Today’s Agenda

This morning, Senator Lee will meet with Ryan Crocker, the
Administration’s nominee for Ambassador to Afghanistan.  He has a Judiciary hearing to discuss the
Environmental Crimes and Enforcement Act, and other legislation.  This afternoon, the Senator will give a floor
statement in opposition of Goodwin Liu’s appointment to the Ninth Circuit Court
of Appeals, and will vote on numerous bills before the Water and Power
Subcommittee on ENR, for which he is the Ranking Member.  Finally, he has media interviews E&E
News, as well as KCPX’s (Moab) Cari and Rob Show. 

From the Senator’s
Desk

“Professor Liu’s appalling treatment of Justice Alito
leaves grave doubt in my mind as to whether he possesses the requisite judgment
to serve as a life-tenured judge.  And I
have come to the conclusion that Professor Liu’s extreme judicial philosophy is
simply incompatible with the proper role of a judge in our constitutional
republic.  For these reasons, as well as
those articulated by many of my colleagues, I am compelled to oppose this
nomination.” – Mike Lee

#2ndOpinion

Today marks the 750^th day since the Senate passed
a budget.  For more than two years,
Congressional Democrats have failed to provide leadership on America’s fiscal
future.  Today, Budget Chairman Senator
Conrad said,” “There will be a budget…The question is the timing, and the
question is how do we maximize the chance to get done what has to be done in
the interest of the country.

Around the Water
Cooler

Taxed
Too Much: “The tax bite in Utah is the second worst in the nation”

Oil
Production: “We need to make the permitting process smoother, more
streamlined, more accelerated, not move in the opposite direction”

A Look Ahead

The Senate votes on the Liu nomination today, and expects to
move toward Patriot Act reauthorization next week.  Senator Lee speaks to the Utah Taxpayers
Association about the debt ceiling and the balanced budget amendment on Monday.  There is also a joint meeting of Congress next
Tuesday to hear remarks by the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.