Lawmaker Condemns Senators' Push To Aide In Libyan Transition

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) is speaking out against a proposal made by three Senate Republicans that would reportedly use taxpayer dollars to help the Libyan government’s democratic transition.

In a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mark Kirk (R-) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) urged the United States to take advantage of the situation in advancing the its interests in the Northern Africa and the Middle East.

Sherman, the top Democrat in the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade denounced any foreign aide that would stem from taxpayer dollars. Instead, Sherman suggests that the $30 billion in frozen Gadhafi assets be used to pursue these advances.

“American taxpayers should not be on the hook when some $30 billion is available to pay for whatever technical assistance the Libyan transitional government needs,” he said. “Any aid worth providing ought to be paid for with Libyan money.  And if there is aid the Libyan government does not wish to pay for - it’s probably not that useful.”

Reid On GOP: They Talk The Talk, Can't Walk The Walk

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday that Republican lawmakers talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk when it comes to creating jobs.

“My Republican colleagues certainly pay lip service to the unemployment crisis in this country, but in the end actions speak louder than words,” Reid said.

Reid blasted lawmakers who opposed the president’s jobs plan and argued that they join the majority of Americans who support the provisions included in the legislation.

“Americans couldn’t care less who proposed the plan or who gets the credit,” Reid said. “The only thing they care about is that Congress gets to work putting them back to work.”

MADD To Combat Drugged Driving

By Adrianna McGinley

Drug involvement in fatal crashes has increased five percent over the last five years, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

To combat the growing danger of drugged driving accidents, the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced their new partnership aimed at educating families and recognizing law enforcement efforts.

The ONDCP released a “Drugged Driving Toolkit” to educate parents, teens and community leaders in an effort to reduce the alarming number of teen deaths due to drunk and drugged driving. According to FARS, 23 percent of fatally injured drivers testing positive for drugs were under the age of 25.

The Obama administration has made it a goal to reduce drugged driving by ten percent by 2015, encouraging states to adopt laws making it illegal to drive while under the influence of illicit drugs. Seventeen states have already adopted these laws.

U.S.Trade Deficit With China Hits Record High

The U.S. trade deficit with China hit a record high in August, rising to nearly $29 billion. The uptick is nearly $1 billion more than the $26.96 billion previously recorded.

Alliance for American Manufacturing Executive Director Scott Paul released the following statement in reaction to the new numbers:

“The record trade deficit with China is the closing argument against China’s currency manipulation. The Senate was right to pass legislation that would deter China’s currency legislation. Two things must now happen. First, the House should pass currency legislation as soon as possible. Second, the Treasury Department must name China as a currency manipulator in its next report due on October 15. If America wants to continue to lead the world, we must be strong and stand up to mercantilism. A failure by the Obama Administration and House Republicans to heed this call will result in more job losses and economic decline.”

Poll Shows Cain Atop GOP Field

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll out Thursday shows businessman Herman Cain leading the rest of the Republican field.

Cain received 27 percent of the vote in the new poll, while former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney finished second with 23 percent.

Texas Governor Rick Perry dropped to third with 16 percent.

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