Draft Blanche Lincoln for President

Arkansas News Bureau Covers the "Draft Lincoln" campaign

2005-11-13T01:44:00.000-08:00

Our committee to draft Blanche Lincoln to run for president would like to send a special thank you to Alison Vekshin of the Arkansas News Bureau, for covering our citizen-run campaign to promote a Blanche Lincoln presidential candidacy for 2008.

Read the full news story at:
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/11/12/WashingtonDCBureau/330724.html

Hopefully, Blanche will talk with Democratic donors and constituent groups about considering the possibility of running for president in 2008. Our country needs her.

If Senator Lincoln ultimately decides not to run in 2008, we hope she will still be considered as a possible vice-presidential running mate for a potential Democratic nominee such as Governor Mark Warner of Virginia, U.S. Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, or U.S. Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin.

Lincoln Explains Her Vote in Favor of John Roberts to the American People

2005-09-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

Lincoln Announces Support for John Roberts in Senate Floor Speech

http://lincoln.senate.gov/press_show.cfm?id=246592

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2005
Contact: Drew Goesl (202)224-6436

Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln(D-Ark.) today announced her support to vote in favor of the nomination of John Roberts to fill the vacancy of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist. The following is the text of Lincoln’s remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate, as prepared for delivery:

Mr. President, the consideration of a Supreme Court nomination by the Senate is one of the most important and consequential duties we have as an institution in our system of government. This is especially true when the candidate being considered has been nominated to the position of Chief Justice of the United States.

As the Senate performs its duty under the Constitution with regard to this nominee, I am also mindful that this is the first Supreme Court nominee I have been called upon to evaluate as a Senator from the State of Arkansas. I have no doubt that this is one of the most important nominations that I will consider during my tenure in public service.

Given the import of this decision for the future of this nation and the responsibilities I have to my constituents and my country, I have examined all of the information available about Judge Roberts’ nomination to ensure I have given this matter the full attention it deserves.

In making my decision, I have very carefully and deliberately reviewed the record compiled by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Further, I have considered the views of Arkansans, both those who think Judge Roberts will make a fine Supreme Court Justice and those who have real concerns about the direction he may lead the Court.

I have also met with Judge Roberts privately to get a better sense of who he is as a person, his temperament and what experiences in his life may inform his views and interpretation of the Constitution. Additionally, I have considered the views of his peers and colleagues in the legal community on both sides of the political spectrum who know Judge Roberts and have firsthand knowledge of his work and abilities.

Finally, I have prayed, searched my conscience and reflected on my principles as a Senator for the people of Arkansas, a farmer’s daughter and a wife and mother to make what I believe is the right decision and one that I will have to live with for the rest of my life. I want to say at the outset that this has been one of the hardest decisions I have been called upon to make since I came to the Senate more than six years ago. It has been difficult because the consequences of confirming a new Chief Justice are so profound. Judge Roberts will likely serve on the Court for several decades and I believe he will have more influence on the future of our nation than any Member who serves in this body today.

This decision has also been difficult for me because of the manner in which this Administration has handled this nomination in some respects and many others that have come before it. When President Bush first ran for office in 2000, he told the American people he was a uniter, not a divider. He talked about how well he worked with Democrats as Governor of Texas and that he was going to continue that approach as President to change the tone in Washington.

Sadly, President Bush has not followed through on that promise and judicial nominations are one of the most glaring examples of where his Administration has fallen short. In my opinion, this Administration has gone out of its way to divide this nation and the Senate on judicial nominations which I think is a disservice to our judiciary and the American people.

When the Senate rejected a handful of federal appeals court nominees during the President’s first term in office, I expected a uniter to work with Senators who expressed concerns and nominate other qualified candidates who could win confirmation with broad bipartisan support. Instead, after winning re-election President Bush re-nominated many of the same controversial nominees and essentially dared the Senate to challenge him again.

Reflecting on the last five years, this Administration apparently believes it is better for them politically to pick a fight over judicial nominees than it is to pick qualified nominees who have earned the support and respect from those on both sides of the aisle in the legal community in which they work and in the Senate.

As a pragmatic Democrat who has always been willing to find common ground and work in good faith with members of both parties to serve the best interests of my constituents, I am alarmed by the confrontational approach this Administration has taken.

