A little more than a month after the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, President Obama will unveil his gun control proposals–which by all accounts are far-reaching and will include measures that need Congressional approval, as well over a dozen steps he can pass via executive action. But his plan is already under attack: the NRA has released an ad calling Obama an “elitist hypocrite” for using Secret Service protection for his daughters, saying “Protection for their kids and gun-free zones for ours.” We’ll ask Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., about that ad and the challenges facing the president as he unveils his recommendations.
We’ll talk with Dennis Tracey, a Republican who serves on the board of the Weston municipal government in Connecticut, just 20 miles away from Newtown. The board didn’t wait for Washington to act on gun control: Instead it drafted new proposals that include banning automatic assault weapons and high capacity magazines, requiring safe and secure weapons storage when not in use, and requiring registration of all fire-arms. But now that plan’s on hold. We’ll ask him why.
Next up: the Cabinet shuffle! Interior Sec. Ken Salazar just announced his intention to leave in March, opening up another position for the president to fill. And just after Defense Sec. nominee Sen. Chuck Hagel received a heavyweight endorsement from Sen. Chuck Schumer, an old friend of Hagel’s, Sen. James Inhoffe, announced that he will oppose Hagel’s nomination.
Politico’s Lois Romano writes that if you’re expecting a downsized inauguration in light of hard economic times… don’t. She joins us to talk about this weekend’s festivities, “still big and flashy.” Plus, msnbc’s Richard Lui is drilling down on the NRA’s far-reaching influence in Congress.
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