July 15, 2011

Senator Sanders

Plan B Sizing up "the craziness and chaos," in Washington, Sen. Bernie Sanders said it would be better to raise the debt ceiling and  "kick the can down the road" on deficit reduction than make "savage cuts" that the Republicans want in Medicare, Medicaid, education, environmental protection and other programs. "You name it, they want to cut it," he told radio host Ed Schultz. AUDIO

Obama Faulted Sen. Sanders also was critical of President Obama on Thursday for "incredibly" proposing to cut Social Security benefits and raise the eligibility age for Medicare to 67. He made the point in the radio interview, a Senate floor speech and a column posted on The Huffington Post. LINK

Stalemate "I think what you're gonna see is kind of a stalemate, no significant action on deficit reduction right now but in fact no default - probably the best option at this moment." Sen. Sanders said in an NBC News report for affiliates.

Nuclear Power The Senate energy committee on Thursday cleared a pair of measures that would promote the development of small modular nuclear reactors. The panel's approval came on a voice vote with only Sen. Sanders opposing the measures, Environment & Energy Daily reported. 

World

China Urges U.S. to Protect Creditors China, one of the United States's biggest creditors, urged American policy makers on Thursday to act to protect investors' interests, highlighting rising concerns around the globe about the protracted budget talks taking place in Washington, The New York Times reported. LINK

Libya Rebels Recognized More than 30 countries recognized the Libyan opposition as the "legitimate authority of Libya" Friday, a move that would keep up the military pressure on Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi and potentially free up cash the rebels urgently need, The Associated Press reported. LINK

National

‘Decision Time,' Obama Declares President Obama prepared Thursday to bring bipartisan talks over the debt to a close, as Senate leaders worked across party lines to craft an alternative strategy to raise the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit and avert a government default, The Washington Post reported. LINK

Plan B Emerges on Debt A backup plan to cut the federal deficit and keep the U.S. government from default gained momentum Thursday even as President Barack Obama and congressional leaders paused their negotiations to determine if they can reach a deal. LINK

Behind Battle Over Debt, a War Over Government The endgame in the fight to increase the nation's debt limit has only begun, but intense exchanges this week between the two parties have made it clear that this is not so much a negotiation over dollars and cents as a broader clash between the two parties over the size and role of government, The New York Times said. LINK  

Vermont

House Energy Bill An energy and water spending bill before the U.S. House today would cut funding for energy efficiency programs and high speed rail in Vermont. Rep. Peter Welch tried but failed to amend the bill to restore funding for energy efficiency programs, the Burlington Free Press reported. LINK

Leahy Wants Anti-Gay Law He Supported Repealed U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy plans to hold a hearing on a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. Leahy voted for the law which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages. He now supports its repeal, the Valley News reported. LINK

Burlington Telecom Two weeks after county prosecutor T.J. Donovan balked at filing charges in the case of Burlington Telecom, U.S. Attorney Tristram Coffin said federal prosecutors were closing their investigation, Vermont Public Radio reported. LINK