Government Executive - Authors - Ben Schneider

Still angry Reid defends Lieberman

Ben Schneider — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Sunday that Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., might still have a future in the Democratic Party, even though Reid and others in the party are angry at Lieberman's dogged support of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona and criticism of President-elect Obama.

"If we weren't on television, I'd use a stronger word of describing what he did," Reid said on CNN's Late Edition. "But Joe Lieberman votes with me a lot more than a lot of my senators."

Reid said the Democratic Caucus will decide whether Lieberman is able to remain chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, or whether the lawmaker will still be able to caucus with Democrats. Reid urged Democrats to consider the things Lieberman has done for the party.

"For those people beating up on Joe Lieberman -- I've done my share -- recognize the glass being half full, not half empty," Reid said. "I want to remind all of the people that are watching this newscast or however this program is going to air that I would not be majority leader but for his vote."

Lieberman won re-election in Connecticut as an independent, but because he caucused with Democrats the last two years the party was able to maintain a slim 51-49 majority.

Reid also indicated the Senate might not take up a second economic stimulus package during next week's lame-duck session. Reid favors a second stimulus, but he acknowledged that with his expanded majority not due to report to Washington until January, he might not have the support to pass it next week.

"I need votes," Reid said. "So I am going to talk to my Republican counterparts and say, 'are you going to help me get this passed?' If they say no, there is no reason for us ... to have a vote that I know I am going to lose."

Reid said he might find bipartisan support for unemployment insurance legislation next week. "There is a bill that's come from the House, we could vote on that, [and] send it back to them," he said. Reid's comments come after House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Friday he did not expect Congress to work on a stimulus package during the lame duck unless an agreement could be reached with President Bush to sign it.

Humberto Sanchez contributed to this story.

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Lieberman meets Reid, does not relinquish chairmanship

Chris Strohm and Ben Schneider — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Thursday to discuss what future, if any, he has in the Democratic Caucus but made it clear after the 40-minute session he is not voluntarily relinquishing his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Reid said no decision had been made.

"While I understand that Senator Lieberman has voted with Democrats a majority of the time, his comments and actions have raised serious concerns among many in our caucus," Reid said in a statement. "I expect there to be additional discussions in the days to come, and Senator Lieberman and I will speak to our caucus in two weeks to discuss further steps."

At a brief televised news conference, Lieberman said, "I want to spend some time in the next few days thinking about what Sen. Reid and I discussed and what my options are at this point, and he promised me he would do the same."

Lieberman, who met with Reid privately in the majority leader's office, has angered many Democrats for stumping for GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona and speaking out at the Republican National Convention against President-elect Obama, who soundly defeated McCain. Sources said Lieberman will most likely be stripped of his chairmanship, but his fate will not be sealed until the Caucus meets during the lame-duck session in the week of Nov. 17.

Open questions include whether Lieberman will be offered a subcommittee chairmanship on the committee, or whether Democrats will move to severely punish him and remove him from their Caucus altogether.

While Lieberman's future with the Democrats remains unclear, jousting to replace him as chairman has already begun, according to sources on and off Capitol Hill. One source said Senate Veterans' Affairs Chairman Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii will lay claim to the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs chairmanship based on seniority. Akaka already serves as chairman of the Oversight of Government Management Subcommittee.

A spokesman for Akaka said final decisions have not been made. "Senator Akaka will consider his options when the caucus makes a decision during their organizational meetings the week of Nov. 17," the spokesman said. "He is declining to speculate until then."

Another contender is Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Federal Financial Management Subcommittee Chairman Tom Carper, D-Del. The source said Carper likely could not do anything if Akaka makes a move for the chairmanship, given his seniority, but might be compensated in other ways. A spokesman for Carper declined to comment.

Dan Friedman contributed to this story.

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If Obama wins presidency, Lieberman might be odd man out

Ben Schneider — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., lost his regular Tuesday lunch date earlier this year. After the election, even though he isn't on the ballot, he could lose his job as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Lieberman, who won re-election two years ago by running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, angered his Democratic colleagues this year by not only campaigning for Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., but by speaking on his behalf and questioning Democratic nominee and Illinois Senator Barack Obama's leadership abilities at the Republican convention.

Lieberman, in an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., decided earlier in the year to stop attending the Democrats' weekly policy lunch for the rest of the election season, and some Republicans have openly rooted for him to cross the aisle and join the GOP.

Current and former Capitol Hill staffers on both sides of the aisle are skeptical Lieberman would abandon the Democrats, but there is a widespread belief that Democrats might abandon their 2000 vice presidential nominee if they pick up enough seats next month.

