Weekly Update for Monday, November 20, 2006

Weekly Update for Monday, November 20, 2006

A Seat on the Senate Finance Committee

I'm pleased to announce that I've secured a seat on the Senate Finance Committee, and with it, a central role in formulating new legislation to extend middle class tax cuts, protect social security, and lower health care and prescription drug costs. The Finance Committee has jurisdiction over all tax issues, as well as trade, welfare, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This assignment is a big win for the Northwest and gives our region a vital seat at the table where some of the most important decisions will be made. It's a great opportunity to reduce the ranks of uninsured children in Washington, to help give our state's economy a boost through improved incentives for cutting-edge advancements, and to make everything from college to energy more affordable for Northwest families. I plan to fight to make permanent the state sales tax deduction, the research and development tax credit, and key credits and deductions that help students and families save and pay for college. I'll keep working to deliver health insurance to more uninsured children in Washington state, to make health insurance more affordable for American's families, and to stand up for our state at every turn.

In addition to the Finance Committee seat, I'll retain my existing seats on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Commerce Committee, the Small Business Committee, and the Indian Affairs Committee, ensuring that Northwest priorities are heard in Washington, DC.

Demanding Accountability in Iraq Contracts

We need more accountability in Iraq, and that includes close monitoring of the billions of taxpayer dollars we spend each year on reconstruction efforts. Too many Iraqis still don't have adequate access to basic services like electricity, clean water, and sanitation, and efforts to rebuild hospitals and clinics are behind schedule, over-budget, or stalled. That's why the Senate vote last week to keep looking into waste, fraud, and abuse in Iraqi reconstruction by extending the term of the Special Inspector General was so important. Without the extension, which I co-sponsored, the Special Inspector General's term would have expired in less than a year. This office has uncovered mismanagement, waste, fraud, and abuse in reconstruction work, resulting in five arrests and the seizure of more than $17 million in assets. Accountability is key to changing course in Iraq, and extending the Special Inspector General's term is essential to that goal.

Encouraging Media Diversity

Maintaining a diverse range of views and voices in the Northwest is especially important right now as our country's media ownership continues to consolidate. Over the last few months, I've worked to preserve several non-commercial radio stations in our state. Current communications rules clearly state that low-power FM and other secondary stations can receive interference from full-power stations, but cannot cause interference to full-power stations. This means the pending move of two full-power stations to our state would have forced some of these smaller stations off the air, including low-power FM KYRS in Spokane and KMIH, the Mercer Island High School radio station. One of the radio stations broadcasting Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor would also have been forced off the air. To help preserve media diversity, I worked with the FCC and all affected stations to broker arrangements allowing each smaller station to change frequencies and remain on the air. One of the agreements will also allow Bellevue High School's station to increase its broadcasting power. These agreements could only come together because of the strong sense of community among our public and commercial local radio stations, and that's something we need to preserve.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving

Every year we look forward to Thanksgiving. I am grateful for the opportunity to pause, reflect, and relax with family and friends. And I am thankful for the good food, the good times, and good fortune we celebrate during this wonderful season. We honor and thank those who are unable to join us this year, recognizing their sacrifices for our families, our communities, and this great nation. Enjoy a healthy and happy Thanksgiving.

http://cantwell.senate.gov/news/weekly_update.cfm