Government Reform

Pelosi Statement on Americans With Disabilities Act

admin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:47:20 -0600

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The bill passed by a vote of 402 to 17:

"Nearly 18 years ago, with the enactment of the ADA, this nation committed to removing barriers that had too long denied Americans with disabilities full and equal access to all aspects of American society - in our businesses, schools, communities, and government.

Since that time, the ADA has played a vital role in transforming society's attitudes toward individuals with disabilities and has advanced our nation's fundamental calling to respect each individual.

The ADA's promise remains unfulfilled because of court rulings that wrongly ignored the intent of Congress. Courts have narrowed the definition of 'disability' to preclude those individuals who undertake mitigating measures such as hearing aids or medications.

Today, Congress is restoring the law's intent and its broad protections. By strengthening the ADA, we bring our nation closer to the ideals of equality and opportunity that are both our heritage and our hope."

Obama to Close the Enron Loophole

admin — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:32:47 -0600

Obama Announces Plan to Fully Close the Enron Loophole, Crack Down on Excessive Energy Speculation

Senator Barack Obama today announced his plan to crack down on excessive energy speculation and fully close the "Enron Loophole" to ease the impact skyrocketing gas prices. The Enron Loophole was created by McCain campaign co-chair Phil Gramm at the behest of Enron-just one example of the special interest politics that put the interests of Big Oil and speculators ahead of the interests of working people. And the American people have seen the results: record corporate profits while Americans pay record prices at the pump.

McCain Transparently Hypocritical

kbolton — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:26:52 -0600

John McCain will say today that his "administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability." Yet throughout his run for president, his own campaign has been anything but transparent and highlights just how hypocritical this promise is. His campaign's refusal to release Cindy McCain's tax returns, along with the news yesterday that her assets included investments in Sudan even as McCain was criticizing firms for doing business there, raises serious questions about what other information the McCains are trying to hide.

Pressure Mounts on McCain to Release Tax Returns

kbolton — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:32:26 -0600

Washington, DC - The McCain campaign's decision to withhold Cindy McCain's tax returns is drawing criticism from across the political spectrum.

This morning, editorials in both the Washington Post and Washington Times echoed calls for the McCain campaign to release Cindy McCain's tax returns. This follows a column in yesterday's New York Observer that blasts McCain for his hypocrisy on disclosure, noting that Mrs. McCain's corporate jet "has been flying him and his entourage of lobbyists around the country at bargain rates."

Judging McCain's Judges

admin — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:40:38 -0600

In his 22 years in the Senate, John McCain has never voted against a single Republican judicial nominee at any level. How far to the right does a judicial pick have to be for John McCain to vote against him or her?

Why would John McCain tout his so-called "moderate" views on issues like campaign finance reform and climate change when the right wing judicial nominees he favors would gut those reforms and dismantle the regulatory framework designed to implement them?

John McCain often cites John Roberts and Samuel Alito as examples of the types of judges he would appoint to the Supreme Court. Would he also appoint extremist judges like Robert Bork, William Pryor and Pricilla Owen to the Supreme Court?

FEC Case Highlights McCain's Hypocrisy

admin — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:47:47 -0700

After trying to portray himself as a "maverick" who would reform Washington, John McCain is now trying to illegally withdraw from the very campaign finance system he has claimed to champion, a move that highlights for North Carolina's voters McCain's hypocrisy on ethics.

Adding insult to injury, McCain is lying to voters to blur the facts, suggesting that his unilateral withdrawal is exactly the same as Howard Dean's in 2003. McCain's attempt to unilaterally withdraw from public financing comes after he used the promise of federal matching funds to get free access to the ballot in some states, and as collateral for a loan to keep his campaign afloat, a clear violation of the agreement he signed with the FEC.

Rep. Brad Miller Takes Leadership Role in Contempt Citation

admin — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:12:57 -0700

Washington, D.C. – Amid a GOP walkout in the U.S. House of Representatives today, lawmakers approved contempt citations against White House officials which will implement a two-part strategy that allows Congress to pursue the matter in both criminal and civil court.

Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) worked closely with House leadership to help pass the contempt resolution. The action comes after Harriet Myers, former White House counsel, and presidential chief of staff Josh Bolton ignored subpoenas from Congress to cooperate with an inquiry into whether the firings of U.S. Attorneys were politically motivated at the direction of President Bush.

Republicans boycotted the vote and staged a walkout.

Butterfield: Halt Washington County OLF

admin — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:05:40 -0700

The House took the first step toward overriding President Bush’s veto of a key defense bill today, which would ensure a halt to the Navy’s proposed outlying landing field in eastern North Carolina’s Washington County.

“If the Navy wants to move forward with an OLF, it should now be clear that they will need the support of the community,” Congressman G. K. Butterfield said.

Today, the House again approved the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Bill, taking the first step toward overriding President Bush’s veto. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week.

Last month, the conference report on the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Bill included language repealing “the authority for construction of an outlying landing field at Washington County, North Carolina.” The bill won overwhelming support from the House and Senate, but was vetoed by President Bush.

Why Doesn’t Bush Want Open Government?

admin — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:07:31 -0700

The government is lagging far behind in declassifying its secrets, and the problem is getting worse as agencies create billions more electronic records containing classified information, according to a new report.

In a report released Wednesday, a joint presidential-congressional advisory group urged greater openness, a sore subject for a White House roundly criticized for secrecy.

The Public Interest Declassification Board said President Bush can take immediate steps.

For example, it said, the White House should retain the president's daily brief prepared by the CIA so historians, researchers and the public can eventually learn what the intelligence community has told the president.

A Third Bush Term?

admin — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:03:16 -0700

Whoever Wins, They All Offer a Third Bush Term

Today the American people take their first, long-awaited step toward electing a new President. While none of the Republican candidates have generated much excitement on the campaign trail, one thing has become crystal clear: whoever wins the Republican caucuses, a vote for any one of them is a vote for a third Bush term.