"Lieberman better hope John McCain wins the White House, because come Nov. 5, if there's a President-Elect Obama, I don't think it's going to be good for him," one former Democratic aide said.

A McCain victory might give Lieberman an easy out -- a job as a Cabinet secretary or a senior adviser.

But with polls showing McCain trailing Obama, Lieberman might just have to face the music. That could include losing his committee chairmanship. "If I were a betting man, I don't think it looks too good" for Lieberman to keep the post, said one former Democratic staffer.

A Lieberman aide said the senator was not available for an interview due to his campaign commitments for McCain. For all their anger, though, there might be an incentive for Democrats to think twice before backhanding Lieberman. Though they are universally expected to increase their majority, every vote is precious when nearly every major bill in the Senate needs 60 votes to pass.

And, as one former senior Democratic staffer noted, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and others have demonstrated the power one determined -- or spurned -- member of the chamber can have. "He's a sitting U.S. senator, and no matter what your colleagues think of you, you can wield a great deal of power," the former staffer said.

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Legislative logjam could leave agencies in the lurch

Christian Bourge and Ben Schneider — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

A logjam of issues is threatening to block the exits and keep Congress in session beyond the scheduled Sept. 26 adjournment and might require a lame-duck session, leaders and aides said Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., warned that if the Senate does not finish work on a lengthy list of legislation by Sept. 26, the Senate would either have to work into the last weekend of the month or reconvene Oct. 1.

The Senate would not meet that Monday or Tuesday because of Rosh Hashanah. "Everyone that holds things up must be very, very careful that they're not holding up our getting out of here on the time that we should," Reid said.

Reid has said he hoped to avoid a post-election return but Thursday signaled he was open to a lame-duck session to deal with the economy, something House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said might be needed.

"If there is work to be done that we can't complete here, we have to come back later and I have no problem with that," he said.

Reid's to-do list includes four energy bills, tax extenders, an economic stimulus package and a continuing resolution to fund the government in the new fiscal year. Working through that list could be difficult if Reid and Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., can't agree to avoid a cloture vote and reduce debate time on a package of bills that Coburn has blocked. Absent a deal, the Senate would vote Friday on Reid's motion to invoke cloture. Reid also said he would consider moving the continuing resolution and the stimulus plan as one bill. House leaders are also pushing that approach.

The House is not expected to be in session Friday and will take up the continuing resolution as early as Tuesday. Pelosi said President Bush's opposition made a broader economic stimulus unworkable.

"Let's face it. We can only have a stimulus package if the president is willing to sign one," said Pelosi. "We'll see what we can do in the CR on some of these issues and we will go from there."

Democratic leadership sources said an unemployment-insurance extension and low-income energy assistance are strong contenders for the package. House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., has expressed the potential for GOP support on those issues. But House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, Thursday continued Republican calls for passing an energy package with a modified message that such legislation could stimulate the economy.

"The best way we can stimulate the economy is to do something serious on energy," said Boehner. Democratic leaders were mum about what else might be on the House floor next week, although Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., said credit card legislation aimed at curbing questionable industry practices would come up for a vote. Frank said he expects a vote on a seven-month extension of the federal flood-insurance program.

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Lieberman shunned, oversight panel post in peril

Dan Friedman and Ben Schneider — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., was virtually shunned by other Democrats when he returned to the Senate Monday, fueling increased speculation that his days as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and perhaps as a member of the Democratic Caucus, are numbered.

Democrats said on Tuesday that Lieberman will no longer attend Democratic Party lunches. "Sen. Lieberman has chosen not to attend Democratic Caucus lunches and that is his choice," said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Lieberman's speech at the Republican National Convention last week, delivered to a national television audience in support of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona, appears to have been the last straw for many Senate Democrats, as members and staff who previously avoided publicly criticizing the senator on Monday showed a new willingness to condemn his conduct.

The criticism started at the top. Reid, who before the convention had gone to great lengths to portray Lieberman as solidly Democratic on most policies unrelated to the Iraq war, took the unusual step of lashing out at his colleague publicly through his press aides, who indicated Reid "was very disappointed" in the speech.

Rank-and-file Democrats followed Reid's example Monday afternoon. On their way to and from a vote, they expressed their disapproval.

"I urged him not to give it," said Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Del. "I know that a number of my colleagues did as well. There were parts of it that I found disappointing."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D- Calif., called the speech "hurtful," while Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said, "To go ahead and bash our candidate, that went beyond where they needed to go."

Lieberman, who just eight years ago was the Democratic candidate for vice president, said Monday night he had not yet spoken to Democratic Senate colleagues, but noted, "I'm sure a lot of them are disappointed. But I am doing what I think is right and I am going to let the future take care of itself."

