This
Week In Washington
Top 5 Stories
1.
President Obama continued to
preview his State of the Union address this week, traveling the country to
promote initiatives to enhance cybersecurity, strengthen consumer and student privacy
protections, improve access to high-speed internet, and expand access to higher
education.
Look ahead: Several of the president's policy initiatives are likely to
meet with Republican resistance in the 114th Congress.
2.
The House voted 236-191 in favor
of legislation that would fund the Department of Homeland Security through
September, while barring the president's unilateral efforts to shield millions
of undocumented immigrants from deportation.
Look ahead: Given the bill's dim prospects in the Senate and Boehner's
openness to a "clean" funding bill, House conservatives' immigration
gambit could backfire.
3.
The Obama administration faced
widespread criticism for not sending a sufficiently high-level representative
to a unity march attended by 44 heads of state. Attorney General Eric Holder,
intended as the administration's emissary, ultimately did not attend due to
scheduling conflicts; U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley served as the
government's representative.
Look ahead: Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Paris in a show
of American solidarity with France, and on Feb. 18, the White House will host a
Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, convening state and local officials to
discuss strategies for preventing violent incidents.
4.
Republican presidential aspirants
readied their potential campaigns, as 2012 nominee Mitt Romney works to reconstitute
his political operation and backers of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush aim to
raise $100 million in the first quarter of 2015.
Look ahead: With establishment Republicans ambivalent about Romney,
several potential rivals are making moves of their own, with Sen. Rand Paul hiring
strategist Chip Englander to manage his campaign, and New Jersey Gov. Chris
Christie preparing to launch a leadership PAC ahead of an anticipated
late-spring campaign announcement.
5.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., announced
her intention to retire at the end of her current term, creating frenzy among
ambitious state Democrats whose progress has been arrested by the endurance of
Boxer, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and Gov. Jerry Brown.
Look ahead: State Attorney General Kamala Harris declared her candidacy
for the seat, while Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, believed to be weighing a
gubernatorial bid in 2018, declined to enter the race.
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