From the Washington Post, John Thune has one of the most consumer friendly bills I’ve ever seen – AND it has the added bonus of protecting freedom of speech in our free market society:
Should people who criticize companies on sites like Yelp be forced to pay exorbitant punitive fees to the firms they review, just because of a small clause buried in the companies’ terms and conditions?
Some lawmakers don’t think so. The head of the powerful Senate Commerce Committee, John Thune (R-S.D.), is expected to introduce a new bill Thursday that targets that practice, along with Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).
The legislation, known as the Consumer Review Freedom Act, would ban businesses from bullying their customers as a way of insulating themselves from public criticism.
and…
“Online customer reviews have become an integral part of not just e-commerce but consumer choice everywhere,” Thune said in a statement. “This free market system, which empowers customers, cannot thrive if reviewers face intimidation against airing truthful criticisms.”
Rounds Statement on Democrat Filibuster on Iran Deal Provisions
“Protecting Americans’ lives should not be a partisan issue, nor should
supporting our longstanding friend and ally, Israel.”
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after Senate Democrats again blocked consideration of legislation related to the Iran deal, denying the American people a voice on the president’s nuclear concession deal with Iran:
“Once again, a minority of Senators are denying the elected representatives of the American people an opportunity to vote on one of the most consequential issues of our time,” said Rounds. “In doing so, they are putting the President’s legacy ahead of the lives of the Americans who are currently being held hostage in Iran and threatening our national security here at home. Protecting Americans’ lives should not be a partisan issue, nor should supporting our longstanding friend and ally, Israel. Yet our president and a minority of his party in Congress are insistent on dealing with an Iranian regime which continues to call for “Death to Israel” and describes the U.S. as the Great Satan. It is politics at its worst.”
This morning, Senate Democrats blocked consideration of legislation that would require Iran to recognize Israel as a state and release the Americans held hostage in Iran before any U.S. sanctions with Iran could be lifted. This comes after Senate Democrats twice blocked consideration of the Iran deal itself, despite overwhelmingly supporting the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act earlier this year, which is based on the principle that Congress should have a say on whether the U.S. should adopt the President’s nuclear deal with Iran.
Thune: Senate Democrats Choose Partisan Politics Over National Security
“Instead of providing protection to our allies and freedom to U.S. citizens held by Iran, Senate Democrats are going to great lengths to protect this disastrous deal, which gives Iran billions of dollars to fund terrorism in the region.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after Senate Democrats again blocked an up-or-down vote on the president’s nuclear concession deal with Iran:
“It is disappointing that, given the opportunity to allow Americans to be heard on the deal with Iran, a majority of Senate Democrats have again blocked an up-or-down vote and silenced the voices of the American people, who overwhelmingly oppose this deal.
“In addition to supporting a deal that will result in a nuclear-armed Iran, Senate Democrats unconscionably rejected a common-sense measure that would prohibit the lifting of sanctions until the American hostages in Iran are released and Iran recognizes our ally Israel’s right to exist.
“Instead of providing protection to our allies and freedom to U.S. citizens held by Iran, Senate Democrats are going to great lengths to protect this disastrous deal, which gives Iran billions of dollars to fund terrorism in the region. Unfortunately, extreme party loyalty has once again prevailed over national security on an agreement that will have enormous repercussions for the safety and security of our nation and the stability of the Middle East.”
Thank you to everyone who attended the GOP Debate Watch party at The District last night. Over 50 people attended and over 40 voted in the informal straw poll.
The Poll Results:
Ben Carson 19.4%
Carly Fiorina 19.4%…
Marco Rubio 13.2%
Donald Trump 10.6%
Ted Cruz 8.8%
Scott Walker 8.0%
John Kasich 5.3%
Jeb Bush 4.4%
Chris Christie 3.5%
Mike Huckabee 3.5%
Rand Paul 3.5%
Methodology: Participants were Republicans who attended the Debate watch party. Voters were asked to write down their top THREE candidates and place their ballot in an unsealed 5.56cal ammo can. The results were pooled to give a weighted impression of which candidates are trending. Percentages were rounded to the nearest tenth.
As a bit of an open topic – Your thoughts on who won the debate last night?
(Unfortunately, Rick Perry isn’t there anymore, so I’ve got to pick a new favorite. You candidates – American Exceptionalism – it’s still important!)
