It’s Wednesday.
We’ve reached the 42nd day of President Biden’s first 100 day’s in office.
For day 42, President Biden will receive his daily briefing, meet with a bipartisan group to discuss caner research, and attend virtually an event with the Democratic Caucus.
This will be President Biden’s second day in a row meeting with the Democratic Caucus. The White House published a readout of yesterday’s meeting which President Biden attended by phone.
President Biden joined the weekly Senate Democratic Caucus lunch meeting today to make the case for speedy passage of the American Rescue Plan and get input from Senators on the path forward. During the call, the President highlighted the broad support the package has received – including from a bipartisan majority of the American people, state and local leaders, labor, and the business community – and noted the urgency of passing the bill to speed up vaccinations and the safe reopening of schools. With the Senate preparing to take up the Rescue Plan, the President urged the caucus to remain united in its commitment to passing a package big enough to meet the economic and health crises we face, and to act swiftly to pass it before unemployment benefits for around 11 million Americans start expiring on March 14.
White House.gov. 03/02/2021.
In nomination news…
On Tuesday evening, the President’s nominee for the Office of Management and Budget, Neera Tanden sent a letter withdrawing her nomination.
Dear President Biden,
I am writing to you to withdraw my nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget. It has been an honor of a lifetime to be considered for this role and for the faith placed in me.
I appreciate how hard you and your team at the White House has worked to win my confirmation. Unfortunately, it now seems clear that there is no path forward to gain confirmation, and I do not want continued consideration of my nomination to be a distraction from your other priorities.
I am incredibly grateful for your leadership on behalf of the American people and for your agenda that will make such a transformative difference in people’s lives.
White House.gov. 03/02/2021.
Tanden had been sharply criticized for tweets she sent where she blasted Senate Republican’s. In her confirmation hearing Tanden apologized for the tweets that have now been deleted, saying she regretted her tone.
During a press briefing on February 24th, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked if Tanden had offered to withdrawal her nomination to which Psaki responded: We are working in close touch with Neera, and — with Neera Tanden and with members of Congress on continuing to do the outreach and engagement to fight for her confirmation. That’s where our focus is.
When pressed further Psaki said, “That’s not the stage we’re in, Kaitlan (CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins] . We’re — the stage we’re in is working to continue to fight for her nomination. And as you know, it’s a numbers game. Right? It’s a matter of getting one Republican to support her nomination. We’re continuing to do that outreach, answer questions they have, and continue to reiterate her qualifications.”
President Biden accepted her withdrawal saying he is looking forward to Tanden working in his Administration.
I have accepted Neera Tanden’s request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I have the utmost respect for her record of accomplishment, her experience and her counsel, and I look forward to having her serve in a role in my Administration. She will bring valuable perspective and insight to our work.
White House.gov. 03/02/2021
President Biden had a busier than normal day on Twitter on Tuesday, sending 8 tweets and no retweets.
At 1:08 p.m. D.C., time, he makes a push for the $1400 cash payment to American’s.
@ 5:34 p.m. D.C., time, he shares a clip from his remarks earlier on Tuesday to push the Senate to pass the American Rescue Plan.
President Biden: We need the United States Senate to follow the House and pass the American Rescue Plan, because despite the optimism, without new resources, our entire effort will be set back. We need the resources in the American Rescue Plan and we need it urgently. We need them expanding testing, ramp up vaccine distribution, fund FEMA and other federal vaccine efforts, and continue reimbursing states for their efforts. We need the resources to expand genomic sequencing; to stay ahead of emerging variants; find the protective gear, transportation, staffing, and other costs required for school and business to open safely. We need to fund it. The bottom line is: We need the American Rescue Plan now. Now.
On February 27th, 2021, the House passed H.R. 1319 aka the American Rescue Plan Act 2021 with a vote of 219 to 212.
In between pushes for the American Rescue Plan @ 4:22 p.m. D.C., time, President Biden shared a live feed to his announcement that Merck and Johnson & Johnson would be teaming up to produce Johnson & Johnson’s single dose coronavirus vaccine.
At 5:15 p.m. D.C., time he shared a 1 minute and 9 second video clip of his announcement–announcing the partnership.
Full remarks can be found @ White House.gov.
Highlights:
I’ve always said, this was a wartime effort, and every action has been on the table, including putting together breakthrough approaches.
And today, we’re announcing a major step forward: Two of the largest healthcare and pharmaceutical companies in the world — that are usually competitors — are working together on the vaccine. Johnson & Johnson and Merck will work together to expand the production of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine. This is the type of collaboration between companies we saw in World War Two.
We also invoked the Defense Production Act to equip two Merck facilities to the standards necessary to safely manufacture the J&J vaccine. And with the urging and assistance of my administration, Johnson & Johnson is also taking additional new actions to safely accelerate vaccine production. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine manufacturing facilities will now begin to operate 24/7.
White House.gov. 03/02/2021.
As the News Blender covered in Tuesday’s Open Thread, the Washington Post was the first to report the partnership between Merck and Johnson & Johnson.