Any decision is likely not to come until after the election, in part because the Democratic majority in the Senate requires Lieberman to caucus with them. If he caucused with Republicans before the election, in which Democrats are expected to pick up seats, ties in the 50-50 Senate would be broken by Vice President Cheney, essentially putting Republicans in charge.

"I would say he's out, but there are a lot of things that have to be worked through," said an aide who works on committee issues. "It's not going to be an easy decision ... He's made it easier, but it's still hard."

While strong in his backing of McCain, Lieberman remains close to some Democrats and continues to contribute to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, giving close to $200,000 in the last two years through his campaign committee and PAC.

Whatever they might be plotting for January, Democrats will need his vote for the rest of this year. McCain will be hard-pressed to return for votes between now and the election, but so will Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, and his running mate, Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware. Democrats can also subtract Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., from the equation, as he is still recovering from treatment for brain cancer and is not expected to return until January.

That leaves Democrats and Republicans with 48 senators each, short of the 60 votes Reid needs to pass almost anything. "The majority is just too slim," one Democratic aide lamented. But the same aide said those considerations will change in 2009.

"Lieberman speaking at the GOP convention was really a slap in the face to the Democratic Party and those colleagues that have supported him," the aide said. "It's difficult to come up with a scenario where he remains chairman next year."

Republicans, meanwhile, are stepping up efforts to convince Lieberman to switch parties. Though Lieberman has said he will keep caucusing with Democrats this year, some Republicans said they hope Lieberman will join Republicans before the election.

Should Lieberman no longer be chairman next year, whether through ouster by Democrats or appointment to a McCain administration, Carper is likely to take over as chairman, staffers who work on committee issues said. Carper declined to say whether he would pursue the post. "For now, my hope is that he will remain the committee chairman," he said of Lieberman.

Though Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, has seniority on the panel, Senate aides suggested he would likely choose and be encouraged by leaders to continue chairing the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich, who also has more seniority than Carper, would presumably stay on as chairman of the Armed Services Committee, putting Carper, who has been active as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Federal Financial Management Subcommittee, in line for the chairmanship.

A committee spokeswoman and spokesmen for Akaka and Carper declined to comment.

Lieberman's speech was the latest example of the senator distancing himself from his party. After losing Connecticut's Democratic Senate primary in 2006 but still winning re-election as an independent, Lieberman endorsed the re-election bid of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in April 2007. Late last year he endorsed McCain, and has campaigned on his behalf.

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Spending bills are on Congress’ agenda for September

Christian Bourge and Ben Schneider — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

While House Republicans have continued to push during the recess for a vote on expanding domestic oil and gas drilling, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has shown no sign of allowing it. But current restrictions on offshore drilling expire Sept. 30, so the issue will have to be addressed.

An aide for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., indicated the Senate is likely to return to many of the bills Republicans blocked in the summer in retaliation for an impasse over amendments proposed to the oil speculation bill.

One priority will be to pass a continuing resolution to fund government operations through the remainder of the fiscal year and into 2009. Earlier in the month, Reid said he did not want to keep the Senate in session beyond Oct. 1 to accommodate the campaign needs of senators, but he has since hinted he may need to extend the session a bit longer.

Energy tax extenders legislation, which Reid has indicated is something he believes the Senate must pass this year, is a possibility for September. Other bills that could return to the Senate floor next month include the fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill and the package of bills that Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has blocked.

Defense, Military Construction-VA and Homeland Security appropriations bills, an economic stimulus bill and legislation to grant the Food and Drug Administration new power to regulate tobacco are likely.

When the House returns it is expected to address a second stimulus package along with legislation to extend expiring tax breaks, guarantee mental health benefits parity, ensure that the District of Columbia complies with the recent Supreme Court ruling on handgun possessions, and patch the alternative minimum tax.

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Senator tries again to form panel to probe war contracts

Ben Schneider — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is renewing his efforts to create a panel modeled after the Truman Committee that would investigate fraud and abuse in Iraq War contracting, but he faces an uphill battle.

As Dorgan envisions it, the committee would include members from both parties and would have subpoena power. The panel, similar to one used by then-Sen. Harry Truman, D-Mo., to investigate World War II programs, is needed to combat contracting abuses in Iraq, the North Dakota lawmaker said.

Dorgan has conducted similar oversight hearings under the policy panel's umbrella, but said the bipartisan makeup, subpoena power and singular focus of the special committee would be far more effective and efficient.

"We're going to go where the whistleblowers and the evidence takes us to do hearings," he said.

Dorgan tried to form a similar committee three times in recent years, but despite unified Democratic support he has not been able to get the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster. That is likely to be a huge hurdle this time.

