Senate Proceeding 03-10-09 on Mar 10th, 2009 :: 0:46:10 to 1:06:10
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0:44:40 to 0:46:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jon Tester

0:45:47 to 0:46:10( Edit History Discussion )

Jon Tester: hospitals, ways to transit, doing so not only in terms of economic opportuni and an enormous number of jobs that will be created as a result of that but also as it relates to the quality of life and the envinment by moving a lot more people in a high-speed nonpolluting process versus thro flood control and protection of

0:46:11 to 0:46:32( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: our shore important in terms of tourism and fishing industry and the economy of new jersey; to grants that allow local law enforcement to have the latest technology to help the police officer on the beat. this bill invests in education, strengthening our commitment to science over the next decade so we can have a workforce that can

0:46:15 to 0:46:34( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Thune

0:46:33 to 0:46:35( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: compete on a global playing

0:46:35 to 0:46:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jon Tester

0:46:36 to 0:46:42( Edit History Discussion )

Jon Tester: field and be second to no one in terms of that ability in those

0:46:43 to 0:47:04( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: fields that are going to be the competitive futures opportunity for our citizens and for our nation. it makes strong advances in health care. it billion for lifesaving research so that the national institutes of health leave no stone unturned in the search for treatment, for cancer, for diabetes and alzheimer's disease

0:46:45 to 0:47:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Thune

0:47:05 to 0:47:26( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: that has taken over my strong and proud the bill allows us to immunize an additional 15,000 children against debilitating diseases and fundshe patient navigator program i established to help citizens make their way new a complicated health care system. the legislation puts resources toward revitalizing local

0:47:27 to 0:47:47( Edit History Discussion )

Jon Tester: communities and keeping families in their homes because the housing cris is at the root of our overall economic crisis. development in over 1,000 cities and towns. it gives competive grants to revitalize neighborhoods and renews help 45,000 families keep a

0:47:30 to 0:48:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jon Tester

0:47:48 to 0:48:09( Edit History Discussion )

Jon Tester: place to call "home." in short, the omnibus makes a birt investments that hel economy recover and our citizens get through this difficult time. so, mr. president, i'm happy to see the senate move forward this vitally important legislation although i am not

0:48:10 to 0:48:25( Edit History Discussion )

Jon Tester: the only senator to have felt frustration in this process i express that i am always open to discussions with my and i hope that we can work together in the future to make sure that in the greatest deliberative body in the world

0:48:26 to 0:48:48( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: we will all do our deliberate before we take significant action. with that, mada mr. president, i yield the floor. mr. inouye: mr. president, i rise in opposition to amendment number submitted by the senat south dakota.

0:48:30 to 0:51:39( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Daniel Inouye

0:48:49 to 0:49:09( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: this amendment would prevent the federal communications commission from reinstating the fairness doctrine. mr. president, this amendment is totally unnecessary. there is no funding in this bill for the f.c. to reinstate the fairss doctrine. this bill does not contain any

0:49:10 to 0:49:30( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: provision directing the f.c. to reinstate the fairness doctrine. further, president obama does not support reinstating the fairness doctrine. the f.e.c. repealed this doctrine in 1987 and has no plans to bring it back.

0:49:31 to 0:49:51( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: finally, just last week,7 senators, including myself, voted to include amendment to the voting rights bill that would prevent the f.e.c. from reinstating the fairness doctrine which is exactly what thi amendment would do. so, mr. president, there's in question about democratic

0:49:52 to 0:50:13( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: support for the position being proposed by the south dakota senator. take a few seconds and talk about the history of this issue. the fairness doctrine which was originally adopted by the f.c.

0:50:14 to 0:50:35( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: in 1949, 60 years ago is a concept that broadcasters should cover issues fairly, allowing for different viewpoints to be presented in a balanced way. fairness doctrine addressed but the need for this policy today has become obsolete.

0:50:36 to 0:50:57( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: in the 1950's, there were only three nationwide broadcast stations: nbc, abc and cbs. there was a legitimate public concern that the small number of media outlets could abuse their power and present a bias public agenda.

0:50:58 to 0:51:19( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: at that time the fairness doctrine was the right answer to a small and heavily concentrated media world. but, mr. president, a lot has changed since the 1950's. technology has exploded. there are more than ever, ways to hear a variety of

0:51:20 to 0:51:39( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: perspectives and number of issues. there on we have public broadcasting which was nonexis time. we have more than 14,000 am and fm radio station and hundreds of

0:51:40 to 0:51:44( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Thune

0:51:40 to 0:51:46( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: satellite radio stations. we also have the i mr. president.

