The econom and Dodd

Last Friday Sen. Dodd has voiced his concern about Bush's pick about President Bush"s pick for the new Sectary of Housing and Development, citing inexperience about housing as the reason for his concern. Thursday Sen Dodd stated that the only way to help the U.S. housing problem would to have large-scale government intervention and Sen. Dodd says that a deal must be made in the upcoming weeks if the Housing Crisis is to be solved. In the student-loan market Sen. Dodd testified before a senate hearing that providers of both Federally guaranteed loans and private have been pulling out from the market. Sen. Dodd has vowed to protect the student-loan market and has moved to make Federal Finance Banking funds available for said purpose. In hearings about flood insurance Sen. Dodd has opposed expansion to cover wind damage citing that the cost is too high to be practical Thursday Sen. Dodd received Holy Communion at Nationals Park during the Papal Mass.

In response to the retirement of Fidel Castro, Sen. Dodd stated that the U.S.'s policy toward Cuba was "one of the most backwards and ineffective in history" Sen. Dodd then went on to state that this regime change was an opportunity for the U.S. to change as well, saying that the U.S. should open up to Cuba and to re-establish ties with the country. Wednesday a study of environmental voting in Congress, with the Conn. officials in the lead, except for Sen. Dodd who had a 60% due to missed question sessions from his time on the campaign trail. Sen. Dodd has announced that part of the legislative focus in the economy will be on homeowners and business insurance. Sen. Dodd has proposed that all high-school student do at least 100 hours of community service, but that the service be integrated in some manner with their academics and that the schools will be able to shape the community service program to the manner needed by the community- this program will hopefully instill a sense of patriotism in the youth at an impressionable time. Monday Sen. Dodd is visiting Bridgeport (who is discussing security) to talk to them about the state of the economy and what is being done. Sunday Sen. Dodd criticized the Navy's move from having an American company build the new presidential helicopter to an European company. Last Sunday, the Senate failed to pass a bill that would remove the immunity of the phone companies that aided in the illegal surveillance- Sen. Dodd was one of the leaders of this bill, Sen. Dodd also opposed a bill that would expand the ability of the government to spy on the populace- but the bill has been passed. Other bills by Sen. Dodd are held up in Congress, like one that would help Katrina victims move out from the FEMA trailers.

Wednesday, Senator Dodd (Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee) had meet with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernake to discuss the mortgage crisis and the actions taken to rectify the situation. Thursday Sen. Dodd met with Shelia Blair, the chair women of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, to discuss her opinion. Sen. Dodd also plan to meet with each member of the Senate Banking Committee to discuss their ideas, their plans of action they take to solve the crisis. At the moment Sen. Dodd states the best course of action would be a short-term stimulus package and then planning longer-term solutions. There is speculation the Dodd may be nominate for Vice President, especially after Sen. Obama's remark about seeking Dodd's counsel if elected president.
On Bush's remark about the delaying of the conformations of his nominees, Sen. Dodd stated that the economy must first be fixed and then the nominees will be tested about their views. In an alternate solution to public works (The decaying infrastructure of America ), Sen. Dodd has proposed the creation of an independent National Infrastructure Bank which project seeking grants of at least 75 million would submit to to be judged- though existing projects, earmarks and grants would not be affected by this bank.