Congressional leaders from both parties head down to the White House today for their first joint meeting with President Barack Obama.
Just a few days after he urged Congress to chart a new road that doesn't include the usual partisan games, that's pretty much where things are already in the House and Senate.
But then again, that's pretty normal.
Republicans are likely to demand more of a voice in work on an economic stimulus bill.
Democrats rammed it through several committees on Wednesday and Thursday, and have scheduled a vote on the $825 billion measure for next Wednesday.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said last night that the entire text of the bill should be made public today - giving lawmakers and the press time to comb through it before Wednesday's vote.
(Do you think it will be a pdf document with text that isn't searchable like usual?)
One complaint about the stimulus plan that has touched a nerve was a report released this week that said very little of the proposal would create new jobs this year.
Senate Democrats indicated they would try to tinker with the bill to make sure there is more of an immediate fiscal impact, since that's what it's all about.
Don't be fooled by next week's vote in the House. Democrats will win there easily.
The big fight will be in the Senate. Democrats will try their best to force the bill through quickly, but Republicans have the rules on their side, and they will slow walk the legislation with the goal of getting something they want.
We will get an idea of how much leadership Obama wants to exert on the process today.
Will he just talk the talk about bipartisan cooperation? Or will he walk the walk?
Most every President talks.
Hardly any of them ever walk the walk.
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