February 04, 2009

A petition signed by thousands of religious leaders and lay people across the country will be delivered to Congress and the President tomorrow urging them not to falter on investing in clean energy and green jobs. As the Senate prepares to vote on the economic stimulus package, behind-the-scenes deals threaten to weaken the green stimulus package. Full release.

U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the department is cancelling 77 oil and gas leases in Utah issued in the final days of the Bush Administration. The decision means that more than 100,000 acres of pristine Utah wild lands and iconic recreation destinations will be protected from oil and gas drilling. Full release.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor early this afternoon in strong support of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The House approved the measure this afternoon by a vote of 290 to 135. The Senate approved the same bill last week and it will be signed into law by President Obama later this afternoon. Full release.

The Congress and President Obama today are delivering a historic victory for the health of America's kids by increasing federal tobacco taxes, including a 62-cent increase in the cigarette tax, and expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This legislation will create a healthier future for millions of children by reducing tobacco use -- the number one cause of preventable death in America -- and expanding health care coverage for kids. The House of Representatives gave final approval to the legislation today, and President Obama is scheduled to sign it into law this afternoon. Full release.

Teamsters and allies are rolling out the "Gap Hurts Kids" campaign today highlighting the retailer's role in prolonging a bitter labor dispute at Oak Harbor Freight Lines, an Auburn, Wash.-based freight company where workers have been on strike for more than four months. The campaign includes the launch of the web site www.gaphurtskids.com, as well as nationwide actions at Gap stores this weekend. Full release.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and parents and children affected by the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) held a photo opportunity this morning before the final House vote on the bill, which President Obama will sign into law this afternoon. Below are the Speaker's remarks and answer to a reporter's question: "This is a very special day for us in the House of Representatives and in the Congress of the United States. Here we have our very special guests who have come to help us pass legislation, which will not only help them, but will help 11 million children in America." Full release

While election year politics and the decline in the economy have slowed the rate of health reforms enacted in states last year, a new report shows many states nevertheless made progress in 2008. Many states laid significant groundwork for reform in the last few years, but the report suggests that the potential for federal reform and shortfalls in state budgets - fueled by an economy in recession - are likely to dampen state reform efforts in 2009. As federal policymakers turn their attention to national health reform, the report underscores the important practical and political lessons federal lawmakers can learn from states' experiences. Full release

The unprecedented economic conditions facing the nation are increasingly straining the ability of cities to meet their financial needs. In a recently conducted survey by the National League of Cities (NLC) 84% of cities reported facing fiscal difficulties, up from 64% only 6 months ago. This is the highest percentage in the history of NLC's surveys, dating back to 1985. Full release

The Senate is in the process of debating an economic stimulus plan that will cost taxpayers up to $900 billion with no guarantee of success. Before the Senate tries to reinvent the wheel, it should consider including one sentence in its stimulus bill that will address widely publicized abuses in existing government economic stimulus plans. Full release

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