Senator Lisa Murkowski hands Vice President Joe Biden one of her campaign t-shirts after the ceremonial re-enactment of her swearing-in in the Old Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, January 5, 2011. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)
–Today’s weekly unemployment report appears to foreshadow sunnier numbers for December due out tomorrow.
–Democratic identification drops to a 22-year low.
–Senate Democrats unveil their filibuster reform package. It would maintain the 60-vote threshold, but end secret holds, limit post-cloture debate on nominees and give the minority more power in bringing up amendments.
–Kate surveys the health reform battlefield. CBO scores repeal:
As a result of changes in direct spending and revenues, CBO expects that enacting H.R. 2 would probably increase federal budget deficits over the 2012–2019 period by a total of roughly $145 billion (on the basis of the original estimate), plus or minus the effects of technical and economic changes that CBO and JCT will include in the forthcoming estimate. Adding two more years (through 2021) brings the projected increase in deficits to something in the vicinity of $230 billion, plus or minus the effects of technical and economic changes.
–Ezra Klein thought Boehner’s speech was savvy.
–A quick bio of Gene Sperling, who is expected to be announced as Larry Summers’ replacement on the National Economic Council on Friday.
–Mitch Daniels will attend CPAC, the conservative confabulation and presidential candidate cattle call.