Could the pundits take a break and remember the rest of our veterans?

The Beltway Chattering Class has been perfectly breathless in its coverage of the so-called criticism of Senator John McCain’s military service by General Wesley Clark. The right wing echo chamber has reverberated with “outrage,” but where was the indignation over the fact that there are approximately 4,000 homeless veterans in Nevada?

Where, indeed, the indignation when Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake declared that PTSD was “over-diagnosed.” [LV Sun] What day was it that every cable news outlet teased its story about the 1,500 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are now homeless? If I recall correctly, this story bubbled to the surface only after Bill O’Reilly dismissed the notion of homeless veterans as preposterous. The story almost became more about the flap between Fox and the other news outlets than about the plight of the veterans under discussion. Did we miss the day all the pundits were ruing the fact that of those 1,500 veterans only about a third have taken part in VA programs designed for the homeless? [HuffPo]

When did the news that the U.S. Army has been discharging wounded soldiers, perhaps 20,000 of them, with reduced paychecks and then forcing to wait six to nine months for their disability payments, hit the broadcasts at the top of every hour? [AP] Why isn’t Isaac Stevens as well known as General Petraeus?

When might we see the corporate media predicate reporting of GOP manufactured outrage moments with reminders that it was during a GOP convention that a Virginia Republican operative handed out “purple heart” band-aids? Have we heard much about the fact that the McCain campaign has hired a former member of the Swift Boaters for its “truth squad?” Or, with reminders of the morphing photographs that demeaned the service of former Senator Max Cleland? Did the Republicans express outrage when Tammy Duckworth was criticized during her run for a place in the Illinois congressional delegation? Criticism of Rep. Patrick Murphy was deemed appropriate in Republican circles, as it was in the case of Charlie Brown’s campaign in California. The double standard is at once both common, and unremarked.

Why did it take an exposé from the Washington Post before the Bush-Cheney Administration took serious action to rectify the appalling conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center?

The Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition Board passed a resolution last March supporting an accelerated completion date for a veterans’ medical center and housing – accelerated to 2011, eight years after the conflict in Iraq began. [LV Sun] Where are the questions concerning why it has taken so long?

Where were the clamoring nabobs when Senators McCain, Graham, and Burr offered their rather pathetic version of a GI Bill to substitute for the fuller, more respectful and beneficial, one supported by Senators Webb and Hagel? There were precious few reports documenting the President’s stumbling attempt to take credit for the Webb-Hagel bill’s passage. Few commenters mentioned President Bush’s hypocritical stab at giving the Senators who had echoed his opposition to the bill credit for its enactment – fewer still mentioned that Vietnam veteran Senator Hagel’s contributions had been ignored.

Perhaps part of the ‘radio silence’ comes from the fact that the punditry’s specialty is politics rather than policy. “What will the candidate say?” “How might this affect the next poll numbers?” “Does this play into the vice presidential selections?” “What will the reaction be from the X campaign?” These questions usually loom much larger than the policy arguments beneath them. If the questions seem shallow, it’s probably because in the grand scheme of things they are. The questions are merely part of time absorbing banter that passes for opinion journalism rather than its distant cousin investigative reporting.

Another element of the problem is captured in a Dkos diary about a Vietnam Veteran who died unaided and mostly unremembered. “Jack…(one of those) Men and women who gave much, quietly, and then were swept under a rug, equally quietly.”

Maybe it’s time this 4^th of July to honor those who have fought to protect our freedoms of speech and press, and the reporters who operate under those protections to keep information about them flowing in our democracy. Perhaps it's not too much to ask that the chatterati do so as well?

Overnight Express: News Roundup

Ensign lowers the bar a little more: “Senator Ensign (R-NV) says GOP Majority would be ‘fairly miraculous.’” [WSJ]

Following the tracks of the Weasel Wagon: Senator John McCain (R-AZ) would still like to have Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) take him up on that ‘independent’ town hall meeting venture, and even considered putting an empty “Obama Chair” on stage. [WaPo] However, the Republican candidate tipped his hand today when it was announced that the town hall audience was composed of supporters given tickets and others representing ‘independent’ groups. [HuffPo] Sound familiar?

“So, you want to see McCain in Valley? Prepare to ante up” [Vindy]

MessO’Potamia: Hadi al Amri, head of the Badr Corps (SIIC), finds the latest draft of the Status of Forces Agreement “unacceptable.” The Sadrists are demanding a referendum on the agreement, and Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani agrees. Worse, the Bush Administration seems once again to operate in ignorance of the region’s history: “Iraqis, with a smattering of history, are comparing the SOA to the Anglo-Iraqi agreement of 1930, which regularised the presence of British troops and political controllers in the country after Iraq gained nominal “independence”. But they should dig deeper: that agreement infringed far less on Iraq than Bush’s SOA. The 1930 treaty was countered by Iraqi government sabotage, rebellion and popular protests which soured relations between Baghdad and London until the Iraqi army overthrew the king in 1958.” [AlArab]

Patrick Neal’s analysis and commentary on the Status of Forces Agreement offers more historical insights in Gulf News.

