VOL. 5 NO. 85 POLITITHURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011 CO WWW.PolITICO.COM C ongress Gets Richer Weiner May Lose Slot Even in Bad Economy On Key Committee BY JOHN BRESNAHAN Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), one of the JON H Shinkle — AND JAKE SHERMAN most controversial members of POLITICO BY JONATHAN ALLEN plan to meet at noon Thursday the House, has moved to the top Rep. Darrell to confer about plans to increase The U.S. economy continues of the list, with a minimum net Issa is one of House Democratic leaders pressure on the scandal-scarred to sputter along, unemployment worth in excess of $220 million, the wealthi- could begin the process of taking New York Democrat to give up his remains at a stubbornly high 9.1 according to new financial disclo- est and most away Rep. Anthony Weiner’s com- seat. Democratic sources familiar percent, the federal deficit is $1.4 sures released Wednesday. controversial mittee assignments today as part with earlier discussions say they trillion and talk of a “double-dip” A broad look at congressional House mem- of a final push to force him from may choose to call for a caucus recession abounds. disclosures shows that lawmakers bers. office, even as a minor backlash vote on the matter next week. AP Yet members of Congress re- enjoyed major gains in the stock against calls for his resignation “That is under active consider- Rep. Anthony main far wealthier than the aver- market, which posted sharp in- has emerged from one corner of ation,” said a source familiar with Weiner age American, and their net worth creases last year. Others enjoyed the caucus. those discussions. keeps shooting up, regardless of Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi the real world economy. And Rep. See disCLOSURES on Page 16 (D-Calif.) and her leadership team SeeF RI T on Page 19 Boeing Suit Sends 2012 Dems Running Union case a pickle for moderates in right-to-work states BY SCOTT WONG REEUT RS AND LAURA HAUTALA “Facebook is lucky to have him,” Bill Clinton said of Joe Lockhart. A federal lawsuit against Boe- ing for alleged union-busting has become more than a conservative crusade; it’s an uncomfortable Facebook question for 2012 Democrats in right-to-work states. Vulnerable Democrats face an Friends a almost impossible choice: Side with Boeing and buck not only the White House but also ditch Consummate the unions that have long contrib- uted to Democratic campaigns. D.C. Insider But side with the unions and the federal government in a lawsuit BY MICHELLE QUINN challenging Boeing’s move into an- ti-union South Carolina, and you SAN FRANCISCO — For Face- run afoul of Big Business in many book, hiring former White House Southern and Midwestern right-to- spokesman Joe Lockhart adds a work states. Washington insider to the compa- Moderate Democrats’ response ny’s social network. for now: Run. For Lockhart, it’s a second shot “I really don’t want to get at a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. AP Lockhart, now 51, was offered Gov. Nikki Haley joined workers in opening Boeing’s 787 jetliner plant in North Charleston, S.C. See BOeiNG on Page 15 a job at AOL in late 1996, but he chose to work for President Bill Clinton instead. The White House job brought him fame and Washington cachet — and he parlayed both into a lu- L ibya Clash Reaches Tipping Point crative career at The Glover Park BY REID J. EPSTEIN clared Obama would soon be in violation of the Group. 1973 War Powers Resolution, a bipartisan coalition But colleagues say visions of The fight over presidential authority in the of 10 members of Congress sued the president and the jackpot he never scored have military conflict in Libya reached a tipping point Defense Secretary Robert Gates, arguing they are haunted him for years — a regular Wednesday, morphing from an academic discus- violating the law. The turn of events sent the White source of rueful might-have-been sion over the War Powers Resolution to a serious House scrambling to respond; the administration musings by Lockhart and the sub- challenge to President Barack Obama’s authority released a report justifying its actions in legal and J OHN SHINKLE — POLITICO ject of teasing by friends. to keep U.S. forces involved in the NATO-led air military terms. House Speaker John Boehner says bombings of the North African dictatorship. the president is violating the War See LOCKHART on Page 18 A day after House Speaker John Boehner de- SeeB LI YA on Page 21 Powers Resolution. INSIDE POLITICO 44 TECH PoliticS CLICK Administration unveils plan to Opposition could cloud Light- Did Huntsman flip-flop or take a A new pet project for members of boost minority job growth. Squared’s broadband plans. “30,000-foot” view of health care? Congress and their staffers. PAGE 3 PAGE 6 PAGE 23 PAGE 33 JAY WESTCOTt — POLITICO.