Pop quiz: Who should pay the bill for the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?
A) Oil companies*
B) Taxpayers
*Clicking here will add your name to this petition: “Oil companies, not taxpayers, should pay for oil spill damages. Congress should get rid of the limits on oil spill liability.”
Thanks for all you do.
–Steven, Kat, Adam, Ilya, and the rest of the team
Today, is National Bike to Work day, the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man and Star Wars is being celebrated as well.
The President has another win under his belt, Financial Reform, the biggest overhaul since the 30’s; though some feel the efforts to reform any and all parts of our govt just haven’t gone far enough. He also signed a Fuel efficiency Plan.
Why is Congress afraid of real Reform… Most of us know, not all of us practice it … all things in moderation … in some cases everything will balance itself out … It seems like our Politicians on the Hill are applying this concept to our Reform Bills and though it’s a start; moderation in reforming a system that took us down makes you wonder if the dirty little secret is that money still talks and ultimately controls the votes .
I want to know… where is the will, courage and power, which, the Democratic Party has but seems to fear. The Democratic Party of Yes We Can… have the power to make Health-Care , Wall Street/Bank/Aig, Climate Change, and Immigration Reform Bills stronger, they need to move stricter reform forward. The President and Congress have done great things to create a foundation for Reform and though it’s a start; the key statement from the White House … it’s a start. The hope is for stricter rules, regulations and policies when the House and Senate go into conference and as the President stated the final legislation will be “effective and responsive” .
The bill would have to be merged in conference with one passed by the House of Representatives in December. The Senate could move to final passage as soon as Thursday night, but Friday looks more likely. “That would then set the stage for a House-Senate conference in early June,” said Concept Capital
policy analyst Jaret Seiberg.
The truth behind the oil dump is slowly coming out each week; though some folks have stalled any and all video showing what the dump looks like, those have come to the light of day as well; according to tv over 200thousand gallons of oil leaking per day. A Bp Representative, Doug Suttle, spoke on tv today stating they expect to control the situation by late Sunday with a procedure called a TopKill and the relief Well would not be in place until early August. An update was issued and it looks like the solution will take more time.
It’s all very disturbing but the fault lies with the 3stooges =(BP, Halliburton and TransOcean) not the President; this is yet another first and on a major scale .. the BP operation was not prepared for such an event which is very telling and serves as a great warning before they start drilling anywhere else along the coast.
Other News …
**80% of assault weapons in Mexico are coming from America
**The Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Kagan are 6/28
**Target is recalling 350thousand swim trunks
**Pelosi states that the work on Bills in the House of Representatives begins on 6/8
**BP stockholders are suing company execs claiming gross mismanagement
**Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a tough warning to North Korea yesterday, “saying the Obama administration would work with regional powers in the coming days to punish Pyongyang” for sinking a South Korean naval vessel. “This can not be business as usual. There must be an international response,” Clinton said.
**Defense Secretary Robert Gates “expressed confidence” yesterday that President Obama would veto “the defense authorization bill over a backup engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.” Gates has “repeatedly” expressed his opposition to the engine as too costly, but on Wednesday, a House committee approved another $485 million for development of the engine that “the Pentagon and White House do not want.”TP
**Seattle,WA Green Festival happens on 6/5-6/6
C-SPAN …
Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan: Confirmation Hearing to Begin June 28 | Sen. Judiciary Kagan Completed Questionnaire | Senate Judiciary Cmte. | Sen. Leahy | Sen. Hatch | Senate Judiciary Cmte. | Solicitor General Questionnaire
LIVE Feed of Underwater BP Oil Spill
Hearing on Afghanistan Reconstruction
State Dinner Full Event Coverage
Joint Press Conf.: From Earlier Welcoming Ceremony: From Earlier
DNC Chairman Tim Kaine Remarks
COLP Conference: C-SPAN at 9:30am ET
As congressional leaders prepare to reconcile differences on financial regulation legislation (see below left), three federal regulators today outline recommendations on improving financial industry accounting and auditing standards. The House Financial Services Capital Markets Subcommittee hearing is part of a series of inquiries into the 2007- 2008 financial crisis.
House Hearing: C-SPAN2 at 10am ET
House and Senate leaders must reconcile their two different financial industry regulation bills before sending final legislation to the President for his signature. The Senate passed its bill Thursday in a 59-to-39 vote that split largely along party lines, with only two Democrats opposing the bill and four Republicans supporting it. The House passed its version in December.
Earlier Thursday, President Obama said he would work to ensure that the final legislation will be “effective and responsive” in limiting industry practices cited as among the causes of the 2007-2008 economic collapse.
Dear Friends,
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First, I wanted to apologize for sending you emails so close together— the Washington Primary is coming up on August 17, 2010. House regulations prohibit certain types of mass mailings and communications by a Member of Congress for 90 days immediately preceding that date.
That means my office can only send out certain types of mailings and notices from May 20th until the primary. If you enjoy getting our e-newsletters, please make sure that you will continue to receive them throughout this period by signing up here or taking the survey below.
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Thank you for taking the time to fill out the survey and please feel free to visit my new website or contact my office if you have any questions. It is an honor and a privilege to represent you in Washington DC.
