Steny Hoyer Highlights How Quality Education is Important to the Economy

I strongly believe that education is one of the biggest issues that we need to address as we're still struggling to recover from the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. That is why I'm pleased to see that several key members of Congress and the Obama Administration have been focusing on education policy.

With that in mind, I wanted to highlight a statement released by Steny Hoyer that reacted to a back to school speech given by Obama. It's worth noting that Hoyer doesn't directly say that we need to invest more money in our schools, but he highlights how important a quality education is for people trying to achieve success in the 21st Century job market. The logical conclusion therefore is that Hoyer's saying investing in a strong education system will indeed help the economy.

So, without further a due, here's Hoyer's statement.

"Our students represent a generation of abundant promise. We can help them reach their full potential by making critical investments today, and this includes providing greater resources to teachers, engaging more parents, and turning around failing schools.

"As President Obama noted, ten years from now more than three out of five jobs will require more than a high school degree, and we need to recognize that taking steps to expand opportunities to attend a four-year college or vocational training will yield benefits to our students and to our economy. This begins with greater access to early education and continues by making sure our students are developing the skill sets that prepare them not only for higher learning but for careers as well. That is why key parts of our Make It In America jobs plan focuses on quality education.

"A good education has always been a path to a good job. Congress can do its part by supporting science and math programs in grades K-12, by helping school districts create opportunities for hands-on learning inside and outside the classroom, and by promoting careers in manufacturing and technology for high school students – all of which are components of our Make It In America plan.

"We risk wasting the talents and intellect of the next generation if our education system fails. Our students have the potential to be tomorrow's innovators, entrepreneurs, leaders, artists, and teachers. It is our responsibility to make sure nothing stands in their way."

Photo Slideshow: Washington Nationals vs the Florida Marlins

Stephen Strasburg made an impressive start on Saturday against the Florida Marlins, but the Nationals eventually lost the game in 13 innings. As usual, I moved around the park a fair amount during the game and was able to get some decent shots. But the nice thing was that the game went long enough that people began leaving towards the end and I was able to get relatively close up to get some shots. So with that in mind, here's a slideshow of some of the photos I took during the game.

Rep. Adam Smith on Official Repeal of DADT

With the official repeal of DADT, we're reminded that there are some things that President Obama has done that we would have never seen from the Republicans who ran for president in 2008. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean the fight is over as even the process for repealing DADT has taken much too long and we're also not seeing the Democratic Party being aggressive enough when it comes to standing up for the basic civil rights of the LGBT community. Of course this also comes at the same time that the House Republicans are using tax payer money to do things like hold Congressional Hearings on why same sex couples shouldn't get married.

That is why I'm glad to see that there are some Democrats in Congress who are making a point to highlight how the repeal of DADT is a victory for anyone who believes in equality. Rep. Adam Smith, for instance, is the ranking member on the House Armed Services committee and sent out the following statement about the discriminatory policy.

"I applaud President Obama for fulfilling his promise to remove the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and allow individuals to serve and protect the nation they love, regardless of their sexual orientation. This is a welcomed change that puts government policy in line with the values of our country.

"For almost 20 years, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has undermined the readiness of our military.  The unwise and harmful policy has forced thousands of capable brave men and women, who are only too eager to serve the nation, out of our Armed Forces at a time when our nation needed them most.

"Any concerns regarding potential negative effects of ending this policy should be put to rest. The debate has ended and all of our military leadership has signed off on the repeal. No longer will capable and dedicated Americans need to hide who they are to serve the country they love."

Video: Steny Hoyer on CBC's Efforts to Help Unemployed

On a night when we saw the crowd at the GOP presidential debate cheer when someone suggested just letting uninsured people die and no candidates offered a strong vision on how to help our economy, the Congressional Black Caucus took to the floor of the House of Representatives to hold a Special Order Hour that focused on job creation and helping the unemployed. This, of course, comes on the heels of the CBC touring the country to hold job fairs and trying to directly help those who need to find a job.

While there were several speeches that are worth paying attention to, here's the speech that was made by Steny Hoyer. A full transcript can be seen below "the fold."

