Media

Republicans may talk a good game, but their actions speak louder than words. Republicans have voted against the critical solutions that must be part of a comprehensive New Direction for Energy Independence. They voted against renewable energy and conservation, responsible domestic oil production, short-term measures to bring down prices now and punish those who are manipulating the oil market, and new requirements that oil companies pay their fair share.

Instead of working on behalf of American families and businesses, the House Republicans' so-called "all of the above" energy plan simply rehashes failed ideas on domestic drilling or proposes ideas that Republicans have repeatedly blocked in the past.

"The lower chamber is commonly called the People's House, but the first female Speaker has made it clear throughout her reign that it is also Pelosi's House."

"Just call her Nancy the Navigator. 'I have always loved longitude,' Nancy Pelosi says before breaking into laughter. 'I love latitude; it's in the stars. But longitude, it's about time. ... Time and clocks and all the rest of that have always been a fascination for me.'"

The Inspector General's findings of widespread politicized and illegal hiring practices at the Justice Department are deeply troubling.

According to the report, illegal political and other improper screening tests were used by senior officials to prevent qualified individuals from serving in vital national security and other career positions at the Justice Department. Most disturbing, the report indicates that these Justice Department hiring practices were an outgrowth of political screening methods employed by the White House.

From the Oversight Committee:

House Passes Bill to Strengthen GAO

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6388, the Government Accountability Office Improvement Act of 2008. Chairman Henry A. Waxman and 18 other committee chairs introduced this legislation to strengthen the Government Accountability Office and restore GAO's authority to pursue litigation if documents are improperly withheld from the agency.

"At a time when our budget deficits are soaring to record levels, we cannot afford to waste billions on poorly managed contracts and bloated federal programs," said Chairman Waxman. "We need a strong GAO to root out waste and corruption."

"Nancy Pelosi is riding high. Coming off a series of legislative wins -- most recently last week, after President Bush backed off his veto threat on a Democrat-backed housing bill -- and entering the homestretch of her first Congress as Speaker, the San Francisco Democrat can scarcely find a flaw in her own performance. Asked to name her greatest accomplishment, she spends six minutes ticking off victories on everything from fuel efficiency to veterans' benefits."