Former Michigan Gov. John Engler (R) was in the Senate Tuesday, talking up the possibility of financial aid from the U.S. government to the struggling auto industry based in his state.
Engler, who governed Michigan from 1991 to 2003 and now heads the National Association of Manufacturers, was talking to Republican senators outside of the party's normal Tuesday caucus lunch. In comments to reporters, he said Monday's financial turmoil proves the need to help auto manufacturers.
"Urgency is added by what you see going on on Wall Street," he said.
"The de-leveraging that's taking place in some of the financial institutions is making lines of credit harder and harder to come by, and time is of the essence here. And this is not money that the federal government doesn't expect to have back. It's a very prudent investment, and timely."
Engler, also a contributing writer for The Hill, said help is especially necessary since Congress has already heightened regulations on manufacturers and had pledged to help.
"The National Association of Manufacturers supports Congress keeping its word," he said. "They said, 'If we raise all of these new requirements and put them on your industry, we'll help you meet the burden of compliance.' So now it's time to pay the piper."
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson missed an opportunity to shrink and privatize failing mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac when he moved to subsidize them over the weekend, the conservative Club for Growth said today.
Since stepping down as head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Christine Todd Whitman has become a vocal advocate of limiting carbon dioxide emissions to reduce the potential threat of global warming.
Along with Patrick Moore, a former Greenpeace leader, Whitman is co-chair of the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition, which promotes nuclear energy. Nuclear plants don
Talk show host Montel Williams rolled up in a dark SUV with large, imposing bodyguards Wednesday morning to the Denver Aquarium for a Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America reception.
Williams, the national spokesman for the group, urged the organization to stop being shy about their accomplishments. "I'm trying really hard to step up to the plate and change your reputation," he told a crowd that included D.C. pollster Frank Luntz and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown (D). "You are not the devil, but you guys have to do that yourselves."
Williams praised the group for their efforts in providing drugs to people. He spoke of his own suffering with multiple sclerosis and having to inject himself with a needle three times daily in addition to taking a host of medicines and vitamins.
At one point Williams grew emotional, saying that his doctor told him he
The draft of the Republican platform includes a constitutional amendment that would give legal protection to the unborn, disappointing pro-choice Republicans.
The draft also states that there is "a moral obligation to assist, not to penalize, women struggling with the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy," reports LifeNews.com.
The Republican Majority for Choice, which supports abortion rights within the GOP, called the platform draft's language "extreme" and said the party missed a "huge opportunity" to unify its members.
After The Hill's Jim Snyder reported yesterday that Kraig Naasz--one of the top trade association lobbyists in DC--was out as president and CEO of the National Mining Association (NMA), Naasz made it official today, releasing a statement that he was leaving to pursue other opportunities.
"I'm proud of the progress we've made, value all that I've learned and feel privileged to have worked with such an outstanding and committed team. I depart NMA to pursue other opportunities knowing that NMA is well positioned to continue to champion mining's enormous contribution to the nation's economy and our way of life," Naasz said.
Some members had apparently been unhappy with Naasz's leadership during a tough time for the mining industry, as the Democratic Congress looks to enact stricter regulations that could lead to higher costs.
Naasz reflected on his tenure at NMA, noting several achievements that came while he was at the helm.
"It has been my honor to serve the National Mining Association and one of America's bedrock industries over the past three years. During that time, NMA added 41 new members, doubled its budget resources, expanded and enhanced its government affairs program, bolstered its advocacy capabilities and provided the genesis for a $40 million public education campaign," Naasz said.
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), seen by many as a Democratic VP contender, is proposing the creation of a National Guard advocacy board, comprised of governors from different parties and regions, that would lobby Congress and the administration on behalf of the Guard.
Sebelius made her case as part of the Democratic Leadership Conference's (DLC) Ideas Primary, a project that resulted in an 89-page collection of policy pitches from various Democrats, which the DLC published today (also of note, Rep. Rahm Emanuel proposes a flat tax for the middle class).
The board would push for funding and alert Congress, the President, and the Department of Defense to equipment, training, and readiness issues.
"As long as the National Guard is being used as part of the strategic force overseas, a first responder for natural disasters, and any attack at home, they need a voice," Sebelius writes. As governor of Kansas, Sebelius is commander in chief of her state's National Guard.
Coincidentally, Sebelius's lack of national security experience has been used as an argument against her likelihood as a Democratic VP.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingirch (R-Ga.) has put put a light hearted video announcing a YouTube contest for his group American Solutions.
The contest challenges supporters to make a video demonstrating the groups "drill here, drill now, pay nothing" slogan. The winner of the contest will get a year of free gas.
The video starts with Gingrich catching one of his interns watching YouTube at work and later shows the intern doing the same to the former House Speaker.
Three days after headlining the Obama campaign's roll-out of GOP supporters, former Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) announced today that he will join the board of directors for NARAL Pro-Choice America this fall.
Chafee, now an independent, said abortion rights provide a stark difference between Barack Obama and John McCain, blasting the Arizona Republican for not supporting them at a federal level. Chafee endorsed Obama in February.
"I have always said that being pro-choice is a mainstream conservative value," Chafee said. "It is unfortunate that Sen. McCain does not share the view of many mainstream Republicans that privacy and freedom from government interference in personal decisions is a core value."
"This is one of the clearest differences between Sen. Obama and Sen. John McCain--and it is a difference that matters to voters, including pro-choice Independent and Republican women," Chafee said.
McCain yesterday floated the possibility of tapping a pro-abortion-rights running mate in an interview with The Weekly Standard. McCain has said he would like to see Roe v. Wade overturned, giving states authority over abortion rights, and for the U.S. to work toward ending abortion as a practice.
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