None of the four Democratic Senators running for president attended yesterday’s vote approving an additional $70 billion in funding for the wars (WashPost) in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Democratic candidates have been running on a platform of removing or heavily redeploying U.S. troops in Iraq.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has unveiled a new economic plan, which includes measures for “market-based energy reform” and for lowering trade barriers.

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) yesterday praised the passage in Congress of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, which encourages divestment from Darfur. “This legislation takes a vital step in the right direction by empowering American investors, taxpayers, and pensioners to divest from businesses supporting the murderous Khartoum regime,” Dodd said.

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) criticized the energy bill passed in Senate last week. While the bill “might make us feel better about ourselves,” he said yesterday, it the “does nothing to address the supply side of the equation.”