Today in Washington D. C. - Nov 6, 2007
From Senate sources: The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey to be attorney general today. Democrat Senators Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein have said they will support Mukasey which has essentially ensured his approval by the committee. Sadly, other Judiciary Committee Democrat are expected to vote against Mukasey.
The Senate began work on the $283 billion farm bill (H.R. 2419) yesterday and it quickly became the latest show case for Democrat mismanagement of Congress. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that he would "fill the amendment tree" on the bill, which will allow him to prohibit any amendment he doesn't approve of. For the first time since 1933, the farm bill includes a tax increase. The bill is likely to be the last amendable tax vehicle this year, as floor time is at a premium. Reid's move could block attempts to extend tax cuts or prevent tax increases.
Meanwhile, Democrats are still in complete disarray over how to fund the troops. Some Democrats have proposed including bridge funding for troops in Iraq in the next continuing resolution, while others, such as House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-WI) are still demanding withdrawal goals or requirements be attached to supplemental war funding.
On The Floor: Senate will resume consideration of the farm bill (H.R.2419). Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) has a substitute amendment (#3500) that will be the basis for debate.
CQ's Senate Watch reports on the farm bill: "Lawmakers from urban areas may offer amendments to cut some farm programs and divert the savings into programs like food stamps. And members from states where environmentalism is paramount may try to shift cash to the conservation title of the farm bill. "Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, and Byron L. Dorgan, D-N.D., have said they would offer an amendment that would cap overall farm payments at$250,000 per year for a two person farming household. Another proposal, by Sens. Richard G. Lugar, R-Ind, and Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., would phase out most crop subsidies in favor of a stronger crop insurance program."
Congress Daily reports that a new continuing resolution to fund the government through December 14th is being prepared, though some agencies are preparing to wait until as late as February 15th for Congress to pass fiscal 2008 funding bills. Roll Call has termed the Democrats' approach to funding the government this year an "appropriations train wreck."
In the House: The House is expected to take up the conference report on the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R. 3043) which has had the Military Construction-VA appropriations bill (H.R. 2642) tacked on to it. Republican Senators have called for a stand-alone VA funding bill to be sent to the president, who has threatened to veto the combined bill. The conference report could arrive in the Senate later this week.
However, thanks to new rules Democrats passed earlier this year prohibiting new spending from being added in conference committees without approval of the House and Senate, the combined spending bill might be split by a Republican point of order against it. The addition of the VA spending bill to the Labor-HHS bill appears to violate the rule against adding new spending in conference.
Tags: Farm bill, labor-HHS bill, Michael Mukasey, US Congress, US House, US Senate, VA, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
The Senate began work on the $283 billion farm bill (H.R. 2419) yesterday and it quickly became the latest show case for Democrat mismanagement of Congress. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that he would "fill the amendment tree" on the bill, which will allow him to prohibit any amendment he doesn't approve of. For the first time since 1933, the farm bill includes a tax increase. The bill is likely to be the last amendable tax vehicle this year, as floor time is at a premium. Reid's move could block attempts to extend tax cuts or prevent tax increases.
Meanwhile, Democrats are still in complete disarray over how to fund the troops. Some Democrats have proposed including bridge funding for troops in Iraq in the next continuing resolution, while others, such as House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-WI) are still demanding withdrawal goals or requirements be attached to supplemental war funding.
On The Floor: Senate will resume consideration of the farm bill (H.R.2419). Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) has a substitute amendment (#3500) that will be the basis for debate.
CQ's Senate Watch reports on the farm bill: "Lawmakers from urban areas may offer amendments to cut some farm programs and divert the savings into programs like food stamps. And members from states where environmentalism is paramount may try to shift cash to the conservation title of the farm bill. "Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, and Byron L. Dorgan, D-N.D., have said they would offer an amendment that would cap overall farm payments at$250,000 per year for a two person farming household. Another proposal, by Sens. Richard G. Lugar, R-Ind, and Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., would phase out most crop subsidies in favor of a stronger crop insurance program."
Congress Daily reports that a new continuing resolution to fund the government through December 14th is being prepared, though some agencies are preparing to wait until as late as February 15th for Congress to pass fiscal 2008 funding bills. Roll Call has termed the Democrats' approach to funding the government this year an "appropriations train wreck."
In the House: The House is expected to take up the conference report on the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R. 3043) which has had the Military Construction-VA appropriations bill (H.R. 2642) tacked on to it. Republican Senators have called for a stand-alone VA funding bill to be sent to the president, who has threatened to veto the combined bill. The conference report could arrive in the Senate later this week.
However, thanks to new rules Democrats passed earlier this year prohibiting new spending from being added in conference committees without approval of the House and Senate, the combined spending bill might be split by a Republican point of order against it. The addition of the VA spending bill to the Labor-HHS bill appears to violate the rule against adding new spending in conference.
Tags: Farm bill, labor-HHS bill, Michael Mukasey, US Congress, US House, US Senate, VA, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 9:15 AM - Post Link
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