Government Executive - Authors - Christian Bourge

Senate majority leader sees action on omnibus by March 6 deadline

Humberto Sanchez and Christian Bourge — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Senate Democrats are pressing to approve the $410 billion omnibus spending bill by late next week to beat the March 6 deadline when the current continuing resolution expires.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said on Tuesday he would push the Senate to take up the omnibus as soon as the House passes the bill, which is expected this week.

"We really have to get off this legislation as soon as we can, because a week from Friday the funding for the government runs out," Reid said in remarks on the Senate floor.

He added he wants to allow members to offer amendments on the omnibus, unveiled by House Democrats on Monday, provided they "recognize the deadline we have next Friday."

The House is expected to take up the omnibus on Wednesday, House Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., said this morning. Her committee met this afternoon to consider the rule for the bill. The package consists of the nine fiscal 2009 appropriations bills that Congress has not yet passed. Three appropriations bills -- Defense, Military Construction-VA and Homeland Security -- were fully funded in late September as part of the continuing resolution that is funding the nine unfinished bills at fiscal 2008 levels. But House Republicans have been pressing for an extension of the current omnibus at fiscal 2008 levels.

The federal government "can get by at last year's levels" and save $30 billion to $40 billion, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said at a briefing on Tuesday. House Republicans appear to be whipping their rank-and-file to oppose the omnibus. GOP sources said House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., pushed Republican lawmakers to vote against the spending package in a closed-door meeting of the Conference this morning, arguing that Republicans should not be bribed by earmarks in the "reckless" package in return for backing the bill.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., on Tuesday countered GOP arguments about overspending, arguing that the measure is within the budget limits approved by Congress last year. He added that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in January the bill has already been vetted by Democrats and Republicans and could easily pass.

Boehner and other Republicans have taken issue with the bill's earmarks, but the top House Republican would not say on Tuesday whether he asked Republicans to hold off on requesting projects, noting only that members were sent a list of standards to hold themselves to. Boehner said he expects a report next week from an earmark-reform panel, headed by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., which he established in December. "We need to determine what is an earmark and what is not," he said, adding that a CR with no earmarks "is the most responsible way to go."

Andy Leonatti contributed to this report.

]]>

Negotiators agree to a leaner stimulus bill

Peter Cohn and Christian Bourge — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Negotiators on Wednesday announced a deal on a slimmed-down $789.5 billion economic stimulus bill amid bipartisan disappointment.

Democrats will not get all they want, but Republicans, other than three Senate GOP moderates who helped shape the outcome, said they were excluded from the process.

"It seems as though [senators] are 100 percent held hostage ... by the whim of these three members," said House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., resigned to reductions in President Obama's signature "Making Work Pay" tax credit.

"Hardly anybody's happy with having to go backward," he added. "So I guess the president is in a no-win position in terms of having to bend and amend ... based on their demands."

Negotiators shaved the price tag by $30 billion in cutting the workers' credit to $400 for individuals and $800 for families, down from $500 and $1,000, to fit within Obama's goal of providing the credit to 95 percent of tax filers. "We will do what we have to do in order to give the president something even though it may not be exactly what he's been promising," Rangel said.

But other priorities will be replenished. The bill will include a more generous child tax credit than the Senate version while boosting funds for school construction, neighborhood revitalization, energy-efficient buildings, and health insurance for the unemployed. School modernization, eliminated in the Senate bill, would get $6 billion, said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and states will see their education allotment increased to $44 billion, though that is still $35 billion shy of the House version. Rangel said the final conference deal will include much of what House Democrats want, but not all. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said the tax portion of the bill would be about 35 percent of the total, or roughly $276 billion. That means some Senate tax provisions are likely to be scaled back, including a potential "haircut" to a provision extending the net operating loss carry-back period for money-losing companies. Consumer tax incentives for home and car purchases added by the Senate will also be cut back. The bill will preserve a one-year $70 billion fix for the alternative minimum tax, which Republicans insisted on.

