Democrat Pushes Lew on Chinese Currency Manipulation
Negotiations over Trade Promotion Authority for the White House came under fire Tuesday at a House Financial Services hearing, as Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., hammered Treasury Secretary Jacob.
By: Roll Call
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Democrat Pushes Lew on Chinese Currency Manipulation - Video
Democrat Racist Dick Durbin and Loretta Lynch
The Democrat Senator from Illinois Dick Durbin recently on the floor the United States Senate implied Republicans were racist. Really? This Dick from Illinois with his racist and treasonous...
By: PropagandaBuster
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Democrat Racist Dick Durbin and Loretta Lynch - Video
A top Senate Democrat signaled Wednesday that he's ready to negotiate on legislation to replace the Federal Communications Commission's controversial net neutrality decision.
"I remain open to true bipartisan congressional action, provided that such action fully protects consumers, does not undercut the FCC's role, and leaves the agency with flexible, forward-looking authority to respond to changes in the dynamic broadband marketplace," Sen. Bill Nelson, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, said at a hearing Wednesday.
The Florida Democrat decried the "rhetoric" surrounding the net neutrality debate, and argued that Congress, and not just the FCC, should weigh in on the issue. "For me, the key question we must ask now is how to take what the FCC has done and provide the certainty that only legislation can provide," he said.
The statement is promising news for Republicans, who are trying to craft compromise legislation on net neutrality.
The FCC's rules, approved last month, classify Internet providers in the same legal category as telephone utilities. Republicans and business groups fear that classification will create a crippling regulatory regime.
Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, along with Republican leaders in the House, floated draft legislation in January that would allow the FCC to enforce net neutrality protections but would repeal the commission's other legal powers to regulate Internet service.
Democrats have warned that the the draft contains loopholes and would hamstring the FCC's ability to address an array of issues outside of net neutrality. Thune and other Republicans, however, have been trying to coax Democrats to the negotiating table and have said they are willing to revise the draft.
Not all Democrats believe that there is any real common ground to find.
"I think it would be ill-advised for Congress to move in and try to be the ageny of expertise," Sen. Ed Markey, a MassachusettsDemocrat, said.
Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, said the issue is "worth discussion" in Congress, especially because of the possibility that a court will strike down the FCC's regulations. But he said he isn't "necessarily hopeful" that the two parties will be able to agree on anything.
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Key Democrat Open to Replacing FCC's Net Neutrality Decision
Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Cleggwill say in his speech to the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference speech in Aberdeen that the party "can and will win".
He will say that "we will do so much better than anyone thinks" and "resilience will see off the SNP challenge in the seats we hold".
Nick will also outline what the Liberal Democrats have achieved in Government to create a stronger economy and fairer society.
He will highlight the Partys commitment to invest an extra 25m year in mental health services in Scotland, with a challenge to the SNP Scottish Government to do the same.
In his speech Nick is expected to say In England, the NHS needs an extra 8bn a year by 2020 in order to do that.That is what they have told us they need. Yet we are the only party to commit to it. Not Labour, not the Conservatives. That commitment means an extra 800m a year for the health service in Scotland money that is desperately needed but no other party is prepared to give. Of course, it is up to the Scottish government whether it chooses to spend that money on the Scottish NHS or not. But that is exactly where I, and Willie, believe it must be spent. And it must be spent on Scottish health priorities. You have rightly campaigned against the SNP's neglect of the health service that has led to the A&E crisis. And I am very glad that, just as we have in Westminster, you are fighting to improve mental health services in Scotland. For too long, mental health has been treated as a Cinderella service, neglected and under-funded. The consequences have been devastating for millions of people. One in four of us will suffer a mental health condition at some point in our lives. One in four. Three children in every classroom has a mental health condition. That is unacceptable in modern Britain. We have started the work of undoing the neglect of mental health services in England but it cannot be done overnight. The Scottish Government must do the same. They can start by putting 25m a year into mental health services for children and young people. That is the money Scotland will receive as a result of us investing to improve these vital services in England in this week's Budget. Conference, this is a liberal mission. We must not allow people to be denied the support, treatment