Specter's Aug 5 Newsletter

Aug 12, 2008 11:13

Specter: Newsletter for Aug 5th 2008

Comments:
* Specter will be coming to town hall meetings throughout Pa during the month of August. List of dates, places, etc. Unfortunately, he's not listing anything in Philadelphia. Maybe there will be more listed in a couple of days? ~sigh~
* He had a PET scan recently, and no Hodgkins visible. Yay!
* He complained about the Senate not being able to get anything done regarding gas prices, oil, etc. and mentioned Republican grump about the summer recess, as well as grump at Reid's filling the tree nonsense. I can't say I'm terribly moved. The Republicans had FISA handed to them on a silver platter this summer, and I really am just not in the mood to hear any whining about how their time is being spent. This is not to say I'm feeling sympathetic towards Reid. I'm mad at him too. But fundamentally: (a) I've heard _nothing_ positive about what Republicans actually wanted to _do_ re: gas and oil prices. This off-shore drilling business is simply that: business. It will have practically _no_ effect on oil prices, as the demand for oil so far outstrips the supply that the price will almost certainly remain stable. Not to mention the time it's going to take to develop it, and might I remind people that in case anyone's got any odd ideas about _where_ that oil will be sold, it will almost certainly be put on the global market where the people who are quite happy to pay the going rate will continue to be happy to pay the going rate. (b) It's not the recess, it's what you do with your time when you're in session. Have a recess, don't have a recess. I don't really care, although I'd like to point out that the Republicans didn't _once_ suggest playing through their summer session when they could have actually made it happen. Grandstanding. Lame.
* Apparently, there's a potential merger of Independence Blue Cross and Highmark. Specter is concerned this will result in higher premiums. He doesn't say why, so I can't tell if that's to get people in a fluster or has merit. The Antitrust Subcommittee of the Judiciary is looking into it.

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