Today in Washington D. C. - Dec 14, 2007

From Senate & News Sources: Democrats efforts pushing partisan agendas and liberal legislation instead of working with Republicans are noted by the press. The Wall Street Journal declares this Congress “The Delta House Congress,” thanks to Democrats’ penchant for “really futile and stupid gesture[s]. . . . On nearly every issue, Democrats have been intent not on getting something done but on making a stupid, futile gesture to please their base.” CongressDaily’s Richard E. Cohen writes, “Democrats this year have mostly ignored many of [the] basics of Legislating 101.” The result has been what “a veteran House Democratic leadership aide” called “multiple train wrecks.” And Ben Schneider, CongressDaily, observes, that “nearly everything Reid has done, including a steady stream of Iraq votes, has been viewed by Republicans as political grandstanding.” But when Democrats, up against the end of the year, finally compromised and worked with Republicans, a number of measures are now likely to be passed: the farm bill, the energy bill, and the critical Defense authorization bill.

On The Floor: Senate reconvened at 10 AM and resumed consideration of the farm bill (H.R. 2419) and is expected to finally finish work on the bill this morning. Reid filed for cloture on the farm bill last night, which was invoked, 78-12. This eliminated remaining amendments to the bill. After a final vote on the farm bill, the Senate will begin consideration of the Federal Housing Administration overhaul (S. 2338) which also addresses increasing the size of mortgages that the agency could insure, lowering down payments and boosting penalties for fraud. Only two amendments to the bill will be considered.

Following the FHA bill, the Senate will move to the conference report on the fiscal 2008 Defense authorization bill (H.R. 1585). The bill’s way has been cleared after Democrats agreed to remove a hate crimes measure that had been attached to the bill in September.

Yesterday, the Senate passed the third continuing resolution (H.J. Res. 69) this year, to fund the government through next Friday. Senate Democrats failed yesterday by one vote to get cloture on a revised energy package that included $21 billion in tax hikes on energy companies but lacked the renewable energy mandates that were rejected last week. After this latest failure, the tax package was removed and the energy bill was sent back to the House by a vote of 86-8.

Senators rejected four amendments to the farm bill yesterday (which needed 60 votes to pass), including amendments by Sens. Dorgan (D-ND), Grassley (R-IA) & Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN) to limit farm subsidies & amendment by Sen. Brown (D-OH) to cut the federal crop insurance program. Next week, the Senate hopefully will take up an AMT patch, the omnibus appropriations bill, and a FISA reform bill.

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