http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/congress/ en-us Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:36:37 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051038/posts The U.S. Senate soon could be debating whether you, your spouse and each of your children – as well as your in-laws, parents, grandparents, neighbors and everyone else in America – each will be spending $2,500 or more to reduce poverty around the world. The plan sponsored by Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the office of president, is estimated to cost the United States some $845 billion over the coming few years in an effort to raise the standard of living around the globe. S.2433 already has been approved in one form by the U.S. House of... WorldNetDaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051038/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:36:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051137/posts The U.S. Senate soon could be debating whether you, your spouse and each of your children – as well as your in-laws, parents, grandparents, neighbors and everyone else in America – each will be spending $2,500 or more to reduce poverty around the world. The plan sponsored by Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the office of president, is estimated to cost the United States some $845 billion over the coming few years in an effort to raise the standard of living around the globe. Barack Obama S.2433 already has been approved in one form by the U.S.... Worldnetdaily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051137/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:49:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051090/posts America’s gas prices are continuing to spiral out of control and Washington has done nothing to give our nation’s motorists the relieve they deserve. Record high prices are having a major impact on American consumers and businesses, from the way people travel to the way they do business to the food they buy at the grocery store. Congress has the ability to decrease prices at the pump and get our nation back to $2 a gallon gas – and it means accessing our nation’s available resources and opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) today. Last weekend, I traveled... humanevents.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051090/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:27:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051013/posts MOSCOW - Russian strategic bombers may soon be deployed at airbases in Cuba, Venezuela and Algeria as a response to the U.S. missile shield in Europe and NATO's expansion, Russian daily Izvestia said on Thursday. Moscow has strongly opposed the possible deployment by the U.S. of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and an accompanying tracking radar in the Czech RFepublic as a treat to its national security. Washington says the defenses are needed to deter a possible strike from Iran, or other "rogue" states... RIA Novosti http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051013/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:02:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050915/posts Boehner calls Dems' energy bill 'joke' U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner Thursday called the Democrats' efforts to free up the strategic oil reserve a joke. At his weekly news conference, Boehner, R-Ohio, said Democrats have been making one excuse after another for why we can't have more American-made energy. Boehner, fresh from trips to Colorado to inspect oil shale reserves and Alaska where he looked at conditions in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, said tapping those reserves would not lead to environmental catastrophe. The only people standing in the way of this are (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi, (Senate Majority... Politicom.moldova http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050915/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:03:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050910/posts The U.S. Congress is considering legislation that would require 70 million barrels of crude oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve to be released to the open market in an effort to drive down gas prices. That would mean pumping oil out from man-made caverns where it is stored. Only twice in the reserve's 31-year history has oil been extracted for emergencies. Live Science http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050910/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:56:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2050901/posts Henry Paulson is about to be given an $800 BILLION dollar blank check in the form of an increased Federal Debt Ceiling which he can spend on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac IN ANY WAY HE CHOOSES, INCLUDING BUYING THE CRAPPIEST LOANS THEY HAVE AND STICKING A ONE HUNDRED PERCENT LOSS, $800 BILLION WORTH, ON YOUR TAX BILL. A huge percentage of the debt issued by Freddie and Fannie - about $1.5 trillion worth - is held by foreign central banks. Paulson is proposing to bail out the Chinese and Japanese governments with our tax money! Paulson SAYS he will... The Market Ticker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2050901/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:35:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050774/posts Out here in West Texas we love our guns, we support our troops, and we treasure our freedom. We are an independent bunch and -- pardon me, Senator Obama -- fiercely but not bitterly so. We are proud to have our own things to do with as we choose to, as free people of the freest nation in the history of the world. We also walk around on top of oil: yes it’s far beneath us, but it’s there. And all these aspects of West Texas come together to our astonishment and anger over the fact that our independence is... humanevents.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050774/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:13:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050742/posts I was listening to Rush Limbaugh at lunch today, and he mentioned that Ms. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA) was castigating the President for failing to release any of the "700 million barrels" of oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (our emergency supply). Guess what? Nancy has been preventing the production of a lot more than 700 million barrels of our oil, and she has been doing it for years. Take a look here: http://www.mms.gov/omm/pacific/offshore/oil-gaspdfs/2000-063.pdf"Unproved reserves are estimated to be 1,316 million barrels of oil and 922 billion cubic feet of gas, in 25 fields."That's ONE BILLION, THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050742/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:17:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050723/posts WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, gave a floor speech on America’s energy policy today. Selected Excerpts of Inhofe’s Energy Speech “I believe that America is not running out of oil and gas or running out of places to look for oil and gas.  America is running out of places where the Democrats in Congress are allowing us to look for oil and gas. Again I ask, why should producing America's own resources be a partisan issue?  It shouldn't be, but it is.  The Democrats in Congress refuse to increase our... The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050723/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:44:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050705/posts House rejects bill to sell oil from reserve Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:09pm EDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives rejected legislation on Thursday to sell 70 million of barrels of light, sweet crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and replace it with heavy, sour crude. The bill would have required the sale of 10 percent of the emergency stockpile's holdings, or 70 million barrels, on the open market over six months. Proceeds from the sales would have been used to buy an equivalent amount of heavy crude, which is cheaper. The White House had threatened to veto... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050705/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:12:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050690/posts In a futile but determined effort to get some representation in the US Congress I tried to contact Senator kennedy's office to urge him to support domestic drilling for oil and gas. First, you cannot contact his office online. All you can do is fill-in blanks of an online form that will be seen by a $ 5.85/hour flunky who will delete it. Second, you cannot chose "energy" or "oil" as the topic. Kennedy won't stand for it. I wrote anyway, as I did to Senator Kerry and Congressman Neal, and will post their replies. Office of Senator Edward Kennedy http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050690/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:36:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050684/posts STUART VARNEY, GUEST HOST: A live look at Capitol Hill, House members inside, right now, voting on that $300 billion housing bail-out bill — the president saying, today, he will sign it, even though Democrats tacked billions onto it. My next guest voting against it. Ron Paul is a Republican congressman from Texas. Congressman, good to have you with us. Thanks for being here. REP. RON PAUL (R), TEXAS: Thank you. Thank you. Nice to be with you. VARNEY: OK. Now, you'll vote against it. OK. You don't like this thing. We understand it. But the argument is that, if... Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050684/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:33:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050413/posts The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to debate two bills that could give the federal government unprecedented control over the way parents raise their children – even providing funds for state workers to come into homes and screen babies for emotional and developmental problems. The Pre-K Act (HR 3289) and the Education Begins at Home Act (HR 2343) are two bills geared toward military and families who fall below state poverty lines. The measures are said to be a way to prevent child abuse, close the achievement gap in education between poor and minority infants versus middle-class children and... WorldNetDaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050413/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:32:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050664/posts Misplaced Priorities A sweating Harry Reid thinks he's putting Tom Coburn on the hot seat. By David Freddoso While the top priority of most Americans — including a growing number of moderate Congressional Democrats — is legislative action on domestic oil exploration, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) wants the world’s greatest deliberative body to set aside concerns over skyrocketing energy prices to deal with such pressing issues as interstate pet-monkey sales, a botanical garden in Maryland, and the establishment of a committee to encourage celebration of the War of 1812 bicentennial. Reid’s cloture motion on a 35-bill package... NRO http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050664/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:58:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050657/posts If you want to know how out of touch Congress is on the issue of wasteful spending, listen to Florida Rep. John Mica defend his pork projects: "There's no way in hell I would support banning earmarks. That's our job, getting elected and making decisions." Mr. Mica is the most powerful Republican on the Transportation Committee. The idea that bringing home federal dollars is integral to a politician's job and essential to getting re-elected is a favorite of Republicans and Democrats alike. Three months ago, Hillary Clinton told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, "I'm very proud of my earmarks. It's one... Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050657/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:46:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050615/posts Dear Friend: Thank you for contacting me regarding high gasoline prices. I appreciate the opportunity to hear your views on this important issue, and I share your concerns. Gasoline prices reached an all-time high this year, and costs for food and other basic necessities are rising drastically. As millions of Americans struggle under this increasing burden, oil companies continue to report massive, record-breaking profits - $123 billion last year alone. This is unacceptable, and I want to assure you that I am working hard to lower prices and protect Americans from price gouging. I am proud to be an original... Senator Barbara Boxer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050615/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:32:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050575/posts Sen. Reid Says Polygamy Is 'Form of Organized Crime' Thursday , July 24, 2008 WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took a rare opportunity Thursday to switch roles and testify before his colleagues to blast polygamy, a still-used practice among some who practice the Mormon faith. Reid, D-Nev., is Mormon himself and noted that while his church had cast off its polygamist past, some members continue the practice of men maintaining multiple wives. The groups that still practice polygamy "are a form of organized crime," Reid told the Senate Judiciary Committee. FOX http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050575/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:35:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050585/posts Lawmakers Who Vote Against Our Security Deserve Our Scorn by Jeffrey Imm Last week, there was an interesting development in the U.S. House of Representatives that will give Americans a clear view as to exactly where their individual representatives stand on the war of ideas in fighting Jihad.Per my previous article on this subject, on May 8, 2008, Congressman Peter Hoekstra attempted to add an amendment on the "terror lexicon" to a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence bill on 2009 intelligence funding (House Resolution 5959).   Hoekstra's amendment condemned efforts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Counter... Family Security Matters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050585/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:52:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050592/posts Senate Republicans have threatened to block nearly all other bills pending before the August recess if Democrats refuse to vote with them on expanding offshore drilling. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said bills that do not pertain to energy can wait until after the August recess, with gas prices now surpassing $4 per gallon. McConnell and top Republicans indicated Wednesday they would oppose any procedural votes to take up other legislation, which require 60 votes to succeed. “We think there is nothing more important that we can do right now than to deal with the Number One issue of... TheHill.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050592/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:54:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2050597/posts We're Experiencing a Democratic Coup The New York Times, America's homegrown version of the Russian Communist newspaper Pravda, recently rejected John McCain's op ed submission because it doesn't conform to the newspaper's Leftist agenda regarding what needs to happen in Iraq. Apparently John McCain didn't get it right with the response to an earlier NYP (no, that's not a typo) Barack Obama piece because he (McCain) failed to delineate a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, choosing instead to support the "incorrect" notion that we need to withdraw according to conditions on the ground and not according... GregLewis.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2050597/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:59:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050603/posts Harkin: Gas cheaper because of ethanol By Ian Swanson Posted: 07/24/08 11:39 AM [ET] Ethanol is keeping gas prices as much as 40 cents cheaper, according to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), one of the Senate’s top supporters of corn-based renewable fuels. As a result, the Bush administration should deny Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) request that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cut in half the federal mandate requiring the oil industry to blend 9 million gallons of ethanol into the nation’s gas supply, Harkin said. “Ethanol is keeping gas 24 to 40 cents cheaper than it otherwise would be,” Harkin... The Hill http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050603/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:08:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050606/posts Rep. Bachmann Reports From ANWR: 'Drill It or Lose It' by John Gizzi As her plane touched down at Fairbanks Airport in Alaska, Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R.-Minn.) promptly called me at home. The time was 10:30 PM, Sunday, and the freshman lawmaker had just spent the day with nine Republican colleagues actually touring the controversial, much-debated site of the Arctic Natural Wildlife Reserve (ANWR) and asking questions of Alaskan natives and seismic experts. For all the rancor and disagreements on whether to drill on the site, Bachmann offered conclusions that were cut and dried. “We could begin drilling in ANWR... HumanEvents.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050606/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:12:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050550/posts WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Roy Blunt, the House Republican whip, on July 8 introduced a resolution demanding that the Defense Department better enable U.S. military personnel overseas to vote in the November elections. That act was followed by silence. Democrats normally leap on an opportunity to find fault with the Bush Pentagon. But not a single Democrat joined Blunt as a co-sponsor, and an all-Republican proposal cannot pass in the Democratic-controlled House. Analysis by the federal Election Assistance Commission, rejecting inflated Defense Department voting claims, estimated overseas and absentee military voting for the 2006 midterm elections at a disgracefully low... Real Clear Politics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050550/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:01:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050530/posts Senate Republicans have threatened to block nearly all other bills pending before the August recess if Democrats refuse to vote with them on expanding offshore drilling. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said bills that do not pertain to energy can wait until after the August recess, with gas prices now surpassing $4 per gallon. McConnell and top Republicans indicated Wednesday they would oppose any procedural votes to take up other legislation, which require 60 votes to succeed. "We think there is nothing more important that we can do right now than to deal with the Number One issue of... The Hill http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050530/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:34:06 GMT