Atomic Insights: Democrats increasing interest in nuclear energy

JFK AT THE OAK RIDGE RESEARCH REACTOR

Rod Adams, publisher of Atomic Insights http://www.atomicinsights.com/ observes a growing interest in nuclear energy within Democratic Party circles. Democrats are often stereotyped as anti-nuclear but surveys have shown that rank and file Democratic voters support expansion of nuclear power by a 2 to 1 margin (Rasmussen Reports, August 2005). As Adams points out, great Democrats like Al Gore, Sr. and Henry "Scoop" Jackson were among the original proponents of building nuclear plants to meet our nation's energy needs.

Adams writes in the informative Atomic Insights blog:

For the past 30 years, there has been a perception, sometimes reinforced by actions and statements, that the US Democratic Party is reflexively anti-nuclear. At the same time, it has been the perception, sometimes reinforced with words, if not action, that the Republican Party at least wants to "keep the nuclear option open". When involved in discussions with people in the industry or related academic or government fields, I have tried to persuade people that these perceptions are over simplified and not terribly useful to the continued development of safe, clean, abundant nuclear energy.

I remind people that some of the major political support for the technology in its earliest days came from strong Democrats like Senator Al Gore Sr., Senator Henry M. Jackson and L. Mendel Rivers. I also point out that it was President Ford, not President Carter who initially signed the Executive Order that forced the shutdown of the nuclear fuel recycling industry just when it was getting to a point where it could start operating profitably.

http://tinyurl.com/267zuh

Another article also suggests increasing Democratic backing for expanded nuclear power as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to global warming.

James Hoare
Environment News
Publication Date: February 1, 2007
The Heartland Institute
http://www.heartland.org/

Nuclear power offers a safe and economical way to meet anticipated growth in American energy demand, according to an October 2006 report by the Progressive Policy Institute, a policy arm of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC).

The report, "A Progressive Energy Platform," praises nuclear power as a key weapon against asserted global climate change and air quality concerns.

"Nuclear power holds great potential to be an integral part of a diversified energy portfolio for America," the report states. "It produces no greenhouse gas emissions, so it can help clean up the air and combat climate change."

New Technological Advances

Key to the DLC's support for nuclear power are technological advances that substantially improve on an already impressive safety and environmental record.

"New plant designs promise to produce power more safely and economically than first-generation facilities," the report explains. "For example, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has certified three new designs that would use significantly fewer pumps, pipes, valves, and cables than first-generation facilities.

"That will reduce the plants' complexity, making them easier to inspect and maintain," the report continues. "From a safety perspective, the new plants rely on natural forces such as gravity, natural circulation, and condensation, assuring safe shutdown even in the event of an accident."

The report also notes further advances in nuclear plant design.

"In addition to these three new approved designs," the report adds, "at least four other designs may soon win NRC approval. Among these is the promising modular, 'pebble bed' reactor design. As the name suggests, these smaller plants would use hundreds of thousands of uranium pebbles rather than large cores to generate power. As researchers at MIT recently concluded, these pebbles burn more completely than their traditional counterparts."

Deregulation Needed

The report stresses, however, that technological advances such as pebble bed reactors require a great deal of time to navigate through regulatory processes and actually get built.
As a result, the report encourages Democrats to take action now to remove regulatory hurdles that slow the development and construction process.

"It will take time to bring these next-generation facilities online. Progressives should support efforts to expedite the process," the report urges.

"We certainly welcome the Progressive Policy Institute support," Nuclear Energy Institute spokesman Steve Kerekes said. "It reflects the fact that there is considerable bipartisan support for nuclear energy and there has been such support for a long time.

"We anticipate this report will have a positive impact among Democrats and among citizens as a whole," Kerekes added. "Support for clean, safe, and economical nuclear power continues to build all across America."

http://tinyurl.com/2bcxxn

Will Congressional Democrats take action on trade deficit ?

Two research fellows from the U.S. Business and Industry Council Educational Foundation ask an important question. Will the Democrats move quickly to re-shape our broken trade policies ?

