Nancy Pelosi

U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) is lobbying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to include a renewal of  alternative energy investment tax credits in a new economic stimulus package. In a letter sent to Pelosi on Monday, Mitchell wrote, "I believe we have a real opportunity to brighten our future by investing in solar energy. "In Arizona, we’re lucky to enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine a year," wrote Mitchell. "Investing in solar energy is vital to Arizona’s economy."

Specifically, Mitchell addressed the need for the tax credits, set to expire at the end of the year, to proceed with the proposed Solana solar power generating station, a $1 billion project to be constructed near Gila Bend.

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-6) is considering whether or not to support the Post-9/11 GI Bill, introduced by Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-5) and supported by more than half the U.S. House, including 71 Republicans. If Flake decides to become a cosponsor, he would be the sole member of Arizona's GOP contingent to do so.

Democrats at all levels are pushing for the bill, designed to include reservists and National Guard troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan to be covered under the same educational. News of Flake's deliberation comes on the day the Washington Post published a story entitled "Some Veterans Find GI Bill Falls Short," and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) praised the bill.

This has been the week of the GOP going after Democrats over rising fuel costs, trying to marry that party to consumer woes. The Democrats have responded, but now Emily Bittner, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party, is lending her voice.

Republicans claim the Democratic leadership in Congress is failing to lead on this issue, and furthermore advocating a stance that will lead to higher gas prices. Democrats countered today with a list of specific legislation that they say works to achieve the object - with a note from Bittner saying Republicans care more about Big Oil than the middle class. 

It is the latest issue to serve as a battleground for the parties in this extraordinarily consequential election year.

As gasoline prices creep indefatigably toward the $4.00/gal. threshold, Republicans are making a concerted effort to shift public consternation over pain at the pump onto Democratic lawmakers and presidential candidates, including Reps. Gabrielle Giffords and Harry Mitchell, and Sen. Barack Obama.

This week signaled the beginning of an offensive, from Capitol Hill to the Copper Dome, in which Republicans in D.C. and Arizona - and everywhere else in between - will try to make the issue of rising fuel costs a loser for Democrats.

The bad news for State Senate President Tim Bee (R-Tucson) is he didn't match the Q1 total of rival Rep. Gabby Giffords. The good news is that he came in just $6,000 shy - in a district where both candidates put up first quarter numbers in the mid-six figures.

On Friday, State Senate President Tim Bee joined former CD8 Congressman Jim Kolbe to discuss why America needs the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, and why the Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill won't allow a vote on it.

Check out the winner and runner-ups for this week's Cartoon Caption Contest.