Dems Call Cuts To Taxpayer-Funded Abortions 'Undemocratic'

By Anna Cameron

House Democrats voiced their fierce opposition to the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” Wednesday, a piece of legislation introduced by House Republicans that would cut off taxpayer-funded abortions.

“We have witnessed in the past few weeks an uprising in Egypt, in Tunisia, and all over the world, where people are [fighting] for democracy. We in the United states are the epitome of democracy, and yet what are we trying to do here?” questioned Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.). “We are trying to take away the rights of women. That is the most undemocratic move that I can think of.”

The “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” seeks to expand upon the Hyde amendment by also prohibiting indirect funding that has the potential to impact abortion services. The bill denies tax credits and subsidies to any individual or business that purchases insurance covering full reproductive health services, even when abortion is paid for with personal funds. In addition, it would change the definition of rape for purposes of exemption, as well as the exemption age for incest.

“The idea that we would decide, in a piece of legislation, that women who have insurance, who are working, who may never use the rider for an abortion, will not be able to pay for one, even with their own money, Slaughter said. “Obviously the intent there is to drive away the ability of insurance companies to provide those riders, [but] we will not stand for it.”

House Democrats chastised Republicans for pushing insignificant and unrelated legislation like H.R.3 rather than working to lower unemployment and boost the economy.

“Instead of working together in a bipartisan way to find jobs for Americans, …two of the first three bills [Republicans] have introduced have been bills designed to divide us,” said DeGetter. “[Republican bills] have been extreme measures that have been designed to take away citizen’s rights to get full health care coverage.”

Lieberman: Fort Hood Massacre Could and Should Have Been Prevented

By Anna Cameron

The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs released a special report Thursday in response to the 2009 Fort Hood massacre that killed 13 and injured 32.

Committee Chairman Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Ranking Member Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) held a press conference to unveil the report and emphasize the harsh reality of the committee’s findings. The detailed release revealed the shocking inability of both the FBI and the Department of Defense to comprehend and act upon compelling evidence of accused killer Nidal Hassan’s escalating Islamist radicalization.

“Two associates at Walter Reed Army Medical Center called Hasan a ‘ticking time bomb’, but instead of disciplining him or removing him from the military altogether, they inexplicably promoted him,” said a concerned Lieberman.

According to the report, Hasan openly expressed his violent radicalization during military medical training at Walter Reed, while justifying the actions of suicide bombers and sympathizing with Osama Bin Laden and other Islamist extremists. The Department of Defense claims to have refrained from taking action based on a belief that Hasan’s radicalization was reflective of an understanding of Islamist culture and extremism that would be beneficial in informing military strategy and national policy.

In addition, the committee’s report revealed the substandard investigation performed by the FBI and the Joint Terrorist Task Forces (JTTF).

“In this case, the JTTF did not live up to its potential and acted instead as another stovepipe instead of communicating vital information,” said Sen. Collins. “Four hours. That is all the time that the Washington JTTF spent investigating whether a military officer in communication with a known terrorist suspect amounted to a national security threat.”

The committee also included in its report several recommendations for institutional reform based on the structural and organizational problems displayed by the FBI and the Department of Defense.

“13 people were killed at Fort Hood. To honor their memory, we pledge to use this report and its recommendations as a blueprint to ensure the appropriate reforms are adopted quickly, so the next human ticking time bomb will be identified early and diffused before another deadly detonation,” Lieberman said. 

Democrats Introduce Revamped Oil Spill Legislation

By Anna Cameron

House Democrats introduced revised legislation on Wednesday to reform operations and oversight of offshore drilling following last year’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee, and fellow Democrats Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), held a press conference to speak about the bill. Entitled the Implementing the Recommendations of the BP Oil Spill Commission Act, the legislation builds upon last year’s House response bill to include the recommendations of the President’s commission created to investigate the spill.

“Republicans voted against this bill last year, many of them arguing at the time that they wanted to hear from the President’s bipartisan commission before taking up legislation,” said Markey. “Now the commission has spoken and the question is, will the Republicans now support tougher safety regulations for offshore drilling, or will they defend the oil companies from the reforms that the bipartisan commission has recommended?”

As recommended by the commission, the main components of the bill would strengthen the regulatory and oversight capabilities of the Department of the Interior, eliminate the spill liability cap on oil compaies and dedicate the fines levied on BP and other companies to restoring the Gulf.

Referring to hearings held by the Energy and Commerce Committee, Waxman said, “We learned that the problem was not too much government regulation, but the lack of of effective federal regulation and oversight.”

To ensure greater accountability, the legislation would also require well designs and blowout preventers to be safety certified by third party inspectors selected by federal regulators, rather than the oil companies themselves. 

“It’s too late to stop the explosion and blowout on the Deepwater Horizon, but with this legislation we can hold the appropriate parties accountable and make sure that this type of catastrophic blowout never happens again,” Waxman said.

Former Pay Czar Explains Executive Compensation Process

By Kyle LaFleur- Talk Radio News Service

During an appearance Thursday before the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), former pay czar Kenneth Feinberg explained that compensation for executives at bailed out companies was based on individual executives’ abilities to avoid unnecessary risks and keep their companies competitive enough to repay TARP obligation

“When making compensation determinations, these principles demanded that I strike a balance between prohibiting excessive compensation and permitting the appropriate competitive compensation to attract talented executives capable of maximizing shareholder value,” Feinberg said in a submitted statement. 

Feinberg, whose tenure as special master for TARP executive compensation lasted from June 2009 to September of this year, was responsible for setting compensation for the “top 25” executives at seven companies including Bank of America, AIG and General Motors. 

“No one can argue against the ‘public interest,’ but in the context of executive pay, it is very difficult to define or measure,” said Congressional Oversight Panel Chairman Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.)

According to Feinberg, by following the principles, Bank of America, Citigroup and Chrysler Financial are already out of the jurisdiction of the special master. Citigroup will still fall under the rules of TARP until it repays its obligation.  

Bipartisan Panel Outlines Five Steps To Reform Earmarks

By Kyle LaFleur— Talk Radio News Service

Former Congressman James Walsh (R-NY) joined a bipartisan coalition of lobbyists and NGO members in Washington Wednesday morning to discuss the “Next Steps for Earmark Reform.” Though the seven panel members held a variety of opinions regarding the future of earmarks, they did agree on five reform principles Congress should consider.

“I have worked with lots of individuals and organizations over the years, this is probably one of the most unique groups I have worked with and it’s really been enjoyable and its great to see Americans of all stripes, views and philosophies coming together to help resolve some of the issues we have before us,” said Walsh.

The five principles would limit earmark beneficiary campaign contributions to $5,000, bar legislative staff from participating in fundraising events, create a new data base of all congressional earmarks, call for the random auditing of earmarks and require that members certify that earmark recipients are qualified to handle the projects they receive money for.  

“The lists is probably more inclusive than some would like and less inclusive then others would like but it’s the sort of compromise all of us would like to see and we think the American people would like to see Congress work out,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.  

The coalition’s anncounment comes exactly one week after House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginai called for an end to all earmarks.  

In a Politico op-ed, Cantor said “there is no question that earmarks – rightly or wrongly – have become the poster child for Washington’s wasteful spending binges. They have been linked to corruption and scandal, and serve as a fuel line for the culture of spending that has dominated Washington far too long. These reasons alone would justify completely eliminating earmarks, but the basis for my position doesn’t end there. The old adage that he who can’t be trusted to reform the “small” problems can’t be trusted to reform the “large” ones applies as much to government as to individuals. Both Republicans and Democrats have an enormous task before us if we are going to get America’s fiscal house in order.”