Today in Washington D. C. - July 8, 2008
The Senate will won't do much today because of the funeral for the late Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) at 2 PM in North Carolina. Due to this, there will be no votes today.
They will resume consideration of the compromise FISA reform bill (H.R. 6304). Three amendments to the FISA bill will be debated. The first is from Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) and would strip from the bill the critical provision granting immunity from lawsuits to telecom companies that acted in good faith cooperating with terror surveillance. Two other amendments, one from Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), and one from Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), would weaken the immunity provision enough to jeopardize passage of the bill. The White House has said that Congress should not pass any amendments to the bill.
Tomorrow Senate again resume consideration of the FISA legislation and have another hour of debate. Following that, senators will vote on all 3 amendments, then on cloture, and then final passage of the bill. Yesterday, the Senate voted to invoke cloture on the House’s 2nd amendment the housing bill (H.R. 3221).
From News Sources: As Americans’ frustration with the lack of Congressional action on gas prices deepens, a new Rasmussen poll shows that the Democrat-controlled Congress’s approval rating now stands at 9%. With gas reaching and average price of $4.11 per gallon yesterday, Americans are looking for real solutions. The Democrats’ approach was summed up marvelously by a Democrat aide who told The Hill today, “Right now, our strategy on gas prices is ‘Drive small cars and wait for the wind.’”
Contrast this with the Republican approach of putting forward the Gas Price Reduction Act, which would constitute a serious effort to “find more and use less” energy. According to The Washington Times, Sen. McConnell said, “The American people are saying loud and clear - there is no ambiguity about it - they want us to do something [about gas prices] and they understand the law of supply and demand.” Reuters noted the “dramatic shift,” as Sen. McConnell deemed it, in public opinion in favor of more domestic energy production. And CQ’s Eric Pfeiffer writes, “Republicans are hoping to turn the energy debate into one of their new signature issues, believing that the rising concern among voters, driven by the ripple effect of soaring gasoline prices, can work in their favor in a year when most issues have been trending in favor of Democrats.”
Democrats have an opportunity to accomplish something important on a bipartisan basis that could have a real effect on energy. Rather than “wait[ing] for the wind,” Democrats should join with Republicans to support the Gas Price Reduction Act and allow us to find more American energy.
Tags: FISA, gas prices, lowering gas prices, US Congress, US Senate, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
They will resume consideration of the compromise FISA reform bill (H.R. 6304). Three amendments to the FISA bill will be debated. The first is from Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) and would strip from the bill the critical provision granting immunity from lawsuits to telecom companies that acted in good faith cooperating with terror surveillance. Two other amendments, one from Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), and one from Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), would weaken the immunity provision enough to jeopardize passage of the bill. The White House has said that Congress should not pass any amendments to the bill.
Tomorrow Senate again resume consideration of the FISA legislation and have another hour of debate. Following that, senators will vote on all 3 amendments, then on cloture, and then final passage of the bill. Yesterday, the Senate voted to invoke cloture on the House’s 2nd amendment the housing bill (H.R. 3221).
From News Sources: As Americans’ frustration with the lack of Congressional action on gas prices deepens, a new Rasmussen poll shows that the Democrat-controlled Congress’s approval rating now stands at 9%. With gas reaching and average price of $4.11 per gallon yesterday, Americans are looking for real solutions. The Democrats’ approach was summed up marvelously by a Democrat aide who told The Hill today, “Right now, our strategy on gas prices is ‘Drive small cars and wait for the wind.’”
Contrast this with the Republican approach of putting forward the Gas Price Reduction Act, which would constitute a serious effort to “find more and use less” energy. According to The Washington Times, Sen. McConnell said, “The American people are saying loud and clear - there is no ambiguity about it - they want us to do something [about gas prices] and they understand the law of supply and demand.” Reuters noted the “dramatic shift,” as Sen. McConnell deemed it, in public opinion in favor of more domestic energy production. And CQ’s Eric Pfeiffer writes, “Republicans are hoping to turn the energy debate into one of their new signature issues, believing that the rising concern among voters, driven by the ripple effect of soaring gasoline prices, can work in their favor in a year when most issues have been trending in favor of Democrats.”
Democrats have an opportunity to accomplish something important on a bipartisan basis that could have a real effect on energy. Rather than “wait[ing] for the wind,” Democrats should join with Republicans to support the Gas Price Reduction Act and allow us to find more American energy.
Tags: FISA, gas prices, lowering gas prices, US Congress, US Senate, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 10:35 AM - Post Link
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