July 14, 2008

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on President Bush's announcement lifting the executive ban on drilling in protected coastal areas: "Once again, the oilman in the White House is echoing the demands of Big Oil. The Bush plan is a hoax. It will neither reduce gas prices nor increase energy independence. It just gives millions more acres to the same companies that are sitting on nearly 68 million acres of public lands and coastal areas. Full release.

In reaction to mortgage lending rules adopted today by the Federal Reserve Board, AARP released the following statement from Senior Vice President David Sloane: "Predatory mortgage lending has cost too many older Americans the security that was the equity in their home. Caught in later life with unaffordable loans, their dreams for a safe and comfortable retirement turned into nightmares by foreclosure; they deserved better. With the rules adopted today, The Federal Reserve Board has acknowledged the role lax or nonexistent underwriting standards and abusive loan terms and conditions played in the foreclosure crisis among older homeowners. Full release.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) today applauded Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, for a scheduled hearing on the federal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. Congresswoman Davis has announced she will hold a hearing on the law on July 23, marking the first time since the law was implemented that stand-alone hearings have been held on the issue. Full release.

Reacting to the announcement by the International Criminal Court Prosecutor that he will seek an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Al-Bashir, Amnesty International USA issued the following comment from Curt Goering, Senior Deputy Executive Director. Full release.

As Chairman Of The Subcommittee With NATO Oversight, Obama Has Failed To Hold Any Hearings On Afghanistan. Full release.

John McCain may be trying to turn the page on the disastrous week he just had, but this week is shaping up to be no better. Today, Senator McCain will walk a tightrope at the National Council of La Raza's annual conference in San Diego. McCain's recent double talk on immigration is proof he will say anything to get elected. That dissonance was on display yesterday on a campaign conference call where one of McCain's advisors touted border security measures in a bill McCain is co-sponsoring with Senator Lindsey Graham. According to the AP, that bill also includes making undocumented status a criminal misdemeanor, something very different from the comprehensive approach the candidate is likely to emphasize at La Raza today. Full release.

The following Op-Ed by Bill Bolling is being issued by the Republican National Committee: Barack Obama's campaign has asked voters to ignore their candidate's brief and inconsistent record and listen instead to the "value" in his words... [O]ne thing remains clear, under an Obama presidency hard-working Americans and small business owners will see their taxes rise, job creation and exports suffer, and government spending skyrocket when they can least afford it. Full release.

After a weekend of watching John McCain's campaign try to distance itself from campaign co-chair and top economic advisor Phil Gramm, the Democratic National Committee today released a new video highlighting the inseparable link between McCain and Gramm. Called "John McCain & Phil Gramm: It's All In Your Head," the new video shows McCain repeatedly praising Gramm's judgment on the economy and echoing Gramm's claim that the economic challenges facing America's working families are "psychological." Full release.

Obama Is Once Again All Over The Map When It Comes To Explaining His Plan For Iraq. Today, Obama Said That He Would Not Abandon The Field In Iraq And Would Leave A Residual Force There To Fight Al Qaeda And Train Iraqi Forces: Full Release.

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