What Didn't They Block Last Week
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When do you buy your gas? What's Harry Reid doing during his recess? Look! Up in the sky! Reid On!
Nevada First: Gas Expands. In the Weekly Reid's AP Chemistry class, Mr. Campion mentioned off-handedly that we should buy our gasoline early in the morning - especially during the summer months. Why? Because, he said, gas expands in high temperatures. So there's actually more gas in a gallon bought at 60 degrees at 6 am, than there is in a gallon bought at high noon, when the mercury has risen to 80. Made sense to the cash starved high school drivers in the class. Apparently, it also made sense to a number of Las Vegans - where morning temperatures in the summer months are, naturally, much higher than out east. They calculated they're spending $100 bucks a year for gasoline they didn't get. The law suit may not go anywhere, but it just goes to show - not much gets past Nevada's consumers.
Air Traffic Control. Last week Senator Reid met with the heads of several major airlines. The topic: rising fuel costs and the airlines reduced service to tourist hot spots - like Las Vegas. With record high unemployment in Nevada, boosting the state's tourism is the surest way to bolster the struggling economy. Sen. Reid - standing up for Nevadans and delivering in ways only he can - urged Senate Republicans to join Democrats in a bill to aimed to combat rising fuel costs by fighting oil speculation, "From Nevada's perspective, the sooner people can afford to travel again, the sooner our state will be on the road to economic recovery." Truer words have never been spoken. Sadly, Bush-McCain Republicans care more about protecting the status quo than they do about providing relief for Americans working to make ends meet. They essentially blocked the bill last week (see below).
Working Recess. The Senate broke for it's July 4th Recess on Friday, and while staffers in DC gleefully show up to work in the recess uniform (lots of polo shirts and linen), Sen. Reid's days are just as packed in Nevada as they are when he's in DC. On Monday, he officially opened a solar thermal power manufacturing plant in Las Vegas. The plant is the first of it's kind in North America, and will be capable of producing 700 megawatts of energy each year. After he pressed the button to start the production line, Sen. Reid said, "Nevada is poised to be a leader in the clean energy revolution. This facility will help position our state as the premiere place to invest in these new technologies. As the factory expands operations and we continue to invest in clean energy, we'll create thousands of good-paying jobs and keep our outdoors pristine for future generations."
On Tuesday, Sen. Reid made a stop at the Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Fusion Center, a state of the art center that serves as a collection point for information that will aide first responders during a crisis or natural disaster. The whole idea of a centralized data sharing clearing house makes the Weekly Reid smile. First Responders are true American Heroes, and we need to provide them with the best tools possible.
Must Reid: Block, Block, Block, That's All You Do. Senate Democrats had a number of high priority pieces of legislation to pass last week, but as usual, the Bush-McCain Republicans had different priorities.
Rather than punish speculators who are driving up oil prices, obstructionist Republicans chose to walk in lockstep with the President and fill the coffers of Big Oil.
Rather than ensure doctors who participate in Medicare get paid this week, Bush-McCain Republicans chose to protect the special interests who bankroll their reelection campaigns. Our (bipartisan) bill stopped the pay cut doctors would take, expanded funding and access to preventative care, and ended higher co-payments for mental health services. It passed the House OVERWHELMINGLY (355-59), with broad bipartisan support. Did we mention it was bipartisan? The Republican bill? It did nothing to end the over payments Medicare is making to private interests.
Rather than provide relief for the millions of American families facing foreclosure, Bush-McCain Republicans chose to stand up for the very same people who've crushed the American Dream for so many families. The roadblock the housing bill hit last week centered around language the House dropped in the version it passed. Republicans refused to vote on the bill without it. Rather than getting the bill passed quickly - and in the process helping the thousands of Nevadans facing foreclosure - Republicans refused to budge.
When will they learn? Maybe when they get an earful from their constituents back home. And maybe when they're forced to vote on these bills again next week.
A Moment of Sanity. There were a few bright spots in the Senate last week. We passed supplemental funding bills for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for urgent domestic needs. We got the 21st Century GI Bill passed (and signed by the President yesterday). The bill will help our returning vets readjust to civilian life and ensure they can afford a quality education. The domestic spending bill will extend unemployment benefits to the victims of the failed policies of the Bush-McCain economy. In a week full of partisan bickering and Republican obstruction, it was nice to see some good done for those who deserve it most.
Reid's Watching: It's a bird! It's a plane! It's.... What's the surest way to raise some dough for a struggling Republican candidate and motivate the Democratic base? Bring in Air Force One. Today, President Bush will attend a closed door fundraiser for interim (not incumbent) Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove - one of Senator Reid's favorite challengers - is making this race very competitive. Remember what happened last time a high profile member of the Bush Administration flew into Mississippi to raise money for a tanking candidate? Travis Childers - the Democrat - won. Local Democrats are reminding Mississippians that a vote for Roger Wicker is a vote for the failed policies of George W. Bush. Help the Governor offset the W. money by contributing here.
Nipping at her (Tar) Heels. CQPolitics.com profiles Kay Hagan's race against Liddy Dole, and notes, "fluctuating polls over the month and a half since state Sen. Kay Hagan won the May 6 Democratic primary have raised questions about how solid and secure Dole is in her status as the favorite." Kay may have spent a bunch of money in the primary, but she came out much stronger than anyone would have thought. She's going to win this race, and inside-the-beltway press like this helps raise her profile in the national press.