Gerry Connolly Tours Prince William County to See Flood Damage

For a lot of kids in Northern Virginia, their experience with the storms the last few days was simply that we had a lot of rain during their first week back in school. Unfortunately, there were a lot of people who actually suffered because of the severe flooding (hints why Fairfax County and other school systems ended up canceling school on Friday). So that he could see first hand some of the damage and meet with the some of the people who were affected by the storms, Rep. Gerry Connolly spent a significant amount of time in areas that received the brunt of the storms.

On Friday morning, for instance, Gerry went to Woodbridge HS to meet with evacuees from the area who were forced from their homes by the flooding. While he was there, he also met with Woodbridge Supervisor Frank Principi, American Red Cross officials, and first responders. Unfortunately, he had to leave after 45 minutes to rush back to Capitol Hill to cast his vote on the House floor for the Intelligence Authorization bill. (As a side note: I think this shows one of the benefits of living in the DC area. You’re Member of Congress is able to spend time in the district on the same days that he has votes up on the Hill. That isn’t the case for most of the country).

Considering how one of the big attractions of the Town of Occoquan is it’s proximity to the Occoquan River, it shouldn’t be too surprising that the Town was severely impacted by the storms. Several roads had to be shut down because of the flooding, for instance, and there was some damage to buildings in the community. As a result, Gerry went to the town and toured the town with Toddy Puller and Mayor Earnie Porta.

For what it's worth, here are some photos of Gerry on Friday in Prince William County.

Gerry Connolly visiting with Red Cross personnel at Woodbridge High School.

Rep. Gerry Connolly and state Sen. Toddy Puller talk with Occoquan shop owner Marla Cook about the flooding that covered the downtown area on Friday. Looking on is Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta.

Congressman Gerry Connolly, state Sen. Toddy Puller, Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta, and Delegate Rich Anderson talk with local resident James Phelps about damage caused when a small creek became a raging river Friday.

Congressional Reaction to Obama's Jobs Speech

After Obama finished his jobs speech tonight, members of Congress have begun sending out press releases reacting to the speech. Steny Hoyer, for instance, highlighted how the Democrats in the House of Representatives have already proposed the Make It In America plan, which includes several of the concepts that Obama spoke about in his speech.

“Tonight the President laid out his plan to create jobs and grow the economy through the American Jobs Act. He reminded us that everyone should have the chance to 'make it in America' through hard work, and how many fear those days are gone.

“That’s why House Democrats developed the Make It In America plan: to restore the manufacturing engine that made our country great, and to renew the faith that working Americans can succeed. This plan includes several proposals the President discussed tonight, such as the creation of an infrastructure bank to facilitate investments in the roads and bridges that businesses need to thrive, and worker training to give Americans the skills they need to fill jobs that are available now, as well as those of tomorrow.

“The American Jobs Act will be paid for. Reducing the deficit is one of the most important things we can do to strengthen our economy, but we must create jobs for our people. If we don’t, we will not be able to balance our budget. The President laid out a path tonight for doing both.

“Many of the ideas in the Make It In America plan and that the President discussed are supported by both parties, business and labor. The American Jobs Act can and should be passed swiftly through Congress. Americans cannot wait any longer for us to take action.”

Perhaps in a sign of how Republicans in the House of Representatives remain in opposition to the President's plans, Rep. John Kline (the Chairman of the Education and Worforce Committee) issued a statement that expressed opposition to the President's education policy.

“At its core, education is a jobs issue, and we must encourage policies that help prepare today’s students to join tomorrow’s workforce. More stimulus spending is not the right solution to our nation’s jobs crisis. Common sense tells us that putting the federal government in the business of school construction will only lead to higher costs and more regulations. It also tells us that another teacher union bailout will not ensure a quality education for our children.

“My colleagues on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce have been working together on a new way forward for the nation’s education system. Our efforts center on reducing federal intervention in classrooms, supporting effective teachers, streamlining education spending, encouraging innovation, and putting decisions back in the hands of state and local officials. Rather than renew his support for the failed policies of the past, the president should join our efforts to chart a better course for our children’s future.”

