The TedKennedy.com JournalRecession Takes a Toll on America's WomenWed Apr 23, 04:07 PM
Every American has been hit by the current economic recession in one way or another—home foreclosures, lost jobs, and rising costs of food, gas, and health care. But now it’s becoming clear that the recession is affecting one group particularly hard—women. Last week the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee released a report [PDF] that found America’s women are facing a perfect storm of economic risk. It found:
–Erie Meyer | Permalink Giving needy young children a real head startMon Nov 19, 04:05 PM
When you ask parents what they want to accomplish in life, their answers always include opening doors of opportunity for their children, so they can grow up healthy and safe, graduate from high school and college, and achieve the American dream. –Erie Meyer | Permalink The Surpreme Court's wrong turn -- and how to fix it.Mon Nov 19, 11:04 AM
Last May, the Supreme Court faced a textbook case of pay discrimination. Lilly Ledbetter was one of a few women supervisors working at a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company plant in Gadsden, Alabama, and she remained at the plant despite her bosses’ bias against women. One even told her that “the plant did not need women,” that women “caused problems.” For almost two decades, the company systematically downgraded her performance evaluations to pay her less than male colleagues who performed the same duties. Her pay eventually fell 15 percent to 40 percent behind her male counterparts. –Erie Meyer | Permalink Kennedy on Health Care Votes in 109th CongressMon Dec 11, 09:16 AM
“Tonight, Congress put partisanship aside to do the right thing for the health of millions of Americans. For the thousands of children who would otherwise lose good health care coverage from the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Congress prevented harmful funding shortfalls. –Tom Lopach | Permalink Kennedy on the Do-Nothing CongressFri Dec 8, 11:28 AM
Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the outgoing, Republican, do-nothing Congress, and below are his priorities for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee next year. “Sadly, as American families welcome the holiday season, there are few gifts they can be grateful for from this Republican Do-Nothing Congress. The legislative year ends today with too many broken promises and too much work left undone as Congress leaves town having worked even fewer days than the infamous 1948 “Do-Nothing Congress.” From unfinished appropriation bills to an agenda that hurts American families to a devastating lack of oversight on Katrina and Iraq, this Congress not only failed to deliver but in many ways put our nation on a perilous course. –Tom Lopach | Permalink Kennedy on vote to confirm Robert Gates as Secretary of DefenseTue Dec 5, 06:42 PM
“Although I voted against the nomination of Robert Gates to head the CIA in 1991, I supported his nomination today to be Secretary of Defense because he assured the Committee in today’s hearings that he would be an independent thinker and give candid and frank advice to the President about a way forward in Iraq. –Tom Lopach | Permalink Kennedy on vote to confirm Robert Gates as Secretary of DefenseTue Dec 5, 06:42 PM
“Although I voted against the nomination of Robert Gates to head the CIA in 1991, I supported his nomination today to be Secretary of Defense because he assured the Committee in today’s hearings that he would be an independent thinker and give candid and frank advice to the President about a way forward in Iraq. –Tom Lopach | Permalink The Death of al-ZarqawiThu Jun 8, 10:43 AM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi: “Zarqawi was a vicious terrorist organizer and murderer, and our troops and the Iraqi security forces both deserve great credit for tracking him down. We all hope his death marks the beginning of the end of the strength of the foreign terrorist network in Iraq that has caused so much death and destruction.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink The Federal Marriage AmendmentTue Jun 6, 04:18 PM
“It’s no surprise that the American people are frustrated with the Republican Senate these days. They deserve and want action on the enormous challenges we face as a nation – the endless and costly war in Iraq, the many dangers to our national security, skyrocketing gas prices, soaring health-care costs, the upcoming hurricane season. How we can have safer schools and better care for our children, and so many other urgent issues. But instead of dealing with these real priorities, the Senate Republican leadership is asking us to spend time writing bigotry into the Constitution. Why aren’t we taking up the Defense Authorization Bill, which is so vital to our national security? It provides the authorization for the salaries for our troops in the field, including a 2.2% pay raise. It provides urgently needed equipment for our troops to carry out their missions in humvees with safer body armor. It authorizes the food and supplies our troops need in Iraq and Afghanistan. It contains funds to care for those who are injured or wounded, or who may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when they come home. But the Republican leadership of the Senate has told us that supporting our troops has to wait. Let’s be clear about what this debate is really about. It’s a blatant effort to deny some members of our society the right to receive the same benefits and protections that married couples now have. Like this Senate’s intrusion into the Terry Schiavo case, it is a cynical attempt to score political points by overriding state courts and intruding into individuals’ private lives and most personal decisions. It’s the politics of prejudice and division at its worst.” On the Nomination of General HaydenFri May 26, 09:31 AM
Senator Kennedy: “I voted against General Hayden. I respect General Hayden’s lifetime of public service, and his testimony included some encouraging signs that he learned important lessons from the way intelligence was used to defend the Iraq war. However, I cannot support General Hayden’s nomination in light of the very serious questions about the scope and legality of the NSA domestic surveillance programs that he helped design, implement, and defend. Until there is a full accounting of the surveillance program, I cannot in good conscience support a promotion for its chief architect. We all want the Administration to have strong leaders and the necessary means to gather the best possible intelligence for our foreign policy and national security, especially the war on terrorism. Those critical goals require a Director of Central Intelligence who will work with Congress – not against us – in our efforts to prevent terrorism and improve our national security laws. We must protect the country while preserving our constitutional freedoms.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Cape WindFri Apr 28, 02:20 PM
“I also believe that wind energy has a strong future in our country. There is a broad bipartisan consensus to encourage alternative energy sources, and I support substantial state and federal tax incentives for wind energy development. Along with those incentives, however, offshore developments for alternative energy should be subject to uniform standards of review that include the best interests of the states, businesses and communities that will be directly affected by siting decisions. That kind of review – with uniform standards – has not happened with the proposed Cape Wind development.” Taking Risks To Achieve Real ResultsTue Apr 25, 08:14 AM