I only watched it through the corner of my eye, as I was working. But Carly Fiorina seemed to set herself apart in a big way. And Chris Christie continues to impress.
I’m getting the opportunity to take another excursion next month, and instead of going to Washington DC, my wife and I are taking a trip a little further north to another city teeming with history – Boston, Massachusetts.
A few of my relatives were prodding me to go to the land whence we came… which in this case is Newport, Rhode Island. That’s where my people landed after coming over from Ireland, and my grandmother was born and raised. But we’re hitting Boston instead, and then working our way north & back.
I’ve been to a few places there, such as the incredible State Capitol when I had a chance to go a few years’ ago. But, since I often use SDWC readers as a travel guide, I’m wondering what jewels I missed. What are your favorite historic places around Boston to visit?
Salem, Mass is day 2 for a touristy stop, and Portland Maine is Day 3 before heading back to beantown on Day 4 Before flying home the next day.
So, give it to me straight – if you were heading there, what would be your “must see” stop?
I was glancing at the Capital Journal website this evening, and came across their calendar of events. And this item kind of jumped out at me:
The Senate Republican Golf Outing, which is a fundraising kind of thing, (and yes, Dems do those types of events too) is being advertised on the local newspaper community calendar? That left me wondering, “so, who put that up there?”
Thune Opposes Iran Deal, Calls for Up-Or-Down Vote
“Almost every single Democrat here in the Senate joined us to pass [the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act], yet just four months later, these same Democrats chose to stifle the voices of the American people by refusing to allow an up-or-down vote on the president’s nuclear agreement.”
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed his frustration with Senate Democrats for repeatedly blocking an up-or-down vote on the president’s nuclear deal with Iran, stifling the voices of the American people. Thune also discussed some of the dangers of the deal
Excerpts (as prepared for delivery):
“This agreement also allows Iran to keep its fortified nuclear facilities, and it gives Iran access to conventional weapons and ballistic missiles capable of delivering a warhead far beyond Iran’s borders.
“Plus, under this agreement, Iran will have full access to international markets and the materials and technical components it needs to build a bomb – material that right now it can only access through black market channels.
“Iran is playing the long game, and in the long term, this is a very good deal for Iran.
“And let’s be clear about Iran’s intentions regarding its nuclear program.
“Iran is NOT simply interested in pursuing a nuclear enrichment program for its civilian energy needs.
“Iran is interested in building a bomb.”
Last week, Thune urged his colleagues to oppose the president’s flawed deal with Iran and penned an op-ed explaining why he would vote against the deal.
7:00pm – at The District
4521 W Empire Pl, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57106
The first debate measurably shifted the Presidential field, what will happen in the second debate? Don’t miss the fun. Please join us for the second Republican Presidential debate watch party at The District, Wednesday September 16th at 7 PM.
Rounds Urges Colleagues to Reject Iran Nuclear Deal
“I urge my fellow Senators to vote against President Obama’s deal with Iran. It’s wrong for the United States and for the world.”
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), today delivered a speech on the Senate floor encouraging his colleagues to join him in opposing the President’s nuclear deal with Iran.
Video of Rounds’ Floor Speech:
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery:
Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, between the United States, Great Britain, France, China, Russia, Germany and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Much has been said about this agreement over the past weeks and months.
My colleagues have addressed a great number of concerns and deficiencies about the deal and many outside experts have testified before multiple committees of Congress explaining their views as well.
In addressing these concerns, I wish to ask a few simple questions: Do we believe that with this agreement, the U.S. and our allies are safer today than we were a year ago and will we be safer when the nuclear limitations expire in ten years?
The answers to these questions are very important.
They will dictate what we decide in one of the most important votes we cast in the 114th Congress.
After closely examining this agreement, the following can be concluded:
Upon verification by the IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency) of Iranian compliance, supposedly within a few months if Iran is in compliance, they will, after payment of their obligations, receive around $56 billion dollars that was frozen in overseas accounts.
Further revenue will be generated because the European Union has agreed to lift its ban on the import of Iranian oil thereby providing Iran with billions more in revenue with which to repair its oil fields and begin to repair its battered economy.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Iran’s deputy petroleum minister recently stated that his country’s oil exports would reach 2.3 million barrels a day, compared with around 1.2 million barrels today.
