FILE-Rep. Phil Gingrey R-Ga. during a health care news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2009.

From NBC's Luke Russert
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) on the House floor said the health-care overhaul law was the "worst bill that has ever been passed in the history of Congress."

It's quite a statement considering the nation's history.

Some historians may argue that the Alien and Sedition Act of 1798 or the Sedition Act of 1918, which essentially made it a crime to criticize the U.S. government, may be worse -- as they were a clear violation of the First Amendment.

Another black eye in the nation's history, the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which allowed for slavery to exist beneath the 36-30 parallel was passed by Congress in an effort for America to continue as a half slave and half-free state.

Perhaps the worst bill passed by Congress is the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. This legislation called for all runaway slaves to be returned to their masters. The only thing needed to track and apprehend a slave was a sworn affidavit from a master. Also, the slave had no right to jury trial or right to testify on their behalf.

So as this contentious debate on an amendment to defund health-care reform goes forward in 2011, it's important to remember that our nation has come a long way since 1776 and seen its fair share of egregious legislation that has had to do with human rights.

*** UPDATE *** Rep. Shelia Jackson-Lee (D-TX) just went on the House floor and Gingrey's claim.

Jackson-Lee said (paraphrase), "Worst bill ever passed? How dare they? What about the slave laws? The fugitive slave laws? This bill gives people rights, it does not take them away."

*** UPDATE 2 *** Here's what Jackson-Lee said: "We have to respond to someone who got up and actually said this is the worst bill that's ever been passed. What about the slave laws? What about the fugitive slave laws. How dare anyone suggest this is the worst bill when we give opportunity to all Americans. This amendment should be denied."

We're shooting another edition of Inside the Boiler Room today. Got a question? Post it below!

How the protests in Wisconsin have turned the political rhetoric upside down from one year ago… The physics of American politics: For every action (like the one in WI), there’s an equal and opposite reaction… How Walker’s showdown is high risk and high reward… Walker, Wisconsin Ranger… Palin appears to have more traction with the media than Iowa activists… And Obama to deliver a speech in Oregon at 2:35 pm ET.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Upside down: Anyone else noticed how the political protests in Wisconsin -- as well as the game of hide and seek there -- have turned the political rhetoric upside down? A year ago, during the health-care fight in Washington, Democrats maintained that elections have consequences. Now it’s the Republicans in power in Wisconsin (and elsewhere) who are saying this. A year ago, Republicans complained of partisan legislation being quickly crammed through the system (though that process took an entire year), and now it’s Democrats who are voicing this complaint in Wisconsin. And a year ago, Republicans used every parliamentary trick in the book (cloture, votes up until Christmas Eve) to stop or slow down the health-care legislation. Now we’re seeing the Democrats use what’s at their disposal (like fleeing to Illinois to deny a quorum) to stop or slow down the legislation in Wisconsin. Bottom line: Those in political power do every thing they can to pass their priorities, and those out of power do every thing they can to stop them.

*** The physics of American politics: The situation in Wisconsin is also another reminder that Newton's third law of motion -- for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction -- applies to American politics. When George W. Bush, after winning re-election, tried to partially privatize Social Security in early 2005, he woke up a despondent Democratic base. When Barack Obama, at the height of his popularity, decided to take on health care, the Tea Party and an energized GOP rose to combat it. And now the physics of politics is playing out in Wisconsin, where Democrats and organized labor are resisting new Gov. Scott Walker's (R) effort to strip state workers of their collective bargaining rights. The question to ponder in Wisconsin -- as well as in the battlegrounds of Ohio and Florida, or in the Capitol Hill fight over Planned Parenthood -- is whether these combative efforts end up energizing Democrats as we head into 2012. After all, there is probably not a more unifying force than being out of power.

*** High risk, high reward: You knew a state budget showdown in the states was coming. It’s just surprising that this showdown is taking place in Wisconsin, a state Obama won in 2008 with 56% of the vote (though Kerry barely won it in 2004, and the state has had a slew of GOP governors). It’s a highly educated, fairly unionized state that was a birthplace of American progressivism (“Fighting Bob” La Follette, anyone?). So this is a high-risk, high-reward move for Walker and the Republicans. If they’re successful in Wisconsin, they can certainly be successful elsewhere. (As Greg Sargent puts it, “If labor loses after staking so much on this battle, other state governments may feel emboldened about forging forward with their own efforts to weaken municipal unions.”) Then again, as we mentioned above, they could be waking up a sleeping giant heading into next year’s presidential contest. Remember, it was less than a month ago when Obama traveled to Wisconsin after his State of the Union address to shore up his base there.

*** Walker, Wisconsin Ranger: The other surprising part of this showdown is that it's taking place so early in Walker's term, and so early in the legislative session. This isn't over cuts or pay -- folks are missing the point on this front. The Democratic state senators fled over the attempt to strip collective bargaining rights. And what's odd about this showdown is that one would assume this THREAT over stripping collective bargaining would have been used to get the cuts he wanted and the pension contributions that he needed for his budget. But he's going for the jugular all at once. It sets a tone for Walker for his entire four years, and sets a polarizing tone for the state politically for 2012. And it could make it hard for Walker to get much done after this showdown. But politically, it will make him a hero of the right, particularly anti-union activists.

*** Palin has more traction with the media than with Iowa activists: Yesterday, Sarah Palin delivered a speech in Long Island that generated a fair amount of media attention, especially as it relates to 2012. When asked whom she might back if she doesn’t run, Palin said, per NBC’s Catherine Chomiak: “I would look for is somebody who is, let’s start off with, a woman, a mom, somebody who's administered locally, state, interstate, with energy issues, so maybe a mayor, a governor, an oil commissioner, maybe someone who's already run for vice president.” (Hmmm, who would that be?) But as the Washington Post’s Dan Balz writes today, she appears to have more traction with the media than with actual Iowa activists, a conservative group that C.W. folks believe should be a natural base for Palin. Covering a focus group of these activists, Balz said, “Palin has a reservoir of goodwill but must overcome real obstacles. Georgia Vincent, an office manager, admires Palin but doesn't see her as presidential. ‘I have tremendous respect for her, but I don't think that the presidency is where her talents could be best used,’ she said.”

*** Obama on the West Coast: At 2:35 pm ET, President Obama delivers another “winning the future” speech at Intel in Hillsboro, OR. Per the White House, Obama “will tour the world’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facility with Intel CEO Paul Otellini,” who was named to the White House’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.  