Bomb, Bomb Iran: “Strike on Iran nuclear sites under discussion again” [McClatchy] “Italy backs Bush’s push on Iran” [USAT] “Merkel backs Bush on Iran sanctions” [NYT] “President Bush seeks German support on sanctions against Iran” [TimesUK] “Bush doesn’t rule out military strike in Iran” [AP] “We are moving rapidly toward an abyss” [Der Spiegel] “Nuclear Fallout” Daniel Levy [GuardianUK]

Pakistan: “Shoot first, think later – Anger about sloppy U.S. air strike in Pakistan” [SFC] “U.S. strike aggravates alliance with Pakistan” [CSM] “Gates calls for joint probe with Pakistan into border clash” [Blmbrg] “Relations with U.S. in crisis after clash across Afghan border” [RFERL] “Official: Pakistan should reconsider its ties to U.S.” [AP] “Pakistan protest due in Islamabad” [BBC]

Oil Slicks: “High oil trade margins could weed out speculators” [Reuters] New Bush CFTC appointee Lukken sees no smoking gun. [Reuters] Someone is seeing smoke from somewhere because the CFTC has launched a 25 member task force to investigate the implications of low margins for large speculators. (‘Not to expect much – members of the task force will include representatives of Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan), and Nymex announced this week that the margin requirements for energy trading would increase at the close of business Tuesday. [RSA]

The Stupid Economy: “U.S. manufacturing slips as inflation gauge surges” [NYT] “Retail sales surge as Americans spend more on gasoline, goods” [AFP] “U.S. consumer credit increases $8.9 billion in April” [Blmbrg] “Helping the jobless falls victim to partisan politics in Congress” [McClatchy]

Unfriendly Skies: “United to charge $15 for 1^st checked bag” [AP] “Continental drops 15 cities, trims flights at hubs” [Blmbrg] “US Airways cutting capacity, jobs on higher fuel costs” [MrktWtch] “The case for re-regulating the airline industry” [Wired] “FAA inspector claims he was fired for reporting safety violations…” [ERS]

“Boeing, Northrop Tanker Fight May End in Court” [Blmbrg] “Boeing says Air Force miscalculated tanker costs” [BusWk]

Military and Veterans: “House throws support behind stop loss pay” (H.R. 6205) [Army Times] “Mullen: Stop Loss to continue” [Army Times] “Vets testify today on 1960s chemical tests” [Army Times] “Air Force Association urges strengthening Montgomery GI Bill” [AFA] The Military Officers Assn. of America announces “GI Bill should remain a veteran’s benefit.” [Hill]

We are what we eat? “Food safety plan by U.S. FDA lacks costs, timeline” [Blmbrg] “GAO faults administration on food safety” [UPI] “Food safety on back burner” [Seattle Times]

Anyone remember Haiti? “Dominican officials crack down on food smuggling to Haiti” [USAT] “Border traffic signals Haiti’s distress” [9msn] “Haitian lawmakers reject president’s latest PM” [AFP]

The unclassifiable: “Christian theologians prepare for extraterrestrial life” [Wired]

McCain still touting his failed veterans' benefit bill on the hustings

Senator John Ensign (R-NV) has figured out one way to avoid being quoted in print – put messages on mp3 files inserted in his official webpage. Consider his Memorial Day messge [link] “It’s a good time to remember, especially those families who have lost loved ones in this war…It’s time to appreciate those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country…and it’s a good time to appreciate those who are in harm’s way.” So how appreciative are Senator John McCain and his sidekick Senator John Ensign?

Evidently, they are not appreciative enough to support the Webb-Hagel New G.I. Bill. One thing a person might appreciate is the chutzpah required to give a speech critical of the Webb-Hagel bill on Memorial Day, and Senator McCain definitely demonstrated such a capacity. McCain made the common Pentagon brass arguments against the measure: It will cause members of the services not to stay in to become non-commissioned officers; it will reduce the retention rate; it isn’t ‘fair’ to give benefits to people who have only served one enlistment term.

Surely Senator McCain is familiar with terms of enlistment? Army enlistments range from two to six years [Mil.com] and the current benefits are scaled in terms of enlistment length. While attempting to make the case that the New G.I. Bill would somehow be ‘unfair,’ the Senator is ignoring the fact that there is a total eight year commitment. [PBS] Within the ‘total enlistment’ is the military’s current penchant for issuing Stop Loss orders. 11,428 members of the military were affected by Stop Loss orders in November 2004, 15,758 were affected in March 2005, and despite Defense Secretary Gates’ directive to limit the practice another 12,235 were affected in March 2008. [USAT] Note that McCain’s paltry version of a G.I. Bill, backed by Senator Ensign, bestows most benefits on those who serve for 12 years, thus a soldier fulfilling an eight year obligation with multiple deployments (some as long as 15 months) would be ineligible for some benefits because he or she had “only” served one enlistment period under the McCain plan.

The elephant in the room unmentioned by the Arizona Senator is deployment. McCain forgot to mention today that his proposal leaves members of the Army Reserve and the National Guard in the cold. Those 160,000 members of the Guard and Reserve who have served, some doing more than one tour in Iraq or Afghanistan, would receive no credit towards their education for their service. [VoteVets]

Senator McCain cited the CBO study as saying that there would be a 16% retention loss; what he ‘forgot’ to add is that the same study indicated this would be made up for by those wishing to secure better educational benefits. [CBO pdf]

If Senator McCain is truly alarmed by retention problems then why has he not decried the recruiting of members of the U.S. military by Blackwater, Inc. or CACI? Blackwater doesn’t pay to train its employees; they hire from the ranks already trained at taxpayer expense. A person fully alarmed by the prospect of not retaining troops should certainly be concerned about troops being recruited away by mercenary corporations?