American Economic Alert
Alan Tonelson and Peter KimFriday
January 26, 2007

One of the most widespread political predictions being made in Washington these days is that the new Democratic-controlled Congress will press for big changes in U.S. trade policy. One of the clearest possible tests of the Democrats’ determination to make big fixes – and provide badly needed relief for American producers and their workers – would be the prompt passage of the currency manipulation bill proposed in 2005 by Ohio Democratic Representative Tim Ryan and former House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, a Republican from San Diego now running for president.

The bill’s main provisions would designate China’s (or any other country’s) policy of deeply undervaluing its currency as an illegal subsidy against which American victims can win compensatory tariffs through the U.S. trade law system.

Ryan-Hunter is no cure-all for the damage inflicted on domestic industry by the totality of China’s predatory trade practices. Beijing has displayed the ability and the willingness to shuffle the forms its protectionism takes to keep its trading partners off balance. But the bill would significantly narrow one of China’s most significant unfair advantages and would represent a big step forward in America’s willingness to take necessary defensive action.

Just as important, Ryan-Hunter’s swift passage will create powerful momentum for defeating the president’s request to renew his fast-track trade negotiating authority later this year, and for halting the rest of his outsourcing-centered trade agenda dead in its tracks.

Ryan-Hunter already boasts major political advantages. There’s a strong case that it’s legal under the World Trade Organization’s rules – to the extent that WTO legality can be reliably predicted. And rightly or wrongly, WTO-legality is still an important consideration for legislators.

The measure also attracted more than 170 co-sponsors in the last Congress, and to underscore its bipartisan nature, Ryan and Hunter skillfully maintained a balance between Democratic and Republican supporters. A Senate version was eventually introduced late last September, without co-sponsors, by Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY).

Both bills contain national security provisions, which means that they fall under the purview of the Armed Services committees as well as the traditionally outsourcing-happy House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees. Further, even many domestic manufacturing groups still hesitant to oppose current trade policies broad-brush are enthusiastic about Ryan-Hunter. Therefore, any Congressional actors instrumental to the bill’s passage could endear themselves big-time to this constituency.

More important, the main obstacle to Ryan-Hunter was the Congressional Republican leadership – which voters tossed out of power in November. As a result, the way should be clear for the avowed party of the common man to push the bill through, at least in the House. (Senate rules make matters more complicated in the upper chamber.)When a session of Congress ends, all un-passed legislation disappears in a procedural sense and needs to start over from scratch in the following session. But the picture still looks highly promising for Ryan-Hunter. Of the 170-plus co-sponsors, nearly160 are returning to the House. This means that of the 233 Democrats comprising the new House’s majority, more than 36 percent have already co-sponsored Ryan-Hunter, as have more than 36 percent of the 202 Republicans who make up the minority.

In all, the bill in theory has already attracted more than 71 percent of the votes needed for a House majority of 218.The situation in the two House committees of jurisdiction – Ways and Means and Armed Services – is mixed. Fifty of the 61 members of the new Armed Services Committee are returnees, and 36 are Ryan-Hunter co-sponsors. Interestingly, Republican supporters on the committee outnumber Democrats, with four out of their five senior-most members on board (including lead co-sponsor Hunter).

On Ways and Means, however, only nine of the current 41 members (all returnees) have co-sponsored Ryan-Hunter. Six are Democrats, including second-ranking Democrat Fortney Pete Stark of California. Still to hop aboard: slightly more than 105 Democratic returnees and 40 Democratic freshmen, along with about 120 Republican returnees and 13 Republican freshmen.

Yet with such a big head start, reaching a House majority, especially with the new Democratic leadership’s help, should be easily within reach. Major change on the Republican side should boost Ryan-Hunter’s chances as well.

Many in this session's Republican ranks are staunch supporters of current trade policies and will surely continue fighting Ryan-Hunter – like Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri. But not only are the Republicans fewer in number this time around, they also have lost some of their most fervent ideological free trade leaders through resignation and retirement.

Moreover, many of the Democratic returnees who haven’t yet signed onto Ryan-Hunter have solid records of voting for better trade policies. At least two dozen other House Democrats have voted reliably against the outsourcing trade agenda since fellow Democrat Bill Clinton left the White House, and numerous others were at least ready to oppose the Bush administration when it made CAFTA a high-profile political battle.

Finally, although the numbers are sometimes exaggerated, many of the Democratic freshmen did make better trade policies prominent planks in their platforms.