Countdown Chicago’s mayoral election: 4 days
Countdown to Election Day 2011: 263 days
Countdown to the Iowa caucuses: 353 days
* Note: When the IA caucuses take place depends on whether other states move up

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In Wisconsin, “A group of Democratic lawmakers blocked passage of a sweeping anti-union bill yesterday, refusing to show up for a vote and then abruptly leaving the state in an effort to force Republicans to the negotiating table,” the AP writes. “Hours later, one member said that they had left Wisconsin. ‘The plan is to try and slow this down because it’s an extreme piece of legislation that’s tearing this state apart,’ Senator Jon Erpenbach said by phone. He refused to say where he was.”

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Democrats holed up in the Clock Tower Resort and Conference Center in Rockford, Ill., while Republicans said they wanted law enforcement to bring them to the Capitol if they were still in Wisconsin. Walker called for Democrats to call off their ‘stunt’ and ‘show up and do the job they're paid to do.’ ‘It's either a matter of making reductions and making modest requests of our government employees or making massive layoffs at a time when we don't need anyone else laid off,’ Walker said.” 

The AP: “In a deepening struggle over spending, Republicans and Democrats swapped charges yesterday over a possible government shutdown when funding expires March 4 for most federal agencies.” House Speaker Boehner “prefaced his remarks by accusing Democrats of risking a shutdown ‘rather than to cut spending and to follow the will of the American people.’ But moments later, Senate majority leader Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, retorted that Boehner was resorting ‘to threats of a shutdown without any negotiation.’”

“House Republicans believe they are on the verge of voting to end federal subsidies for public broadcasting, setting the stage for a Big Bird-size battle in the Senate and potentially thrusting the issue into the hands of President Obama, an avowed fan of the public networks,” the Boston Globe reports.

Workin’ for the Weekend? “With scores of amendments outstanding on a six-month spending measure, House GOP leaders acknowledged late Thursday that they would need at least another day to wrap up the bill before starting the Presidents Day recess,” Roll Call writes.

“The Senate adjourned Thursday evening for the Presidents Day recess after overwhelmingly passing a reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration,” Roll Call writes. “The Senate is scheduled to reconvene at 2 p.m. Feb. 28. Votes on two U.S. district court nominations are planned for that afternoon. The chamber will also proceed to patent overhaul legislation.”

“Congress yesterday gave itself three more months to consider changes in provisions of antiterrorism law that have been used to track security threats but have drawn fire from defenders of privacy rights,” the AP writes. “The House voted 279 to 143 to add 90 days to the legal authority of three provisions, including two that were part of the USA Patriot Act, enacted shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The Senate approved the measure Tuesday evening. President Obama is expected to sign the bill before the provisions expire on Feb. 28.”

“Protesters picketed at Speaker John Boehner’s Capitol Hill residence Thursday morning, objecting to what they view as Congressional intrusion into Washington, D.C.’s local government affairs,” Roll Call reports. “Wearing tri-corner Colonial hats and waving flags reading ‘No Taxation Without Representation,’ about 20 activists from DC Vote demonstrated on the sidewalk in front of the G Street Southeast row house complex that includes the Ohio Republican’s basement apartment.”

Abortion, killing Head Start, PBS, NPR, and National Endowment of the Arts funding, and now and end to the Green the Capitol Initiative.

“The House chamber was silenced on Thursday night when California Rep. Jackie Speier (D) revealed that she had to have an abortion,” The Hill reports. “The revelation came as debate on an amendment to defund abortion provider Planned Parenthood neared its third hour.” Her speech was sparked by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) speaking out against a particular procedure. 

The New York Times’ columnists take two different views of President Obama’s budget. Brooks: “The budget gets a lot of little things right, but it squanders the opening created by the debt commission. It fails to touch the big programs or ask for any shared sacrifice from the American people.”

Krugman’s response: "[A]nyone who is really serious about the budget should be focusing mainly on health care. And by focusing, I don’t mean writing down a number and expecting someone else to make that number happen — a dodge known in the trade as a 'magic asterisk.' I mean getting behind specific actions to rein in costs."

More: "What would real action on health look like? Well, it might include things like giving an independent commission the power to ensure that Medicare only pays for procedures with real medical value; rewarding health care providers for delivering quality care rather than simply paying a fixed sum for every procedure; limiting the tax deductibility of private insurance plans; and so on. And what do these things have in common? They’re all in last year’s health reform bill."

Bad boys, whatcha gonna do…: “Federal authorities charged more than 100 doctors, nurses, and physical therapists in nine cities with Medicare fraud yesterday, part of a massive nationwide bust that snared more suspects than any other in history,” the AP says. More than 700 law enforcement agents fanned out to arrest dozens of people accused of illegally billing Medicare more than $225 million. The arrests are the latest in a string of major busts in the past two years as authorities have struggled to pare the fraud that is believed to cost the government between $60 billion and $90 billion each year. Stopping Medicare’s budget from hemorrhaging that money will be key to paying for President Obama’s health care overhaul.”

In his latest National Journal column, Charlie Cook writes, "If there were any lingering doubts about whether President Obama got the memo on the midterm elections, they were resolved on Monday when the White House released its fiscal 2012 budget. Conservatives and Republicans certainly had much to fault, but it was the Democratic base that wasn’t feeling the love on Cupid’s day. Obama’s budget may not recommend the deepest domestic spending cuts by any Democratic president in history, but it comes close. It is an austere budget, one that marks a reversal of some White House positions just a few months old." 

ANGLE: Politico reports that while Sharron Angle is in town for the screening of “The Genesis Code,” she’ll also appear at a fundraiser for the New Hampshire Liberty Caucus.

DANIELS: Jeb Bush “told a private gathering of Jacksonville business leaders that Daniels is the only potential candidate he's heard who demonstrates a willingness to face up to harsh realities,” the Florida Times-Union writes. “‘Mitch is the only one who sees the stark perils and will offer real detailed proposals,’ he said, speaking at a reception held before he took the stage in front of a crowd of real estate professionals.”

PALIN: Appearing at a business leaders’ gathering in Long Island yesterday, Sarah Palin did not say whether she would run for president, “but she did suggest that the presumed candidates for 2012 might not have the intensity that voters are demanding,” the New York Times writes.

In her speech, Palin couldn’t say whom she’d endorse if she doesn’t run in 2012, but her description of that person sounds an awful lot like … her. “I don’t have a name to give you right now,” she said, “but what I would look for in terms of character and in terms of experience would be someone who's been on the front lines understanding what it is, how to administer and how to lead a team and how to run a business. So that person you know, oh gosh, I think, you know nobody is more qualified really to multitask and do all the things that you need to do as president than a woman and a mom. So, I would, adding that all up what I would look for is somebody who is, let’s start off with, a woman, a mom, somebody who's administered locally, state, interstate, with energy issues, so maybe a mayor, a governor, an oil commissioner, maybe someone who's already for vice president.”

HUNTSMAN: Huntsman’s brother told Reuters, per The Hill, that he hopes a decision will come from his brother on whether he’ll run “in the next couple of weeks.” He doesn’t resign as Obama’s ambassador to China until April 30.

