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 Laura Smith, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

During a press conference Tuesday on the importance of health care reform for middle class Americans, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said that health care costs have more than doubled in the past decade and could grow further.

“The average American spent $6,000 on their health care just ten years ago. Now the average American family is spending $12,000, and in ten years from now, without any bending of the cost curve, they will be spending $24,000 a year. If we do not act, these costs will break the backs of the American people,” Klobuchar said.

The senator attributed the numbers to Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.)

Klobuchar went on to outline what she would like to see brought about through significant reform.

“It is my hope that no one will have to choose between necessary medical care, and their mortgage,” said Klobuchar. “For the middle class, reform will mean stable coverage that can’t be taken away, stable costs that won’t eat away at paychecks and better care.”

John DuBois, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bob Bennett (R-Utah) introduced the TARP Sunset Act Tuesday in the hope of making sure the controversial program, meant to stabilize the U.S. financial system, does not extend beyond this year.

“Now is the time to end this program to ensure that additional taxpayer dollars are not wasted since TARP has devolved into a slush fund for the administration,” said Thune.

The TARP Sunset Act will eliminate Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s ability to spend outstanding funds after the end of 2009.

“[The] crisis has passed and the usefulness of TARP therefore is over,” said Benett. “It should be terminated is that this administration is using it like a revolving credit account.”

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) introduced a bill Tuesday that would recognize the victims of the Fort Hood shooting as combat casualties and, if approved, could strengthen the argument that the incident should be considered a terrorist attack.

Carter, whose district includes the Fort Hood military base, said in a press conference that the bill would grant concessions for beneficiaries of all the military officers killed or wounded.

The status would also allow military victims to receive a Purple Heart and non-military victims to receive the Secretary of Defense Medal of Freedom, which is the civilian equivalent.

“They were basically taken out early in the combat,” Carter said. “As far as I’m concerned, this was an attack by an enemy upon American troops on American soil.”

Though Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who was charged on Thursday with killing 13 and wounding 29, has been rumored to have ties to a radical Muslim group in Yemen but many lawmakers have criticized the accusations, calling them premature.

“I think we should call things what they are,” Carter said. “I don’t think we should worry about hurting people’s feelings. No one is saying the term ‘terrorism’ has the word Muslim in it.”

Lawmakers say they do not expect much opposition to the bill since it’s main focus is helping the victims.

By Ravi Bhatia – Talk Radio News Service

On Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), along with other House members and representatives from various universities, touted the research conducted with money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Also known as the stimulus package, the ARRA allocated $21.5 billion for scientific research, purchasing equipment and science-related construction projects.

“There was a time, if you promise not to tell anybody, when in Washington you had to choose between science and faith, take your pick,” Pelosi said. “And [then] we said, ’science is an answer to our prayers.’ It’s all pretty compatible.”

The university officials universities pointed to the website www.scienceworksforUS.org, which details the stimulus-sponsored research being conducted across the country. ScienceWorksForUS is an initiative of the Association of American Universities, the Association of Land Grant Universities, and the Science Coalition, who together represent 200 research institutions.

By Ravi Bhatia – Talk Radio News Service

Bank of America (BOA) executives, including two members of the bank’s board of directors, testified Tuesday in front of the House Oversight Committee to explain how a private deal between BOA and Merrill Lynch turned into a federal bailout.

The $50 billion deal between the two banks occurred in September, 2008 and saved Merrill Lynch from bankruptcy. A January 2009 report of its earnings, however, showed that Merrill Lynch lost $21.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008, requiring the government to subsequently provide it with an emergency $15 billion preferred stock investment through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Committee Chairman Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), claimed during Tuesday’s hearing that the government did not force Bank of America to take the bailout. Towns noted that it was former Bank of America Chairman Ken Lewis who asked former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson on Dec. 17, 2008 to intervene.

“That one phone call put everything in motion,” Towns said. “Lewis claimed that he believed Bank of America could back out of the deal with Merrill Lynch based on the Material Adverse Change clause in the merger agreement – the so-called ‘MAC clause.’ [Former Bank of America General Counsel Timothy J.] Mayopoulos was suddenly fired nine days later without explanation and replaced by a senior insider who had not practiced law in years.”

Mayopolous testified Tuesday that, “Based on information [that was] already disclosed to shareholders, a reasonable investor would have been on notice that Merrill Lynch might well suffer multi-billion dollar losses in the fourth quarter of 2008.”

During his prepared remarks, Mayopolous also denied involvement in Bank of America’s approving Merrill Lynch to pay billions of dollars in bonuses to its employees. However, he did advise Steele Alphin, Bank of America’s Chief Administrative Officer, that Merrill Lynch, not Bank of America, should determine year-end bonuses for Merrill Lynch employees.

“I also advised Mr. Alphin, however, that it was appropriate for him to make clear to the Chair of Merrill’s Compensation Committee that it would be inappropriate for John Thain, Merrill Lynch’s CEO, to be paid a year-end bonus,” Mayopolous said. “My advice was not legal advice that such a bonus would be illegal, but rather my business judgment as to what would be best for the combined company.”

Bank of America’s President of Consumer and Small Business Banking Brian Moynihan said Tuesday he was proud of the role his firm has played in the economy “during this period of economic difficulty,” and that Bank of America’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch helped prevent a further financial collapse.

“We have extended $759 billion in new credit since we filed our first report in the fourth quarter of 2008,” he said. “That represents almost $17 for every dollar of the $45 billion of taxpayer assistance to the Bank of America.”


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.

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Rapid advancement of technology coupled with reduced trade barriers are the most important factors in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, witnesses told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee during a hearing Tuesday.

“An agreement that focuses on technology offers a path forward that developed and developing countries can embrace, “ said Karen Harbert, President and CEO of the Institute for 21st Century Energy.

Harbert said during her testimony that an effort to reduce global tariffs and non-tariff barriers on clean energy goods and services is essential in ensuring that alternate energy technologies can penetrate the global marketplace.

“Future growth of the U.S. clean energy economy will depend on access to foreign markets,” Jake Colvin, Vice President of the National Foreign Trade Council said in his testimony. “Demand for environmental goods and services is growing rapidly in developing countries, which offer significant opportunities for U.S. companies.”

Colvin explained that U.S. exporters are currently facing disproportionally high tariffs that impede their ability to sell environmental goods and services abroad.

“Reducing these impediments would allow U.S. companies to capture a larger share of the the more than $600 billion environmental goods and services market,” Colvin said.

President Barack Obama expressed reservations earlier this year about tariff provisions included in the House climate legislation, the House bill would levy tariffs beginning in 2020 on environmental goods and services from countries that have not committed to control greenhouse gas emissions.

Senate Democrats who represent states dependent on manufacturing have said they will not vote for a bill that does not include “border adjustments” to safe-keep U.S. presence in the market.

Agreements regarding trade policy will be a critical component as to what the U.S. will commit to during the United Nation’s climate conference in Copenhagen in December, where 190 nations will draft an agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

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.