By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

The energy and climate debate is making its way to the Senate, just two legislative days after the House passed the Waxman-Markey energy bill. The Committee on Environment and Public Works heard from White House and other government officials Tuesday. They highlighted the importance of making the U.S. a leader in the clean energy market, reducing the effects of global warming, and creating new jobs in the process.

“Clean energy is to this decade, and the next, what the Space Race was to the 1950s and ‘60s. America is behind,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. “American businesses need strong incentives and investments now in order for this nation to lead the twenty-first century global economy.”

Other officials present included: Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

Chu said that he applauds the House for passing the clean energy bill and said he looks forward to working with the Senate to pass “comprehensive energy legislation.” He also noted that denial of the climate change problem will not change the outcome but comprehensive legislation that caps and then reduces carbon emissions will.

Committee Chairwoman Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said, “I expect you will hear fierce words of doubt and fear and worse from the other side of the aisle regarding our legislative efforts to move forward with clean energy jobs legislation. This is consistent with a pattern of “No we can’t.” I believe this Committee, when the votes are eventually taken on our bill, will reflect our President’s attitude, which is “Yes, we can, and yes, we will.”

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) agreed that the bill will pass through their committee but he does not believe it will pass on the Senate floor. He said the Senators will have more time to review the many points of the legislation than House members did prior to their June 25 vote.

Gov. Haley Barbour (R-Miss.) also testified Tuesday and stressed the importance of informing the public about the facts of energy policy.

“The gigantic effect of energy policy on American life means Congress should work particularly hard to ensure Americans know the facts about the policies Congress is considering. To the contrary, the House of Representatives added more than 300 pages of its 1200 page energy bill a few hours before it was brought to the floor and passed. That is just the opposite,” said the Governor.

Reps. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Earl Pomeroy (D-Nd.) have introduced new legislation that will reform America’s health care system by emphasizing the quality of care Americans receive.

The Accountable Care Promotion Act of 2009 calls for the creation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), which would reduce unnecessary health care spending, and provide incentives to physicians who provide better quality health care services for their patients.

The Congressmen cited facts discovered by the Dartmouth Institute’s Dr. Elliott Fisher, whose research concluded that “regions with lower per-patient Medicare spending often provide higher-quality care and better health outcomes.”

Said Rep. Pomeroy, “Accountable Care Organizations [are] integrated systems where providers work together. They have primary care medicine at the forefront, helping coordinate a patients access to the care they need.”

Under the proposed legislation, health care organizations would voluntary become apart of ACOs, which in return would provide health care providers with a financial incentive that would help cut costs and supply higher quality care.

By: Courtney Costello- Talk Radio News Service

The House has proposed new legislation that would close improperly facilitated burn pits used by U.S. military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. The legislation would also mandate health screenings for veterans who were exposed to toxins released from the pits, which are large ditches used to dispose of garbage and waste.

The Military Personnel War Zone Toxic Exposure Prevention Act would require the Secretary of Defense to establish a medical surveillance system that would pinpoint troops that have been exposed to hazardous chemicals burned in the pits. The act would also prohibit the military from discarding waste that omits dangerous levels of toxins.

“We believe it is premature to dismiss concern raised about burn pits after only a few years. Our country’s difficult experiences with agent orange and Gulf War illness taught us we must be vigilant in monitoring and treating our veterans long after they have returned from the battlefield,” said Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.).

 Despite the fact that the military has purchased incinerators, the burn pits have become an indefinite solution to get rid of waste.
 
“[The burn pits are producing] 250 tons of waste everyday. Some of our troops are working directly inside of these pits with no protection,” said Kerry Baker, the Assistant National Legislative Director of the Disabled American Veterans.

Medical concerns that have been raised include chronic bronchitis, asthma, sleep apnea, allergy-like symptoms, lung problems and lymphoma.

“Where all of the trash from the base and from the base hospital was burned just over the wall…we lived under a cloud of smoke from that continuous fire, and everyone was affected on some level,” said Tom Tarantino, an Iraq War veteran and a policy associate for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

According to Rep. Bishop, the Department of Defense currently maintains that there are no long term health issues related to troops being exposed to burn pits.

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

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.)
Photo by Michael Ruhl

In the next 5 years, the Pakistani infrastructure will be fortified by almost $10 billion American dollars, if Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) have anything to say about it. The aptly titled Kerry-Lugar Bill will provided money for rebuilding the lives of civilians in war torn Pakistan.

Both Kerry and Lugar said that most of the money that has been funneled into Pakistan in the past few years has gone towards security. The aim of this bill is to shift the balance, to place more of an emphasis on infrastructure.

