It was a busy political week here in the Ocean State, and it was for those who represent us inside the beltway, as well … off-shore drilling, climate change, carbon pollution, the debate on how to control gun violence, the budget process and much more…
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse managed to stay involved in all of it. His communications director, Seth Larson sums up the week that was for in Washington for Sheldon Whitehouse:
On Monday he and Congressman Cicilline announced their plans to re-introduce the Offshoring Prevention Act in the Senate and House, respectively. The bill would level the playing field for American manufacturers by eliminating a special tax break for companies that ship jobs overseas. In doing so, it would also raise nearly $20 billion in new revenue. Here’s coverage from the Pawtucket Times.
On Tuesday, Senator Whitehouse joined Rep. Waxman and others in unveiling a new legislative framework for a carbon fee. The idea behind such a fee would be to make the big polluting industries responsible for the financial damage caused by carbon pollution. In doing so, it would create an incentive to reduce pollution, and raise billions of dollars in new revenue, all of which would be returned to the American people in some form. The Members are soliciting comments on several sections of the legislation. You can read the Washington Post’s Wonkblog analysis of it here.
On Wednesday, the Senate Budget Committee began debate on its proposed budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2014. Here is Senator Whitehouse’s opening statement.
On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee finished its consideration of four gun-violence prevention measures. All four were approved by the Committee, including a bill to ban military-style assault weapons and limit the size of ammunition magazines. The Providence Journal has the scoop on Senator Whitehouse’s push to secure a vote on a narrower proposal to eliminate high-capacity magazines, in the event that the broader assault weapons ban legislation fails to pass the full Senate.
And last night, the Budget Committee finished debating the budget resolution and voted to approve it. Senator Whitehouse voted with his Democratic colleagues in favor of the resolution, and released this statement afterward.