HTN: Gift Card Protection

New York Senator Charles Schumer says the credit card bill of rights being considered by the Senate this week now includes protections for gift cards. Schumer says the bill will include new rules that curb hidden tricks and fees on store gift cards. Schumer says under the rules, gift card companies would not be able to reduce the balance of a card for a whole year and if used once, consumers would get a whole other year from that date. It would also prevent cards from expiring for five years. The credit card bill of rights also includes protections for credit card holders, putting an end to sudden spikes in interest rates.

HTN: Schumer Calls for Plastic Ban

New York's senior Senator is calling for a nationwide ban on a chemical that may be linked to childhood cancer and other developmental diseases. Senator Chuck Schumer wants the federal government to outlaw the use of bisphenol-A, also known as BPA, in plastic baby bottles and sippy cups. But the Food and Drug Administration calls the infant drinking containers safe, ruling as recently as last August that bottles with BPA pose no safety concern. The chemical makes plastics clear and shatter-resistant.

Hometown News: Schumer Slams "Cow Tax"

Senator Chuck Schumer says the EPA is looking to tax farmers for every dairy cow they own. The proposal has been dubbed the "cow tax" and would charge farmers 175 dollars annually for every dairy cow, and 87-dollars-50-cents for every beef cow. The ultimate goal is cleaner air. Cows produce methane, which, when combined with oxygen, creates carbon dioxide. The EPA says it is not proposing a cow tax, that it's just one of many ideas to be considered in the reduction of greenhouse gases in compliance with the Clean Air Act. Schumer wants even the idea of the cow tax taken off the table.

State Leaders Ponder Economic Crisis

Another down day for the Dow, as reaction continues to come in on the country's financial crisis/ Governor David Paterson was in Buffalo today, and said that state government is considering all options, include another special session in Albany. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer says the President's proposed bailout to buy up bad mortgage investments will need transparency and oversight to make sure the money is spent in a fair way. Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Schumer also says the money in the 700-billion dollar plan must be spent without favoritism.

Schumer Wants Saudi Deal Blocked

With gas prices creeping closer to four-dollars a gallon, New York Senator Charles Schumer says he knows what would bring prices down. Schumer wants Congress to block a multi-million-dollar arms sale between the Bush Administration and Saudi Arabia. Schumer says if Saudi Arabia started producing oil at the level it was back in 2005, prices at the pump would fall by 35 to 50 cents a gallon. New York's senior senator says at that time, the Saudis were pumping 800-thousand more barrels a day. According to the Lundberg survey, prices at the pump have climbed 15 cents over the past two weeks. The new national average for a gallon of regular unleaded is three-dollars and 62 cents.

Schumer Speaks Up on Bridge Design

Last week an environmental review said that the design for a new Peace Bridge would have to be changed because the cables that would hold up the sections of roadway would be detrimental to some birds. Now, Senator Chuck Schumer says he has been talking with federal officials and the design may not be dead after all. Schumer says that a decision hasn't been made yet at the top and that he feels the bridge would not have that big of an impact on wildlife.