VOL. 5 NO. 42 POLITIthursday, march 31, 2011CO www.politico.com Budget Deal Close With $33B in Cuts Budget talks heat up quick to agree to $33 billion in cuts to move Speaker John Boeh- as W.H. seeks middle ner toward what remains a very uncertain deal. By Da v i d Ro g e r s Vice President Joe Biden and White House Budget Director Budget talks came to life Jack Lew came to the Capitol for a Wednesday but not without new meeting that evening with the par- tension between the White House ty leadership requested by Senate and Senate Democrats, worried that the administration is too See budget on Page 21 Tea Partiers Warn GOP on Dealmaking Budget debate draws But if they forget what’s at stake, all GOP lawmakers need to activist rally to Hill do Thursday is walk outside the Jay Westcott — POLITICO Capitol, where perhaps hundreds Lawmakers said they didn’t learn much from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others at Wednesday’s briefings. By Ma r i n Co g a n of tea party protesters will be urg- a n d Ja k e Sh e r m a n ing congressional leaders to hold their ground on major spending It’s not like Republicans need cuts. a reminder of the tensions within Reps. Michele Bachmann of Libya Briefing Fuels Skeptics their own ranks on government spending cuts. See tea party on Page 16 “We get rid of Qad- Rebel news draws shaping the war. Lawmakers said they weren’t hafi, who’s going lawmaker criticism told much by Secretary of State Clinton, Secretary of Defense to lead? Who’s go- By Jo n a t h a n Al l e n Gates, Joint Chiefs Chairman ing to be in charge An d Me r e d i t h Sh i n e r Michael Mullen or Director of National Intelligence James Clap- over there? Is it President Barack Obama’s for- per that they couldn’t read in the eign policy “A” team — led by Cabi- newspaper or see on television. going to be people net secretaries Hillary Clinton and They said one dynamic was who have been Robert Gates — failed to quiet very clear: The administration criticism of U.S. military action in doesn’t much care what Congress against us from Libya Wednesday during a pair of thinks about the actions it’s taken classified briefings on Capitol Hill. so far. the outset?” More than anything, the meet- Challenged on whether Obama — Rep. Dan Burton ings served to underscore how little influence Congress has in See libya on Page 18 john shinkle — politico Reps. Michele Bachmann and Steve King will rally with tea partiers Thursday. A Tale of Two Udalls Obama Could Be Key Mo Udall’s legacy endures as cousins split on votes To Senate Majority By Sc o t t Wo n g N.M.) have taken them from the same President looms In the world’s most exclusive Tucson, Ariz., neighborhood to the House club, the president’s popularity is In the Senate, one Udall is recasting of Representatives in 1998 and to the U.S. large in Senate races also the subject of great concern: himself as a deficit hawk, recognizing Senate a decade later. They are cousins, With 23 Democratic-held Senate that the progressive legacy of his father, yet their bond is stronger than their blood- By Da v i d Ca t a n e s e seats up for grabs in 2012 — 18 of Mo, and Uncle Stew won’t, by itself, play line. (They once randomly crossed paths JOHN SHINKLE — them in states that Obama won well with voters in the modern West. while climbing the same 23,000-foot peak POLITICO The White House isn’t the only in 2008 — the president’s ability The other Udall is staying true to the in Argentina.) Sens. Mark place in Washington where Presi- to revive his vaunted turnout ma- family’s liberal roots. But in recent months, Mark Udall has Udall (top) and dent Barack Obama’s polling num- chine and compete on a broad map The near-parallel political careers of Tom Udall bers are being closely monitored Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Tom Udall (D- See udalls on Page 15 these days. See senate races on Page 18 inside POLITICO 44 TECH POLITICS President CLICK Barack After tiff, Planned Parenthood Crystal City-based ICE agents seek Conceived to fill a void, Public Obama Off pitch: President won’t take to the once again smiles on Obama. to freeze copyright infringement. Policy Polling is now on the rise. mound for baseball’s opening day. Reuters Page 3 Page 8 Page 23 Page 33