During yesterday’s Commerce Committee hearing on the nomination of Inez Tenenbaum to be Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, I raised some concerns over a Chinese drywall study. The CPSC initiated the study to determine the relationship between Chinese drywall and reported health symptoms and safety issues.
I have some concerns over this study’s timing. While I am aware that the investigation of these products is complicated, there are a considerable number of homeowners who are waiting for answers. Following Hurricane Katrina, in a period of construction material shortages, thousands of homes across Louisiana were fitted with this drywall that has been linked to such health issues as asthma attacks, sinus infections, coughs and headaches. Homeowners have also reported a variety of other electrical and fire safety concerns. This is not just affecting Louisiana; 19 states and DC have reported similar issues. Read more...
Yesterday, I sent letters to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to step up more assertive action to lift unfounded and damaging trade barriers that other countries have thrown up against U.S. pork products.
After the initial outbreak of the H1N1 virus earlier this year, several countries banned the importation of U.S. pork, asserting the incorrect claim that the virus could be transmitted by pork. Since that time, several international human and animal health organizations have explained authoritatively that there is no risk of contracting H1N1 from eating pork and several countries have lifted their ban. Fifteen countries, however, still block pork products from the U.S. This has caused a sharp decline in hog prices—June hog contracts are only $57 per hundredweight (carcass weight) compared to $69 per hundredweight before the outbreak in April—and put a huge strain on the U.S. pork industry.
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We took a major step yesterday with House passage of legislation (H.R. 1385) granting Virginia's Indians their long awaited federal recognition.
Virginia's Tribes greeted the English settlers when they landed at Jamestown, the first permanent colony in the New World, in 1607. In those early days of America’s history, Virginia’s Indians played an integral role, helping the settlers survive those first harsh winters. Unfortunately, beginning with colonization, the next 400 years saw Virginia’s Native Americans brutally and systematically mistreated.
By
Taxpayers for Common Sense Pres. Ryan Alexander
This year, the Appropriations Committees tweaked that annual rite of spring—submission of earmark spending requests by lawmakers. For the first time, members of Congress were required to publish their FY2010 earmark requests on their official website at the time they submitted them to the Committee. Taxpayers for Common Sense staff poured through every Congressional website to see just how well this rule was followed.
Not surprisingly, there’s great diversity amongst lawmakers' “transparency.” In many cases finding the earmark requests is pretty simple. Using clear language and prominent placement, some, including Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY), linked directly to their requests from their homepage. Perhaps none was more upfront than Sen. Nelson (D-NE) with his graphic "NE Earmarks" emblazoned across the picture of a cow with an actual ear mark.
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By
Project on Government Oversight Counsel Scott Amey
The revelation that the federal government’s travel card program was out of control came as no particular surprise to POGO. After all, we have been concerned with the government’s purchase card program for years. A lack of oversight has allowed numerous nefarious purchases at taxpayer expense – beer kits, sports tickets, Victoria's Secret merchandise, jewelry, cell phones, tires, escort services, and in one instance, the purchased breast enhancement surgery.
A recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report [pdf here] which POGO obtained provides clear evidence that systemic weaknesses and mismanagement in federal travel card spending is costing government and taxpayers “million of dollars annually.” Read more...
By
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Deputy Director Naomi Seligman
Rep. Jack Murtha (D-PA), whose history of questionable earmarks has earned him the moniker “King of Pork,” always takes care of the special interests in his district, for a price. That’s why yesterday, CREW posted, You Don't Know Jack, an interactive graphic showing Rep. Murtha's labyrinth of shady dealings involving defense contractors, lobbyists, family members, and friends - and a lot of money.
In his more than 30 years in Congress, Rep. Murtha has single handedly built an economy on pork barrel spending in his district by trading lucrative earmarks for generous campaign donations. As an example, witness the Showcase for Commerce aka “Murthafest”, an annual trade fair held in his district, connecting the lawmaker with defense contractors.
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At her weekly meeting with Friday, Speaker Pelosi refused to answer questions about the CIA and waterboarding, referring the Press to her previous statements.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) says she was “misled” by the CIA and Bush Administration about the use of waterboarding and enhanced interrogation techniques.
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