The big question mark is the Democratic leadership, none of whom has yet signed onto Ryan-Hunter. Will the leadership follow the likely will of the majority of the Democratic caucus – and perhaps the majority of the House?

Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY) will play a key role here – and unlike his acerbic and dictatorial free trade predecessor, Bill Thomas, Rangel is much more likely to approach the issue with an open mind. Although in the past he has voted for many free trade deals, Rangel voted against the Central America Free Trade Agreement and opposed the last extension of fast track trade negotiating authority. Rangel recently suggested that trade policy is one area where the administration and the new Democratic Congress could work well together, but on whose terms is unclear.

The stakes are pretty high – nothing less than survival of domestic American manufacturing. If Ryan-Hunter can’t pass a Democratic-controlled House reasonably quickly, the broader campaign to reform trade policy could be seriously undercut. At the same time, with a big leadership push, new trade policies are entirely achievable in both the House and the Senate.

Are the Democrats ready to seize this historic opportunity, and put Washington on the side of American producers and working families once again? The fate of Ryan-Hunter in the next few months will go far toward answering this central question.
http://www.americaneconomicalert.org

Congressional Democrats must act to reform our trade policies which have led to a massive trade deficit, a loss of national industrial capacity and destruction of millions of good paying jobs.

Blue Dogs Demand Fiscal Accountability in Iraq

WASHINGTON D.C.- Members of the fiscally conservative, Democratic Blue Dog Coalition demanded greater accountability and responsibility regarding the war in Iraq at a press conference in the U.S. Capitol Friday.

The Blue Dog Coalition announced its plan to introduce a resolution calling for increased fiscal accountability in funding the Iraq war. The resolution focuses on four crucial points for demanding fiscal responsibility in Iraq. The points are: a call for transparency on how Iraq war funds are spent; the creation of a Truman Commission to investigate the awarding of contracts; a need to fund the Iraq war through the normal appropriations process and not through “emergency” supplementals; and using American resources to improve Iraqi assumption of internal policing operations.

“The legislation we are introducing today addresses the glaring lack of oversight and accountability in Iraq and addresses how taxpayer dollars are spent on the war,” said Rep. Patrick Murphy. “It is long past time we kept track of the money we spend in Iraq and replace waste, fraud and abuse with oversight, responsibility and accountability. This resolution puts forward tangible, commonsense proposals that ensure more resources get to the troops in the field. These are measures everyone can agree on, regardless of political party.”

“Had requests for funds for the Iraq war been on-budget, Congress would have learned far earlier what was going wrong. Budgeting by supplemental prevents Congress from doing our job and misleads the public about the true trade-offs,” Rep. Jane Harman said.

"We have to bring accountability, transparency and honesty to the way these military operations are run by the civilian leadership at the Pentagon," said Rep. John Tanner. "The American people deserve to know how their tax dollars have been spent -- and in many cases, wasted -- toward a goal that is increasingly impossible to achieve if the Iraqi people are unable or unwilling to work together politically to stabilize their own country."

"We've found countless examples of how American tax dollars have been wasted and abused in Iraq, putting our service members’ lives more at risk," said Rep. Mike Thompson. "Congressional oversight is desperately needed. The Bush Administration must be held accountable for how military and reconstruction funds are used, and this resolution is an important first step toward making that happen."

“We are also calling for an accounting with the Iraqi government and its people,” Rep. Jim Marshall. “Iraqis must steadily progress toward full responsibility for internally policing their country. Without such progress, it is wasteful to continue our investment of lives, limbs and taxpayer dollars in Iraq.”

The conservative Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 with the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States. Currently there are 44 members of the Blue Dog Coalition.

Blue Dog members participating in the event included: Rep. Jane Harman (CA-36), Rep. Patrick Murphy (PA-08), Rep. John Tanner (TN-08); Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-01); Rep. Jim Marshall (GA-08); Rep. Mike Ross (AR-04), Co-Chair for Communications; Rep. Allen Boyd (FL-02), Co-Chair for Administration; Rep. Dennis Moore (KS-03), Co-Chair for Policy; and Rep. Stephanie Herseth (SD-AL), Whip.

* FORD PRO-FAMILY STANCE DRAWS CRITICISM

Former Congressman Harold Ford (D-TN) is expected to become the next chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council. Baptist Press reports that Ford's likely DLC chairmanship has drawn criticism from a powerful interest group within the Democratic Party.

