Travis Martinez – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

As the Senate prepares for a Saturday vote on whether or not to bring its health care bill to the floor, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says he will be working feverishly to try to muster up 60 votes, including at least one from the other side of the aisle.

“It would be a real break if we get one Republican to join us and say yes, this is an issue worth debating,” said Durbin. “I’m not assuming a thing, we’re working hard to bring all 60 Democrat votes together to proceed with this historic debate.”

Durbin refused to divulge any information about the status of Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), a moderate who has remained quiet as to how she will vote on Saturday night.

“She’s told Senator Reid,” said Durbin.”You’ll have to ask Senator Reid.”

By Marianna Levyash – Talk Radio News Service

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) along with Democratic leaders on Thursday unveiled their health care bill, complete with a state opt-out government-administered public option.

During the press conference, Reid invoked former President Harry Truman, who wrote to Congress 64 years ago today that “we should resolve now that the health of this nation is a national concern, that financial barriers in the way of attaining health shall be removed.”

The 2,074 page “The Patient Protection and Affordable Act,” ensures that over ten years, the $849 billion bill will produce a net deficit of over $130 billion, cut future Medicare spending and ban insurance companies that decline coverage to anyone with a “pre-existing [medical] condition.”

Coverage will be extended to 94% of eligible Americans, close to the 96% of Americans covered in the House Affordable Health Care For America Act.

When asked about the abortion amendment in the bill, Reid answered “This is a health care bill, not an abortion bill.”

Reid and his fellow Democrats now need 60 votes in order to pass the bill. When asked about the chances of that happening, Reid responded by saying, “We’ll find out when the votes are taken.” He added that he will not use reconciliation as a means of passing the bill.

The Washington Bureau will be covering:

- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee holds a hearing on “The Fort Hood Attack: A Preliminary Assessment”

-Reps. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Steve King (R-Iowa) and others host a forum on the impact of illegal immigration on jobs.

-Sens. Gregg (R-N.H.) and Alexander (R-Tenn.) will hold a pen and pad briefing on the debt ceiling and health care.

- The Joint Economic Committee holds a hearing on “Financial Regulatory Reform: Protecting Taxpayers and the Economy.” Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner will testify.

- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her weekly press conference.

-Reps. Lance (R-N.J.), Paulsen (R-Minn.), Jenkins (R-Kan.), Lee (D-Calif.) and Olson (R-Texas) call for a separate vote on raising the debt ceiling.

By Ravi Bhatia-Talk Radio News Service

During his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder defended his decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, through the federal court system in New York rather than through military commissions.

President Barack Obama revived former President George W. Bush’s military commissions, also known as military tribunals, in May 2009 for a small number of Guantanamo Bay detainees. Obama’s tribunals, deemed “Bush Light” by critics, provided terror suspects and war prisoners with more legal protections. However, the tribunals have been criticized for sacrificing American judicial values in order to prosecute prisoners quicker.

In his argument for employing federal courts rather than military courts, Holder cited the 300 convicted international and domestic terrorists currently in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons. He claimed that the United States could prosecute terrorists “safely and securely” in the federal system because “we have been doing it for years.”

“I studied this issue extensively,” Holder said in his opening statements. “I consulted the Secretary of Defense. I heard from prosecutors from my Department and from the Defense Department’s Office of Military Commissions. I spoke to victims on both sides of the question. And at the end of the day, it was clear to me that the venue in which we are most likely to obtain justice for the American people is in the federal court.”

While Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) defended Holder, saying that “we can rely on the American justice system,” the decision was met with criticism from Republican members of the committee. In one instance, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called Holder’s choice “a perversion of the justice system.”

“You’re a fine man,” Graham said to Holder. “I know you want to do everything to help this country be safe but I think you’ve made a fundamental mistake here.”

Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) mentioned that Mohammed had already said he would plead guilty to the terrorists acts.

“How could you be more likely to get a conviction in federal court when Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has already asked to plead guilty before military commission and be executed?” Kyl asked, garnering scattered applause and laughter from some audience members. “How can you be more likely to get a conviction in an Article III [federal] court than that?”

