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The Weekly Crib Sheet for March 15th-21st:  Health care and financial overhaul Super Bowl is here!  Normally we would first break down the stories that will compete for front page space with business pieces that deserve more press.  However, this week is all about health care and financial reform, thus we think best to just get to it.  Our one note is this:  a) The NCAA men’s basketball tournament starts this week.  That means any health care victory is going to have a tough time competing for the type of attention that will deeply resonate with men this weekend (you can bet the DNC and RNC are running the numbers on that); and b) Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks before the pro-Israel AIPAC conference this coming Sunday (3/21), and given the current Jerusalem settlements saga, that will certainly garner front page headlines.

MBA readers here’s WHY YOU CARE:

1)  Financial Regulatory Reform – What We Know:  Senate Banking Cmte. Chmn. Christopher Dodd has a 2pm ET presser (3/15) with the expectation of the new draft language coming out about the same time.  His Banking Cmte. counterpart Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) is on CNBC this morning and may make news before Chmn. Dodd does, we’ll see.  We suggest keeping your eyes on Shelby, he’s been saying Republicans are a completely united front in the Cmte., that may be so, but any signal of a GOP fissure means someone is going to break off.  Coverage details of the bill have been pretty good thus far (Wall Street Journal’s Damian Paletta and Politico’s Vicotria McGrane deserving mentions).  Substantively we hear that the Reed/Gregg Over-the-Counter derivatives language will come later as an amendment, and will not be in the bill for the new release.  Speaking of amendments, Chmn. Dodd wants them by this Friday (3/19) in order to have a mark up next week (3/22 or 3/23) with a Cmte. vote by next Friday (3/26) when Congress leaves for recess.

2) Financial Regulatory Reform – What We Know You Don’t Know:  Although there isn’t a Senate Banking Cmte. hearing this week on Chmn. Dodd’s new release there may as well be one.  Why?  Because just about everyone you’d hope would testify on this will either be testifying elsewhere before Congress or speaking publicly before a financial audience.  We’ve listed them all below day by day, but here are the names so you appreciate our point:  Treasury Secy. Timothy Geithner, OMB Dir. Peter Orszag and Council of Economic Advisers Chwmn. Christina Romer, House Financial Services Cmte. Chmn. Barney Frank, SEC Chwmn. Mary Schapiro, Senate Banking Cmte. members Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), Natl. Economic Council Chmn. Lawrence Summers, Senate Banking Cmte. Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-AL), Fed Gov. Elizabeth Duke and FDIC Chwmn. Sheila Bair.

3) Health Care:  Pres. Obama moved his departure to all points Indonesia and Australia from 3/18 to 3/21 in anticipation of a health care vote.  Conventional wisdom right now says the vote comes Friday (3/19) or Saturday (3/20).

4) Broadband:  That’s right, broadband.  The FCC releases Tuesday (3/16) a national broadband strategy.  If this had come out another week, it would have gotten big headlines.  As it stands, it won’t get the type of coverage due to financial reform and health care.

5) No Child Left Behind:  Today (3/16) Pres. Obama releases a re-write of the No Child Left Behind education policy.  It will undoubtedly get some headlines today and managed to as well over this past weekend.

MBA wannabes here’s WHY YOU CARE:  The trick will be not in the coverage today, but in the coverage later in the week once the bill has been digested.  Additionally, when the amendments come in on Friday, look for pieces on Sunday and Monday (3/29) peeling back the substantive points.

Here’s the week:

MONDAY 3/15

Pres. Obama:  Talks health care in Ohio, releases proposed re-write of No Child Left Behind education policy.

Health Care:  Ranking Member House Rules Cmte. David Dreier (R-CA) holds press conference on health care legislation rules/process.

Jobs Bill:  Senate resumes debate on the jobs bill (HR 2847).

TUESDAY 3/16

Earnings: Deutsche Bank and Discover Financial Services.

Economic Reports: Building Permits, Export/Import Prices and Housing Starts (all for Feb.).

Fed Watch:   Federal Open Market Cmte. meeting on rates (most watchers/coverage not expecting any change).

House Financial Services Cmte’s Subcmte. on International Monetary Policy and Trade:  Hearing on “Rebuilding Haiti’s Competitiveness and Private Sector.”

House Hearing:  House Appropriations Cmte. on 2011 outlook.  Witnesses:  Treasury Secy. Geithner, OMB Dir. Peter Orszag and Council of Economic Advisers Chwmn. Christina Romer.