and opportunity they need to get better and live healthy, productive lives. And we must work every day to end the devastating stigma that surrounds mental health. That is why I am so incredibly proud that we are the first party to put equality for people with mental health problems on the front page of our manifesto. We have shown incredible resilience in the last five years. And that resilience has allowed us to do incredible things. Secure the economic recovery. Cut taxes for working people. Improve mental health services. Give pensioners dignity in retirement. Deliver home rule for Scotland. And it is because of that resilience that we can and will win this May. That resilience will see off the SNP challenge in the seats we hold. And it will wipe the smile off Alex Salmond's face in Gordon too. At least then he will have another defeat to write a book about. Ive heard the predictions. Ive seen the polls. But let me tell you this: we will do so much better than anyone thinks. In those seats where we are out in force, making our case loudly and proudly, we are the ones making the weather. Ive seen it for myself in Liberal Democrat seats across the country - and it is just as true in Scotland as it is everywhere else. We are showing that with hard work, strong local campaigns and a record of delivering for people in Westminster, Holyrood and communities across Scotland, we can and will win. It wont be easy, but winning shouldnt be. We need to persuade people every day between now and May the 7ththat their lives will be better with Liberal Democrat councillors making a difference in their communities, Liberal Democrat MPs and MSPs fighting their corner in Westminster and Holyrood, and Liberal Democrat ministers serving them in Government. Every Liberal Democrat elected in May makes our voice louder. So get out there and tell people what we have done to help them and their community. No one else will do it for us. Tell them how we have fought their corner in Holyrood and Westminster. Tell them what we have done to build a stronger economy and a fairer society. And tell that the Liberal Democrats are the only party that will keep Britain on track and govern for the whole country. Do that and we can and will win.
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Extracts from Nick Clegg's speech to Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference
A top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee says the Obama administration is clinging to a preposterous argument if it thinks Iranian leaders can be trusted to stick by the weapons-barring rules of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty after economic sanctions on Iran are lifted.
Rep. Brad Sherman made the charge during a committee hearing Thursday after a top administration official asserted that the nuclear deal being sought with the Islamic Republic will ultimately be insured by Tehrans long-term agreement to abide by the treaty after meeting other demands from Washington and other world powers.
The bottom line is is that even after certain obligations are completed by Iran, it cannot become a nuclear weapons state, Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken told the committee. It will be legally bound under the Non-Proliferation Treaty not to make or acquire a nuclear weapon.
Mr. Sherman, the second ranking Democrat on the committee, pounced on the claim wondering aloud whether Mr. Blinken was actively trying to delude the committee by maintaining that Iran wont try to clandestinely sneak-out and develop nuclear weapons regardless of the treaty agreement.
I fear that you have misled this committee in telling us that, once Iran has the rights of a non-nuclear state, subject to the additional protocol, that youll be able to stop sneak-out, because youve said first that, well, they cant develop a nuclear weapon because that would be illegal, the California Democrat said. Thats a preposterous argument.
Obviously, theyre willing to break the law, Mr. Sherman added, asserting that Iranian leaders have repeatedly violated past U.N. mandates and international demands not to develop a nuclear weapon.
In response, Mr. Blinken, who previously served as President Obamas deputy national security adviser, stood by his comments, claiming that there will be future punishment exacted on Iran if attempts to pursue a nuclear weapon after signing the non-proliferation treaty.
If Iran makes an agreement, it will make it with the full knowledge that if it violates the agreement, there will be severe consequences, he said.
A staffer for Mr. Sherman told The Washington Times after the hearing that the congressman does not stand in opposition to the administrations pursuit of negotiations with Iran or even a possible nuclear deal. Mr. Sherman only believes one part of the deal may have flawed logic; he does not believe the entire deal is preposterous, the staffer said.
The exchange on Capitol Hill came as The Associated Press reported Thursday that a draft nuclear accord now being negotiated between the Obama administration and Iran would force the Islamic Republic to cut hardware it could use to make an atomic bomb by about 40 percent for at least a decade, while offering the Iranians immediate relief from sanctions that have crippled their economy.
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Obama clings to 'preposterous argument' on Iran: Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman