Good Monday morning from Washington. Here's a look at headlines you may have missed from the Trib's Washington bureau this weekend.
* Democrats are now optimistic about passing long-stalled energy legislation, which "seemed virtually impossible a few weeks ago." The reason: public anger over the gulf oil spill. "A new energy bill could be shorn of its most controversial feature -- the costly and complex 'cap-and-trade' system, which would set a declining limit on emissions from power plants and factories and force emitters to buy permits for the release of heat-trapping gases. But even without cap and trade, the measure contemplated by Senate Democratic leaders could bring far-reaching change, including new renewable energy requirements, tougher liability caps on oil companies and stronger energy-efficiency measures," Lisa Mascaro writes.
* Jim Puzzanghera reported on the latest Treasury Department report on TARP repayments. "For the first time, the amount repaid by banks and other recipients has surpassed the outstanding balance," something the department hailed as a "milestone in the history of the controversial $700-billion bailout fund."
* Security experts are raising concerns about the new fleet of body imaging machines being rushed into service at the nation's airports, Ken Dilanian wrote. "Officials hastened deployment of the scanners after Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly smuggled a powdered explosive sewn in his underwear onto a Detroit-bound flight from Amsterdam last Christmas, but failed to detonate it. However, Stephen M. Lord of the Government Accountability Office told Congress in March that the TSA's classified testing shows it's unclear whether the technology would have detected Abdulmutallab's bomb."
* More on the oil spill from Richard Simon, as the U.S. Coast Guard "demanded that BP come up with a speedier plan within 48 hours to contain the oil gushing from its broken Gulf of Mexico well and to base its new actions on revised flow estimates that are up to double previous projections."
* Is a college degree still worth it? Don Lee looks at the question being asked as commencement season has ended, and notes that "government surveys indicate that the vast majority of job gains this year have gone to workers with only a high school education or less, casting some doubt on one of the nation's most deeply held convictions: that a college education is the ticket to the American Dream."
* Republicans are targeting a provision in legislation to expand unemployment aid that would boost Medicare reinbursements to physicians in metropolitan areas. Per Noam Levey, Sen. Tom Coburn (R) of Oklahoma argues that California is getting a special deal; supporters point to GAO studies that show the reimbursement formula "has depressed Medicare payments in parts of many states, but most prominently in California."
* And Katherine Skiba talked to former White House social secretary Desiree Rogers, who has returned to Chicago with no regrets about her time in Washington. She "turned aside questions about party crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi by saying she doesn't want to make more difficult the work of her 'many good friends' in the administration."
Comments
It is with a great deal of amusement that I consider the notion, of whether or not, a college education is worth it or not.
It isn't, if you want to hang out with the Republican-Libertarian-T.Baggers. Their selfish, small-minded and mean-spiritedness are not, I repeat, not, the result of a good education. They are a result of limiting their interests to their pocket books, and others' pocketbooks, I might add !! They are so worried that their neighbor has six filets mignons in their freezer to his five, they are all bunched up, or they are like " Lipturd ", running at the mouth !! In either case, it is a unhealthy state to be in, unless of course, you are in fascist Arizona.
No, help the younger generations to a good college education. That way, you will not have the likes of Cheney&Bush showing up, any time soon, to be elected and cause more of the American way of life to disappear !! That younger, well-educated generation will be too smart to elect anyone so illiterate or petty-minded, as Bush&Cheney
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW !!
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | June 14, 2010 10:35 AM
On the other side of the pond, the people who once saw a charming, urbane, well read candidate and President-elect, now see a cynical, opportunistic, populist oaf.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-14/obama-stop-the-anti-british-rhetoric-on-bp-and-the-oil-spill/
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I can't get any satisfaction from gloating about that. I'd much rather we didn't have a president who wasn't intentionally alienating important and long-standing allies--first Israel, now Great Britain.
Posted by: Just sayin' | June 14, 2010 11:19 AM
Big Oil and the Republican Party: A Cozy Relationship
"During his first month in office, President George W. Bush appointed Vice President Dick Cheney to head a task force charged with developing the country's energy policy. The group, which conducted its meetings in secret, relied on the recommendations of Big Oil behemoths Exxon Mobil, Conoco, Shell Oil, BP America and Chevron. It would be the first of many moves to come during the Bush administration that would position oil and gas companies well ahead of other energy interests with billions of dollars in subsidies and tax cuts—payback for an industry with strong ties to the administration and plenty of money to contribute to congressional and presidential campaigns."
"During the time that Bush and Cheney, both of whom are former oil executives, have been in the White House, the oil and gas industry has spent $393.2 million on lobbying the federal government. This places the industry among the top nine in lobbying expenditures. The industry has also contributed a substantial $82.1 million to federal candidates, parties and political action committees, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. 80 percent of the industry's contributions have gone to Republicans."
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/347/oil-politics.html
Posted by: Halliburton | June 14, 2010 11:55 AM
I have been trying to get help from our country for almost 3 years using the phone numbers in the phone book and internet, the internet contact forms for FBI, CIA, DEA, US Postal Service, Fasfa inspector and several other federal agencies. I can not get help in our country and believe that it is over an inheritance that the presidents are involved in stealing I have recieved several emails regarding the inheritence. I also believe that it has to do with the CIA project monarch, family jewel and several others. In 3 years I have yet to speak to an agent. My rights have been so violated in this country I need help.. I have been denied by apprx 5 attorneys and 5 private investigators for looking into this matter. I have much information I have collected and believe this could be the story of our lifetime. It has to do with Kennedy's death, Lynden Johnson's death, Watergate, Vietnam, Iraq, 911 and so much more. I guess that why I cant get help. They are using occult natures however so be prepared if you bite. I also have much data regarding messages recieved for some information about the holy grail, ect.... Some of my data is pysic but can be confirmed. I believe that I am the monarch/chosen child they refer to. I live in Green Bay, WI (12813 Velp Ave--orange brick house). My phone is 920-434-4962. FYI-- My phones and emails are being tampered with.
Posted by: Ann Marie Rybak | June 14, 2010 6:35 PM
So the dems are going to use the Gulf oil spill as a means to pass cap-n-tax? Guess its part of Rahm's "Never let a crisis go to watse" The difference with this is that the federal gov't has led to the spill becoming as big as it is.
And these clowns will run our health care?
Posted by: Terry | June 14, 2010 6:39 PM