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

While Republicans celebrated their parties numerous victories from Tuesday’s elections, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that she was not disappointed by the results.

“From our standpoint, we picked up votes last night, one in California and one in New York,” Pelosi said during a press appearance, referencing the special elections held in New York’s 23rd Congressional district and California’s 10th.

“From our perspective, we won last night,” Pelosi added. “From our standpoint…a candidate was victorious who supports health care reform.”

The Speaker did not acknowledge the fact that Democratic gubernatorial losses in New Jersey and Virginia may have a negative political impact on her efforts to win votes to pass the America’s Healthy Choices Act, the bill to reform the health care system, through the House.

Pelosi instead focused on the Democratic wins in the two special elections for House seats.

Speaking to reporters following President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) says she is pleased that the President referred to healthcare as a moral issue during his speech. (:18)

 

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By Jonathan Bronstein, Talk Radio News Service

Jonathan Bronstein recounts the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) recent comments during her weekly press conference. Pelosi asserted that the CIA knowingly lied to her and mislead the American people, and she even called for the creation of a Truth Commission in order to illuminate the facts about the CIA’s use of torture.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) responded to Pelosi’s allegations by warning her and other Democrats to be careful what they wish for because the commission’s discoveries may directly implicate them in the investigation.

Furthermore, Peter Brookes, an analyst for the Heritage Foundation, criticized the idea of a Truth Commission because he felt that it may hinder the CIA and other agencies from adequately protecting the American people.

But with each passing day the frustration of the American people mounts as they finally want to know what happened during the Bush Administration. (1:58)

 

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by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

This afternoon Speaker Pelosi along with Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), released a draft of comprehensive energy legislation, known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Pelosi says that the U.S. must be first with the establishment of this legislation. (00:48)

 

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By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service and Christina Lovato – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Yesterday, in the Inland Empire region of southern California 13 supporters of Warehouse Workers United, a group working to improve warehouse jobs, were arrested for occupying a temporary employment service office building after a rally of 100 students, warehouse workers, clergy and community members calling for improved working conditions. Isabel Castelan, a 25-year-old single-mother, was one of the warehouse workers who took part in the sit-in and was arrested. Castelan said she she believes that there should be changes and was proud to take part in the demonstration.

 

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By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Correspondent Michael Ruhl reports on the recent release of the unemployment statistics for March.

Long segment: (01:00)
Short segment: (00:32)

 

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By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Keith Hall testifies before Congress on the nation’s unemployment numbers from March 2009, and how the recession has affected employment.

Hall said that unemployment numbers have climbed from 8.1 percent to 8.5 percent, and that the industries hardest hit are manufacturing, construction, and temporary services.

(00:34)

 

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By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

A day after President Barack Obama’s budget was passed by a Congress boiling with partisanship, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report showing unemployment at its highest since 1983. There are now 13.2 million Americans out of work.

The pouring rain in Washington mirrored the sobered mood in the room, as the Joint Economic Committee heard the testimony of Keith Hall, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

March was one of the worst Months on record for unemployment, and when asked outright, Hall told the committee that there were no “bright spots” in the report.

National unemployment climbed to 8.5 percent in March, rising from the level of 8.1 percent in February and 7.6 percent in January.

Hall said that two-thirds of the job loss has happened in the past 5 months. Every state is in recession for the first time in 30 years, according to Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).

Official unemployment numbers do not encompass underemployed Americans or those who have officially left the workforce. It is reported that 16 percent of the country is out of work or underemployed. One in four of those unemployed have been out of work for more than six months, and of those, half have been looking for work for over a year, Hall said.

Maloney highlighted that last month, 8,000 jobs were lost in the news publishing industry. Those losses total 70,000 job cuts since Dec. 2007, Hall said, adding that most job losses have been see in the manufacturing, construction, and temporary services industries. The only area to see any growth in March was the Healthcare industry, Hall said.

Ranking Committee member Senator Sam Brownback (R-KA) noted that the impact of the ongoing recession was not severe for almost a year after it began in December 2007. Brownback attributed recent dramatic jumps in job losses over the past five months to the lockup in the credit markets and the government bailouts that followed.

The Federal Reserve believes that unemployment will peak at 8.8 percent this year, but Ranking House Committee Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) said that the unemployment rate is already higher than what the administration anticipated for 2009. Brady said that the Obama Administration’s “optimistic assumptions” would not get the country out of its current mess.

President Obama’s Economic Stimulus package was passed by Congress earlier this year, and saw an unprecedented amount of money placed into public works meant to put people back to work. Obama has pledged the legislation will save or create three to four million jobs over the next two years.

Read the report here: Bureau of Labor Statistics Report

By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service

Congressman George Miller (D-Ca) talks at a press conference about the progress of the “Employment Free Choice Act: Strengthening the Middle Class.”

Congressman Miller said: “Under this bill the employees can choose to organize either through the National Labor Relations Board Election Process or through a majority sign up. Under the current law the CEO can veto employees choice when they use majority sign up. Under this bill the employee’s choice will be respected.”

 

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By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Speaks at the annual Maria Leavey Breakfast in the US Capitol. Pelosi talks about health care, education, working with President Obama, and the speed at which the economic recovery package was rushed through. The Speaker said jokingly about the recovery package that if she had wanted to, she “could have fast tracked it much faster”. (56:41)

 

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