This statement doesn't specifically highlight anything that Obama spoke about during his speech tonight, so it will be interesting to see if Kline or other Republicans of the education committee address some of the proposals he made -- like having funding to repair schools or keep teachers employeed. This could be important as Kline's committee might have to deal with portions of the bill that relate to education. I'm not entirely sure if that will happen (or if it necessary should right now), however, as I know most of the education focused Congressmen are working on a charter school bill (HR 2218) right now as well as a series of bills to reform No Child Left Behind.

There's obviously a lot of controversy surrounding those bills right now, so it wouldn't surprise me if staffers and individual Members of Congress are more focused on those bills than Obama's speech. As Kline said in his release, however, "education is a jobs issue" so it would be great to see where he comes down on the specific proposals Obama has made.

As more Members release statements or if Kline actually wants to comment on specifics, I'll make sure to post updates if they are noteworthy.

Gerry Connolly Goes After Sarah Palin's for her Remarks About NoVA

As a lot of folks are tuned into the GOP Presidentlial debate tonight, I think it's kind of important to look at what one of the leaders of the Republican Party recenty said. Sarah Palin attacked Northern Virginians while speaking at a Tea Party rally in Iowa last week by referring to them as “unlike the rest of America" and suggesting that Northern Virginia residents are immune from the economic hardships of the recession because they live near the nation's capital. While George Allen continues to promote policies and an attitude similar to Palin, there are some leaders who have called out Palin and her cronies. Gerry Connolly, for instance, joined former Governor Tim Kaine in criticizing Sarah Palin for her offensive remarks about Northern Virginia.

“Once again, Sarah Palin has delivered a harmful and hateful message that has little basis in fact. If she thinks that Northern Virginia is immune from our current economic recession, I invite her to meet some of our residents who have lost their homes or seen their retirement funds depleted due to the economic policies of the Bush administration,” Connolly said.

“As the former Alaska governor and FOX News media star should know so well, Alaskans reap more federal largess than any other Americans, according to several studies and reports in the New York Times and USA Today. ‘Alaska is the top recipient of federal stimulus dollars per capita — with no close second,’ the Times reported; while USA Today also pointed out that Alaska was the biggest recipient of federal pork barrel spending from earmarks,” Connolly said.

“I would suggest that this is the pot calling the kettle black,” he said.

Of course, this isn't the first time that we've heard the Republicans show a lack of respect for NOVA. During the 2008 campaign, for instance, McCain's brother went on a tirade against the region and called it "community country." In other words, this seems to go beyond a simple statement from Sarah Palin but in fact represents a trend in the GOP. They clearly don't like Northern Virginia even though it's become a crucial area in presidential elections and is home to millions of crucial working class families.

A Labor Day Weekend Discussion on the Minor League Umpires Union

I have to admit, I don't think it gets much better than taking in a doubleheader on a lazy Sunday afternoon. When it comes to doing so out in Woodbridge and the Potomac Nationals are playing, it also means that you get a really good seat for less than the cost of going to the movies. What made it even better yesterday, however, was the fact that I ran into a friend of mine Dan who I haven't seen in a couple months.

Just for the record, I met Dan through the work we've both done in the political world. It therefore shouldn't be too surprising when I tell you that he works for a labor union and was quick to point out a sign in the outfield that highlighted the minor league umpires union (the Association of Minor League Umpires). With yesterday being labor day, however, it also seemed fairly fitting that our conversation turned in the direction of a labor union.

Briefly setting aside the politics of labor unions, Dan pointed out that the AMLU joined forces with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) back in February of 2010. When they did so, they became known as AMLU/OPEIU guild 322. Why 322? Well, they picked that number to stand for 3 balls, 2 strikes, 2 outs. Of course, that’s the count where we can see a lot of excitement -- like Ryan Zimmerman’s walk off grand slam a few weeks ago against the Phillies.

Now some of you may wonder why a minor league umpire needs to have a union. In my opinion, it simply comes down to the fact that everyone deserves to have a well paying job. Now we’ve all probably heard about how little minor league players make when compared to the major league counterparts, but the umpires don’t get the relatively large signing bonuses that many players receive. They also make considerably less money and don’t have the added benefit of having a “host family” that helps them out like many minor league players do when they’re in the lower leagues.

