The massive oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico is now hitting the U.S. shoreline. President Obama calls for major cleanup effort and a full investigation of the accident. President Obama touts the latest GDP numbers. The Florida Senate race is a three-man race to the finish and is there a real push to make Puerto Rico our next state?
As state, federal and industry officials race to clean up a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, some lawmakers in Washington say this disaster is proof that offshore exploration should not be part of our nation’s energy solutions. Do they have a point or are they just grandstanding? How will this impact the energy debate? And how safe is offshore drilling? We ask Patrick Creighton of the American Energy Alliance.
It’s been nearly six months since Maj. Nidal Hasan carried out his massacre of fellow Army service members at Ft. Hood, Texas. Investigations have failed to conclude that radical Islamic motives were behind the attack despite volumes of evidence and the testimony of eyewitnesses at the scene of the killings. So why won’t the government admit what fueled the killings? Why is it vital for the government to do so? How has this added to the anguish of the families of those killed and wounded? We ask Rep. John Carter, whose Congressional district contains Ft. Hood.
On Thursday, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announced he would leave the Republican Party and continue his campaign for U.S. Senate as an independent. But how will this switch be viewed by voters? Will Crist have to run to the left to have a chance? What message does this campaign send to national Republicans as base voters and independents reject their hand-picked candidates in Florida and other places? Will the rise of grass roots GOP candidates make life easier or harder for Democrats in November? What will be the Democratic strategy? We ask Richard Benedetto, former longtime White House Correspondent for USA TODAY.
The Tea Party will be a powerful force in this year’s mid term elections…which means it is now prominent enough to be lampooned by The Capitol Steps.
Senate Republicans say they’ve made enough progress to allow the financial reform debate to proceed and hope to make more progress through amendments. But some conservatives say the bill is still hopelessly flawed. Plus, the Obama administration prepares to assist in the clean-up of a major oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico. And, Florida’s Charlie Crist is ready to leave the GOP and run for U.S. Senate as an independent.
New Jersey Rep. Scott Garrett says Senate Republicans agreed to move forward on a financial reform bill that is still nothing more than a bailout plan. Why does he believe that even after the controversial $50 billion fund appears to be off the table? What does the plan do about Fannie and Freddie? What insight does he have on the process for this bill in the House and Senate? What needs to be included in meaningful reform and what needs to be left out of it? We ask Rep. Garrett.
As Florida Gov. Charlie Crist leaves the GOP to run for U.S. Senate as an independent, John Gizzi of Human Events says the tactic will not work. Why does he see Crist fading down the stretch and why won’t the Democrat take advantage of the three-man race? Who does Gizzi see emerging from the Indiana GOP senate primary? Have Republicans caved on financial reform or are there many more twists and turns to come in this debate? We’ll discuss all of this with John Gizzi.
The mortgage crisis was a major factor in the Wall Street crisis, but the new financial reform bill once again demands that banks give mortgages to low-income people who can’t afford them. What else does the bill provide? Why is this a great deal for banks but not the taxpayers? Why is the president’s choice to lead the new Consumer Financial Protection Agency another red flag? And should the Senate Republicans have allowed debate to begin? We ask Brian Johnson, federal affairs manager at Americans for Tax Reform.
Tensions heighten as Senate Republicans block financial reform debate for a third day. Senator DeMint blames Obama for meltdown of a bipartisan effort. Janet Napolitano is blamed for complicating enforcement of new crackdown on illegal immigrants. The Supreme Court allows a veterans memorial cross to stand.