Republicans kept up their protests on Wednesday. "The bill continues to be managed in a pretty heavy, partisan way by congressional leaders," said Senate Finance Committee ranking member Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Republicans have "ideas and represent about 40 percent of the American people." But Democrats said Republicans would remain opposed to the measure regardless. "Why would we have them in the room when they have no intention to back the bill?" said one senior Democratic aide.

But one hint of bipartisanship could be preserved. Conferees appear likely to adopt an agreement on Trade Adjustment Assistance legislation negotiated by the tax writing panels. More than 50 multinational firms and business associations wrote to conferees on Wednesday urging them to include the agreement, which was blocked by Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.

Dan Friedman and Humberto Sanchez contributed to this report.

]]>

Lawmakers upset over DHS employee's handling of dead fish, white powder

Chris Strohm and Christian Bourge — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

A Homeland Security intelligence official was responsible for bringing a package containing a dead fish and white powder to department offices in downtown Washington Friday, an apparent violation of security protocols that set off a significant security incident, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The incident also has caught the attention of key lawmakers, who want a full report on what happened.

The package was sent Thursday to the home of Maureen McCarthy, a senior adviser for weapons of mass destruction intelligence programs at the Homeland Security Department, according to these sources, who spoke on the condition they not be identified.

Sources said McCarthy brought the package in her car Friday to her office on Vermont Ave., NW and parked her vehicle under a ventilation shaft in the garage.

But one source who defended the move said McCarthy initially placed the dead fish in a sealed bag and put it in her freezer in an effort to secure it, not noticing any white powder in the package. The source added that she was advised to bring it to the office by department security.

News accounts of the incident incorrectly reported that the suspicious package was mailed to an employee in the department's downtown offices.

Sources questioned the rationale for transporting the package and how McCarthy could make such a procedural mistake, given the potential implications of the situation and her position at the agency.

"The concern is, this woman heads weapons of mass destruction and she will put this package in her car and park under a ventilation shaft," said one source.

McCarthy's office did not return calls seeking comment and a department spokesman directed further questions to the FBI's Washington, D.C., field office -- which also did not return calls.

On Friday, an FBI spokeswoman confirmed the presence of the package with the dead fish and white powder, which prompted a brief evacuation and calls to the FBI to secure the building.

She also said the package was removed from the garage by a response team to a lab for testing, which is standard procedure. But because the FBI did not return calls, it is unclear whether the white powder has yet been identified.

McCarthy, a holdover from the Bush administration, is one of a number of officials who agency insiders say remains at the agency in positions created for them.

Sources criticized McCarthy for interacting with staff and entering a sensitive compartmented information facility -- an enclosed area within the offices used to process classified level information -- after she was exposed to the materials in the package.

They noted she effectively created a possible additional level of exposure for staff.

Sources also said McCarthy failed to advise the department about the package, choosing instead to alert the building's private security service after she arrived with the package Friday morning.

But one source questioned those pinning blame exclusively on McCarthy. This source said that after McCarthy received the package at her home, she called department security. She asked what she should do and was told to bring the package into her office, the source recounted.

"The word stupid doesn't adequately describe the situation," the source said. "The challenge you've got here is that you've got some moron at security saying bring it in."

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are expressing concern even as they continue to learn more about the incident. "We don't have all the facts yet, and I have asked the Department of Homeland Security for a full report," said Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.

"However, I am troubled any time potential threats are sent through the mail to federal employees," he added. "It is critical that the department has sufficient procedures in place for responding to this type of incident and that it trains its employees to follow them."

One source said the package had a return address from Columbus, Ohio-based Battelle, a major scientific research and development organization. A Battelle spokeswoman said the FBI has contacted the organization in response to the incident.

"We are working with authorities on their investigation," the spokeswoman said. "It's our understanding that it hasn't been determined where that box had been sent from."