The Senators want to use the money for building schools, improving health care, building bridges, water projects, and other elements of infrastructure. Kerry said that the target projects are “things that would improve life and give people a sense of progress” to civilians.

The money would also be used for ensuring an independent media, expanding human rights and the rule of law, expanding transparency in government, rooting out political corruption and countering the drug trade.

Additionally military funding would be conditioned upon several things, including Pakistani security forces preventing al Qaeda and Taliban forces from operating in Pakistan. The military forces would not be able to interfere in politics or in the judicial process, according to the provisions of the bill.

The legislation bill would give $1.5 billion each year from FY 2009-2013, and would recommend similar amounts of money over the subsequent five years. There would be required benchmarks to measuring how effective the funding is, and the President will have to submit semi-annual reports to Congress about progress made.

White House Update
Thursday, April 23

The President’s meeting today with 13 executives from the credit card industry underscores one of the administration’s most vexing dilemmas: trying to stabilize the banks while getting the struggling U.S. economy back on its feet.

Here’s the dilemma: the White House acknowledges that a sound banking system is one of the bedrocks of the American economy. To be sound, banks have to have, and are shoring up, their capital position. But at the same time, they’re being asked to step up lending.

Obama told the executives today that the interest rates and fees they charge are “unfair” and says they need to be more “consumer friendly.” The banking industry’s response – although they didn’t say this to the President’s face today – has been along these lines: “We HAVE been consumer friendly; TOO consumer friendly. We flooded the market with cheap credit for much of this decade and now a lot of customers can’t pay it back.”

The President himself knows all too well about credit card debt. At the White House news briefing this afternoon, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that up until recently – obviously before the multi-million dollar book sales – Obama himself was in the red.

But the high levels of credit delinquency, personal bankruptcies, auto repossessions and, of course, mortgage foreclosures, appear to support the banks’ point. No question, millions of Americans are hurting – but for people with a proven inability to pay, who are already up to their necks in debt, is more debt the answer?

In short, that is the banking industry’s position – and the President’s dilemma.

WITHER IRAN?

Another dilemma for the West Wing – surprise, surprise: the Middle East. During talks Tuesday with Jordan’s King Abdullah, the President said he wants to see Israel, the Palestinians and neighboring Arab countries – like Jordan – to step efforts to forge some kind of peace agreement. The White House envoy to the region, former Senate Majority Leader and architect of the Northern Ireland peace agreement, George Mitchell, says he is cautiously hopeful.

To nudge things along, Obama will invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to the White House for talks in the next few weeks. But not all at once.

But Obama’s priorities are not Israel’s. Netanyahu said earlier this week that he will not participate in talks until the President makes headway on Israel’s number one issue: stopping Iran’s nuclear program. To drive that point home this morning, the President was told by Israeli Ambassador Sallai Meridor to confront Iran “before it’s too late.”

Meridor made the comments at a Holocaust memorial service on Capitol Hill. Also speaking: a top official of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Joel Geiderman, who was even more blunt, reminding Obama about Iran’s pledge to destroy Israel. He warned the President to ignore that threat at America’s “own peril.”

The White House also faces a dilemma with the Palestinians. Abbas’ Fatah faction has seen its power eroding, to the benefit of the Islamist militant group Hamas. Hamas controls the Gaza Strip, but the administration has so far maintained the Bush policy of refusing to deal with – branding it a terrorist group.

TORTURE LATEST

At the briefing, Gibbs appeared to distance himself from comments made this morning by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who said he supported the release of sensitive memos on detainee interrogation methods. Gates said he viewed the disclosure as inevitable.

Gibbs’ response: “I have not seen Secretary Gates’s full remarks.” Gibbs inferred that a lot of people have different opinions on the subject. He added “The problem…isn’t the existence of a paragraph or a term in a memo…It is the very existence of their use.”

FIRST 100 DAYS (94 and counting)

Conflicting editorials in the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.

The Post’s David Broder says Obama has gotten off to a good start: The “President has shown – and it is important – a mastery of the art of managing the presidency.” He lauds Obama’s He lauds his “good organizational and management skills” and says in sum, “A bravura performance on Obama’s part.”

The Journal’s Daniel Henniger counters, focusing on the president’s grip-and grin with Venezualan President Hugo Chavez as symbolic of White House weakness. He writes: “The weirdly ebullient Mr. Obama did not…show reserve.” He adds: “The Obama people seem to believe that talking top guy to top guy is the yellow brick road to progress” and that “There appears to be no coherent strategy beyond “talk to our enemies.”

