“If anyone believes we are not at war with Al Qaeda, they should review the excerpts of the combatant status review tribunal with Khalid Sheikh Mohommad (KSM),” said Graham. “KSM, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks on America, made it clear he is at war with us. Our nation is engaged in a deadly conflict with a ruthless enemy. These are not common criminals who robbed a liquor store. They are warriors committed to their cause which is the destruction of our nation. When captured, they need to be tried as a military threat under the rules of military law. Military commissions, not federal district court, are appropriate venue for these trials.”

“These are terrorists who have committed heinous acts against our citizens, our country, our allies, and all standards of human decency,” Lieberman said. “This year’s National Defense Authorization Act creates a robust military commission system that surpasses the standards of fundamental fairness and due process required by our own Supreme Court and the Geneva Conventions. We have used military commissions to try war criminals throughout our nation’s history, beginning with their use by our first President, General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. We are at war today, and we should not deviate from our time-honored practice of using military commissions to prosecute violations of the laws of war.”

The Senators introduced the amendment in response to a report released Monday by a joint Department of Justice and Department of Defense Detention Policy Task Force charged with developing options for handling Guantanamo detainees. The Task Force announced the administration’s policy that “There is a presumption that, where feasible, referred case will be prosecuted in an Article III court, in keeping with traditional principles of federal prosecution.” With passage of the Lieberman-Graham amendment, the Senate has sent a strong message that there should be no such presumption. To the contrary, the Senate’s vote reflects that these terrorists are war criminals not common criminals and that they should accordingly be tried by military commission.
]]> http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/lieberman-graham-amendment-passes/feed/ 0 easternbulletin http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/senate-passes-dodd-amendment/ http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/senate-passes-dodd-amendment/#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:00:48 +0000 easternbulletin http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/?p=138 Continue reading →]]> The U.S. Senate has passed an amendment by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) to the National Defense Authorization Bill.  The legislation would change how the Pentagon compensates National Guard members for service provided after fulfillment of their military contract. The amendment passed unanimously last night.

Since 2001, more than 130,000 soldiers and 50,000 National Guardsmen have been held in active duty beyond their contract through a process known as “stop-loss.”  This includes more than 500 Connecticut Army National Guard troops. 

While other soldiers are entitled to payments of $500 for every month their contract is involuntarily extended, current law prevents National Guard personnel from receiving these payments during their training periods before and after their deployment.  Senator Dodd’s amendment corrects this inequity to ensure that all troops stop-lossed from October 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011, are authorized to receive the benefits to which they are entitled

“The stop-loss policy affects not only service members but also their mothers, fathers, spouses, and children who sacrifice so much to support their loved ones,” said Dodd. “All of our troops serving overseas should be eligible for the same pay. My amendment ensures that this happens.  But we have more work to do.  And in the coming months, I intend to fight for additional legislation to make these benefits retroactive to all our National Guardsmen and reservists that have been stop-lossed since 2001.”

Senator Dodd’s amendment is strongly supported by various national veterans and service-member organizations, including the National Guard Association of the United States, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard the United States, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Non-Commissioned Officers Association of the United States and the Association of the United States Navy. 

Blumenthal earlier this month asked AT&T to give state consumers the option to block all third party fees on their phone bills to prevent unauthorized charges. He asked for the block because his office is receiving growing numbers of complaints about fees put on phone bills without consumers’ consent. His office is investigating the practice, which is called “cramming.”

“This major victory for consumers slams the crammers, nipping fraud in the bud,” Blumenthal said. “I am pleased that AT&T listened to my concerns and agreed to let Connecticut customers block all non-AT&T charges. This block is a powerful fraud fighter, scuttling scammer access to consumer bills.

“My office is vigorously and aggressively investigating alleged fraudulent charges on phone bills. If questionable fees appear on your bill, insist the phone company remove the charge and contact my office. I will fight to assure that consumers pay only for services that they want and request.”

Third party charges are typically for various services such as for pay web sites or travel services. The service providers hire so-called “aggregators” who contract with AT&T to put their clients’ charges on AT&T bills.

