Yesterday, Senator Ed Markey (D. MA) made his big debut on the Senate floor where he made his legislative priorities clear to his colleagues:
http://www.masslive.com/...
He called for “a renewable energy revolution in wind, in solar, in biomass, in geothermal, in energy efficiency.” He said he will introduce legislation to address climate change, similar to a bill he worked to pass in the U.S. House. One of those potential bills would require 25 percent of energy used in America to be clean energy, along with other energy efficiency improvements, by 2025. “This bill will create jobs as it cuts pollution,” he said.
He also plans to introduce legislation to make the natural gas system in Massachusetts and nationally cleaner and more efficient. He cautioned against exporting all of America’s natural gas.
“We can use affordable natural gas and clean energy, built and delivered through the work of union hands, to power new American manufacturing centers,” Markey said.
On privacy, Markey said he plans to introduce a bill that will protect the privacy of children on the internet.
One area Markey stressed during his 2013 U.S. Senate campaign was the need for further gun control, an issue that has gained traction since the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Conn. Markey wants to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and institute universal background checks. The mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. on Monday, which killed 12 people plus the gunman, Markey said, “is the latest deadly reminder that we need to do more to stem the tide of gun violence in this country.”
Highlighting several traditionally Democratic priorities, Markey said he also wants to make progress on “creating an economy that works for everyone,” protecting abortion rights and delivering to the gay community “all of the protections and rights under the Constitution.” He wants to end the across the board government cuts referred to sequestration, raise the minimum wage and pass a new transportation bill “that puts union workers out there working to repair our crumbling roads and bridges.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, taking the Senate floor after Markey said Markey’s speech “indicates the work we should be doing.” - The Republican, 9/18/13
Please do watch the speech whenever you can. Markey campaigned hard for this job and he earned it. Now he's going to fight for these issues. He knows he has to deliver for the people of Massachusetts, especially since he has get ready to run again for a full term next year. By the way, we could be in store for Markey vs. Gomez round two:
http://www.politico.com/...
Gabriel Gomez, who lost the Massachusetts Senate special election in June by 10 points, is at the Capitol Wednesday for informal discussions with several senators about challenging Democrat Ed Markey to a rematch next year.
The Republican has not made a final decision, but sources said he is thinking about running again. His boosters note that he was a first-time candidate who only found his sea legs in the final month of the race.
He requested a courtesy call with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and they tentatively planned to meet up, but the timing did not work out. The two plan to reschedule.
A Gomez adviser said he came to Washington for a Navy SEAL foundation dinner and confirmed that he will meet with several people, including senators. It is not clear who he did see, but a tipster spotted him wandering around the Dirksen office building.
The adviser warned against putting “too much stock in Senate run talk.”
“No decisions made at all,” the adviser emailed, noting that operatives in D.C. are encouraging him to run for both House and Senate but that “other options are on the table” too. - Politico, 9/18/13
If you would like to stay in touch with Markey's campaign you can click here:
http://www.edmarkey.com/