Pelosi Paints the Capital Green

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

To mark Earth Day, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi introduced a plan to paint green the marble columns of the Capitol with energy efficiency and environmental initiatives. She calls it the “Green the Capitol Initiative.”

Pelosi’s plan involves 15 distinct steps to conserve energy and reduce waste, and is aimed specifically at congressional offices. Among Pelosi’s 15 measures are the use of compact florescent light bulbs, recycling used office items, and conserving electricity by powering off lights and computers while not in use. Additionally, Speaker Pelosi is encouraging the use of public transportation and the conservation of basic office supplies.

“The Capitol, which has always served as a beacon of freedom, is now a shining example of sustainability.” Pelosi said. She continued that the House has reduced its carbon emissions by 72 percent recently. She continued that if all Congressional offices adopt this plan, it will result in a savings of $1 million in energy costs and will cut energy consumption in the Capitol by nearly 10 percent.

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Oreg.), who Pelosi called “the main instigator” of the green plan, believes that Congress is setting a good example for the rest of the country. He said, “If we model the behavior we want the rest of America to follow, it has a profound effect.”

Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) said that one of the first things he did when coming into Congress was institute a recycling program in his offices. He grinned at the savings

“Just during the transition from the 110th to 111th Congress, Congress saved over 60,000 pounds of paper. Lujan joked with the Speaker, “I was going to bring an example of that, but I couldn’t forklift it in, just to give an example of what we’ve truly saved.”

Pelosi called it the moral responsibility of Congress. Her office is encouraging all members to adopt these “green” plans. “I think most members of the Congress are doing some of this,” but she could not give exact numbers on who has implemented all of these recommendations. “The Speakers office is doing all of this,” Pelosi said proudly of the recommendations.

It’s out! Democrats present budget

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

This morning Congressional Democrats presented a budget they claim will make essential investments in the economic recovery and drastically reduce the deficit nearly in half by 2014.

Congressman John Spratt (D-NC) said the resolution will reduce the $1.8 trillion deficit to $586 billion by 2014.

“We’re going to take student loans and convert them into direct loans, saving $53 billion over a period of five years. We’re going to put money in the IRS, and HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) and other government agencies, and say, ‘We want to see stricter enforcement,’ because we believe program integrity initiatives like that can save as much as $50 billion.... Now that’s not a deficit that is satisfactory in and of itself but it is quite an accomplishment,” Spratt said.

Today Republicans are expected to issue their budget proposal, their second in two weeks.

“Apparently they are divided on this issue,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD). “We wanted multiple budgets as we normally do as well but we are not divided. We’re going to see a unity of purpose and unity of commitment on the Democratic side. I don’t mean unanimous but great unity.”

Spratt says the budget introduced by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and other representatives is “awfully hard to get down because it calls for some huge, substantial cuts.”  

House Education and Labor Committee Chair Rep. George Miller (D-CA) said he is “excited” to see that this budget along with the economic stimulus package, for the first time, will provide more resources for early childhood education all the way up to college education.

“This budget with respect to education responds to what every business leader who has come to this Capitol, has demanded from this Congress, and that is to improve the American education system so that when we emerge out of this economic crisis we will be stronger, we will be better educated and we will be more competitive in the globalized economy that confronts us from now throughout our entire future,” Miller said. 

The budget stresses the need for a clean energy economy. Congressman Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) says the proposed budget will create energy independence and job creation. 

 “The Democratic budget builds on a significant funding and tax incentive for the Recovery Act by increasing our critical investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency by some 18% for 2010.... We need to do this to limit our dependence on foreign oil,” Lujan said. 

Pelosi: We are stronger since Sept. 11th

"The skies may be blue today, but we must remember this day seven years ago, when the skies were nothing but gray with ash," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said at the September 11th remembrance ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. Hoyer was joined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner. (R-Ohio).

A large number of spectators came to the west steps of the U.S. Capitol to remember those that lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. The United States Marine Corp Band played the National Anthem and other patriotic songs.

"Seven years ago, a band of whicked men attacked America and all that is represents. They had hoped that we would remember that day with fear and terrible confusion and doubt. But Septemeber 11th has become a day of solemn pride," McConnell said during his speech.

Pelosi's speech conveyed the strength that America has gained since September 11th. " We gather to observe the unforgettable horror of September 11th. We gather to convey out deepest sympathies to the families of September 11th, many of whom have turned their grief into strength to make America safer,"

Following Pelosi's speech there was a moment of silence where crying was heard for those that died. Senator Robert Byrd (D- W.Va.) could be heard through the ceremony shouting "Amen,""Peace be with you," and the faint sound of crying. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Marine Corps Band played God Bless America hundreds sang along as the Members of Congress hugged one another and waved American flags in the air.

