The Senate-House conference committee ironing out differences in the
competing versions of Wall Street reform legislation has a busy week,
with three scheduled meetings. Some of the toughest issues remain.
Several party nominations will be decided Tuesday night after runoffs
in South Carolina, North Carolina and Utah.
{mosads}Work will also continue in the Senate on the tax extenders bill. In
the House, there is expected to be a vote on campaign finance
legislation.
Monday, June 21
— President Barack Obama hosts a Father’s Day event at the White
House. He’ll discuss the importance of responsible fatherhood and
mentoring to build healthy families and communities, according to a
statement on the event.
— Vice President Joe Biden will be in Midland, Mich., to discuss the
Recovery Act. He’ll visit a manufacturing plant with Gov. Jennifer
Granholm (D) and Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Debbie Stabenow
(D-Mich.).
Tuesday, June 22
— The Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds a 9:30 a.m. hearing on
“Iran Policy in the Aftermath of U.N. Sanctions.”
— The Senate-House conference committee on Wall Street reform meets
at 11 a.m. It will meet Wednesday and Thursday at the same time.
— Several runoff elections will conclude Tuesday night. In South
Carolina, Nikki Haley will learn if she’ll be the Republican
gubernatorial nominee. She won the June 8 primary by 22 points, but
did not cross the 50 percent threshold needed to win the nomination
outright. Haley came into the national spotlight after a conservative
blogger claimed he had an affair with her — a charge she denied. She’s
kept the support of several prominent conservatives, including former
Govs. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) and Mitt Romney (R-Mass.).
Also, Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.) has a runoff for his seat. If he loses,
he’ll be the fourth House member ousted in a primary this cycle.
— In North Carolina, Democrats will decide their Senate nominee.
Former state Sen. Cal Cunningham and Secretary of State Elaine
Marshall are fighting for the chance to face Sen. Richard Burr
(R-N.C.) in November. The latest polling showed Burr with a
comfortable lead over either challenger.
— In Utah, Republicans will decide who will replace Sen. Bob Bennett
as their party’s nominee. Bennett lost at the state GOP convention and
later endorsed Tim Bridgewater over Mike Lee. The winner of the
nomination is expected to fill the seat in the conservative state.
Also in Utah, Rep. Jim Matheson (D) has a runoff, but he’s been
spending big to hold off his challenger, political neophyte Claudia
Wright.
— Obama holds an LGBT Pride Month event at the White House.
Wednesday, June 23
— The president hosts a bipartisan group of senators for talks on
energy and climate legislation.
— A House Science and Technology subpanel explores the issue of
“Deepwater Drilling Technology, Research and Development” at 10 a.m.;
the House Education and Labor Committee meets at the same time on
worker health and safety on offshore oil rigs.
— A Senate Appropriations subpanel holds a hearing at 10 a.m. on the
reorganization of the Interior Department’s Minerals Management
Service, the agency that oversees offshore drilling.
— The Senate Rules and Administration Committee meets at 10 a.m. for
a hearing on silent filibusters, holds and the Senate confirmation
process.
— First lady Michelle Obama continues her outreach to government
agencies with a visit to the Department of Justice, where she’ll be
joined by Attorney General Eric Holder.
— Director Oliver Stone speaks at a noon press conference on his
latest film, “South of the Border,” about Latin American political
leaders.
Thursday, June 24
— The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee holds a
10 a.m. hearing on federal investment in for-profit education.
— The Health subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
looks at the issue of “Overcoming Rural Health Care Barriers: Use of
Innovative Wireless Health Technology Solutions” at 10 a.m.
— The Senate Commerce Committee has a 10 a.m. hearing on Universal
Service; a subcommittee meets at 2:30 p.m. on pipeline safety.
— The first lady visits D.C.’s Duke Ellington School.
— The Hill hosts a “Tribute to the Troops” breakfast policy briefing
with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen.
— Obama hosts the Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, at the White House.
Friday, June 25
— Obama travels to Ontario, Canada, for the G-8 summit.
— The Center for American Progress sponsors a forum called “Health
Insurance Oversight in the Post-Reform World” from noon to 1:30 p.m.,
focusing on the creation of health exchanges and rate increase
reviews.