Tag Archives: Susan Collins

Articles of Interest

USDA, Dairy Industry Still Arguing Over Changes In Milk Pricing

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By The Huffington Post News Editors

The push for change continues among dairymen wanting to do away with what they say is an “antiquated” milk-pricing system that has long limited their profits.

But disagreements within the industry continue to prevent what many say truly needs to be done; throwing out the existing four-class milk system.

Talks of a new pricing system have been under way for about five years or more, and this month, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, have stressed the need for the next farm bill to include a change in how prices are set.

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From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/usda-milk-pricing-dairy_n_3128360.html

Articles of Interest

Obama Calls Senators In Hopes Of Creating ‘Common Sense’ Caucus On Sequestration

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By The Huffington Post News Editors

By Richard Cowan and Steve Holland
WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) – President Barack Obama, unable to persuade Republicans to accept higher taxes, is attempting to cobble together what he calls a “common-sense caucus” among lawmakers to help resolve U.S. budget woes and push his legislative agenda.
On Monday and in recent days, Obama has made individual phone calls to a number of senators in a search for common ground on $85 billion in budget cuts that went into effect last week, as well as his top priorities like deficit reduction, gun control and an overhaul of U.S. immigration laws.
Gene Sperling, the White House senior economic official, said on the CNN program “State of the Union” on Sunday that Obama was contacting to lawmakers to talk about compromises that could include reforms to both the tax code and entitlement programs, which include Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare healthcare for the elderly and disabled.
It was unclear whether Obama hopes to craft a deal on these two controversial issues this month, as Congress attempts to pass legislation funding most government activities beyond March 27, or the president is eyeing other upcoming budget initiatives this year.
The list of lawmakers Obama contacted include Republican Senators Bob Corker of Tennessee, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Rob Portman of Ohio and Susan Collins of Maine, according to either the senators or congressional aides. The White House declined to confirm the names.
The contacts represent part of Obama‘s emerging strategy on how to press ahead with his agenda after he tried to persuade Republican leaders to accept higher taxes as part of a budget deal that would have avoided the $85 billion in cuts that went into effect on Friday.
Obama wanted what he calls a “balanced” approach, to mix spending cuts with an end to tax loopholes enjoyed mostly by the wealthy as a way to replace the spending cuts known as “sequestration.”
Republicans who control the House of Representatives complained the government is spending too much and rejected his plan, saying they had already agreed to higher taxes at the end of …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Huffington Post

News, Politics, Government

GOP Sen. Susan Collins says she'll oppose Hagel confirmation

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A moderate Republican senator said Wednesday she’ll oppose the confirmation of Chuck Hagel to become President Barack Obama‘s secretary of defense, while other GOP senators signaled they may delay a floor vote on the nomination unless the White House provides more information about the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox News – Politics

News, Politics, Government

GOP senator says she'll oppose Hagel confirmation

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A moderate Republican senator said Wednesday she’ll oppose the confirmation of Chuck Hagel to become President Barack Obama‘s secretary of defense, while other GOP senators signaled they may delay a floor vote on the nomination unless the White House provides more information about the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, had been viewed as a possible supporter of Hagel, but she said Wednesday that his views on the most critical threats facing the United States are “unsettling.”

In a four-page statement, Collins said Hagel was unwilling to ask the European Union to designate Hezbollah a terrorist organization in 2006, and he has been hesitant to back the use of all non-military options, such as unilateral sanctions, to pressure Iran into ceasing its nuclear program.

As Collins voiced her opposition, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., set the stage on Wednesday for a full Senate vote on Hagel’s nomination. Reid filed a motion to limit debate and force a vote, which is expected to be held on Friday. Democrats hold a 55-45 edge in the Senate and have the numbers to confirm Hagel on a majority vote, but would need the support of five Republicans to clear the way for an up-or-down vote on Hagel.

A bitterly divided Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday voted to approve Hagel by a 14-11 vote, with all the panel’s Democrats backing him to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. The committee’s Republicans were unified in their opposition to their onetime colleague, a former two-term Republican senator from Nebraska and twice-wounded Vietnam combat veteran.

“I am unable to support Senator Hagel to be the next secretary of defense because I do not believe his past positions, votes, and statements match the challenges of our time, and his presentations at his (confirmation) hearing did nothing to ease my doubts,” Collins said. “I regret having to reach that conclusion given our personal relationship and my admiration for Senator Hagel‘s military service. But I have concluded that he is not well-suited for the tremendous challenges our country faces during this dangerous era in our history.”

Collins said she would not join in a filibuster to block a final vote.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Wednesday that he would vote against ending debate on Hagel’s nomination to be defense secretary because he wants more information on Obama‘s actions on the night of the Sept. 11 raid on the mission in …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News