CONGRESSMAN MIKE ROGERS PROMOTES KEYSTONE PIPELINE

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of Calhoun County said the Obama Administration should give the go-ahead to the Keystone XL Pipeline that would pump Canadian oil to U.S. refineries. Rogers, R-Saks, who supports the Keystone Pipeline, said it would benefit a struggling economy, create good-paying jobs, and provide a secure energy source from Canada, a long-time ally.

Three weeks ago the State Department, which has to approve the pipeline, announced an indefinite delay. Rogers said through the use of Executive Action, the Obama Administration refuses to act and puts politics ahead of the American people. "For far too long, Americans have been forced to rely on foreign sources of energy," Rogers wrote on his web site.

Some conservatives say that a Democratic supporter who opposes the pipeline is the reason for a delay in its approval until after the November general election. The Hill reported Thursday that Republicans are using a page from the Democrat playbook by attacking a hedge-fund magnate, billionaire Tom Steyer, who has pledged a $100 million campaign to promote global warming candidates this year. It's a reverse of the same tactic of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, who blames conservative donors Charles and David Koch for global warming.

The House Armed Services Committee on Thursday voted down a proposal by an Illinois representative to freeze funding for the Littoral Combat Ship. One of two models is being built in Mobile. The committee 61-0 approved the bill that now goes to the full House.

U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Fairhope, who supports full funding for the ship, commented.

"This vote is a victory for the littoral combat ship and for southwest Alabama jobs," Byrne said in a prepared statement. "In an era of tight budgets and decreasing defense spending, I am proud our coalition in support of the LCS was able to make an effective case to the committee on the cost-effective and versatile nature [of] this ship."

The Obama administration wants to reduce the LCS orders from four to three ships for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. That would mean that either Austal USA in Mobile or Marinette Marine Corp. in Wisconsin would lose a ship.

Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., offered an amendment that would have prevented the Navy from spending any money on the program until the completion of a re-evaluation of the program ordered by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, AL.com reported. The House Appropriations Committee is expected to take up military spending this summer. The full House and U.S. Senate also must approve it.

Don't give Russia any love. That's the message President Obama is sending to chief executives of some of America's largest energy, financial, and industrial corporations. Obama officials are "urging" them to cancel plans to attend a Russian international economic forum later this month to be hosted by President Vladimir Putin. It's Obama's attempt to isolate Moscow in retaliation for intervention in Ukraine, according to the New York Times.

The bosses of some top companies with Russian business interests either have pulled out of the conference or plan to do so due to intensive White House lobbying. Corporate officials predicted that nearly every American CEO will skip the forum, the Times reported.

White House officials and cabinet secretaries are personally calling executives and putting them in awkward positions because they do not want to run afoul of the Obama administration or their Russian business hosts. The same executives know that Putin attends the event so some are sending lower-level, Moscow- and Europe-based executives to the May 22-24 meeting. A year ago the Obama administration encouraged participation to strengthen trade ties.

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are rallying around a business tax break that can save businesses $155.5 billion over 10 years even as protests about deficit spending have helped stall Democrat-backed emergency programs.

The battle over tax breaks, particularly the research and development tax credit scheduled for a House vote, is an example of different political philosophies. Democrats believe emergencies such as extending jobless benefits beyond the end of this month do not have to be supported by revenue.

Republicans defend tax cuts, saying that people will have more money to spend, businesses will be able to invest and hire, government will shrink, and the economy will boom.

"We're hoping it gets extended on a permanent basis this time," said Christina Crooks, director of tax policy for the National Association of Manufacturers. "Manufacturers are the largest user of the R&D tax credit, and the credit creates jobs."

The House plan is to make the tax credit permanent and increase the rate from 14 percent to 20 percent. It hasn't voted yet.

Meanwhile, President Obama said he'll veto the bill, if in the unlikely event it gets to his desk, because he doesn't like tax breaks without revenue offsets, or taxes. The tax credits began in 1981 and have been extended 15 times mostly because they have broad bipartisan support and are important business incentives.

