Bye Bye Boxer?

Dem. Senator Barbra Boxer of California may lose her seat. According to KPCC “The three-term incumbent hopes for a fourth term. California’s junior U.S. Senator admits that she faces a tough race this year.”

One of her opponents ran this add online,

The video criticizes Boxer for only passing 3 bills in 18 years. The video demonizes boxer as a wasteful spending politician who has “forgotten how the real world works.” The video is one example of the call for change in washington.

51 States

On April, 30, 2010, congress passed a measure to allow Puerto Rico to change their association with the U.S. According to Fox, this bill would allow Puerto Rico to become a state or sovereign nation.

According to the Chicago tribune, the parties are split on this debate.  The Chicago Tribune Stated “The voting, however, would not be binding. Admission to the union as state would require the approval of the U.S. Congress, for example.”

U.S. Senate Committee: Energy and Natural Resources

The committee has 23 members, and the committee is responsible for

Jurisdiction of the Full Committee includes oversight and legislative responsibilities for: National Energy Policy, including international energy affairs and emergency preparedness; nuclear waste policy; privatization of federal assets; territorial policy (including changes in status and issues affecting Antartica); Native Hawaiian matters; and Ad Hoc issues. [In addition, other issues are retained in the Full Committee on an ad hoc basis. Generally, these are issues which (1) require extremely expeditious handling or (2) substantially overlap two or more subcommittee jurisdictions, or (3) are of exceptional national significance in which all Members wish to participate fully.]

Where have all the jobs gone?

According to AFP

The US Congress on Thursday passed a two-month extension of unemployment benefits, overcoming Republican opposition that stalled the aid package when the programs expired at the end of March

While the economy is at a standstill, many are left questioning why there has not been a jobs bill produced by congress.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

In March, employers took 1,628 mass layoff actions involving 150,864 workers. The number of events increased by 58 over the month, while the number of associated initial claims decreased by 4,854. The number of claims due to mass layoffs has decreased in 6 of the last 7 months.

With healthcare still in the works and financial reform in debate, the public still waits for some form of  a job recovery.

Climate Bill Hits an Ice Age

Reuters reported, “Leading investors are skeptical a climate change bill will pass the U.S. Senate this year, though they say it is needed to provide stability and boost spending in the clean-tech energy sector.” As the Senate focuses on financial turmoil, healthcare, and reelection, the climate has been bumped. John Kerry is losing his supporters to other causes, and it looks like climate will be dropped off the agenda for the rest of the 111^th congress.

Goldman Sachs in the Frying Pan

According to Goldman Sachs, their company functions as “financial advisor, lender, investor and asset manager. Our role is not always visible to consumers, and we do not engage in many traditional commercial banking activities. We connect buyers and sellers, linking investors and capital with the businesses and governments in need of it. This fuels job creation and innovation, while increasing tax revenue and facilitating economic development.” In simple terms Goldman Sachs plays a major role in steering this economy.

Goldman Sachs CEOs were brought before Senate. According to the BBC, “An investigation by a US Subcommittee concluded Goldman Sachs bet on property prices falling, while selling clients investments that depended on a rising market. Goldman Sachs boss Lloyd Blankfein is expected to deny the allegation.”

U.S. Senate Committee: Armed Service

The committee is led by Senators Carl Levin and John McCain.  The main priorities for the committee deal with the

Aeronautical and space activities peculiar to or primarily associated with the development of weapons systems or military operations; the common defense; the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force, generally; maintenance and operation of the Panama Canal, including administration, sanitation, and government of the Canal Zone; military research and development; national security aspects of nuclear energy; naval petroleum reserves, except those in Alaska; pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and privileges of members of the Armed Forces, including overseas education of civilian and military dependents; selective service system; and strategic and critical materials necessary for the common defense.

In a recent story by the New York Times, the committee “expressed confidence Thursday that the director of the nation’s largest electronic-spying agency would be confirmed as head of a new organization that will coordinate U.S. military cyber-capabilities.”

The committee is vital to the organization and structural support for our armed services.

Scott Brown, lately

 

As we check up on rookie Senator Scott Brown, we find that he is active in the current senate. On April 28th he stated “I am strongly opposed to the administration’s misguided decision to move forward with Cape Wind. While I support the concept of wind power as an alternative source of energy, Nantucket Sound is a national treasure that should be protected from industrialization.” Referring to the Cape Wind Project, which is an offshore wind farm.

All by Himself, Crist

On April, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist announced his intent to run for a senate seat representing Florida as an independent.

Charlie stated,

For too long, politicians have done what is in their best interest and not what is in the best interest of their state or the people they serve.

Those days are over!

It is time to put Florida first.  Join me today, and together we will make a real difference in Washington.

In these days of campaigns, we see our politicians coming out with a new spin. Change and hope. It worked for Obama, why would it not work for them. Crist, who was the 44^th governor of Florida, is now placing is election on the will of the people, instead of using the power of a national party.

Lynch-the legend returns

According to the New York Law Journal, “The U.S. Senate has confirmed the nomination of Loretta Lynch to be the next U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Nominated by President Barack Obama in February, Ms. Lynch, 50, was confirmed along with four other U.S. attorney nominees this afternoon by unanimous consent. With a name like Lynch any wrong doer should be terrified.” Mrs. Lynch was once the U.S. Attorney, and now she returns for a second serving.  According to The New York Times, Lynch’s resume includes, “Ms. Lynch is a veteran of the office, where she began working in 1990 and held a number of positions, including chief assistant United States attorney, chief of the Long Island office of the Eastern District, deputy chief of general crimes, and chief of intake and arraignments. She is currently a partner at Hogan & Hartson, focusing on commercial litigation, white collar criminal defense and corporate compliance issues. She is also the acting chairwoman of the state’s Commission on Public Integrity.”