Debt, security, and oil

"If we let the world know that we're going after every drop that we can responsibly gather, and let the world know that we are going to be the least reliant country in the world on oil...we would send a ripple throughout the world," said Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio) during a telephone conference on energy independence and national security.

"We wouldn't need to be at the mercy of other people. It wouldn't impact our foreign policy decisions as it does today."

Voinovich made the case that the combination of the country's debt and reliance on foreign oil received from hostile nations has created a security concern that neither presidential candidate has properly addressed.

"The problem that they're not talking about is that 51 percent of the debt is owned by foreign countries...70% of it is being bought by the Chinese, the Japanese, and the OPEC nations."

Voinovich likened the situation to a business whose competitors have a supply that's in demand and control of their debt. He said that under those circumstances it was doubtful it would be in business much longer.

Sen. Voinovich thinks drilling would send a message

"If we let the world know that we're going after every drop that we can responsibly gather, and let the world know that we are going to be the least reliant country in the world on oil...we would send a ripple throughout the world," said Senator Voinovich (R-OH) during a telephone conference on energy independence and national security.

"We wouldn't need to be at the mercy of other people. It wouldn't impact our foreign policy decisions as it does today."

Voinovich made the case that the combination of the country's debt and reliance on foreign oil received from hostile nations has created a security concern that neither presidential candidate has properly addressed.

"The problem that they're not talking about is that 51 percent of the debt is owned by foreign countries...70 percent of it is being bought by the Chinese, the Japanese, and the OPEC nations."

Voinovich likened the situation to a business whose competitors have a supply that's in demand and control of their debt. He said that under those circumstances it was doubtful it would be in business much longer.

U.S. foreign aid system broken and flawed

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia held a hearing on consolidating U.S. foreign assistance bureaucracy.

Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) said U.S. foreign assistance includes economic development, security, health, governmental, and disaster response efforts. He said there is a great need to design a comprehensive national assistance strategy with a clear mission and the full means to accomplish it. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) said now the aid system is fractured and cumbersome. He said the current, ineffective structure must be compounded to become well-managed, well-funded, and well-staffed.

Richard Greene, deputy director of U.S. foreign assistance at the State Department, said the aid system needs more funding flexibility, driven by demand rather than availability. He said foreign assistance is the most complicated effort in the public policy arena, adding that little has been done to simplify the accounts structure. Akaka said there are 20 government agencies and 50 programs providing international assistance. Greene admitted that it would be smart to consolidate all of the government entities.

Voinovich said $36 billion dollars are disposed for aid, while the defense budget is $683 billion. He said even the funds should be better distributed because foreign aid provides great returns in improving the image of the U.S.