Some Democrat supporters don't want to lose the government revenue while Republicans believe tax credits create jobs and can revive the poor economy.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation said it supports the White House's attempt to protect electronic data from unlawful government seizure much like printed material is protected. The Chamber in a statement said data help the economy grow and create job opportunities. The Chamber supports the Electronics Communications Privacy Act and believes it should be amended to reflect modern digital realities.

"As the government continues to examine the collection and use of data, policymakers should restrain from acting unless there are specific, identified harms that cannot be addressed by the myriad of existing laws and regulations governing the use of information collected about consumers," the Chamber said. The Chamber said the government should be required to obtain warrants to access emails and other documents stored in the cloud by third-parties.

"For a report that was commenced in the wake of the revelations of mass surveillance by the government, it is troubling that the report fails to discuss the NSA controversy because the impact of this issue on U.S. companies already can be felt internationally," the Chamber said.

Congresswoman Roby added to special House committee on Benghazi

AL.com (Gore 5/9) "Alabama Rep. Martha Roby will serve on the special House committee created to investigate the 2012 attacks on the consulate in Libya that left four Americans dead.  Roby, R-Montgomery, is one of seven Republicans named to the 12-member committee. Democrats, who have protested the committee's makeup, have not announced if they will participate in the proceedings.

"'The Benghazi attack was a terrible tragedy, and we still mourn the four Americans that were brutally murdered that day', Roby said. 'However, the administration's explanation for exactly what happened that day and why has been far from clear, both in the immediate aftermath and months later'.

"U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others were killed on Sept. 12, 2012 when terrorist forces attacked the consulate in Benghazi. Critics have complained the White House has withheld information related to the attacks.

"'As Chairman (Trey) Gowdy said, politics will have no place in this process', she said. 'Facts aren't Republican or Democratic. Facts are stubbornly impartial, and I'm committed to pursuing the facts wherever they may lead'."

Armed Services panel rejects new round of base closures

The Hill (Matishak 5/7) "The House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday approved language in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act explicitly barring the Pentagon from carrying out a fresh round of base closures. The voice vote further reiterated opposition to a Defense Department request to appoint a Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2017 that would have had authority to select military facilities to shutter. The committee's Readiness subpanel last week was the first to toss out the idea.

"Pentagon officials have repeatedly argued that the department must close bases in order to cut down on roughly 25 percent in excess infrastructure. Those pleas have been ignored by lawmakers who fear installations in their home districts could be closed. Lawmakers would have to sign off or reject the BRAC commission's recommendations in full.

Most Alabama House members vote on contempt for IRS official

AL.com (Gattis 5/8) "A public trust was violated by former IRS official Lois Lerner, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks said in a statement today. The House on Wednesday night passed a resolution finding Lerner in contempt as part of an investigation into why the IRS targeted organizations with 'tea party' or 'patriot' in their names. Lerner admitted last year that the IRS targeted conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status, leading to protests from both Republicans and Democrats, according to The Washington Post.

"Alabama's six Republican House members, including Bradley Byrne of Mobile, voted in favor of the resolution. The lone Democrat, Terri Sewell of Birmingham, voted against it. The House vote of 231-187 fell largely along party lines, though six Democrats also supported the resolution.

"'It is imperative that Congress get to the bottom of why the Internal Revenue Service targeted American citizens based solely on their political beliefs', Brooks said in a statement released this morning. 'This violation of public trust is a blatant attack on freedom of speech and our existence as a Republic, and will not be tolerated. Lois Lerner is the linchpin in this investigation'.

"'She betrayed public trust by defying a congressional subpoena. Hopefully she will change her position and share with the American people why the IRS was being used to undermine our free speech rights cherished by all Americans. I hope the Obama Administration will permit the Justice Department to do its job, thus preventing future abuses by the IRS'.