Harry Reid's Blog - May 2006
Today, Bush Republicans kicked off their campaign of dividing the country instead of addressing the real priorities of American families. Our country faces great challenges: record high gas prices, skyrocketing health care costs and an intractable war in Iraq. Yet instead of addressing these issues, Senator Frist has chosen to put the politics of division ahead of real progress by pushing for a debate on a divisive amendment that will write discrimination into the constitution.
This is exactly why the American people are looking for a new direction that puts their priorities ahead of partisan politics. Democrats stand ready with real solutions for the country. This Memorial Day, Democrats will be focused on the high cost of gasoline that is squeezing millions of American families who are filling their tanks and hitting the road this weekend. Unfortunately, Bush Republicans would rather focus on purely divisive maneuvers than real solutions that address the growing energy crisis.
This is exactly why the American people are looking for a new direction that puts their priorities ahead of partisan politics. Democrats stand ready with real solutions for the country. This Memorial Day, Democrats will be focused on the high cost of gasoline that is squeezing millions of American families who are filling their tanks and hitting the road this weekend. Unfortunately, Bush Republicans would rather focus on purely divisive maneuvers than real solutions that address the growing energy crisis.
Someone once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." What a perfect quote to describe America's energy crisis.
We need lower prices, energy independence and more security - but we have Republican leaders who keep proposing the same solutions, "Drill, Drill, Drill."
"Drill, Drill, Drill" is never going to deliver the results we need. Look at the last five years. Oil imports have increased from 55% to over 60%, and gasoline prices have doubled since Bush and Cheney came to office. Common sense says if we want different results, we need a different direction.
Today, Democrats are unveiling our plan to bring sanity to America's energy policy. It's called the "Clean EDGE Act." Our legislation will achieve real results - like energy independence and affordable energy - because it will transform America's approach.
Instead of "Drill, Drill, Drill," it calls for a policy that deploys the latest technology and relies on American ingenuity. It's a bold bill that will move America in a new direction. Because the Federal government must do more than watch while OPEC and oil companies make billions and Nevadans pay 33 cents more for their gas this month.
We need lower prices, energy independence and more security - but we have Republican leaders who keep proposing the same solutions, "Drill, Drill, Drill."
"Drill, Drill, Drill" is never going to deliver the results we need. Look at the last five years. Oil imports have increased from 55% to over 60%, and gasoline prices have doubled since Bush and Cheney came to office. Common sense says if we want different results, we need a different direction.
Today, Democrats are unveiling our plan to bring sanity to America's energy policy. It's called the "Clean EDGE Act." Our legislation will achieve real results - like energy independence and affordable energy - because it will transform America's approach.
Instead of "Drill, Drill, Drill," it calls for a policy that deploys the latest technology and relies on American ingenuity. It's a bold bill that will move America in a new direction. Because the Federal government must do more than watch while OPEC and oil companies make billions and Nevadans pay 33 cents more for their gas this month.
We need a long-term strategy to fix our broken immigration system. Congress must pass comprehensive immigration reform to secure our borders, enforce our laws, and bring 12 million undocumented immigrants out of the shadows. The president got off to a good start tonight, but now he must stand up to right-wing members of his own party who are working to block Senate action. He should denounce the misguided approach of House Republicans, and exercise his leadership to get the job done.
Summer is a time for Hollywood blockbusters. Those big budget movies
that attract large audiences and the biggest movie stars.
This third week of May, we have a blockbuster of our own in the Senate. It's a
sequel. Immigration Part II.
We know how the first installment went, and we know there was not a happy ending.
The Senate's first attempt at immigration reform was flawed from the beginning.
This is a complex, emotional issue, but the Judiciary Committee was given only a few
days to consider a bill that was hundreds of pages long. Why? Because they were
working under an arbitrary deadline set by the Majority to get a bill to the floor. Read More »
that attract large audiences and the biggest movie stars.
This third week of May, we have a blockbuster of our own in the Senate. It's a
sequel. Immigration Part II.
We know how the first installment went, and we know there was not a happy ending.
The Senate's first attempt at immigration reform was flawed from the beginning.
This is a complex, emotional issue, but the Judiciary Committee was given only a few
days to consider a bill that was hundreds of pages long. Why? Because they were
working under an arbitrary deadline set by the Majority to get a bill to the floor. Read More »
Today I joined with House and Senate leaders and hundreds of seniors from around the country to call on President Bush and Congressional Republicans to extend the enrollment deadline for the Medicare prescription drug plan.
Here is some of what I told the crowd: Read More »
Here is some of what I told the crowd: Read More »
George Bush's tax plan offers next to nothing to average Americans while giving away the store to multi-millionaires. The tax reconciliation bill giveaway on capital gains and dividends will do much more for ExxonMobil board members than it will do for ExxonMobil customers. Their tax plan takes the country in the wrong direction.
The Republican medical malpractice bills before the Senate today do not represent a serious attempt to improve health care or civil justice in the United States. Moving to these bills is a tired political exercise, and the Senate should reject it out of hand.
To think with American consumers paying over 3 dollars for gas, with college tuition moving beyond the reach of many in the middle-class, with the Iraq war dead approaching 2,500, with immigration a security crisis unresolved, with our country's deficit standing at 9 trillion dollars, with 46 million Americans lacking health care coverage, we are moving to bills that are unnecessary and go nowhere. It is wrong. Read More »
To think with American consumers paying over 3 dollars for gas, with college tuition moving beyond the reach of many in the middle-class, with the Iraq war dead approaching 2,500, with immigration a security crisis unresolved, with our country's deficit standing at 9 trillion dollars, with 46 million Americans lacking health care coverage, we are moving to bills that are unnecessary and go nowhere. It is wrong. Read More »
The House "reform" legislation is just another example of the Orwellian world in which Republicans live. Whatever they say a bill will do, believe the opposite.
Their Clean Skies bill led to more pollution…
Their No Child Left Behind Act left millions of children behind…
And now their Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act has the potential to wipe transparency right out of our political process. Read More »
Their Clean Skies bill led to more pollution…
Their No Child Left Behind Act left millions of children behind…
And now their Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act has the potential to wipe transparency right out of our political process. Read More »
I just wanted to share with you this great column by Tim Roemer from Saturday's New York Times:
"In 1946, Karl Frost, an advertising executive, suggested a simple slogan to the Massachusetts Republican Committee: "Had Enough? Vote Republican!" Frost recognized that these simple words could unite his national party and blame its opponents, who controlled Congress, for causing or failing to solve the many problems facing the country, including meat shortages, economic difficulties and labor unrest. The strategy worked: in 1946, both houses of Congress flipped."
Read More Here
"In 1946, Karl Frost, an advertising executive, suggested a simple slogan to the Massachusetts Republican Committee: "Had Enough? Vote Republican!" Frost recognized that these simple words could unite his national party and blame its opponents, who controlled Congress, for causing or failing to solve the many problems facing the country, including meat shortages, economic difficulties and labor unrest. The strategy worked: in 1946, both houses of Congress flipped."
Read More Here
Yesterday marked another day of peaceful, dignified rallies across the country in support of comprehensive immigration reform. These rallies underscore the need for Congress to pass a strong and effective immigration bill this year.
Last Friday, I had the privilege of discussing this subject with Roger Cardinal Mahony, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, and Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, the Archbishop of Washington.
It was a very moving meeting for me, and I appreciated the chance to speak with two such kind and thoughtful men. Both of them have been tremendous leaders on the issue of immigration reform. We all agreed that it is of the utmost importance for Congress to move forward with an immigration bill as soon as possible. Read More »
Last Friday, I had the privilege of discussing this subject with Roger Cardinal Mahony, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, and Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, the Archbishop of Washington.
It was a very moving meeting for me, and I appreciated the chance to speak with two such kind and thoughtful men. Both of them have been tremendous leaders on the issue of immigration reform. We all agreed that it is of the utmost importance for Congress to move forward with an immigration bill as soon as possible. Read More »
Joshua T. Byers of Sparks, Nevada.
25 years old.
Killed in Iraq July 23, 2003, when his convoy hit an explosive device.
William I. Salazar of Las Vegas.
26 years old.
Killed in Iraq October 15, 2004, in enemy action.
John Lukac of Las Vegas.
19 years old.
Killed in Iraq October 30, 2004, by a car bomb explosion.
Nicholas H. Anderson of Las Vegas.
19 years old.
Died in Iraq November 12, 2004, during the assault on Fallujah.