Tyrannosaurus Ted?” – The Washington Post “Into his fifth decade in the Senate, he is a dogged, pragmatic practitioner of the legislative arts. Kennedy-McCain on immigration, Kennedy-Romney on health care (the Massachusetts senator worked behind the scenes to get the necessary federal go-ahead and also as an emissary to hostile state Democrats leery of giving Romney a big win)—these aren’t aberrations but simply the most recent examples of Kennedy cross-party collaboration. Which raises the most interesting and unexpected question about Ted Kennedy: Is he a political dinosaur? Not in the usual way that issue comes up—that his brand of unabashed liberalism is outmoded in a “big government is over” age—but in the sense of whether Kennedy-style legislating is outmoded in an age of smackdown partisan politics. In short, unlikely as this sounds: Is Ted Kennedy a starry-eyed naif? It’s easy to understand this point of view, even sympathize with it, but it’s wrong, I think, in the particular and immediate matter of immigration reform. If Democrats right now are more interested in regaining a majority, any majority, than in taking risks to achieve substantive results, that’s understandable, if not laudable. And if they don’t trust Republican assurances—well, history offers ample basis for wariness. But what is the point, really, of being in Congress if you’re not there to at least try to get something done? If you think it’s too dangerous to go to conference because you’re frightened of the results, then what, exactly, have you been elected to do? Between the antics of the leaders on both sides—You’re wrong. No, you are. Well, you started it.—and the prospect of crafting a legislative compromise, put me down in Kennedy’s column.” Red Tide Assistance for Fishermen Applauded by Kennedy and ColleaguesTue Apr 4, 07:56 PM
On March 27, 2006, Senators Kennedy, Kerry, Snowe and Collins wrote Chairman Richard Shelby and Senator Barbara Mikulski of the Appropriations subcommittee which has responsibility for funding the National Marine Fisheries Service to ask that they include $20 million in the fiscal year 2006 supplemental spending bill to assist shellfishermen who experienced economic losses as a result of the 2005 red tide outbreak in New England. Senator Kennedy said, “This is an important step in providing relief to those shellfishermen who were put out of work last year because of a massive red tide outbreak unlike any we’ve had in New England for more than 30 years. I commend Senator Shelby for listening to the New England delegation’s critical request by amending the supplemental budget to allow our shellfishermen to recover economic losses. We must work to ensure that these funds remain in the final bill, but this is a tremendous start.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Kennedy on Strategic Airlift and Sealift IssuesTue Apr 4, 04:45 PM
We are reminded by yesterday’s C-5 crash in Dover that the work we ask our men and women in the Armed Forces to perform can often be dangerous, even when they are not in an active theater of operations. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who survived the incident and with their families. The subject of strategic lift is not a new one for the Subcommittee. Over many years, and with several different individuals holding the chairmanship of this Subcommittee, we have devoted significant energies to the subject of strategic mobility.
Today’s hearing continues the Subcommittee’s strong bipartisan interest in the broader strategic lift policy issues facing the nation today. Our recent experience would indicate to me that the current strategic lift capability needs to be enhanced, despite what we are told of the results of the Mobility Capability Study and the Quadrennial Defense Review. Thank you, again, Mr. Chairman for calling this hearing. –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Senator Kennedy on the Release of Journalist Jill CarrollThu Mar 30, 09:39 AM
“The hearts of all Americans are full of happiness for Jill Carroll. For 82 days, we have prayed for her safety and waited with great anticipation for her release. Today, all Americans are breathing a collective sigh of relief for Jill, her family, and her loved ones. We admire her courage, and we look forward to Jill’s reunion with her family and friends.” Coverage from The Boston Herald, ABC News, and Bloomberg Kennedy Responds to Vice President Cheney's AttacksSun Mar 19, 08:01 PM
Today, on CBS’s Face the Nation, Bob Schieffer asked Vice President Cheney to respond to Senator Kennedy’s statement that the Administration has been dangerously incompetent and its policy in Iraq is not worthy of the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. The Vice President used his usual line of personal attacks by claiming that “what Senator Kennedy reflects is sort of the pre-9/11mentality.” He contended that his past assertions that Americans would be greeted as liberators and that the insurgency was in its last throes “were basically accurate and reflect reality.” Senator Kennedy was the first senator to outline a comprehensive argument against the war and has consistently challenged the Administration’s policies. Today, Vice President Cheney said that “Ted Kennedy has been wrong from the beginning.” In response, Senator Kennedy said, “Vice President Cheney has been consistently wrong about the war in Iraq. He’s called the shots on a dangerously incompetent strategy. He was wrong about the link between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. He was wrong about Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction. He was wrong about America being greeted as liberators. He was wrong about the insurgency being in its last throes. Now he rejects the idea of civil war. The American people understand the clear lessons of 9-11. Al Qaeda is the greatest threat to our national security. The war in Iraq has increased support for Al Qaeda and made America more hated in the world. America is less safe because the Bush Administration lost its focus and waged a war in Iraq we never should have fought.” After the jump is a fact sheet on what Vice President Cheney has asserted in the past and a transcript of the exchange today on CBS. –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Celebrating Ireland and Hoping for PeaceThu Mar 16, 03:37 PM
Senator Kennedy Speaks Out on the Bush BudgetMon Mar 13, 01:23 PM
“Money isn’t everything, but it’s a measure of a nation’s priorities. Budgets are moral documents. They represent who we are, and what we value. Just six weeks ago, the President delivered a State of the Union Address that gave hope to many of us in Congress for a budget that meets the needs of the American people. The President told us that night that “a hopeful society comes to the aid of fellow citizens in times of suffering and emergency – and stays at it until they’re back on their feet.” But the budget before us tells a different story. It fails to meet our security needs. Americans are looking for real security in the face of terrorism. We’ve seen a failed response to Hurricane Katrina, failure in Iraq, a failing grade from the 9/11 Commission, failure on the security of our ports, failure in curbing nuclear power in Iran and North Korea – failure after failure when it comes to our national security. But you would never know it from this budget. Does it prepare us for the next disaster? Does it support a winning strategy in Iraq? Does it fully invest in the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission? Does it secure our ports and inspect every shipping container crossing our shores? When it comes to nuclear weapons, does it provide the resources needed for real nonproliferation? The answer to each one of these questions is no. The Administration and Republicans may talk about national security. But the real record is one of mistake and failure.” Finding Hope Out of Despair in IraqSun Feb 26, 10:43 AM
