House Dems Assail Interior and Environmental Funding Package

By Philip Bunnell

Democratic Reps. Jim Moran (Va.), Norm Dicks (Wash.) and Edward Markey (Mass.), gathered Monday to decry the GOP’s Interior and Environmental Appropriations bill, which they called highly anti-environment and tailored to special interest groups.

“This is a bad bill,” said Dicks, “perhaps the worst Interior and Environment Appropriations bill I’ve seen in my 35 years of service on the Subcommittee.” Moran agreed, calling the bill a “wishlist for special interests.”

Moran pointed to the 39 legislative riders in the bill. Among them are provisions that allow for uranium mining claims in the Grand Canyon, which the trio of lawmakers cautioned would endanger those who rely on the Colorado River for water. When families travel to the Grand Canyon and stop to enjoy the sunset, Markey quipped, “the glow won’t only be from the sunset.”

The bill also removes funding for the EPA to designate new species as endangered, which led Moran to dub it the “extinction rider.”

Markey offered different names for the bill, such as the “Are You Living on the Same Planet?” act and the “Have You Been Outside?” act. Markey brought a copy of the bill wrapped in caution tape and called it the “most egregious assault on our environment in the history of Congress,” and dismissed House Republicans who, he said, “have no idea what’s going on outside of their tea parties.”]

All three Democrats were concerned that the bill would be overlooked in light of the debt ceiling debates and warned that there are “plenty of Senate Democrats,” who would allow the anti-environment provisions to go through.

Afghanistan Needs Continued American Commitment, Says Official

Philip Bunnell - Talk Radio News Service

Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke told the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday that if the United States is going have a successful run in Afghanistan, its commitment and investment must continue unwavered. 

Holbrooke said strengthening the Afghan government and weeding out corruption is critical if President Obama’s war strategy is to succeed. 

“The steps we’ve taken so far to fight corruption is a start,” said Holbrooke, citing the multiple recent arrests of corrupt Afghan officials. Despite the progress, Holbrooke acknowledges that there was still a lot of work to do in erasing corruption within the Afghan government.

One of the keys to a stronger Afghan government, Holbrooke said, is an effective transfer of control from US and NATO forces to locals. He said that, without a commitment to a smooth transfer, “the process will not move forward.”

Holbrooke stressed that persistent investment in the Afghan military and police forces and the economic development of the country is vital. Accomplishing these goals will require “continued American commitment,” and patience even after American troops have left the country.

Holbrooke’s testimony comes in wake of wavering Democratic support for the war in Afghanistan, including a vote for an additional $37 billion in war spending that 106 House Democrats voted against.

Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), one of the opposing Democrats, questioned the validity of the United States’ mission in Afghanistan. Moran recounted his recent visit to Afghanistan where he was told that from the perspective of some Afghan tribal leaders, the United States “didn’t liberate Marja, the Taliban liberated it from a corrupt police chief who was preying on his own people.”

House Passes Anti-Tobacco Bill

By Sam Wechsler - Talk Radio News Service

On Friday the House of Representatives agreed to a Senate amendment on “The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.” The bill, H.R. 1256, is now set to go before President Obama. The bill gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) much more control over the tobacco industry in order to protect the health of the American people, especially children. The House voted 307-97. All but 7 nea votes came from Republicans.

Said Congressman Jim Moran (D-V.A.), “In their boardroom [tobacco companies] discussed how important it was to get kids to smart smoking at 14 or 15 years of age because then they would be loyal to their brand, let alone addicted to the product.”  He added, “[Tobacco companies] manipulated the media, deceived the American people, [and argued] the science wasn’t really there to claim cigarettes were a problem.”

The legislation allows the FDA to force tobacco companies to change their ingredients if necessary, bans the production of flavored tobacco products, and bans the use of descriptions such as “light” or “mild.” The bill also restricts advertisements geared towards youths.

Although President Obama is a smoker, he was pleased to know the House agreed to the Senate amendment. He now plans to sign the bill himself. Shortly after the House vote took place, the President stated, “this bill will be the fourth piece of bipartisan legislation that I’ve signed into law over the last month that protects the American consumer.”