Senate Priorities

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29 Jul 2008 05:13 pm

by Chris Bodenner
McCain is one of only four Republicans (out of 49) who hasn't signed onto the GOP's energy plan in the Senate. The Hill:

Democrats interpret McCain's inaction as proof that the legislation will have no impact on gas prices. But the GOP leadership disputes that reading, saying the Republican standard-bearer supports the principles of the bill but is too busy with his campaign for president.

However:

McCain has found time to co-sponsor three resolutions since the energy legislation was introduced on June 26 — one honoring the late Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), another commemorating two slain U.S. Capitol Police officers and a third designating the second week of September the National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. McCain also just signed onto two amendments to expand nuclear power.... Last week, he also added his name to a bill to help disabled military veterans to receive compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain’s office has not responded to several e-mails and phone calls seeking comment.

Also, the article notes how McCain "has been far less active than Obama" on the Hill. Out of 189 votes this year, Obama and McCain have attended 72 and 36, respectively. Obama last voted on July 9 and McCain on April 8. Yet McCain had basically wrapped up the nod when Romney conceded on January 29. Obama, on the other hand, was slogging it out with Clinton for five more months until she finally conceded on June 7. And Obama's the one who's supposed to be all style and no substance?

Worth recalling: McCain highlights in his latest attack ad that Obama hasn't held a single hearing on NATO's mission in Afghanistan while chair of the Foreign Relations Cmte's Subcommittee on European Affairs. But the matter is typically dealt with at the full committee level, of which Obama attended. And of the six hearings on Afghanistan held by the Armed Services Cmte in the past two years, how many did McCain attend? Zero.

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