Former Gov. Buddy Roemer at a 2008 campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

ROEMER: In an interview with Baton Rouge, LA, NBC affiliate WVLA, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, 67, says he’s considering a bid for president. “I'm in process of seeing whether it's a winnable idea," he said. And he’s vowing not to take any contributions of more than $100. "American’s are hurting. Washington is a boomtown. Why is that? The money. We’re going to take money out of Washington and fill it with people… With a $100 limit every woman and every man every citizen of America can be right at the top with participation."

ROMNEY: The former Massachusetts governor “stopped by to say hello to some old friends in the [Utah] legislature” on Thursday, ABC 4 reports.

SANTORUM: “Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is returning to South Carolina for a 10th trip as he considers a run for president,” the AP writes. “His announced events start Monday with a speech at a Republican women's club dinner in Spartanburg. On Tuesday, he plans to greet voters at Tommy's Ham House in Greenville and visits to a school in Greenville and a pregnancy center in Spartanburg.” 

IOWA: The Washington Post’s Balz talks to a group of Iowa Republican activists. “Right now, there is great uncertainty about who meets the qualifications Iowa activists are looking for. But while some strategists in the key state do not discount Palin's potential appeal, given her celebrity status and the passions she evokes, she may have to overcome doubts that some other candidates don't now face.”

MASSACHUSETTS: “Scott Brown briefly abandoned his improbable campaign for the Senate near its inception, after what Brown describes as a tense and testosterone-fueled confrontation with another potential candidate, former White House chief of staff Andy Card,” the Boston Globe writes. “In his new book, Brown, the Massachusetts Republican, writes of a private meeting with Card in early September 2009, in which the former aide to President George W. Bush initially angered Brown and then motivated him to step aside and give Card a clear path to the Republican nomination. ‘I probably was being a little disrespectful [to Card]; I was fairly pissed,’ Brown writes, after revealing that Card told him he intended to run for the seat. ‘But he was also pissed.’” During a meeting with Card, Brown says he told him that his ties to Bush would hurt him in Massachusetts and that Brown believed he could beat him. But after an impassioned speech by Card, Brown said he’d drop the idea and endorse Card instead. But Card later changed his mind.

NEW YORK: “In a bid to end the historic practice of gerrymandering New York's legislative and congressional districts, Gov. Cuomo yesterday sought to shift redistricting power from the Legislature to a bipartisan commission that excludes lawmakers and lobbyists from membership,” the New York Post reports. “Cuomo's proposed 11-member Independent Redistricting Commission would draw the lines to unite ‘communities of interest’ and keep the populations of the district within 1 percent of one another in size.”

WASHINGTON: “Lawmakers are considering the suspension of the statewide presidential primary in 2012 to save $10 million, opting for instead for party caucuses,” The Olympian writes. 

From NBC's Ali Weinberg
Democrats, Republicans, and independents would all support new government spending on U.S. transportation infrastructure, but are not interested in footing the bill themselves, according to a new poll.

The survey, conducted by Democratic polling firm Hart Research and Republican firm Public Opinion Strategies, was released days after President Obama submitted his 2012 budget request, which includes $53 billion over six years towards high-speed rail projects and $30 billion a year to fund a national infrastructure bank.  

The survey found wide bipartisan support for legislators to seek common ground on infrastructure improvements: 71% of all respondents -- including 74% of Democrats, 71% of Republicans and 69% of independents -- said they wanted elected officials to work together on the issue.

Support was also strong among respondents who identified themselves as part of the Tea Party, an affiliation that connotes a strong anti-government spending attitude, with 66% supporting infrastructure investment.

“The bipartisan, or even tripartisan, nature of the issue comes through loud and clear," said Jay Campbell of Hart Research, who, along with Public Opinion Strategies, conducted the poll for state-centric think tank the Rockefeller Institute.

This support also extended into specific policy proposals that would control how transportation dollars are spent. In the poll, 90% supported the idea of holding all levels of government accountable for making sure infrastructure projects stay on time and budget, as well as allowing local regions to have a greater say in how transportation funds are used in their area.

Even some spending increases, like more competitive grants for transportation projects and money for developing public transportation systems and bike paths, were met with high approval numbers.

“There is a tolerance for more spending in this area as long as there's a demonstration that it's going to be spent wisely,” said Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies.

But support plummeted to 40% when respondents were asked if they would support replacing the per-gallon gasoline tax, which has stayed at the same level since 1993, with a fee based on the number of miles driven.

While a gas-tax hike would be a quick way to increase revenue, its unpopularity among voters means it’s unlikely to become a reality in Congress, Campbell said.

“This is really the rock and a hard place for lawmakers,” he said. “Voters say our infrastructure is lacking, they say it should be modernized, they say it should be improved, but they resist paying for it.”

From NBC’s Shawna Thomas and Carrie Dann 
At least some Congressional leaders aren’t backing down from a confrontation that could have Washington D.C. partying like it’s 1995.

House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday that he will not support a temporary measure to fund the government at current levels, even if a larger federal spending bill  – called a “continuing resolution” – does not pass before a March 4 deadline. If no agreement is reached on the stopgap measure, a federal shutdown akin to one in the mid-1990s could result until a funding bill is passed.

"I'm not going to move any kind of short-term [continuing resolution] at current levels," Boehner told reporters today. "When we say we’re going to cut spending, read my lips: we’re going to cut spending.”

While some GOP leaders are downplaying the threat of another prolonged federal closure, Boehner’s unequivocal call to require at least some cuts from 2010 spending levels in order to keep the federal government’s lights on isn’t sitting well with Democrats, who accuse House Republicans of engaging in a high-stakes game of chicken.

His remark prompted a furious and almost immediate response from Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid, who appeared before cameras shortly after Boehner’s press conference to slam the House leader.

“We are terribly disappointed that Speaker Boehner can't control the votes in this Congress to prevent a shutdown of government,” Reid said. “And now he is resorting to threats to do just that without any negotiation.”

Asked whether Boehner will stick to his promise to cut spending even if it results in a federal blackout, a spokesman said that blame for a shutdown should be pinned on the Democrats, not on the GOP.

"All the Speaker said is that any short-term [continuing resolution] must cut spending," said Boehner spokesman Michael Steel. "If Sen. Reid wants to shut down the government rather than cut spending, that’s entirely on him."

The last government shutdown occurred in December 1995, when clashes between President Bill Clinton and the Republican-controlled House prompted the halting of many federal services and caused thousands of federal employees to stay home on furlough.

That political battle ultimately resulted in a popularity boost for Clinton. A Gallup poll released during the shutdown showed that only a quarter of Americans faulted the president for the shuttering of some federal agencies while nearly half blamed congressional Republicans.

