Senate Passes Wall Street Reform Bill

By Brandon Kosters - Talk Radio News Service

In a 60-39 vote, the Senate today passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Among other things, the bill gives bank regulators more leverage in dismantling firms engaging in risky trading practices, and creates a consumer protection agency to oversee the financial industry.

Said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), “no longer will the taxpayers of this country have to come to the rescue of these so-called businesses that are ‘too big too fail.’”

Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Scott Brown (R-Mass) were the only three Republicans to support the bill. The House passed the same bill on June 30. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill into law sometime next week.

EPA Says Dispersants Are Not Affecting Gulf Coast Environment

Robert Hune-Kalter - Talk Radio News Service

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson told the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday that the high amount of dispersants being used in the Gulf of Mexico has not produced any negative side effects, yet. 

Committee members grow wary of dumping high amounts of oil dispersants into the Gulf and showed particular concern about the short and long-term effects these dispersants will have on the environment.

“As of yesterday, BP had used 1.8 million gallons of oil dispersants in the Gulf,” said Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.). “In Exxon Valdez we used 250 thousand barrels.  By comparison, Deepwater, the biggest oil spill in history, now uses 35-60 thousand barrels a day.”

Jackson assured the committee that the EPA has not seen any significant environmental impacts from the dispersants so far. Due to unknown scientific factors regarding these dispersants, the EPA has directed BP to greatly reduce the number of barrels of dispersants being dumped into the Gulf. The number of gallons being dumped has been reduced nearly 70% since May 26.

Dispersants have not been used within 30 miles of the coast and are prohibited from being used off shore because of the time it takes the dispersants to break up oil.

“Yesterday, the state of Louisiana reopened some state waters to fishing after tests showed no presence of oil or dispersants,” said Jackson.

Oil continues to spew from the well unabated after BP failed to cap it earlier this week.

Arizonans Speak Out Against SB 1070, Push For Comprehensive Reform

By Sarah Mamula - Talk Radio News Service

The rise of immigration enforcement, such as Arizona’s SB 1070, has led to an increase in deportations and subsequent family separations among the immigrant community, according to the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. At a press conference Thursday outside the Capitol, immigrant women and children shared their experiences and urged Congress to take action.

Ai-Jen Poo, director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, said federal policies “are putting women and children in grave danger.” 

“There is a human rights crisis facing our families,” said Poo. “The Arizona Law SB 1070 is just a glimpse of what is to come if we do not turn the tide on immigration enforcement.” 

11-year-old Matthew Perea and 12-year-old Heidi Ruby Portugal were among the many children who spoke about their experiences in Arizona. Perea said children in the state live in fear of the police and the possibility of being separated from their parents due to deportation. Portugal told the story of her mother’s arrest while at work in Arizona.  At age 10, Portugal had to take care of 3 younger siblings, including her 3-month-old brother, while her mother was detained.  

“Luckily my mom is now here with us and she didn’t get deported,” said Portugal. the 12-year-old wants others to fight against the implementation of SB 1070 because “it’s just hateful and separates lots of families.”

With only two weeks until the Arizona law is implemented, The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) has joined with more than 25 other organizations across the country to call for immediate immigration reform.

“Arizona’s new law makes a bad situation far worse and it’s the children, often American-born, who lose their mothers and fathers,”said Karen Nussbaum, assistant to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumpka. “We cannot stand by and watch workers get exploited and families ripped apart.”

Today At TRNS

The Washington Bureau will be covering:

Senate Appropriations Committee Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing to review the use of dispersants in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Rep. Grijalva et al on immigration enforcement - rain location 2456 RHOB

The Galen Institute holds a briefing on “Why the Obama Health Plan is Not Entitlement Reform.”

Senators Hatch, Burr, Barrasso and LeMieux on jobs and stimulus.

RL Boehner on-camera press briefing with reporters

Consequence holds an event featuring a giant melting ice sculpture to highlight the “mis-information campaign by climate deniers” and to call for Senate action on global warming.

Spkr Pelosi wkly news conference

Vilsack Touts Recovery Act Before Budget Committee

By Phillip Bunnell - Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack told the House Budget Committee that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is helping the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) make strides in creating jobs and modernizing American agriculture.

Chair John Spratt, Jr. (D-SC) and Ranking Member Paul Ryan (R-WI) opened with contrasting messages concerning the Recovery Act. Spratt touted it as saving America from a far worse economic downturn and saving millions of jobs. 

Ryan called the act “a failure,” blaming it for increased national debt. 

“Proponents will tell us that we should all be grateful that the pain is not more acute, and that it’s not fair to hold policy makers accountable for the failures of their policies,” he said.

Secretary Vilsack emphasized that the Recovery Act “is doing good,” and was “a must,” saying that the “stimulus is successful.”  Vilsack said that the increased funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp program) produced $9.50 for every $5.00 invested by the USDA, and that the Recovery Act has allowed for expanded agricultural trade with Panama, South Korea, and Columbia.  Vilsack also said rural communities are receiving subsidies, water treatment facilities, and broadband Internet service, all of which help modernize and support the American farmer, are reaping the benefits of the extra funding.

Vilsack credited the Recovery Act for the recent growth in GDP, and countered Republican criticism of the high unemployment rate by stating that the stimulus had created “a sense of opportunity,” and that it had saved “millions of jobs.”