The founders who created our system of government were very wise and divided the power of appointment and confirmation of federal court judges between the Executive and Legislative Branches of our government.

They did this to ensure only the most qualified candidates who had the confidence of the President and the Senate would be confirmed to a life-time seat on the federal bench.

I truly worry that the political tug of war over the judiciary which President Bush has encouraged threatens to undermine the judicial selection process and with it our framework of checks and balances which has preserved for centuries the rights and freedoms we cherish as Americans.

To work properly, the process depends on mutual trust and respect between the Executive and Legislative Branches, and when that trust and respect is strained, our ability to do our very best as a government to preserve and protect a fair and independent judiciary for future generations is in jeopardy.

So it is into this atmosphere of political confrontation that Judge Roberts was nominated to the Supreme Court. And it is why I have frankly had difficulty separating my profound disappointment with this Administration and the distrust it has fostered from my opinion of Judge Roberts as an individual, a lawyer and potentially the next Chief Justice of the United States.

Ultimately, I have concluded it is unfair to hold Judge Roberts accountable for the actions of the President who appointed him.

As I have set aside the history of the last five years to take a close and careful look at this nominee, it has become apparent to me that Judge Roberts does meet the test I believe we should strive to achieve in the judicial selection process.

After careful thought and deliberation, I have concluded that Judge Roberts is a very smart man who has enormous respect for the law. There is no question in my mind that Judge Roberts has the legal skills and intellect necessary to perform his duties on the Supreme Court. He has impeccable academic credentials and has demonstrated an impressive command of the law and Constitution throughout his professional career and during his recent confirmation hearings.

I also believe that above all else Judge Roberts is devoted to the Constitution and institutional integrity of the Judiciary and the vital role it plays in our system of government. I have no doubt that John Roberts is a Republican like the President who appointed him but I don’t believe his party affiliation will prevent him from giving both sides in each case before the court a fair and impartial hearing.

Simply put, I believe John Roberts cares more about following the law and maintaining respect for the Judiciary than he does about politics or ideology.

I base this conclusion on the respect and support he has earned from lawyers and colleagues on both sides of the aisle who know Judge Roberts well; on the evidence in the record from his own comments and those of his colleagues that he has an abiding respect for the Court’s decisions and understands the value of continuity in the law; and on his distinguished career as a lawyer and advocate before the federal judiciary over many years.

I regret that Judge Roberts has made this decision more difficult than it needed to be by refusing to be more forthcoming about his views on protections in the Constitution for individuals, especially as those protections and guarantees relate to civil rights and gender equality. As many of my colleagues have already mentioned, Judge Roberts wrote several memos when he worked in the Reagan Administration in which he advocated for a narrow application of federal anti-discrimination statutes, specifically the Voting Rights Act and Title IX.

Judge Roberts indicated in his response to questions about these memos during his confirmation hearings that he was representing the views of his client, the Administration, without elaborating on whether he held those same views today.

He stated that he could not say more regarding his views on those subjects because to do so might undermine his ability if confirmed to impartially consider similar cases that are likely to come before the Court.

I believe he could have said more on those and other issues before crossing that line, but I don’t believe Judge Roberts is entirely to blame for failing to be more responsive. The partisan atmosphere which pervades the confirmation process today almost guarantees that Senators are left with no choice but to ask legitimate questions of a Supreme Court nominee they know will not be answered.

So the Senate is left to make a decision based on the limited information provided during the confirmation process and from a nominee’s previous work and life experience.

My vote for John Roberts is by no means an endorsement of his nomination process, nor is it an endorsement of the decision by the Administration to withhold documents from Judge Roberts’ tenure in the Solicitor General’s office during the first Bush Administration that would be helpful to Senators in forming an opinion about this nomination.

These are the type of documents that previous Administrations have made available to the Senate during the consideration of Supreme Court nominees in the past and there is no reason to have not made them available in this instance.

Future nominees to the Supreme Court or any lifetime judicial position may not possess the same outstanding personal qualities and impeccable reputation that help Judge Roberts overcome his failure and the failure of the Administration to respond more fully to legitimate requests for information. Indeed, there have been past nominees who failed to receive Senate confirmation at least partially because they refused to answer questions or release documents.