One other detail Senator McCain omitted from his remarks is that ‘his’ bill (S.2938) put forward by Senators Graham (R-SC) and Burr (R-NC) failed in the Senate on May 14, 2008. [rc 127] Interestingly enough, as of April 29, 2008 Senator John Ensign had not signed on to this watered-down benefit bill as a co-sponsor, [GovTrack] although he did vote against tabling the measure. Even more intriguing is the fact that all three presidential candidates were missing from the Senate on May 14. One might assume that the two Democrats (Obama and Clinton) were apprised ahead of time that Democratic opposition was sufficient to derail the amendment without their votes; but, it’s harder to find a rationale for Senator McCain’s absence – after all, it was ‘his’ proposal. Was he not concerned with how it might look if he didn’t even make a token effort to support his own veterans’ legislation?

No one is questioning Senator McCain’s status as a veteran, nor his record of service to his country, but there are some very legitimate questions to be raised about his voting record on veterans’ issues, and his adherence to the Bush Administration’s parsimonious attitude towards rank and file members of our Armed Forces.

Ensign on Supplemental Appropriations: What was responsible in the 109th becomes irresponsible in the 110th

Senator John Ensign (R-NV) would like his constituents to know that he’s a ‘real’ conservative. “I have always been very consistent about caring about our children and our grandchildren and loading up too much debt,” he continued. “This (Supplemental Funding Bill) is fiscally irresponsible.” [LV Sun] This is an interesting assessment from a supporter of the Bush Administration which has run the national debt higher than any President in the history of the republic.

By Ensign’s lights it is “irresponsible” to provide educational benefit funding for veterans because they might actually want to use it; irresponsible to direct $26 million to help Nevada deal with the ramifications of the hepatitis C alert; irresponsible to pay for repairing the levees in Louisiana; irresponsible to assist those citizens who are still looking for work in this stagnating economy; and irresponsible to assist elders and the poor with home heating bills.

However, during the 109^th Congress Ensign had no difficulty at all voting in favor of supplemental appropriations for the Department of Defense in a bill that included hurricane related funding and monies for the pandemic influenza programs. And, on November 10, 2005, Senator Ensign had no second thoughts about voting against an amendment offered by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) to establish a special Senate committee to investigate the awarding and implementation of contracts awarded for “activities in Afghanistan and Iraq.” Evidently, in 2005 it was perfectly acceptable to Senator Ensign, fiscal ‘conservative’ that he seeks to be, to allow major contractors to avoid oversight of their activities – paid for by taxpayer dollars. Senator Ensign had previously voted against the establishment of a committee of oversee war and reconstruction contracting on October 19, 2005. This invites the question: What kind of fiscal conservative votes in favor of appropriations but votes at least twice against oversight of the use of those funds?

H.R. 1268 (109^th), the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, included provisions for the Department of Agriculture’s emergency watershed protection program, a rental assistance program in North Carolina, the Department of Interior’s Forest Service capital improvement and maintenance fund, funding for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, funds for the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise, authorization for the construction, operation and maintenance of an expanded West Yellowstone Visitors Information Center, and money for a Department of Commerce conference on science, technology, trade and manufacturing, funding for southern border security. Nary a peep was heard from Senator Ensign when he voted in favor of this bill. Could we infer from this that Senator Ensign finds it “fiscally responsible” to vote in favor of expanding the West Yellowstone Visitors Center, but not responsible to authorize funding for veterans’ educational benefits?

The real bottom line is captured by the ever ready to opine professorial spokesperson for the Nevada GOP: “Herzik said any politician risks backlash from voters for going against the local issues. But, he says, Ensign “doesn’t have to deal with it anytime soon.” [LV Sun] Translation: Ensign is hoping the Nevada electorate has an extremely short attention span and that by 2012 his vote against the New G.I. Bill will be consigned to oblivion. Good Luck.

New G.I. Bill Passes: Ensign among the few opponents

Title IV of S. Amdt. 4803 attached to H.R. 2642, the Supplemental Funding Bill, otherwise known as the New G.I. Bill, passed the Senate on a 75-22-(3) vote today. [rc 137] Those who voted against the measure to provide increased educational benefits for veterans of our Armed Forces included:

Alexander (R-TN), Allard (R-CO), Barrasso (R-WY), Bennett (R-UT), Brownback (R-KS), Bunning (R-KY), Burr (R-NC), Cochran (R-MS), Corker (R-TN), Cornyn (R-TX), DeMint (R-SC), Ensign (R-NV), Enzi (R-WY), Graham (R-SC), Grassley (R-IA), Gregg (R-NH), Hatch (R-UT), Kyl (R-AZ), Lugar (R-IN), McConnell (R-KY), Sessions (R-AL), and Voinovich (R-OH).

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was attending a $25,000 per couple fundraiser in California and did not return to the Senate for the vote.

Afternoon Clips: New G.I. Bill, Oil Giants, and other matters

** Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) issued his ‘Reid Report’ this week including his endorsement of the Webb-Hagel New G.I. Bill. Senator John Ensign (R-NV) has yet to sign on as a co-sponsor of this measure.

“This week, the Senate will consider an emergency spending bill to change course in Iraq and give our veterans and troops the support they deserve. I am particularly proud of the 21st Century G.I. Bill of Rights, which accomplishes one of the top Democratic priorities: ensuring that our support for the troops does not end with their tours of duty. The bipartisan G.I. Bill – cosponsored by more than half of the Senate, more than half of the House, and most of our nation’s leading veterans’ organizations – will give this newest generation of veterans the same opportunities enjoyed by World War II veterans. It helps a large and deserving group of young men and women readjust to the civilian life we enjoy because of the sacrifices they make. It rewards those who choose to serve in our military and will strengthen our economy. Providing our troops with access to a college education once they return home from Iraq or Afghanistan would cost as much over one year as the Iraq War costs in just 10 days.”