WEST WING NOTES

…the President will hold a prime-time news conference next Wednesday at 8pm, EDT; it is the 100th day of his presidency.

…it was “Take Your Daughters to Work Day” at the White House, but Malia and Sasha Obama didn’t make the 60-secnd commute to the Oval Office with Dad. First Lady Michelle Obama did speak to 160 kids – of administration, household and Secret Service employees. Mrs. Obama said: She doesn’t miss cooking, the new dog, Bo, is “crazy” and says one of the best parts about being First Lady is that she gets to do a lot of “fun stuff.”

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

America must invest more time, money, and human resources to help those displaced by the ongoing Iraq War, according to human rights advocates from the Washington, D.C.-based Refugees International.

The presence of 2.6 million displaced Iraqis persons is overwhelming to neighboring Middle East countries and is “undermining” to the social fabric of Iraq, said Ken Bacon, President of Refugees International, at a speech made today at the National Press Club.

President Barack Obama talked about displacement with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during his surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday.

Bacon is happy at what is being seen as a distinct change from the “little attention” that the Bush Administration paid to Iraqi displacement.

It is estimated that since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, 2.6 million Iraqi’s have lost their homes and have fled other parts of the country. An additional 2 million have fled to neighboring countries, including Syria, Jordan and Egypt.

Bacon said that greater American and international support in receiving refugees and providing financial-aid can help stop the crisis.

Displacement of that many people “affects the whole region”, said Bacon, which results in educated citizens and specialized workers fleeing the country.

There are only 18,000 practicing doctors in Iraq, down from 32,000 doctors in 2002. There are more Iraqi doctors in Jordan than in Iraq’s capitol city of Baghdad, Bacon said.

Last year Democratic Senators Robert Casey (PA) and Benjamin Cardin (MD) introduced a bill to increase aid to Iraqi refugees and allow more of them to enter the United States. Since the FY2010 Budget has been approved by Congress, any appropriated funds to help Iraqi citizens would have to come through additional legislation, Bacon said.

A spokesman for Senator Cardin said it has not been decided yet if similar legislation would be introduced in this Congress.

Refugee International’s Field Report on the Iraqi refugee situation said that the Iraqi government is trying to keep more of its citizens from fleeing their homeland. It is feared by the Iraqi government that the existence of so many refugees tarnishes the image of overall security within the country.

The report also said Iraq violated international refugee laws in 2007 by asking Syria not to accept any more Iraqi refugees.

Many refugees have fears of returning home, the report says, because many of those that returned already have been killed.

Kristele Younes, an advocate with Refugees International, says that security is a major issue in Iraqi neighborhoods, with each little borough acting as its own walled off “fiefdom”.

Younes said that the United Nations is trying to place a tourniquet on the flow of persons out of the country by the end of the year, but significant challenges remain in Iraq, including budgetary shortcomings due to low oil prices, corruption within the government and sectarianism.

The Refugees International’s report on Iraq can be found here.

Immigration Redux
Immigration is regarded as a “second-tier” issue in the West Wing (education, health care and energy being the administration’s top priorities), but the president still wants a “comprehensive solution” to the problem and a bill to be crafted this Fall. The centerpiece of any legislation would be putting the estimated 12 million illegals in the U.S. on the path to eventual citizenship. But Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters this afternoon that illegals would be put in “the back of the line” and made to wait. Gibbs also suggested that they learn English. The White House also warned that it wants to step up the crackdown on employers who flaunt the law by hiring illegals. If all of this sounds familiar, it is: President George W. Bush tried, and failed, to pass comprehensive immigration legislation in 2007. Analysts warn with the economy in rough shape, the task of passing a sweeping immigration bill may prove to be infinitely more daunting.

War Funding Flip Flop?
The President is also asking for an additional $83.4 billion for military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama opposed such funding two years ago when he was in the Senate. The request would finance the additional 17,000 troops for the Afghan theater bringing the number of American servicemen and women there to 55,000, a 59% increase. Meantime: the Congressional Research Service says the funding request would push the costs of both wars to nearly $1 trillion since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Housing Confab
President Obama claims that his administration’s policies (along with actions by the Federal Reserve) have lowered mortgage rates to historic lows, giving millions of Americans the opportunity to refinance their homes. Critics say the rates are artificially low, but the administration says it will do whatever is necessary to get the housing industry moving again. Meeting in the Roosevelt Room with the president was Treasury Secretary Geithner, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan – and homeowners from the Washington DC area who seemed pretty nervous in their high-powered surroundings. Reporters asked about the Somali pirate situation and were rebuffed by the president: “Guys, we’re talking about housing now…”