I have done my level best, despite my misgivings about the actions of this Administration in the past, to fairly and carefully and in good faith evaluate this nomination which is my duty as a United States Senator. I believe I have done that.

It is my hope and expectation that, if confirmed, Judge Roberts will do likewise with respect to every litigant who comes before the Court, especially those who have not experienced the same opportunities with which he has been so richly blessed.

I believe Judge Roberts will do that and therefore I will support his nomination.

In closing, Mr. President, I would like to comment briefly on the future as we move beyond this nomination. When I first ran for office as a young, single woman in the early ‘90s, I did so because I had hope that I could improve my government and make it more responsive to the needs of the citizens in my state.

I have tried my best each day I have been privileged to serve in public office to fulfill that commitment and today I still have great hope for our nation’s future and its government. I also have hope that we can improve the judicial nomination process as we move forward if people of good will on both sides of the aisle will work together in a spirit of cooperation and good faith.

I stand ready to do my part to overcome our differences as a nation because I believe our country is so much stronger if we are united and not divided. As we prepare to consider a 2nd Supreme Court nominee in the coming weeks, I hope President Bush will take that opportunity to do the same.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Senator Lincoln Delivers Weekly Democratic Radio Address (Sep. 24)

2005-09-27T01:53:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of the Arkansas News Bureau:

http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/09/25/WashingtonDCBureau/328912.html

Lincoln delivers Democratic address
Sunday, Sep 25, 2005

By Alison Vekshin
Stephens Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- In a radio address to the nation on Saturday, Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., praised the efforts of Arkansans and others who have helped displaced Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

"It is clear from the way the people of this nation have responded to those in need that we have chosen to help our neighbors rebuild their lives," Lincoln said.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., asked Lincoln to make the speech, which aired Saturday morning on the ABC radio network. Each week, a Democrat is selected to respond to President Bush's weekly radio address.

"I'm especially proud of my home state of Arkansas," Lincoln said. "Our faith community and state officials have seamlessly banded together to find housing and services for our Gulf Coast neighbors in a way that respects their dignity."

Lincoln said people have opened their homes and donated money and materials to assist the storm victims. An estimated 50,000 Katrina evacuees are being sheltered in Arkansas.

"I know this outpouring of support is not limited to my state but can be seen in state after state across our great nation," Lincoln said.

"Hurricane Katrina inspired us to value competence, good governance and compassion," she said. "Above all, it has reminded us that we are connected in unique and lasting ways that transcend race and class. In the end, we are all Americans."

Lincoln's address came as the nation braced for a second large storm, Hurricane Rita, which was expected to strike Texas and Louisiana.

"Living in a democracy, at its core, is about the power to choose," Lincoln said. "We'll be a strong nation because of these hurricanes because we choose to."

Lincoln Proposal Would Cut Medicaid Red Tape

2005-09-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 08, 2005
Contact: Drew Goesl (202)224-6436

Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) today introduced a measure to respond to the dire public health care crisis created by Hurricane Katrina.
"Hurricane Katrina has caused a humanitarian crisis for the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama," Senator Blanche Lincoln said. "Unfortunately, this horrific storm has also caused a public health care crisis for neighboring states like Arkansas. Therefore, we must do all we can to make sure our displaced neighbors can still rely on dependable programs such as Medicaid for critical services. Now is the time to ensure these Americans, as well as the health care providers serving them, are protected from further harm from the consequences of this tragedy."
Behind the state of Texas, Arkansas is receiving the greatest influx of displaced citizens due to Hurricane Katrina.

Lincoln has led efforts in the Senate to ensure that the additional strains being placed on Arkansas’ health care facilities are absorbed in a way that doesn’t compromise patient services or leave Arkansas’ health care providers without adequate funding to treat these new patients.

Under current Medicaid law, individuals are only eligible for program benefits as residents of their home state because program services are paid for by states in conjunction with federal matching dollars. Lincoln said this has left services for patients in states directly affected by Katrina and in those hosting evacuees in jeopardy. Without changes to current law, displaced Medicaid beneficiaries could face delays in establishing their eligibility for Medicaid, putting significant strains on health care providers and state budgets.

