It’s Official: Obama Speech to Congress Set for Feb. 24 (in lieu of SOTU)

[babylonsister]

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000003028870

It’s Official: Obama Speech to Congress Set for Feb. 24
By Adriel Bettelheim, CQ Staff


President Obama will address a joint session of Congress on Feb. 24, the White House confirmed Tuesday.

The speech will be in lieu of a State of the Union address and probably will focus on the administration’s continued efforts to confront the financial crisis. It also will provide a preview of Obama’s fiscal 2010 budget, an outline of which is expected in early March.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., formally issued the invitation to Obama on Tuesday morning, before the president left for Ft. Myers, Fla., on the second stop of a tour to promote the economic recovery package (HR 1).

The date of the speech already had been leaked, but Gibbs made it official Tuesday.

The prime-time address won’t conflict with U.S. television networks’ vaunted February sweeps period, which had been delayed from March 5 to April 1 to avoid disruptions arising from the previously scheduled switchover to digital television signals.

Congress recently delayed the digital transition to June 12. Obama had not yet signed that bill (S 352) as of Tuesday afternoon.

[Cha]

1. Interesting..so, would it be the first time

we haven't had a SOTU?

[Jennicut]

2. No. Clinton did not have one in 1993 I believe. Did the same thing as Obama.

[Cha]

4. Ah, thanks,

Jennicut. One of those times where you just need to get things done so we can have a better SOTU.

Good Luck to the Obama Team:bounce:

[babylonsister]

3. I don't know that any prez gives a SOTU right after he's been

sworn in. Supposedly they haven't formed an opinion of the SOTU yet?! :D But I'm not sure. Someone will set us straight, Cha (I like it-is that a tea, a freedom fighter, ??!)

[Cha]

5. Thanks, babylonsis~

It's my name in real life..it can be anything.:D

[democrattotheend]

6. Good, that's a Tuesday

If he had picked 9 PM on a Monday night I would have to start questioning my vote ;)