"The likely choice of Ford, a former representative from Tennessee, has some homosexual activists upset. Ford twice supported a proposed federal constitutional marriage amendment, in 2004 and 2006. He also vocally opposed a 2006 decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court ordering the state legislature either to legalize "gay marriage" or Vermont-style civil unions.Ford lost in a close race for the Senate last year to Bob Corker."

"National Stonewall Democrats, a group that advances homosexual causes within the party, issued a statement Jan. 12 expressing "deep concern" over the choice of Ford, saying he "possesses a poor record on issues that impact LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] families."

"Congressman Harold Ford has demonstrated a lack of leadership and judgment on family issues that causes our members great concern," Joanne Wyrick, executive director of National Stonewall Democrats, said in a statement. "His willingness to lightly amend the U.S. Constitution and to exploit gay families for political gain should alarm Democrats across the country. The Democratic Leadership Council is in need of leadership that supports and affirms all American families."The statement claimed Ford was at "odds with the past position of the Democratic Leadership Council."

"The DLC is not an official party organization but seeks to influence the direction of the party. Ford would replace outgoing Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who is running for president." http://tinyurl.com/3czlvr

This blogger supported equal rights for gays and lesbians in employment and housing long before such a view was popular. I am not homophobic but recognize that gay-lesbian activists have become a major force within the party and tend to put their own narrow agenda first. Everyone has the right to participate, however, issues like gay marriage cannot be allowed to define our party. We need more Democrats like Harold Ford who recognize that our party must affirm traditional marriage.

Sam Nunn critical of Bush Iraq policy

Sam Nunn built a reputation as "Mr. Defense" during his 24 years of service in the U.S. Senate. The conservative Georgia Democrat chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee for a number of years. Needless to say, Nunn has established his credibility as a true patriot who puts our national security first.

The Naples Daily-News reports that Nunn has criticized George W. Bush for rejecting the Baker-Hamilton findings and plans for a troop surge in Iraq.

"The Baker-Hamilton report gave us a way out," Nunn said. "The president didn't have to agree with everything (in the study group recommendations) but he's rejected all the major recommendations of the report."

"We are in the middle of a civil war (in Iraq). This is no longer the United States vs. terrorists. It's Sunni vs. Shiite. The United States cannot referee a civil war."

"This troop surge is too few and too late. I hope it will be successful, but I don't expect it to go well."

"The biggest threat now is from terrorists who have no country. The United States must team up with other countries to make sure nuclear material never falls into the hands of terrorists," Nunn said. http://tinyurl.com/y7bbpt

Sam Nunn is right. Our involvement in Iraq has been a distraction rather part of the war against terrorism.

* JIM WEBB: FIGHTING POPULIST

Newly elected U.S. Senator Jim Webb D-VA is quickly developing a reputation as a fighting populist with a strong concern for economic justice.

The New York Times (January 12 edition) reported:

"Webb said Thursday that he wants to “re-emphasize his commitment” to issues of economic fairness. Among other things, he expressed concern about the growing gap in compensation between corporate executives and average workers."

“Every single speech that I made for the entire campaign, I laid out the fact that we must get back to economic fairness — that we measure the health of a society not by what is happening at the apex, but by what is happening at the base,” Webb said.

“We measure the health of a society not simply by what the stock market is doing,” Webb added, “but whether the people who are doing the work of society are truly receiving a fair share” of the benefits." http://tinyurl.com/yf4mgq

The Richmond Times Dispatch has also profiled Webb's populist advocacy.

"Webb said he is going to be part of a group that includes Sen. Byron L. Dorgan, D-N.D., that will work to develop economic-populism legislation and "intellectual approaches." Dorgan is a populist and advocate for family farmers; he recently wrote a book called "Take This Job and Ship It: How Corporate Greed and Brain-Dead Politics are Selling Out America." Webb said he has also had discussions with newly elected Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio."

"While Webb didn't get into details, he hinted at interest in "fair-trade" efforts to protect U.S. workers in an era of globalization."

"We can't simply put demands on the American work force in a global economy and not ask for a level playing field with workers all around the globe," he said. http://tinyurl.com/wl5xq

I applaud Senator Webb for his willingness to speak out against corporate greed and for the interests of American workers.

