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Watch Senator McCain talk about Medical Malpractice Reform and how Texas has been instrumental in lowering medical costs and recruiting new physicians.

Watch Mike discuss his amendment to the National Intelligence Authorization Act to audit the Intelligence agencies.  He’s on a mission to audit huge sectors of the federal government.

Mike on a Mission to Audit

Politico
By: Lisa Lerer
February 24, 2010 05:28 AM EST

Republicans, major business groups and a handful of coal-state Democrats are launching a barrage of attacks against the Environmental Protection Agency, hoping to stop new rules that would regulate greenhouse gas emissions across the economy.

In December, EPA officially declared greenhouse gases a danger to public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act. The action was mandated by a 2007 Supreme Court ruling.

The White House has repeatedly said that the administration would prefer to regulate the emissions through congressional legislation — but has also noted that with no legislation in sight, the agency has no choice but to move forward with the new “endangerment” rules. Read the rest of this entry »

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran began making higher-grade nuclear fuel on Tuesday, state television reported, and the Pentagon said the United States wanted a U.N. Security Council resolution on Iran “within weeks” over its nuclear program.

The Islamic Republic, which denies its program has military aims, announced on Sunday it would produce uranium enriched to a level of 20 percent for a Tehran research reactor making medical isotopes for cancer patients.

This followed a failure to agree terms for a proposed nuclear swap with major powers, under which Iran would send most of its low-enriched uranium abroad in return for such fuel.

“Enrichment to 20 percent started in the Natanz facility under the supervision of the (International Atomic Energy Agency),” state television quoted Iranian nuclear agency chief Ali Akbar Salehi as saying.

It said he made the statement at the site of Iran’s enrichment plant in Natanz. Salehi earlier on Tuesday told Reuters that preparatory work had started and that production would officially be launched in the afternoon.

Iran currently enriches uranium to a level of 3.5 percent while 80 percent or more is needed for a nuclear bomb.

The Pentagon said the United States wants the U.N. Security Council to approve a resolution “within weeks, not months,” laying the ground for new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. They would be the fourth set of sanctions.

Despite Iranian denials, Western powers fear Iran is enriching uranium with a view to producing nuclear weapons. Read the rest of this entry »

Mike discusses Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts and the ramifications it will have on President Obama’s agenda.

 

 ScottBrown [3:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The House Members return today for legislative session. Democrat leadership has announced that they plan to bypass a bicameral conference committee to merge both the House and Senate health care bills, and have opted to instead “ping-pong” the Senate bill. Under this strategy, the House will take up the Senate bill and amend it, then send it back to the Senate for final approval. Republicans, including Congressman Conaway, are outraged that the Democrat leadership has chosen to exclude Republican Members in the negotiations and conduct such talks behind closed door. This is a disservice to the American people and certainly conflicts with President Obama and Democrat promises for fairness and transparency.

Major issues must still be resolved between the House and Senate, including: 1) Illegal immigrants’ ability to purchase coverage in the exchange; 2) Federal funding of abortion; 3) The government-run option vs. the federally overseen “Multi-State Plan”/ exchange; 4) Financing the expansion of coverage through a surtax on the “wealthy” and small businesses vs. a union opposed tax on “Cadillac plans” and the Medicare payroll increase for the “wealthy”; and 5) Independent Medicare Advisory Board (IMAB), also known as “MedPAC on Steroids”.

Congressman Conaway stands with the American people in fighting against a government takeover of health care and for reforms that will cut down on the cost of care, allow for individual choice, and maintain quality of care. Sarah Beatty- Senior Legislative Assistant on Healthcare

Hi, my name is Meghan Mayer and I am from Midland, TX. I am currently in my final year at Baylor University where I am majoring in Business Marketing and Management. I have been working in Congressman Conaway’s office since the first week of September and I can’t believe my semester is already up.

I came into this internship not knowing what to expect, and being a business major, I felt unprepared to work in a political office. From the first day I started working, the staff has been patient, helpful, and an absolute joy to work with. Throughout my internship, I have gotten the chance to work closely with each member of the staff, and with their help, I have learned a great deal about everything that goes into the legislative process. This experience as a whole has made a big impact on my life. . In my mind, going to Washington on my own and working with all the different offices and personnel, has prepared me to graduate with confidence. Meghan Mayer-Intern in the Washington DC office

Mike discusses the last bit of work in Congress and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas.

 

 End of Year [4:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mike discusses legislation this week that would expand government control of the financial service industry rather than reform.

 

 financialservice12-11-09 [4:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week the House faces a busy schedule to address several looming deadlines. On Thursday the House will begin consideration of Rep. Barney Frank’s Make Bailouts Permanent bill, a bill that seeks to overhaul the financial service sector with new government regulations and mandates. Also on the floor this week is an extension of several expiring tax breaks such as the production tax credits and the possible consideration of the omnibus appropriation package.

This week Mike is urging Secretary Geithner, President Obama and Speaker Pelosi to allow the unused and returned money from the Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP) to be put towards paying down the deficit. Recently, Bank of America and several larger banks are repaying the funds from TARP. Mike wants to ensure this borrowed money is not recycled and that TARP is formally ended. President Obama is proposing that the unused and returned funds go towards another stimulus. Austin Weatherford- Senior Legislative Assistant to Rep. Mike Conaway