Bird's Eye View: Empty Senate Chamber

A decidedly empty chamber awaited each Senator as they came in at their appointed time and stood near their desk, waiting for the podium to be brought to them so they could have a chance to speak. I watched as a lone Senator addressed no one in particular and CSPAN observed. A stenographer stood six feet to the Senator’s left with a typewriter like apparatus strapped to a board. It hung from his neck much like an archaic technology-albatross from yesteryear.

From the press box, I looked down, surveying the floor from directly above the presiding member’s desk. All of the balcony areas were empty, save for the area to my right, which was stuffed with eager tourists. The floor of the Senate within the Capitol was eerily silent, as no electronic devices are allowed in and therefore not even the sound of a vibrating Blackberry was to be heard.

From the camera view, the average American will see only shots back and forth as the camera switches from the view of a member of Congress, to the presiding member, and back. They cannot see staffers wandering in and out of the double doors, the lack of people in the balcony, or the odd hollowness that sound creates in such a large, empty room.

Congress frequently puts out the call for a debate on an issue. But heated debate rarely seems to actually occur on the floor itself, since, as is apparent, they are almost never on the floor at the same time.

The Senator from New Mexico put a large, colorful posterboard up on a easel and gestured emphatically at it to no one in particular. The stenographer typed rapidly. The audience, which now included quite a few high school students, strained to see the tiny words printed on the board as the Senator waved his hands around and jabbed a finger into his notes.

All the passion that may or may not accompany a speech is no longer evident once it’s in a transcript. It is likely that a lot of information is going to be passed that way, via a paper or electronic copy of what was said.

It is much more effective, I would think, for someone to actually be seen in person as they give their speech, since the stenographer isn’t likely to point out elements of composure, such as saying that a Senator was ‘so excited that his hair was shaking and his face was beet red,’ or ‘as Senator so-and-so spoke, he was so into it that he spit on the guy in front of him.’

Since most members of Congress are only going to read what was said, the all important element of passion in a speech will be missed.

Pity.

Today from the Capitol

Today was a busy day inside the halls of the capital. With today being dedicated as Peace Officers' Memorial Day, there were many supporters in and outside of the capitol including a memorial gathering outside the capital at one o’clock.

As for legislative business, the House began the day discussing the Iraq and Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations bill. With members entering and exiting the chamber through out the day, this issue was obviously a hotly contested one. There is a natural tussle of ideas as to whether or not to pull the funding, or to grant more money for our troops. Naturally there is a large number of representatives wanting out of the war, and a way to end the war is by stopping the funding. However, to those that do support the war, their response was that by cutting the funding, this will result in not supplying our soldiers adequately with what they need to fight the battle. So there was a struggle of ideals between the representatives as to what to do. House Democratic leadership wants this wrapped up before Memorial Day, however it seems as if this will be problematic. Speaking of House Democratic Leadership, they were the most harshly criticized group among the arguments given from Republicans. They were continually accused of setting their own agenda and not working together to get legislation passed.

The House was later on discussing the conference report on H.R.2419 which is on the “Food and Energy Security Act of 2007.”

On the Senate side, the Senators resumed debate on H.R. 2419 which is the “Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act.” Some high profile Senators were in and out of the chamber as there was a news conference held by Diane Feinstein whom was accompanied by Senators Levin, Snowe, Cantwell, Collins, Dorgan, and Wyden. Essentially the Senate passed a measure to cut off the “Enron Loophole,” which was part of the Farm Bill conference report the Senate had passed. “This legislation provides new tools to stop price manipulation, excessive speculation, and trading abuses that have too often clobbered American families with unfair energy price hikes,” said Senator Levin. “We’ve finally done it. Today, the Senate sends the President a bill to close the Enron Loophole once and for all,” stated Senator Feinstein.

Lastly, in regards to foreign affairs, The Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus held a news conference to announce the top six countries which were put on the 2008 priority watch list. These countries included China, Russia, Canada, Greece, Spain and Mexico. China, Russia and Canada are the top three countries with troubling pirating issues. China especially is of concern after Canada and Russia have made minimal attempts to deal with the issue. Representatives from the MPAA and RIAA were on hand to discuss the damaging effects from piracy not only to individuals, but also to economies. If material is being stolen from others, it’s not just going to take away from the main artist, but all those that contributed to the project.