Blue Dog Democrats working to restore fiscal discipline

* BLUE DOGS MAKE THEIR MARK ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL) and his fellow Blue Dogs today praised the passage of Blue Dog-endorsed provisions included in the House rules package. Chief among these provisions, pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budget rules mark the first, and most important, step to getting our country back on track fiscally and reigning in our national debt, now rapidly approaching $9 trillion.

The Blue Dog Coalition has long advocated a return to PAYGO spending, which expired in 2002. In the 1990s, with PAYGO rules on the books, our government’s budget deficits diminished and we recorded budget surpluses both in 1999 and 2000.

“Today is an exciting day for the Blue Dog Coalition,” said Congressman Boyd, Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration. “PAYGO worked in the past, and it will work again. With the Blue Dogs leading the charge, the Democratic-controlled Congress has demonstrated their strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and subsequently, a strong commitment to the future of our children, our grandchildren, and our great nation.”

The House rules package also requires full transparency and justification of all earmarks. This provision, in addition to PAYGO, is included in the Blue Dog 12 Point Plan, which was developed in 2005 to end the nation's addiction to deficit spending.

“The passage of the Blue Dog-endorsed provisions shows that the Blue Dogs have enhanced the Democratic agenda and will be a strong voice for fiscal responsibility in the new Congress,” Boyd stated. “However, our work is far from over. Today’s victory is simply the first step to balancing our budget and curbing our out-of-control national debt.”

Congressman Allen Boyd is a fifth generation farmer and Army veteran from Monticello, Florida, beginning his sixth term representing Florida’s 2nd Congressional District. In addition to his work on the Blue Dog Coalition, Congressman Boyd serves on the House Appropriations Committee and co-chairs the Congressional Rural Caucus.

* MODERATE STYLE AND WORKING CLASS ROOTS GIVE EDGE TO EDWARDS

DURHAM, N.C. (AScribe Newswire) -- John Edwards' role as the leading moderate among Democrats who are expected to run for president gives him an advantage with voters, says a Duke University political scientist who specializes in African-American and Southern politics.

"As it stands now, he appears to be the candidate who is positioned more at the center of the party, and I think that's where most of the base is, where the majority of the country is," says Kerry L. Haynie, associate chair of the political science department. "He's well-positioned. Can he take advantage of the position? That's the question."

Haynie also says the former vice-presidential candidate's decision to announce "a grass-roots, ground-up campaign" in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans is an effective strategy.

"I think it's very effective, and I think it reflects who he really is. He's from humble beginnings, a working class background," Haynie says. Edwards, who became a multimillionaire trial lawyer, is the son of a textile mill worker.

"His wealth is self-made, and exemplifies the American dream of becoming successful through hard work. We don't mind wealth if it's made the old-fashioned way -- if you earn it."

* A SECOND LOOK AT NUCLEAR POWER

Proposals to build nuclear power plants have often met opposition from environmental and progressive organizations, however, a growing number of green-minded activists are reconsidering their past objections to nukes.

The Lakeland (FL) Ledger reported on 12/22/06:

"In an article he wrote for Technology Review last year, Stewart Brand, a founder of the Whole Earth Catalogue, argued: "Everything must be done to increase energy efficiency and decarbonize energy production," including development of renewable energy sources like solar, wind and bio mass."

"But add them all up," Brand continued, "and it's just a fraction of enough. … The only technology ready to fill the gap and stop the carbon dioxide loading is nuclear power." http://tinyurl.com/wtky2

In another sign of a shift in attitudes toward nukes, the Progressive Policy Institute endorsed increased use of nuclear plants in "A Progressive Energy Platform" released last October. http://tinyurl.com/y2lqyy

According to the report entitled, "A Progressive Energy Platform,” which was released in mid-October, “Nuclear power holds a great potential to be an integral part of the diversified energy portfolio for America. It produces no greenhouse gas emissions, so it can help clean up the air and combat climate change. And, new plant designs promise to produce power more safely and economically than first-generation facilities.”

Even the founder of Greenpeace Patrick Moore is now making the case for going nuclear http://tinyurl.com/qa6rn If our nation is to gain energy independence, we must expand use of nuclear power and biofuels.