Democrats, for months, have been bracing for the worst in November as voter sentiment turned against them. Midterm elections usually are unkind toward the party who holds the White House, and this year a growing anti-incumbent sentiment only has seemed to exacerbate the Democrats’ troubles. Unemployment, and a slow economy, have driven voters to increasingly turn on President Obama and his fellow Democrats. That unemployment continued to rise and the economy continued to drag — even in the face...
Monthly Archives: May 2010
Wide Swath Backs Senate Climate Bill
It may have taken time to arrive, but the introduction of new energy and climate change legislation in the Senate is winning praise from a diverse number of interests. As expected, Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) unveiled their American Power Act, which is designed to improve U.S. energy independence and limit the greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global climate change. (Click here for a summary of the legislation.) The bill, which came forward despite the fact...
To Oppose Kagan Nomination, Right Goes Immediately To Anti-Recruiting Stance
As predicted, conservatives immediately began to bloody President Obama’s new nominee for the Supreme Court for her decision to ban military recruiters at Harvard Law School. Obama made it official Monday, naming Elena Kagan as his pick to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. Kagan, the first female solicitor general of the United States, had been on presumed nominee short lists for some time. It had been predicted that, if Obama were to name the 50-year-old Kagan, her decision...
Arizona and the Alien-Nation of America
My father, a federal employee with a top secret clearance, carried a copy of his birth certificate when he went into Baja California from our home in San Diego. Many times, when he tried to reenter the U.S., he was stopped by the Border Patrol. He had thick black hair and naturally dark skin, and the Patrol thought he was a Mexican brazenly trying to sneak back into the country by claiming to be married to the black-haired, blue-eyed,...
Kerry To Advance Climate Bill Minus Graham
Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) will press ahead with legislation to deal with climate change, even after their erstwhile GOP partner says it will be “impossible” for the bill to pass the Senate. Kerry and Lieberman released a joint statement Friday announcing their plan to roll out comprehensive energy and climate change legislation this coming Wednesday. If that roll-out goes off as planned, it will mark a major milestone for the bill that has languished in...
Consumer Protection That Works: CARD Act Already Helping Americans’ Finances
Even as the Senate continues work on comprehensive financial reform, a new analysis finds that the more narrow credit-card reform law already enacted a year ago already is helping consumers keep more of their money. Senators continue their consideration of a broad package of reforms aimed at imposing new regulation on the financial industry. But last year they passed, and President Obama signed into law, legislation designed to help protect consumers who use credit cards. That law, the Credit...
New Report To President Obama Could Be Catalyst For ‘Sweeping Reform’ On Cancer Policy
Environmental contaminants are leading to many more cancer cases than previously acknowledged, and should lead to a new, stronger federal approach to regulate such toxins, according to a new report to President Obama prepared by a panel of cancer experts. “A growing body of research documents myriad established and suspected environmental factors linked to genetic, immune, and endocrine dysfunction that can lead to cancer and other diseases,” the report, released Thursday, says. The report, Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What...
Diverse Coalition Backs Bill To Save Teaching Jobs
With local school districts expected to cut 275,000 jobs next year due to the continuing poor economy, a coalition of schools interests is backing a House bill designed to keep teachers employed. About 80 percent of public school districts reportedly will look to cut jobs in 2011 as a result of shriveled tax revenue. The Learning First Alliance, partnership of 17 education associations, is publicly supporting legislation introduced earlier by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Education...
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