Lincoln said she introduced her "Temporary Disaster Relief for Medicaid" proposal to cut much of this government red tape and to allow Katrina survivors to receive needed health care services without delay. Her proposal would: ensure that low-income Katrina survivors are quickly enrolled in Medicaid wherever they find refuge; ensure that providers enrolled in Medicaid who treat these survivors are reimbursed for their services; and ensure that the directly affected states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi) and indirectly-affected states (including Arkansas) are protected by the federal government from the unexpected costs stemming from this rapid increase in Medicaid enrollment.

http://lincoln.senate.gov/press_show.cfm?id=245418

Lincoln leads new environmental initiative

2005-08-16T03:24:00.000-07:00

Lincoln to Chair Bipartisan Working Group to Write ESA Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

August 09, 2005
Contact: Drew Goesl (202) 224-6436

Washington – A bipartisan effort to update and strengthen the Endangered Species Act (ESA) takes a large step forward with assistance from U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). Lincoln and Crapo have partnered to write legislation that will address several areas of the ESA. The two Senators are co-chairing a working group in Congress that is coordinating its efforts with the appropriate committees of jurisdiction in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

“In looking at the ESA and the issues surrounding it, I am convinced that it can be improved,” Lincoln said. “All parties involved recognize the value of biological diversity, and I believe solutions can be found that will better protect species without hindering the rights of landowners. Senator Crapo and I along with many others will work hard to find workable and common-sense solutions that will move us in the right direction.”

Crapo, who has already gathered several Republican supporters, said, “Congress has been examining the ESA for ten years and is ready for a breakthrough that maintains protections and improves recovery for species. This can only be done with commitments from all parties involved; collaboration and cooperation are essential for this effort to be successful. I am pleased that Senator Lincoln has joined with me in this effort. We will continue to seek partnerships with other Senators and Congressmen who share the principles that are directing our legislative efforts. I am committed to resolving long-standing issues with ESA so the law works better for species and for people.”

The five issues under consideration are:

• Incentives – Draft language will provide positive incentives including direct payments to landowners for their commitments to conservation.

• Commitments – The commitment to recovery must be as serious as commitments to protection. We have worked hard over the first 30 years of the Act to protect species. We must build on that with more progress toward recovery.

• State roles – State government can play a stronger role. Involving states involves more wildlife professionals and access to existing relationships with landowners, both of which enlarge the team of people promoting recovery.

• Critical Habitat – Habitat is critical to wildlife, but the Critical Habitat provisions of the Act need reform. Our goal should be to protect and improve habitat in the most effective way possible.

• Science – Just as habitat is fundamental to wildlife, science is fundamental to how we care for wildlife. Science must be credible, reliable, and subject to independent review to provide a more open process for contentious decision making.

Additionally, Lincoln and Crapo agree that any bill to update the Act must build trust and confidence among the members of Congress, state and federal agencies, and interest groups in the private sector. They said, “We will listen to all interests, work to create win-win solutions and draft legislation thoughtfully. The solutions that have worked on the ground will provide the foundation for what we propose to write into law. Our goal is to spark and sustain more active recovery for listed species by working cooperatively with landowners. In doing so, we believe that this will reduce conflict and bring more recovery results.”

At present, Lincoln and Crapo have not specified a time frame for introduction of the measure, which is still being drafted. They intend to introduce the bill in the 109th Congress.

Lincoln/Dewine legislation for Children's Health Care

2005-08-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

LINCOLN, DEWINE WORK TO IMPROVE CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 29, 2005

Contact: Drew Goesl (202) 224-6436

Washington -- U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Mike DeWine (R-OH) today introduced the Advancing Better Coverage and Care for Children’s Health Act (The ABCs for Children’s Health Act) to ensure all eligible children are enrolled in Medicaid and they receive the best care at the appropriate time.

“It's important to do all that we can to provide our children with the best possible start in life,” Senator Lincoln said. “By increasing access to health care and establishing higher quality and performance standards, children in Arkansas and around the country would greatly benefit. Children are our greatest blessing, and we should do all that we can do provide them with the quality of care they need.”

“We’ve made great progress in ensuring there’s a healthcare safety net for lower-income children and children with special needs, and this bill continues that important work,” said Senator DeWine, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee. “We need to make sure eligible children aren’t slipping through the cracks and are enrolled in the appropriate programs while guaranteeing they receive excellent care.”