Broadband Announcement: Federal Communications Commission presents national broadband plan.

WEDNESDAY 3/17

Economic Report:   Mortgage Bankers Assoc’s weekly mortgage info, Producer Price Index (for Feb.).

Pres. Obama Hosts Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen at the White House.

House Financial Services Cmte. 10a: Hearing on “The Administration’s Proposal to Revitalize Severely Distressed Public and Assisted Housing: The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative”.

House Financial Services Cmte. 2p: Hearing on “Examining the Link Between Fed Bank Supervision and Monetary Policy”.  Witnesses to now include:  Fed Chmn. Ben Bernanke and fmr. Fed Chmn. and current Chmn. of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker [Editor's Note: Witnesses updated 3/16].

House Hearing:  House Appropriations Cmte’s Financial Services Subcmte. on fiscal 2011 appropriations.  Witness: SEC Chwmn. Mary Schapiro.

American Bankers Assoc. 2010 Summit in DC:  Guest speakers include:  House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Office of Thrift Supervision Acting Dir. John Bowman, Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan and Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills.

THURSDAY 3/18

Economic Reports:  Consumer Price Index (for Feb.), Initial Unemployment Claims (for 3/13).

Pres. Obama:  Was to leave for Indonesia and Australia, but moved departure to 3/21 in anticipation of health care vote in the House either 3/19 or 3/20.

TARP Bonuses:  House takes up a bill to tax bonuses for certain TARP aid recipients (HR 1586).

House Hearing:  House Appropriations Cmte’s Financial Services Subcmte. on fiscal 2011 appropriations and the federal judiciary.

House Financial Services Cmte’s Subcmte. on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises: Hearing on “Insurance Holding Company Supervision.”

Pew Financial Reform Project Conference:  Event examines financial reform legislation.  Speakers include:  Senate Banking Cmte. members Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), Natl. Economic Council Chmn. Lawrence Summers, and fmr. Treasury Asst. Secy. Phillip Swagel (moderated by The Atlantic’s Clive Crook).

American Bankers Assoc. 2010 Summit in DC:  Guest speakers include:  House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Ranking Member Senate Banking Cmte. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Fed Gov. Elizabeth Duke and FDIC Chwmn. Sheila Bair.

Treasury Watch:  Treasury Chief Economist and Asst. Secretary for Economic Policy Alan Krueger has keynote remarks at the Bond Buyer’s National Municipal Bond Summit.

FRIDAY 3/19

Health care:  Capitol Hill speculation that the House could vote this day (or Saturday 3/20) on the health care bill.

Dodd’s Bill:  If the Senate Banking Cmte. is really going to mark up the revised financial overhaul legislation the week of 3/22, then realistically amendments need to be in by this day.

SATURDAY 3/20

Health care:  Capitol Hill speculation that the House could vote this day (or Friday 3/19) on the health care bill.

SUNDAY 3/21

Pres. Obama:  Departs for Indonesia and Australia. [Editor's Note: WH Press Secy. Gibbs announced 3/18 that Pres. Obama has moved this trip to June (in anticipation of a health care vote)].

Secy. Clinton:  Speaks before pro-Israel group AIPAC.

LOOK AHEAD:

March 22nd-26th: Senate Banking Cmte. expected to mark up draft bill and hopes to begin voting on financial overhaul bill by the end of the week.  Media reports indicate Chmn. Dodd wishes to vote the bill out of Cmte. on 3/26 prior to recess,  additionally Senate Banking Cmte. Republicans have pushed back on the calendar. [Editor's Note:  Updated 3/16, Chmn. Dodd will now have a mark up on 3/22/10].

March 23rd:  House Financial Services Cmte. on the future of housing finance.  Witnesses invited include:  Treasury Secy. Timothy Geithner and HUD Secy. Shaun Donovan. [Editor’s Note:  Originally scheduled for 3/2/10].

March 23rd: Economic reports due this day:  Natl. Assoc. of Realtors’ Existing Home Sales and Federal Housing Finance Agency’s House Price Index estimates.

April 7th-9th:  Financial Crisis Inquire Commission to hold hearing on “Subprime Lending and Securitization and Government-Sponsored Enterprises.”  Fmr. Federal Reserve Chmn. Alan Greenspan is reported by the Wall Street Journal to be among those who will appear before the congressional panel.