The Boston Globe has a series of stories on a little boy named Rakan. His parents accidentally killed in front of him and his siblings, Rakan suffered severe injuries. His injuries were followed by a series of events that led to his treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Rakan’s War” – The Boton Globe “On Jan. 18, 2005, as dusk fell in Tal Afar, a scruffy city in northwest Iraq, Rakan Hassan was riding in the family car, heading home after visiting his uncle. His father, Hussein Hassan, a clerk in the local electricity office, was driving faster than usual, trying to beat the curfew, because, after nightfall, in a town crawling with insurgents and US troops, anything could happen. From the back seat, where he was crammed in with three of his sisters, his little brother, and a cousin, Rakan saw the dark figures up ahead, waving. ‘Look!’ Rakan shouted, pointing. But it was too late….” ”...Sitting in front of his computer in his Rockland, Mass., home, Adam Burnieika, a 57-year-old disabled postal worker suffering from throat cancer, read a news account about Marla Ruzicka shortly after her death. Moved by Rakan’s situation, and by Ruzicka’s compassion, Burnieika typed out a three-line letter to US Senator Edward M. Kennedy, enclosing the news story, and urging him to finish her job. ‘You have the power to help,’ he wrote. With those few words Burnieika triggered a remarkable series of events. Of the hundreds of constituent letters that arrive in Kennedy’s Boston office every week, this one was plucked from the pile and made it all the way to the senator’s hands. Kennedy, who has opposed the war in Iraq from the outset, said his reaction was personal, not political. ‘This one got to me,’ he said, sitting in his private office on the third floor of the Capitol Building. Watch Senator Kennedy on NECNWed Feb 22, 08:40 PM
Senator Kennedy was interviewed tonight on NECN’s Chet Curtis show. You can watch the interview here. –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Kennedy Response to the State of the UnionTue Jan 31, 09:31 PM
Tonight, Senator Kennedy issued the following statement in response to President Bush’s State of the Union Address: “Americans want to raise healthy families in safe neighborhoods, and give their children full lives. But today, they’re facing a perfect storm of soaring costs for health care, for home heating oil, for gasoline prices, and for college tuition, a prescription drug fiasco for their parents’ generation, and the shadow of globalization hanging over the workplace. What they see in Washington is a spreading culture of corruption that puts special interests first and people’s interests last. They see pharmaceutical companies’ and insurance companies’ dictation health policy, and 2,000 more Americans becoming uninsured every day. They see Big Oil dictating energy policy, and global warming relegated to the back burner. They endured a botched response to Hurricane Katrina when families in the Gulf Coast needed help the most. They see an endless war in Iraq that America never should have fought. Sadly, President Bush failed to offer credible solutions to the immense challenges facing this nation. Instead he offered empty rhetoric and proposals that will only make the problems worse. On health care, President Bush has ignored the issue for the past five years, and every family in America can feel the impact of his failure. The cure he prescribed tonight will only make a bad situation worse. Like the fiasco of his plan to privatize Social Security, his health savings accounts are a windfall for Wall Street and other special interests and a nightmare for the vast majority of families. Fortunately, the American people know better, and they question the credibility of this President. America’s failure to guarantee the basic right to health care for all our citizens has been one of the great public policy failures in our history, and we must not allow that failure to continue in this new century. Our goal should be an America where no citizen of any age fears the cost of health care, and no employer stops creating jobs because of the high cost of providing health insurance. The obvious answer is to make Medicare available to all. Can anyone doubt that Medicare has been a huge success to the senior citizens for the past 40 years in paying their hospital and doctors’ bills, and the sooner we make it available to all Americans the better. My hope is that a Democratic Congress in November that will pass it and override President Bush’s veto if he continues to fail to see the light. To make this country more competitive, I agree with the President that we must increase our focus on math and science education, and I welcome his interest. But it takes more than State of the Union rhetoric to meet this challenge, and that’s where he falls short time and again. In his past two budgets, he called for absurd reductions in funding for math and science programs at the National Science Foundation. Last year he eliminated funding to support technology in the classroom. Unfortunately, his Administration continues to be the Administration of broken promises and nowhere is that truer than in education, where his No Child Left Behind Act has been starved for funds since he signed it into law in 2002. I hope that this year, after the devastation of the Gulf Coast hurricanes and all that they revealed, that President Bush will devote real resources to helping the poor. Tonight, he barely mentioned the strains that millions of American families face every day with an economy that leaves them out and behind. Tonight, we did not hear that the American dream seems more out of reach for millions of families who work hard and play by the rules. We did not hear that most Americans’ paychecks haven’t increased at all since the President took office, yet costs for essentials such as gas, heat, and health care have climbed so high that families simply can’t make ends meet. And we did not hear of the millions of hard working Americans who deserve a long overdue increase in the minimum wage. The President also said tonight that we need to end our addiction to oil – an idea I welcome if it means he’ll also end his addiction to Big Oil. To live up to that bold statement, the President should insist that his cronies in the oil industry return to the U.S. Treasury a fair share of the immense windfalls they received from sky-high profits. The President pledged that we must not abandon our commitments in Iraq. But he failed to explain why he abandoned those in his Administration who dared to speak the truth about his arrogantly and incompetently managed war. General Shinseki was sidelined because he said we would need more than 200,000 troops for the war. General Riggs was punished for saying that he’d never seen the military as strained in his 39 years of service. For the sake of our troops in Iraq and our standing in the world, it’s time for the President to listen more carefully to the advice of those who disagree with his misguided policy on Iraq. The President’s fifth State of the Union Address was tacked to his fifth year in office: full of empty promises, a growing credibility gap, and a failure to acknowledge that without restoring honesty in government and ending the culture of corruption, the special interests will prevail over those of the American people.” Kennedy on the Passing of Coretta Scott KingTue Jan 31, 08:35 AM
“Coretta Scott King was a driving force, not just for the civil rights movement, but for the great march toward progress. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King awakened the conscience of a nation that began the journey toward equality, knocking down the walls of discrimination based on race, on religion, and on ethnicity. We have all benefited so much from their inspiration and their leadership. Coretta was not only a powerful and charismatic figure and leader for our time, but she was a mother who helped her children grow up to be individuals with a sense of dignity, a sense of pride in their heritage and a strong commitment to do something for someone else. I admire her for that as well, and my thoughts and prayers are with her children today. The signs of bigotry and discrimination are still evident today. They’re much more sophisticated and much more subtle than when Dr. King was facing the police dogs and the beatings that took place in Selma, Montgomery, and in towns and cities across America. There’s no question that we’re a fairer and a better nation because of Dr. King, and I believe what Coretta Scott King would want us to do is continue this march toward progress and not retreat from it.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Alito's Credibility ProblemSat Jan 7, 04:45 PM