Dorgan said Wednesday that he has the backing of Senate Majority Leader Reid and is actively seeking Republican votes. He said he would not bring up the measure during the upcoming debate on a supplemental spending bill for the war, but is looking at a number of other bills in search of a vehicle to carry his provision to the Senate floor.

A spokesman for Senate Minority Leader McConnell declined to comment on the matter, but a GOP aide who asked not to be identified was skeptical of the need for such a committee.

"Republicans are all finding wasteful spending and rooting it out," the aide said. "One way to do that is fewer Truman Committees and more responsible legislators."

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Big-ticket items will crowd Senate's pre-Easter schedule

Christian Bourge and Ben Schneider — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Senate will try to cram a lot of work into the three weeks before the start of the Easter recess on March 15, addressing major issues such as the Iraq war, the fiscal 2009 budget resolution and mortgage reform.

A spokesman for Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said a pair of cloture votes on Iraq, including a troop-redeployment bill, could be held as soon as Tuesday. Another cloture vote could come the same day on legislation designed to help homeowners facing foreclosure. In introducing the measure last week, Reid and other senators described it as a second economic stimulus package. Widespread Republican opposition is expected. The timing of the cloture votes could change, since the Senate first must wrap up work on a healthcare bill for Native Americans.

Following work on the housing package, the Senate is expected to move to a consumer products safety bill. Under a compromise reached last week, the legislation would give the Consumer Product Safety Commission more power to monitor products. Consumer groups want the bill to go farther, while the manufacturers want the Senate to scale back the final version.

The Senate is expected to work on the budget during the week of March 10. A spokesman for Reid said the Senate should be able to wrap up work on that measure before leaving for the recess at the end of that week. The spokesman also said a prerecess cloture vote is possible on legislation outlining energy tax credits.

The House is expected to vote next week on the nearly $18 billion Democratic package of renewable energy and efficiency credits, which would be paid for by reducing incentives for the oil and gas industry. Two earlier packages bogged down in the Senate. A vote is also possible on creation of an independent office to weigh ethics complaints against lawmakers.

The House schedule for the remaining weeks before the next recess remains in flux. Leadership aides said votes are possible on the budget, Iraq, housing and legislation dealing with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The House could also take up the farm bill conference report if a compromise can be reached.

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White House, Senate majority leader continue battle over stalled nominees

Ben Schneider — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The White House and Senate Democratic leaders renewed their battle over stalled nominees Wednesday, with the administration saying Democrats are using their opposition to one Justice Department appointment to leave more than 200 positions unfilled.

Democrats fired back that the GOP's insistence that certain nominees be confirmed despite serious objections was leading to the stalemate. At the center of the dispute are former Justice Department official Hans von Spakovsky, who was nominated to the FEC, and Stephen Bradbury, President Bush's choice for assistant attorney general. Democrats have objected to both nominations.

In a war of words Wednesday, the White House focused mostly on Bradbury, while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., took aim at von Spakovsky.

"It seems to me that the Senate only cares about one nominee because they are willing to not fill over 200 positions in the federal government over the one position that they claim to have a problem with," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said, referring to Bradbury. Fratto called Bradbury an "incredible person, an incredible lawyer." Democrats have objected to his nomination because of memos he wrote authorizing questionable interrogation tactics for suspected terrorists.

Reid countered by suggesting that Republicans wanted the FEC stalemate to continue so the watchdog agency wouldn't be able to be effective in what is shaping up to be a tough election year for Republicans.

"I can gather one thing from the president's unwillingness to resolve the FEC problem," Reid said. "And that is that Republicans would rather have no election watchdog in place during an election year where they are not favored to win."

With van Spakovsky and three other nominees to the FEC hung up in the Senate, the commission has only two members and is unable to conduct most of its business. Democrats want to vote separately on the nominees -- two Republicans and two Democrats -- but Republicans maintain that Senate tradition requires a vote on the four as a package.

Bush apparently intends to keep the focus on the stalled nominees Thursday. Reid said one of the Democratic FEC nominees, Steve Walther, had been invited to a White House breakfast for all nominees whose confirmations are on hold.

"The effort it took to invite my Democratic friends and other nominees to the White House is truly a waste," Reid said. "The president's Thursday breakfast really only needed one attendee. That's because only one nominee really matters to the president. It should really just be an intimate breakfast between the president and Steven Bradbury."

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Senate leader lists defense bill among early priorities

Ben Schneider — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Tuesday named the economic stimulus package, changes in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the tweaked fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill as immediate priorities for the Senate, stressing FISA must be finished this week and that defense authorization could be finished as early as Monday.

