Two new ads from Hillary Clinton focus on fears of a recession and claim Clinton is the “person you can depend on to fix the economy.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) offered comments on renewable energy at The Hill’s energy policy breakfast on Wednesday. Nelson also decried Republican posturing on earmarks in response to questions from the audience.

I am grateful to John Edwards for his public service and his enormous contributions to the policy debate during this year’s presidential race. I endorsed him early in this process because of his focus on issues affecting rural America and his support of biofuels and wind energy. These are matters important to my constituents and to the entire country, and I hope rural prosperity and energy security receive the attention they deserve throughout the remainder of the 2008 election. I admire the courageous leadership that John and Elizabeth Edwards have demonstrated throughout the past year, and I know their commitment to working families across the nation will never wane.

Sen. Baucus is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

A lot of economists — and a lot of regular Americans — see that America’s economy is slowing down, and times are getting tougher for a lot of folks. Prices for food, gasoline, and home heating oil have skyrocketed right before our eyes. And there are many Americans — our nation’s senior citizens — whose only source of funds for these necessities is in a once-a-month envelope from the Social Security Administration. And any Social Security beneficiary will tell you she hasn’t seen the amount of her check increase enough to cover today’s rising costs.

This reality is just one reason why, when Congress acts on an economic stimulus package this week, we should insist on a $500 tax rebate for 20 million lower-income seniors who can use this money now.

But a rebate for seniors is more than a feel-good measure. Rebates for 20 million additional seniors will literally help our economic stimulus package work better. Seniors are among the Americans most likely to spend a refund right away and pump cash back into the economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans over 65 are responsible for 14 percent of all consumer spending. Read the rest of this entry »

Rudy Giuliani is a great patriot, a great American, and I hope to see him in a McCain administration as the Director of Homeland Security. He still has so much to offer and our country needs him.

President Bush delivered his seventh and final State of the Union Address to our country on Monday night. He addressed several issues including the ongoing war on terror and several domestic challenges we face as a nation. Each topic was relevant, but as a staunch fiscal conservative and strong supporter of alternative energy sources, I was most interested to hear the President’s comments in those two areas.

The President pledged to reject any spending bill from Congress for 2009 that does not cut the level of earmark spending in half. And he should. The amount of money Congress is spending, and the type of projects we see funded year after year is beyond irresponsible. I also support his decision to issue an Executive Order requiring all federal agencies to ignore any earmark that hasn’t been voted on or approved by Congress. The American people have a right to know what we are spending their money on and they should not tolerate secrecy in spending. The President is right to take a strong stance on this issue and he has my full support in this effort.

One issue that is vital for our national security is that we need to decrease American reliance on foreign energy supplies in addition to lowering the prices at the pump. Read the rest of this entry »

As the President pointed out in his last State of the Union, we can find common ground to support our men and women on the front lines, to make government more accountable, and to boost our economy.  These are the things that the American people sent us to Washington to do and we have an obligation to complete their business.

The Hill’s Alex Bolton analyzes President Bush’s final State of the Union Address.

In his final State of the Union address, President Bush once again addressed the issues most important to Americans.  It is clear that national security, strengthening our economy and ensuring freedom and democracy remain priorities for the President.  It is evident that President Bush will continue working vigorously for the well being of our nation and its citizens.

He urged Congress to pass the economic stimulus package agreed to by both parties and the Administration that will benefit American taxpayers and give our economy a much needed boost.  Today Congress approved this package.  The President also stressed the importance of updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which is critical for our national security.

Another issue the President made clear was the importance of passing Free Trade Agreements with Colombia and Panama.  Read the rest of this entry »

Last night, I sat amongst my colleagues as President Bush gave his final State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. The President addressed the major issues facing our country and discussed a domestic agenda for America, including energy, health care, spending reform, education and immigration. He also spoke of his international agenda, including: the War on Terror, Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and trade with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

The President addressed the major issues facing our country and discussed a domestic agenda for America, including energy, health care, spending reform, education and immigration. He also spoke of his international agenda, including: the War on Terror, Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and trade with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

As always, the number one priority continues to be keeping our homeland secure. U.S., Iraqi and Afghan troops are providing noteworthy successes in the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to achieve significant results, meaning future deployment will be decreased. Read the rest of this entry »