Since when did the Senate become climate experts?

This grinds my gears. The EPA should be driving climate policy decisions. The Senate may have some knowledgeable members when it comes to climate change, but certainly damn few experts. For Harry Reid and the rest to start blocking critical regulation of greenhouse gases is wrong. Simply wrong.

The Senate is playing politics with the environment, and it’s wrong.

This is is by Ryan Grim, on Huffington Post today:

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will allow a vote on legislation to block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases for two years, he told reporters in the Capitol today.

Following his weekly press briefing, Reid (D-Nev.) was asked if the Senate wold vote on EPA preemption.

“Not before we leave here,” said Reid, referring to the three-week congressional schedule ahead. “This year.”

Reid’s commitment to give preemption a vote this year means that it is headed to the Senate floor during a lame-duck session, meaning that lawmakers will be less accountable for their votes — and those who aren’t returning in January won’t be accountable at all.

The commitment to give preemption a vote is related to an earlier fight over legislation from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that would have blocked EPA action. In order to defeat Murkowski’s proposal, Democratic aides said, Reid promised holdout senators a vote on a two-year freeze — a measure sponsored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) — later in the year.

“Senator Rockefeller’s EPA Delay bill is gaining momentum every day in Congress. Rockefeller is fighting for legislation to suspend — for two years — harmful EPA regulations to regulate greenhouse gases because he believes that Congress — and not the unelected EPA — must be responsible for determining our nation’s energy policy,” a Rockefeller aide wrote in an email. “Rockefeller expects a vote on this important legislation this year and he is aggressively pursuing this in Congress.”

In the absence of Senate action to address climate change, while scientists warn that the carbon concentration in the atmosphere is reaching a hazardous point, EPA regulation is the last resort.”



Republicans once again block help for unemployed Nevadans

It’s sometimes nice to be able to count on certain things as a ‘given’ in life. Unfortunately, always being able to count on parsimonious Republicans voting against the needs and best interests of the working stiff ain’t among those things.

For the third time, Senate Republicans have blocked extending benefits to economically hard hit American families here in Nevada and around the country - even after Sen. Harry Reid scaled the bill back nearly $22 million to please those who cannot be pleased even if it came on a silver platter.

Despite shaving another $22 billion off the price tag of H.R. 4213, the unemployment insurance, jobs and tax extenders bill, the Democrats this afternoon failed for the third time in three weeks to defeat a Republican filibuster. As a result, Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid [D, NV] is giving up and moving onto other legislative matters. “We can’t pass it until we get some Republicans… It’s up to them,” Reid said.

Not every part of this bill makes sense - worrying about sending low value American jobs oversees is a waste of time and resources better spent preparing Americans for high value jobs of the future that function on a global level. But I’ll be talking more about this distinction in the future.

But, blocking essential extensions of unemployment and related benefits by Republicans makes no sense at all - not even if you buy into the tired old argument of ‘ballooning deficits’ that - gasp- our grandchildren won’t be able to jump over. Sigh. See the previous post about that.

So, what are the Republicans on about? Beats me. When you strip away all the rational arguments, it does seem like the only remaining one is that they simply want to be obstructionist - at the cost of folks who are in dire need right now.

Here’s what Reid had to say:

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Enough of Senate 'Holds', Time to Move Forward

Driving to the printer, to pick up some proofs on new brochures for work today, I was listening to the segment on NPR about the number of Obama appointees that are being blocked from doing their job by ‘holds’ in the Senate.

As you’ll read, ‘holds’ are a cheesy little way of gumming up the works, behind the scenes, anonymously. If this isn’t the official definition of ‘chicken shit’ then nothing is. This can be done away with, like it’s bad traveling companion, the filibuster, but it’s doubtful that it can happen with this Senate - without a LOT of public outrage and insistence.

Listen to the complete story by clicking here.