"We'll be as agreeable as we can be to get this done, hopefully today," Reid said of the defense authorization. President Bush unexpectedly vetoed the measure last month over a provision involving lawsuits against the Iraqi government. Reid, along with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House leaders, met with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Monday afternoon to discuss economic stimulus plans before heading to the White House to meet with Bush.

Acknowledging the economy's sudden leap to the head of the legislative agenda, Reid said he spoke with Paulson "eight or nine times" while the Senate was in recess.

"Last year, the subprime lending issue was not part of our mantra. Now it is," he said.

Reid and McConnell made pleas for bipartisanship on the Senate floor this morning, which they argued will be necessary if the Senate is to have major legislative achievements this year. After noting that this year's elections will be sure to keep senators busy, Reid reminded his colleagues of the benefits of completing work on bills.

"If we accomplish things here, there's credit to go around to Democrats and Republicans; everyone can claim credit for what we did. If we aren't able to pass legislation, there's blame to go around for everyone," he said.

McConnell echoed those sentiments. "We face a number of urgent challenges domestically and internationally. And there will be a strong temptation to politicize them or put them off as the current administration comes to a close and a new one prepares to take its place," he said. "This would be an irresponsible path, and it's one we should not take. We've had a presidential election in this country every four years since 1788. We won't use this one as an excuse to put off the people's business for another day."

Further down the line, Reid listed energy legislation and patent reform as priorities for the current work period. Reid named children's health insurance, the intelligence authorization bill conference report and further action on the Iraq War as issues he will focus on this session. Republicans will meet Wednesday at the Library of Congress to discuss their legislative priorities for the year, with the economy sure to top that list.

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In surprise, Sen. Lott announces intent to leave by year's end

Ben Schneider — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott, R-Miss., announced Monday he will resign by the end of the year, creating a scramble among Senate Republicans for suddenly available leadership positions and ending a prominent congressional career. Speaking at a news conference in his hometown of Pascagoula, Miss., Lott said he and his wife, Tricia, had decided he had served long enough. Lott has said he did not intend to seek re-election last year but changed his mind after the Gulf Coast was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

"We've had this great experience for these 35 years, but we do think that there is time left for us to maybe do something else," Lott said. "There are no problems. I feel fine. I may look my 66 years, but I honestly feel good."

Lott added that he does not "have anything definitely lined up at this time, and I just wanted to make that clear." He added he is not negotiating with anyone about employment.

"I'm not going to work tomorrow for somebody else," he said. Lott suggested he might want to teach, and jokingly said he had submitted his name to be the next head football coach at his beloved University of Mississippi.

"There are some possibilities out there that I would like to be able to consider. I'm going to look at all of it," he said. "I might even want to come back and affiliate with a law firm. But I don't know and I don't have any commitments lined up."

Lott's decision should set off a domino effect as Republican Conference Chairman Jon Kyl of Arizona will run for whip, one of his aides confirmed. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who lost by one vote in his race against Lott for minority whip last year, is considering a run, according to his spokesman. Republican Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina and Jim DeMint of South Carolina are interested in seeking leadership positions, according to a source, although DeMint might be more likely to battle with Republican Policy Committee Chairwoman Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas to succeed Kyl as Conference chairman.

A source close to Hutchison confirmed she has begun a campaign for that spot. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., is considering running for the Conference or Policy Committee chairmanships, a source said, while the office of Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he would seek the Policy Committee chairmanship if Hutchison runs for Conference chair.

Lott said he called President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour Sunday to inform them of his decision. Lott said Bush "was very kind in his remarks" despite the friction between the two when Lott was forced out as majority leader.

"Sen. Lott has been an effective and tireless leader in Congress for many years," said White House Deputy Press Secretary Scott Stanzel. "His ability to advance important legislation and the principles of our party will be sorely missed in Washington."

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a former whip, said, "Trent is the best whip I've ever worked with, and I'm pretty familiar with the requirements of the job."

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Senate leader urges caution on VA nominee

Ben Schneider — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid praised retired Army Lt. Gen. James Peake, President Bush's choice to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, but he said Monday that the Senate should proceed with caution on the nomination.

"As we've learned with some of these nominations, you never know what's going to come up in the hearings," Reid said in an apparent reference to the hearings for Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey. That nomination is expected to clear the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning, despite concerns by some Democrats that he has not said whether he considers waterboarding to be torture.

If the committee clears Mukasey, Reid said the full Senate would probably consider the nomination next week. Reid has not said how he will vote. He spoke highly of Mukasey before the waterboarding issue surfaced at confirmation hearings.

Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had separate meetings Monday with Peake. Both said they hoped hearings on his nomination would begin quickly. A spokesman for Senate Veterans Affairs Chairman Daniel Akaka said the hearings would probably be held in late November or early December.

If confirmed, Peake would succeed Jim Nicholson, who resigned Oct. 1 after announcing his intention to leave in July.

Peake would take over the VA at a time when the agency is struggling to treat large numbers of wounded soldiers returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This morning, Akaka's committee will hold a hearing on conditions at the VA Medical Center in Marion, Ill. Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, both of Illinois, have expressed concerns about a reported spike in the death rate at that facility.

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Senate soundly rejects Iraq troop pullout, funding cutoff

Megan Scully and Ben Schneider — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., received support from only 28 senators -- one fewer vote than a similar measure attracted in May.

The language, which appealed to the Senate's most avid anti-war Democrats, would have required the Bush administration to withdraw all but a small number of U.S. troops from Iraq by June 30.

The Feingold language also would have cut off most funding for the war after June -- a sticking point for many Democrats who fear that doing so would translate as a lack of support for the deployed troops.

Feingold countered critics by arguing that his amendment would not deprive deployed troops of needed equipment or other supplies, but rather would spark a responsible and safe withdrawal from Iraq.

"We need to invoke the power and the responsibility bestowed upon us by the Constitution and bring this to a close," he added. "This war doesn't make sense and it's hurting our country, our military and our credibility."

But the amendment's defeat was all but certain by Wednesday night, after a far less stringent measure offered by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., received only 56 votes -- the same number of supporters a nearly identical measure attracted when the Senate first took up the defense bill in July. That amendment would have mandated specific amounts of time at home for active-duty and reserve forces.

Despite the poor prospects for any Iraq amendment mandating a troop withdrawal, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., indicated Thursday that he is not interested in pursuing compromise legislation that does not mandate significant changes in the war.

Reid did not say whether a timeline must be a prerequisite for compromise language on Iraq, but he did indicate that any legislation would have to create a new direction for the war for him to support it.

"Compromise does not mean giving up our principle," Reid said. "Our principle is we need to change course in Iraq . . . We're not changing our strategy."

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., who has been working to gather support for a bipartisan amendment that would change the mission in Iraq without setting a withdrawal deadline, said he has been in discussions with Reid and believes that compromise legislation is still a possibility -- either on the defense authorization measure or at a later date.

"We've had conversations," Nelson said, "and [Reid]'s already said publicly that this approach has some appeal."

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Senate, House to scramble before Iraq report hits in September

Christian Bourge and Ben Schneider — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

That will be preceded by a Government Accountability Office report due out shortly before the Labor Day weekend and will be followed by debate in the Senate on its defense authorization bill.

In its first week back, the Senate will first debate President Bush's nomination of former House Budget Chairman Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, to be Office of Management and Budget director and tackle its second fiscal 2008 appropriations bill, the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs measure. Other spending bills are likely to follow as the Senate tries to catch up with the House, with Transportation-Housing and Urban Development most likely and action possible on the Energy and Water and State-Foreign Operations appropriations bills.

A Senate Democratic leadership aide declined to specify the timing for appropriations bills, but said they would be bills Republicans and Bush could support. A continuing resolution is likely to be needed in late September, since action on all appropriations bills likely will not be finished by the new fiscal year.

Reid hopes for a conference in September on expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program, with action possible on an Food and Drug Administration reauthorization bill, a conference report on higher education legislation and perhaps another debate on stem cell legislation, which Bush vetoed earlier this year. Reid may take up the bill giving voting rights to the District of Columbia if he gets close enough to the 60 votes he would need to break a filibuster.

There likely will be committee action on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, though it is unclear when the legislation could be taken up on the floor, the aide said. Reid indicated earlier this week that he would like the full Senate to revisit the bill after the Judiciary and Intelligence committees revise and report a version of the legislation.

One of the early bills the House is expected to consider is legislation revamping the federal flood insurance program. Beyond those measures, if conferees working on higher education legislation can agree, that report would be brought to the floor.

Other likely candidates are bills overhauling the Federal Housing Administration's mortgage insurance program. Democrats must also deal with pending free trade deals with Peru and Panama, which could be ready for votes in October.

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Senate leader wants panels to pursue spy law changes

Ben Schneider — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Reid made his case for revisiting FISA in a letter Tuesday to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Intelligence Chairman John Rockefeller, D-W.Va.

"I would like to see the full Senate consider as soon as possible a bill reported by your committees that addresses the deficiencies in the recently-enacted law and any other matter you believe must be addressed," Reid wrote.