Updated information on the bill is available from the IAVA. VoteVets.Org responds to Senator John Cornyn’s accusation that “The anti-war crowd is determined to use our men and women in uniform for their political advantage, even if our national security is jeopardized in the process," saying: “Senator Cornyn's response to veterans is ignorant, insulting, and beneath his office. The GI Bill has nothing to do with the decision to go to war, or the course in Iraq, nor would it jeopardize security. The GI Bill was a sacred promise enacted by President Roosevelt, and all we are asking for is that America not default on that promise." Friedman added, "Further, to accuse veterans of using ourselves as a political football is pernicious and absurd. Apparently, veterans do not have the right to ask Senator Cornyn to do the right thing, or else we'll be smeared. At least we now know what Senator Cornyn thinks of those of us who served this nation in combat.”

OMB Watch’s Bulletin describes the political maneuvering: “On the other side of the capital, Democratic Senate leadership unexpectedly employed a parliamentary maneuver to strike approved Appropriations Committee domestic spending language and replaced it with a version similar to that of the House. A vote on the war spending bill is not expected until after the Memorial Day recess.”

** The Democratic National Committee has this to say about McCain and his entourage of lobbyists on the Weasel Wagon: “This past Sunday, John McCain defended the situation by telling reporters that his lobbyist advisers are "not in the lobbying business; they've been out of that business. And just yesterday, John McCain said he wants to have "the most comprehensive and transparent of any presidential campaign in history" when it comes to lobbyists. How can that be true when people like Charlie Black admit he's conducting his lobbying business on the back of the bus?”John McCain and his campaign can't have it both ways. On the one hand, he says "ethics and transparency are not election year buzz words." But, on the other hand, he and his top campaign advisors have no problem fudging about their lobbying records. When pressed on the discrepancy, they give a flip excuse: Americans don't care.” The DNC invites you to demonstrate your concern here.

** The FEC deal has broken down. “The Federal Election Commission will remain dormant for at least a few more weeks after private negotiations between the White House and Democratic Senate leaders devolved into a political standoff Wednesday.” [Roll Call, sub req] Senate Democrats could not get the Bush Administration to agree to a deal to impanel five nominees before Memorial Day, nor reach agreement on numerous other appointments to other executive agencies. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will likely keep the Senate in pro forma sessions over the break to prevent President Bush from making recess appointments to avoid confirmation.

Common Cause has weighed in with a letter to Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) on this subject.

** What we don’t know can cost us. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) is closer to getting her “federal contractor misconduct database” bill (S. 3001 section 831) to the Senate floor, but lacking support from members of the Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Governmental Affairs committees she may have to restrict the access to the database to government officials. The House of Representatives passed a similar bill sponsored by Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) that does not contain this restriction. [Gov Exec] The Project on Government Oversight [POGO] supports opening the database to the public.

Compare the previous restriction of public access to the massive surveillance program for “national emergencies” (Main Core) the Bush Administration is compiling to find out about the rest of us. [Think Progress]
More on Main Core from Radar Online, Cryptogon, Digby, FireDogLake, but where’s the Associated Press? Reuters? Washington Post? New York Times?

** If we’re bring freedom to the Iraqi people, then why did the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom release its May 2^nd report listing 11 countries of “particular concern,” noting that while Iraq wasn’t on the official list, “it (the commission) remains seriously concerned about religious freedom conditions in Iraq.” The Pew Center explains why.

** Economic diminution: (if we can’t say depression or recession, how about “diminution?) “Fed sees economy getting worse,” [CNN]

The Oil Bid’ness: “Crude takes the money and runs” [MrktWtch]

“New Report: “Oil companies’ record profits going to execs and stock buybacks, leaving energy alternatives behind” [HouseGW] The Oil Giants have spent about $10 million in research and development of renewables, about $76 million for executive compensation, and nearly $31.8 billion on stock buybacks. Meanwhile they’ve fought like badgers to keep $18.5 billion in tax breaks they are expecting to receive in the next ten years.
“House debates Renewable energy and job creation act” [Gavel]
“American Air to cut ‘thousands’ of jobs, capacity” [BNews] … and charge you for wanting to bring a suitcase. [Reuters] Guess what their overhead bins are going to be like?

The Mortgage Meltdown: “UBS sells subprime assets to BlackRock” [BusWk]
“UBS gets shortchanged” [Forbes]
“How mortgage firm Delta Financial Corp. collapsed” [Newsday]
“How government is like a subprime mortgage borrower” [Jay Hancock, Balt Sun]

S.22 in the Senate: The Games Begin on the New G.I. Bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has been working the phones, according to a report in Roll Call magazine, to gather support for passage of the Iraq Supplemental Bill which includes the Webb-Hagel New G.I. Bill.

Senate Republicans are doing their very best to insure that there is no up or down vote on the New G.I. Bill, and as one GOP aide put it, “There is not going to be a vote on the GI bill. There’ll be a vote on a package that includes the GI bill.” [Roll Call, sub req] The point? No Mud on Us. “Republicans agree, saying the Senate (Appropriations) committee’s decision to increase the supplemental’s price tag will make it harder for Democrats to tar Republicans as having voted against a new GI bill in the measure.” [Roll Call sub req]

One portion of the Webb-Hagel Bill (S.22) that may be lost in the process is the transferability of education benefits to family members now that Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) has announced his opposition to that provision. [AFN] Meanwhile VoteVets.org is keeping the pressure on Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to support the bill. [HuffPo] The GOP may also be attempting to utilize a temporary numerical advantage in the Senate as it’s not expected that Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) will be returning to the Senate in time for the supplemental vote. “The Senator is doing well and is anxious to get back to work. But doctors are still evaluating him and we expect the Senator to remain in the hospital for a couple of days while they finish their work.” [Roll Call sub req]

