July 24, 2008

House Republican Whip Roy Blunt issued the following statement today after Democratic leadership failed -- for the third time in three weeks -- to push through a misguided energy plan using a process engineered to deny both Republicans and Democrats the opportunity to amend the bill in a way that would've unlocked generations-worth of American energy for American consumers. Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor this afternoon in support of H. Res. 6578, the Consumer Energy Supply Act of 2008. The measure received strong majority support in a House vote today of 268 to 157, but failed to receive the two-thirds necessary to pass under suspension of the rules. All Democrats present voted for the measure, while 157 Republicans voted against it. The measure would direct the release of a small amount of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, bringing down gas prices and sending a strong message to energy speculators.
Full release

Assigned to cover the 2008 Republican or Democratic convention? Whether it's your first time covering a convention or just your first time in four years, come get some tips from convention-covering pros on how to make the most of your reporting time in Denver or St. Paul. Join the National Press Club's Professional Development Committee and the Regional Reporters Association for a panel discussion on Monday, July 28 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the National Press Club. Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader John Boehner today announced joint appointments to the board of the new Office of Congressional Ethics. With these appointments, for the first time in the history of the House, private citizens will be entrusted with an active role in the ethics enforcement process. The Office of Congressional Ethics is intended to supplement the work of the Ethics Committee and congressional leaders expect the two bodies to work together effectively. Full release

Today on Wisconsin Public Radio the Joy Cardin Show, Thomas Boyle, the moderate democrat nominee wannabe in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination in August, was 'cut off' after identifying himself. Mr. Boyle, a weekly caller with moderate views, was not allowed to speak. Mr. Boyle said, "The last words I heard host Joy Cardin say were, 'I am not censoring him ... click.' then I was off." Full release

Chuck Todd, NBC's political director, will be featured this week on the American Federation of Government Employees' (AFGE) radio program "Inside Government." Todd will discuss potential vice presidential candidates for Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), U.S. energy policy, and the economy as the top issue in the upcoming presidential election. Also, hear from Michael Shear, national political reporter for The Washington Post, as he describes life on the road covering McCain's bid for the White House. Full release

Obama Campaign Confirms That They Are Already Planning The Presidential Transition. "With less than six months to go before he would be sworn in as the nation's 44th president, Sen. Barack Obama has directed his aides to begin planning for the transition. 'Barack is well aware of the complexity and the organizational challenge involved in the transition process and he has tasked s [sic] small group to begin thinking through the process,' a senior campaign adviser said.
Full release

URAC is focusing on cost, quality and the consumer as the framework for improvement and innovation in health care management. Influential thought leaders, medical professionals and executives from across the health care management spectrum will convene to explore that framework at URAC's 9th Annual Quality Summit Oct. 14-16 at the La Costa Resort and Spa in San Diego. Full release

On July 24, 2008, a paralyzed man, beaten by police officers, will file a federal lawsuit against the City of Chicago police department and individual officers. Approximately two years ago, the police officers pushed, hit, and kicked a quadriplegic man to the point of unconsciousness while he lay helpless on the ground. Full release

[P]resident Bush's announcement that month that he planned to "surge" more than 20,000 extra U.S. troops into Iraq felt to many critics, including Sen. Barack Obama, like doubling down on failure. A year and a half later, though, violence is down dramatically and there's a cautious hope that both the U.S. and Iraq could achieve an outcome once seemed out of reach. Full release

The Republican National Committee (RNC) today announced a new radio ad buy for "Obama Chooses Washington Over Our Military." As Barack Obama travels to Paris, France, the radio ad will remind voters in Paris, MO; Paris, MI; and Paris, ME, that Obama's politically expedient record has consistently put politics before the needs of our military. Full release

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