MOS: Cost Of Senate Healthcare Bill Is Worrisome

A Capitol Hill man who requested anonymity tells TRNS on Monday that he is concerned about the cost of the Senate health care bill and the affect it will have on the nation's economy. (0:25)
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MOS: Senate Health Care Bill Limits Choice

A Capitol Hill woman who requested anonymity tells TRNS on Monday that she thinks the Senate's bill will take away health care choices from Americans. (0:32)
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Democrat Pleads With Fellow Senators To Pass Health Reform Bill

Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) says that if the Senate does not pass a health care bill, the Senate will most likely not re-visit the issue for a "very long time." He says before voting against a health care bill, one must think about the consequences of keeping the present system intact. (0:25)
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Massachusetts Senator Praises House Health Care Legislation

Sen. Paul Kirk Jr. (D-Mass.), who recently took the seat held by deceased Senator Ted Kennedy, says if he were a member of the House of Representatives he would be proud to have passed "historical health care legislation," and adds that as a new member of the Senate, he plans on being an active and vocal force in getting health care legislation passed. (0:19)
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Senate Health Care Does More For Disease Prevention Than House BIll, Says Sen. Harkin

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) makes a comparison between preventative care and wellness provisions in the Senate and House health care bills during a press conference Wednesday. He said that the Senate does more for preventative care. (0:19)
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Sen. Harkin Says Health Care Reform Will Not Likely Pass By Christmas

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) says during a press conference Wednesday that he expects health care bills from both the House and Senate to be in conference by Christmas, but doubts they will be signed by the President prior to December's recess. (0:29)
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You Can't Expect Congress To Snap Fingers And Create a Bill Says Schumer

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) says people can't expect members of Congress to just snap their fingers and produce a health care reform bill. He says it will take time. (0:31)
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How Did Supreme Court Confirmation Battles Become So Contentious?

With a filibuster-proof 60 Democratic seats in the Senate, Judge Sonia Sotomayor has nothing to worry about. Unless the senators discover something completely unexpected and horrifying about her past, she will be the next Supreme Court justice. And yet she still faces heated opposition and rhetoric from the Republican minority.

How did Supreme Court confirmation battles become so contentious? And why do some nominees face loads of opposition while others sail through? TRNS Legal Affairs Correspondent Matthew S. Schwartz interviews various Supreme Court experts to try to figure out how things got quite so heated.

(4:51)
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SCOTUSblog Founder Tom Goldstein Discusses "Poisonous" Atmosphere of Court Nominations

Supreme Court nominations have become increasingly contentious in recent years. It seems that no matter how qualified a nominee is, he or she is going to face a passionate confirmation battle. Supreme Court expert Tom Goldstein joins TRNS Legal Affairs Correspondent Matthew S. Schwartz to discuss what he calls the "poisonous" atmosphere of Court nominations. Goldstein, a partner with Akin Gump, is a Supreme Court litigator, lecturer at Harvard and Stanford law schools, and founder of SCOTUSblog, a popular Web site focused on Supreme Court issues.

(13:08)
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Sen. Murray: Senate Will "Do What's Right for America" on Health Care Reform

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) says the health care system is currently broken but that is why the Senate is working to "do what's right for America." (0:23)
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Kate Hanni: Trying To Keep America's Skies Friendly

By Jonathan Bronstein, Talk Radio News Service

Jonathan Bronstein interviews aviation passenger rights advocate Kate Hanni about the the Passenger Bill of Rights legislation being debated on the floor of the House of Representatives today. She is quite disappointed that the legislation does not have a maximum amount of time that airlines can leave passengers on the tarmac before bringing them back to a terminal.

Additionally, she discusses her recent testimony in front of the House Rules Committee, the amount of support that this Bill of Rights has in Congress, and future reforms that she hopes will be implemented. (10:18)
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Dorgan: Bonuses To KBR Shows "Stunning Incompetence"

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) discusses how the payment of bonuses to KBR was predetermined in the contracting agreement, which he believes, demonstrates "stunning incompetence" by those in the Department of Defense who hired this firm. (0:18)
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The Democrats Will Support Arlen Specter

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

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) talks with Ron Brownstein of the National Journal at a breakfast on Capitol Hill. Reid, President Barack Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden all said that they would personally support Arlen Specter in his 2010 election. Reid said that support was not conditional.

“I’m not going to be in a forever, never position, but the facts are that [Specter is] going to vote with us most of the time,” Reid Said. “I can’t foresee him doing anything that would be so mean spirited that Obama, Biden, and Reid would turn against him.” (00:44)
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Congressman Sestak On Arlen Specter

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

Regarding Arlen Specter changing parties, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-Penn.) said that it's better for the constituents of Pennsylvania to decide which candidate should win the primary. He feels like the Democratic National Party backing Specter may be giving him too much of an advantage in the Pennsylvania primary. President Barack Obama and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have already committed to personally supporting Specter in his 2010 election. (00:47)
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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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Did the Treasury consult with the SEC on resolution regime?

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee met for the second time to discuss “Enhancing Investor Protection and the Regulation of Securities Markets.”
At the hearing Senator Dodd asked the Chairman of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Mary Schapiro, “Were you consulted by the Treasury and the Fed, what role do you think the SEC should play in this resolution mechanism, given the oversight and regulatory responsibilities?” Senator Dodd also asked Ms. Schapiro to “comment on the reports of the regulatory changes that Secretary Geithner has mentioned this morning.”


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Schumer: "Something's out of wack with Executive compensation"

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee met for the second time to discuss “Enhancing Investor Protection and the Regulation of Securities Markets.”
At the hearing, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, “We all believe people should be rewarded for good performance, that’s not the problem, but what we’ve seen in many instances that has enraged Americans is a heads-eye wind tail you lose system. In which executives are rewarded for flashing the pan short term gains, or even worse, rewarded richly when the company does poorly and the shareholders have been hammered.”
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Reid says that Smart Grid technology is important

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

While speaking in the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) emphasized the importance of developing a smart energy network to transmit renewable energy across the nation. (00:48).
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Reid: Renewable energy helps economy

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

While testifying before the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that renewable energy has been helping to stimulate the economy and create jobs. Reid said that these industries have thrived, but that assistance from the federal government is necessary for the country to reach its full energy potential. (01:40)
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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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