Senator John Ensign (R-NV) has still not signed on as a co-sponsor of S.22, the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007. [GovTrack]

House votes down Iraq funding; Heller votes against New G.I. Bill

All three members of the Nevada Congressional delegation voted in favor of funding the Bush Administration’s occupation of Iraq on the first of three votes on H.R. 2642, the “Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.” The House rejected the funding by a 141-149 vote with 132 Republicans voting “present.”[rc 328] [WaPo]

The second vote was taken on that portion of the bill that would require troop redeployments from Iraq to begin immediately, would block the establishment of permanent bases, and forbid the use of torture on those in U.S. custody. It would also require that the President submit his “security agreement” with Iraq to be submitted to the Senate for ratification like any other treaty with a foreign state. [The Hill] This section passed the House 227-196; Representative Berkley (D-NV1) voting in favor, Representatives Heller (R-NV2) and Porter (NV3) voting against. [rc 329]

The New G.I. Bill was included in the third vote, which included the educational benefits for veterans, funding for levee construction in Louisiana, and an $11 billion extension of unemployment insurance over the next ten years. [The Hill] Both Representatives Berkley and Porter supported the New G.I. Bill which passed 256-166; leaving Representative Heller as the sole member of the Nevada delegation to vote against it. [rc 330]

A person could conclude that because Representative Heller’s name never appeared on the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans list of supporters of the New G.I. Bill he’d never intended to support it. Congressman Heller may attempt to explain his vote by saying he “would have done” except for the extension of unemployment benefit eligibility – which might also be interpreted to mean that he is not all that concerned that many unemployed citizens in this country are finding it harder to find replacement jobs and taking longer than the current 26 week limit to do so. It’s inconceivable that anyone would be opposed to rebuilding and repairing the levees in Louisiana, but that might serve as yet another rationalization for Heller’s vote. As to the ‘fiscal responsibility’ argument, the funding for the New G.I. Bill was to come from a 0.05% tax on those with individuals with taxable incomes of $1,000,000 or more. (Correction: individuals earning more than $500,000 or joint filings of $1 million) Here too, Representative Heller might have some difficulty explaining why sparing millionaires a small tax increase was of greater importance than funding adequate educational benefits for returning veterans.

The New G.I. Bill has the support of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Student Veterans of America. [Webb]

From the Department of Unsolicited Advice: Representative Heller, if you have a yellow ribbon bumper magnet on your vehicle -- remove it.

Quick Clips: Gas Pain - Porter opposes Mother's Day?

** Mid-grade unleaded gasoline was just a tiny scooch under $4.00 per gallon yesterday in Winnemucca, NV, and thank the heavens my pick up doesn’t require diesel – that was posted at $4.37 per gallon. However, the American Petroleum Institute will be right there to tell me that IT’S NOT THEIR FAULT. “Punishing them,” as in making them pay their appropriate and legal royalties, and their taxes on record incomes, will only “make them” raise the prices further. [WaPo]

** Close doesn’t count: “A plan to show some alleged Iranian-supplied explosives to journalists last week in Karbala and then destroy them was canceled after the United States realized none of them was from Iran.” [Kevin Drum] Oops?

** Perrspectives provides “John McCain’s Top Ten Out-of-Touch-Moments”

** “Contractors’ offshore tax havens under more scrutiny” Government Executive

** “Keeping secrets from the CIA: Why was Langley cut out of clandestine meetings with Iranian informants?” [Newsweek] Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball report how the Pentagon excluded the agency from “inappropriate” back channel contacts with Iranian informants, including a “key figure from the Iran-Contra affair.” Does this sound all too much like Senator John McCain’s proposal for a new super-spy agency predicated on the World War II era Office of Strategic Services? [Nation]

** Mother Jones has a good video, “McCain’s Pastor Problem.” Think Progress posts “McCain stays silent on Hagee’s homophobic slurs.”

** “Infighting holds up New Orleans levee money” Times-Picayune But wait! That wasn’t all that got tangled up in the House Republican tantrum yesterday – they voted against their own Mothers’ Day Resolution, [Think Progress] including Representative Jon Porter (R-NV3) who voted against tabling the motion to reconsider the bill. [rc 275]

** Reports and information from the House Education and Labor Committee’s investigation of the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster have been posted online for public access.

** The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will hold a hearing on the “Transition Assistance Program for Guard and Reserve Forces,” on May 16^th.

Heller, Porter support the troops by stalling the New G.I. Bill?

House Republican “leadership” is annoyed no end that the Iraq Supplemental Bill for the continuation of President George W. Bush’s interminable occupation of Iraq includes the New G.I. Bill. Therefore the Team Boehner&Blunt have encouraged stall ‘protest’ votes all day long. Representative Dean Heller (R-NV2) has been only too happy to pledge his allegiance to the B&B Team and play along. And, this from the Congressman who complained so vociferously about Congress taking the time to vote on Post Office and Federal Building naming bills? Representative Porter (R-NV3) played the game as well.

Today’s C-SPAN viewers have been treated to:

A motion to adjourn at 11:04 a.m. voted down 132-269 [rc 267] with both Representatives Heller and Porter voting to adjourn.

A roll call vote on a motion to table a motion to reconsider at 11:54 a.m. which lost 218-191 [rc 270] with both Representatives Heller and Porter voting ‘no.’

A motion to adjourn at 12:11 p.m. voted down 140-246 [rc 271] with Heller voting “aye.”

