West Wing Report: July 21, 2010

President Obama savors another legislative win today: he'll sign the Wall Street reform bill. It's going to be such a big event, the White House has moved it a few blocks away so more people can attend.

It's the biggest overhaul of the nation's financial industry since the Great Depression. Obama hopes it'll prevent the kind of meltdown that nearly brought the economy to its knees just two years ago. It also creates a new consumer protection agency designed to safeguard individuals against everything from predatory lending to bank overdraft fees.

Unemployment Benefits, Kagan Confirmation

Obama has other reasons to celebrate today as well - the Senate is poised for a final vote on extending unemployment benefits for several million Americans. And his choice for the Supreme Court - Elena Kagan - has cleared the Senate Judiciary committee - her nomination now goes to the full Senate for a vote - her confirmation is not in doubt.

And even before a final vote on Kagan, there is buzz that another Justice - Ruth Bader Ginsburg - wants to retire soon. Ginsburg, 77, has been battling cancer, and her husband died recently. If she were to leave, President Obama would get his third opportunity to appoint a Justice to the high court. After Ginsburg, the oldest Supreme Court Justices are Antonin Scalia, 74; Anthony Kennedy, 73; Stephen Breyer, 71; Clarence Thomas, 62; Samuel Alito, 60; Sonia Sotomayor, 56 and the baby of the group, Chief Justice John Roberts, 55.


President's Schedule


EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:45AM THE PRESIDENT meets with THE VICE PRESIDENT
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:30AM THE PRESIDENT signs the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; THE VICE PRESIDENT also attends
Ronald Reagan Building
Pooled TV, Open to pre-credentialed correspondents (In-Town Travel Pool Gather Time 10:55AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:45PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT have lunch with House Members
Roosevelt Room
Closed Press

2:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:45PM THE PRESIDENT receives a briefing on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Situation Room
Closed Press
Briefing Schedule

1:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs