Harry Reid's Blog - June 2006
As you know, through these doors to my left is a beautiful room. We call it the President's Room, or the Red Room. We call it the President's Room because for many, many decades this was the place where the Presidents came to sign legislation. During the past century, the 20th Century, it wasn't used often at all. Rarely was it used for a President to come and sign legislation, but on August 6, 1965 it was used.
The last time the Red Room--the President's Room--was used for signing a bill into law was on that date in the hot summer of 1965. It had been a very hot summer. The reason President Lyndon Johnson came to the Capitol to sign a bill here rather than the White House was because he was signing the Voting Rights Act. Read More »
The last time the Red Room--the President's Room--was used for signing a bill into law was on that date in the hot summer of 1965. It had been a very hot summer. The reason President Lyndon Johnson came to the Capitol to sign a bill here rather than the White House was because he was signing the Voting Rights Act. Read More »
Here is the lead sentence from an article in yesterday's New York Times. It ran under the headline of "U.S. General in Iraq Outlines Troop Cuts." Quote:
"The top American commander in Iraq has drafted a plan that projects sharp reductions in the United States military presence there by the end of 2007, with the first cuts coming this September, American officials say."
This announcement from our military was one piece of good news for those of us who believe we need a new course in Iraq. But it was not the only good news we received this weekend. Read More »
"The top American commander in Iraq has drafted a plan that projects sharp reductions in the United States military presence there by the end of 2007, with the first cuts coming this September, American officials say."
This announcement from our military was one piece of good news for those of us who believe we need a new course in Iraq. But it was not the only good news we received this weekend. Read More »
I wanted to share with you my speech from the Senate floor today:
"That we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
It was Theodore Roosevelt who said this quote in 1918. It is an appropriate quote for the Senate to hear before we vote.
Today, we will vote on a way forward in Iraq, and I've come to the floor to speak in support of the Levin/Reed amendment. I believe it is long past time to change course in Iraq and start to end the President's open-ended commitment. Read More »
"That we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
It was Theodore Roosevelt who said this quote in 1918. It is an appropriate quote for the Senate to hear before we vote.
Today, we will vote on a way forward in Iraq, and I've come to the floor to speak in support of the Levin/Reed amendment. I believe it is long past time to change course in Iraq and start to end the President's open-ended commitment. Read More »
Last week, Bush Republicans blocked contracting reform in the U.S. Senate on a party-line vote. Today, a jury has shown exactly why that reform is needed. David Safavian's conviction is a good first step, but the American people expect accountability and oversight of this White House.
For five years, we have watched the Bush Administration waste billions on mismanaged contracts in Iraq. Just this morning, we learned that his Secretary of Defense paid no attention to the largest defense procurement scandal in history--even though it happened under his nose. Amazingly, this afternoon Bush Republicans rejected creating a bipartisan commission to investigate contracting abuses on yet another party line vote. America has seen too much incompetence, cronyism, and corruption. It is time for real reform.
For five years, we have watched the Bush Administration waste billions on mismanaged contracts in Iraq. Just this morning, we learned that his Secretary of Defense paid no attention to the largest defense procurement scandal in history--even though it happened under his nose. Amazingly, this afternoon Bush Republicans rejected creating a bipartisan commission to investigate contracting abuses on yet another party line vote. America has seen too much incompetence, cronyism, and corruption. It is time for real reform.
Our valiant troops are now serving in the fourth year in Iraq. Day after day, they've demonstrated courage, skill and bravery. They don't ask for much, but all of us owe them a lot. And at the top of that list of the things we owe them is an honest debate about what's going on in Iraq.
Yesterday, Democrats offered an amendment to express the sense of the Senate that Iraq not grant amnesty to terrorists who kill our troops as part of their reconciliation plan. Our amendment came in response to reports that the Iraqi Prime Minister was in favor of such a proposal. Read More »
Yesterday, Democrats offered an amendment to express the sense of the Senate that Iraq not grant amnesty to terrorists who kill our troops as part of their reconciliation plan. Our amendment came in response to reports that the Iraqi Prime Minister was in favor of such a proposal. Read More »
I'm glad the President went to Iraq. It's good for our troops and the new Iraqi government. But in the fourth year of this war the American people are still waiting for the president to lay out a strategy that will stabilize Iraq, redeploy our troops, and refocus on threats that have been largely ignored by this Administration.
Last year, the Congress called on the President to make 2006 a year of significant transition in Iraq and yet halfway through this year, the President is simply maintaining the same tired mantra, 'as Iraqis stand up, we will stand down.' Yet at the same time more Iraqi security forces are in the field, U.S. force levels have actually increased in recent weeks. This is not a real plan and is not acceptable. The President must take responsibility for laying out a strategy for stabilizing Iraq and bringing our troops home.
Last year, the Congress called on the President to make 2006 a year of significant transition in Iraq and yet halfway through this year, the President is simply maintaining the same tired mantra, 'as Iraqis stand up, we will stand down.' Yet at the same time more Iraqi security forces are in the field, U.S. force levels have actually increased in recent weeks. This is not a real plan and is not acceptable. The President must take responsibility for laying out a strategy for stabilizing Iraq and bringing our troops home.
Today the latest in a series of Red Herring's that the Republican majority will bring before the Senate this month. On Monday, it was the Marriage Amendment. Today, it is the Estate Tax. Later this month, we are told they will bring up a flag burning amendment.
While the issues change, my argument remains the same. There are a number of difficult issues facing the people of Nevada, but issues like estate tax are not high on that list. We are wasting precious days on these divisive issues when there are so many other matters that deserve and demand our attention. Read More »
While the issues change, my argument remains the same. There are a number of difficult issues facing the people of Nevada, but issues like estate tax are not high on that list. We are wasting precious days on these divisive issues when there are so many other matters that deserve and demand our attention. Read More »
In Nevada today, gas prices are over $3.00 a gallon. Fill-ups at the tank cause emptiness at the bank. This Administration, the most friendly-to-oil Presidency in our history, refuses to buck Big Oil or the auto manufacturers. Our citizens are literally choking on the lack of alternative fuel. Few incentives for energy created by the sun, the wind, or the Earth's geothermal reserves has this Administration endorsed. Read More »
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