By Linn Grubbstrom
Talk Radio News Service
Before the Senate voted on Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) Environmental Protection Agency disapproval resolution earlier today, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M), called for rejecting the measure, which would block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
“A vote for this resolution would force the United States to use another 450 million barrels of oil, most of which would be imported,” said Udall. “A vote for this resolution would let special interests continue to profit while Americans pay the prices. And a vote for this resolution would put at risk landscapes and water supplies.”
Udall argued that the disaster caused by a massive oil spill almost two months ago in the Gulf of Mexico should be enough of a warning sign to reject the resolution. Merkley added that the only benefactors of the resolution would be large oil companies.
“What benefits Big Oil is not in the interests of the citizens of the United States, not in the interests of the economy of the United States, not in the interests of the national security of the United States,” he said.
Senate rules dictate that Murkowski only needs a simple majority of votes to pass her resolution. So far, the Alaska Republican has 40 co-sponsors, including three Democrats — Sens. Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Mary Landrieu (La.).
Update: Murkowski’s resolution was defeated on Thursday by a vote of 47-53.

The United Nations Security Council has imposed yet another round of sanctions on Iran. This is the fourth round of sanctions –not necessarily tougher, but set up to make travel, cargo inspections and trade more difficult for the Islamic Republic.
The United States took the lead to impose this latest round, as talks between the two nations broke down several times in recent months. A trip to Iran last month by two non-permanent members of the Security Council, Turkey and Brazil, made little difference to the United States–even after Iran agreed to a “Tehran Declaration”–and an exchange for nuclear fuel.
In an immediate response to the brokered deal by Turkey and Brazil, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton stated “Iran continues to defy the UN Security Council and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency).”
The latest round of sanctions, being labeled as a “last resort”, received widespread support, most significantly, from Russia and China. Both countries share a strong relationship with Iran on oil and natural gas deals.
A statement from the Iranian Mission to the United Nations released yesterday underscored the country’s willingness to cooperate with Turkey and Brazil on the nuclear fuel exchange deal. Iranian UN Ambassador Khazaee, added:
“During the past several days, particularly yesterday and today, some Security Council members were pushing the Council to meet to adopt a resolution against Iran. These measures have been taken at a time when the Tehran Declaration was agreed upon through extensive cooperation with two non-permanent members of the Security Council, and was expected to result in furthering transaction, and more constructive cooperation at the regional and international levels. Should the objectives of Tehran Declaration be materialized, it would give impetus the optimism of the Iranian people regarding the intention of those countries who consider the fuel swap as a confidence-building measure. But unfortunately, I should say that from the point of view of the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, these hasty measures are mere deviation from the path of constructive transaction and an indicative of the fact that the other parties rather prefer confrontation.”
The Tehran Declaration underscores Iran’s agreement to ship its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in return for nuclear fuel for a reactor for research purposes only. The Security Council resolution outlines Iran has now reached up to 20 percent of its uranium enrichment goals.
This week, on the eve of Security Council sanctions, France, the United States and Russia, known as the Vienna Group, handed over their demands to the IAEA’s Director-General Yukiya Amano and urged the Organization to fully reject Iran’s proposal for nuclear fuel exchange. United States Ambassador Glyn Davies told the IAEA’s 35-member board of governors the Tehran Declaration fails in several ways:
“It does not address the underlying issue of Iran’s non-compliance with its non-proliferation obligations. It also does not take into account Iran’s production or retention of nearly 20 percent enriched uranium and it asserts a right for Iran to engage in enrichment activities.”
Russia and China’s influence on the overall outcome of the sanction vote did prevent Iran from getting slapped with an oil embargo which would have been devastating for a country with a broken economy and rampant unemployment–12.5 percent and 3.5 million out of work.
Dr. Susan Rice, United States Ambassador to the UN, voiced strong support for Resolution 1929.
“These sanctions are not directed at the Iranian people… It is a strong, broad based resolution that will impose meaningful and significant new sanctions on Iran. Our aim remains to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program and negotiate constructively and in earnest with the international community. ”
The overall outcome from the Council today (12 pro, 2 against, 1 abstention), supported the call for Iran to end all of its nuclear weapons capabilities. Brazil, however, rejected the resolution citing that sanctions will cripple Iran’s economy and lead to a future scenario mirrored by the case in Iraq. Brazil’s representative said “no time has been given” to the Vienna’s Group’s call nor to the Tehran Declaration.
UN representatives from Turkey also voted against the resolution.
“The Tehran Declaration has created a new reality with respect to Iran’s nuclear program. The Declaration provides a new and important window of opportunity for diplomacy. Adoption of sanctions would negatively effect negotiations with Iran.”
Turkey’s Ambassador proposed that efforts have to continue towards a resolution regardless of the adoption of the vote today.
Lebanon abstained to vote.
Some critics of the US approach say the brokered deal between Iran, Turkey and Brazil would have been a positive step forward to opening talks with Iran. They believe this latest round of sanctions will even further isolate Iran and harm progress on future negotiations with the country.

Admiral Thad Allen, the National Incident Commander for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, told reporters Tuesday that the response team will soon dispatch representatives to affected states to confirm that BP is reimbursing those hit hard by the ongoing crisis in the Gulf Coast.
“Working claims is not something that’s part of BP’s organizational competency or capacity,” Allen said during a briefing at the Department of Homeland Security. “It’s our responsibility to make sure that’s being done effectively.”
According to the former Coast Guard Commandant, the teams sent to the Gulf states will study data on the claims that have already been filed and look into how the embattled oil giant is handling both personal and business losses.
In addition to probing BP’s economic response, Allen said that both he and Tracy Wareing, a FEMA official tasked with overseeing the claims process, will be meeting with Senior BP officials this week.
On Sunday, BP CEO Tony Hayward stated during an interview with the BBC that the company has responded to every claim. However, according to BP Vice President Darryl Willis, of the 37,000 claims filed, only 18,000 have been paid.