While the recently enacted provisions sunset in six months, Reid urged the chairmen to be aggressive in examining their effectiveness. "While these temporary authorities are in effect, I support all efforts by your two committees to conduct vigorous and comprehensive oversight of their implementation," Reid said in the letter.

The FISA revisions drew criticism from some Democrats for greatly expanding wire-tapping and e-mail screening authority. But after National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell weighed in on the side of President Bush, Democrats gave in to Bush's demands to alter the law.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other House Democrats have already voiced their intent to revisit the changes next month. In a letter Aug. 4 to House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., and Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, Pelosi asked that the committees report to the House "as soon as possible after Congress reconvenes" with suggested changes to the legislation.

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New roadblocks delay negotiations on security, ethics bills

Chris Strohm and Ben Schneider — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

A planned meeting of the House Rules Committee was called off Monday, when Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., objected to a unanimous consent agreement that would have cleared the way for a conference committee by combining House bills that would implement the remaining recommendations of the 9/11 commission and would address rail and mass transit security.

An aide said Kyl was objecting on behalf of other Republican senators, but would not identify them.

Also Monday, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said he would continue to block a conference on lobbying and ethics reform until he receives a guarantee that his earmark-disclosure language will not be changed by the conference committee.

DeMint also rejected Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's offer to put him on the conference committee.

"The majority leader is trying to be clever, but I wasn't born yesterday," DeMint said. "Everybody knows Democrats are going to control the conference, 4 to 3, and they will vote 4 to 3 to kill earmark reform. Being on the conference won't do a thing to protect earmark reform."

Reid has said for weeks that he would keep the Senate from starting its August recess until the legislation moves to conference. He restated that intention Monday, suggesting that DeMint is an army of one standing in the way of legislation with broad bipartisan support.

The Senate version of the ethics and lobbying bill passed 96-2 in January. The House approved its version in May, 396-22. Such lopsided votes generally lead to quick, non-controversial conferences, and this one should follow the pattern if DeMint's objections are overcome.

The latest delay on the 9/11 front came after an agreement last week appeared to clear the way for its passage. As part of that agreement, Senate leaders signed off on a plan to merge the 9/11 and rail security measures into one bill that would go to conference. Monday's House Rules Committee meeting would have led to the creation of the single bill.

Kyl's objection brought the process to a halt and prompted some bitter finger-pointing in both directions.

"This is another example of the Senate Republican obstructionist agenda playing games with a top priority of the Democrats and the country," said a Democratic leadership aide.

"Everything's a mess right now," countered a Republican aide familiar with the negotiations. "The problem here is the fact that [Democrats] rushed through this bill. They didn't take the time to go through proper order and hold hearings and allow amendments."

The complication exposed the challenge Democrats have faced in completing the 9/11 legislation because multiple committees have jurisdiction over pieces of it.

Although Democrats had pledged to implement all of the 9/11 Commission's findings, they did not include one key recommendation to consolidate oversight of homeland security affairs under one committee.

The Republican staff of the House Homeland Security Committee issued a report this year criticizing Democrats for not consolidating oversight. The Republicans did not consolidate oversight when they controlled Congress.

Christian Bourge contributed to this report.

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Bush issues Iraq report as Senate argues over strategy

Megan Scully, Ben Schneider, and Keith Koffler — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

His comments, accompanying the release of an interim report to Congress on progress in Iraq, spurred Democrats and Republicans to launch appeals for support for their competing positions on the war. Bush told a White House news conference he holds out some prospect of a troop drawdown, but said it must be linked to the success of U.S. operations on the ground.

"We're working to defeat al-Qaida and other extremists and aid the rise of an Iraqi government that can protect its people, deliver basic services and be an ally in the war against these extremists and radicals," Bush said. "By doing this, we'll create the conditions that would allow our troops to begin coming home while securing our long-term national interests in Iraq and in the region."

Although the interim progress report drew varying assessments on Iraq, citing satisfactory progress in only eight of 18 key areas, Bush indicated he will not make significant changes in strategy until a "more comprehensive assessment" is delivered in September.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., called Bush's report the latest proof that "the war in Iraq is headed in a dangerous direction," adding he was pleased that seven Republicans voted Wednesday for an amendment that would have set mandatory down time for troops between overseas deployments.

Republicans downplayed those defections, noting that the amendment failed, and predicted the defeat of upcoming Democratic-led amendments. They were joined by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., who said the report indicated a need for continued persistence from U.S. armed forces and that he believes "General Petreus and his troops have al-Qaida on the run."

Reid said he and other Democratic leaders were sending a letter to the president laying out what they believe the problems are and asking what Bush is doing to address such concerns.