Have a great week! Tune in next Tuesday for another edition of the Weekly Reid!
Nevada First: Gas Expands. In the Weekly Reid's AP Chemistry class, Mr. Campion mentioned off-handedly that we should buy our gasoline early in the morning - especially during the summer months. Why? Because, he said, gas expands in high temperatures. So there's actually more gas in a gallon bought at 60 degrees at 6 am, than there is in a gallon bought at high noon, when the mercury has risen to 80. Made sense to the cash starved high school drivers in the class. Apparently, it also made sense to a number of Las Vegans - where morning temperatures in the summer months are, naturally, much higher than out east. They calculated they're spending $100 bucks a year for gasoline they didn't get. The law suit may not go anywhere, but it just goes to show - not much gets past Nevada's consumers.
Air Traffic Control. Last week Senator Reid met with the heads of several major airlines. The topic: rising fuel costs and the airlines reduced service to tourist hot spots - like Las Vegas. With record high unemployment in Nevada, boosting the state's tourism is the surest way to bolster the struggling economy. Sen. Reid - standing up for Nevadans and delivering in ways only he can - urged Senate Republicans to join Democrats in a bill to aimed to combat rising fuel costs by fighting oil speculation, "From Nevada's perspective, the sooner people can afford to travel again, the sooner our state will be on the road to economic recovery." Truer words have never been spoken. Sadly, Bush-McCain Republicans care more about protecting the status quo than they do about providing relief for Americans working to make ends meet. They essentially blocked the bill last week (see below).
Working Recess. The Senate broke for it's July 4th Recess on Friday, and while staffers in DC gleefully show up to work in the recess uniform (lots of polo shirts and linen), Sen. Reid's days are just as packed in Nevada as they are when he's in DC. On Monday, he officially opened a solar thermal power manufacturing plant in Las Vegas. The plant is the first of it's kind in North America, and will be capable of producing 700 megawatts of energy each year. After he pressed the button to start the production line, Sen. Reid said, "Nevada is poised to be a leader in the clean energy revolution. This facility will help position our state as the premiere place to invest in these new technologies. As the factory expands operations and we continue to invest in clean energy, we'll create thousands of good-paying jobs and keep our outdoors pristine for future generations."
On Tuesday, Sen. Reid made a stop at the Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Fusion Center, a state of the art center that serves as a collection point for information that will aide first responders during a crisis or natural disaster. The whole idea of a centralized data sharing clearing house makes the Weekly Reid smile. First Responders are true American Heroes, and we need to provide them with the best tools possible.
Must Reid: Block, Block, Block, That's All You Do. Senate Democrats had a number of high priority pieces of legislation to pass last week, but as usual, the Bush-McCain Republicans had different priorities.
Rather than punish speculators who are driving up oil prices, obstructionist Republicans chose to walk in lockstep with the President and fill the coffers of Big Oil.
Rather than ensure doctors who participate in Medicare get paid this week, Bush-McCain Republicans chose to protect the special interests who bankroll their reelection campaigns. Our (bipartisan) bill stopped the pay cut doctors would take, expanded funding and access to preventative care, and ended higher co-payments for mental health services. It passed the House OVERWHELMINGLY (355-59), with broad bipartisan support. Did we mention it was bipartisan? The Republican bill? It did nothing to end the over payments Medicare is making to private interests.
Rather than provide relief for the millions of American families facing foreclosure, Bush-McCain Republicans chose to stand up for the very same people who've crushed the American Dream for so many families. The roadblock the housing bill hit last week centered around language the House dropped in the version it passed. Republicans refused to vote on the bill without it. Rather than getting the bill passed quickly - and in the process helping the thousands of Nevadans facing foreclosure - Republicans refused to budge.
When will they learn? Maybe when they get an earful from their constituents back home. And maybe when they're forced to vote on these bills again next week.
A Moment of Sanity. There were a few bright spots in the Senate last week. We passed supplemental funding bills for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for urgent domestic needs. We got the 21st Century GI Bill passed (and signed by the President yesterday). The bill will help our returning vets readjust to civilian life and ensure they can afford a quality education. The domestic spending bill will extend unemployment benefits to the victims of the failed policies of the Bush-McCain economy. In a week full of partisan bickering and Republican obstruction, it was nice to see some good done for those who deserve it most.
Reid's Watching: It's a bird! It's a plane! It's.... What's the surest way to raise some dough for a struggling Republican candidate and motivate the Democratic base? Bring in Air Force One. Today, President Bush will attend a closed door fundraiser for interim (not incumbent) Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove - one of Senator Reid's favorite challengers - is making this race very competitive. Remember what happened last time a high profile member of the Bush Administration flew into Mississippi to raise money for a tanking candidate? Travis Childers - the Democrat - won. Local Democrats are reminding Mississippians that a vote for Roger Wicker is a vote for the failed policies of George W. Bush. Help the Governor offset the W. money by contributing here.
Nipping at her (Tar) Heels. CQPolitics.com profiles Kay Hagan's race against Liddy Dole, and notes, "fluctuating polls over the month and a half since state Sen. Kay Hagan won the May 6 Democratic primary have raised questions about how solid and secure Dole is in her status as the favorite." Kay may have spent a bunch of money in the primary, but she came out much stronger than anyone would have thought. She's going to win this race, and inside-the-beltway press like this helps raise her profile in the national press.
Have a great week! Tune in next Tuesday for another edition of the Weekly Reid!
James
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