Every Supreme Court nominee bears a heavy burden to demonstrate that he or she is committed to the constitutional principles that have been vital in advancing fairness, decency and equal opportunity in our society. As Judge Samuel Alito approaches his confirmation hearings next week, the more we learn about him, the more questions we have about the credibility of his assurances to us. Consider these five areas: 1. 1985 job application : Alito was 35 when he applied for an important political position with Attorney General Ed Meese during the Reagan administration. Alito sought to demonstrate his “philosophical commitment” to Meese’s legal outlook. He wrote that the 1964 Goldwater presidential campaign had been his original political inspiration, even though he was only 14 at the time. His views on the law, he said, were inspired by his “deep disagreement with Warren Court decisions.” He strongly objected to “usurpation by the judiciary” of the powers of the president, and supported the “supremacy” of the elected branches over the judiciary. Not surprisingly, Alito got the job. The views expressed there raise serious concerns about his ability to interpret the Constitution with a fair and open mind. When this embarrassing document came to light, he faced a difficult decision on whether to defend his 1985 views or walk away from them. When I and others met him a short time later, he appeared to be renouncing them—“I was just a 35-year-old seeking a job,” he told me. But now he’s seeking another, far more important job. Is he saying that he did not really mean what he said then? 2. Membership in “Concerned Alumni of Princeton.” In 1972, the year Alito graduated from Princeton University, a group of wealthy alumni formed Concerned Alumni of Princeton (CAP) to resist the growing influx of female, African American, Hispanic and even disabled students who were changing the face of Princeton “as you knew it.” The university’s most famous alumnus of the day, basketball star and later U.S. senator Bill Bradley, was invited into CAP initially but quickly found it “impossible to remain a member” because of CAP’s “right-wing” views. A special committee of alumni, which included future Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, accused CAP of presenting a “distorted and hostile” view of the university. Alito joined CAP about that time, despite its purposes and reputation, and remained a member through 1985, when he cited his CAP membership as another qualification to join the Meese inner circle. In 1987, when he was nominated to be U.S. attorney for New Jersey, and in 1990, when he was nominated for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, he did not mention his CAP membership to the Senate Judiciary Committee or to then-Sen. Bradley, who introduced him to the committee at the nomination hearing and endorsed him “100 percent.” Bradley says today that had he known about Alito’s long membership in CAP he would have had serious questions about it. Alito now says he can’t remember anything at all about CAP. 3. Failure to recuse himself in the Vanguard case : In 1990, during the confirmation process on his nomination to the 3rd Circuit, Alito disclosed that his largest investment was in Vanguard mutual funds. To avoid possible conflicts of interest, he promised us that he would recuse himself from any case involving “the Vanguard companies.” Vanguard continues to be on his recusal list, and his investments in Vanguard funds have risen from tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands. Nevertheless, in 2002 he failed to recuse himself when assigned to sit on a case in which three Vanguard companies were named parties and listed prominently on every brief and on his own pro-Vanguard opinion in the case. In this case, he and the White House have floated many excuses, but none provided any sensible explanation for his failure to keep his promise or follow his “personal practice” of recusing himself whenever there was any possible ethical question about his participation in a case. 4. His pledge to be absolutely impartial where the government is concerned : While chairing his confirmation hearings in 1990, I asked Alito how he could remain neutral in the cases that would come before him as a 3rd Circuit judge after his more than a dozen years of service representing the U.S. government. He stated that he would be “absolutely impartial” in all his cases. But in case after case involving the actions of U.S. marshals, IRS agents and other government officials, he has sided with the government and against the citizens, even when his fellow judges have told him he was off-base. 5. His promise to leave his personal beliefs behind when he became a judge : That’s what he told me in 1990 he would do. But has he? In November 2000, at one of many Federalist Society meetings he spoke at, he indicated that he was a true believer when it came to the society’s longstanding theory of an all-powerful executive. His endorsement of presidential power and his criticism of the Supreme Court for undermining it made clear that his philosophical commitment in 1985 still drives him. Alito’s words and record must credibly demonstrate that he understands and supports the role of the Supreme Court in upholding the progress we’ve made in guaranteeing that all Americans have an equal chance to take their rightful place in the nation’s future. “Credibility” has rarely been an issue for Supreme Court nominees, but it is clearly a major issue for Alito. President Bush's Speech on the EconomyFri Jan 6, 04:06 PM
“Today’s rosy remarks on the economy by President Bush and Vice President Cheney prove only that they’re looking for good news with a microscope. They praise increases in productivity and the gross domestic product, but they ignore the numerous signs that the economy is not working for working Americans. It’s obvious that at the start of this election year, the Bush economy is an albatross for the Administration and Republicans in Congress. People are anxious about their standard of living. Too many Americans face stagnant wages and higher costs of basic necessities. In fact, most people’s paychecks haven’t increased since the President took office, while costs for essentials like gasoline, heat, and health care have been rising so rapidly that countless families can’t make ends meet. The poorest families are hurt the most. It’s shameful that night after night in this wealthy land almost 14 million hungry children still go to bed not knowing where their next meal is coming from. The nation also made a solemn promise to senior citizens through Medicare and Social Security and that promise should not be broken. Americans who have worked their entire lives deserve health care and retirement security, not empty promises and needless worry.” The Administration’s constant response is to grant more tax breaks for the wealthy, slash funds for education and health care, and stonewall a long needed increase in the minimum wage. Hopefully, that will change. To paraphrase the famous saying, nothing concentrates the mind of a Republican Congress more than the knowledge that they’re about to be hanged in November.” •The average American is suffering in the Bush economy. Since Bush took office: Senator Kennedy on the Recess Appointment of Hans von Spakovsky to the FECWed Jan 4, 07:59 PM
“I’m troubled and disappointed by President Bush’s appointment of Hans von Spakovsky to the Federal Election Commission. His record as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights raises serious doubts about his commitment to upholding voting rights for all Americans — a commitment that is essential for anyone appointed to the Commission. Recent reports show that partisan politics in the Civil Rights Division have tainted decisions under the Voting Rights Act. Mr. von Spakovsky participated in these cases, and he may be deeply involved in the political interference that is undermining enforcement of our civil rights laws. By appointing von Spakovsky, the White House missed an opportunity to fill this important position with a person clearly committed to these fundamental rights.” Blue Mass Group has more; Kos has a good rundown as well. [Update]: More here. –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Senator Kennedy on the Recess Appointment of Peter KirsanowWed Jan 4, 07:57 PM
