Political Quick Hits: October 14th Edition
Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:
- On Tuesday, President Obama’s jobs bill was defeated in the Senate. 50 senators voted for it, 49 against it, a bill needs 60 votes in the Senate to proceed. President Obama promised after this setback to break his jobs bill up into several smaller parts, which would each come up for a vote. (CNN)
- On Wednesday night, Congress overwhelmingly passed free trade deals with Panama, Colombia and South Korea. This is seen as the most significant expansion of trade relations in two decades. The agreement with South Korea, which is the world’s 15th largest economy, could be a boost for the U.S. economy and has the potential to create up to 280,000 American jobs and boost exports by $12 billion, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. (Washington Post)
- The FBI and DEA broke up an alleged terror plot involving Iran committing terrorist acts in America. The plot included an assassination attempt on the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States and bomb attacks on Saudi Arabia and Israel’s embassies in Washington D.C. The FBI arrested Iranian-American Manssor Arbabsiar in connection with the plot. He claims that he was being directed by high-ranking members in Iran’s government. (ABC News)
- On Thursday, the controversial Protect Life Act passed in the House. The bill prohibits women from buying health insurance plans that cover abortion under the Affordable Care Act and makes it legal for hospitals to deny abortions to pregnant women with life-threatening conditions. This bill is unlikely to pass the Senate and the White House said President Obama would veto the bill if it ever reaches his desk. (Huffington Post)
- Finally, we have a new front-runner in the Republican race for the presidency in 2012. Businessman Herman Cain now leads most polls with Mitt Romney in second place. My thoughts on the possibility of Obama vs. Cain in 2012, HERE.
