Which Side Are The Democrats On - America's Or Our Enemies? . . .
. . . Threats Expand Worldwide - Russians Strike In Syria - Obama Threatens Veto Defense Bill – Sen. Dems Filibuster Bills For Military, Vets.
Today in Washington, D.C. - Oct 1, 2015:
The House reconvened at 9:00 AM today.
Bills which may be considered today:
H.R. 3457 — "To prohibit the lifting of sanctions on Iran until the Government of Iran pays the judgments against it for acts of terrorism, and for other purposes."
Consideration of the conference report to accompany the bill H.R. 1735 - "To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules."
Yesterday the House passed S. 2082 (423-0) — "To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes."
The Senate reconvened at 9:30 AM today. Following an hour of morning business, the Senate resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 2029, the Fiscal Year 2016 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill.
At 1:45 PM EDT, Senate Democrats filibustered that bill, blocking the Senate from taking it up, just as they did last week with the Fiscal Year 2016 Defense appropriations bill. Today’s vote failed to get the 60 votes needed by a vote of 50-44.
Yesterday, on the last day of the fiscal year, Congress approved a short-term spending measure that keeps the federal government operating through Dec. 11. The Senate voted 78-20 to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 719, with a further amendment containing the CR. The House then passed the bill and the president signed it.
Josh Siegel at the Heritage Foundation noted, "The continuing resolution funds the government at a rate of $1.017 trillion annually for the next two and a half months. Senate leaders argued the deal gives Congress time to negotiate a budget deal with the president, though Obama has been pushing Congress to break the spending caps imposed by the 2011 Budget Control Act.
"The continuing resolution also provides $74.7 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations and reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration, E-verify program, and Internet Tax Freedom Act.
"Senate Republican leaders introduced a government spending bill last week that included a one-year moratorium on funding for Planned Parenthood. The legislation also directed the $235 million in savings derived from the government funding allocated for Planned Parenthood to be directed to community health centers.
"That bill, however, was blocked in the upper chamber, after it failed to reach the 60 votes needed to advance."
Democrats in The News:
Politico writes , “On Monday afternoon, President Barack Obama grudgingly sat down with Vladimir Putin in part to gain a clearer understanding of the Russian leader's opaque plans for Syria.
“Less than 48 hours later, Putin unpleasantly surprised Obama with new clarity: airstrikes that are scrambling the U.S. president's plans for Syria and escalating the global rivalry between Washington and Moscow.
“The timing of the Russian airstrikes was more than a surprise — it seemed designed to insult the U.S. president and to demonstrate Putin's swagger at a moment when world leaders are gathered at the United Nations, reassessing global security.
“‘That kind of political theater is important to him,’ said Paul Salem, vice president for policy and research at the Middle East Institute. ‘Misbehaving is part of his global game.’”
The Washington Post adds, “Blindsided by the unexpected swiftness of Russia’s air attacks in Syria, the Obama administration scrambled Wednesday to retake the diplomatic and military initiatives . . . . Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed off Western concerns, suggesting that other countries ‘get involved’ in Syria under Russia’s leadership. Senior foreign policy spokesmen in Moscow said the action proved Russia was a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.”
And according to The Wall Street Journal, “Russia launched airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday, catching U.S. and Western officials off guard and drawing new condemnation as evidence suggested Moscow wasn’t targeting extremist group Islamic State, but rather other opponents of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
“One of the airstrikes hit an area primarily held by rebels backed by the Central Intelligence Agency and allied spy services, U.S. officials said, catapulting the Syrian crisis to a new level of danger and uncertainty. . . . U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Russia’s approach to the Syrian war—defending Mr. Assad while ostensibly targeting extremists—was tantamount to ‘pouring gasoline on the fire.’ . . .
“The U.S. and its allies were angry at the Russians on many scores: that they are supporting Mr. Assad; that they aren’t coordinating their actions with the existing, U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition; that they provided terse notice only an hour before their operations; that they demanded the U.S. coalition stay out of Syrian airspace; and that they struck in areas where anti-Assad rebels—not Islamic State—operate.
“‘It does appear that they were in areas where there probably were not ISIL forces, and that is precisely one of the problems with this whole approach,’ said Mr. Carter, the U.S. defense chief.”
Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported, “Taliban militants seized control of most of the northern city of Kunduz, residents and officials said, marking the first major Afghan city to fall to the insurgency in 14 years of war. . . . The fall of the city marks a devastating blow to Afghanistan’s Western-backed government and its security forces, which have largely fought on their own since U.S. and allied forces mostly ended their combat role last year.”
