LIEBERMAN: Even though the senator's bill to improve the financial outlook of the U.S. Postal Service failed to move forward last week, he told the Connecticut Mirror that he would work to amend it over the two-week break.
"We're trying everything we can to save this great institution," he said.
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BLUMENTHAL: On Major League Baseball’s opening day, the senator announced details of a rule restricting the use of smokeless tobacco by players, managers, and coaches on and off the field. He also called for more funding of new anti-tobacco ads, which began showing on March 19 as part of a national media campaign.
“This opening day is truly historic because children will no longer see their heroes – baseball’s stars, managers or coaches – with chewing tobacco products on or off the field,” he said according to a press release.
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DELAURO: The congresswoman, who is also co-chair of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, presided over a special hearing Wednesday on the question of curbing rampant oil speculation.
“High oil prices affect every aspect of Americans’ lives — not just the cost of traveling, but of heating homes, food and other purchases,” she said according to a press release. “ The cost of gas is irrefutably affected by rampant speculation in the oil market. Dodd-Frank gave the CFTC broad new authorities to investigate manipulation in the market. We need to ensure the CFTC has the resources it needs to do its job. And we should be strengthening its ability to combat rampant speculation, not working to undermine it as the House Republican Majority has done in its recent budgets. We are here to represent American consumers, not oil speculators.”
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MURPHY: The congressman announced new legislation aimed at helping manufacturers increase energy efficiency and lower their costs. The Manufacturing Assistance Driving Efficiency (MADE) Act will provide federal grants to manufacturers for energy efficiency upgrades in lieu of the existing commercial buildings tax deduction.
"Energy costs can sometimes mean the difference between keeping a factory floor running or shutting its doors," he said in a statement. "As businesses here in Connecticut and across the country work to dig out of this recession, it's critical that they have every possible tool to keep their operations running as efficiently as they can."
“Eye on the Beltway” is a new feature on your local Patch that looks each day at the activities of elected officials in our nation’s capitol from your town and other parts of southwestern Connecticut.
Those officials are:
- Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), a Democrat representing Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Branford, Derby, Durham, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, Naugatuck, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Haven and Woodbridge.
- Rep. Jim Himes (CT-4), a Democrat representing Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Oxford, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton (part), Stamford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport and Wilton.
- Rep. Chris Murphy (CT-5), a Democrat representing Avon, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Burlington, Canaan, Canton, Cheshire, Cornwall, Danbury, Farmington, Goshen, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Meriden, Middlebury, Morris, New Britain, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Norfolk, North Canaan, Plainville, Plymouth, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sharon, Sherman, Simsbury, Southbury, Thomaston, Torrington (part), Warren, Washington, Waterbury (part), Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury.