“I’m concerned by President Bush’s decision to bypass the Senate and give a recess appointment to Peter Kirsanow as a member of the National Labor Relations Board. I had made it clear that I was willing to work with the White House and Republicans to confirm a comprehensive package to fill all of the three existing vacancies on the Board. Mr. Kirsanow’s record as a Member of the Commission on Civil Rights raises serious doubts about his fitness for high office and his commitment to fairness for all Americans. He is an ardent foe of basic worker protections, including the minimum wage and prevailing wage laws, and is a vehement opponent of affirmative action. He has also suggested that the internment of Arab-Americans would be imminent in the event of another terrorist attack against the United States. The NLRB is vital in protecting the basic rights of employees across the nation. The last thing the Board needs is a member dedicated to undermining those rights.” A Day in the LifeMon Jan 2, 02:47 PM
NECN has filmed a documentary on Senator Kennedy, discussing his life through the prism of a typical day for him. Watch “Last Liberal Standing” William ProxmireThu Dec 15, 12:15 PM
Former Senator William Proxmire passed away. Known for his strong objection to wasteful governemnt spending as well as his longtime fight to get the United States to officially oppose genocide (he succeeded), he spent his years in the Senate advocating for his convictions and constituents, even when he stood alone. Senator Kennedy on Senator Proxmire’s death: “I’m saddened to learn of Bill’s death and will always remember him as a friend and outstanding Senator. He was a constant profile in courage on countless issues, continually insisting that the Senate live up to its ideals and always willing to wage lonely battles for noble causes. He was appalled that it took so long for America to join the rest of the civilized world on the Genocide Treaty. His Golden Fleece Awards ridiculing special interest pork were legendary. I wish we had more like him.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink A Special Message from Senator Kennedy on Veteran's DayFri Nov 11, 02:46 PM
“On this Veteran’s Day, America stands together to honor the brave men and women whose sacrifices have allowed this country to realize its greatest ideals. Today, hundreds of thousands of our troops are serving in dangerous corners of the world. It’s because of their sacrifice, and the sacrifice of their families that miss them, that we are able to enjoy the values of freedom and equality that our Constitution instills. We owe them our deepest gratitude, and we owe them real policies that are worthy of their sacrifice. Veteran’s Day is a time for Americans to come together and pay tribute to the men and women who have sacrificed in order to defend the United States. They are the soldiers who served in World War II and the Korean War, they served in Vietnam and in the Persian Gulf, they’re in Iraq and Afghanistan, and on bases across the globe, and they have one common purpose—to protect all of us here at home.” Kennedy on the Closed Senate SessionTue Nov 1, 04:37 PM
“All who care about the nation’s security should thank Senator Reid for calling a closed session of the Senate today. Facts are stubborn things, and the facts speak truth to power: the Bush Administration distorted and misrepresented the intelligence to justify a war America never should have fought. There were no weapons of mass destruction, and there was no convincing link between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda. There was no reason whatever to go to war when we did, in the way we did, and for the false reasons we were given. The Senate Republican Majority has obediently stifled any serious investigation about how this happened. We need an investigation, not a cover-up, and its long past time to conduct it fully, fairly, and honestly. I look forward to the report on this extremely serious problem by the bipartisan group of Senators that resulted from today’s closed session.” Kennedy on the Libby IndictmentFri Oct 28, 12:05 PM
“Today is an ominous day for the country, signifying a new low since Watergate in terms of openness and honesty in our government. This is far more than an indictment of an individual. In effect it’s an indictment of the vicious and devious tactics used by the Administration to justify a war we never should have fought. It’s an indictment of the lengths Administration officials were willing to go to cover up their failed intelligence, their distortion on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and their serious blunders on the war. It is an indictment of their vindictive efforts to discredit anyone who challenge their misrepresentations. The American people know the high cost of this misguided war – 2,000 U.S. soldiers dead, more than 15,000 wounded, hundreds of billions of dollars spent with no end in sight, and a continuing shameful effort by the White House to silence those who try to tell the truth about the war. Dissent is the ultimate form of patriotism, and it’s time we return to having an honest discourse in this country about changing direction and paying attention to the needs of the American people. The President should take this opportunity to do everything he can to heal the country by not interfering with the prosecution of this case or the continuing investigation, and by cleaning house at the White House to immunize the country against any further corruption and dishonesty. As the President promised, anyone still in the White House who had anything to do with this scandalous plot or the cover-up should be dismissed immediately, whether or not they have been indicted. Something has to give — America can’t stand three more years of this failed Bush presidency.” LIHEAP Defeat Another Misplaced PriorityThu Oct 20, 02:30 PM
“It’s shameful that the Republican leadership have decided to use a procedural maneuver once again to block emergency funding for LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Almost every Democratic Senator supported this additional funding, but Republican Senators overwhelmingly opposed it and it was defeated. It’s clear that the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress have no intention of addressing the long-term needs of the poor. Time and time again they close their eyes to the 37 million people who live in poverty today. Yesterday, they refused to increase the minimum wage by a modest amount, demonstrating that they seem unconcerned about the 13 million children going to bed hungry every night. There is no excuse for the Republican majority to look the other way—but they do. Winter is rapidly closing in on states across America, and yet even after Hurricane Katrina shocked the nation about the desperate plight of the poor we continue to ignore the urgent need. The time to increase LIHEAP funds is now. We will not give up the fight. We’ll be back again and again and again, until our nation’s neediest families are better protected this winter.” A Plan for the Gulf CoastTue Oct 11, 10:54 AM
Senators Kennedy and Gregg put forth a bipartisan plan to create a new agency to ensure that the Gulf Coast region is equipped to rebuild. They believe that to get the job done right a new agency is needed, led by a non partisan person who has proven organizational skills to coordinate redevelopment efforts and cut through the red tape to ensure that federal funds are deployed swiftly, efficiently and effectively. The Gregg-Kennedy plan puts a strong emphasis on local control, recognizing that while the federal government possesses the necessary resources to rebuild the devastated areas, the state and local officials know the area best and should share the decision making authority. Senator Kennedy's Satatement in Support of the McCain Torture AmendmentWed Oct 5, 12:50 PM
“The President is not an emperor or a king. His Administration is not above the law or accountability and he is certainly not infallible. The single greatest criticism of this Administration’s detention and interrogation policies is that it failed to respect history, the collective wisdom of our career military and State department officials, and that it holds far too expansive a view of Executive Authority. In short, the White House suffers from the arrogance of thinking they knew best and abandoning the long standing rules.” Senator Kennedy's Statement on the Nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme CourtMon Oct 3, 09:29 AM