As debate continued on the Senate's fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill, senators continued to seek allies for their war-related amendment. Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., a longtime opponent of the war, said he would back an amendment by Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., that would mandate the White House begin to withdraw troops from Iraq within 120 days and maintain only a "limited presence" in the country by next spring.

Feingold added he does not plan to push for a more stringent proposal that he and Reid have offered in the past that would cut off most funding for the war this spring. But Feingold warned he would introduce his amendment during debate on the fiscal 2008 Defense appropriations bill should Levin-Reed fail.

Despite mounting GOP defections on Iraq, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., backed the White House stance that lawmakers should wait until the release of a final progress report in September before acting on the war. "There is much at stake here and, frankly, they deserve to be heard," McConnell said.

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Nominee to direct OMB may get hearing this month

Ben Schneider — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Conrad said he would want to hear how Nussle, a former House Budget Committee chairman, will resolve contentious budget issues.

Conrad noted that five senators, some of whom worked with Nussle in the House, have approached him to express their concern with the way Nussle operates, namely that he is too aggressive.

While Republicans reserve the right to talk about vetoes, Conrad said, "the head of OMB has a responsibility to talk about how, in a constructive way, are we going to get the appropriations bills completed."

Nussle was nominated last month to succeed outgoing OMB Director Rob Portman, a former GOP House member from Ohio whose style was considered far more approachable by Democrats.

The nomination must go through Conrad's committee, as well as the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, before it can be brought before the full Senate for a confirmation vote.

Portman has said he wants to leave his post before Congress begins its August recess.

While other Democrats, particularly on the House side, have been critical of Nussle, he has won support from House Budget Chairman John Spratt, D-S.C., and home-state colleague Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.

Conrad also blasted a recent Bush radio address where he urged Democrats to finish fiscal 2008 appropriations bills and threatened to veto ones for what he said was excessive spending. "Frankly, that was juvenile. That doesn't help," Conrad said of the address.

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Senate prepares to tackle Defense authorization and Iraq

Christian Bourge and Ben Schneider — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

While the amendment schedule is not yet clear, the Senate is likely to start with an amendment from Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., that would set minimum time periods between troop deployments, a spokeswoman for Webb said. He is expected to introduce language Monday, setting the stage for a likely vote Wednesday or Thursday.

Earlier efforts by Democrats to attach Iraq language to a supplemental spending measure failed, with President Bush vetoing one version and lawmakers dropping it from a second version after another veto was threatened. But Reid has said the efforts to alter war policy would continue, on the defense authorization bill as well as other upcoming legislation.

The Senate will start the week with votes Monday afternoon on four judicial nominations.

The House floor schedule for next week remains in flux. None of the six outstanding fiscal 2008 appropriations bills will be brought to the floor because the Appropriations Committee is still working to complete the list of earmarks attached to the spending bills. Floor consideration of those bills, which leaders hope to wrap up before the start of the August recess, is expected to begin the week of July 16.

But lawmakers will, late in the week, take up legislation boosting federal funding for college aid programs. Action is also possible on legislation dealing with the FDA's drug-approval process and federal housing programs.

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Senate approves war spending bill, clears way for conference

Terry Kivlan and Ben Schneider — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

By a vote of 94-1, the Senate invoked cloture on a substitute amendment by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and then under a previous agreement passed the second Senate emergency supplemental bill by voice vote.

The measure, introduced earlier this year by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., stipulates that Congress and the president "will provide the necessary funds for training, equipment and other support for troops in the field" to "ensure their safety and effectiveness."

Senate leaders designated the bill as the Senate's conference vehicle after the White House threatened to veto an amendment by Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., which included a redeployment timeline and more stringent conditions for Iraqi economic aid but also gave the president the authority to waive the requirement. Levin withdrew his amendment following that veto threat.

Senate leadership aides said they are confident a deal can be reached with the House in a few days, even though the House bill would deliver the funding requested by Bush in two two-month installments, with the second installment hinging on another vote on U.S. policy in Iraq.

Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have said they are willing to work through the Memorial Day recess to complete work on the supplemental, if necessary.

In the House Thursday, Republican leaders complained that Democrats have yet to engage in real negotiations with the GOP to ensure a deal is made to get funding to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan before the recess.

"They have to sit down and they have not done that," said Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

Also Thursday, President Bush offered support for including benchmarks for progress in Iraq in the supplemental, but he did not say whether he would support consequences for failure to achieve the goals. During a news conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush said he was optimistic that a deal could be completed before the recess.

"Now is the time to put forth a spending bill that doesn't have artificial timetables for withdrawal, doesn't micromanage the military, and is wise about how we spend the people's money," Bush said.

Christian Bourge contributed to this report.

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