February 04, 2010

Entergy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer J. Wayne Leonard today issued a statement in support of President Barack Obama's comprehensive strategy to enhance American energy independence and build a foundation for a new clean energy economy. Leonard, who has been a leading industry advocate for action on comprehensive climate change legislation, issued the following statement: "We support the President's decision to establish an Interagency Task Force on Carbon Capture and Storage. It sends a clear message that the economic reality is such that the climate change problem cannot be solved without developing a retrofit technology for existing coal plants. We believe the President's announcement today should demonstrate the country's commitment to substantive action over popular sound bites. Full release.

Following news reports this morning that Republicans are seeking to raise money from Wall Street and the banking lobby using the pitch that they will stymie financial regulatory reform and protect banks from the type of oversight that could prevent another financial collapse, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine released the following statement: "The GOP's brazen appeal to Wall Street for campaign contributions in exchange for Republicans' vow to block financial reform is a new low for Congressional Republicans who've already seen their brand deteriorate over the last year as a result of their continued insistence at putting the interests of Wall Street over the needs of Main Street. "John Boehner's efforts to cut a deal with Wall Street in exchange for carrying their water in Congress demonstrates what we've said all along – that the GOP's interests extend to no one other than themselves and their special interest friends and they will stop at nothing to win in November. And, this is far from an isolated incident. Full release.

A new study released today finds that water, in all its forms, has the least environmental impact of any beverage choice. And when compared to other packaged beverages, including soft drinks, sports drinks, enhanced waters and juices, bottled water has the lightest environmental footprint. The "life cycle analysis study," available at www.beveragelcafootprint.com, was commissioned by Nestle Waters North America and conducted by Quantis International, a well-recognized leader in life cycle analyses and related applications. The study is believed to be the first peer-reviewed, comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact of water and alternative beverage options, including filtered and un-filtered tap water consumed from reusable plastic, steel and aluminum containers. The analysis follows internationally accepted standards for methodology and transparency in reporting all findings, including favorable and unfavorable comparisons with other beverage options. Full release.

On a telephonic press conference call this morning, an array of employers and retirement experts joined with Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) to call for temporary pension funding relief – an urgent, yet overlooked, issue that will act as a catalyst for our nation's economic recovery if Congress addresses the issue or that will become a huge obstacle to economic growth if it continues to be ignored. Due to unprecedented economic turmoil and market volatility, pension plans are facing massive losses in their asset values. As a result, billions of dollars that could be pumped into the economy today and help to save or create jobs are now scheduled to be diverted into pension plans unless Congress acts quickly. "If left unaddressed, the issue of pension funding could throw a roadblock into our economic recovery," said Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), who along with Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH) is sponsor of congressional legislation on pension funding relief. Full release.

On Thursday, the House Fair Elections Now Act (H.R. 1826), championed by House Democratic Caucus Chairman John B. Larson (D-Conn.), gained its 134th co-sponsor, pushing the number of supporters to more than half of the Democratic Caucus. This high level of support is a sign of the growing momentum for changing the way campaigns are financed in this country, according to Public Campaign and Common Cause. "The country needs both parties to work to solve the political crisis created by the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United, and the bipartisan solution that has the broadest support within Congress is Fair Elections," said Nick Nyhart, president and CEO of Public Campaign. "Not only is it the best policy response to the escalating cost to run for office, it will take candidates off the fundraising treadmill and encourage them to seek support from voters back home. This bill is democracy-in-action." Full release.

As global attention focuses on efforts to provide life-saving support to the people of Haiti, UNICEF today released its Humanitarian Action Report (HAR) 2010. This annual report spotlights the most severe crises impacting children and women around the world and includes an appeal for additional assistance. "Haiti was one of the countries UNICEF classified as 'in crisis' when the Humanitarian Action Report went to press, even before the earthquake hit," said Hilde F. Johnson, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. "Faced with multiple hurricanes, in addition to civil unrest, the country was still in need of humanitarian assistance. "The earthquake is a horrific example of another double disaster -- destroying the lives and livelihoods of the Haitian people and crippling the very infrastructure and systems needed for humanitarian actions to be effective," said Johnson. Full release.

Truth Wins Out praised President Barack Obama today for his bold speech at the National Prayer Breakfast condemning Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The bill would imprison, hunt down and even execute gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The bill also threatens imprisonment for those who do not turn in their LGBT friends and family members to authorities. In his speech, Obama said: "We may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are, whether it's here in the United States or, as Hillary mentioned, more extremely in odious laws that are being proposed most recently in Uganda." Full release.

Women Thrive Worldwide applauds the introduction today of the bipartisan International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA), in both Houses of the 111th Congress. This groundbreaking bill addresses for the first time the global crisis of violence against women and girls, and would apply the force of U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance toward preventing such abuse, which is estimated to affect one in three women and girls worldwide. "Violence against women is an egregious human rights violation affecting all aspects of women's lives, from their personal health and safety to their ability to earn a living and care for their families," says Ritu Sharma, Co-founder and President of Women Thrive (www.womenthrive.org). "We urge Congress to pass I-VAWA this year to show that the U.S. is fully prepared to invest in a safer future for women; which is the best way to ensure security for all." Full release.

Research presented at the American Academy of Pain Medicine's 26th Annual Meeting provides early published data analyzing information gathered from California's prescription monitoring program, known as the Controlled Substances Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES). The analysis found a two-fold increase in the likelihood of individuals receiving opioids from multiple providers or "doctor shopping" when they were also being simultaneously prescribed a single additional class of a controlled substances, such as benzodiazepines or amphetamines. When there was more than one additional drug class involved, there was a 13-fold increase for individuals seeing multiple providers. Over 34 states (stat from the DEA, link below) currently have prescription monitoring programs in place in an effort to address prescription drug abuse, addiction and diversion. Full release.

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