Politics - Congress

DNC Chairman Condemns Republican Obstruction of the Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:42:32 GMT

Senate Republicans have continued their obstruction of legislation repealing the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy according to the DNC.

In response, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement:

“Republicans’ defense of the discriminatory and outdated policy known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is not only out of step with most Americans, it is in direct contradiction to the wishes of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen.

“Our military leaders not only completed a comprehensive study regarding service members’ opinions of repeal – in which they found majority support for the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ – they have also made it clear that Congressional failure to act on this matter could impact the stability of the military and the safety of our nation by creating an environment in which the courts could end this policy immediately, rather than phasing it out in a responsible manner.

“The Republican Party blocking legislation to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is just the latest example of their politically motivated obstruction which extends to defending discriminatory policies like DADT. That even includes some Republicans voting to preserve a policy they claim not to support. Republicans had yet another chance today to put politics aside and do the right, just and fair thing by voting to end DADT. No one should be surprised that yet again they failed to do so.”

Verizon - Congress Needs to Update the Nation's Antiquated and Anti-Competitive Telecom Rules

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:00:46 GMT

With a highly innovative and competitive Internet eco-system now a critical resource for consumers and increasingly important to America's economic growth, Congress must act to address telecommunications policies that are broken.

"The grinding you hear are the gears churning as policymakers try to fit fast-changing technologies and competitive markets into regulatory boxes built for analog technologies and monopoly markets," said Tom Tauke, Verizon's executive vice president of public affairs, policy and communications, in discussing the Federal Communications Commission's outdated policies. Tauke pointed out that on the issue of net neutrality, the FCC's focus was limited to how Internet service providers might degrade or block Internet traffic, and not on other sectors of the Internet marketplace where similar consumer harm could take place.

"A key reason why the FCC doesn't consider the activities of those who control operating systems or applications is that the FCC looks at the world from the standpoint of its jurisdiction rather than from the perspective of the consumer," Tauke said. "Given the outdated statute, that's somewhat understandable. But from a reasonable person's perspective, that approach makes no sense. That is why we need Congress to update the law."

Tauke spoke on Saturday (Nov. 20) at a panel called "Rewriting the Telecom Act: Has the Time Come?" at the Federalist Society's National Conference in Washington.

Tauke laid out four components to a new policy to guide the Internet eco-system: The policy should be a federal framework. Because of the innovative nature of the marketplace, the framework should not involve anticipatory rulemaking, but rather principles that allow for case-by-case adjudication. The test for government intervention in the marketplace should be to prevent either harm to consumers or anti-competitive activity. And a single federal agency should be given clear jurisdiction.

As part of any regulatory overhaul, Tauke said, safeguards surrounding cyber security and privacy need to be addressed. He also called for a revamping of the subsidy programs for universal access to communications.

Tauke concluded: "This amazing Internet eco-system is not only an economic engine for our nation, it also holds great promise for improving the delivery of health care, revolutionizing our approach to education, and improving our transportation systems and electric grids.

"That is why we cannot allow regulators to impose limits or outmoded regulatory structures on this dynamic eco-system. That is why we do need Congress to replace the current statute with one that is in sync with today's communications technology and marketplace."

Congressman Fattah in Radio Interview Calls on Senate to Ratify START

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:32:50 GMT

Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) in a national radio interview today called on the United States Senate to ratify the New START Treaty before its current session ends in December.

"It's showtime," Fattah told talk show host Jeff Santos on Revolution Boston, a progressive talk station at 1510-AM in Boston. "It is extremely important that the Senate ratify the START Treaty for our national security."

Fattah, the Philadelphia Congressman who serves on the House Appropriations Committee and was just re-elected to his ninth term, said the U.S. and Russia "have to get back to an orchestrated reduction of nuclear weapons." It cannot wait for the next session of Congress to start over with new hearings and deliberation.

Without the New START Treaty, which would replace a treaty that expired almost a year ago, Fattah pointed out the U.S. has no nuclear weapons inspectors to verify Russian compliance with reduction of weaponry.