WEEK AHEAD: Primaries, Laura Bush’s new book, elections across the pond

The
Senate is expected to spend the next two weeks debating financial reform while
the White House spends this week pushing its economic message.

Several
officials, including President Barack Obama, will address the annual meeting of
the Business Council. 

{mosads}Several
competitive Senate races will have their nominees Tuesday. The United Kingdom
may have a new prime minister after Thursday. And Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) could
have his political future decided on Saturday.

Also,
expect more fallout from the oil rig accident and subsequent oil spill in the
Gulf of Mexico when the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee holds a
hearing Thursday.

On
the social side, the White House celebrates Cinco de Mayo on Wednesday and former
first lady Laura Bush gets a book party Tuesday night.

Here
are the details on the week ahead:

Monday,
May 5:

—
The House Agriculture Committee meets at 9 a.m. to continue hearings on the
2012 Farm Bill. The Obama administration is largely leaving the writing of the
bill to Congress. Among the issues the bill is expected to address: direct
payments to farmers and whether or not to renew the biodiesel tax incentive.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack testified before the committee last week.

—
The Defense industry will be listening to Defense Secretary Robert Gates’
speech to the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space show where he’s expected to talk
about future costs and budgets.

—
First lady Michelle Obama joins Energy Secretary Steven Chu at the Department’s
20th Annual National Science Bowl where she will ask the championship round
bonus point questions.

—
Census director Robert Groves hold a briefing at noon. The census is always
closely watched since it affects the redistricting process. After it’s
completed, several states will lose or gain congressional seats.

Tuesday,
May 4:

—
It’s a big primary night for several states.

—
Indiana will pick its Senate nominees for retiring Sen. Evan Bayh’s (D-Ind.)
seat. Rep. Brad Ellsworth has it locked up on the Democratic side but the
Republican primary is competitive. Former Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) is running
for his old seat but he’s facing tough competition from former Rep. John
Hostettler and state Sen. Marlin Stutzman. And Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) faces
a tough primary fight for his House seat from wealthy, self-funding businessman
Bob Thomas.

—
Ohio will pick candidates for retiring Sen. George Voinovich’s (R-Ohio) seat.
Former Rep. Rob Portman has the nomination pretty much locked up on the GOP
side. On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has been leading in the polls
but he still has to get past Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner in the
primary.

—
And in North Carolina, there’s been a tight Democratic contest for the right to
face Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.). Former state Sen. Cal Cunningham (D) and
Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (D), who also ran for the Senate in 2002,
are running close in the polls.

—
Former first lady Laura Bush’s memoir, Spoken from the Heart, arrives in
bookstores. It’s already been previewed in several publications and a Washington
power couple, Saudi Ambassador Salem al-Sabah and wife Rima, are hosting a book
party for her at the Saudi Embassy on Tuesday evening.

—
President Barack Obama addresses the annual meeting of the Business Council in
Washington. The council is composed of CEOs from several major businesses. He’s
expected to discuss job creation efforts and how to rebuild the economy.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner also addresses the group that day.

—
The Senate Finance Committee meets at 10 a.m. to discuss “The President’s
Proposed Fee on Financial Institutions Regarding TARP (Troubled Asset Relief
Program) Part 2.” Obama is proposing the fee on banks to help repay the
TARP funds. The financial industry opposes it.

—
At 10 a.m, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) will give the keynote
address on “Recommitting to a Strong National Defense” as part of the Heritage
Foundation’s lecture series.

Wednesday,
May 5:

—
It’s Cinco de Mayo and the White House will host a reception. Expect details
later this week on which lawmakers got the invite.

—
As part of her outreach to administration agencies, Michelle Obama will visit
the United States Agency for International Development.

—
Office of Management and Budget Director Peter R. Orszag addresses the Business
Council’s annual meeting.

—
Americans United for Life will honor House Minority Leader John Boehner
(R-Ohio) with its “Defender of Life” award.

Thursday,
May 6

—
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee holds a hearing at 9:30 a.m. to
discuss the oil rig accident in the Gulf of Mexico.

—
The United Kingdom holds elections and Americans will be closely watching to
see what happens with one of their biggest allies. Labour leader Gordon Brown
is defending his tenure as prime minister, but his recent comments about a “bigoted
woman” are having unforeseen repercussions. He faces David Cameron of the
Conservatives and Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats.

Saturday,
May 8

—
Sen. Bob Bennett’s (R-Utah) political fate will be in the hands of the state
Republican convention. The state has an unusual nominating process in which the
convention brings the race down to two candidates. If, at any point, a
candidate gets 60 percent of the delegates’ vote, he or she wins the nomination
outright. If not, the top two candidates face off in a June 22 primary. The
latest poll of GOP delegates had Bennett running third.