Iran would also gain access to 50 million barrels of its oil held offshore, and economists estimate that Iran’s economy will grow up to nine percent in the year after implantation of the agreement.
This verification by the IAEA will be accomplished through protocols that members of the Senate have not seen in writing and that the Administration has not nor will they agree to provide to us.
This is in direct contravention to the Iran Review Act which the President signed into law agreeing to provide ALL documents and side agreements, and according to reports, will unbelievably, allow the Iranians to provide their own inspections of their military work on nuclear sites to the IAEA.
A robust inspection regime requires an anytime, anywhere policy.
Unfortunately, under the idea of “managed access” as found in the agreement, if the I-A-E-A requests access to an undeclared location under the JCPOA, Iran can delay access to the facility for two weeks or longer with the outlined multi-step process for undeclared locations.
U.S. sanctions against foreign firms for dealing with Iran in the oil and financial sectors, which have been the most effective sanctions enacted against Iran, will be suspended upon implementation of the agreement.
Sanctions prohibiting U.S. firms from conducting business with Iran will remain in place, but with a large carve out for non-U.S. entities that are owned or controlled by U.S. companies.
Some sanctions will also be lifted against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the entity that runs the military aspects of Iran’s nuclear program.
Furthermore, the agreement requires the U.S. to make certain that U.S. state and local governments comply with sanctions relief contravening their own sanctions placed on Iran.
The JCPOA also commits the P5 + 1 to work to strengthen Iran’s ability to protect against, and respond to nuclear security threats, including sabotage – which we can presume would mean from even our allies who feel deeply threatened by this agreement which transforms Iran, a terrorist state, to a breakout nuclear power and a terrorist state.
In year five of this agreement, Iran will be removed from the United Nations arms embargo.
Yet, as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey told the Senate Armed Services Committee in August, QUOTE “under no circumstances should we relieve pressure on Iran relative to ballistic missile capabilities and arms trafficking.” UNQUOTE
In year eight of this agreement, Iran will be removed from the United Nations ballistic missile embargo.
In July, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter confirmed to me in a hearing that under this deal, he could not rule out Iran acquiring an intercontinental ballistic missile within ten years that could hit the United States.
This means that Iran would have the capability of producing a nuclear weapon that could reach U.S. soil in a decade.
These comments come after General Paul Selva, now the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told me during a separate hearing that Iran remains the leading state sponsor of terrorism, and resources gained in sanctions relief under the nuclear deal could be used by Iran to continue sponsoring terrorism.
Under the agreement, the United States agreed to allow the nuclear related equipment to remain in Iran under lock and key, and Iran will be allowed to continue researching IR-4, IR-5, IR-6 and IR-8 centrifuges.
Iran will also be allowed to begin testing IR-6 and IR-8 centrifuges in cascades of 30 at year eight of the agreement. After eight years many R&D restrictions are removed and Iran will begin to manufacture advanced centrifuges. All R&D restrictions end at 10 years.
Finally, after 10 years, Iran will be free of the restrictions on enrichment and could become a nuclear threshold state – legally under international law, only postponing the inevitable nuclearization of Iran.
So, Mr. President, with these facts established, I am left with what appears to me to be the undeniable answer to my questions:
The U.S. and our Middle Eastern allies are absolutely not safer today than we were a year ago and we will all be left unquestionably less safe when this agreement ends in ten years.
I therefore oppose this deal. It is an agreement that will reward a violent, terrorist regime. Instead of stopping the Iranians from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon, it merely delays it. This deal is shortsighted and dangerous for our security.
Just a few days ago I was talking with my eight year old grandson back in South Dakota. He asked me what I was working on in the Senate and I told him about the President’s proposed deal with Iran.
I told him what we were giving them. I told him about the money, the lifting of the sanctions, the access to weapons and soon, the ability to make a very bad bomb.
After all this he looked at me and asked, “what do we get out of it?” Mr. President, if this third grader can see how bad this deal is so should we.
In conclusion, I urge my fellow Senators to vote against President Obama’s deal with Iran.
It’s wrong for the United States and for the world. And as my grandson understood, we are getting a bad deal – one that we should reject.
Rounds Statement on Democrat Filibuster on Iran Deal Provisions
Thune: Senate Democrats Choose Partisan Politics Over National Security
