How many Nevadans are going to sleep easier this week? Guess who showed up and shocked 9 Republicans? What's up with Dina Titus's fundraising prowess? Reid On!

Nevada First: Throwing Lifelines. Last week was a hectic one on the Hill. And while some of our legislative priorities were blocked by obstructionist Republicans, Senate Democrats threw more than one life preserver to the American people.  On Friday, the Senate passed a version of the Housing bill. The bill, which was sent back to the House for some additional tweaking, focused on the root causes of the (much larger) economic crisis in this country - home foreclosures. You’ve probably heard Senator Reid hammer home the point on C-SPAN: This bill will keep people in their homes by allowing 400,000 American homeowners to swap their adjustable mortgages with ones backed by the FHA. With stable monthly payments, homeowners can turn their eyes to other pressing matters - like saving for their kid’s college education. President Bush (surprise!) vowed to veto the bill.

What does this mean for Nevada? It means that thousands of Nevadans can sleep a little easier this week. It also means that Nevadans looking to buy a home for the first time can get a credit of $8,000. Senator Reid has made solving the housing crisis one of his top priorities. And while the bill isn’t totally ready, we’re one step closer.

The Investment That Keeps On Giving. Proving once again that he stands up for Nevada’s interests like no one else, Harry Reid announced on Monday a nearly $1.5 million grant for the Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization. The non-profit brings together public and private organizations and aides them in the research and development of clean, renewable technologies.

What does this grant mean for Nevada? Jobs, for one. As Sen. Reid works to make Nevada the world leader in clean, renewable energy, more companies will invest in Nevada’s workforce. It also promises to make energy cheaper for Nevadans - and all Americans. Harry Reid’s worked for decades to protect Nevada’s natural resources, and breaking our dependence on foreign oil is just one piece of that puzzle.

Must Reid: Saving the Day. Words cannot explain what happened on the Senate floor Wednesday, nor can they adequately describe the shiver that went down the Weekly Reid’s spine as it watched the roll call vote on the Medicare “Doctor’s Fix” bill. Senator Reid did his best summing up the dramatic events of Wednesday: ““They [the Bush-McCain Republicans] thought they had us beat until the last minute. They didn’t know I started working last Thursday in getting Sen. Kennedy here.” And get him there he did. After a standing ovation, the Liberal Lion - who was there in 1964 when Medicare was born - cast the deciding vote for cloture, thus ending debate on the “Doctor’s Fix” Medicare bill. With Senator Kennedy on the floor and passage of the bill a sure thing, 9 Republicans - 9! - broke ranks, changed their vote and joined a united Democratic caucus in voting "Aye."

Think about the scene (if you haven’t seen it, check it out here). Sen. Kennedy, who got on a plane right after getting a chemo treatment, his immune system weakened, makes a triumphant return to the floor of the Senate to cast the deciding vote saving a program he has long championed. How could you not be moved? The Weekly Reid won’t speculate as to what was running through the minds of those 9 Senators. But it was either that, or more banal things like getting reelected.

Oh. The president vetoed the bill. Thankfully, House and Senate Democrats brought enough Republicans on board to rebuke (for the fourth time in two years) Mr. 28%. One more thing: if the 69-30 original roll call vote looks weird to you, it does to the Weekly Reid as well. Who would have missed this vote? Someone seeking to avoid casting a vote that would placate the base of his party, yet enrage average Americans? Yes! John McCain - missing yet another vote.

Who has your back? Pop quiz: What are three things Democrats are doing to solve our energy crisis? What are the three things Republicans are doing? For the former: standing up to greedy speculators (bill coming this week), investing in renewable energy (see above), encouraging oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres of federal land they already have access to. For the latter: … Um. Nothing? Unless you count giving tax breaks to oil companies for NOT drilling on the 68 million acres of land they already have and lining the pockets of oil executives for NOT investing in renewable energy. 

Bush-McCain Republicans in the Senate must think the oil companies need more power and influence over our energy policies. And they must think that Americans are going to continue shelling out $4+ for gas. Democrats are working to lower has prices by combating speculation - Bush Republicans should join their Democratic colleagues in supporting the bill.

Reid’s Watching: Money Money! Fundraising numbers are slowly trickling in, and we’ve got good news. Our two Nevada Congressional challengers, Dina Titus and Jill Derby, turned in great quarters. Dina raised over $575,000 (her opponent raised a disappointing $418,000) and Jill over $280,000. Jill also raised more than her opponent. Read those two sentence again: both of our Congressional challengers raised more money that their opponents. Think Nevada's ready for change?

On the Senate side, Kay Hagan raised $1.6 million. With her serious (and much needed?) ad blitz, Sen. Liddy Dole spent more money than she raised - and her cash on hand dropped by nearly half a million bucks. What’s Kay got going for her? A lot of grassroots support - and an opponent who can’t seem to break 51% in any reelection poll.