Six minutes later the @POTUS account tweets that there will be enough vaccines for “every American by the end of May,” versus the earlier predictions of end of July.
From his remarks:
We’re now on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May.
Let me say that again: When I came into office, the prior administration had contracted for not nearly enough vaccine to cover adults in America. We rectified that. About three weeks ago, we were able to say that we’ll have enough vaccine supply for adults by the end of July.
And I’m pleased to announce today, as a consequence of the stepped-up process that I’ve ordered and just outlined, this country will have enough vaccine supply — I’ll say it again — for every adult in America by the end of May. By the end of May. That’s progress — important progress.
White House.gov. 03/02/2021.
Continuing with the vaccine theme @ 4:31 p.m. D.C., time, he tweets that he has directed every state to move educators up the list to receive a vaccine.
From his remarks:
So as yet another move to help accelerate the safe reopening of our schools, let’s treat in-person learning like an essential service that it is. And that means getting essential workers who provide that service — educators, school staff, childcare workers — get them vaccinated immediately. They’re essential workers.
Over 30 states have already taken step to prior- –prioritize educators for vaccination. And today, I’m using the full authority of the federal government. I’m directing every state to do the same. My challenge to all states, territories, and the District of Columbia is this: We want every educator, school staff member, childcare worker to receive at least one shot by the end of the month of March.
To help make this happen, starting next week and for a month — the month of March, we will be using our federal pharmacy program to prioritize the vaccination of pre-K through 12 educators and staff and child-care workers. Throughout March, they will be able to prioritize the vaccination of pre-K-through-12 educators and staff and childcare workers. Throughout March, they will be able to sign up for an appointment at a pharmacy near them.
And I want to be very clear: Not every educator will be able to get their appointment in the first week, but our goarl [sic] — goal is to do everything we can to help every educator receive a shot this month, the month of March.
White House.gov. 03/02/2021.
At 10:04 he shared a statement regarding the death of civil rights leader Vernon Jordan.
His full statement:
Vernon Jordan began life in one of the first public housing projects in America and ended life as a fixture in our country’s halls of power. Along the way, he became a foot soldier for civil rights, a trusted friend and counselor to presidents, and a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
Vernon navigated America’s boardrooms with an activist’s heart, working the levers of power in service of progress. And the countless business and political leaders who turned to Vernon for guidance did so because when he spoke, you could hear in his rich baritone the belief in an America that was capable of becoming an ever-more perfect union. It was a journey he’d lived. As a young lawyer, he went home to Georgia, to battle against unjust systems in the segregated South. As president of the National Urban League, he fought for economic justice because he knew that a job brought with it more than a paycheck; it brought dignity. As a civil rights leader shot in the back by a white supremacist, he came away from that near-death experience energized rather than embittered. As a high-powered lawyer and financier, “the Rosa Parks of Wall Street,” he was often the first in many rooms but never afraid to speak his mind.
When eulogizing other leaders, Vernon liked to quote the great Reverend Gardner Taylor, and his words ring true today: “Something vast and noble has passed from among us. It is like a mighty oak has fallen, leaving an empty and gaping and glaring space against the sky where he stood.” Jill and I extend our deepest condolences to Ann, Vickee, and the entire Jordan family.
White House.gov. 03/02/2021.
At 10:40 p.m. D.C., time, he praises the Democrats for introducing legislation “to strengthen our background check system.”
CBS News reported on Tuesday that Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), would reintroduce legislation that “require universal background checks on the sale or transfer of all firearms. Universal background checks are largely supported by Americans but have not gained traction in Congress.”
In a statement Murphy said he had the support of 45 Senators, including Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Murphy’s full comments regarding the reintroduction of the Background Check Expansion Act.
Background checks are simple, easy, and they save lives. That’s why more than 90 percent of Americans support [I found a poll conducted in August 2019, published by Suffolk.edu, in September of that year, that surveyed 1,000 registered voters that says 90 percent of American’s support universal background checks] our legislation to make sure no guns are sold in this country without a background check.
Joe Biden and hundreds of congressional candidates from both parties ran on the issue of background checks. This is the year to get this bill passed into law. And this legislation has the chance to bring this country together – even 85 percent of gun owners believe in expanding background checks, [In my quick searching, I did not find a poll to support this statement more current than 2015] and a growing anti-gun violence movement, made up of both Democrats and Republicans, is demanding change. I look forward to working across the aisle to get background checks legislation across the finish line.
Senator Murphy. 03/02/2021.
The legislation was first introduced on January 8th, 2019, according to Congress.gov.
For Friday President Biden has tweeted 1 time so far.
Miguel Cardona was confirmed by the Senate on Monday, the yea’s were 64 and the nay’s were 33.
Senate.gov., says 3 Senators did not vote; Blackburn (R-TN), Blunt (R-MO), Moran (R-KS).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden on Wednesday will travel with Secretary Cardona to visit two schools, one in Meriden, Conneticut the other in Waterford, Pennsylvania.
The daily press briefing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. D.C., time.
Live Feed: The White House.
This is an Open Thread.
