Earl Blumenauer

"Harvard Beats Yale 29-29" - Thoughts on NY-23

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 11.05.2009 | New York


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

After the flood of last-minute attention forcing the Republican nominee out, and the loss of a seat they had held for over a century, the Republicans should be discouraged, right? Wrong.

An Historic and Emotional Moment

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 10.28.2009 | Politics


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Today, after too many years of delay, President Obama signed into law a bill that makes it a federal hate crime to assault people based on sexual orientation.

Proudly Changing My Position on DOMA

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 09.15.2009 | Politics


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

In 1996, I cast the worst vote of my political career. While I've made other mistakes, this was different: it was a deliberate vote that I knew to be poor public policy and was against my values.

AP Fact Check: No 'Death Panel' In Health Care Bill

AP | RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR | Posted 09.11.2009 | Politics


WASHINGTON — Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin says the health care overhaul bill would set up a "death panel." Federal ...

Stop Distorting the Truth about End of Life Care

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 08.24.2009 | Politics


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

GOP leadership has been gravely distorting the truth and misrepresenting the facts about the bipartisan effort for the Life Sustaining Treatment Preferences Act.

Urban and Rural, Red and Blue: Time to Rebuild America's Water Infrastructure

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 08.16.2009 | Politics


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Every community is faced with serious drinking water and sanitation problems that lead to dangerous public health problems and serious environmental damage.

Strong Federal Law Brings the Hammer Down on Dogfighters

Michael Markarian | Posted 08.13.2009 | Politics


Michael Markarian

The flagrant disregard that dogfighters routinely show for society's norms was replaced by the snap of handcuffs and the slap of 30 or so arrest warrants.

The Case for Broad-based Health Care Funding

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 08.09.2009 | Politics


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Reform should be financed with a small increase in the Medicare payroll tax by about a third of a percentage point. For about half of working Americans, this would cost a latte a week ($3) or less.

Reining in Global Warming? Not Without a New Approach to Transportation

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 07.25.2009 | Green


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

The House of Representatives is preparing to take one of its biggest environmental steps in 20 years.

A President Up to the Challenge: Reforming Health Care

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 07.11.2009 | Politics


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Tuesday afternoon was a fascinating display of the Obama touch as I joined other Ways and Means Democrats in meeting President Barack Obama at the White House to discuss health care reform.

Reducing Pollution Should Not Be a Partisan Issue

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 06.07.2009 | Green


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

I applaud the efforts of Speaker Pelosi to Green the Capitol. Sadly, the Republican leadership has opposed, even mocked, the Speaker's determination to improve our air quality and reduce operating expenses.

There Must Be Consequences

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 05.25.2009 | Politics


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

The torture practices under the Bush administration aren't just counterproductive in terms of a vague image of the United States, they're actually dangerous.

Taxing Bonuses: A Matter of Fundamental Fairness

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 04.18.2009 | Politics


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Giving out $18 billion in bonuses at a time when ordinary Americans have seen their life savings collapse is outrageous. To give out these bonuses using federal bailout money is over the edge.

Blumenauer Engages McCain In Twitter Fight Over Solar Energy

MyDD | Posted 04.04.2009 | Politics


Danny Glover (no, not that one) has the run down: The Arizona Republican posted his first anti-pork list under the Twitter name @SenJohnMcCain late l...

Impolite or Not, Congress Twittered While Obama Spoke

Ari Herzog | Posted 03.28.2009 | Media


Ari Herzog

About half a dozen members of Congress (from both political parties) thumbed their iPhones and BlackBerries and twittered while President Obama spoke about the economy and technology.

A Step Toward Human and Primate Safety

Rep. Earl Blumenauer | Posted 03.26.2009 | Green


Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Primates pose serious risks; they can transmit diseases, and inflict serious physical harm. These risks are increased by interstate transport of the animals.

Kucinich Leads Trend for Even Handed Foreign Policy

Michael Carmichael | Posted 02.27.2009 | Politics


Michael Carmichael

According to astute observers -- there is a new trend in Congress in favor of a more even-handed approach to foreign policy. The bipartisan group, Co...

Bicycle Caucus Sees Great Opportunity In Bad Economy

New York Times | CORNELIA DEAN | Posted 02.13.2009 | Green


Mr. Blumenauer, a passionate advocate of cycling as a remedy for everything from climate change to obesity, represents most of Portland in Congress, w...

Unfinished Business

Michael Markarian | Posted 02.09.2009 | Politics


Michael Markarian

Among the very first Congressional bills introduced this week were two important measures to protect wildlife and should be on the fast track to getting over the finish line in the new session.

Congress Should Travel More Not Less: Applauding the Aspen Institute

Steve Clemons | Posted 07.25.2008 | Politics


Steve Clemons

Let me play the contrarian here. We need as many members out seeing the world as possible -- and if they are at a forum debating political Islam...well, fantastic!