Overhaul planned if dems win Congress
aNiMaL
Posts: 7,117
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/nationworld/story/6186901p-5409237c.html
Overhaul planned if dems win Congress
The Associated Press
Published: October 24th, 2006 01:00 AM
WASHINGTON – Democrats say they will burst out of a 12-year exile with a bang if they win control of Congress in two weeks. They promise to quickly pass a minimum wage increase at home and to reduce the U.S. war role in Iraq.
Made-for-TV hearings would focus on faulty intelligence used to justify the invasion of Iraq, strategic and tactical missteps once there and the sending of troops into combat with insufficient armor, Democrats say.
From the helm of the House Armed Services committee, they would press for an almost immediate troop drawdown.
Some of the Democrats’ top priorities are:
Military: Force an immediate drawdown of troops in Iraq and conduct oversight hearings on missteps on the war.
Intelligence: Increase attention given to emerging terrorist threats in Africa and Southeast Asia and devote more resources to North Korea and Iran. More oversight of terrorism and government surveillance.
Homeland security: Boost security for rail and mass transit systems. Tougher oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, potential restructuring of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Judiciary: Conduct oversight hearings on treatment of terrorism detainees, domestic surveillance programs and President Bush’s use of “signing statements” affecting some requirements in the laws he signs.
Minimum wage: Pass legislation to raise the minimum from the current $5.15 an hour to $7.25.
Veterans affairs: Increase oversight with detailed budget accountings. More funding for veterans health care, including additional mental health counseling for vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Health: Allow the Medicare program to negotiate directly with drug companies for lower prices. Pass a vetoed embryonic stem cell research bill again. Require insurance companies to provide benefits for treating mental illnesses equal to other medical and surgical benefits.
Transportation: Consolidate air traffic control facilities. Allow more foreign control of airlines. Limit the number of Transportation Security Administration airport screeners to 45,000. More oversight hearings on the Federal Aviation Administration.
Taxes: Increase education-based tax breaks. Close the so-called $345 billion tax gap, the estimated amount that people and companies owe but avoid paying each year.
Trade: Let expire a law that forbids Congress to amend trade agreements negotiated by the president. Create a chief enforcement officer in the office of the U.S. trade representative.
Energy and environment: More incentives for biodiesel, ethanol and other alternative fuels as well as wind, solar, geothermal and other sources of alternative energy. Renegotiate oil and gas leases that waived royalty payments to the government. Impose a national cap on industrial carbon dioxide emissions. Resist Bush’s efforts to open more public lands to oil exploration.
Agriculture: Increase conservation programs and require more corn-based ethanol in motor fuel blends.
Overhaul planned if dems win Congress
The Associated Press
Published: October 24th, 2006 01:00 AM
WASHINGTON – Democrats say they will burst out of a 12-year exile with a bang if they win control of Congress in two weeks. They promise to quickly pass a minimum wage increase at home and to reduce the U.S. war role in Iraq.
Made-for-TV hearings would focus on faulty intelligence used to justify the invasion of Iraq, strategic and tactical missteps once there and the sending of troops into combat with insufficient armor, Democrats say.
From the helm of the House Armed Services committee, they would press for an almost immediate troop drawdown.
Some of the Democrats’ top priorities are:
Military: Force an immediate drawdown of troops in Iraq and conduct oversight hearings on missteps on the war.
Intelligence: Increase attention given to emerging terrorist threats in Africa and Southeast Asia and devote more resources to North Korea and Iran. More oversight of terrorism and government surveillance.
Homeland security: Boost security for rail and mass transit systems. Tougher oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, potential restructuring of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Judiciary: Conduct oversight hearings on treatment of terrorism detainees, domestic surveillance programs and President Bush’s use of “signing statements” affecting some requirements in the laws he signs.
Minimum wage: Pass legislation to raise the minimum from the current $5.15 an hour to $7.25.
Veterans affairs: Increase oversight with detailed budget accountings. More funding for veterans health care, including additional mental health counseling for vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Health: Allow the Medicare program to negotiate directly with drug companies for lower prices. Pass a vetoed embryonic stem cell research bill again. Require insurance companies to provide benefits for treating mental illnesses equal to other medical and surgical benefits.
Transportation: Consolidate air traffic control facilities. Allow more foreign control of airlines. Limit the number of Transportation Security Administration airport screeners to 45,000. More oversight hearings on the Federal Aviation Administration.
Taxes: Increase education-based tax breaks. Close the so-called $345 billion tax gap, the estimated amount that people and companies owe but avoid paying each year.
Trade: Let expire a law that forbids Congress to amend trade agreements negotiated by the president. Create a chief enforcement officer in the office of the U.S. trade representative.
Energy and environment: More incentives for biodiesel, ethanol and other alternative fuels as well as wind, solar, geothermal and other sources of alternative energy. Renegotiate oil and gas leases that waived royalty payments to the government. Impose a national cap on industrial carbon dioxide emissions. Resist Bush’s efforts to open more public lands to oil exploration.
Agriculture: Increase conservation programs and require more corn-based ethanol in motor fuel blends.
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
i don't think this is possible with bush in office. he has worn out his welcome with his cowboy demeanor. who is going to negotiate with him? who is going to cooperate with him when he has been nothing but i bully in the middle east? i think that those in power in iraq would be more willing to cooperate with someone that is not always dictating policy to them.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."