Medicaid is the single largest insurance provider for children, on average covering half of the care hospitals provide. Therefore, the availability and quality of health care for all children relies on Medicaid’s effectiveness. The ABCs for Children’s Health Act would assist states in maintaining children’s coverage and provide the same investments in quality and performance in children’s health care services that are provided in Medicaid.

The bill would provide matching funds to states for children covered by Medicaid, provide an administrative funding match to update enrollment systems and prohibit waivers of Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment program, which would guarantee a child will receive treatment if a medical problem is discovered.

The bill also ensures federal investment in national and quality and performance measures for children by funding certain Medicaid programs through direct appropriations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The bill would provide $25 million fiscal year 2006, $30 million in fiscal year 2007, and $35 million in each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010.

Finally, the bill assures access to care by rewarding national children’s hospitals that provide critical access to services and voluntarily participate in programs that measure performance standards. To achieve this, the bill would provide $400 million in supplemental federal Medicaid payments to participating children’s hospitals over four years.

Blanche Lincoln's statement on the nomination of John Roberts for the U.S. Supreme Court

2005-07-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

July 19, 2005

"I believe the people of Arkansas and our nation deserve a Supreme Court Justice who is able to fulfill his Constitutional responsibility to interpret and apply the law fairly without political favor or bias," Lincoln said. "I look forward to carefully reviewing the qualifications of Judge John Roberts as the confirmation process moves forward. I will be monitoring the upcoming hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee closely as I evaluate the President’s nominee."

Lincoln's statement on the O'Connor retirement

2005-07-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Statement of Senator Blanche Lincoln on the Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

“As a true pioneer for women everywhere, Sandra Day O’Connor will leave behind a lasting legacy of honor and distinction as our nation’s first female Supreme Court Justice,” Senator Blanche Lincoln said.

“Ending a near quarter-century of service to our nation, Justice O’Connor is an inspiration to generations of women and today she deserves our highest appreciation, admiration and respect. Justice O’Connor is one of our nation’s finest and we as a nation are grateful for her service.

“In light of her announced retirement today, President Bush is faced with a great challenge as he seeks to fill her vacancy and I hope that he takes this opportunity to unite our nation. It is my wish that President Bush do as past Presidents Reagan and Clinton did and choose consensus over confrontation.

“Both the Supreme Court and our nation will be best served by a nomination process that includes cooperation and consultation between President Bush and the Senate as our founding fathers intended.

“I hope that President Bush will nominate a qualified replacement who can set aside his or her personal views to fulfill their Constitutional responsibility and apply the law fairly without political favor or bias.

“I believe this is what the American people expect, and I look forward to the days and weeks ahead as we in the Senate enter this historical period when we are called on to provide advice and consent on the President’s nominee to the nation’s highest court.”

Lincoln's Energy Bill Provisions Include SEFOR Cleanup and Tax Credits Biodiesel Fuel

2005-06-25T00:11:00.000-07:00

Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) announced that the final Senate Energy bill, which could pass as soon as tonight, contains all of her renewable energy measures and authorizes the federal government to clean up a former nuclear reactor in Northwest Arkansas.

“We desperately need to put our nation on a course toward energy independence from foreign oil,” Lincoln said. “This bill will encourage the development of our domestic resources to help meet our energy needs, and give our agricultural producers the incentives they need to use alternative forms of clean-burning energy, like biodiesel. I’m also pleased to once again secure funding to clean up SEFOR, which has threatened public health and the environment in Northwest Arkansas for too long.”

The Senate is currently completing its work on the Energy Policy Act of 2005, an energy bill that will next go to a conference committee of Senate and House negotiators to develop a final, comprehensive energy reform bill.

Earlier this month, Lincoln worked in the Finance Committee to get a package of energy tax incentives included in the tax portion of the Senate Energy bill. She said her measures would encourage the development of alternative fuels; promote more energy-efficient consumption; expand access to natural gas; and give our farmers the incentive to turn their agricultural commodities and waste products into renewable fuels, such as biodiesel.

