Team McCain fires back on Obama's remarks

Presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign held a press conference call to discuss Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee Senator Barack Obama’s remarks in Flint, Michigan. Senior economic policy adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin and Republican National Committee (RNC) Victory 2008 Chair Carly Fiorina answered questions from callers on issues ranging from free trade to the Iraq war to education policies.

With regards to free trade, Fiorina highlighted McCain’s view that ‘competitiveness requires competing’ and ‘competing involves free trade.’ She pointed out that Obama thinks the free trade agreement should be voted against. Fiorina feels Obama is implying that America cannot compete with the rest of the world. She said that McCain, on the other hand, believe Americans can compete and he has been calling for training camps as well as a world class infrastructure. In the event that trade agreements are violated, Fiorina said McCain will prosecute agreements and ensure that they adhere to World Trade Organization guidelines. Fiorina said that Obama feels there is a problem with the U.S. Global Resources (USGR) bureaucracy and that his decision to vote against free trade with Colombia has caused problems.

McCain was also quoted on being critical of oil company profits. He proposed to treat oil companies like other businesses. When questioned on the rationale behind drilling along America’s coast, Holtz-Eakin pointed out that this equates to more oil for American consumers. Fiorina also said it would be good for Obama to see the ground situation in Iraq and Afghanistan as he might acknowledge its success and change his position. Fiorina pointed out that McCain was gratified that the surge was working.

According to Fiorina, McCain feels that the ‘no child left behind’ policy is imperfect. McCain felt that teachers must be motivated with incentives to improve levels of teaching. As a supporter of the G. I. bill which provides college or vocational education for returning veterans, McCain also proposed that those benefits should be transferable from veterans to their families. Fiorina also said that McCain feels parents should have the power of choice whether to enroll their children in public, private or charter schools as it invokes ‘discipline of competition.’ McCain was impressed by charter schools and their ‘culture of success.’

Senate leadership on both sides pushes energy for gas price relief

The overwhelming topic at today's stakeout was energy legislation. The Senate Republican Conference after leaving their weekly policy lunch was very clear about their message: increase supply. They explained through Senate Energy Committee Ranking Member Sen. Pete Domenici (R-MN) a five point plan to reduce crude oil prices by increasing supply. The Republican legislation calls for 2,000 acres of Alaskan plain know as ANWR to be opened for drilling, remove the moratorium on off-shore natural gas drilling and reward the states that abut offshore drilling coasts for doing so, to utilize and stop filling the strategic oil reserve, dedicate money to construct more refineries, and to borrow technology from South Africa to substitute liquid coal for oil. Senator John Ensign (R-NV) said that a principal problem with the price of oil is speculation in the futures market. He said that a strong commitment by the Congress in future investment in building America's supply would stop speculation and immediately bring oil prices down.

The Republican statements were immediately followed by statements form the Senate Democratic leadership on their energy proposals. The Democrats began with Energy Committee Chairman Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) who explained the Democratic legislation. He said that they too have provision in the bill to stop filling the strategic oil reserve as well as anti-price gouging provisions. Sen. Schumer (D-NY) said that their bill reevaluates the windfall profits tax on "Big Oil" reestablishing the definition of "windfall" and taxing those profits at 25 percent. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said that the Democratic legislation also attempts to regulate margins in the futures market as a solution to the "orgy of speculation" over oil prices. Majority leader Reid said that they are going to "try and take a whack" at "Big Oil" in their bill.