Muslim Ellison Calls For Better U.S.-Arab Relations

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) advocated mending U.S.- Arab relations Friday, saying that a better relationship is necessary for the health of America.

“One of the most essential relationships we need to build is the relationship between the United States and the Arab speaking world,” Ellison said in a conference at the Woodrow Wilson Center. “It is central to the security, economic viability and prosperity of so many people around the world.”

Ellison suggested that, with the long history shared between the U.S. and the Arab world, a close relationship could lead to a prosperous future focused on manufacturing, energy, technology and services.

“We are interconnected, we are tightly wound together, and we should embrace this,” he said.

Ellison added that there is often a misconception of U.S. relations with Arab-speaking countries, noting that finding common ground would be largely beneficial but currently there is a lack of motivation in Congress to mend the relationship.

“When 9/11 occurred the United States took a step back ... and other nations filled that void as we withdrew,” Ellison said. “It is time for us to strengthen, renew and rebind the ties between us and it is time to do that in a way that is better than it was before.”

Ellision, who was elected in 2006, is the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Top Bank Regulator Says Bank Recovery May Lag

By Leah Valencia, The University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Top U.S. Bank regulator Sheila Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, told Congress that bank recovery may take longer than expected.

"While we are encouraged by recent indications of the beginnings of an economic recovery, [bank] growth may still lag behind historical norms," Bair said during a hearing with the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

According to Bair, bank failures will remain high because household wealth loss was so pervasive and the general economy is weakened.

Bair urged policymakers to begin thinking about exit strategies in regards to their interventions in the financial markets.

"While these programs have played an important role in mitigating the liquidity crisis that emerged at that time, it is important that they be rolled back in a timely manner once financial market activity returns to normal," she said.

Bair and other witnesses advised against the merging of regulatory committees.

“We are very concerned about this, I think it could weaken FDIC. It could overall weaken banking regulation.”

Bair said that although banks have come a long way in repairing the balance sheet, she cautions that restoration will continue into the next several quarters.

Poll Shows Underdog Trails In 2010 Florida Senate Race

By Leah Valencia, The University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

A poll commissioned by Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) showed that he trails Gov. Charlie Crist (R-Fla.) in the race for the state’s Senate seat by a margin of 47-31 percent.

According to the Sept. 23-28 poll of 800 likely Florida voters, 47 percent said they believe Crist is doing a good job, but only 27 percent say they are certain to vote for him on election day.

Crist’s public support has recently declined and many Florida voters have claimed that he is putting his own personal ambition ahead of his state by running for Senate mid-term.

Meek's campaign is trying to capitalize on Crist’s vulnerability, saying that Florida voters can be swayed and that, given his background of service, Meek has a good chance of winning.

During a press briefing hosted by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on Wednesday, Meek said he plans to gain momentum with the support of notable Democrats such as former President Bill Clinton and Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) in his corner.

“I will be a stronger and stronger David in this David-versus-Goliath battle,’’ Meek said.

Manufacturing Industry Needs Credit Now Say Experts

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Several industry experts called on Congress to help restore credit to manufacturers in a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing Friday.

A few who testified said that current credit limits typically do not cover the amount that suppliers need to invest in employees, equipment and raw materials.

“In our industry, manufacturers are expected to deliver products just in time. Any delays can cause significant disruption in our nation's critical supply chain...thus stifling economic growth and risking national security,” said Robert Kiener, Director of Member Outreach at the Precision Machined Products Association. “If our customers can not acquire the products they need, due to the credit crisis, they will source from overseas and these lost jobs will never come back to the United States.”

The testimonies focused on the need for long-term programs that support manufacturing, technology and innovation initiatives in the U.S. The experts outlined the increased problems manufacturers have had in gaining access to greater capital during the current economic recession.

“The bank[s] need assurances that the federal regulators will not come down on them for making sound lending decisions, a return to the sound lending decisions will allow for available and affordable credit for manufacturers,” Kiener said. “I think it is crucial to the recovery of the economy to allow renewed capital expenditures... and in the end, increase hiring and employment to get things back and rolling.”

A Senate subcommittee will submit questions to the U.S. Department of Treasury and U.S. Department of Commerce in a continued effort to evaluate and resolve this issue.

Pelosi Fights Back: "I Am In My Place"

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) countered Republican criticism that suggested that General McChrystal should “put her in her place” in regard to the war in Afghanistan.

“I'm in my place. I'm the Speaker of the House, the first woman Speaker of the House and I'm in my place because the House of Representatives voted me there,” Pelosi said Thursday during her weekly press conference.

Pelosi came down on McChrystal Monday, saying that his recommendations to Obama “should go up the line of command” rather than be discussed openly.

The National Republican Congressional Committee issued a press release Tuesday ridiculing the Speaker, calling her “General Pelosi.” The release also said, "If Nancy Pelosi's failed economic policies are any indicator of the effect she may have on Afghanistan, taxpayers can only hope McChrystal is able to put her in her place.”

Pelosi responded by saying the comments were ill-suited and outdated.

“It's really sad they don't understand how inappropriate that is," Pelosi said. “That language is something I hadn't even heard in decades."

The NRCC unapologetically defended their statements saying that Pelosi was “out of her league” in criticizing McChrystal.

“The Speaker of the House is taking on a highly decorated general who has outlined a strategy in Afghanistan that she once claimed to advocate...Up until it became politically inconvenient, Pelosi and her puppets were referring to Afghanistan as the ‘real central front’ in the war on terror, now their excuse is that there is just not enough political will to keep America safe. Nancy Pelosi might think she’s a general, but she’s playing out of her league and she knows it,” NRCC spokesman Ken Spain said.

Pelosi stated Thursday that she would respond to the President’s decisions on Afghanistan as they are made, but the safety of the American public is a top priority.