Today in Washington D. C. - April 3, 2008
On The Senate Floor: The Senate begins debate on a compromise housing bill worked out by Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL). The New York Times provides a summary of the bill's provisions. Fortunately, the compromise omitted Majority Whip Dick Durbin's proposal to allow bankruptcy judges to adjust mortgage rates, a policy that would undoubtedly lead to higher mortgage rates on responsible homeowners and borrowers. However, an amendment to restore this provision will be the first to be considered today.
Also in the Senate, the Banking Committee is holding a hearing with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and the CEOs of JP Morgan Chase and Bear Stearns. Also, the Senate Judiciary Committee began a markup and is expected to vote later on the nomination of Catharina Haynes to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. CQ Today notes that Republicans on the committee will take the opportunity to press Democrats on the glacial pace of confirmation hearings.
From Senate & News Sources: Later today, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell will hold a press conference with members of the Fiscal Reform Working Group: Sens. Dick Lugar (R-IN), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA). They will unveil recommendations for reforming the earmark process. The New York Times reports the panel will “recommend a change in Senate rules to require that all earmarks be set forth explicitly in the text of spending and tax bills, not buried in committee reports.” Roll Call reports, “the proposal will include new disclosure requirements such as requiring all earmark requests to be posted in a searchable format online 48 hours before the Appropriations Committee begins work on the bill and expanding conflict of interest disclosure rules that would require staff members to disclose any benefits they or their family members would receive from an earmark. A ‘full justification’ provision would require Members to identify the primary beneficiaries of an earmark as well as explain why the recipients are worthy of receiving federal funding and to disclose whether the funding will be used in a competitive bid process.”
Also, The Washington Post and The Washington Times have good editorials on Iraq. The Post discusses the fighting in Basra, writing, “the decision by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to launch an offensive by government forces to seize control over the vital port city of Basra ought to have been welcome. Those who portray every development in Iraq as negative described the fighting as proof of worsening sectarianism or as a negation of the improved security achieved in the past six months. In fact, it was neither.”
Tags: earmark reform, housing assistance, Iraq, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Also in the Senate, the Banking Committee is holding a hearing with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and the CEOs of JP Morgan Chase and Bear Stearns. Also, the Senate Judiciary Committee began a markup and is expected to vote later on the nomination of Catharina Haynes to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. CQ Today notes that Republicans on the committee will take the opportunity to press Democrats on the glacial pace of confirmation hearings.
From Senate & News Sources: Later today, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell will hold a press conference with members of the Fiscal Reform Working Group: Sens. Dick Lugar (R-IN), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA). They will unveil recommendations for reforming the earmark process. The New York Times reports the panel will “recommend a change in Senate rules to require that all earmarks be set forth explicitly in the text of spending and tax bills, not buried in committee reports.” Roll Call reports, “the proposal will include new disclosure requirements such as requiring all earmark requests to be posted in a searchable format online 48 hours before the Appropriations Committee begins work on the bill and expanding conflict of interest disclosure rules that would require staff members to disclose any benefits they or their family members would receive from an earmark. A ‘full justification’ provision would require Members to identify the primary beneficiaries of an earmark as well as explain why the recipients are worthy of receiving federal funding and to disclose whether the funding will be used in a competitive bid process.”
Also, The Washington Post and The Washington Times have good editorials on Iraq. The Post discusses the fighting in Basra, writing, “the decision by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to launch an offensive by government forces to seize control over the vital port city of Basra ought to have been welcome. Those who portray every development in Iraq as negative described the fighting as proof of worsening sectarianism or as a negation of the improved security achieved in the past six months. In fact, it was neither.”
Tags: earmark reform, housing assistance, Iraq, US Congress, US House, US Senate, 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 9:53 AM - Post Link
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