Here’s what NPR has to say about it all:

“The “hold” is an informal Senate custom that allows any lawmaker to block action on any bill or nomination at any time for any reason. It is essentially a threatened filibuster. Party leaders can try to move ahead anyway, but they generally honor holds out of tradition and courtesy. A president can overcome holds on nominations by making short-term appointments while Congress is away on recess. This spring, President Obama, facing 77 such holds, made more than a dozen recess appointments. By comparison, at the same point during the George W. Bush administration, senators had placed holds on only five nominations. As of May 5, senators had holds on 87 executive and judicial nominations, most of them anonymous. Four lawmakers have gone public and attached their names to the nominees they are blocking. Democrats say they have no current holds on nominations.”

And here is the thoroughly ridiculous number of appointees that are the objects of ‘holds’ - just one more thing that needs changing in the Senate (aside from all the obstructionist Republicans there):

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Al Franken recommends a Pledge and Pass strategy

I just got this in today’s email from Al Franken (D-MN):

Dear Maven:

This week President Obama asked Congress to stand strong and finish the job of fixing our busted health insurance system. I couldn’t agree more, and now we’ve got a plan to get this done.

I’m calling this strategy “Pledge & Pass,” and it’s a simple, two-step plan for passing meaningful health insurance reform. I believe it’s our job as public servants to actually serve the public, and ending the suffering of millions of Americans under our current system is exactly what our constituents expect and deserve.

Here’s the plan.

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Pelosi willing to get real about health care reform

I admit that I didn’t used to care much for Nancy Pelosi. I’ve come a long way and it’s statements like this - on bandaid fixs for health care - that did it for me:

“There are some things that sound easy, but you might as well send somebody a get well card, because they don’t have any more impact, except maybe they make you feel good for the moment,” said Pelosi, who paused and rethought her comparison.

“Maybe a get well card might be more effective, as a matter of fact, because it’s sincere,” she said.

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Harry Reid gets it. And, better yet, says so.

I knew that the Repubs were all about undefensible distortions. Everybody else seemed to know it But getting our leadership to call them on it is another thing entirely.

Better late than never.

SENATE HEALTH REFORM BILL WILL REDUCE PREMIUMS FOR NEVADANS
State-by-state analysis of CBO data estimates a savings of nearly 20 percent for Nevadans’ health care premiums

Washington, DC—Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement this afternoon in response to declarations of support for reform from several respected seniors’ advocacy organizations:

“For years, Senate Democrats have proudly supported and defended Medicare while Republicans have worked to tear it down piece by piece.  Throughout this debate, Republicans have continued their unfounded attacks on our plan to reform America’s broken health system.  Several respected seniors’ advocacy organizations - including AARP, the Alliance for Retired Americans and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare - have rebuked their claims point by point.  

“Since they have no plan of their own to fix our broken health care system, I’m sure their campaign of distortions will continue.  But the reality is that our plan saves Medicare and protects it for the future by cutting waste, fraud and abuse, and ensuring that the program’s funds are used to improve seniors’ care and not to line insurers’ pockets.”

I especially love that part about “Since they have no plan of their own…”.

Duh.

Senate healthcare bill: It may not be perfect, but ...

I guess I’m going to have to give in to the prevailing thought on the current healthcare reform bills - that they are going to be a damn sight better than what we don’t have now.

For all the naysayers: When even the freakin WSJ says it’s do-able, you’ve gotta let it go.

This came from Reid’s office today:

Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement today about the recent CBO analysis regarding how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would affect the rising cost of premiums:

“One of the reasons that the Senate has made health insurance reform a top priority is because of skyrocketing health insurance premiums that are breaking the backs of American families.  The most recent analysis that we received from the CBO today strengthens our belief that the Senate reform proposal will bring security and stability to American families and will stem the tide of rising premiums.”

“Most Americans will see lower premiums as a direct result of reform.  In addition, small businesses would see a reduction in premiums for their employees because of the tax credits included in the Senate proposal.  Today’s analysis confirms that millions of Americans who lack the necessary coverage to avoid potential financial ruin would have access to more coverage at an affordable price because of our proposal.