“As far as we know at this point, Ms. Miers does not have a public record of writings or speeches that would give the Senators and the American people an insight into the kind of justice she would be. Therefore, we urge President Bush to make available to the Committee documents and information relating to Ms. Miers’s service in the White House during both terms of the George W. Bush Presidential Administration and for Mr. Bush during his terms as Governor of the State of Texas. Although the Administration did not provide the Committee with files relating to John Roberts’s service as Deputy Solicitor General of the United States, we were able to receive from the Reagan Library extensive memoranda and files relating to John Roberts’s White House service in the Reagan Administration. The American people are entitled—at a minimum—to the same kind of memoranda and files relating to Ms. Miers.” “The record we have so far is simply insufficient to assess the qualifications of this nominee. While her resume lists impressive qualifications as a practicing attorney, it simply does not give the Senate—or the public—sufficient information to determine her qualifications to be a Supreme Court Justice and her commitment to core constitutional values.” Kennedy Closing Statement on Roberts NominationThu Sep 29, 09:44 AM
“I have thought long and hard about the exchanges I had with Judge Roberts, and I have read and re-read the transcript and the record. And try as I might, I cannot find the evidence to conclude that John Roberts understands the real world impact of court decisions on civil rights and equal rights in this country. And I cannot find the evidence to conclude that a Chief Justice John Roberts would be the kind of inspirational leader who would use his powers of persuasion to bring all the Court along on America’s continued march of progress. Therefore, I do not believe that John Roberts has met the burden of proof necessary to be confirmed by the Senate as Chief Justice of the United States. Sadly, there is ample evidence in John Roberts’ record to indicate that he would turn the clock back on this country’s great march of progress toward equal opportunity for all. The White House has refused to release documents and information from his years in the Reagan Administration and in the first Bush Administration that might indicate otherwise, but without those records, we have no way of knowing. Both in committee and on the floor, some have argued that those of us who oppose John Roberts’s nomination are trying to force a nominee to adopt our “partisan” positions, to support our “causes,” to yield to our “special interest” agendas. But progress towards a freer, fairer nation where “justice for all’ is a reality – not just a pledge in the Constitution – is not a personal “cause,” or a “special interest,” or a “partisan” philosophy or ideology or agenda. For more than half a century, our nation’s progress towards a just society has been a shared goal of both Democrats and Republicans. Since Republican Senate Leader Everett Dirksen led his party in supporting the Civil Rights Act of 1964, equal rights for all has been a consensus cause, not a “partisan cause.” Since Congress adopted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and began the process of spreading true democracy to all Americans, it has been a national goal, not a “special interest” goal. Fulfilling the Founders’ ideals of equality and justice for all is not just a personal ideology, it is America’s ideology. Surely, in the 21st century, anyone who leaves the slightest doubt as to whether he shares it fully, openly and enthusiastically should not be confirmed to any office, let alone the highest judicial office in the land. Our doubts about John Roberts’s commitment to continuing our national progress towards justice was, quite appropriately, a major issue in the committee hearings. The fundamental question was whether his record and his answers suggested that he would be an obstacle to that progress, by treating cases before the Supreme Court in a narrow legalistic way that resists and undermines the extraordinary gains of the past. For all his brilliance and polish, he gave us insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the John Roberts of today is not the ideological activist he clearly was before. The strong evidence from his own hand and mind, the crucial three-year gap in evidence because of Administration’s refusal to release his papers as Deputy Solicitor General, and his grudging and ambiguous answers at the hearing left too many fundamental doubts, and could put the entire nation at risk for decades to come.” Senator Kennedy on John Roberts on the Day of the Senate VoteTue Sep 27, 10:00 AM
Supporting or opposing a Supreme Court nominee is not – and should not be – a partisan issue. Indeed, in my time in the United States Senate, I have voted to confirm nearly twice as many Republican nominees to the high Court as Democratic nominees. To be sure, there are also some nominees that I have opposed. But that opposition was not based on the political party of the President who nominated them, but on the record – or lack of record – of the testimony and writings of each individual nominee. In hindsight, there are some votes – either for or against—that I wish I had cast differently, but each vote reflected my best and considered judgment at the time, based on the information and record before me at the time. That is what the Constitution calls us to do as Senators. Yet some of our friends on the other side of the aisle have tried to portray a vote against John Roberts as a reflexive, partisan vote against any nominee by President Bush. Still others have made the sweeping statement that any Senator who can’t vote for Roberts can’t vote for any nominee of a Republican President. These broad statements are patently wrong and suggest partisan posturing that does serious injustice to the most serious business of giving a lifetime appointment to a Justice on the highest Court in the land. With full appreciation and awareness of the Senate’s solemn obligation to give advice and consent to the this all-important Supreme Court nomination by President Bush, I have read the record, asked questions, re-read record and asked even more questions. But after reviewing the record such as it is, I am unable to support the nomination of John Roberts to be Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.” Kennedy: Medicaid is the "Levee" Protecting Health BenefitsMon Sep 26, 08:35 AM
For tens of thousands of Americans displaced by Katrina — and for millions more across the nation — Medicaid is the levee that protects against a lifetime of ill health. On the Gulf Coast, it’s a lifeline for one in five residents of Louisiana and Mississippi. It heals the physical illnesses and injuries, and also provides the mental health care essential in enabling survivors to cope with the horrors and losses suffered. Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and other public programs for the needy are now more essential than ever, not only on the Gulf Coast but throughout the nation. Every year under the Bush administration, more and more Americans have become uninsured. Almost 1 million more citizens lost their health insurance in the past year alone — a staggering rate of more than 2,000 a day. The number would have risen even higher without Medicaid, whose enrollment increased by 1.6 million last year. Soaring health costs are a major part of the problem. According to a recent report by the Kaiser Foundation, the cost of health insurance rose 9 percent last year, far more than the 2.7 percent increase in inflation. The Bush administration has announced that Part B premiums under Medicare will increase 13 percent next year. Inevitably, these cost increases mean the number of Americans without health insurance will increase as well. A large storm cloud hangs over Medicaid, however. Last spring, the Bush administration and Republicans in Congress proposed reckless and destructive cuts in Medicaid totaling $10 billion over the next five years. Instead, we should clearly be expanding Medicaid to meet the needs of hurricane survivors and low-income fellow citizens across the country. Republican leaders are cynical enough to realize that the public will be revolted by the spectacle of Congress enacting cuts in Medicaid at the very moment that thousands of our fellow citizens need help to heal the wounds caused by the hurricane and the flood. They delayed their effort to repeal the estate tax, and they will almost certainly delay any Medicaid cuts. It makes no sense to allow the administration to wait until the television cameras have left the Gulf Coast and public attention has waned to then go forward with the same drastic cuts. Now is the time for Congress to make an unambiguous commitment, not simply by delaying the proposed cuts in Medicaid, but by canceling them altogether.” Senator Kennedy's Statement to the Judiciary Committee on John RobertsThu Sep 22, 09:08 AM
