December, 05 2018, 11:00pm EDT
Earthjustice Statement on Confirmation of Bernard McNamee to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Bernard McNamee to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this afternoon, despite recent leaked video footage in which the nominee trashed clean energy and environmental advocates standing up to polluting interests. McNamee also played a key role in the development of the Department of Energy's coal and nuclear bailout prior to his confirmation.
The following is a statement from Kim Smaczniak, Clean Energy Staff Attorney at Earthjustice:
WASHINGTON
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Bernard McNamee to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this afternoon, despite recent leaked video footage in which the nominee trashed clean energy and environmental advocates standing up to polluting interests. McNamee also played a key role in the development of the Department of Energy's coal and nuclear bailout prior to his confirmation.
The following is a statement from Kim Smaczniak, Clean Energy Staff Attorney at Earthjustice:
"It's shameful that the Senate rushed the confirmation of Bailout Bernard McNamee after video surfaced demonstrating his bias in favor of dirty energy interests. As we've known for some time now, McNamee is a clear threat to the health of our environment who will accelerate the growing trend toward politicization at FERC. Senators should have considered a real, impartial voice for energy markets, not a former dirty industry lobbyist."
Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment. We bring about far-reaching change by enforcing and strengthening environmental laws on behalf of hundreds of organizations, coalitions and communities.
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Amid Spying Fight, House Passes Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act
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The House voted 219-199 for Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act (FANFSA), which won support from 96 Democrats and 123 Republicans, including the lead sponsor, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio). Named for the constitutional amendment that protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, H.R. 4639 would close what campaigners call the data broker loophole.
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Noting those decisions on the FISA reauthorization legislation, Ruddock stressed that "today's vote is a victory but follows a recent loss and ongoing threat as that Section 702 bill moves to the Senate this week too."
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Kia Hamadanchy, senior policy counsel at ACLU, similarly said Wednesday that "the bipartisan passage of this bill is a flashing warning sign to the government that if it wants our data, it must get a warrant."
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Since 2011, the U.N. Security Council has rejected the Palestinian Authority's request for full member status. On April 2, the Palestinian Observer Mission to the U.N. requested that the council once again take up consideration of its membership application. According to the first State Department cable, U.N. meetings since the beginning of April suggest that Algeria, China, Guyana, Mozambique, Russia, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, and Malta support granting Palestine full membership to the U.N. It also says that France, Japan, and Korea are undecided, while the United Kingdom will likely abstain from a vote.
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