Remember when Texas Democrats fled first to Oklahoma and then later to New Mexico? What's going on in Wisconsin today seems VERY similar. Of course, the Democrats were ultimately defeated in that battle over redistricting.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Madison — Law enforcement is now searching for Democratic senators boycotting a Senate vote on Gov. Scott Walker's budget-repair plan Thursday in an attempt to bring the lawmakers to the floor to allow Republicans to move forward with action on the bill.

In a press conference just off the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) said that Democrats were "not showing up for work" and that police were searching for them to bring them to the floor.

"That's not democracy. That's not what this chamber is about," Fitzgerald said of the boycott to reporters.

Sen. Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) confirmed Thursday that Democrats are boycotting the Senate action on the bill in efforts to block a quorum and keep the measure from passing. Because 20 senators of the 33-member house are needed to be present to pass a fiscal bill, the body's 19 Republicans will not be enough to pass the budget repair bill without at least one Democrat present.

"They can't pass this bill if there's not a Democrat in the chamber," Cullen said.

Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller (D-Monona) released a statement calling on Republicans to listen to unions and protesters calling for changes to the bill, which would cut benefits and almost all union bargaining rights for public employees. 

From NBC's Luke Russert
At a press conference this morning on Capitol Hill, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) claimed that House Republicans would trim $100 billion dollars from the budget for the rest of the fiscal year.

"As part of our effort to liberate our economy from the shackles of out of control spending," Boehner said, "the House will soon vote to cut discretionary spending by over $100 billion dollars over the last seven months of this fiscal year.”

When pressed by NBC News if the House GOP intends to cut $100 billion dollars from the budget that the nation’s government is currently operating under, Boehner said, "We're going to cut $100 billion dollars based on the budget the President submitted."

Yet, President Obama’s submitted budget for fiscal year 2011 was never voted on by Congress and thus never approved. It does not exist as a governing number.

Why?

Then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) became the first Speaker in the modern era to not pass a budget since the 1974 Budget Act was implemented in Congress. Due to Democrats' inability to pass a budget for fiscal year 2011, the government currently operates under a series of continuing resolutions which operate under fiscal year 2010 levels.

Boehner’s claim that House Republicans will cut $100 billion from the budget for the rest of fiscal year 2011 is dubious at best. In their “Pledge to America,” House Republicans said they would lower spending in their first year by $100 billion dollars and return to fiscal year 2008 levels or “pre-bailout and pre-Obama levels.”

Currently, House Republicans are working towards cutting around $60 billion dollars from the current budget for fiscal year 2011.

Originally, the House GOP introduced a budget that would cut $32 billion dollars for fiscal year 2011. By cutting $32 billion, Republicans would have spent out the rest of fiscal year 2011 at fiscal year 2008 levels.

That number was deemed too low by Tea Party and conservative House members.  By increasing the cuts to $60 billion, Republicans spend out the government in fiscal year 2011 at a lower rate than fiscal year 2008. Thus, Republicans not only honor their 'pledge' but also double the amount of money they are going to cut. All that being said, they are not cutting $100 billion dollars in real money for the rest of fiscal year 2011.

GOP aides tell NBC News that the $100 billion dollar number is symbolically important to conservative House Republicans and that straying publicly from that number would upset a base of voting support that has become increasingly hawkish on fiscal issues. For this reason the Speaker and others in the House GOP Leadership stick to script, saying they’ll cut $100 billion dollars from the budget. It sounds better than saying “we’re going to save you 50% more than fiscal year 2008 levels.”  

From WMAQ's Mary Ann Ahern (of NBC's Chicago affiliate) and NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Sources tell NBC News that President and Mrs. Obama have voted and mailed in their absentee ballots in the Chicago mayoral  election.

Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is seen as the front runner. He needs get above 50% on Tuesday to avoid a runoff. If no one clears that threshold, there will be an April 5th face off between the top-two vote getters.

Contrasting Obama and Christie -- patience vs. impatience, coming together vs. fighting, jobs vs. deficit reduction… Obama does local TV interviews in districts/states represented by Boehner, Cantor, and Ryan… Walker’s union-rights dust-up in WI… Scott’s high-speed rail dust-up in FL… Kasich’s “idiot” dust-up in OH… Obama touts Kaine for VA SEN… GOP seizes on stimulus anniversary… And Obama heads to San Francisco to meet with Jobs and Zuckerberg.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, R- N.J. speaks at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, Wednesday.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Obama vs. Christie: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) -- once again -- said he wouldn’t run for president in 2012 in his speech in DC yesterday. (“My wife will kill me,” he quipped.) But if he did, he would automatically become the true anti-Obama in the field, especially when it comes to style, tone, and governing philosophy. One man is skinny; the other one is not. One is a former constitutional law lecturer; the other is an ex-prosecutor. One is cool; the other is red-hot. One campaigned on hope, change, and bringing the country together; the other’s slogan might be, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” And the stark contrast, which Politics Daily’s Jill Lawrence also touches on, becomes clear when you compare what Obama said at his press conference on Tuesday with what Christie said yesterday. It's truly striking.

*** Patience vs. impatience: Here’s Obama about talking about patience: "Let’s face it, you guys are pretty impatient. If something doesn’t happen today, then the assumption is it’s just not going to happen… I think that there’s a tendency for us to assume that if it didn’t happen today it’s not going to happen.” Here’s Christie yesterday: "In New Jersey, they call me impatient. They call me lots of other things. I think it's time for some impatience."

*** Coming together vs. fighting: Here’s Obama on the importance of the parties coming together. "So this is going to be a process in which each side, in both chambers of Congress, go back and forth and start trying to whittle their differences down until we arrive at something that has an actual chance of passage.” Here’s Christie: "I fight for the things that mater. Some people say I'm combative. I'm fighting."

*** Jobs vs. deficit reduction: And for Obama, job creation is his No. 1 goal. “We measure progress by the success of our people -- by the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer,” Obama said in his State of the Union. For Christie, it’s cutting the deficit. "Fiscal discipline is important for New Jersey and America… We have to fund what we need, and we have to cut what we like."

*** Big things vs. big things: Christie, by the way, delivered this jab at Obama yesterday. “I think I heard the president’s State of the Union speech, America was about doing the big things,” he said. “I think it’s important to note it because of what he says the big things are -- high-speech rail, high-speed internet, electric cars on the road. That is the candy of American politics.” Actually, when Obama concluded his SOTU talking about “big things,” he was discussing the American Dream, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship. “We're a nation that says, ‘I might not have a lot of money, but I have this great idea for a new company.’ ‘I might not come from a family of college graduates, but I will be the first to get my degree.’ ‘I might not know those people in trouble, but I think I can help them, and I need to try.’ ‘I'm not sure how we'll reach that better place beyond the horizon, but I know we'll get there. I know we will.’ We do big things.” Bottom line on Christie and 2012: He will be sitting out there as a shadow over the field. And if October rolls around and Romney's floundering, Pawlenty's struggling, and Barbour's not connecting, watch for the Christie chatter to pop -- again.

