We were delighted when Senator Harkin called a few weeks ago to congratulate us on winning the Dine with Senator Harkin contest on TomHarkin.com. We are huge fans of Senator Harkin’s and we were thrilled to learn we’d get to spend an evening at the JJ Dinner.

On November 20, Senator Harkin addressed reports of promising new stem cell research:

“These scientists have performed truly groundbreaking and historic accomplishments. Still, our top researchers recognize that this new development does not mean that we should discontinue studying embryonic stem cells – as Dr. Thomson has said – scientists may yet find that embryonic stem cells are more powerful. We need to continue to pursue all alternatives as we search for treatments for diabetes, Parkinson’s, and spinal cord injuries.

On Monday, your friend and my husband Tom celebrates his 68th birthday. He still has the same energy and passion for public service as the young man I married almost four decades ago.

Would you like to send him a special message today to help him celebrate his birthday?

The Senate voted today to override President Bush’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that authorizes $23 billion in new water and flood-control projects in Iowa and states around the country.

(Cross-published on www.dailykos.com)

The Washington Post recently editorialized on Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey and torture, in which the wise men of the Washington Post stated that Congress “should do something which, for all the rhetoric, they have so far declined to do: ban torture.”

In fact, Congress has banned torture. Simply because this Administration believes it has the inherent authority to ignore the law and has consistently distorted the meaning of the word “torture” does not mean that Congress has not done so.