Blog Entries tagged 'Politics'

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell's office:

Republican Leadership Continues to Block Tax Relief for American Families and Businesses

Last week, I expressed disappointment with the Republican leadership’s decision to block the [...]

Larsen backs expansion of Amtrak, affordable, fuel-efficient transit

art@artshotwell.com — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Rep. Rick Larsen's office:

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen joined a majority in the House today to pass legislation to invest in Amtrak and help provide affordable and accessible transportation for Americans struggling with high fuel costs. By a veto-proof majority of 311 to 104, the House passed the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (H.R. 6003), a bipartisan bill to expand Amtrak and construct high-speed rail on high-density corridors across the nation. [...]

Cantwell wants names behind record oil prices

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) today urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to utilize their existing authority to bring transparency and safeguards to the oil and gas [...]

Murray on GOP obstruction of Consumer-First Energy Act

art@artshotwell.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

U.S. Senator Patty Murray rebuked Republican members of the Senate who blocked debate on the Consumer First-Energy Act of 2008.

The bill, which Senator Murray co-sponsored, includes a windfall profits tax on oil companies, a roll back of tax breaks f [...]

Experts tell how to burst energy price bubble

art@artshotwell.com — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From Senator Maria Cantwell:

Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell chaired a Senate Commerce Committee hearing investigating whether market manipulation is behind today’s skyrocketing oil and gas prices.

The hearing exami [...]

Cantwell on Memorial Day

art@artshotwell.com — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement:

“On this Memorial Day, we, as a nation, will pause and remember the
sacrifices made by the courageous men and women who have fought and
continue fighting to keep our nation safe.{readmor [...]

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Senator Maria Cantwell's Weekly Update

FTC Finally Stepping Up to Police Oil and Gas Markets

With volatile oil prices exceeding $120 per barrel, and gasoline and diesel pump prices already topping $4 per gallon in some regions, we need to make sure there’s a cop on the beat to ensure Americans aren’t being exploited by bad marketplace actors. That’s why I welcomed the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) announcement last Thursday that it w [...]

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Senator Maria Cantwell's Weekly Update

Fraud in the Oil and Gas Markets

Last week, Congressman Jay Inslee (D-WA-01) and I called for the creation of an Oil and Gas Market Fraud Task Force at the Department of Justice to root out potential fraud and manipulation in these critical markets. We sent a letter to President George W. Bush and Attorney General Michael Mukasey urging the new task force be created immediately. With record gas prices dragging our economy into a recess [...]

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Senator Maria Cantwell’s Weekly Update

Tanker Contract Does Not Add Up

Last week, I sent a letter, with seven of my colleagues, to President Bush expressing concern that the Air Force's decision to award the tanker contract to Northrop Grumman/ Airbus may have unintended effects on U.S. trade enforcement efforts against illegal foreign subsidies in many sectors from aerospace, softwood lumber, steel, auto parts, to semiconductors. The Northrop/Airbus tanker, the [...]

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:09:11 +0100

Senator Maria Cantwell’s Weekly Update
Monday, April 14, 2008

Saving Clean Energy Jobs and Investing in the Future

With the country shedding 80,000 jobs in March, and American families and businesses concerned about rising electricity bills, I was pleased the Senate overwhelming passed the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008 which I authored with Senator John Ensign (R-NV). Adopted by a vote of 88 to 8 our amendment to The Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 [...]

Maria's Monday Memo

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:29:10 +0100

Senator Maria Cantwell’s Weekly Update for Washington State
Monday, April 7, 2008

Fighting to Stop Loss in Clean Energy Jobs and Investment

With American families and businesses struggling under increasing electricity bills coupled with a downturn in the economy, last week I introduced The Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008 with Senator John Ensign (R-NV). This bipartisan bill, which has the support of 38 cosponsors, will extend expiring clean energy tax [...]