Lincoln has fought to enact several of the same measures, or variations of them, for the last three years, but partisan politics has stood in the way of a comprehensive national energy policy. Lincoln’s energy provisions in the Senate Energy bill are the following:

SEFOR clean-up – Lincoln has worked for six years to secure federal help to clean up the Southwest Experimental Fast Oxide Reactor (SEFOR), a former experimental nuclear reactor located near Strickler in northwest Arkansas. The site is contaminated with residual radiation, liquid sodium, lead, asbestos, mercury, PCBs, and other environmental contaminants and explosive chemicals. Lincoln’s measure authorizes federal funding to clean up the site, and costs associated with the clean-up have been estimated at approximately $16 million.

SEFOR was built by the Southwest Atomic Energy Associates, a consortium of investor-owned electric utilities, and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission for testing liquid metal fast breeder reactor fuel. SEFOR began operations in 1969 and was permanently shut down in 1972. After the reactor’s useful life, the ownership of the site was transferred to the University of Arkansas. During her six-year Senate tenure, Lincoln has maintained that the federal government helped build SEFOR and should thus bear the cost of cleaning up the environmental blight.

Biodiesel incentives: Would extend tax incentives to encourage the production and use of biodiesel through 2010. Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel produced from renewable sources such as soybean, cottonseed, rice oils or animal fats. Lincoln said that farmers in Arkansas and other farm states will benefit from increased production of this environmentally friendly, biodegradable fuel.

Energy-efficient appliances: Would create tax incentives to encourage appliance manufacturers to produce super energy-efficient washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators. Lincoln said this bill would encourage the development and production of these appliances and allow consumers to benefit from cost and energy savings.

Expanded access to natural gas pipelines: Would encourage companies to construct new natural gas delivery pipelines through tax incentives. Lincoln’s legislation would help ensure that more rural Arkansas consumers have access to natural gas to heat their homes and fuel cooking appliances.

Animal wastes: Would encourage the production of energy from animal waste and rendered fat. Lincoln’s bill would create tax incentives for energy production from alternative sources which include liquid fuels, while at the same time reducing the amount of animal wastes generated in agricultural production.

Turning landfill gas into energy: Would encourage the production of energy from landfill gas. This legislation would establish tax incentives for the additional collection and use of methane gas generated by decomposing garbage from landfills, which can be developed into energy to fuel clean burning vehicles and power generators to produce electricity.

Municipal trash combustion: Would encourage the production of clean, renewable energy from municipal solid waste, while helping communities meet the challenge of trash disposal. This bill would provide tax incentives to produce energy from municipalities’ waste and would save valuable land while significantly reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere.

Small producer incentives: Would offer incentives to small producers of biodiesel and ethanol. These producers are primarily participants in farmer-owned ethanol and biodiesel processing cooperatives. The small producer tax credit would extend tax credits to reflect the growth of these two renewable biofuels. This is the first tax credit ever extended to small producers of biodiesel.

http://lincoln.senate.gov/press_show.cfm?id=239429

Lincoln’s Renewable Energy Measures Advance

2005-06-22T08:06:00.000-07:00

Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln announced today that her package of legislative initiatives to encourage the domestic production of renewable energy sources cleared a significant hurdle in the Senate today.

Lincoln’s initiatives were included in the tax portion of the comprehensive Senate Energy Bill which she helped pass out of the Senate Finance Committee earlier today. She said that initiatives such as hers are needed to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, revamp our nation’s outdated energy policy and help reduce prices at the pump.

“We’re one step closer today to giving our country an energy policy that will encourage the development of our domestic resources to help meet our energy needs, so that we can begin to curb our reliance on foreign sources of energy,” Senator Lincoln said. “This package of tax measures is a necessary step in the right direction to give our agricultural producers the incentives they need to use alternative forms of clean-burning energy, like biodiesel. If we pursue incentives for conservation, energy efficiency, and that encourage a greater use of alternative fuels, we can create new markets for our producers and make these new technologies more affordable for American consumers.”

http://lincoln.senate.gov/press_show.cfm?id=239179

Lincoln: Senate’s Voice on Lynching Long Overdue

2005-06-15T21:15:00.000-07:00

Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) applauded an anticipated apology from the Senate for its failure to pass an anti-lynching law despite numerous attempts over the course of a century.

