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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The Economy Is Clearly On The Mend, Says Biden

Vice President Joe Biden says that the "economy is clearly on the mend" and comments on the importance of keeping job creation as a top priority. (0:21)
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It Will Take Time To Mend The Unemployment Situation, Says Orszag

Peter Orszag, the Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, says that it will take time for the unemployment situation to improve. However, Orszag notes that there have been promising signs. (0:33)
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Patients Need To Have Input In Their Care, Says U.S. Surgeon General

U.S Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin said Tuesday that patients should be the primary decision makers when it comes to their care.

“Patients are ultimately the decision maker, and they really should be. We should be there to help them and be there to give them information to help them make their decisions. We shouldn’t make their decisions for them,” said Benjamin. (0:11)
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Dodd's Financial Reform "Goes Too Far," Says New America Foundation Director

Anne Vorce, director of the New America Foundation's Fiscal Roadmap Project, says she thinks that the financial reform plan proposed by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) "goes too far." (0:38)
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House Republican Conference Radio Row: Republican Know U.S. Needs Health Care Reform, But Not From Democrats Says Wyoming Rep.

Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) says that Republicans know that America's health care system needs reform, but says they don't agree with the Democrats on how to go about it. (0:14)
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Durbin's Diagnosis: Health Care System Is Chronically Ill

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says the U.S. health care system is chronically ill and that it can not survive as it currently exists. Durbing goes on to say that it is "time to do things which may be hard, but are absolutely essential for the survival of good health care in America." (0:21)
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Pelosi: Congress Has Made Historic Progress With Health Care Reform

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says that two out of the five relevant House and Senate committees have passed health care reform legislation which is something that's never been done before. She says, “Congress has made historic progress on health insurance reform that will put patients and doctors back in charge and ensure quality, affordable, accessible health care for America’s middle class.” 0:33)
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Biden: "Status Quo Is Unacceptable"

Vice President Joe Biden says the U.S. must revamp its health care system, adding that doing nothing would be unacceptable. (:23)
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Biden: We're Going To Heal Health Care System

Vice President Joe Biden steals a line from Virgil to explain that the White House's health care proposals will make the nation's health system more efficient. (:10)
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"We've Never Been This Close," Says Biden

Vice President Joe Biden says heath care reform is coming soon. Biden adds that the U.S. has never been as close as it is now to overhauling its health care system. (:20)
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Lieberman Believes Financial Reform Will Be Introduced By Year's End

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) says there will be financial regulatory reform by the end of the year, but that it may be different than current proposals (0:13).
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Gates' Three Objectives For Defense Budget

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates describes the three objectives of the Defense budget: to take care of the forces, to rebalance the Department's programs and to start a reform on how and what the Department buys. (0:44)

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Sebelius: "Health care costs are crushing families"

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

At her nomination hearing Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.) noted the challenges she faces if confirmed, stating, “Health care costs are crushing families, businesses, and government budgets. Since 2000, health insurance premiums have almost doubled and an additional 9 million Americans have become uninsured."

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No place to reform reform.

Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News


Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) satys the reconciliation process is no place to negotiate major reforms.

00:42
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Ralph Nader interview on the need for election reform

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Former presidential candidate and long time consumer rights advocate Ralph Nader talked with Michael Ruhl to discuss the status of his lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This was immediately following the circuit court argument for Nader vs. DNC. Nader claims that he was harassed and burdened in 2004 presidential election by the DNC, in what he calls "an abuse of the legal process" and malicious prosecution. In this interview, Nader explained background of the case, and the case's current status. He said, "there is no other western democracy that comes close to obstructing voters and obstructing candidates as is the case in our country."

Nader also spoke about the two-party system, and the effect that his case has on future third party candidates in the presidential process. He said that his case is designed to draw boundaries, to make sure that third party candidates can exercise their First Amendment rights. Nader also referred to the issue as one of democracy, because he said in limiting ballot access, one is truly limiting the right of the people to decide who they want to represent them. Nader called for national ballot standards, instead of ballot standards which vary state by state. He also advocated instant runoff voting and public funding of public campaigns.

Nader said that the two-party system is not allowing third parties access to the higher tiers of federal government, and this two-party system is moving gradually to a one-party system, where gerrymandered districts make reelection almost certain for many members of Congress. He called this a system that can be rented by the rich. In spite of the stronghold that the two parties have on the system, Nader said that he has talked with several members of Congress who may be interested in helping to move legislation on election reform. He mentioned by name: John Conyers (D-Mich.), Ron Paul (R-Texas), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), and Jessie Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.). He anticipates this reform effort to be difficult, because as he said, "the foxes are guarding the chicken coop." Nader seems ready for a fight.

(08:50)
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Feingold explains the line item veto bill

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) explains how the proposed Line Item Veto Bill works, and how it is Constitutional. (00:45)
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Health care reform needed says James Kvaal

Former Congressman Bob Ney talks to James Kvaal about health care reform at Radio Row on January 19, 2009 (01:52).
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