulus package unveiled last week. Ray LaHood, Obama’s Transportation Secretary nominee, will be before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee this afternoon for…
Rahm Emanuel issued a memo this afternoon freezing all government regulation, according to a press release from the White House. The memo tells agency heads not to submit any new regulations (proposed or final) until they can be reviewed by a Cabinet official appointed by President Obama. It also orders agencies to withdraw any regulations not yet published in the Federal Register. And it advises them to delay implementing any final regulations that have not yet taken effect — an effort to delay the dozens of Bush-era “midnight regulations.” This is not unprecedented: Former White House chief of staff Andrew…
We’re used to celebrities getting better access to events than the common man, but usually they dress for the occasion. But swearing in the new leader of the free world didn’t mean Don King, the famous boxing promoter and owner of the world’s wackiest hair, was going to wear some fuddy-duddy suit. No, King rocked out denim painted for the occasion. Perhaps his voluminous hair kept him warm. That could be the only excuse for such a sight at such a formal event. Others spotted included: Oprah, garnering a huge shout from the audience when she was shown on the…