The U.S. Senate tonight is poised to pass an historic resolution, which Lincoln co-sponsored, to extend a long overdue apology for the nation’s treatment of lynching victims between 1882 and 1968, when 4742 Americans, mostly African Americans, were killed by lynch mobs. Specifically, the resolution will extend an official apology to victims of lynching and their descendants. It acknowledges the Senate’s failure to enact anti-lynching legislation, and it will it ask that the Senate remember the history of lynching to ensure these tragedies will not be repeated.

“The passage of this resolution will acknowledge a dark period in the history of our nation and the history of the U.S. Senate,” Senator Blanche Lincoln said. “This resolution will help to heal the wounds of a time filled with racial intolerance, hatred and violence, and one that took the lives of 4742 Americans. This was a period when the U.S. Senate stood silent, failing to fulfill its moral and constitutional responsibilities to pass significant legislation that might have prevented many of these deaths.

“Lynching occurred in over 46 states, a number that includes 284 victims documented in Arkansas. While we can never adequately express the deep sympathy and regret in our hearts, I am hopeful this long overdue acknowledgment and apology will bring some sense of solace to the descendants of victims of lynching. This was a moment in our nation’s history that was at odds with the principles upon which we were founded– a moment at odds with our future. When we acknowledge the misdeeds of our past and demonstrate a willingness to learn the lessons from those actions, we build upon the many things that unite us all to make our nation an even greater place to live.”

In order to properly punish lynching perpetrators and eliminate its chilling effect on African Americans, Congress tried on 200 occasions to pass anti-lynching legislation between 1882 and 1968. Over the course of this time period, these proposals had the support of seven U.S. Presidents. Yet in every case when anti-lynching legislation came before the Senate, these efforts were defeated. Senate Resolution 39 was introduced by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and George Allen (R-Va.) and currently has 60 cosponsors.

Blanche helping to fight defense "phase outs"

2005-05-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

Washington – After learning of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s recommendation to phase out 15 F-16 fighter jets from an Air National Guard Fighter Wing in Fort Smith, both of Arkansas U.S. Senators and the U.S. Congressman representing the region vowed today to band together to fight such a measure.

U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, along with Third District U.S. Representative John Boozman reacted to Secretary Rumsfeld’s recommendations to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission, issued in a comprehensive report earlier today. The report which was last issued in 1995 includes the Defense Department’s recommendations to close or realign U.S. military facilities. The report targeted F-16s at military installations across the country including those based at Fort Smith’s 188th Air National Guard Fighter Wing.

All three lawmakers cautioned that today’s BRAC report contains recommendations only, which are still subject to approval by the BRAC Commission, President Bush and Congress before becoming law.

Specifically, the report recommends that seven of the 188th’s F-16 aircraft be relocated to the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, California, and that eight of the 188th’s F-16s be retired. The 188th Air National Guard Fighter Wing currently houses 17 F-16s in Fort Smith. In addition to the reduction in aircraft in Fort Smith, BRAC proposes that the firefighting unit for the 188th be relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma and that the 188th’s home station training site be relocated to Savannah, Georgia. The 188th provides 280 jobs and could lose 78 under today’s BRAC realignment recommendation.

“We’re not going to accept these recommendations without a fight, because this fighter wing means too much to our nation’s defense and to the community of Fort Smith,” Senator Blanche Lincoln said. “We’ve secured millions of dollars over the years to improve and modernize the facilities for the 188th in Fort Smith, and through leadership at the base and strong community involvement it’s become an ideal location to house F-16s and has great potential for future needs of the Air Force. I remain committed to protecting the long-term sustainability of the 188th as the BRAC process moves forward. The men and women of the 188th do an incredible job on behalf of our national defense and I look forward to

Lincoln Proposes Health Care Plan for Small Businesses

2005-05-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

Little Rock – In recognition of “Cover the Uninsured Week 2005,” U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor along with Senator Tom Carper of Delaware today said that helping small businesses better afford health insurance for their employees should be a national priority.

The three Democratic Senators held a press conference this afternoon in front of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce to tout federal legislation introduced by Lincoln and cosponsored by Pryor and Carper to help small businesses with 100 employees or less provide health insurance for their workers. The Senators said that the legislation would give small businesses in Arkansas and nationwide a greater range of affordable health care options for their employees.