*** Obama’s affiliate interviews: With the House set to vote on final passage of the Continuing Resolution – which doesn't have much chance in the Senate, according to Senate Budget Chair Kent Conrad -- Obama conducted interviews yesterday with local TV stations in states/districts represented by GOP leaders John Boehner (Cincinnati), Eric Cantor (Richmond), and Paul Ryan (Milwaukee). On Cantor, Obama told the Richmond VA station, "He is now in a position of responsibility, which means he has to work with me on the budget. We have to reduce spending in an intelligent way, so it doesn't take away from our kids. My hope is that we can come to some sort of agreement. What they really want to see is people acting like grown-ups." About Ryan, Obama said, “I think that Congressman Ryan will have an opportunity to work with me to solve these problems. So much of what happens in Washington is back-and-forth between Democrats and Republicans. And what I've said to Congressman Ryan and everybody is, ‘Let’s work together. If you have plan, put it forward.'"

*** The union-rights controversy in WI: Speaking of Wisconsin, remember when we wrote how much more ideological some of the new GOP governors are (Scott Walker of WI, Rick Scott of FL, John Kasich of OH), versus some of the more recognizable GOP governors of the 1990s (George W. Bush of TX, Jeb Bush of FL, John Engler of MI, Tommy Thompson of WI)? Well, Walker’s move to strip union rights for state workers and to cut pension benefits has generated plenty of attention and protest in Wisconsin. In his interview with the local Wisconsin TV station, Obama said, “Some of what I’ve heard coming out of Wisconsin, where you’re just making it harder for public employees to collectively bargain generally seems like more of an assault on unions. And I think it’s very important for us to understand that public employees, they’re our neighbors, they’re our friends. These are folks who are teachers and they’re firefighters and they’re social workers and they’re police officers.” The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says the pivotal state Senate vote on the GOP measure could come today.

*** The high-speed rail controversy in FL: In Florida, Scott is involved in his own dust-up. The St. Pete Times: “Gov. Rick Scott's decision Wednesday to reject $2.4 billion that would have helped finance high-speed rail drew a swift rebuke from the politicians and business interests who had pushed for the project. ‘It's a terrible decision, truly the worst decision I've ever seen by a governor in my 26 years in public life,’ said Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio. ‘It's wrong on so many levels, where do I begin?’” More: “Scott's decision was cheered by Karen Jaroch, the chairwoman of the Tea Party-supported Tampa 9-12 Project, which successfully campaigned against a Hillsborough light rail referendum last year. ‘I think it saves the taxpayers of Florida and the nation a lot of money,’ she said.”

Ohio Governor John Kasich at an Ohio news conference in January.

*** The “idiot” controversy in OH: And here’s the controversy that Kasich is facing in Ohio. “With Gov. John Kasich already taking on public employee unions, the revelation today that last month he called a Columbus police officer an ‘idiot’ for giving him a traffic ticket in 2008 touched off a firestorm of reaction,” the Columbus Dispatch reports. ‘We're not idiots, we're out enforcing the law that he as governor has asked us to go out and enforce," said Jim Gilbert, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 9, the union that represents Columbus police officers… Court records show that Kasich was pulled over Jan. 8, 2008, on northbound Rt. 315 near the interchange with Henderson Road for not moving over for a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights flashing. He pleaded guilty and paid an $85 fine three days later. Kasich's comments came during a ‘staff meeting’ the governor held with most of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's employees Jan. 21.”

*** Following the Christie playbook -- to an extent: Walker, Scott, and Kasich all seem to be TRYING to take a page from the Christie playbook. But there’s one difference. From time to time, Christie has gone out of his way to praise Democrats (whether it’s Obama or Newark Mayor Cory Booker). Yet we haven’t seen that from Walker, Scott or Kasich. They are much more acting like ideological warriors within their own party. Christie seems to go out of his way to try and carve a FULLY anti-Washington anti-both parties persona, even while talking the conservative talk. *** UPDATE *** Walker's communications director emails First Read, "Gov. Walker greeted the president and attended an event with the president when he visited Wisconsin, and he went out of his way to highlight areas where he agreed with the president in media interviews. Just last week, the governor was on Wisconsin public radio with Arne Duncan talking about the need to rewrite [No Child Left Behind]."

*** Obama touts Kaine for VA SEN: There’s more and more buzz that DNC Chairman (and former Virginia Gov.) Tim Kaine just might run for Jim Webb’s Senate seat. Here’s what President Obama told the local Richmond TV station yesterday. “I think he will be a great senator. Either way, he’s as good of a friend [as] he is mine. I think he will make the decision on where he can have the most influence.” We’ll say this, the longer Kaine doesn’t make up his mind, the tougher it will be for him to say no. If Kaine jumps into the Virginia Senate race, who becomes the next DNC chairman? Look no further than the list of unemployed state Dems from 2010. One intriguing name -- former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. (It probably wouldn’t hurt Obama in that battleground state…)

*** Anniversary day: Today, plenty of Republicans -- but not a single Democrat so far -- are reminding us that today is the second anniversary of Obama signing his economic stimulus into law. Here’s the RNC: “An anniversary of failure.” And here’s a Web video from the National Republican Senatorial Committee. While many economists and many studies have argued that the stimulus was an economic success (in alleviating the worst downturn since the Great Depression), it turned out to be a political and PR failure for the Democrats.

*** Obama’s day: On this anniversary of the stimulus, Obama this morning discusses reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind law with bipartisan members of Congress. Then, at 12:15 pm ET, he meets with House Democratic leaders. After that, he heads to San Francisco, where he’ll visit – at a private residence -- with Silicon Valley business leaders like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Eric Schmidt. By the way, his new jobs czar, Jeffrey Immelt of GE (NBC co-parent), will also be at the meeting.

Countdown Chicago’s mayoral election: 5 days
Countdown to Election Day 2011: 264 days
Countdown to the Iowa caucuses: 354 days
* Note: When the IA caucuses take place depends on whether other states move up

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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio waits to speak on Capitol Hill in Washington last week.

With the House set to finish work on the Continuing Resolution, the New York Times profiles House Speaker John Boehner. "For Speaker John A. Boehner, the budget-cutting frenzy taking place on the House floor merges two of his animating political passions — the need to shrink federal spending and the willingness to risk a free-flowing debate. Throw in a new conservative Republican majority and Mr. Boehner is confident of the outcome. 'I have no doubts in the coming weeks and months that people will see our resolve around solving our deficit problem,' Mr. Boehner said in an interview. 'We are going to cut spending. There aren’t any ifs, ands or buts about it.'"

