DeGette lauds Salazar for placing greater scrutiny on use of categorical exclusions

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., today lauded Interior Secretary Ken Salazar for sticking to his guns on the issue of categorical exclusions that allow oil and gas companies to skirt environmental regulations for drilling operations on federal lands.

According to Environment and Energy Daily, the Interior Department’s Bureau of More…

Markey Blasts Oil Companies for ‘Carbon Copy’ Safety Plans

At a hearing this morning with executives from five leading oil companies, House Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) lambasted the executives for their companies’ lack of preparation for an oil spill like the one that has been spewing crude into the Gulf of Mexico for 57 days. More…

Mullen and Gates Forcefully Back Repeal of Military’s Gay Ban

The Pentagon’s top civilian and military leadership made an unequivocal and at times emotional appeal Tuesday to end the decades-long ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, and spelled out a year-long process for securing uniformed and congressional support to change the policy.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates More…

Liddy Says Some AIG Employees Will Return Bonuses; Frank Threatens to Subpoena Names

AIG CEO Edward Liddy said today that he’s asked AIG employees who received bonuses larger than $100,000 to give half the money back, and that some AIG employees have agreed to give the entire payment back. But Liddy refused to provide Congress with the names of who’s given back what, More…

RNC Chair Delusionally Confident Coleman Will Win

Most observers agree that Al Franken’s (DFL-Minn.) election to the U.S. Senate is not a matter of if, but when. Not so for newly minted Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, though. Here’s a statement he released this morning:

“I proudly stand in support of Senator Norm Coleman’s pursuit

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Tune Into Blago Extravaganza! Now!!!

If you’re near a television set, pick up your remote and go to CNN or MSNBC right now. In one minute Rod Blagojevich will have the floor of the Illinois State Senate, and the ear of the nation, for an hour and half as he delivers the closing argument to More…

Former Gonzo Deputy Supports Holder for AG

The antagonism to President-elect Barack Obama’s nomination of Eric Holder to attorney general seems to be crumbling, despite Sen. Arlen Specter’s (R-Penn.) best efforts. Today, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a former chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, broke ranks with Senate Republicans and announced he will support Holder. Two former More…

Pentagon Says ‘No Thanks’ To Cleaning Up Military Bases

The Environmental Protection Agency and its beleaguered administrator, Stephen Johnson, have managed to stay out of the news for about two months. But the agency was the focus of a Senate environmental committee hearing yesterday on yet another pollution law being ignored by the Bush administration.

Hearings Set For Wall Street Crisis

On an afternoon where the Dow Jones industrial average sank 440 points, the House oversight committee scheduled two days of hearings to look at a global financial crisis that has no end in sight. The committee has requested Richard Fuld, CEO of the now bankrupt Lehman Brothers investment More…