A motion to adjourn at 1:18 p.m. voted down 144-250 [rc 272] with Heller voting “aye.”

A motion to adjourn at 2:10 p.m. voted down 138-272 [rc 273] with Heller voting “aye.”

A motion to table the motion to reconsider at 2:27 p.m. [rc 275] with Heller voting “aye” and Porter voting “no.” Representative Porter may not have noticed that the motion to reconsider was on a resolution honoring Mothers on Mothers’ Day?

A motion to adjourn at 2:46 p.m. defeated 146-276 [rc 276] with Heller and Porter both voting “no.” Porter and Heller were back on board with the leadership on the next vote.

A motion to table a motion to reconsider at 3:04 p.m. passed 225-190 [rc 278] with Heller and Porter both voting “no.”

A motion to adjourn at 3:23 p.m. defeated 137-260 [rc 279] Heller and Porter must be tiring? They voted 'no.'

…and so it goes, Representative Berkley (D-NV) voting to keep the process moving.

For a complete guide to the provisions of the “Emergency Supplemental: Iraq, Afghanistan, Veterans, and Workers” bill that the GOP is trying to stall, see the Appropriations Committee Fact Sheet.

Bush continues support for vote suppression advocate, etc.

Little wonder Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) gave the President’s new list of FEC nominees a cool reception. Hans Von Spakovksy, well known for his “ignoring, marginalizing, and intimidating career lawyers in order to institute restrictive voting laws all over the country,” [TPMM] is still on the list. Worse yet, David Mason who objected to Senator John McCain’s flouting of campaign finance laws has been removed from President Bush’s roster. [NYT]

Support the Troops: Another Bush Administration appointee found his seat at a Congressional hearing yesterday getting warmer? VA Secretary James Peake was called upon to testify about the suicide rate among U.S. veterans. [CBS] via [TP] Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Bob Filner (D-CA) commented on the now infamous “Shhh Memo” from Peake assistant Dr. Ira Katz: “In February of this year Dr. Katz sends an email stating “Shh! – Our suicide prevention coordinators are identifying about 1000 suicide attempts per month among the veterans we see in our medical facilities. Is this something we should (carefully) address ourselves in some sort of release before someone stumbles on it?” [VA/House]

Dr. Stephen L. Rathbun, University of Georgia, testified that his study of the data on veterans’ suicides indicated that the suicide risk among veterans was 1.86 to 2.32 times higher for veterans than for civilians in 2004, and increased to 2.10 to 2.34 times the risk in 2005. Among male members of the Armed Forces the suicide risk for veterans was 1.67 to 2.09 times higher than among civilians in 2004, and 1.79 to 2.01 times higher in 2005. Among women, the suicide risk for veterans was 2.08 to 2.60 times the risk for non-veterans in 2004 and 2.47 times the risk in 2005. The most striking result was a high relative risk of suicide among 20-24 year old veterans, at 2.81 to 4.31 the risk among civilians in 2004, and 2.75 to 3.84 times the risk in 2005. [Rathbun]

President’s Medicaid regulation proposals could hamstring hospitals during terrorist attack or natural disaster: Today is the second day of hearings in the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee concerning the impact of the Bush Administration’s Medicaid regulations on the capacity of the nation’s hospitals to respond to a mass casualty event. [Oversight/House] Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security are on the Committee’s agenda today.

Home Sweet Home: The House Committee on Financial Services has information on the “American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act” (H.R. 3221 as amended by the Senate) and its current amendments. [FS/House] One item of interest to veterans is in Title V of the bill which states that disabled veterans may not be denied the benefits of a mortgage loan program because the veteran is or was once a bankruptcy debtor. The bill passed the House on August 4, 2007 on a 241-172 vote. Representative Berkley (D-NV1) voted “aye,” both Representative Heller (R-NV2) and Porter (NV3) voted against it. [GovTrack] The conference version is due for a vote today. The measure has gotten mixed reviews, with Common Dreams calling it the “Bank and Builder Bailout Act” after Senate amendments were added which deleted the bankruptcy provisions and inserted more business tax breaks. [USAT] C-SPAN has coverage. House Republicans tried to “adjourn” twice before the bill came to the floor – Representative Dean Heller (R-NV2) voted with the minority and the debate continues. [rc 271-272] About 40 moderate Republicans in the House “jumped ship” from the Boehner-Blunt version to support the Democratic Party’s version. [Politico]

Pain at the Pump: The House Judiciary Committee’s Anti-Trust Task Force is holding a follow up hearing today on “Retail Gas Prices: Consumer Effects,” which continues the Judiciary Committee’s interests indicated by the April 30^th hearing on “Rising Gas Prices for Americans and Rising Profits for Oil Companies.”

Don’t Drink The Water, and Don’t Breathe The Air? Senator Barbara Boxer’s (D-CA) opening statement for today’s hearing on “Oversight: Science and Environmental Regulatory Decisions” includes her contention that “A clear pattern has emerged at EPA. When it comes to who wins and who loses, time and time again, the polluting special interests come out on top, at the expense of the health of the American people.” We might not expect a response from the EPA’s Stephen Johnson who said he was unable to discuss White House interference with ozone standards with the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee because of his “ongoing back issues.” [TP]

Coffee and the Papers: GOP to filibuster fraud and waste investigation?

