Only Thing On Durbin's Mind Is The Number 60

Travis Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

As the Senate prepares for a Saturday vote on whether or not to bring its health care bill to the floor, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says he will be working feverishly to try to muster up 60 votes, including at least one from the other side of the aisle.

“It would be a real break if we get one Republican to join us and say yes, this is an issue worth debating,” said Durbin. “I’m not assuming a thing, we’re working hard to bring all 60 Democrat votes together to proceed with this historic debate.”

Durbin refused to divulge any information about the status of Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), a moderate who has remained quiet as to how she will vote on Saturday night.

“She's told Senator Reid," said Durbin."You'll have to ask Senator Reid."

Reid: Time To Travel Down Main Street

By Suzia van Swol-University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
It is time to focus less on Wall Street and more on Main Street said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) today. Reid hopes to accomplish his goal with housing legislation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which guarantees safe deposits and that transactions are fully insured.

Although banks have come down on proposed legislation, arguing that it will increase primary mortgage rates, the general consensus among four Democratic Senators today was that by reducing by foreclosures, banks will start lending and the economy will start moving again.

When dealing with credit cards, “disclosure doesn’t work anymore,” said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY). Credit card companies have become so good that more is needed to make customers aware of how much interest rates will actually cost them.

From Starbucks to Microsoft, people are experiencing job loss and it is time to be “focused on getting some confidence and stability back to families,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). She said that it is time to help Americans and deal with the foreclosure crisis.

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) said that he is sick and tired of being asked to give billions to banks who have no sympathy for struggling families, and if they have no sympathy than “I don’t have any sympathy for them.”

Getting Past Republicans' “No”

Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News

“The hole we’ve inherited is very deep,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), “but we’ve accomplished a lot in the first 100 days.”

Reid listed the Lands Bill as “the most significant environmental legislation in a quarter of a century,” the Lilly Ledbetter Act, S-CHIP, the Economic Recovery Package, the Omnibus Spending Bill and National Service legislation, “even though we’ve had little cooperation from those on the other side of the aisle.”

In the coming weeks the Senate has a lot of work to do: the bankruptcy provision in the housing legislation, credit consumer protection, tobacco legislation “is way, way overdue”, and the supplemental provision bill. Republicans have to do more than just say no, he finished. He added that procurement was crucial to the defense department.

Pointing toward an empty easel, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, “As you can see, this is what the Republicans want us to accomplish. Their three words are ‘no, never, nothing.’”
“We have not blocked them on any amendments they want to offer,’” he said, adding they have no reason to make the Senate wait by using filibusters.

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) reported that President Obama has the greatest upward shift in polls in the first 100 days since before the first Bush. He presented Associated Press findings showing a 44 percent increase in the President’s approval rating. This contrasts with several recent statements made by Republicans that voters are turning away from Obama.

Mark Silva, of the L.A. Times, gives a detailed report showing consistent 63-64 percent approval in Pew, Gallup, Associated Press and GfK Roper Public Affairs and Media polls, and says this is the first time in 10 years that the majority of the public feel the country is going in the right direction.
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“Who speaks for the Republican Party today? Dick Cheney? Newt Gingrich? Sarah Palin? Michael Steele?” Durbin asked, adding, “This is a party in search of an identity and a mission. The only mission they’ve had so far is to resist and fight this president.”

“It will not harm the Grand Old Party to spend this year in a cooperative effort to solve the problems of America,” he said.

Sen. Patty Murphy (D-Wash.) said Republican delays and filibusters are preventing Congress from solving pressing problems.

Regarding another bone of contention with Republicans, Reid said he couldn’t discuss security briefings he’d attended on sanctioned torture, but that justice, and “not vengeance, must be served.”

Reid also confirmed that the Senate is considering a 9-11 style commission to evaluate the causes of the financial meltdown.

Threats of filibusters don't scare the Democrats

Democrats remain confident that the new economic recovery plan will have enough votes to succeed. Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) held a press conference today discussing the new plan.

Although the Republicans threaten to stall with filibusters, Senator Schumer said, "Has bipartisanship been a failure? Well so far its not working but it takes two to tango and the Republicans aren't dancing." The Republicans are trying to "lob off" parts of the bill said Sen. Schumer, but he stated that every time we lob off of the bill, we lob off jobs.

Schumer stated that the only people who oppose this bill are Republicans in the house and senate that are holding on to a doctrine that's "been tossed out by the voters and tossed out by experience." He further stated that he would rather pass a good bill with 65 votes, then a bad bill with 80 votes. "the key is the number of jobs created, not the votes" said Schumer

Schumer said that McCain's mortgage plan, which focuses on re-financing is "totally flawed". He says that, "Instead of re-financing mortgages and making the bank the gatekeeper, we should just give people the money in a direct way, which is what the Obama plan does.”

Senator Murray concluded with "a 4% mortgage does you absolutely no good if you don't feel confident that you have a job and an income."

by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

American oil exported daily

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) discussed energy prices and promoted an economy run by renewable energy sources at an event hosted by progressive think-tank NDN. Durbin said gas at $4 per gallon is killing the US economy and that gas prices are shipping $700 billion to foreign suppliers of oil. He said Republicans in Congress, in the last two months, have blocked 12 Democratic attempts to debate bills that would lower gas prices and create green jobs. He added that Republicans have used a record number of filibusters this session, frustrating Democrats and the American public.

Durbin said in the first four months of 2008, 1.6 million barrels of US oil were exported daily. He also stated that since the United States only has three percent of the world’s oil supply, OPEC could react to increased American supply by lowering their production in an effort to keep gas prices high. He added that 700 million barrels of oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve are ready for use and that 34 Senate Democrats sent a letter to President Bush asking him to release 10 percent of the reserve. Durbin suggested that a partial opening of the reserve would show the international community that the US is tired of inflated oil prices.

Durbin cited a report that says three million jobs can be created in the next decade if greater investments are made in green technology. He said following the Arab oil embargo in the early 1970s, oil imports from the Persian Gulf fell 87 percent and GDP grew 27 percent. He suggested that the United States can benefit once again by making energy security a priority. He added that increased energy security is a technology deal and that Republicans have opposed tax incentives that promote increased technology, energy conservation, and renewables.