Veteran White House corespondent Helen Thomas announced Monday that she will retire after a video surfaced this weekend showing the 89 year old reporter stating that the Jews should “get the hell out of Palestine.”
The video, recorded on a hand-held camera by a Rabbi following a Jewish Heritage event at the White House late May, garnered significant backlash. Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer called for Thomas’ employer, the Hearst Corporation, to fire the reporter and current Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called the remarks “offensive and reprehensible.”
Thomas issued an apology after the video was released, saying that her remarks do not reflect her “heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance.”
“I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians,” Thomas said.
Thomas, who started covering the White House during the final years of the Eisenhower administration, was the longest serving reporter in the press corps and commanded a seat in the center of the briefing room’s front row. She will be ninety in August.

Legal Affairs Correspondent Jay Goodman Tamboli will be covering the release of opinions at the Supreme Court.
White House correspondent Victoria Jones will be covering the 10:00AM briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen
The Washington Bureau Will Be Covering:
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) is holding a discussion on “Can the Peace Process be Saved? Israeli Raid and Abba’s Visit to Washington.” Henri Barkey, a visiting scholar at the CEIP Middle East Program; Michele Dunne, a senior associate at CEIP; Taghreed El-Khodary, scholar at the Middle East Program at CEIP; and Nathan Brown, professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University will be speaking.
Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser to Presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush will deliver an address at a National Press Club Newsmaker Luncheon as part of the Gerald R. Ford Journalism Awards presentation.
Sen. Dick Lugar, (R-Ind.) will hold a news conference to introduce an energy and climate change bill.

by Miles Wolf Tamboli – Talk Radio News
The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Friday that employment grew by 431,000 jobs in May; however, 411,000 of these jobs can be attributed to the temporary governmental employment of Census 2010 workers.
“While these are encouraging developments, we clearly have a very long way to go until the labor market is fully recovered,” said Christina Romer, Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers in a statement.
In the private sector, there was a marginal increase in employment – 41,000 jobs – but this is only a drop in the bucket for the 15 million still left jobless.
However, hidden in this report is a sparkle of optimism. The number of involuntary part-time workers – those who cannot find a full-time job or whose hours had been cut back – fell by about 4 percent to 8.8 million.
This new batch of information shows that, although unemployment has fallen since April, the change has only been nominal and the rate has continued to rise since 2009.
Romer also emphasized that “it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report, positive or negative. … Emphasis should be placed on persistent trends rather than month-to-month fluctuations.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a statement Wednesday defending his military’s raid of a humanitarian flotilla earlier this week and described the individuals attempting to break the Gaza blockade as “violent supporters of terrorism.”
“This wasn’t a love boat,” Netanyahu said. “This was a hate boat. These weren’t pacifists or peace activists.”
The Prime Minister cast Israel’s involvement in the violent confrontation as self defense and added that the videos released following the incident offer “crystal clear” evidence that the soldiers were provoked.
Monday’s raid, which ultimately left nine activists dead, sparked international criticism, a fact Netanyahu bemoaned.
“For many in the international community no evidence is needed. Israel is guilty until proven guilty,” the Prime Minister said. “Israel regrets the loss of life, but we will never apologize for defending ourselves.”

The Washington Bureau Will Be Covering:
-The Muslim American Society (MAS) Freedom Foundation holds a news conference in response to “The Israeli attack on the humanitarian convoy that was sailing to Gaza on May 31.”
-Former Attorney General John Ashcroft delivers an address on “Revisiting Wartime Detention: A Second Chance for the Supreme Court to Strengthen America.”

By Alexa Gitler-Talk Radio News Service
Mark Regev, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyau, defended the Israeli military’s recent actions, explaining that “the naval blockade on Gaza … is a matter of life and death for Israel.”
“As a country, we cannot allow unregulated naval access to the Gaza Strip,” Regev said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday. Regev added that the blockade is an important component in preventing the delivery of rockets and other weapons that could then be used against Israel.
The spokesperson explained that Israel’s policy regarding supplies entering the Gaza strip is that once they are inspected by Israeli forces and are deemed acceptable, they are free to enter the area.
“On average, every week some 15,000 tons of aid reach the Gaza Strip and as far as I know there is no shortage of food, nor of medicines or any vital humanitarian supplies,” Regev said.
In regards to the incident, in which at least nine people were killed and dozens wounded after Israeli military forces boarded a humanitarian flotilla Monday, Regev repeated claims that the soldiers were provoked.
“When there finally was the intervention on the high seas, they chose the path of violence. It wasn’t our side that initiated the violence, it clearly came from those on the boats,” Regev stated.
Regev said that despite the conflict, Israel will continue the peace talks with the Palestinians.
“We seek peace and reconciliation with our Palestinian neighbors, I think containing the threat that Hamas poses can be an important element in moving forward.”

TRNS Reporter Benny Martinez takes an in-depth look at Congress’s historical use of the filibuster. Martinez explores the origins of the filibuster, and speaks with both experts and lawmakers who share their take on how it has impacted government, from the early days of our nation to the present. (5:57)

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