“We all believe in the rule of law. But that is just the beginning of the conversation when it comes to the meaning of the Constitution. Everyone follows the same text. But the meaning of the text is often imprecise. You must examine the intent of the Framers, the history, and the current reality. And this examination will lead to very different outcomes depending on each Justice’s constitutional world view. Is it a full and generous view of our rights and liberties and of government power to protect the people? Or a narrow and cramped view of those rights and liberties and the government’s power to protect ordinary Americans? Based on the record available, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that Judge Roberts’s view of the rule of law would include as paramount the protection of basic rights. The values and perspectives displayed over and over again in his record cast doubt on his view of voting rights, women’s rights, civil rights, and disability rights. “ Senator Kennedy to Vote No on Roberts NominationWed Sep 21, 08:54 AM
No one is entitled to become Chief Justice of the United States. The confirmation of nominees to our courts – by and with the advice and consent of the Senate – should not require a leap of faith. Nominees must earn their confirmation by providing us with full knowledge of the values and convictions they will bring to decisions that may profoundly affect our progress as a nation toward the ideal of equality. Judge Roberts has not done so. His repeated allegiance to the rule of law reveals little about the values he would bring to the job of Chief Justice of the United States. The record we have shows a clear hostility to our progress toward our common American vision of equal opportunity for all of our citizens. Supporting or opposing nominees to the Supreme Court should not be a partisan question. In my 43 years in the United States Senate, I have supported more nominees for the Supreme Court by Republican presidents than by Democratic presidents. But, there is clear and convincing evidence that John Roberts is the wrong choice for Chief Justice. I oppose the nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Senator Kennedy on His Visit to New OrleansMon Sep 19, 11:34 AM
“On Friday, thirteen of my colleagues and I visited the stricken city of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast to see Katrina’s devastation firsthand and hear from the affected residents. Like so many millions of Americans, I’ve been moved by the news coverage of Katrina and her brutal aftermath for the past three weeks. But nothing I’ve seen on television, nothing I’ve read in the newspapers, and nothing I’ve heard from the survivors we’ve embraced in Massachusetts could prepare me for the staggering scope of the devastation when witnessed first hand. The destruction is massive in its scope. In many areas, the destruction is total. Much of New Orleans is a ghost town. Troops and police patrol eerily quiet streets. The desolation is frighteningly real.” Blogger CallTue Sep 13, 09:32 AM
Senator Kennedy participated in a conversation with a group of liberal bloggers on Monday evening. Talking about the nomination and confirmation hearings of John Roberts, the call focused on the important issues being addressed this week in the Judiciary Committee hearings. Also appearing on the call: Ralph Neas, of People for the American Way Chris Bowers of MyDD, and Armando, resident legal scholar over at Daily Kos. Click here to listen to the call. Senator Kennedy on the Resignation of Michael Brown as Director of FEMAMon Sep 12, 02:36 PM
“The resignation of Michael Brown is an opportunity to turn things around and get it right. We owe that to the people of the Gulf, and we owe it to all Americans to reform FEMA under new leadership and restore it to cabinet-level status. We must rebuild, and we must not hesitate to act in large ways to meet this massive challenge FEMA cannot perform this function, as it has to respond to an average of 30 disasters every year. It cannot provide the kind of leadership and exclusive focus that the people of the Gulf Coast deserve. I have proposed a Gulf Coast Regional Redevelopment Authority, modeled after the Tennessee Valley Authority, to focus our full energies on the challenge of rebuilding the Gulf and ensuring new and continued economic prosperity for all that live there. It should allow governors and mayors and citizens and communities to work together to plan, help fund, and coordinate for the reconstruction of that damaged region. It should be led by an eminent American with cabinet rank who has the trust of the American people and can get things done. The American people deserve no less.” Senator Kennedy's Statement from Today's HELP Committee Hearings on KatrinaThu Sep 8, 08:04 AM
“Congress has a major responsibility to help the survivors of this terrible ordeal rebuild their communities and their lives. Today’s hearing is an important part of meeting that responsibility. The distinguished individuals seated around this table today, and the organizations they represent, have rolled up their sleeves to help those most in need along the Gulf Coast. They have the vision to see what must be done, and the experience to know how to get it done. As we speak, thousands of Americans displaced from their homes are at risk of epidemics – yet only three working hospitals remain in Southeast Louisiana. Thousands more face the silent battles of coping with bereavement and catastrophe. We must restore shattered hospitals, assure access to health care including mental health care, and build communities so that hurricane survivors can live with dignity and hope in homes of their own.” More information on Senator Kennedy’s proposals to help victims of Hurricane Katrina Senator Kennedy's Floor Statement on the Hurricane Katrina Relief EffortsTue Sep 6, 02:38 PM
“History is watching us now, and it will judge our actions. We can’t undo the failures in planning over many years or the failures in the immediate response over the past ten days. But we can resolve to dedicate all of our energies and resources, and our resolve from this point forward to resources to bring about a complete and total recovery for the entire Gulf Coast area, and the men and women and children who’ve endured more than any of us can possibly imagine in this massive tragedy.” Leadership on Katrina ReliefTue Sep 6, 10:26 AM
Dozens of representatives from nationwide relief organizations met with Kennedy this morning and relayed their experiences and recommendations for meeting the challenge of providing support services to a region severely hit with health care, education, economic and structural devastation. These recommendations, along with initial proposals put forth by Kennedy and Chairman Mike Enzi, will result in legislation to assist Hurricane Katrina victims. Senator Kennedy, ranking member of the United State Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, will propose legislative remedies to ensure that hurricane victims will receive critical support in the days and months ahead. Among the proposals offered are initiatives in health care, education and economic relief. Addressing the health care challenges is a top priority as curbing infectious disease in the region and providing mental health outreach and support are immediate concerns that have the ability to affect long-term relief efforts. Senator Kennedy believes that persons affected by the hurricane should be eligible for Medicaid with full Federal reimbursement and waived co-payments, in addition to HHS waiving the income and residency requirements for Medicaid. Kennedy is also working with the mental health community to ensure that evacuees have the resources they need to cope with this disaster. ” Senator Kennedy on the Passing of Chief Justice William RehnquistSun Sep 4, 12:40 AM
