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A Safer World and a more hopeful America
U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, John Barrasso and U.S. Representative Barbara Cubin keep us informed on the issues effecting Wyoming and the Country. Their speeches on the Senate and House floor, their voting on the issues in Washington and their communications with various U.S Agencies help Wyoming remain a great State to live, work and play. The Committees they are assigned to are: Senator Enzi; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Budget, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Senator Barrasso; Foreign Relations, Energy and Natural Resources, Environment and Public Works (EPW) and Indian Affairs, Representative Cubin; House Energy and Commerce, all with broad jurisdiction over our country.
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5/07/08 — Enzi cosponsors bipartisan bill to help veterans become paramedics
Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today cosponsored legislation that will help returning troops in their transitions to civilian employment... |
5/07/08 —Wyo Delegation Reacts to Decision on AML Funds
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, John Barrasso and Representative Barbara Cubin, all R-Wyo., today issued the following statements regarding the Office of Surface Mining’s (OSM) decision that $51 million in abandoned mine land funding will be available for projects approved by the Wyoming Legislature:. |
5/0808 — Housing Hoopla:
Today’s House-passed reforms to H.R. 3221 asked the federal government to fund our economy’s current failing mortgages with $300 billion of taxpayer money. |
5/07/08 —Barrasso’s Wyoming Range Bill Moves Forward
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., has secured a significant victory for one of Wyoming’s most pristine natural heritages: the Wyoming Range . |
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PELOSI PREMIUM UPDATE
5/06/08
The national average for regular unleaded gasoline is $3.61/gal. today -- $1.28 higher than it was on the day Nancy Pelosi’s speakership began. This represents an increase of nearly 55 percent during the 110th Congress.
- On a related note, Bloomberg reports that “crude oil rose to a record near $121 a barrel amid supply risks in Nigeria and Iran and signs of a stronger U.S. demand outlook. Royal Dutch Shell Plc confirmed today that a rebel attack this weekend damaged a flow-station in Nigeria, where violence and a labor dispute have already cut output.” A Goldman Sachs analysis says “supply shortfalls will probably send oil to between $150 and $200 a barrel within two years.”GOP.Gov
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SUPPLEMENTAL
5/06/08
CongressDaily reports that “House Democratic leaders plan to brief lawmakers today on a supplemental spending bill that would reduce President Bush's war funding request so Democrats can add money for domestic spending.” The article notes that the nondefense portion of the package is set to include “money to extend unemployment benefits, a boost above the $770 million Bush requested for international food aid, money for veterans' education programs, Medicaid and other programs.” As for trimming back the President’s request, one Democrat aide said “there is some wiggle room for appropriators on the war funding number because the Defense Department has acknowledged in a revised budget request that several billion dollars in emergency funding provided for war operations this year was not needed and will be reprogrammed. “
- CQ Today describes the supplemental as “now written” with Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter hoping to mark up the measure as early as tomorrow. Rep. James Moran “said the fiscal 2008 Military Construction-VA appropriations bill (HR 2642) would be the legislative vehicle for the measure. He said the contents of the bill would be stripped out and the measure amended by adding war money, domestic funding and policy sections.” Rep. Moran puts the domestic spending in the bill at $2 billion.
- Under the headline “War funding would break Dem promises,” The Politico notes that “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is about to lead her party into a major showdown over Iraq funding by violating two Democratic campaign pledges in one fell swoop. ..She is expected to break one promise — her 2006 pledge for a more open and inclusive committee process — by circumventing the powerful House Appropriations Committee on the Iraq bill. And when the final Iraq bill reaches the president’s desk, any troop withdrawal conditions are likely to be gone from the legislation. That is another 2006 pledge that has fallen by the wayside.” As the paper notes, “in her campaign pamphlet in 2006, which is still posted on the speaker’s website, Pelosi declared that ‘bills should be developed following full hearings and open subcommittee and committee markups, with appropriate referrals to other committees.’” ...GOP.Gov
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IRAQ
5/06/08
The Washington Post says in its lead story that the Federal Reserve and two other federal agencies will unveil today “one of the most aggressive efforts in decades to crack down on the credit card industry, prohibiting practices such as arbitrarily raising interest rates on outstanding balances.” The new regulations are a departure from previous efforts by federal regulators, which were mostly aimed at requiring the companies to do a better job disclosing terms and conditions of agreements; the Post describes these regulations as decidedly “pro-consumer.” To date, several lawmakers, including Senate Banking Chairman Chris Dodd, have criticized the Fed for not “effectively using its power to regulate card issuers.” Initial reaction from bankers is that these regulations will lead to “higher prices and less credit options for everyday consumers.”
- Also worth noting, the AP reports Iran "called off further Iraq security talks with Washington until US forces stop their crackdown on Shiite militias." This "latest flare-up has put Iraq's government in a bind as it seeks to stamp out armed Shiite gangs but worries about angering Shiite heavyweight Iran, which has close ties to the core of Iraq's political leadership."...GOP.Gov
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FISA
5/06/08Under the headline “ACLU sounding alert in FISA debate,” The Hill reports that due to worry over the possibility “Democratic leaders are cutting a ‘backroom deal’ on warrantless wiretapping, the American Civil Liberties Union urged its members to contact their legislators and oppose any compromise.” The alert says: “House leadership is on the precipice of caving in and handing over everything the president has demanded: expanded surveillance powers and immunity for big phone companies that broke the law. Help stop them.” As of yet, however, no sign of a deal on FISA has emerged. ...GOP.Gov
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