A Homeland Security spokesman would not comment Monday on whether McCarthy called department security about the package. But he noted that, in general, Homeland Security employees should contact their local authorities if they receive a suspicious package at their homes.

Otherwise, employees should contact their immediate supervisor, the security director of the building where they work or the National Operations Center at department headquarters, he said.

]]>

Senate passes stimulus as thorny talks with House await

Humberto Sanchez and Christian Bourge — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

With the help of three Republican moderates, the Senate on Tuesday passed, 61-37, an $838 billion economic stimulus package and named conferees for what is likely to be a touchy negotiation with the House. Conference talks will start Tuesday afternoon, with a goal of getting the final bill to President Obama by the end of the week.

While the bottom lines of the two bills are close -- the House passed an $819 billion package in January -- vastly different priorities could color the talks.

Another complication is that at least two of the three GOP senators who backed the Senate bill will be needed to approve the conference report, so any changes the House insists on will have to be acceptable to them.

"Obviously we are confronted with the reality that we have three people saying, 'If you change anything, we are jumping ship,'" said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. He hedged his bets on timing, telling reporters he doesn't expect a protracted conference but also saying the process could erase much of next week's scheduled Presidents Day recess by spilling into "Saturday, Sunday, Monday, maybe Wednesday, Thursday of next week."

After passing the bill with help of Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, both of Maine, and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Senate Democrats appointed Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., as conferees.

Republicans chose Appropriations ranking member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and Senate Finance ranking member Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. House conferees are to be named later on Tuesday. The Senate version was a compromise crafted by a team of moderates led by Collins and Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb. The compromise cut $83 billion from the spending portion of the stimulus. The largest cut was a $40 billion decrease in a $79 billion state fiscal stabilization fund, much of which would have gone to education. The deal trimmed the tax portion by $25 billion, including a provision to cover half of unemployed workers' COBRA health benefit costs for 12 months instead of 65 percent for nine months, as recommended in the initial Senate bill.

The conference will be an inviting target to lobbyists. Housing advocates are lobbying conferees to add additional funds for communities to buy and rehabilitate foreclosed properties. The House bill contained $4.2 billion for such programs, which builds on a program Congress approved last year to help cities deal with a rising foreclosure rate. The Senate version had allocated $2.25 billion for the effort, but it was removed as part of the Nelson-Collins compromise. House Democrats might also push to restore school construction funding, which was removed from the Senate version. Hoyer did not get specific about House priorities heading into the conference, but he did say he expects a Senate-added alternative minimum tax patch will stay in the final product, even though he opposes it because the cost is not offset.

Dan Friedman and Bill Swindell contributed to this report.

]]>

Senate moderates stay firm on cost of stimulus bill

Dan Friedman and Christian Bourge — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

With the Senate expected Monday evening to end debate on a roughly $820 billion Senate version of an economic stimulus plan, moderates who cut a deal to remove $100 billion in funding say they will resist House efforts to restore some of that money in conference and will push for further cuts during negotiations.

Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., who led efforts to negotiate the substitute amendment reducing the cost of the bill, said they will not commit to backing a final bill worth more than $800 billion.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Monday's cloture vote will allow passage of the amended version of the measure Tuesday.

"After final passage the House and Senate will move to conference and then send that to the president's desk," Reid said. To ensure passage of the bill, Collins and Nelson are set to vote Monday to back a version of the bill worth tens of billions more than what they say they will ultimately accept.

A spokesman for Collins said she "intends to vote for cloture this afternoon and she has made it clear to Democratic leadership that they will need to work in conference to bring the total cost down." Nelson and Collins and other senators are hoping their position as brokers of the Senate deal will allow them to stave off any House push to increase spending on areas such as school construction funding, which the Senate deal eliminates.

Collins "has not made any commitment to vote for the bill if it comes back from the conference committee bloated with projects that were reduced during the bipartisan compromise negotiations," her spokesman said.

