Congress Needs To Pass Legislation To Dissuade Employers From Hiring Illegal Immigrants, Says New Mexico Governor

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson said during a summit with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Monday that Congress needs to pass legislation to dissuade employers from hiring illegal immigrants. (0:15)
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New Arizona Immigration Law Should Propel Congress To Act, Says New Mexico Governor

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D) said that Arizona's controversial new immigration law should compel Congress to act on immigration reform and border security. (0:12)
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Labor Department Searching For Mine Safety Reforms

According to Labor Department officials, new employee safety guidelines can play a role in preventing mine disasters like the one that claimed the lives of 38 workers in West Virginia in early April.

“We are working hard to identify the reform pieces that are necessary to assure the nation’s miners that they can actually go to work everyday, come home every night, and do that for a lifetime through a mining career and retire at the end of the day healthy,” said Joseph Main, the Assistant Labor Secretary for Mine Safety and Health, during a panel discussion on labor rules at the Center for American Progress. (0:19)
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New Guidelines Will Give Employers Additional Responsibility Over Workers' Safety, Says Labor Official

Deputy Labor Secretary Seth Harris said that the Department is focusing on a new initiative titled “Plan, Prevent, Protect,” which requires employers to take more responsibility to ensure employee’s are safe at work.

“’Plan, Prevent, Protect’ aims to change the calculus, so that employers and other entities regulated by the Labor Department will take responsibility for employment law compliance,” Harris said. (0:09)
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Neglecting Safety Guidelines Harms American Workers, Says Labor Official

Deputy Labor Secretary Seth Harris says during a panel discussion at the Center for American Progress Thursday that the American worker pays the price of an employer's non-compliance to labor rules. (0:13)
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Only Financial Services Will Be Regulated By Consumer Protection Provisions, Says Dodd

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said Wednesday that consumer protection provisions in Wall Street reform legislation will only apply to institutions whose "principle business is in financial services and products." (0:13)
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Dodd: U.S. Will Face Another Economic Crisis, But New Bill Will Help

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who appeared with Reid, stressed that the bill needs to move forward, but also conceded that the bill will not completely rule-out the possibility of a second financial crisis.

“We can’t prevent another economic crisis from happening in our country, that will happen someday again,” said Dodd. “But we can minimize the impact of that crisis.” (0:19)
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Harry Reid Accuses Senate Republicans Of 'Anti-American' Behavior

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) described his Republican colleagues’ refusal to open up Wall Street reform legislation for formal debate as “anti-American.”

“All the talk from the Republicans about wanting to do something about this bill before it gets on the floor is really anti-Senate and anti-American,” Reid said during a press conference Wednesday. (0:20)
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Goldman Sachs Dumped Toxic Mortgages Into Economy, Says Democrat Levin

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) claims that evidence shows investment bank Goldman Sachs put their own interests ahead of clients. (0:16)
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Investment Banks Should Not Be Speculating, Says Senate Democrat

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) says that under Wall Street reform, investment banks will not be allowed to continue to make bets on their collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). (0:17)
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Goldman Sachs Failed To Put Customer Service First, Says Democrat Levin

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) says that investment bank Goldman Sachs' "short-positions," or bets against the mortgage market, did not represent customer service or hedges against risks. (0:20)
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Lawmakers Must Address Ocean Acidification, Says Actress Weaver

Actress Sigourney Weaver urges lawmakers to help keep the world's oceans healthy by passing climate legislation. (0:15)
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Increasing Acidification Harmful To Ocean's Ecosystem, Says Scientist

Dr. James Barry, Senior Scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), says during a congressional hearing on Thursday that that carbon dioxide emissions are being absorbed into our oceans at massive rates. (0:16)
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Actress Promotes Climate Legislation In Light Of Rising Ocean Acidity

Actress Sigourney Weaver says that the oceans are 30% more acidic today than they were in the past. (0:12)
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White House Should Appeal National Day Of Prayer Ruling, Say Bipartisan Group Of Lawmakers

Rep. J. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) says Wednesday that the White House should appeal a recent ruling by a federal judge in Wisconsin that found the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. (0:11)
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National Day Of Prayer Does Not Force Americans To Pray, Says House Democrat

Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) says participation in the National Day of Prayer, which a federal judge in Wisconsin recently ruled unconstitutional, is completely optional. (0:14)
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Republican Wolf Urges Obama To Appeal National Day Of Prayer Ruling

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) urges the Obama administration to appeal a recent ruling by a Wisconsin federal judge which found the National Day of Prayer to be unconstitutional. (0:13).
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The Middle Class Needs Its Fair Share, Says Vice President

Vice President Joe Biden says that the economic system will not work unless the middle class believes they are getting their share of benefits from the economy. (0:17)
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Economic Expansion Will Create Shared Prosperity Says Biden

Vice President Joe Biden says that the next economic expansion will be characterized by the shared prosperity of the middle class. (0:24)
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Biden: Recovery Act Tax Cuts Are Pulling Double-Duty Shifts

Vice President Joe Biden says Recovery Tax cuts are not only helping families make ends meet, but also boosting economic activity. (0:29)
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