Daniel F. Guastaferro of Las Vegas.
27 years old.
Died in Iraq January 7, 2005, in a motor vehicle accident.
Richard A. Perez Jr. of Las Vegas.
19 years old.
Died in Iraq February 10, 2005, in a vehicle accident.
Eric W. Morris of Sparks.
31 years old.
Killed in Iraq April 28, 2005, by a roadside bomb exploded.
Stanley J. Lapinski of Las Vegas.
35 years old.
Killed in Iraq June 11, 2005, by a makeshift bomb in Baghdad.
Jesse Jaime of Henderson.
22 years old.
Killed in Iraq June 15, 2005, by a roadside bomb.
Anthony S. Cometa of Las Vegas.
21 years old.
Killed in Iraq in Kuwait on June 16, 2005, in a Humvee accident.
James Cathey of Reno.
24 years old.
Killed in Iraq August 21, 2005, by a makeshift bomb.
Joseph Martinez of Las Vegas.
21 years old.
Killed in Iraq August 27, 2005, by enemy forces.
Thomas C. Siekert of Lovelock.
20 years old.
Died in Iraq December 6, 2005, from non-combat related injuries.
Joshua M. Morberg of Sparks.
20 years old.
Killed in Iraq December 27, 2005, by a makeshift bomb in Baghdad.
Gordon F. Misner II from Sparks.
23 years old.
Killed in Iraq February 22, 2006, by a makeshift bomb.
Shawn Thomas Lasswell, Jr of Reno.
21 years old.
Killed on April 23, 2006, by an IED.
These are the names of the 16 Nevadans who have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom since May 1, 2003. I never met these men, but they are heroes. Read More »
25 years old.
Killed in Iraq July 23, 2003, when his convoy hit an explosive device.
William I. Salazar of Las Vegas.
26 years old.
Killed in Iraq October 15, 2004, in enemy action.
John Lukac of Las Vegas.
19 years old.
Killed in Iraq October 30, 2004, by a car bomb explosion.
Nicholas H. Anderson of Las Vegas.
19 years old.
Died in Iraq November 12, 2004, during the assault on Fallujah.
Daniel F. Guastaferro of Las Vegas.
27 years old.
Died in Iraq January 7, 2005, in a motor vehicle accident.
Richard A. Perez Jr. of Las Vegas.
19 years old.
Died in Iraq February 10, 2005, in a vehicle accident.
Eric W. Morris of Sparks.
31 years old.
Killed in Iraq April 28, 2005, by a roadside bomb exploded.
Stanley J. Lapinski of Las Vegas.
35 years old.
Killed in Iraq June 11, 2005, by a makeshift bomb in Baghdad.
Jesse Jaime of Henderson.
22 years old.
Killed in Iraq June 15, 2005, by a roadside bomb.
Anthony S. Cometa of Las Vegas.
21 years old.
Killed in Iraq in Kuwait on June 16, 2005, in a Humvee accident.
James Cathey of Reno.
24 years old.
Killed in Iraq August 21, 2005, by a makeshift bomb.
Joseph Martinez of Las Vegas.
21 years old.
Killed in Iraq August 27, 2005, by enemy forces.
Thomas C. Siekert of Lovelock.
20 years old.
Died in Iraq December 6, 2005, from non-combat related injuries.
Joshua M. Morberg of Sparks.
20 years old.
Killed in Iraq December 27, 2005, by a makeshift bomb in Baghdad.
Gordon F. Misner II from Sparks.
23 years old.
Killed in Iraq February 22, 2006, by a makeshift bomb.
Shawn Thomas Lasswell, Jr of Reno.
21 years old.
Killed on April 23, 2006, by an IED.
These are the names of the 16 Nevadans who have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom since May 1, 2003. I never met these men, but they are heroes. Read More »
It is disappointing that neither sky-rocketing gas prices nor obscene oil company profits can break the bond between Bush Republicans and Big Oil. Americans are struggling to pay the rising cost of gas, and they are not interested in hand outs to help oil companies make more money by letting them drill in wildlife refuges. The people want immediate relief and a new energy policy. It's refreshing that Republicans have adopted so many Democratic proposals to lower the price of gas. Now it is finally time the Republican Congress acts to provide relief and to reduce our addiction to oil.
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