Monday, May 03, 2004

5:30 Senator Kennedy on Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Cards Senator Kennedy is speaking about the Medicare prescription drug cards that beneficiaries are able to sign up for today.  He is noting that cheaper prices can be found at some pharmacies without the drug card and that the prices could have been much cheaper if the Secretary of Health and Human Serivces had been allowed to negotiate prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. Senator Kennedy used a chart to illustrate this point, which can be viewed here.  5:31:35 PM

5:20 Senator Wyden on Jobs Senator Wyden has been speaking on the plight of many Oregonians who are former information technology workers, but have lost their jobs because of outsourcing.  The Senator said that he supports legislation that would provide assistance to workers displaced by trade so that they could be retrained for other jobs. 5:20:08 PM

5:05 Senator Collins on Manufacturing Senator Collins is speaking on the Senate floor about the loss of manufacturing jobs.  She said that proportionately, no state has been harder hit then her state of Maine.  The Senator noted that earlier this year she introduced a bill that would grow manufacturing and that she is pleased that the JOBS bill includes similar provisions to those that are a part of her bill.  5:04:48 PM

4:40 Senator Sessions on Overtime Senator Sessions is defending the new overtime regulations proposed by the Bush Administration.  He said that the Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, is a woman of decency and that she has listened to the complaints and concerns and she is moving forward.  Senator Sessions yielded to Senator Kennedy for a question regarding the training of members of the military who will not be able to receive overtime under this new rule, and answered that sometimes there can be problems with blanket regulations.  4:42:30 PM

4:05 Senator Bennett on Overtime Regulations Senator Bennett is speaking about Senator Harkin's proposal and why he believes Senators should oppose it.  He said that the overtime regulations have not been updated in almost twenty years and that the Harkin proposal would not be helpful.  Senator Bennett said that the number of jobless claims filed each month are going down and that the economy is coming back very strongly.  4:05:36 PM

3:40 Senator Harkin on Overtime Senator Harkin continued to speak on overtime regulations and the proposal by the Bush Administration.  Under the new rule, he noted, companies who violate overtime laws would only have to pay penalties to the employee and those who work in the same sector of the company, where previously they were required to compensate all workers in the company.  Senator Harkin said it is no wonder that the Wall Street Journal called this rule a win for big business.  Senator Harkin displayed another floor chart, which can be viewed here. 3:41:50 PM

3:20 Senator Harkin on Overtime Senator Harkin has offered an amendment regarding overtime regulations.  The Senator said that the Bush Administration is engaged in a relentless attack on the overtime rights of millions of workers.  Senator Harkin explained that his rule would do two things.  It would retain part of the Administration proposal that would raise the salary threshold for which workers can be considered for overtime pay and it would ensure that any worker currently eligible for overtime would still receive these rights.  Senator Harkin used a floor chart to point out that Americans work more annual work hours than workers in any other country in the world.  For images of this chart, click here and here.  3:20:44 PM

3:12 Senator Thomas on the JOBS Bill Senator Thomas is offering his thoughts on the JOBS bill.  He has said that the Senate needs to stay focused, and that he is growing imaptient with the endless number of issues that are being discussed at inappropriate times.  3:12:25 PM

3:05 Senator Baucus on the JOBS bill Senator Baucus is speaking on the floor about job growth and the recent March statistics.  He noted that while some jobs were created, the number of manufacturing jobs continue to decline.  He also used a floor chart to point out that the number of manufacturing jobs in America is now at the lowest levels than in more than half a century.  Senator Baucus citited these points as reasons why the Senate needs to take action on the JOBS bill.  Senator Baucus illustrated his points with floor charts.  These charts can be viewed by clicking on the following links: chart-1, chart-2, chart-3, chart-4. 3:08:58 PM

2:55 Senator Grassley on the JOBS bill Morning Business has closed and Senator Grassley is speaking about the JOBS bill and international trade agreements.  He said that he was reading an article in the Washington Post this weekend that charged that the United States is being hit with tarrifs while the Senate is dawdling on partisan politics.  2:55:12 PM

1:40 Senator Kyl on Overtime Regulations Senator Kyl of Arizona is speaking about a new rule proposed by the Department of Labor that will exempt some Americans from receiving overtime pay.  The Senator has been defending the proposal, indicating that he believes more people will have access to overtime under this rule.  Senator Harkin is planning to offer an amendment to the JOBS bill, and Senator Kyl stated that he hopes the Senate will quickly deal with the Harkin amendment to move on to other business.  1:39:35 PM

1:30 Senator Bingaman on Iraqi Prisoners Senator Bingaman of New Mexico is speaking about the investigation into the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners.  He has also been speaking about cuts the Bush Administration has proposed in for science and technology programs.  1:31:32 PM

Today's Fun Vermont Trivia Question:  In what Vermont town was Brigham Young, leader of the Mormons, born?  Thursday’s Question: After which famous philosopher and educator, who was born in Burlington, is UVM's Department of Psychology building named? Answer: John Dewey. 10:39:11 AM