GOP Senators: Let’s Start Over On Health Care

By Courtney Ann Jackson- Talk Radio News Service

Republican Senators reiterated Wednesday their desire to let the public to see the health care bill before Congress considers passing it, adding that if a bipartisan bill couldn’t be created that included the key elements of their proposals such as cutting costs and coverage for everyone, they should just start over.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) argued that attempting to pass a health care bill before the August recess creates a “false deadline.”

“My recommendation to the President is to back off on that [deadline]. He’s going to find plenty of us to work with on a common sense proposal,” said Coburn. “Back off...and take us at our word that we truly want to work to solve this problem and I think that’s reflective of the vast majority of our conference.”

Coburn was joined by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) to discuss the Republican health care agenda. Both Coburn and Barrasso are the Senate’s only two doctors.

Barrasso said physicians know we need health care reform. He also noted that we must get the costs under control and improve patient care.

“We’re here as two doctors to say we want to make this system better for all Americans,” said Barraso.

Coburn highlighted the need for Republicans to continue working and not slow down or lose focus as they continually push for their proposals to be seriously considered.

GOP Senator Calls For Do-Over On Health Care Reform

By Justin Duckham-Talk Radio News Service

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) believes that congressional Democrats have taken the wrong approach to health care reform and suggests hitting the proverbial reset button.

"My advice would be that we start over," Alexander said during a pen and pad session with reporters. "The main focus should be on the cost of health care for the 250 million Americans who already have it and on the cost of their government once we get through this legislation."

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), who also attended, took issue with the optimistic language the Obama administration has been using to describe the effects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"It's becoming increasingly apparent to the American people that this administration and House Democrats are out of touch with this economy," Pence argued. "The President on July 1st actually said that the stimulus bill had 'done its job'."

Alexander agreed, comparing the statement to a much derided misstep from the previous administration.

"I think his comment...sounds an awful lot to me like 'Mission Accomplished', and President Bush was held accountable for that and I think President Obama should be held accountable for this," Alexander said, referencing former President Bush's 2003 appearance in front of a banner marked "Mission Accomplished" prior to the worst days of the Iraqi insurgency.

Sen. Alexander: U.S. Should Invest In Nuclear Energy

By Sam Wechsler- Talk Radio News Service

Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) announced Monday his plan to build 100 new nuclear power plants in the next 20 years in order to create jobs, clean the air, and solve global warming. His blueprint is part of Senate Republicans’ fourfold plan for more clean energy: 100 new nuclear power plants, electric cars and trucks, offshore exploration of natural gas and oil, and doubling energy research and development to make renewable energy affordable.

Alexander criticized the Waxman-Markey Bill by saying, “What started out as an effort to address global warming by reducing carbon emissions has ended up as a contraption of taxes and mandates that will impose a huge and unnecessary burden on the economy.”

Alexander expects the 100 nuclear reactors to cost $700 billion in total, less than the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act cost. He also expects almost all of the money to come from private investment, some from foreign governments and manufacturers. Only the first dozen reactors would be with government money via loan guarantees, which would cost taxpayers no money at all.

He believes that nuclear energy is the best option for clean energy, partially due to its lack of interference with the ecosystem. “The great American outdoors is a revered part of the American character. We’ve spent a century preserving it; there is no need to destroy the environment in the name of saving the environment,” he said. The Senator later argued that a one square mile nuclear power plant would produce the same amount of energy as a 30 square mile solar plant, or 270 square miles of 50 story wind turbines.

According to Alexander, an exaggerated fear of nuclear technology and a failure to appreciate the density of its energy are holding back nuclear energy’s progression.

“Nuclear power is the obvious first step to a policy of clean and low-cost energy,” said Alexander.

Senate, Experts Discuss Ways To Regulate Toxic Emissions

By Annie Berman - Talk Radio News Service

At a hearing Thursday, the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety discussed the most cost-effective way for Congress to regulate toxic emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and mercury.

“We need Congress to develop a comprehensive three-pollutant bill that provides protective and reasonably attainable reductions of SO2 and NOx emissions, incorporates the regulation of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants,” said Randall R. LaBauve, Vice President of Environmental Services for the Florida Power & Light Company, who testified at the hearing.

A “cap and trade” policy continues to be a controversial issue regarding the regulation of toxic emissions. Though almost all of the witnesses at the hearing were in favor of a cap and trade policy, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) was clearly against it.

“We’ve had testimony before this committee by Oak Ridge scientists, that cap and trade was a very inefficient way to deal with fuel because it raises the price, that’s for sure, but it doesn’t reduce the carbon. It only raises the price by 10 or 20 cents, but that’s not enough to change behavior,” said Alexander.

John B. Stephenson, Director of Natural Resources and Environment at the United States Government Accountability Office was one of several at the hearing who recommended using sorbent injections to reduce mercury emissions. Sorbent injections function essentially like a filtering system to remove mercury from releasing into the air.

“When the results of 50 tests of sorbent injection systems at power plants [were conducted]…mercury reductions of at least 90 percent [had] been achieved,” said Stephenson.

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) also shared some alarming statistics regarding toxic pollutants in an attempt to demonstrate the urgency of this issue.

“More than 24,000 Americans die a year from sulfur dioxide emissions alone. Unfortunately, many of our fellow Americans are exposed to these pollutants every day. Six out of 10 Americans – more than 186 million people – live in areas where air pollution levels endanger lives.”

New Report Urges Immediate Conservation Action To Save Nation’s Outdoor Resources

A report released today by The Outdoor Resources Review Group recommended allocating $3.2 billion annually toward the conservation of American land.  The report, entitled “Great Outdoors America”, also includes recommendations for recreational trends, identification of policy failures, and a description of technological changes that have affected the U.S.' outdoor resources.

Honorary Co-Chairs Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) presented the report to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.  

Patrick Noonan, Chairman Emeritus of The Conservation Fund and Member of the President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors, briefly outlined a number of recommendations from the report including better coordination with the Department of the Interior and new tax incentives for non-profit and private conservation groups.

“We recommend a nationwide system of blueways and water trails to mobilize communities and organizations to improve water quality close to home,” said Noonan.

The report builds on the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Campaign of 1962 and the President’s Commission on American Outdoors of 1987.

“Much has changed since [the previous reports]: demographics are different, there are more of us...larger minority participation, different roles of women, urbanization...cities have grown to 80% of our population,” said Henry Diamond, partner at Beveridge & Diamond and former commissioner of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

Diamond added,“Federal government plays a substantial role and spends a lot of money but it is rather disorganized in this field.  There are many agencies...that we think needs changing.  We think the land and water fund has a history of being starved."  

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar emphasized that action to conserve America’s landscapes is necessary now because of the troubled economy, wars, and health care issues Americans face today.

“It is in the most difficult times of our country that we look to the landscapes to refuel the spirit and the greatness of our country,” Salazar explained.

Salazar provided three reasons why conservations efforts should be a top priority including job creation, health benefits, and response to climate change.