“This is a time of great loss for our nation. Vicki and I join the nation in mourning the death of Chief Justice Rehnquist and we hold his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers. Chief Justice Rehnquist served this country with the greatest distinction, and I respected his leadership of the federal judiciary and his strong commitment to the integrity and independence of the courts. We are at a defining moment for the nation. In the midst of great loss and great tragedy, it is a time for America to come together. As we have so many times before, we will continue to move America forward. Our first priority must be to remain focused on relieving the suffering of the victims of Hurricane Katrina and rebuilding those lives, those cities and those communities. The nation’s eyes and hearts and attention are and should be focused on the ongoing tragedy in the South.” Senator Kennedy on the Katrina Disaster Relief EffortsFri Sep 2, 01:46 PM
“The thoughts and prayers of all Americans go out to our fellow citizens facing such tragedy and hardship due to Hurricane Katrina. This is not just a local disaster, but a national tragedy and a national responsibility. The action of Congress in providing $10.5 billion in emergency funds is just a down payment. Clearly, much, much more must be done to rescue victims, provide urgent food and health care, see to security, and begin the hard task of helping people rebuild their lives. But this initial appropriation is a demonstration of our resolve to lend a helping hand to everyone affected by this disaster. But we need to do more. The best-equipped organization in the world capable of responding to a disaster of this enormity is the United States military. As many men and women in uniform as possible should be there rescuing victims, providing food and medical care, and other emergency assistance. The military has the resources necessary to help, and they should be front and center in responding to this crisis. I hope the President sends more troops right away. This is only a beginning, and we will continue to do whatever we can to alleviate the suffering along the Gulf. This is a tremendous national challenge and we need to meet it. We must commit to helping these Americans rebuild their lives even when the waters finally recede.” Senator Kennedy on the AirFri Sep 2, 09:17 AM
Senator Kennedy will be on the air today to talk about Hurricane Katrina, you can hear him on the following stations: Click here to listen to him onWXKS- 1430 AM/ 1200 AM Boston, or you can hear him on WHMP- 1400 AM Springfield. Close To HomeThu Sep 1, 12:59 PM
The disaster unfolding Louisiana is especially personal to Mrs. Kennedy, a native of Lafayette. She is encouraging everyone to give as she and the Senator have to help the relief efforts. “I grew up in Louisiana and have a large family and many friends who are still there. I spent my college and law school years in New Orleans, and I have a special love of that city and her people. So I am feeling this pain in a very personal way. But you don’t have to be from the Gulf Coast to understand the magnitude of the human tragedy that we are witnessing on our television sets every day. In that special, American way, people across our great country are asking what they can do, and how they can help. That’s why I’m writing you.” Senator Kennedy's Radio Address on EducationSat Aug 27, 10:20 AM
“I speak to you today just as elementary, high school and college students are returning to the classroom. It’s a time of great anticipation for millions of families, and also one of great hope. All good parents want the very best for their children. They want them to be happy, fulfilled, and prepared for life. They hope their children will have inspiring teachers in elementary and high school or that they will do well in college this year. Parents know that a good education opens the doors of opportunity to the American Dream. Senator Kennedy To Give Democratic Radio AddressFri Aug 26, 05:41 PM
Senator Kennedy will give a radio address on Saturday morning at 11:00 AM EST. He will discuss education policy. Times and stations for Washington, D.C., and Boston are below – please check your local listings to hear the address in your area. Washington DC WTOP WBZ –Crystal Patterson | Permalink The Abuse of Power Continues - John BoltonMon Aug 1, 07:28 AM
Senator Kennedy on the recess appointment of John Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: “The abuse of power and the cloak of secrecy from the White House continues. It’s bad enough that the Administration stonewalled the Senate by refusing to disclose documents highly relevant to the Bolton nomination. It’s even worse for the Administration to abuse the recess appointment power by making the appointment while Congress is in this five-week recess. It’s a devious maneuver that evades the constitutional requirement of Senate consent and only further darkens the cloud over Mr. Bolton’s credibility at the U.N. It’s shameful and irresponsible for the Administration to go forward with the appointment in the teeth of the revelation that Bolton misled Congress by denying he’d been interviewed in the State Department-CIA investigation of faulty pre-war intelligence on Iraq.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink | [5] IRA To Lay Down ArmsThu Jul 28, 08:40 AM
Senator Kennedy on the IRA announcement: “I welcome today’s IRA statement. Hopefully, this statement means we’re finally nearing the end of this very long process to take guns and criminality out of politics in Northern Ireland once and for all. I look forward to the final act of decommissioning, and the verification that paramilitary activity and criminality have ended, and the all-important restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Peace and violence cannot coexist in Northern Ireland, and all who care about peace and stability look forward to these final actions.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Kennedy Statement on Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'ConnorFri Jul 1, 08:45 AM
“I join the nation in extending my best wishes to Justice O’Connor and thank her for her long and dedicated service to the nation. She was a careful and thoughtful and highly respected member of the Court, a wise judge who served the nation and the constitution well. Justice O’Connor was a mainstream conservative and was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. I hope the President will select someone who meets the high standards that she set, and that can bring the nation together as she did.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink |
 
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Today, in the United States Senate Appropriations Committee, during a mark-up of the Supplemental spending bill, 20 million dollars was allocated to assist New England fishermen who were affected by last year’s red tide outbreak that caused over ten million dollars worth of damages in Massachusetts alone, and millions more in the region.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for calling this hearing, and I join in welcoming our witnesses to the Seapower Subcommittee today. 
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, with his colleagues on the Ireland Executive Committee, Senators Chris Dodd and Susan Collins and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, issued the following statement in celebration of the connection between Ireland and the United States. Kennedy and colleagues also call for progress in the peace process and justice for the murder of Robert McCartney.Paid for and authorized by Kennedy for Senate
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