But Boehner opposed one of those spending cuts. “[S]uch a free-for-all can have surprising results, and one of the biggest Wednesday was a victory for President Obama and a defeat for a Boehner-backed initiative,” the Washington Post says. “Many tea-party-backed freshmen broke ranks with their GOP leaders and joined liberal Democrats in voting to cut funding for an alternative engine for a fighter jet. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine project has long been a frequent but elusive target, as well as one that provided jobs in Boehner's home state of Ohio.”

“The rollout of the Senate Democratic agenda Wednesday marks the highest-profile output to date of a revamped message and policy operation quarterbacked by Conference Vice Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.),” Roll Call writes, adding, “The new Senate Democratic agenda, which was finalized last week at the party retreat, pays lip service to the public thirst for budget cuts by adopting President Barack Obama’s call for a five-year domestic discretionary spending freeze while trumpeting new spending that Democrats argue will create jobs. Democratic leaders also tied themselves to Obama’s State of the Union message that the country needs to ‘out-innovate, out-educate and out-build’ the rest of the world, but they want credit for taking initiative on their own to build an agenda.”

So what will it include? “The details included are relatively modest, recycled ideas that in the past have garnered at least some bipartisan support. The 20-item list includes finally passing a long-delayed highway bill, protecting stimulus smart-grid and clean-energy investments from Republican cuts, creating a Clean Energy Deployment Administration, and making the research and development tax credit permanent. Other items include perennials such as patent reform, tax reform and a rewrite of the No Child Left Behind law. The messaging operation remains directed at House Republicans while largely making nice with their Senate Republican colleagues in an effort to appear moderate and sensible.” ‘The budget in the House is a road map to disaster,’ Schumer said. ‘We are being responsible; they are being reckless.’”

“Rebellious rank-and-file House Republicans are feeling pressure from leaders to toe the party line,” Roll Call writes. “While leaders aren’t whipping Members on some major votes — amendments to this week’s stopgap spending measure, for example — they have strongly tried to minimize defections on procedural matters and made it clear that unity is a priority.”

Dog Whistles: “Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said Thursday it's not for her to say whether President Obama is a citizen of the United States — or a Christian,” The Hill writes. “‘That isn't for me to state; that's for the president to state,’ Bachmann, the leading Tea Party lawmaker in the House, said on ‘Good Morning America’ on ABC. ‘When the president makes his statements, I think they should stand for their own. … We should take the president at his word.’”

“Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) launched the Progressives United political action committee this week in response to the Citizens United Supreme Court decision and to support progressive candidates,” Roll Call writes.

Head Start, PBS, and now National Endowment of the Arts funding…

Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, the co-chairmen of the president’s debt commission, write in The Hill that President Obama’s budget “takes some important steps toward putting this country on a more sustainable path.” But, they add about tackling entitlements, “Now it is incumbent upon him and leaders in Congress to provide the leadership necessary to create an environment in which a serious discussion can occur… [B]y focusing primarily on domestic discretionary spending, neither plan goes at all far enough to deal with our medium- or long-term fiscal challenges.”

More from the duo: “The nation desperately needs bipartisan leadership grounded in shared sacrifice, not politics as usual. Americans are counting on us to put politics aside, pull together — not pull apart — and agree on a plan to live within our means and make America strong for the long haul.”

“President Barack Obama is expanding his outreach to Capitol Hill by inviting House Democratic leaders to a White House lunch Thursday,” Roll Call writes, adding, “Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden and White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley will meet in the Oval Office with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Assistant Leader James Clyburn (D-S.C.) at 12:15 p.m., according to a White House statement Wednesday. … Several lawmakers will also be at the White House on Thursday for a morning discussion about reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act. According to the White House, Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) are expected to attend, as well as Reps. John Kline (R-Minn.), George Miller (D-Calif.), Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Dale Kildee (D-Mich.).”

“Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Russia next month as part of a three-country trip to Eastern Europe and Scandinavia,” The Hill reports. “Biden is scheduled to depart the U.S. the week of March 7, but further details surrounding his visit have yet to be released.”

FILE-Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington in January.

BACHMANN: Michele Bachmann will be making her first trip to New Hampshire on March 12, the Manchester Union-Leader reports. "We're told the primary focus of her visit will be to help the New Hampshire Republican Party under Jack Kimball's new chairmanship, most likely in a series of small fund-raising events," the Union-Leader writes. 

BARBOUR: The Washington Post wonders, given Barbour’s recent and repeated perceived gaffes on race, whether he should do more than simply point to his record when defending himself against accusations of racism: “The question for Barbour and his advisers is whether -- given the amount of attention the issue of race has already drawn in his not-yet-announced presidential campaign -- he needs to give a broader speech on race that seeks to address the questions once and for all.”

Barbour “will be in Kentucky [today] to meet with a group of coal operators who have a history of digging deep to help bankroll politicians friendly to the mining industry,” the AP reports. “Kentucky Coal Association President Bill Bissett confirmed Tuesday that Barbour is scheduled to meet with up to 50 mining executives Thursday morning. Barbour would be the first potential 2012 presidential candidate to reach out to the coal-rich state.”

CHRISTIE: “New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said on Wednesday he sees an opportunity to run for the Republican U.S. presidential nomination in 2012, but is not going to take it,” Reuters writes. “‘I'm not stupid,’ Christie said in response to questions after a speech at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. ‘I see the opportunity. I see it. That's not the reason to run.’”

“With just one impressive speech, Chris Christie put three full days of CPAC speakers to shame,” Politico writes. ‘He has an electricity around him wholly absent around other candidates,’ said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. ‘Even when they put on their best possible speech at CPAC, they still put people to sleep. Like or dislike Chris Christie, you could not fall asleep during that speech.’”

DANIELS: Roll Call’s Kondracke practically endorses Mitch Daniels: “Daniels lacks the charisma of a movie star, and he can’t throw a football 90 yards. But he is a Ronald Reagan-Jack Kemp ‘growth’ conservative. And he did win re-election by 18 points against an Obama tide. It could just happen.”

FILE - Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty speaks at a news conference in Iowa last week.

PAWLENTY: “Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s investment of time and money in New Hampshire, the first-in-the-nation primary state, appears to be drawing dividends,” the St. Cloud Times writes. “The latest WMUR Granite State Poll shows Pawlenty in a third-place tie with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee among potential Republican presidential candidates in 2012.”

“Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a likely Republican presidential candidate in 2012, urged Florida lawmakers on Wednesday to approve a bill to make it easier to fire public school teachers,” the St. Petersburg Times writes. “‘I would have given a lot to have a bill like that on my desk,’ Pawlenty said, recalling a similar bill vetoed last year by then-Gov. Charlie Crist.” 