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Orrin Hatch speaks out. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

“If you can’t get 70 or 80 votes on a bill that affects one-sixth of the American economy, you know it is a lousy bill,” Hatch said on Fox News Channel Thursday morning. “This is a lousy bill that is going to cost American tax payers like mad for the rest of our lives, if they happen to pass it. I hope the American people rebel.”  Orrin Hatch, R-Utah

Well, not exactly, Orrin.

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Reid-Baucus bills scores for the working person

If you read this blog much, you know that I had to have a martini in hand to have added Max (damn the torpedos, lame healthcare bill ahead) Baucus to that headline, but it is what it is. Good for working folks.

Remember this when the Sue Lowden’s try to convince you that Harry Reid isn’t delivering to Nevada.

Here are the details:

Washington, D.C. – Led by Nevada Senator Harry Reid, the U.S. Senate today passed a bill that will extend unemployment benefits, the Homebuyer Tax Credit, and tax relief for struggling businesses.

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Here's your chance to tell John Boehner he's wrong....

GOP minority leader John Boehner, who’s party has no health care plan, just issued a challenge.

Yesterday, he told a reporter, “I’m still trying to find the first American to talk to who’s in favor of the public option, other than a member of Congress or a member of the administration. I’ve not talked one and I get to a lot of places. I’ve not had anyone come up to me — I know I’m inviting them — and lobby for the public option. This is about as unpopular as a garlic milkshake.”¹

Let’s prove John Boehner wrong.

Sign your name to this petition saying, “Hey John Boehner! I’m an American and I support the public health insurance option.”Click here and we’ll automatically add your name to the petition.

It's official: Franken is da man

Now maybe his campaign people can stop calling me for money. Gov. Tim Pawlentysigned the papers that finally send Al to Congress, after the Minnesota Supreme Court declared Franken the ‘winnah’.

(sound fx: cheers of the massive crowd)

Is this the most unnecessarily drawn out election in our nation’s history? It seems like it.

Now we ( meaning us whining Liberals ) will have the force necessary to repel Republican filibusters. Yea!

Bill O’Reilly called Franken “a smear merchant and a rank liar unqualified for any elected office,” and “a far left extremist” who “traffics in hate.”

Well. That’s certainly the old windbag pot calling the non-stick saute pan black. Bill O’Reilly would certainly recognize a smear merchant who traffics in hate when he sees it.

Repub strategist Bill Blakeman referred to Franken as the ‘gift that will keep on giving.’ But can that really be, in light of recent turns among the hot, steamy, totally unzipped Repubs of late? Yes, they certainly need a boogey man to replace Hillary, but Al?

They ought to pick somebody who isn’t as good at flinging back the ad libbed quip.

But after Franken’s well crafted books, targeting Rush Limbaugh and the likes of Bill O’Reilly, it’s no wonder that they want to cut him off at the knees (read: cheap shot ) … even if it doesn’t make any sense or project an actual party platform or philosophy ( readable only in the original Klingon dialect).

There are, however, still a few thinking people left on the winger side … one Republican political consultant, Stephen Marks, warned that GOP officials should lay off Franken unless he provides clear justification for their wrath, as pre-emptive attacks could come off as “desperate” and work to the Democrats’ advantage.

My guess is that Al will be on his best - not for Saturday Night Live - behavior as a way of earning his stripes among his peers in the Senate.

If the far right wants to take pot shots at him, fine. That’ll just continue to prove to America what a bunch of jackasses they really are.

Just when you think you haven't got anything to blog about ...

Arlen Specter changing parties! I can’t say that I’m terribly surprised however, since he’s long been dissatisfied with the move by the neo-cons to the far, far right and the anything goes expansion of executive powers. From my own perspective, Arlen Specter has been one of the few Republicans that I couldn’t quite dislike or dismiss out of hand. I admired him - albeit grudgingly at times. When he was diagnosed with cancer, I felt an immediate kinship, since he really seemed to ‘get it.’

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