A bit more under the cut.
"FEMA and the White House have been absolutely supportive," Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen told reporters on a conference call, discussing the severe floods in the state.
FEMA was quickly on the ground, and on Monday, ""the president was on the phone with me before the sun came up",he said.
Bredesen, a Democrat, said he’s been in regular contact with White House staff. In fact, he had just ended a long conversation with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
Bredesen, who has weathered his share of tornados and storms as a public official, said that he’s "never seen this kind of response."
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House passes cash for caulkers
- Homeowners would get rebates of between $1,000 and $1,500 for each improvement installed, or $250 per appliance, with a benefit not exceeding $3,000 or 50 percent of total project costs.
- Covered measures include air sealing; attic, wall and crawl space insulation; duct sealing; replacement of windows and doors, furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters and appliances.
- Under the Gold Star program, consumers would be eligible for $3,000 when they conduct whole-house energy analyses and install technology that improves their overall home energy efficiency by 20 percent. They could receive an additional $1,000 rebate for each additional 5 percent improvement, to a maximum of $8,000. The rebate could not represent more than 50 percent of the total cost of the project.
- The bill would authorize $5.7 billion over two years for the initiative. An additional $600 million would be provided to help states with programs to make mobile homes more energy-efficient. Some 3 million households would be expected to take advantage of the program.
- Supporters say it would create almost 170,000 jobs in the construction industry and reduce home energy costs by almost $10 billion over 10 years.
President Obama's statement:
"The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act is a common sense bill that will create jobs, save consumers money, and strengthen our economy. I commend the House on passing this bill, and I particularly want to thank Congressman Peter Welch of Vermont for all of his hard work on this issue. At a time when millions of Americans are looking for work and companies are ready to take on new customers, this legislation will help jumpstart job growth and demand for new products created right here in America. This rebate program will not only put people back to work, it will lower costs for homeowners who choose to improve their home with products like energy efficient windows, water heaters and air conditioners. And it will also save consumers money on energy bills down the road.
"I’m convinced that the country that leads in clean energy is also going to be the country that leads in the global economy and I want America to be that nation. I will not settle for anything less than first place when it comes to new energy technologies, and this bill will create the incentives to help us accomplish that goal. We have workers eager to do new installations and renovations, and factories ready to produce new energy efficient building supplies. Today’s House vote is an important step forward, and I look forward to working with the Senate to improve this legislation so we can help more middle-class homeowners make these investments without delay."
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Gallup: U.S. Job Creation Best Since November 2008
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71%: Obama's response to the Gulf spill fair/good/excellent
Yes, it's Rasmussen, but this is worth a look, since it's the first effort I've seen to gauge the public's perception of Obama's handling of the Gulf spill:
How do you rate President Obama's response to the major oil leak off Lousiana's coast -- excellent, good, fair or poor?
20% Excellent
23% Good
28% Fair
26% Poor
Given that barely more than a fourth say Obama's response was "poor," it would be hard to argue that the "Obama's Katrina" meme has gained any traction. That may explain why Rasmussen buried that finding and didn't trumpet it in any headline...
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Obama suspends new Virginia offshore drilling bid
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Obama administration took the first concrete steps Thursday to make good on its pledge to halt new offshore drilling projects, suspending the approval process for new wells off of the Virginia coast.
The Minerals Management Service, part of the Interior Department and the agency charged with issuing new drilling leases, had scheduled three public hearings in Virginia this month to solicit public comment about new wells off of the state's coast.
The agency said on Thursday that these meetings are now suspended indefinitely, pending a government safety review of offshore drilling...
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President Obama delivers remarks as First Lady Michelle Obama looks on at a Cinco de Mayo reception May 5, 2010 in the Rose Garden of the White House.(AP)
National security team meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Situation Room of the White House, May 6, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama and Sen. John Kerry, during a walk around the South Lawn of the White House, , May 5, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama receives President Obama's letter from U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen Margot Pfefferle from Appleton, Wisconsin, left, while Japan Cherry Blossom Queen Kanako Ono, right, looks on at Hatoyama's official residence in Tokyo Thursday, May 6, 2010. (AP)
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Warning: If you're sensitive to foul language, then stay away from this clip. If not, you're going to have some fun (Source: Dreams From My Father - The audio version)).