With that being said, the average salary for Minor League umpires is about $15,000 in Class AAA, $12,000 in Class AA, $10,000 in full-season Class A and $5,550 in Rookie League. While they’re forced to spend basically the entire regular season on the road living out of their suitcase as they travel from hotel room to hotel room, they’re also given about $20 per day per diem (in other words, basically enough to get their meals at a fast food joint).

I don’t know about you, but I don’t know anywhere that you can cover all of your bills on a salary of $15,000 much less the salaries that they earn in the lower leagues. The amazing thing is that these salaries are actually higher than they were before the AMLU began working to protect the rights of umpires. There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done, however, if we legitimately want to see a day when good umpires are able to make a solid living wage while working in the minor leagues.

This is all also important to take into consideration because the umpires’ current collective bargaining agreement runs through the end of this season. Since the last time we saw negotiations (back in 2006) the talks resulted in a strike, it’ll be very interesting to see how things progress between the union and the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (the company that manages minor league umpires).

Photos from Potomac Nationals vs Kinston Indians

Taking in a doubleheader is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, especially when it features two teams who are heading to the playoffs. When it comes to a minor league game, it also means having the opportunity to get good seats for extremely cheap. So with that in mind, here are some of my photos from the doubleheader between the Potomac Nationals and the Kinston Indians.

Photo Slideshow: Nationals vs Mets

Here's a slideshow of some of the photos I took during the game between the Mets and the Nationals on Friday. I sat in the Red Zone seats, which are in centerfield. I've learned over the years that these are decent seats for the game --especially if you're a fan of someone playing in the outfield -- and are an excellent place to be if you want to catch balls during batting practice. I'm going to be spending most of today at a doubleheader in Woodbridge watching the Potomac Nationals take on the Kinston Indians, so hopefully I'll be able to get a few good shots while I'm there. Perhaps the best news about that game, however, is that the P-Nats have already clinched a spot in the playoffs. Now they're just playing for home field advantage in the first round of the postseason.

Phil Mickelson Takes BP at Fenway Park

This is cross-posted at Ballpark Banter.

I don’t know about you, but I like to root for the underdog. The fact that I’m a diehard Nationals fan should give that away. But it also explains why I have always been a Phil Mickelson fan. I know he can’t be that big of an underdog when he was ranked number two in the world for awhile, but everyone was an underdog compared to Tiger Woods when he was in his prime. It just happened to be that Phil was the underdog with the best chance of actually catching Tiger. Plus, I always thought he came across as an extremely likeable guy and therefore found it fairly easy to rally behind him when he had a chance to win on Sunday afternoons.

With that being said, it shouldn’t be too surprising that I was excited when I turned on the MLB Network this afternoon and saw that he was actually in the batting cage taking BP with a big goofy grin on his face at Fenway Park. Apparently it was Duncan Webb, who works in the front office for the Red Sox, that was throwing for Mickelson and the 41 year old golfer hit one out to the warning track. He then was on Intentional Talk with Kevin Millar and Chris Rose where he was talking about how excited to be at Fenway.

"I grew up playing [baseball] like most people did," Mickelson said after saying he was “very appreciative” of the opportunity “to be at Fenway Park and take BP.” He then added that "it's fun for us when the Tour is in town here and the Sox are in the pennant race to come to a ballgame here at Fenway. There's nothing more exciting than when the Sox are having a great year and getting ready for the playoffs."

What was real interesting about the whole event was that Mickelson ended up throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to Tim Wakefield. It was a decent pitch, but the part that caught my eye was that he threw it right handed. Apparently he does most things right handed, but learned to play golf left handed because he was mirroring everything he saw his dad did (for what it’s worth, he also swings a baseball bat left handed).

It’s also worth noting that he appeared to be genuinely enjoying the entire experience. For a guy who’s been near the top of his sport as a professional, he almost looked like a little kid with the pure excitement of being able to take some BP and throw out the first pitch at Fenway. I think this goes to show how baseball truly is a game that allows the inner child to come out in all of us -- something I imagine we’ll see even more of as the excitement of postseason baseball is rapidly approaching.