And The Washington Post recently wrote that “the offensive to reclaim territory from the Islamic State largely stalled in Iraq” and noted that “The change [in approach to Syria] is driven partly by frustration with the stalemated fight in Iraq, where an Iraqi army assault on Ramadi has ground to a halt and where a much-anticipated offensive to reclaim Mosul, originally planned for this year, may come only after President Obama leaves office.”
With so many serious ongoing threats and military concerns across the world, it’s critical that American forces have the necessary funds and planning ability to address these threats.
But President Obama has threatened to veto the Defense authorization bill which earlier passed the Senate with a bipartisan majority and the House just voted to pass. The AP notes, “The defense policy bill is one of the few bipartisan measures in Congress that has readily become law for more than a half-century. Not so fast this year, as President Obama threatens to veto the bill moving through the House amid a bitter dispute about government spending. . . .
“Among other things, the bill maintains restrictions on transferring terror suspects out of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; provides a 1.3 percent pay increase to service members; authorizes lethal assistance to Ukraine forces fighting Russian-backed rebels; extends the ban on torture to the CIA; and authorizes the president's request of $715 million to help Iraqi forces fight Islamic State militants.
“On Wednesday, the White House reiterated Obama's veto threat. The president's press secretary, Josh Earnest, called it an ‘irresponsible way to fund our national defense priorities.’”
Last week, Senate Democrats voted to filibuster the Defense appropriations bill, which would fund the military and the programs authorized in the authorization bill.
And today, Senate Democrats followed that blockade by filibustering the appropriations bill to fund veterans’ programs and military construction.
As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said today, “So many different threats face us — from Russia and Iran to Syria and ISIL, even China — as do so many different means of attack: conventional, cyber, or terror. And now the Obama Administration is talking about vetoing America’s national defense bill? . . . .
“Just last week, Democrats voted again to block funding for our military. Democrats had voted for that military funding bill in committee. They’d issued press releases praising it. But then they blocked the Senate from even debating it. . . . “It’s all part of some half-baked Democrat scheme to get more money for the IRS and Washington bureaucracies. “I agree, it makes no sense. I agree, it’s extreme. I agree that it needs to stop now.”
So - Which Side Are The Democrats On - America's Or Our Enemies?
Tags: Democrats, Senators, President Obama, which side are tehy on, President Obama, Threatens Veto Defense Bill, Sen. Dems Filibuster Bills, For Military, Vets, Russia, Putin fills vacuum, created by Obama, editorial cartoon, AF Branco To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
 |
| Putin is now the World Leader of the free world (minus the free part), filling the vacuum created by Obama. Editorial Cartoon by AF "Tony" Branco |
The House reconvened at 9:00 AM today.
Bills which may be considered today:
H.R. 3457 — "To prohibit the lifting of sanctions on Iran until the Government of Iran pays the judgments against it for acts of terrorism, and for other purposes."
Consideration of the conference report to accompany the bill H.R. 1735 - "To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules."
Yesterday the House passed S. 2082 (423-0) — "To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes."
The Senate reconvened at 9:30 AM today. Following an hour of morning business, the Senate resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 2029, the Fiscal Year 2016 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill.
At 1:45 PM EDT, Senate Democrats filibustered that bill, blocking the Senate from taking it up, just as they did last week with the Fiscal Year 2016 Defense appropriations bill. Today’s vote failed to get the 60 votes needed by a vote of 50-44.
Yesterday, on the last day of the fiscal year, Congress approved a short-term spending measure that keeps the federal government operating through Dec. 11. The Senate voted 78-20 to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 719, with a further amendment containing the CR. The House then passed the bill and the president signed it.Josh Siegel at the Heritage Foundation noted, "The continuing resolution funds the government at a rate of $1.017 trillion annually for the next two and a half months. Senate leaders argued the deal gives Congress time to negotiate a budget deal with the president, though Obama has been pushing Congress to break the spending caps imposed by the 2011 Budget Control Act.
"The continuing resolution also provides $74.7 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations and reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration, E-verify program, and Internet Tax Freedom Act.
"Senate Republican leaders introduced a government spending bill last week that included a one-year moratorium on funding for Planned Parenthood. The legislation also directed the $235 million in savings derived from the government funding allocated for Planned Parenthood to be directed to community health centers.
"That bill, however, was blocked in the upper chamber, after it failed to reach the 60 votes needed to advance."
Democrats in The News:
Politico writes , “On Monday afternoon, President Barack Obama grudgingly sat down with Vladimir Putin in part to gain a clearer understanding of the Russian leader's opaque plans for Syria.
“Less than 48 hours later, Putin unpleasantly surprised Obama with new clarity: airstrikes that are scrambling the U.S. president's plans for Syria and escalating the global rivalry between Washington and Moscow.
