The U.S. economy added 165,000 jobs last month, more than the 148,000 gain expected by economists, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The unemployment rate fell to 7.5%, the lowest rate unemployment rate since December 2008.
Why Obama Isn’t LBJ
Jon Favreau: “Much has been written over the last few weeks about the limits of presidential power. Some smart observers have pointed out that these limits are not new; that historically they have had less to do with the personalities of our leaders than the structure of our democracy. The founders, reluctant to entrust any executive with the kind of authority that was so abused by the king they revolted against, created a separation of powers between co-equal branches of government.”
“But how boring is that? The more exciting story to tell is how Lyndon Johnson charmed and strong-armed his way to massive legislative victories. Much less interesting is the fact that most of those victories occurred while his party held record majorities in Congress. By the end of his second term, following the loss of 47 House seats and three Senate seats, one aide joked that Johnson couldn’t even get a Mother’s Day resolution passed.”
Rubio Says Immigration Bill Must be Changed
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) “says a new immigration bill he helped write needs stronger border security provisions or it will fail in the House and may even have trouble getting through the Senate,” the AP reports.
Rubio also writes in the Wall Street Journal that he’s “been hearing concerns in recent days that more work is needed to boost the bill’s language on the border and he said he’s committed to trying to make those changes.”
Jarrett Tried to Kill Pritzker Nomination
White House confidant Valerie Jarrett and Commerce Secretary nominee Penny Pritzker “will have overlapping portfolios of outreach to corporate America” but BuzzFeed notes “there is no love lost between the two women, people who know both say: Indeed, Jarrett tried to torpedo the appointment… And their tense relationship could help define the Administration’s attempts to mend ties with the business world that frayed badly during the first term.”
Meanwhile, McClatchy reports Pritzker’s nomination may hit a snag over her role as a pioneer in the troubled mortgage-backed securities industry.
Quote of the Day
“I pray that Hillary Clinton decides to run for president of the United States.”
— House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), quoted by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
Biden’s 2016 Chances Seem Slim
The Washington Post notes that Vice President Joe Biden is weighing whether to run in 2016 but “several paradoxes are at work. He is beloved by grass-roots Democrats, but mainly as the avuncular No. 2 to Barack Obama.”
“Biden clearly has the experience and gravitas to ascend to the presidency, but many Democrats say he may have been in Washington too long (since 1973) to win an election. He is President Obama’s governing partner yet is rarely seen as Obama’s heir apparent. For that mantle, and for the nomination, he is likely to face stiff competition in the form of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former secretary of state and, according to most everyone, the 2016 front-runner.”
Political Intelligence Becomes Big Business
The Washington Post notes that “largely out of public view, the ‘political intelligence’ industry has doubled in size over the past decade, by some estimates. What was once primarily a side business for law firms and lobby shops has grown so lucrative that it has spawned dozens of stand-alone firms that cater to hedge funds and other powerful corporate clients.”
“The appetite for this information — and the willingness to pay handsomely for it — is based on the realization among traders that decisions in Washington move markets and can shape entire industries for years. Understanding how Washington works has become so important for investors that it is hard for hedge funds and banks to do their research without stumbling upon some political angle.”
U.S. Bulks Up Bomb to Combat Iran
“The Pentagon has redesigned its biggest ‘bunker buster’ bomb with more advanced features intended to enable it to destroy Iran’s most heavily fortified and defended nuclear site,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Big Guns Raise Money for Markey
In the first sign that Democrats “are preparing to pull out the party’s big financial guns” for U.S. Senate nominee Ed Markey (D-MA), Michelle Obama “is scheduled to appear at a Boston fund-raiser for the Malden congressman later this month, an event that can collect up to $37,600 from an individual donor,” the Boston Globe reports.
President Obama is also likely “to make an appearance in Massachusetts for Markey before the June 25 election if the campaign requests his help.”
Colorado Approves Vote by Mail
The Colorado Senate passed a bill “that would provide a ballot by mail to every state voter, allow vote centers for those who choose not to use the mail ballot and — controversially — allow people to register and vote on Election Day,” the Denver Post reports.
“The bill passed 20-15 with the full support of Democrats and no Republican votes. The bill passed the House on a party-line vote last month.”
Hanabusa Launches Primary Challenge
The first Senate primary of 2014 is on: Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) will challenge Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) in Hawaii, the Washington Post reports.
“Schatz was appointed to the Senate in January by Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) to serve out the term of the late Daniel Inouye, against the dying senator’s last wishes. The decision came as a surprise. Aside from Inouye’s influence, Hanabusa was considered “next in line” for the spot. She also knows Washington and has cultivated relationships on Capitol Hill, something she alludes to multiple times in her statement.”
Rhode Island Will Be 10th State to Allow Gay Marriage
“Rhode Island is poised to join nine other states and the District of Columbia in allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry,” the AP reports.
“Gov. Lincoln Chafee planned to sign gay marriage legislation into law Thursday evening, immediately following a final procedural vote in the state’s General Assembly. The outcome of the vote is not in doubt.”
Gun Control Vote Pays Off for Landrieu and Hagan
Daily Beast: “New figures from Public Policy Polling find voters more likely to support Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Kay Hagan (D-NC) after they voted ‘yes’ on tightening background checks. These numbers are especially notable because both Democratic senators are up for reelection in 2014 in red states.”
‘On the flip side, as we showed here on Tuesday, approval ratings for several senators in both parties who voted against the measure–ultimately defeating it–have taken a noticeable dip. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Mark Begich (D-AK) were among the most bruised, according to the numbers.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“Mitt Romney appeared like a kid who showed up for his science project and the teacher said, ‘Explain it,’ and Mitt couldn’t do it,” Sessions said. “His ‘dad,’ Paul Ryan, explained it to him, but Mitt didn’t get it… That’s why we lost the last election.”
— Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), in an interview with D Magazine.
Ted Cruz for President?
Jon Stewart handicaps Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) presidential aspirations.
The Week: “Most commentators weren’t terribly impressed with Cruz’s chances, and it’s pretty safe to say that the 2016 presidential hopefuls in the Democratic Party weren’t shaking with fear.”
RNC Launches New Tech Initiative to Catch Democrats
“National Republicans are building a new data-sharing platform as the party moves to close a digital divide with Democrats that became glaringly apparent in the aftermath of the 2012 presidential election,” Roll Call reports.
They’ve got a partnership with two third-party entities “designed to facilitate unprecedented data generation and sharing across all GOP party committees, consultants, vendors and the conservative outside groups that have become increasingly active in political campaigns. The effort, which could cost up to $20 million, stems from recommendations made by the Growth and Opportunity Project, the RNC’s internal autopsy of what went wrong last year commissioned by Chairman Reince Priebus.”
Pioneering Women Who Shaped Texas
Just published: Unflinching Courage: Pioneering Women Who Shaped Texas by former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX).
Obama Finally Gets Angry
Joe Klein: “During the chaotic week of the Boston bomb attacks, Barack Obama finally did something a lot of people had been waiting for: He got angry. In public. In the Rose Garden. It happened after the Senate had shamefully failed to pass a bill, favored by the overwhelming majority of Americans, requiring background checks for gun purchasers…”
“To which I say, Bring it on, Mr. President. Obama’s anger served a larger purpose. It was directed at the plague affecting–no, paralyzing–our public life: the ability of well-funded extremist groups to thwart the will of the overwhelming majority. This is a problem that goes well beyond the gun issue.”
