Hello, and welcome to TKNN reports for December 29, 2012. Today we are looking at the fiscal cliff. But we will also look at the possible successors for Sen. John Kerry. Here we go.
We begin with the fiscal cliff. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker John Boehner, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi all met today with President Obama at the White House to discuss the impending fiscal cliff. They left without a plan, but with elevated hope for a deal. Leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell are going to be working on a plan to take back to their caucuses to avoid the automatic tax hikes and spending cuts. President Obama’s plan will also come up for an up-down vote on Monday. However, unless it reaches wide support from Republicans, it will most likely not come up for a vote in the House.
Sources that are close to the negotiations say that the two senators are far from certain for a deal.
Now, an update on a story that many people have been watching. Former President George H.W. Bush has been released from intensive care. The 41st President has now been moved back to a regular patient room. President Bush has been dealing with bronchitis and the flu, and has been in the hospital since November 23.
We continue with a successor for Sen. Kerry. As John Kerry has been nominated to be the Secretary of State for President Obama’s second term. Now, Democrats are hoping to keep the seat in their hands, and are trying to have as painless a process as possible. One of the ways they are attempting to do that is by unilaterally endorsing a candidate for the primary, in the hopes of preventing a damaging campaign. Many Democrats, including the Democrat’s Senate campaign and the Senator himself, have endorsed the dean of the Massachusetts congregation, Rep. Ed Markey. Democrats are trying to prevent a repeat of the last special election in Massachusetts, when a little-known Republican state-senator named Scott Brown won. Scott Brown is widely expected to run for the Republican nomination, which he would face little, if any, opposition in. Who would win is still anybody’s guess. It also important to note that Sen. John Kerry has not been nominated yet.
Be sure to watch Political Jungle for in-depth coverage
Well, thank you for joining us on TKNN Reports. We’ll see you next year, or next week, for another relaxed view on politics.