“The timing of the Russian airstrikes was more than a surprise — it seemed designed to insult the U.S. president and to demonstrate Putin's swagger at a moment when world leaders are gathered at the United Nations, reassessing global security.
“‘That kind of political theater is important to him,’ said Paul Salem, vice president for policy and research at the Middle East Institute. ‘Misbehaving is part of his global game.’”
The Washington Post adds, “Blindsided by the unexpected swiftness of Russia’s air attacks in Syria, the Obama administration scrambled Wednesday to retake the diplomatic and military initiatives . . . . Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed off Western concerns, suggesting that other countries ‘get involved’ in Syria under Russia’s leadership. Senior foreign policy spokesmen in Moscow said the action proved Russia was a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.”
And according to The Wall Street Journal, “Russia launched airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday, catching U.S. and Western officials off guard and drawing new condemnation as evidence suggested Moscow wasn’t targeting extremist group Islamic State, but rather other opponents of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
“One of the airstrikes hit an area primarily held by rebels backed by the Central Intelligence Agency and allied spy services, U.S. officials said, catapulting the Syrian crisis to a new level of danger and uncertainty. . . . U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Russia’s approach to the Syrian war—defending Mr. Assad while ostensibly targeting extremists—was tantamount to ‘pouring gasoline on the fire.’ . . .
“The U.S. and its allies were angry at the Russians on many scores: that they are supporting Mr. Assad; that they aren’t coordinating their actions with the existing, U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition; that they provided terse notice only an hour before their operations; that they demanded the U.S. coalition stay out of Syrian airspace; and that they struck in areas where anti-Assad rebels—not Islamic State—operate.
“‘It does appear that they were in areas where there probably were not ISIL forces, and that is precisely one of the problems with this whole approach,’ said Mr. Carter, the U.S. defense chief.”
Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported, “Taliban militants seized control of most of the northern city of Kunduz, residents and officials said, marking the first major Afghan city to fall to the insurgency in 14 years of war. . . . The fall of the city marks a devastating blow to Afghanistan’s Western-backed government and its security forces, which have largely fought on their own since U.S. and allied forces mostly ended their combat role last year.”
And The Washington Post recently wrote that “the offensive to reclaim territory from the Islamic State largely stalled in Iraq” and noted that “The change [in approach to Syria] is driven partly by frustration with the stalemated fight in Iraq, where an Iraqi army assault on Ramadi has ground to a halt and where a much-anticipated offensive to reclaim Mosul, originally planned for this year, may come only after President Obama leaves office.”
With so many serious ongoing threats and military concerns across the world, it’s critical that American forces have the necessary funds and planning ability to address these threats.
But President Obama has threatened to veto the Defense authorization bill which earlier passed the Senate with a bipartisan majority and the House just voted to pass. The AP notes, “The defense policy bill is one of the few bipartisan measures in Congress that has readily become law for more than a half-century. Not so fast this year, as President Obama threatens to veto the bill moving through the House amid a bitter dispute about government spending. . . .
“Among other things, the bill maintains restrictions on transferring terror suspects out of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; provides a 1.3 percent pay increase to service members; authorizes lethal assistance to Ukraine forces fighting Russian-backed rebels; extends the ban on torture to the CIA; and authorizes the president's request of $715 million to help Iraqi forces fight Islamic State militants.
“On Wednesday, the White House reiterated Obama's veto threat. The president's press secretary, Josh Earnest, called it an ‘irresponsible way to fund our national defense priorities.’”
Last week, Senate Democrats voted to filibuster the Defense appropriations bill, which would fund the military and the programs authorized in the authorization bill.
And today, Senate Democrats followed that blockade by filibustering the appropriations bill to fund veterans’ programs and military construction.
As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said today, “So many different threats face us — from Russia and Iran to Syria and ISIL, even China — as do so many different means of attack: conventional, cyber, or terror. And now the Obama Administration is talking about vetoing America’s national defense bill? . . . .
“Just last week, Democrats voted again to block funding for our military. Democrats had voted for that military funding bill in committee. They’d issued press releases praising it. But then they blocked the Senate from even debating it. . . . “It’s all part of some half-baked Democrat scheme to get more money for the IRS and Washington bureaucracies. “I agree, it makes no sense. I agree, it’s extreme. I agree that it needs to stop now.”
So - Which Side Are The Democrats On - America's Or Our Enemies?
Tags: Democrats, Senators, President Obama, which side are tehy on, President Obama, Threatens Veto Defense Bill, Sen. Dems Filibuster Bills, For Military, Vets, Russia, Putin fills vacuum, created by Obama, editorial cartoon, AF Branco To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 1:00 PM - Post Link
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home