0:51:45 to 0:54:34( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Daniel Inouye

0:51:47 to 0:52:07( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: and as i stated earlier, the f.c. repealed a provision in 1987 and has no plans to reinstate this doctrine. the attempt to take an iss on which a vast majority of the members of this chamber voted in agreement last week and offer it to an unrelated bill of

0:52:08 to 0:52:28( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: significant day-to-day operation of our government. mr. president, it does not belong in this bill. and so i urge my colleagues to oppose this matter so we can send of the united states. mr. president, i would like to

0:52:29 to 0:52:49( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: speak on another amendment. this is amendment 604. the bill before us, mr. president, the omnibus appropriations bill, would provide funding for the majority of federal departments which have been funded continuing resolution since

0:52:50 to 0:53:10( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: october of 2008. this bill, the omnibus bill, is not an authorization bill. at the request of both the chairman and ranking member of the authorizing committee of jurisdiction, this bill includes a simple one-year extension of

0:53:11 to 0:53:31( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: the e-verify employment verification system known as the basic pilot program and includes a program. the appropriations committee chose not to controversial authorization measures associated with the

0:53:32 to 0:53:52( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: program but, rather, the extensio omnibus appropriations bill provides the authorizing committee ample time during this session of the congress to consider the authorizing legislation contained in this amendment. the continuing

0:53:53 to 0:54:14( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: expires at midnight, this friday, march 6th. therefore, i urge my colleagues to oppose this authorization language particularly since this bill provides time to the authorizing committees to address the issues through the authorizing process.

0:54:15 to 0:54:37( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: mr. president, i oppose that amendment. and now if i may i would speak on another amendnt. this is amendment number 674 which would prohibit the use of funds to implement executive

0:54:35 to 0:54:39( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Thune

0:54:38 to 0:54:41( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: order 13496, which was issued on

0:54:40 to 0:57:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Daniel Inouye

0:54:42 to 0:55:07( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: january 30th of this year. this executive order requires federal contractors to post a notice informi their existing labor rights under the federal labor the pending amendment, however, prohibits president obama's order from being implemented

0:55:09 to 0:55:29( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: unless it uses the language as the prejudge order issued by george w. bush, in 2001. mr. president, this executive order required federal contractors to post the federal labor rights notice but that

0:55:30 to 0:55:51( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: notice, mr. provided one-sided material about the right to not join a union or pay certain union dues. president obama's executive order does not limit the notice to pro or anti union material

0:55:52 to 0:56:12( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: and it does not dictated what specific language must be used. it simply requires the department of labor to issue guidelines within 120 days from january 30th of this year about the notice and for the

0:56:13 to 0:56:34( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: notice to be more comprehensive and informative than executive order. the one-sided executive order for the previous administration being restored defies logic, mr. president. mr. president, many new federally funded projects to improve our nation's

0:56:35 to 0:56:55( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: productive labor relations are more important than ever. ensuring the workers are aware of their rights promotes better labor and the contractors. federal law gives the president discretion to determine what's in this notice.

0:56:56 to 0:57:17( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: president obama's -- president bush exercised the right during the eight years he served and issued an executive order on this matter that many of us in this chamber believed to be one-sided. president obama deserves the same authority and discretion that was afford to president obama to issue executive orders.

0:57:18 to 0:57:40( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: the congress should not take stops to intercede on this matter by passi and therefore i urge my colleagues to vote "no." mr. president, i yield the

0:57:41 to 0:57:56( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: floor. a senator: i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.

0:58:10 to 1:09:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Ensign

0:58:13 to 0:58:33( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: quorum call: mr. ensign: ask unanimous consent the call of the quorum be dispensed. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. the senator from nevada. mr. ensign: mr. president, i want to get up and talk once again about my amendment dealing with the schlorship program that we have here in the district of

0:58:34 to 0:58:55( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: columbia. currently, 1,700 children from lower income families are a to attend a private school with a $7,500 voucher because of the program we implemented about five years ago. it seems the number one priority for the national education

0:58:56 to 0:59:17( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: association, one of the largest unions in the country, is to eliminate this program. talking about real children here. these are two of the kids who attend school with president obama's children. it's a great the president and mrs. obama

0:59:18 to 0:59:39( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: could afford to san their kids to any - school. after seeing some of the statistics on the d.c. public schools, they decided not to send their children to a public school. why should these two kids who

0:59:40 to 1:00:01( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: are happy, healthy and learning at this school that the president's children are attending, why should they be yanked out of the school? what the bill does that is before us, it allows the program for one more year. if i it is not reauthorized and the d.c. city council has to

1:00:02 to 1:00:22( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: approve the program, then these kids will be yanked out of the schools where they're happy, healthy, and learning. mr. president, i quoted statistics earlier, that about half of all senators have chosen to send their children to public schools -- or, to private schools. about half.