More: "After his speech, Pawlenty refused to say when the state should hold its presidential primary. Scheduled for January, Pawlenty joked he would see many Minnesotans in Florida then. But it's too early for national Republican leaders, who want it pushed back to March. 'I don't purport to give other states advice on how they run their elections or their primaries. That's up to them,' Pawlenty said." 

SANTORUM: He’s “heading to Naples on Friday as part of the Ave Maria University School of Law’s series of speakers,” Sunshine News reports.

Per NBC’s Kevin Hurd, Santorum is suggesting everything may not be "A-OK" on Sesame Street,  if the Corporation for Public Broadcasting gets the axe in President Obama's 2012 budget. The Hill reports on a Santorum-FOX interview, in which the former senator talked about the reaction he got when supported cutting the CPB while in Congress. "It wasn't necessary anymore," he said. "Well, the Barney contingent came out and the Sesame Street contingent came out, and these are programs that are popular among families and so they hit you pretty hard."

ARIZONA: Stu Rothenberg on Gabrielle Giffords and the possibility of running for the Senate: “Given the lack of details about the Congresswoman’s recovery

FLORIDA: “Florida should keep its early presidential primary date in 2012 and the Republican National Committee would be wise to accommodate the important swing state, Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio says,” per the Palm Beach Post. “As long as the voters of Florida are going to pay for this election, it should be on the most meaningful day possible,” Rubio said. “An election in late January costs the same as an election in April, but it’s a lot more meaningful.”

VIRGINIA: Tom Perriello (D), who lost his reelection bid in Virginia’s 5th congressional district, says he’d consider running for Senate against George Allen (R) if former Gov. Tim Kaine, currently DNC chairman, doesn’t run.

Arthur the Aardvark (front), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) (left), Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) outside the Capitol Feb. 16.

From NBC's Shawna Thomas
Arthur the Aardvark didn’t need to say anything at the foot of the Capitol today to make sure the cameras showed up. His mere presence was enough to spark the curiosity of the media. The popular PBS children’s character silently stood outside with a goofy grin, flanked by members of Congress, because the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s funding is once again on the chopping block by Republicans. (Here's a First Read history of the fight over funding for public media, courtesy of msnbc.com's Carrie Dann.)

This time the funding has been zeroed out in the Republicans’ continuing resolution that’s being debated on the House Floor. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and other Democrats announced plans to introduce an amendment to add back funding for the CPB and said that this is an ideological fight.

"Is this a fiscal fight or a cultural fight?" asked one reporter.

Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) answered, "This is an ideological attack on [the] public broadcasting system. Again, it happened in 1995 as soon as they took over the House the last time. It happened after President Bush was elected. This is just part of a reoccurring habit."

Markey then warned his colleagues that voting against the public broadcasting system would be "at their own political peril." He continued, "There's a razor-sharp edge to this issue back home."

While Markey couldn't give a whip count, he seemed optimistic about the prospects of the amendment. However, Blumenauer seemed worried about the lack of moderate Republicans in the House. 

"In the past, we have been successful, because there has been a strong, moderate, thoughtful Republican base of support where we had dozens of people," he said, adding, "There were a number of them that were involved with this and who were upfront, but now there is an undercurrent that is unsettling." 

Sunday, CPB released a statement that read: "We understand the challenges to our economy as a result of increasing budget deficits, but the proposed elimination of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) will not address this challenge in a meaningful way...proposed action would directly result in cuts to the 1,300 public television and radio stations that provide this service. " The CPB supports more than 1,100 "locally-owned-and-operated public television and radio stations nationwide."

Blumenauer's amendment would put $460 million back into the CBP's budget by taking it away from the "percentage-depletion allowance for oil and gas wells.”

However, due to rules governing how appropriations bills can be written, this amendment will most likely be subject to a point-of-order objection, which would invalidate it.

Blumenauer office's complained about the amendment process in an email: "The way that the rules are written, there is no possible way to offer meaningful amendments in the minority. This is an intentional rule-making trap that the new majority uses to shut out the minority from meaningfully contributing to the discussion."

From NBC's Catherine Chomiak
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) scolded elected officials this afternoon in a speech at conservative think tank in Washington, urging them to lead.

“Leadership today in America has to be about doing the big things and being courageous,” he said.

His comments come as neither Republicans nor Democrats have put forth plans to deal with the third-rail of politics – entitlement programs. 

“I look at what is happening in Washington,” Christie said, “and I’m worried…. Let me suggest to you that what game is being played down here is irresponsible and is dangerous.”

He proposed raising the retirement age to help shore up Social Security and stressed the need to reform Medicare and Medicaid, but he didn’t offer any specifics on how to do so.

"What’s the truth that nobody's talking about?" Christie said. "Here's the truth that nobody's talking about. You're gonna have to raise the retirement age for Social Security. Oh, I just said it and I'm still standing here I did not vaporize into the carpeting, and I said it. We have to reform Medicare because it costs too much and it is gonna bankrupt us. Once again lightning did not come through the windows and strike me dead and we have to fix Medicaid because it’s not only bankrupting the federal government, it's bankrupting every state government. There ya go."

In addition to expressing disappointment with both parties, Christie was specifically critical of the president. Referring to the president’s State of the Union address, he argued that what he said Obama mentioned as the “big things” -- high-speed rail, high-speed Internet, and electric cars -- are “the candy of American politics.”

“Those are not the big things,” Christie said, “because let me guarantee you something, if we don’t fix the real big things … we’re not going to be able to care about the niceties of life, the investments that Washington wants to continue to make.”

As for if the governor will challenge Obama in 2012, Christie jokingly said, “I threatened to commit suicide. I said what do I have to do short of suicide to convince people I'm not running. Apparently, I actually have to commit suicide to convince people I'm not running."

On a more serious note, Christie added, “You have to feel in your heart and in your mind that you're ready for the presidency, and there are lots of people who will run just because the opportunity presents itself. And I'm not stupid. I see the opportunity. I see it. That's not the reason to run. And I think all too often that's why people do run.”

One last consideration for Christie, he said, is his wife, “She’d just kill me.”

From NBC's Alexandra Moe
As the U.S. government inches closer to reaching the legal amount it is allowed to borrow, Republican Sen. Pat Toomey laid out a plan that he says would prevent the government from defaulting on its loans without increasing the amount of money the U.S. can legally borrow. Toomey said he was fearful of what would happen if immediate action was not taken to control the federal debt.

"The thing that worries me as a much as anything else is the danger that we could have a dangerous and catastrophic shock," Toomey said before the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Toomey introduced legislation, which would require the Treasury department to pay off some debts and defer payments of others. That stands in direct contrast to warnings from the Obama administration.

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has said that it is "essential" for Congress to raise the $14.29 trillion debt limit soon because sometime between April 5 and May 31, the government will exceed what it can now legally borrow to cover it's obligations.