Scammers use a variety of methods to get their charges on phone bills, including deceptive web ads to trick consumers into signing up.

Consumers with unauthorized charges on their phone bills should call the Attorney General’s Office at (860) 808-5240.

Consumers will be able to request a full block by late September.

“This unanimous vote by the Senate sends the clear message that it is imperative that we have an effective missile defense program given the threats to America and our allies. Just one year after the United States signed an agreement to deploy the Ground-Based Midcourse defense system to Poland and the Czech Republic, the Obama administration says that it considers the GMD system just one of several options—some of which cannot protect the U.S homeland,” Lieberman said. “The Senate today made clear that we will only support alternatives to the current plan that can defend both the United States and our European allies.”

In his floor statement for this amendment, Lieberman discussed a February 2009 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) study titled Options for Deploying Missile Defenses in Europe, which examined the proposed GMD system and some of the alternatives that the Obama administration is considering. This study found that the “[Missile Defense Agency's] proposed system would provide redundant defense from a third interceptor site for all of the continental United States. None of the alternatives considered by CBO provide as much additional defense of the United States.”
]]> http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/missile-defense-amendment-adopted/feed/ 0 easternbulletin http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/new-law-expands-emergency-treatment-of-students/ http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/new-law-expands-emergency-treatment-of-students/#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:00:26 +0000 easternbulletin http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/?p=132 Continue reading →]]> A bill which requires the State Department of Education to adopt regulations regarding the administration of medication by school personnel and student self-medication has been signed into law by the governor. Public Act 09-155: An Act Concerning the Use of Asthmatic Inhalers and Epinephrine Auto-Injectors While at School now allows a child diagnosed with asthma or allergies to have an inhaler or epinephrine auto-injector in their possession at school if a parent or guardian provides authorization from a health care provider who has prescribed a specific medication. The legislation also allows the student to self-administer the medication in an emergency. The new law not only addresses parents and student concerns bout access to emergency treatment by allowing a student to self-administer medication, but it also requires school boards to develop, implement and make public plans to care for students with life-threatening food allergies. These plans must also be updated and reviewed each year.
]]> http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/new-law-expands-emergency-treatment-of-students/feed/ 0 easternbulletin http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/stillman-welcomes-senate-override/ http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/stillman-welcomes-senate-override/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:00:18 +0000 easternbulletin http://easternbulletin.wordpress.com/?p=130 Continue reading →]]> State Senator Andrea L. Stillman (D-Waterford) today voted with a Senate supermajority to override the veto of SB1078, An Act Establishing a Bi-State Long Island Sound Commission. The commission, should New York enact comparable legislation, would have oversight of the ecological impact of proposed commercial and energy projects for the Sound.

Today’s Senate override vote was 31 — 5, highlighting significant Republican support for the measure. The House was to consider an override of its own later today.

“Throughout these troubling economic times it will become increasingly difficult to protect and preserve the Sound and its shoreline from repeated demand for commercial and industrial use, particularly in the area of transmitting power and fuel, because some of those options might potentially generate much-needed revenue,” Senator Stillman warned. “For this reason, and because we remain stewards of the Sound responsible for delivering it to future generations in good condition, we must work with New York officials through some formal means and resist attempts to develop our jointly held, preeminent natural treasure.”

“This permanent, bi-state commission would provide the vehicle for that cooperative effort and we hope our counterparts in New York will agree,” Senator Stillman added.

During this year’s Regular Session this bill was passed unanimously by two legislative committees and each chamber of the General Assembly. It would create a commission with eight members from each state, to meet the first time by October 1, 2009, and at least once every three months thereafter.

“The good health and well-being of Long Island Sound is important to the hundreds of thousands of residents of both states on either side of it, so it makes perfect sense to me to have each state equally represented and equally responsible for this oversight commission,” Senator Stillman said. “In this way we’ll be better able to preserve the Sound, its environmental and aesthetic qualities, and its considerable contributions to the economy of each state.”

“It’s gratifying to see such bipartisan support for this initiative in the face of a gubernatorial veto,” Senator Stillman added. “That speaks to how important this issue is to lawmakers statewide and especially our shoreline constituents.”

