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November 17, 2006, 7:37 am
By
Del. GOP Rep. Michael Castle
As the open season for Medicare begins, I would like to urge all beneficiaries to compare their current coverage with their needs and evaluate independently if another plan may better suit their requirements. During this first year of the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program, there have been many ups and downs, but seniors seem generally satisfied once they understand their plan. The most important thing to do during this open season is to first evaluate if you want to join the program if you don't have coverage. And if you are already enrolled in a plan to really take the time to understand if the plan is meeting your coverage needs. If you do not understand the offerings, it is important to sit down with a trusted family member, and understand the prescriptions you are taking, the formulary with your current plan and the benefits you have. The time to change is now.
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November 17, 2006, 6:25 am
By
House Minority Whip Roy Blunt
For twelve years, the Democrats have gotten away without leading, without offering an agenda, and without saying what they’re actually for. Now they will be forced to govern.
Under this Republican leadership, the job of the Minority Whip will no longer be to go to the House floor every day and lose. Instead, each time we hold our team together and force the Democrats to vote like Democrats, we’ll be taking one more step toward recapturing our majority in 2008.
One-hundred-forty-nine Democrats demonstrated yesterday that they are willing to buck Nancy Pelosi. We’ll work each day to give those Democrats a viable alternative to her liberal, San Francisco agenda.
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November 17, 2006, 5:42 am
By
Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America President Craig Wolf
We watched closely this Tuesday as the House overwhelmingly passed (373-23) H.R. 864—The “Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking
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November 16, 2006, 2:15 pm
By
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
Last week, in a stunning display of democracy, the American people voted for change. Today, House Democrats have elected experienced, talented, and capable leaders who will help take our nation in a New Direction. With our new, energetic Freshman Class, Democrats will lead the 110th Congress and address the priorities of all Americans.
We've had our differences in our party. We have now come together. I wish all of the American people could have heard the discussion of our Caucus this morning. They would have heard speeches of mutual respect regardless of who anyone was supporting for party office. They would have heard speeches of unity for a new direction for our country.
I truly am honored to have been selected by acclamation as Speaker-designate. I know many Americans will be watching with pride as I take the gavel when the 110th Congress convenes on Thursday, January 4, 2007. I look forward to the responsibility of serving the whole House of Representatives.
This team will lead the House with a commitment to integrity, civility, and bipartisanship. Democrats will create the most honest, most open, and most ethical Congress in history. And we will restore fiscal responsibility to Washington. With these principles as our guide, we will begin our work of building a country that is safer, stronger, and allows more people to participate in the American Dream.
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November 16, 2006, 12:04 pm
By
Mass. Dem. Sen. Edward Kennedy
The message from this election is clear. There’s little doubt that the American people want a change of course in Iraq. But they also want a government that stands with them and their families as they look to the future – jobs that reward their hard work, health care that is good and affordable, and education that continues to open the door to the American dream for all of our citizens.
That was the agenda of the voters in this election and it will be the agenda of our Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee when we convene in the new year. And with Senator Reid as our majority leader, America’s families will see great progress on the issues that they care most about.
My first priority will be to increase the minimum wage. Americans are working harder than ever, but millions of hard-working men and women across the country aren’t getting their fair share. We’re not rewarding work fairly anymore, and working families are falling behind.
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November 16, 2006, 11:31 am
By
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Working Americans won a major victory last week, heralding a new era for our country. They voted for the leaders that would have an impact on the issues that matter most for their future. For far too long, working Americans have suffered from stagnant wages, rising health care costs and an increased cost of living. Armed with a restored confidence in the democratic process, workers can now look to the future with hope. The 110th Congress now has the historic opportunity to make a positive change in the lives of the millions who voted them into power.
Change is already on the way. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, in line to be the next Speaker of the House, has set forth a plan for the first “100 hours.
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November 16, 2006, 9:42 am
By
Fla. GOP Rep. Tom Feeney
On Monday, I had the privilege of ringing the opening bell at the American Stock Exchange. I was proud to be part of their fine mission to provide a superior marketplace for the investing public and its members. The exciting event reminded me that America has the most robust and resilient economy in the history of the world due to policies based on freedom and limited government.
With the unemployment rate at a five-year low and with 2.3 million new jobs created just in the last year, I was proud to visit AMEX as a member of Congress who understands the importance of the tax cuts that have led to this growth.
As we approach the 110th Congress, I certainly hope Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Party recognize just how critical it is to maintain the tax cuts and keep hard-earned dollars in the pockets of American taxpayers.
I was also reminded of the importance of restoring America's lead in world capital markets. The high burden of regulation and compliance is outsourcing America's lead. More companies are increasingly turning to London or Luxembourg instead of New York to raise capital. It is time to review the effects of Sarbanes-Oxley and keep that which is a net advantage to the investor and reform those provisions that put investors, companies, and the American economy at a disadvantage.
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November 16, 2006, 9:30 am
By
National Committee for Voting Integrity Coordinator Lillie Coney
There may be more interest in meeting the state deadline to certify the results of the election by the close of business on Monday, November 20, 2006 than finding the reason for the errors. Unfortunately, once the election is certified it may be nearly impossible to isolate machines and continue the investigation. Much of the reasoning for the 13% undervote are centering on voter action either voluntary or involuntary that resulted in the deficit in the votes cast in that race. This is a bad sign because it will not lead to a critical look at the machines or the technology.
The process should take a sleuthing approach and avoid looking for quick explanations for the errors made by the election system. We should work for a thorough investigation of the voting system log files, software, and hardware. This is an opportunity to understand and learn from the pitfalls of electronic voting systems that both record and count voter selections.
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November 16, 2006, 7:19 am
By
America's Health Insurance Plans President Karen Ignagni
With more than 46 million Americans lacking health care coverage, America’s Health Insurance Plans has taken the initiative to propose comprehensive health care reform that would provide near universal access to affordable health care. Our goal is to expand access to health insurance coverage to all children within three years and 95 percent of adults within 10 years.
Our plan would expand eligibility for public programs, enable all consumers to purchase health insurance with pre-tax dollars, provide financial assistance to help working families afford coverage, and encourage states to develop and implement access proposals.
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November 16, 2006, 5:54 am
By
Ore. Dem. Rep. Earl Blumenauer
The following is the last part in a series of three posts from Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) that provides incoming lawmakers with tips on how to succeed in Washington. You can read the first two parts here and here.
• Miss a vote early; you will miss one someday anyhow. Don't let a meaningless vote streak get in the way of doing your job. Although it may sound far-fetched, the choice can actually come down to an inconsequential vote for naming a post office versus speaking at the United Nations. You do want to maintain a good voting record, but do not make that an obsession. You will hear this repeatedly from people. Listen to them. They are right.
• You don't have to take a position on everything. People will try to find out what you think and pin you down, often on issues that aren't fully developed, sometimes on the way to your committee or on the way to the House Floor for a vote. Take your time, listen, and think about it, but don’t commit unnecessarily. Ultimately, you will save yourself a lot of heartburn and your decisions, when you have to make them, will be better.
• Don't vote against your conscience and/or best judgment; it is the one thing that you cannot explain to your family and close supporters. While the campaign is still fresh, think about the lies and outrageous claims that were said about you and others in this brutal election season. This awareness will make it easier for you to vote for what you think is in the best interests of your constituents and your country. Special interests may twist, distort, and outright lie about your record anyway. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can avoid this by fudging your votes or voting against your conscience.
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