Toomey believes the president is not supporting this bill, because he would rather try to scare members of Congress into voting for an increase in the ceiling.

Republicans have mixed views on how to tackle the debt ceiling with many saying they won't support an increase without significant structural reforms in the budget process or big spending cuts.

Some Republicans are requesting that Congress vote in favor of a balanced-budget amendment before they deal with the debt ceiling. The amendment, offered by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), would require a super-majority to raise taxes and possible spending caps that would create immediate reductions in government spending.

From NBC's Michael Isikoff
The surprise House vote today to kill $450 million to build a alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter was a big victory for an unlikely alliance that included the Obama administration and Tea Party Republicans determined to slash spending across the board, including the military budget.

But it was also a  setback for House GOP leaders, including Speaker John Boehner, who HAS fought hard to save the project over the years.

No budget item has been more heavily lobbied in recent weeks, with GE spending millions running full-page newspaper ads and hiring big-gun lobbyists, including Dick Gephart, Trent Lott and John Breaux. But a rebellion by freshman Republicans -- such as Tim Griffin of Arkansas -- swelled the ranks of opponents who argued that the country can't afford to pay another $3 billion over the next few years to build two engines for the same airplane. The final vote was 233-198 to eliminate the project. (General Electric is a minority owner of NBC Universal.)

In effect, they contended, the GE alternative engine was simply a thinly disguised earmark and a classic example of pork-barrel spending. GE (and Rolls Royce) are partners in the project to develop the alternate or back up engine to the primary one being built by Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut.

One of the biggest backers of the project: House Speaker John Boehner, whose district is just outside the main GE plant where the alternate engine is being built. (Boehner even cut a YouTube video last year extolling the virtues of the project. He reiterated his support for the GE engine just this week, but told reporters he would let the House "work its will" by having an up or down vote. As Speaker, he also did not personally vote on today's amendment.) Another strong supporter: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, whose district includes a Rolls Royce plant.  Click here to see the roll call vote.

*** UPDATE *** Boehner's office sends along the following exchange with reporters yesterday:

REPORTER:  “Mr. Speaker, will the Republican leadership join Lynn Westmoreland in proposing to get rid of the money in the current Continuing Resolution for the F-35 extra engine?”

BOEHNER:  “I suspect there will be a healthy debate on that big question.  As you all know that I believe that over the next ten years that this will save the government money.  But let’s have the policy debate out in the open on the House floor and let the House work its will.”

From msnbc.com's Tom Curry:  When a debtor’s borrowing costs start to exceed what he spends on necessities such as food and medical care, it might give him pause.

 Likewise, to understand the federal government’s growing debt problem, consider these two items from President Obama’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), presented Monday in the president’s fiscal year 2012 budget proposal:

Last year, taxpayers spent more than twice as much on the Medicare program as they did on interest payments on federal debt. 

But starting in 2018, the federal government will pay more in interest costs than it will spend on Medicare, the health insurance program for the disabled and people age 65 and older.  (The OMB excludes from its calculation the premiums that Medicare beneficiaries pay; it includes only what taxpayers pay for the program, which covers 80 percent if its costs.) 

Analysts have long cited Medicare as the prime example of the relentless federal spending growth. For 30 years, Medicare has been growing faster than America’s national income. 

So if the cost of paying interest on the money the government borrows will soon exceed Medicare spending, that will be a cold bucket of water in the taxpayer’s face. More and more tax revenue will be going to pay for the privilege of being allowed to borrow more and more money. 

According to the OMB, interest costs will go from almost 6 percent of total federal outlays in 2010 to nearly 15 percent in 2020. 

“Huge deficits plus the assumption that interest rates will rise modestly are causing forecast interest costs to explode,” said former Congressional Budget Office director Rudolph Penner. “Consequently, we are sending money to foreign investors and domestic capitalists that could be much better used for other things.”

A debtor borrows because his current income falls short of his wants. Likewise for the federal government, there’s simply not enough income, or revenue. For the entire ten-year forecasting period in Obama’s budget proposal, revenues lag far behind spending.

The debt problem will also be driven by what Penner referred to: higher interest rates in the years ahead.  Morgan Stanley economist Richard Berner told the Senate Budget Committee at a recent hearing, “We enjoy low interest rates. And we enjoy favorable borrowing terms right now. But, of course, that's going to run out.”

From NBC's Savanah Guthrie
Deputy White House Press Secretary Bill Burton, who was a finalist for the job vacated by Robert Gibbs last week, has told friends he is leaving the administration to start a new political consulting firm.

In an email, Burton said he is going to partner with another White House aide, Sean Sweeney, to "start a firm focused on political and strategic consulting."

He said there would more information about the new venture forthcoming, "once we figure out things like name, location and where one buys those comfy ergonomic office chairs."

Burton joined the Obama campaign early on. He was Gibbs' primary deputy and traveled often with the president when Gibbs could not. He regularly conducted the "gaggle" (off camera briefing) aboard Air Force One. In recent days, he has been helping in the prep sessions for Jay Carney, the new White House press secretary.

From NBC's Mark Murray
At his first pen-and-pad session with reporters since becoming the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, New York Rep. Steve Israel (D) was blunt.

"Being in the minority sucks."

But he was equally blunt that being in the minority gives the Democrats plenty of opportunities for playing offense in next year's House races. "I have the best job in Washington," Israel said, adding that he wakes up every morning thinking how Democrats can pick up the net 25 seats they need to regain the majority in 2012.

"We have sprung out of a defensive crouch," Israel told reporters. In particular, Democrats say they are targeting 14 GOP-held districts that John Kerry (in 2004) and Barack Obama (in 2008) carried, in addition to another 47 districts that Obama won -- but Kerry didn't -- in the last presidential contest. 

Israel also touted that the DCCC raised $4.4 million in January -- compared with the $2.7 in raised in Jan. 2007 (after Dems had regained the majority in the House), the $3.7 million in Jan. 2008, the $3.5 million in Jan. 2009, and the $4.7 million in Jan. 2010. "We are on a very aggressive fundraising pace."

As for the redistricting that will take place this year, the congressman said that Democrats would be better off than Republicans and some pundits predicted earlier. For example, he said that Democrats would likely split Texas' four new congressional seats, with two of the seats becoming solid GOP seats and two becoming solid Dem ones. "It is going to be more neutral than what the Republicans said."

Paul Lindsay, spokesman at the National Republican Congressional Committee, responded, “Steve Israel and his giant-sized ego will have a hard time winning anything until they admit why their party was rebuked by voters in the first place. Judging by their continued support for massive government spending, it’s obvious that House Democrats have a long way to go before accomplishing their goal of returning Nancy Pelosi to the Speaker’s chair.”