Agenda: Wooing Republicans

The L.A. Times plays up the positive comments Congressional Republicans made about the tax cut plans within Obama's stimulus plan. The Washington Post also led with Obama's efforts to woo congressional Republicans. "Obama officials said they tried to keep the package ideologically neutral, rejecting an option supported by many progressives to make people who are not working eligible for a ‘refundable’ tax credit. And they passed up conservative provisions such as estate tax relief and capital gains tax cuts that disproportionately benefit wealthier individuals. After a lunchtime session with his economic advisers, Obama rejected suggestions that the tax cuts were designed to win over GOP votes. ‘The notion that me wanting to include relief for working families in this plan is somehow a political ploy, when this was a centerpiece of my plan for the last two years doesn't make too much sense,’ he told reporters.” “Some prominent Republicans expressed reservations about the tax proposals' ... (link)