In response, Holder said, “the determination I make … does not depend on the whims or the desires of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. He said he wanted to do that then. I have no idea with what he wants to do now with regards to these military commissions that now [have] enhanced protections. My job is to look at the possibilities.”

Holder also touched on issues such as prison reform legislation, claiming that drug courts specifically established for non-violent crimes have so far been effective, responding to Senator Al Franken’s (D-Minn.) opinion that too many prisoners were in prison for drug possession.

“We’re essentially [taking] kids who are in possession of drugs and sending them to crime school,” Franken said. “They learn from other criminals how to do crime, and two-thirds of them come back [after] they’re released within three years.”

“I’m familiar with the [drug court] we have here in Washington, D.C…. that has [proven] to be very successful in dealing with people who are selling drugs because they are addicted to drugs,” Holder said. “These are low level dealers, not the people who live in penthouses and drive big cars and all that.”

Holder recommended a data driven analysis of the U.S. prison system. He said that a “sentencing group” is looking at a “wide variety” of issues in U.S. prisons.

“Who is in jail?” Holder asked. “Are they in jail for appropriate amounts of time? Is the amount of time they spend in jail a deterrent? Does that have an impact on the recidivism rate? This group will be reporting back to me within the next couple of months. It is on that basis that we’ll be formulating policy and working with the Committee.”

TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner speaks with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) about where things stand with the senate healthcare bill. Levin says he is hopeful that a final bill in the Senate will come to the floor by the end of the week. Calling it a “long, complicated bill,” Levin explains that folks have some time to read the full legislation online. Finally, Levin, one of the more liberal members of the Senate, says it is essential for the Senate’s version to contain a public option plan. Click on the audio icon below to listen to the entire conversation. (5:02)

 

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By Marianna Levyash- Talk Radio News Service

At a phone conference Wednesday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani opposed trying 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other terrorists in civilian courts.

Giuliani said a more appropriate place for their trial would be miiltary tribunals for the terror suspects.

“There are military commissions that have now been confirmed and created by Congress…there is absolutely no reason to try these people in federal court in New York,” stated Giuliani.

The detainees are currently being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and they would be transferred to a civil court in New York City.

Giuliani also noted that there is “no reason to put people through an intense re-living of what happened with the terrorist.”

Giuliani said that this will be a multi-year process and will continue to create an enormous expense for the city and state government to have these trials.

UN Correspondent Tala Dowlatshahi will be covering the launch of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) World Population Report 2009.

The Washington Bureau will be covering the following:

-The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee holds a hearing on “The Fort Hood Attack: A Preliminary Assessment.”

-Senators Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) hold a news conference about the HSGAC hearing regarding the Ft. Hood attacks.

-Attorney General Eric Holder testifies before the Senate Judiciary.

-Senators Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Kit Bond (R-Mo.), Roberts (R-Kan.), and House members hold a news conference about a recent WTO ruling regarding aircraft subsidies.

-Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) host a members’ briefing on Cuba.

-The House Energy and Commerce Committee Health Subcommittee holds a hearing on H1N1 Preparedness.

-GOP House members hold a news conference about Gitmo.

-Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Michaud (D-Maine) hold a news conference about WTO and trade.

-GOP women hold a news conference about mammograms and health care.

-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Dr. Jill Biden, et al. hold a news conference about the USO Care Package event for women soldiers.

-The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee holds a full committee markup of the “Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.”

By Meagan Wiseley – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-M.D.) told reporters Tuesday that the investigation into Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan’s attack on the Fort Hood Army Base November 5th should be investigated in a bipartisan manner by Congress.

“I don’t think this is a partisan issue, all of us share extraordinary sorrow that this [tragedy] took the lives of our military,” Hoyer said.

Hoyer said that making this a partisan issue does not serve best interest of the American people or of the country.

He added, “what does serve those interests is to look at this matter and see if there are ways and means to prevent such tragedies in the future.”

