Archive for May, 2010

The Military Spending Bill that passed in the Senate last night contained an amendment by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders that would require transparency (internet posting) of federal contractors that engaged in misconduct while performing their government contract.

Just maybe BP will be on this list?

Once again our thanks to Senator Sanders.

Fighting Fraud A military spending bill that passed the Senate on Thursday includes a Sanders amendment to make a federal contractor fraud database accessible to the public.  The Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System is a database created by the Clean Contracting Act of 2008 that lists incidences of misconduct by federal contractors.  The database is an important tool for tracking the behavior of federal contractors. It lists prior findings of liability relating to federal contracts, including findings from criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings.  The database also lists whether the contractor has ever defaulted on a prior federal contract.  Finally, it lists whether contractors have engaged in such egregious behavior to have been suspended or disbarred from contracting.  The Sanders amendment would require that the database be posted on the Internet, ensuring that the public has access to this critical, public information about where their tax dollars are going. “We cannot let corporations rip off American taxpayers,” Sanders said.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders once again is the champion for the people of this country in dealing with the major issues facing US.

The Gulf Oil Spill is the result of so many factors that our legislators in Congress have not adequately addressed. Does it take a disaster like the Gulf Oil Spill to get the attention of the other 534 representatives we have? Still, we have folks in Congress that continue to resist progressive thinking and actions in the best interest of the people rather than those of special interests.

We thank you again Senator Sanders – we need you and your efforts to continue!

Sanders Proposes Drilling Ban and

Stronger Fuel Efficiency Standards

WASHINGTON, May 27 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said today that the United States must learn a profound lesson from the BP oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico and make certain we protect our oceans from future disasters and transform our energy system away from fossil fuels.

Sanders introduced legislation that would ban offshore drilling along America’s ocean coastlines and increase fuel efficiency in American cars.

The measure would prohibit drilling in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and along Florida’s gulf coastline. A moratorium on drilling in those areas that Congress approved every year since 1982 lapsed in 2008.

Sanders’ bill also would set a fuel economy standard of 55 miles per gallon, up from an average of 35 mpg that American car makers must achieve by 2030 under current law.

An outgrowth of an Obama administration push to stiffen the standards, the detailed requirement proposed by Sanders would bring the United States up to par with China, Japan, Canada, South Korea and nations in Europe that already have more aggressive standards than the U.S. In Europe, for example, cars already get the equivalent of 42 mpg and by 2020 cars in Europe will be required to get at least 65 mpg.

The improved fuel economy would translate into a savings of $1.43 per gallon of gas.  Opening all of America’s coastal waters to drilling would yield such a modest boost in petroleum supplies that the price of gas would dip by only 3-cents a gallon.

“Is 3-cents-a-gallon in the year 2030 worth the potential risk of another disaster like this?” Sanders asked. “I don’t think it is.”

The legislation already has drawn support from leading national environmental groups, including Friends of the Earth. “As the Deepwater Horizon disaster shows, new offshore drilling puts our coasts at unacceptable risk,” said Erich Pica, president of Friends of the Earth.

Contact: Michael Briggs or Will Wiquist (202) 224-5141

No wonder only 23% of the people trust Congress!

We have all the critics of the Administration’s efforts to reform Health Care, Financial regulations, our Educational System and our Energy Policies saying “No to Big Government – saying “We don’t want the Federal government involved in our States and our lives”.

That’s just fine until a crisis happens like the Gulf Coast Oil disaster.  Now, those same critics are calling out the Administration for not “responding fast enough” – not “doing enough”.

What is it folks – you only want the Federal Government involved when you can’t handle a mess you’ve created?

Hypocrisy at it’s finest!

Let’s get behind the Administration and start pushing Congress to become effective regulators by being efficient in dealing with the major issues facing our country.

If anything is too big to fail it’s a Congress that can’t deal with issues that have been ignored for so long.

The Senate moved forward with financial reform yesterday – that’s good news. However, does this reform package really address the core issues?

One of the key issues is the high risk derivative trading moves by banking firms that also have on deposit what money most of us in this country have left and is insured by the FDIC. It also does not address capping interest rates and outrageous charges these same banking firms charge even their best customers for credit.

It is our opinion true financial reform lies with Glass-Steagall Act type legislation that separates high risk financial trading activities from the less risky, traditional banking for the people.

You might think we post a lot of releases by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont – you’re right – we do!

Of the 535 people in Congress that are responsible for how our country works – or doesn’t, Senator Bernie Sanders is truly a voice of the people.

Thanks again Bernie Sanders – keep up your great efforts on behalf of US!

Now we would like to see and hear President Obama step out strongly in front of these issues. We voted for “change we can believe in”.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders released this statement.

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Sanders Statement on Senate

Passage of Wall Street Reform

WASHINGTON, May 20 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement after the Senate tonight voted 59 to 39 for a major Wall Street reform bill:

“As a result of the greed, recklessness and illegal behavior of Wall Street, this country was plunged into a horrendous recession. While this bill does not go as far as I would like, it is a strong beginning in the effort to reregulate huge financial institutions and to bring transparency to their often nefarious activities.

“I am especially proud that in this bill there is a major provision I authored which, for the first time, will lift the veil of secrecy at the Federal Reserve and give the American people an understanding of where trillions of their tax dollars went in the Wall Street bailout.

“I am disappointed that we could not garner the necessary votes to lower interest rates on credit cards or to begin the process of breaking up the largest financial institutions in this country which are the cause of so many of our problems. I intend to continue that effort until we succeed.”

Contact: Michael Briggs or Will Wiquist (202) 224-5141

You might think we post up a lot of releases by Senator Sanders – you’re right – we do!

Of the 535 people in Washington that are responsible for how our country works – or doesn’t, Senator Bernie Sanders is truly a voice for the people.

Thanks again Bernie Sanders – keep up your great efforts on behalf of US!

WE would like to see and hear President Obama step out strongly in front of these issues. WE voted for “change we can can believe in”.