1:00:23 to 1:00:46( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: that's about four times the rate of the general population. it shouldn't just be for a privileged few. we should be able to send kids like sarah and james here to the schools where they can get a better education, where they're safer. just to talk about the safety in

1:00:47 to 1:01:07( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: the schools, half -- one half of all teenagers in d.c. public schools have enough crime incidents on their records to classified as "persistently dangerous." a shocking statistic:

1:01:08 to 1:01:28( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: over 6,500 crimes were committed in the d.c. public schools in the school year. this is according to the d.c. metro police department -- in the school year of 2006-2007. over 6,500 crimes were committed committed. too many of these schools are

1:01:29 to 1:01:51( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: not safe, and they're not teaching the children here. it really is a civil right to get a good education, and so what we did is we came up with a plan a few years ago to take up to 2,000 poor children in the metro d.c. area here and be able to send them to a school of

1:01:52 to 1:02:13( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: their parents' choice. washington, d.c., per student spends the most of any school district in america. i'm not aware of any -- if there is, there's maybe one or two that might be up with them, but they spend over $15,000 a year per student per year. three times as much as what we,

1:02:14 to 1:02:34( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: aspend in my home state of nevada. and yet the public schools are failing here. so we said, let's design a program to see if maybe we can help some of those kids and, by the way, maybe if it works, as a pilot projectmaybe we can expand it to other places. well the national education association has come out with their number-one priority is to

1:02:35 to 1:02:56( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: destroy this program. my question is why? my fear is that they're afraid this program is working. and so it's a threat to their power. it's a threat to union member dues. that's unfortunate because when it comes to education, our only concern should be in the quality

1:02:57 to 1:03:20( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: of education for our children. they need that kind education to compete in the 21st century. mr. president, a couple other kids to tell you about. this is sonja. she lady, happy, getng a great

1:03:21 to 1:03:42( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: education in private school here here. and tod she has a 3.95 g.p.a. she is the vice president of her class. she is the captain of her soccer team, a player on the la crosse team, president of the international club, and she is a peer minister. this is the kind of kid who is a future leader that we're going

1:03:43 to 1:04:03( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: to be taking out of the school that she loves. if this bill is enacted without my amendment. rashon, 16 years old -- handsome devil -- started school in 1996. his father had he had him tested

1:04:04 to 1:04:24( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: and found out that he was three years behind his grade level. so a scholarship program provided him the opportunity to go to the dale recta christian day school where rashon said he can now do his classwork with very little help because of the scholarship.

1:04:25 to 1:04:45( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: and his sister dominique, who is 14 years of age, she is now attending the same school, and this is -- these are her words. she says, "i love my school now. and i'm working on my level on my grade." do we really want to take these kids out of their schools? do we really want to do that?

1:04:46 to 1:05:06( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: we have to ask ourselves, do we want to protect this bill and the special interests that this bill is addressing so much that we're actually going t 1,700 children who are lower-income families out of the dishools they're attending today? -- schools that they're attending today? i think it is unconscionable that we're going to be doing it.

1:05:07 to 1:05:27( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: brianna williams is the next little girl we'r about. 9 years old, fourth grade. she loves her school, it's called st. peters. she's getting all a's and b les. she is reading at a level above her grade now. in addition, she plays clarinet in the school band. when she grows up, she wants to

1:05:28 to 1:05:48( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: be a t world. lastly, i want to tell you about ronald. ronald hallasy, he is currently washington, d.c.,'s deputy youth mayor. i had the honor of meeting young man, and i had the hor of meeting his little brother richard. his little brother richard, eight years of age, came to our

1:05:49 to 1:06:12( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: press conference and kind of stole the show. these were two incredibly young men. ronald is -- he runs track, studying physics, mentoring middle school students, and a 10th grader, absolutely loves doing what h