VOL. 4 NO. 52 POLITItuesday, april 27, 2010 CO www.politico.com Graham’s Financial Reform Climate One Down but Feud Many Votes to Continues Go on Reform White House press secretary By Ca r r i e Bu d o f f Br o w n Robert Gibbs on Monday pro- a n d Me r e d i t h Sh i n e r fessed the administration’s admi- ration and affection for GOP Sen. In the wake of Monday’s failed vote on Wall Street Lindsey reform, Democratic leaders are planning a steady Pit boss Graham barrage of votes on the same bill until it passes By Je a n n e and — confident that Republicans can’t hold ranks for Cu m m i n g s added: long. “I don’t And Democrats believe they’ve got an ace in the know the degree to which that hole: Lloyd Blankfein, the Goldman Sachs CEO. has complicated his life.” Blankfein is sure to face a barrage of criticism Here’s a hint: Back home in over his company’s actions in a Senate hearing Tues- South Carolina, Graham has been day — and shine a light on some of the very prac- censured by multiple Republican tices that Democrats say the regulatory reform bill county committees for his work is meant to abolish. on energy reform, immigration Votes could come as early as Tuesday and and other presidential priorities, Wednesday, Senate Democratic aides said, adding and some detractors are pushing to have every GOP committee in See reg reform on Page 16 the state issue similar rebukes. That helps explain why he reacted so sharply Friday to news that Senate Majority Leader Harry Uphill Climb for Reid (D-Nev.) and the White House wanted to move immigration reform — legislation that hasn’t Female Staffers even been written — onto the Photos by JOHN SHINKLE — POLITICO Senate calendar before a climate For Sens. Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin, fundraising for Sen. Harry Reid is a priority. By Er i k a Lo v le y bill that Graham, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Sen. Joe Lieberman President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court short- (I-Conn.) were to unveil Monday. list is jampacked with women, but on Capitol Hill Graham had even tougher Future Foes Raise for Reid many women are still struggling to obtain elite staff talking points late Monday: He positions in congressional offices. emerged from a closed-door Schumer, By Ma n u Ra j u In general, women have no problem getting hired meeting with Kerry and Lieber- a n d Jo h n Br e s n a h a n on the Hill: data show that in House offices women man to say that immigration Durbin may are filling entry-level positions, such as staff assis- must be tabled altogether before covet Reid’s Sen. Chuck Schumer invited Harry Reid to tant and scheduler, in droves. But in influential man- he will agree to back any energy spend Monday morning with him in Brooklyn, agement and legislative positions, their numbers bill this year. job but will where some of Schumer’s well-heeled friends plummet. “I’ve told Sen. Lieberman and try to save opened their checkbooks to help the Senate A POLITICO review of several House of Represen- Sen. Kerry that I’d love for climate it first majority leader’s struggling reelection bid. tatives compensation studies shows that the number legislation to be successful, and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin has invited ap of female chiefs of staff in the House has increased I know what it takes to do hard Reid to join him next week in Chicago, where Sen. Harry Reid only about 6 percentage points during the past five stuff. And the current political years. As of last year, only 41 percent of House chiefs See reid on Page 14 See pit boss on Page 17 See women on Page 20 Obama Strategy: This Time, It’s Personal By Jo n a t h a n Alle n Sarah Palin can be ignored on Obama has lately been getting a n d Ca r o l E. Lee arms control because she’s “not ex- personal with his political adver- actly an expert on nuclear issues.” saries — singling them out for Mitch McConnell is in bed with And Glenn Beck and Rush Lim- scorn in speeches, interviews, Wall Street “movers and shakers” baugh are just a “troublesome” asides and even in his weekly ra- — and is fronting “cynical and twosome spreading “vitriol.” dio address. deceptive” arguments on their be- Democratic oppo research? Rather than just going after big half. Comments from Daily Kos? groups of bad guys — insurance John Boehner is a health care No, this is your president companies, lobbyists, the media ap Chicken Little to be mocked for speaking. — Obama has adopted a strategy Sen. Mitch ap predicting Armageddon if the Once chastised for not being McConnell President Barack Obama is getting personal in attacks. Democrats’ reform bill passed. tough enough, President Barack See personal on Page 19 inside POLITICO 44 NEWS health care Rep. Bob politics Sen. Carl Levin says Goldman Critics claim Reid’s push for im- Implementation of reform law Inglis Four Republican opponents want to courtesy Sachs was “misleading” the nation. migration reform is pure politics. faces its first real test this week. of Rep. bob beat ‘Bob Inglis 2.0.’ PAGE 3 PAGE 4 PAGE 11 inglis PAGE 23