** Americans United for Change will begin airing a radio ad in Las Vegas, NV today calling out Representative Jon Porter (R-NV3) and Senator John Ensign (R-NV) for their votes against the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. [The Hill]

** As Digby calls it, It’s National Codpiece Day! The Anniversary of “Mission Accomplished” will be celebrated by veterans’ groups unfurling a 50 foot replica of the infamous banner marking the five year milestone. [The Hill] This may also be a “May Day” for Representative Jon Porter when state Senator Dina Titus makes her announcement at 5:00 pm today in Henderson concerning her intention to run for the Congressional District 3 seat. (Henderson Convention Center, 200 South Water Street)

** The Administration made its closing arguments in the law suit on veterans’ mental health care yesterday in San Francisco. The backlog, according to the VA, has been caused by the increased number of claims, the fact that “the ties linking the veterans’ military records to their medical problems have to be investigated, the open process for information accumulation, and budgetary limitations.” Lawyers for the veterans fought to get testimony from Dr. Michael J. Kussman, the under secretary for health at the V.A. Asked on the stand whether he was playing down the traumatic stress issue, Dr. Kussman said, “It is unfair and inappropriate to stigmatize people with a mental health diagnosis when they are having what most people believe are normal reactions to an abnormal situation.” [NYT] Evidently, the under secretary for health at the VA believes that soldiers asking for help coping with PTSD will be “stigmatized,” which indicates that Dr. Kussman is part of the problem – not part of the solution. The Pentagon is taking one step in the right direction; it will no longer refuse security clearances for those who have sought mental health treatment. [AP]

** The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted to block funding for Iraq reconstruction projects worth more than $2 million, and to attempt to force the Baghdad government into covering the cost of training and equipping its own security forces. [AP] “April has been the most lethal month for U.S. troops in Iraq, with 49 deaths, since September, when 65 soldiers died. [BBC]

** Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is supporting a plan by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) to create a panel based on the Truman Commission to investigate fraud and abuse in Iraq War contracts. Republicans are opposed saying, in essence, “Trust Us.” "Republicans are all finding wasteful spending and rooting it out," the (GOP) aide said. "One way to do that is fewer Truman Committees and more responsible legislators." [Gov Exec] Those would be the legislators who were “responsible” in the Republican controlled Congresses since before the days of “Mission Accomplished?” Republicans have signaled their intention to filibuster the proposal.

** The depths to which the Bush-Cheney Administration have been willing to go to engage in “secret government” plumbed new levels yesterday during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights. The New York Times has more.

** “Is our children learning?” Not so well if the schools are using “Reading First” according to a report from the Institute of Education Sciences – the study found that children using this program scored no better than those who were not. [WaPo] In February 2007 the Department of Education’s Inspector General released a report critical of the Bush Administration’s implementation of the program, observing that it was “beset by cronyism.” The Reading First program may have violated the prohibition against controlling school curricula by promoting the products from McGraw-Hill and Voyager, both of which are headed by top Bush campaign donors. [CREW] There are indications that educators were aware of the problems in 2004, and some problems with funding for alternative programs were cited by an Education Week report in September 2005. [BzFlsh] The Voyager Expanded Learning Literacy program, with no track record, was shepherded through appropriations with some significant assistance from “powerful patrons.” [WaPo] Some Bush “profiteers” may have collected billions from NCLB. [DKos]

** Economically speaking: “Jobless claims surge,” [AP] “Construction activity tumbles in March,” [AP] “Manufacturing report shows continuing contraction in April,” [AP] and “Consumer Spending up but much of gain reflects higher prices.” [AP] “Layoffs rise 68% in April vs. March, survey” [Reuters]

** The Bush Administration’s Department of the Interior is taking comments in the next 60 days on a proposal to scrap the ban on bringing loaded weapons into National Parks and Wildlife areas. “Under the plan, an individual could carry a concealed weapon in national parks and wildlife refuges if he or she is authorized to do so on similar state lands in the state where the national park or refuge is located.” [McClatchy] Aside from the pure pandering to the gun lobby, this proposal only further endangers park employees who are already at some risk from drug growers who trespass on federal lands. Additionally, there’s something obscene about a proposal that would bring guns back to sacred grounds like Antietam, Gettysburg, and Shiloh – where weapons were to be silenced for all time.

Overnight Express: New GI Bill Sponsors, Old Objections to Breast Cancer Research Bill

The IAVA announces new G.I.Bill sponsors: Nine more members of the House of Representatives have signed on to the Webb-Warner New G.I. Bill, and one more member of the Senate as of today. That list still would NOT include Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and Representative Dean Heller (R-NV2).

He flip-flops. So what! “Meanwhile, Mr. McCain has campaigned on straight talk, a willingness to admit mistakes as well as his flaws and flexibility in revising policy without succumbing to the charge of “flip-flopping.” Democrats jumped on Mr. McCain for having three different plans for addressing the housing-mortgage crises. But so what? Getting it right is more important than sticking with a plan that will not work.” – Harlan Ullman, Washington Times, May 1, 2008. Now, where was that “getting it right is more important than sticking with a plan that will not work” when Senator John Kerry was running in 2004?

Surprise, Surprise! GAO Report: "Health Savings Accounts – Participation Increased and Was More Common among Individuals with Higher Incomes."

No matter what they say: “Delaying Administration’s Medicaid regulations will not weaken the Program’s fiscal integrity.” CBPP Bush has threatened another veto, this time of H.R. 5613, the “Protect the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008.”

