Today in Washington D. C. - Nov 20, 2008

The Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to a bill to extend unemployment insurance (H.R. 6867). Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the unemployment insurance bill. A vote on the bill could come later today. Also yesterday, Reid floated a number of unanimous consent agreements to try to pass a massive Democrat stimulus package (S. 3689), a bill to bail out states for their medical spending, and a Democrat bailout plan for the auto industry. All three requests were objected to by GOP senators.

A key theme during this lame duck session week was for whose interests Democrats in Congress are looking out. Taxpayers? The UAW? Automaker CEOs? The AP reports today that the answer appears to be environmental pressure groups:

“A Democratic Congress, unwilling or unable to approve a $25 billion bailout for Detroit’s Big Three, appears ready to punt the automakers’ fate to a lame-duck Republican president.” President Bush has suggested allowing the companies to use “a $25 billion loan program created by Congress in September — designed to help the companies develop more fuel-efficient vehicles — to meet the auto giants’ immediate financial needs.”

But Democrats “are vehemently opposed to letting the car companies tap the fuel-efficiency money — set aside to help switch to vehicles that burn less gasoline — for short-term cash-flow needs,” according to the AP story.

The ultimate responsibility, though, rests with Democrats to decide what to do here. Roll Call (a private subscription service) has an interesting read on the future of the next two years. In addressing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's, planned governance of the House (i.e., the same Sen Reid who led the Senate to one of its lowest rating in History) :

While Reid is known for often having a strong temper — and a difficulty in controlling his tongue — those who know Reid said he is focused on legislating and will look to keep politics out of the chamber as much as possible.

“Sen. Reid is focused on governing. We have an enormous opportunity over the next two years to pass meaningful legislation for the people of Nevada and the people of this country. And that’s where he’s focusing his energy,” one Democrat familiar with Reid said.

But one veteran Democrat warned that Reid is not afraid of a fight, saying the Majority Leader “ain’t afraid to whip out the old Searchlight sling blade and cut their N--- off.”

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Tags: Harry Reid, US Congress, lame duck session, US Senate, Washington D.C., unemployment insurance, Democrat, stimulus package, S. 3689, bailout bill, state medical spending,auto bailout plan To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!