New weekly feature: The Police Blotter

art@artshotwell.com — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 09:50:38 +0100

Starting this week, we'll be publishing a weekly Anacortes Police round up. The roundup is prepared by the Anacortes Police Department and edited by Anacortes Now. Not all police activity is reported, but the most interesting events. Watch for it weekly in the News section at Anacortes Now.

Billions off the balance sheet, and it's legal?

bhodgman@comcast.net — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:45:52 +0100

There's an article in the Sunday New York Times about how the current mortgage debt crisis in the U.S. financial system came about (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/business/23how.html?ref=business&pagewanted=all)

There are calls for new regulations and changes to the Federal Reserve/SEC mission, but one passage in particular struck me:

"Among the topics they discussedwere investment vehicles that allowed Citigroup and other banks to keep billions of dollars in poten [...]

Patty Murray on 5th Anniversary

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:02:15 +0100

U.S. Senator Patty Murray issued the following statement on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War.

"With the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War upon us, it’s important to reflect upon the past as we also look to the future. First and foremost, I couldn’t be more proud of our fighting men and women – or more thankful to their families. They have done an outstanding job and truly are our best and brightest.

“But unfortunately, I worry [...]

Maria's Monday memo

art@artshotwell.com — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:45:14 +0100

Senator Maria Cantwell's Weekly Update for Washington State
Friday, March 14, 2008

Poor Radar Coverage on Washington’s Coast Must be Addressed

Last Thursday, in Grays Harbor, I convened a meeting of local, state, and federal officials to discuss the lack of adequate equipment to track weather patterns in Washington state and what that means for the safety of communities in the state. This week, I will hold a hearing on the fiscal year 2009 budget for the [...]

Cantwell Supports Budget to Strengthen Economy

art@artshotwell.com — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:34:55 +0100

Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) lent her support to the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Resolution. The Senate Budget Resolution will strengthen the economy, creates jobs, cuts middle class taxes, and makes key investments in energy, education, and infrastructure. It passed the Senate by a vote of 51-44.

“The budget we passed today makes critical investments into our country’s infrastructure, education, and research and development,” said Cantwell. “As ou [...]

Maria's Monday memo - March 10, 2008

art@artshotwell.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:52:05 +0100

Senator Maria Cantwell's Weekly Update
March 10. 2008

Poor Radar Coverage on Washington’s Coast Must be Addressed

Last Thursday, in Grays Harbor, I convened a meeting of local, state, and federal officials to discuss the lack of adequate equipment to track weather patterns in Washington state and what that means for the safety of communities in the state. This week, I will hold a hearing on the fiscal year 2009 budget for the National Oceanic and Atmosp [...]

Murray Encourages People to 'Sign the Petition'

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:16:43 +0100

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) is encouraging constituents to sign a petition on her website denouncing the Air Force's recent decision to outsource a $40 billion defense contract to build the next generation of air refueling tankers. Murray will use the petition to help make her case as she works to fight the decision to give the contract to Airbus and its foreign workforce. "Last Friday, I stood on the floor of the 767 line with workers in Everett, Washington, who put their h [...]

Cantwell: We Must Turn Back New FCC Rules

art@artshotwell.com — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:10:09 +0100

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell lent her support to a resolution of disapproval introduced by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) that makes null and void the Federal Communications Commission 's (FCC) new media ownership rules. In December of last year, the FCC eliminated its long-standing ban on the common ownership of a daily newspaper and a television or radio station in the same market for the nation's top 20 media markets and made it easier for waivers to the rules be granted in all markets.

Legislature bans radio chips to spy on consumers

art@artshotwell.com — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:39:22 +0100

From state Representative Jeff Morris:
Some believe RFID chips have great promise for commerce. Others raise the specter of an Orwellian society where an individual’s every move and purchase are analyzed.

Whether one believes this RFID technology to be auspicious, suspicious, or somewhere in between, if that’s the road that commerce is headed down, then the Washington state Legislature just constructed the first techno-checkpoint of its kind.

The s [...]