The House of Representatives passed the “Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Act” today (H.R. 5522) by a vote of 247-165. [The Gavel] The bill was a response to the Imperial Sugar Explosion in Port Wentworth, GA that killed 13 workers and injured many more. There have been 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that have killed 119 workers and injured 718 others. Representatives Shelley Berkley (D-NV1) and Jon Porter (R-NV3) voted in favor of the bill. Representative Dean Heller (R-NV2) voted against it. [rc 233] Both Representatives Porter and Heller voted in favor of a motion to recommit that would have effectively gutted the bill. The motion to recommit failed, 187-225. [rc 232]

Coburn blocking breast cancer research bill: Is anyone else wondering why the Republicans are filibustering every major bill in the Senate, including the authorization of FAA appropriations bill (H.R. 2881), on which a cloture vote taken on April 30th was 88-0-12? [rc 114] And, why would Senator Tom Coburn raise an objection to bringing S. 579 (Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007) to the Senate floor for a debate? [WWtch] His explanation when he did this before on March 3rd seems a bit thin as he argues that only the NIH should direct research funds. There are 67 co-sponsors, so this appears to be Coburn’s personal ‘problem’ with the bill and he is placing a hold on it. [GovTrack] Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) remarked: “One person, one Senator is holding up this legislation. That is why I will be asking unanimous consent--I am not going to do it now. We do not have a Republican on the floor. But I told staff I am going to come back at 3:30 p.m. or thereafter. The Republicans have had adequate notice. I cannot make the entire Senate schedule convenient for one Senator who is objecting, causing this problem for all the Senate.” [CongRec] Senator Reid came back and asked for unanimous consent to bring the bill to the floor. Was there an objection? Yes, from Senator Kyl (R-AZ) on behalf of Senator Coburn. [CongRec April 21] Senator Reid tried to get the bill to the floor again on April 29^th. [CongRec] Senator Coburn maintained his objection, and his rationale for the objection – that the NIH should be the only vehicle through which funding for research should be allowed. [CongRec]

Interesting: “In the five years prior to joining Arizona Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign, Thomas Loeffler’s lobbying firm contacted U.S. government officials, including members of Congress, staff and executive branch officials, an average of 58 times during every six month reporting period on behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia. In the year that Loeffler has served on McCain’s campaign, employees at the firm reported only one contact on behalf of the Saudis, though it continued to receive fees from the oil kingdom – some $3.5 million in all, according to the federal disclosure documents.” Read the rest of the report at the Sunlight Foundation. (emphasis added)

Problem Preachers: Would someone in the press like to ask Senator McCain about this 2006 comment from Reverend John Hagee, whose endorsement he’s been so pleased to have? "The United States must join Israel in a pre-emptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God's plan for both Israel and the West...a biblically prophesied end-time confrontation with Iran, which will lead to the Rapture, Tribulation, and Second Coming of Christ.” [Perrs]

Political Meddling Department: OMB Watch posts: “Report Documents Political Meddling with Science at EPA.”
“Former GSA Chief says she was ousted because of inspector general feud” [Gov Exec] In addition to Hatch Act violations, pressure from Congress, interference with contract negotiations….. Think Progress has more.

Bush and the Oil Bid’ness: Remember back in 2000 when George W. Bush said he would “…work with our friends in OPEC to convince them to open up the spigot, to increase supply?” Perrspectives does, and, has more.

On New G.I. Bill Rally Day Bush Threatens Veto

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV1), and Congressman Jon Porter (R-NV3) have signed on as sponsors of a New G.I. Bill that President Bush is now threatening to veto.

Bush Threatens veto of New GI Bill: U.S. Marine Todd Bowers served two tours in Iraq, and came home with a Purple Heart and a Navy commendation medal with valor – and three different types of student loans, “two of which had gone to collections.” Louisiana National Guard member Najwa McQueen served 10 months in Iraq, leaving behind her husband and 18 month old daughter. When she enrolled in college after her return she found that her total educational benefits were a meager $400 per month for four months; a total of $1600. House Democrats are discussing a plan to attach Senator Jim Webb’s (D-VA) New G.I. Bill to the next Iraq Spending Bill from the White House – President Bush has promised to veto any additions to that bill. [CNN] Addition information: Baltimore Sun, CBS News (another veteran’s story), Virginian-Pilot, Hawaii Reporter “Gates opposes New G.I. Bill,” Army Times.

What you can do to help? Visit the IAVA Action Center. The bill now has 58 co-sponsors in the Senate and 242 in the House of Representatives; Senator Ensign and Representative Heller are still not on the list.

McCain Missing: The rally for the New G.I. Bill attracted 26 veterans’ groups, including the Rolling Thunder Vietnam Bikers, and World War II survivors from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, along with a bi-partisan host of sponsors. Senator John McCain, who has authored a bill that comes nowhere near offering the educational benefits in the Webb-Warner original, was nowhere to be seen. “House and Senate Democratic leaders said today it is a virtual certainty that the measure will be attached to war-funding legislation when it begins moving as early as next week.” [WaPo]

Perhaps it’s time to remind Republican members of the Legislative Branch that they should be among the supporters of this bi-partisan effort to provide appropriate educational benefits to the members of our Armed Forces. After all, it’s far better to be seen as the party of support the troops bumper magnets than the party of the Purple Heart Band-aids.

Overnight Express News Roundup: Voting, Eating, Drinking not necessarily in that order

Nevada and California have lots of boxes on the USGS map of seismic activity. Need any more reasons why it’s probably not a good idea to put nuclear garbage in the Ever-Seismic Silver State? The USGS has the data on the April 26 temblor in the Reno, NV area.

Tripping back down memory lane: Digby reminds us all in an outstanding post that the Republican obsession with “voter fraud” has its nascence in Operation Eagle Eye during the ‘60s when the GOP decided to fight back against the emergence of non-white voters, and has continued through the establishment of the Republican National Lawyers Association. “In a 6-3 vote, justices uphold Voter ID law” [