Reid To Introduce Limited Energy Bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has just announced that he will be holding a press conference with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and other Senate Democrats later this afternoon. However, if you’re a supporter of comprehensive climate legislation, don’t get too excited. Reid likely will announce that he will be bringing a package that will contain a series of oil spill response proposals and moderate energy provisions that are expected to draw bipartisan support.

The Hill is reporting that the bill will not include any mandates on renewable energy production, and it is certain that the package will not feature any sort of proposal to place a cap on emissions. For now, it looks like Reid won’t be able to address broad climate legislation until after the August recess…

House To Vote On Extenders Today

The House will hold an hour of debate on a bill to extend unemployment benefits, and will then vote on it later this afternoon. The bill, which the Senate passed earlier this week, is expected to pass easily through the lower chamber. It’s expected that the President will sign the bill into law before the end of the week…

Is Your Alfafa Too Organic? Ban Lifted on Roundup-Ready Alfafa

The Supreme Court has lifted a ban on biotech alfafa. Environmental groups and organic farmers sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture stating that the agency’s decision to grant deregulated status to Roundup Ready alfalfa violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Lower courts enjoined almost all planting and sale of Roundup-Ready alfalfa.

The Supreme Court found that the district court overstepped its boundaries by believing the only course of action was a complete injunction against biotech alfafa.

“The District Court abused its discretion in enjoining APHIS [Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service] from effecting a partial deregulation and in prohibiting the possibility of planting in accordance with the terms of such a deregulation,” concluded the court.

By Robert Hune-Kalter



Lugar Becomes Second GOP'er To Support Kagan

The Associated Press is reporting that Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) has said he will vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.

“I have concluded that Solicitor General Elena Kagan is clearly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court and that she has demonstrated a comprehensive knowledge of court history and decisions,” Lugar said.

The Indiana Republican becomes the second member of the party to support Kagan. Earlier this week, Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he would vote ‘yes’ on Kagan.

Franken Defends Not Using Stimulus Money To Fund Unemployment Extenders

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) told reporters Tuesday that using unobligated Recovery Act funds to pay for an unemployement benefits extension is a bad idea, and would prevent Congress from creating economic stimulus elsewhere.

“That reduces the other money that’s there for stimulus,” he said. “Traditionally, unemployment insurance has always been not paid for.”