Senate Report on Global Warming

Over 400 prominent scientists from more than two dozen countries recently voiced significant objections to major aspects of the so-called “consensus” on man-made global warming. These scientists, many of whom are current and former participants in the UN IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), criticized the climate claims made by the UN IPCC and former Vice President Al Gore.

The new report issued by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s office of the GOP Ranking Member details the views of the scientists, the overwhelming majority of whom spoke out in 2007.
+ Full Report

Annual Energy Outlook 2008

The Annual Energy Outlook 2008 (Early Release)-(AEO2008), from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), includes several important changes from earlier AEOs to better reflect trends in the economy and energy markets that are expected to persist. Energy markets are changing in response to the higher energy prices experienced since 2000; the greater influence of developing countries on worldwide energy requirements; recently enacted legislation and regulations in the United States; and changing public views related to the use of alternative fuels, emissions, and the acceptability of various energy technologies, among other factors.





Source: Energy Information Administration

Fiscal Survey of States

Fiscal Survey of States
In a report released today, Fiscal Survey of States , the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers found that while most states experienced healthy revenue growth during fiscal 2007, some states already have seen significant deterioration of their fiscal conditions and expect revenue and expenditure growth to slow significantly in fiscal 2008. States expect continued expenditure pressures from a variety of sources, including increased funding demands related to health care and Medicaid and to long-term challenges such as demographic shifts, employee pensions and infrastructure. In addition, most states will feel the pinch of the nation’s weakening housing market, both directly from lower sales tax revenues and indirectly as local governments struggle with declining property values and decreasing property tax revenues. Source: National Governors Association/National Association of State Budget Officers

Medicare Part D

From 2007 to 2008, the average premium for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans rose by 24.5 percent from 2007 to 2008. This rise will result in an average premium price of $293 per year, or $57.70 more than last year.

A new issue brief from the Center for Economic and Policy Research, “Changes in the Costs of Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, 2007-2008 ”, examines prescription drug plan costs nationally and on a state-by-state basis and finds a surprisingly large increase in average cost going into 2008. Even though this increase is somewhat lower than originally projected, costs will exceed projections as early as 2010 if this trend continues. The brief looks at each of the 50 states and analyzes the number of plans offered in 2008, the number plans of offering coverage ‘in the gap’ between initial coverage and the catastrophic level, the number of plans dropping ‘in the gap’ coverage, and the average dollar and percentage increase in premium cost.

Global Warming

Climate Change and Violent Conflict:


The impact of climate change will make the poorest communities across the world poorer. Many of them are already affected by conflict and instability and thus face a dual risk. International Alert’s new research, A Climate of Conflict: The Links Between Climate Change, Peace and War and The Double-Headed Risk (world map of “countries at risk), finds that the consequences of climate change will fuel violent conflict, which itself hinders the ability of governments and local communities to adapt to the pressures of climate change

Source: Internation Alert

Global Warning

The Center for American Progress (CA) today issued "Global Warning - The Security Challenges of Climate Change", a chapter in a new report entitled “The Age of Consequences.” During the course of the past year, a high-level working group of foreign policy experts, climate scientists, historians, and other specialists has met regularly to investigate the national security and foreign policy implications of climate change. Many of the key findings of this task force, which was directed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Center for a New American Security, are presented in the new report.

“The Age of Consequences” is organized around three possible climate change scenarios that were developed by Pew Center Senior Climate Scientist Dr. Jay Gulledge, in consultation with other leading experts in the field. CAP’s chapter, “Global Warning - The Security Challenges of Climate Change,” analyzes the foreign policy and national security implications of the most moderate of these scenarios over a 30-year timeframe.

Foreign Drug Manufacturers

New GAO Report: 1 November 2007:


Preliminary findings suggest weaknesses in the FDA’s program for inspecting foreign drug manufacturers . This report, which includes testimony before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, discusses preliminary information on (1) the extent to which the FDA has accurate data to manage the foreign drug inspection program, (2) the frequency of foreign inspections and factors influencing the selection of establishments to inspect, and (3) issues unique to conducting foreign inspections.


Source: Government Accountability Office