Quick Hits
…Did the President bow when meeting Saudi King Abdullah at last week’s G20 summit? “No,” Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. “He bent over to shake his hand…”
…Next Thursday (Apr. 23) the White House sponsors “Bring Your Child to Work Day.” Will Malia and Sasha accompany Dad on his 60-second commute to the Oval?
…The East Wing has released the White House Easter egg design. They have an environmental theme…
…First Lady Michelle Obama was seen puttering around in the new White House garden this afternoon. With her: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a White House chef and students from Bancroft Elementary. They planted seeds – 55 kinds of fruits and vegetables, except for beets. The President doesn’t like beets…

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

Green for All and the Service Employees International Union converged in Washington, D.C. today, recommending to lawmakers how they should act following draft legislation recently put forward by Senate Democrats to introduce the Climate Equity Alliance, which is an alliance pushing for strong climate legislation that protects and provides opportunity for low- and moderate-income communities.

Jason Walsh, National Policy Director at Green for All said that, based on shared values, more than two dozen organizations from the research, advocacy, faith-based, labor and civil rights communities have formed this alliance.

“The urgent need of transition to a clean energy economy presents us with some critical choices…. We should therefore approach climate policy not only as environmental policy, though it is certainly that, but also as economic policy and as civil-rights policy that can advance principles of fairness and opportunity and equal access,” said Walsh.

The alliance believes that the best way to advance those principles “is to ensure that the strong policies needed to reduce green house gas emissions, also protect low and moderate income households and expand economic opportunity,” Walsh said.

U.S. climate policy needs to include effective mechanisms that reach all low-income households and effectively offset cost increases and to ensure that quality of life for those families is maintained, said Robert Greenstein, Executive Director at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

“This is definitely doable as part of climate legislation,” Greenstein said. “One certainly doesn’t want climate policy to have the unintended side effect of increasing poverty and hardship… Well-designed climate policy can assure that there aren’t such adverse effects by auctioning emissions allowances and devoting an appropriate portion of the proceeds to effectively deliver consumer relief for low and moderate income households”.

Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green for All, said “We believe that if climate policy can fight pollution, it can also alleviate poverty at the same time,” adding that she wants to make ensure that the alliance is equitable and takes in account low and moderate-income communities.

“We want to ensure that climate policies provide equal protection and also equal opportunity for all communities,” she said. “Our hope is that working together, if we do this right, we’ll really be able to make sure that both our planet and the people that inhabit it are not really just surviving but in fact thriving in a clean energy economy.”

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

Former presidential candidate and long time consumer rights advocate Ralph Nader talked with Michael Ruhl to discuss the status of his lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This was immediately following the circuit court argument for Nader vs. DNC. Nader claims that he was harassed and burdened in 2004 presidential election by the DNC, in what he calls “an abuse of the legal process” and malicious prosecution. In this interview, Nader explained background of the case, and the case’s current status. He said, “there is no other western democracy that comes close to obstructing voters and obstructing candidates as is the case in our country.”

Nader also spoke about the two-party system, and the effect that his case has on future third party candidates in the presidential process. He said that his case is designed to draw boundaries, to make sure that third party candidates can exercise their First Amendment rights. Nader also referred to the issue as one of democracy, because he said in limiting ballot access, one is truly limiting the right of the people to decide who they want to represent them. Nader called for national ballot standards, instead of ballot standards which vary state by state. He also advocated instant runoff voting and public funding of public campaigns.

Nader said that the two-party system is not allowing third parties access to the higher tiers of federal government, and this two-party system is moving gradually to a one-party system, where gerrymandered districts make reelection almost certain for many members of Congress. He called this a system that can be rented by the rich. In spite of the stronghold that the two parties have on the system, Nader said that he has talked with several members of Congress who may be interested in helping to move legislation on election reform. He mentioned by name: John Conyers (D-Mich.), Ron Paul (R-Texas), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), and Jessie Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.). He anticipates this reform effort to be difficult, because as he said, “the foxes are guarding the chicken coop.” Nader seems ready for a fight.

(08:50)

 

 Standard Podcast [08:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

At a news conference today, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) says that the Republican alternative to President Obama’s budget will “create jobs by allowing American families and small businesses to keep more of what they earn.” He says that the President’s budget spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much from our kids and grandkids. “I just think that this may be the most irresponsible piece of legislation I’ve ever seen in my legislative career,” says Boehner. (2:32)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download