“This is the number one issue I hear about from small businesses in Arkansas and it’s something that our working families desperately need help with,” said Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.). “I believe addressing the problem of the uninsured should be a national priority, because it’s getting worse and it will have lasting impacts on our economy if left unaddressed. Small businesses have been forced to drop or dramatically reduce health insurance for their employees, even though they desperately want to offer it. While this bill won’t address every health care need in our nation today, it’s a balanced, common-sense approach to help our small businesses– the true backbone of our communities.”

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Blanche is hopeful that farm cuts will be minimized; but she's not backing down!

2005-04-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

http://lincoln.senate.gov/press_show.cfm?id=236294

Washington – Reacting to statements delivered this morning by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, Senator Blanche Lincoln said she believes the Bush Administration could finally be getting the message that their budget cuts unfairly impact southern row crop farmers.

This morning, before a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Johanns said, “we believe the President has presented a budget that has some reasonable suggestions for reducing the costs of our farm programs. However, we acknowledge that many of these policy proposals, such as the reduction in the payment limit, are quite sensitive. We recognize Congress may have other proposals to achieve these savings, and we are willing to work with the Congress on other cost savings recommendations.”

Lincoln said that these comments were welcome news, but cautioned that the President’s budget still includes numerous cuts that directly affect the quality of life of rural Americans. She pledged to remain vocal in her opposition to his budget, because overall, it unfairly rests the deficit reduction burden on the backs of working families. She pointed to cuts in funding for local and state law enforcement and first responders, along with cuts in economic development initiatives that specifically benefit communities in Arkansas. She said these cuts will be detrimental to rural America.

“Perhaps the Administration has finally begun to hear the roar from the heartland,” Lincoln said. “Secretary Johanns’ comments are welcome news for southern row crop farmers and if he and President Bush are willing to readdress their budget recommendations, then I look forward to working with them to achieve a more equitable compromise. I have no doubt that southern farmers are willing to sacrifice in order to reduce our deficit and to help pay for the war on terrorism, but they’ve been asked to bear a disproportionate share of that burden in the President’s budget. Our spending cuts must be fair– even if it requires rolling back the tax cuts for the ultra wealthy.”

Lincoln has said all along that the President’s budget would impose unreasonable payment limitations and drastically reduce the level of support promised to southern farmers in the 2002 Farm Bill. She pointed out that crops grown in the south require a more costly capitol investment to produce than those produced in other regions. She said the 2002 Farm Bill was negotiated in good faith to give southern growers the flexibility to be more competitive in the global marketplace.

Lincoln, who helped write the 2002 Farm Bill which dictates U.S. agricultural policy for a six-year period, has worked to convince Bush Administration officials that their cuts would devastate southern farmers. She’s maintained that since the Farm Bill is not scheduled to be reauthorized until 2007, it’s unfair to change the rules in the middle of the game.

Since the President’s budget was unveiled in February, Lincoln has advocated to President Bush, Secretary Johanns, as well as Charles Conner, President Bush’s nominee to fill the number two post at the Department of Agriculture, the importance of reducing cuts to southern farmers. Last week, she secured a commitment from the White House for Secretary Johanns to travel to Arkansas so a member of the Bush Administration could get a first hand look at how the President’s budget cuts would impact southern farmers. Secretary Johanns will travel to Arkansas May 23rd at her insistence to meet with farmers regarding the budget, soybean rust and civil rights.

Blanche Working to Fight Meth Abuse

2005-03-24T16:42:00.000-08:00

http://lincoln.senate.gov/press_show.cfm?id=234096

Last night, during the debate on the federal budget in the U.S. Senate, Lincoln offered her amendment to restore $160 million cut by President Bush from the COPS program’s Methamphetamine Enforcement and Clean Up initiative. After a day of lobbying her Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Lincoln’s amendment gained enough support and passed the Senate at approximately 9:00 p.m. Eastern. The legislation will now go to a conference committee of House and Senate negotiators to reconcile the differences between the Senate and House-passed budgets.

First post

2005-03-22T14:51:00.000-08:00

More info on the efforts to draft Blanche Lincoln for president, coming soon!