The House Intelligence Committee was briefed on classified elements of the investigation Tuesday.

Hoyer also expressed his approval for the Department of Justice’s decision to try Guantanamo Bay detainees in U.S. Federal Court.

He referenced the support of Grover Norquist, David Keene and Bob Barr, all known conservatives, for the decision, saying that it proves there is bipartisan support for the issue.

The Washington Bureau will be covering:

- The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee holds a full committee hearing on the international aspects of global climate change.

- The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee holds a full committee and Domestic Policy Subcommittee joint hearing on “Bank of America and Merrill Lynch: How Did a Private Deal Turn Into a Federal Bailout?

- Reps. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Steve King (R-Iowa), Tom Price (R-Ga.) & Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) hold a news conference to announce their “Pink Slip” protest.

- House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) holds a pen and pad session with reporters.

- The House Armed Services Committee Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Iraq and Afghanistan: Perspectives on U.S. Strategy.

- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee holds a full committee hearing on “H1N1 Flu: Getting the Vaccine to Where It Is Needed Most.”

- House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), House GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) hold a briefing with reporters following a closed meeting at the Capitol Hill Club.

- The Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds a full committee hearing on “The U.S. and the G-20: Remaking the International Economic Architecture.”

- Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) and Administration Trade Official Ron Kirk hold a news conference to discuss health care and the middle class.

- Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) holds a news conference to discuss the status of the Fort Hood victims.

- Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bob Bennett (R-Utah) hold a news conference to discuss TARP.

Paul Brandus – Talk Radio News Service

BEIJING – Who knew that Twitter – banned in this country of 1.3 billion people – could spark such a lively exchange between the President of the United States and a group of young Chinese students?

It happened in Shanghai today, where President Obama held a town hall with what the White House called “future Chinese leaders.” The President happened to take a question – ironically via the internet – that asked “Should we be able to use Twitter freely?” (Facebook is also off-limits here).

Photo: Paul Brandus/TRNS

Obama began with a joke: “Well first off, let me say that I have never used Twitter. My thumbs are too clumsy to type in things on the phone.”

But then the President got serious: “I should be honest, as president of the United States, there are times where I wish information didn’t flow so freely because then I wouldn’t have to listen to people criticizing me all the time,” he said. But, Obama added, “because in the United States, information is free, and I have a lot of critics in the United States who can say all kinds of things about me, I actually think that that makes our democracy stronger and it makes me a better leader because it forces me to hear opinions that I don’t want to hear.”

Revealing yes, but more importantly, the President’s words appeared to have a broader meaning: China itself, he seemed to be saying, should also open up and allow its citizens to communicate freely, even if they’re saying things their leaders don’t want to hear. But those leaders, the same men Obama broke bread with here tonight, lack the President’s confidence, choosing not to broadcast his appearance on national TV, though it did run locally in Shanghai.

What will China’s leaders hear from Obama himself? Probably little, if anything at all, on the one issue sure to irritate them: human rights. The administration appears to have decided that badgering Beijing on Tibet and Xinjiang – the site of bloody crackdowns over the past two years – isn’t as important to the President’s long-term agenda as North Korea and Iran, where Obama needs Chinese support in the U.N. and elsewhere (likely in the former instance, unlikely in the latter) and global warming. Then there’s the issue that hits Obama right in the wallet: his administration’s need for China to keep propping up the U.S. economy by buying our debt. China already owns an estimated $800 billion of U.S. Treasury securities, and is so nervous about their safety, that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton actually had to reassure them earlier this year that those securities, backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government, were secure. Astonishing.

So don’t look for President Obama to say too much about Tibet or Xinjiang. As a footnote to this discussion: There are some here, by the way, who would quickly point to Abu Gharib and claim, that despite a new administration, America has no business lecturing anyone on human rights.

Looking ahead, on Tuesday, the President will be formally welcomed to China by President Hu Jintao with a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People. They’ll speak to reporters and after that Obama tours the Forbidden City and greets employees at the sprawling U.S. Embassy. In the evening: a state dinner with Hu.