            “Thanks to an unusually high level of energy assistance funding last winter, we are able to provide some additional help to families and single adults who are still dealing with the twin effects of high energy prices and a sluggish economy,” Governor Rell said. “This aid will go to people whose homes are heated with electricity or natural gas, since they typically receive less assistance during the winter than people who use heating oil, propane or other ‘deliverable’ fuels.

            “We will also be using a portion of this money to make improvements to furnaces at recipients’ homes,” the Governor said. “These investments will more than pay for themselves over the long term by increasing efficiency and reducing energy expenses.”

            The one-time boost in funding is part of Governor Rell’s larger plan to allocate $28 million in surplus funds from the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Block Grant. The funding can only be allocated to energy programs and the bulk of it – $16 million – must be used by September 30 or the state will be forced to return the money to the federal government. Earlier this week, the Governor announced she was directing up to $2 million in federal energy assistance funding to Connecticut’s extensive network of shelters for the homeless and victims of domestic violence.

            Under the individual assistance plan, the Governor will use $13 million to help about 64,300 energy assistance-eligible households that heat with natural gas or electricity. She directed the Department of Social Services (DSS), which runs the Connecticut energy assistance program, to arrange for the release of federal funds to utility accounts on behalf of the residents.

            The remaining $1 million will go toward repair and replacement of faulty furnaces in the homes of energy assistance recipients. DSS will work with the network of regional community action agencies to identify households in need of this service.

            Connecticut will be able to carry over $12 million of the $28 million in surplus energy assistance funds to help cover winter heating costs for eligible households next winter.

            The two measures announced by the Governor today do not require a state energy plan amendment. The plan to aid emergency shelters does require federal approval, which will be sought after the plan is reviewed by the General Assembly’s Human Services, Appropriations and Energy & Technology Committees.

Congressman Courtney said, “One of the keys to our economic recovery and our nation’s energy independence is, and will continue to be, the development of new and innovative energy technologies. As a leader in fuel cell research and development, our state and the University of Connecticut are well positioned to remain at the forefront of this effort. This funding will support the work needed today to overcome the remaining technical barriers in fuel cell technology and market adoption – and do so using the unmatched knowledge and skill found right here in Connecticut.”

Funding for the Center comes as part of the Energy and Water Appropriations Act passed by the House today. The legislation boosts job creation and provides real solutions to our energy and water quality needs with investments in new technologies, scientific research and conservation efforts. It builds on the investments in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to move America toward energy independence and rebuild our infrastructure – major tenets of the long term economic plan that President Obama laid out and this Congress approved.

The Connecticut Global Fuel Cell Center (CGFCC) has pioneered fuel cell technology since 2001, and is recognized as one of the largest university-based fuel cell centers in the nation. It serves as a research, development and training nexus for more than 40 UCONN faculty and regional fuel cell developers.

Norwich $269,000

New London $239,666

The money is for Economic Development as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Fourteen municipalities in total including the three listed are being provided with funds for a wide range of activities intended to create jobs, provide affordable housing and create local economic opportunities. The awards were released by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development as a part of the Act.

The presentation sponsored by the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation supports efforts to preserve the iconic barns of Connecticut . The trust awarded a total of $81,000 to 15 non-profit organizations, municipalities and private citizens across the state.

Majority Leader Merrill joined Helen Higgins, Executive Director of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, at today’s presentation.

“I am very pleased to be a part of this presentation,” Rep. Merrill said. “It is important that we act to preserve and protect historically significant properties that represent Connecticut ’s and New England ’s unique heritage.”

The Connecticut Trust was established by the General Assembly in 1975 and through education, advocacy, collaboration and support, the Trust assists residents and community organizations throughout the state to preserve, protect and revitalize the state’s historically significant communities.

“I salute the good work of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation,” Rep. Merrill added. “I applaud their effort to increase public awareness of our state’s historic resources and the need to protect them for future generations.”

Rep. Merrill noted that today’s grant presentation to Denise Abercrombie was of particular interest and significance to her because the Majority Leader had earlier owned the property where the barn now stands.

“Thanks to the trust, the barn will be preserved,” Rep. Merrill said.