Sincerely,
Jim McDermott
Representative for the 7th District
RADICAL RIGHT — REP. WEINER GOES AFTER GOLDLINE AND ITS ‘UNHOLY’ ALLIANCE WITH GLENN BECK: One of the consequences of the successful effort to persuade large corporations to stop running ads on Fox News host Glenn Beck’s TV and radio programs is that the right-wing “rodeo clown” has been left with only small companies advertising gimmicky products like faulty “survival” seed banks. At least 125 advertisers have abandoned him so far. One of Beck’s remaining and most reliable sponsors is Goldline, “which has made its name profiting — with the help of conservative talkers — off fees for buying and selling gold against public anxiety.” Now, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) is “going after” Goldline and its right-wing pundit backers. A press release put out by Weiner’s office states that Goldline “has formed an unholy alliance with conservative pundits to drive a false narrative and play off public fears in order to sell its products.” A report released by the congressman yesterday states, “On numerous occasions, Glenn Beck has dedicated entire segments of his program to explaining why the U.S. money supply is destined for hyperinflation with Barack Obama as president. He will often promote the purchase of gold as the only safe investment alternative for consumers who want to safeguard their livelihoods. When the show cuts to commercial break, viewers are treated to an advertisement from Goldline.” In response to Weiner’s probing, Glenn Beck has launched Weinerfacts.com, which is devoted to personally attacking the congressman. The site features multiple posts childishly mocking the congressman’s name and comparing him to various hot dogs wieners.
Like most people… well those who seem sane are definitely wondering how Republicans are going to explain Rand Paul … he has a lot to offer … so says some on the right.
It is my hope that we do not go back in time to a completely different era where people of this country were treated as 3rd World peoples … lunch counter protests street marching and more should not be on any agenda but if so We the People should prepare, those who believe in equal rights for all not just some, a few or a select group.
I believe Rand Paul is going to enlighten us all about Tea baggers, what they are all about and if not i will attempt to at least make sure people know what he has said in the past and present. The Rand Paul page will be ( simple) and hopefully show all or most of his feelings, interviews and comments in quotes that can be captured.
It is obvious to me that the Republican base has changed in a way that most Americans should turn away from. The idea that the ideology of all people on the right truly want to practice exclusion; i may be naïve but we are a country made up of immigrants that include people who are not brown or dark skin who helped build the USA and should be recognized and respected; anyone who commits crimes and beyond should be duly processed and subjected to the rule of law … skin colour should not be the reasonable suspicion factor or element used to solve an issue that affects so many.
The Oil Dump along the Gulf Coast is becoming much more of a disaster we all need everyone in Government to get crazy over. The economy in the Gulf Coast is under attack and the 3stooges will never be able to really reverse the damage but the people should demand to be reimbursed for the Revenue lost; this dump will effect the Coast for a very long time and plans for the future of the Gulf Coast and its People need to be started … by our government. The oil dump is now a month long and while things are being done; it all seems to be behind some sort giant door of secrets and or a group of folks who clearly do not know what to do… The effort by the EPA today is long overdue but the EPA finally took steps to stop BP from using the current poison and has told BP to use a different source within 24hrs; this is just one of several things that transpired over the last few days…
Kevin Costner has offered up a machine he bought after the Valdez dump and hopefully this thing will be used immediately…and like others …tankers should be out there siphoning what is on the bottom on the floor of the Gulf where our Oyster beds are, Shrimping cages and while there are miles and miles of oil plumes out there no one seems to be dealing with those plumes floating toward the Marshes and Wetlands …
Other News…
**Bill Halter now leads Blanche Lincoln- 48% to 46%– in overnight polling for the June 8 Run-Off!
**News that Kevin Costner offered up a machine to drain oil out of the Gulf Coast is in fact a great idea…he bought the machine after the Valdez dump and hopefully this thing will be used immediately…and like others …tankers should be out there siphoning what is on the bottom on the floor of the Gulf.
**EPA has finally tells BP to stop using the current poison to disperse the oil dump on the Gulf Coast and change to a different one within 24hrs
**Don Blakenship/Massey mine hearing is today
**House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told The Hill yesterday that she vows to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell by the end of this year. “I don’t have any doubt that ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ will be a memory by the end of this year,” said Pelosi.TP
**Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has set Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan’s confirmation hearings for June 28. “I would urge everybody to come to the hearing with an open mind, listen to her answers to those questions, and we will make sure that every senator — both sides of the aisle — has ample time to ask the questions they want,” Leahy said.TP
**Congress about to limit political speech of bloggers? read the article at hotair.com
C-SPAN …
The House Subcmte. that oversees auto safety will examine whether Toyota and NHTSA have taken adequate steps to investigate and correct Toyota’s sticking accelerator pedals. Lawmakers will also consider amendments to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, a wide-ranging rewrite of U.S. safety laws. Toyota USA Sales Chief Jim Lentz will testify alongside Nat’l Highway Traffic Safety Admin. David Strickland.
House Hearing: C-SPAN3 at 10am ET
Toyota exec: Electronics are not to blame
Consumer Reports: Proposed Safety Regs.
Twenty-nine miners were killed in an explosion at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia on April 5th. For the first time since the accident, Don Blankenship, the head of Massey Energy, will testify before a Senate Appropriations Cmte. on investments and spending in mine safety programs. Mr. Blankenship is expected to discuss problems with his company’s ventilation systems and other issues for which the company has been
Senate Hearing: c-span.org at 2pm ET
Senate HELP Cmte. Hearing on Mine Safety (4/27
Mexican Pres. Felipe Calderon is expected to comment on U.S. immigration policy in remarks to a Joint Meeting of Congress. This comes as the House and Senate prepare for possible debate on immigration legislation. Yesterday he criticized the new Arizona state immigration law, saying that millions of immigrants “still live in the shadows; and at times, like in Arizona, even face patterns of discrimination.” The speech caps a two-day state visit.
Mexican President: C-SPAN at 11am ET
Be a Seed for Change 
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