Senate aides said that to make the deal stick, Collins and Nelson hope to win places among conferees appointed to negotiate with the House. A spokeswoman for Reid said conferees will not be named before Tuesday's vote.

House Democratic leaders backed away from a plan to start preliminary negotiations even before the Senate approved its version. "The Senate is petrified that any pre-negotiations will scare off the [moderates]," said one Democratic aide. The partisan divide over the measure continues to sharpen, particularly in the House, where Democratic leaders are looking to gain political advantage.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced Monday that it is using robocalls to target seven freshman Republicans for voting against the House version of the bill. The seven are Reps. Bill Cassidy and John Fleming of Louisiana, Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, Leonard Lance of New Jersey, Chris Lee of New York, Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri, and Tom Rooney of Florida. The calls follow radio ad buys in 28 Republican districts nationwide, including the districts of the seven GOP freshmen. The push came as President Obama and his aides urged swift passage of the bill.

"The American people support it and we're urging everyone in Congress to catch up with the people on this one," White House political adviser David Axelrod said aboard Air Force One as Obama flew to Elkhart, Ind., for a town hall meeting about the economy.

Humberto Sanchez contributed to this report.

]]>

Omnibus spending bill not likely until after recess

Christian Bourge — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday that he expects the omnibus appropriations package containing the nine remaining fiscal 2009 appropriations bills to be completed after Congress returns from the Presidents Day recess late this month.

"My expectation is that we will complete the omnibus prior to the 6th [of March] and in the two weeks after we come back," Hoyer said at a briefing.

The measure had been scheduled for a House vote Wednesday but was delayed as lawmakers focused on the economic stimulus package now working its way through the Senate.

Democratic leaders plan to complete the stimulus bill by the end of next week. Most federal programs are being funded through a continuing resolution, approved in September, which expires March 6.

Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana urged House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., and the Democratic leadership to make the bill publicly available despite the delay in floor action.

The CR includes three fiscal 2009 spending bills -- Defense, Military Construction-VA and Homeland Security -- that cover the entire fiscal year but funds most remaining programs at fiscal 2008 levels. Republicans have complained that some parts of the measure did not go through regular order in the House.

The fiscally conservative Blue Dog and moderate New Democrats are voicing similar complaints about the lack of regular order on major bills. A letter to Hoyer circulating among members of both groups details complaints about House leaders bringing major spending measures directly to the House floor and the negative impact that has had on lawmakers' contributions and bipartisanship, according to Caucus sources.

When asked about the complaints from within his Caucus, Hoyer said he agrees that regular order should be a goal. "I think that is a very important pursuit," Hoyer said. "Our committees and Members are served on both sides of the aisle by pursuing regular order. Regular order gives to everybody the opportunity to participate in the process in a fashion which will affect, in my opinion, the most consensus and best product."

Andy Leonatti contributed to this report.

]]>

Inaugural speech plays to bipartisan praise from lawmakers

Dan Friedman and Christian Bourge — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson of Connecticut said Obama "hit it out of the park" by being honest about the challenges that lay ahead for the country on both the domestic and international fronts. Larson downplayed any talk of the speech being too gloomy. "It was realistic, sobering in that respect, nonetheless very poignant," said Larson.

Senate Democrats also rushed to praise the address. "It was an important, serious message," said Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry. "I think he didn't try to do oratory. He just spoke very seriously to us all. I think it was a very solid, strong message."

Senate Finance ranking member Charles Grassley offered a more measured take on the potential impact. "His call for accountability is what America needs to be reminded of. His success carrying that out depends on how often he [mentions] it. If he just gives one speech on it, that's the end of it," he said. Grassley also questioned Obama's call for America to resume world leadership. "I think he is assuming that the rest of the world doesn't like the United States because of [former President George] Bush," said Grassley, before noting that in Eastern Europe, England and France the United States is more popular now than when Bush took office.

In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., offered his congratulations to Obama and his family while noting the historic nature of the day the first African-American was inaugurated as president.

National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions of Texas joined in the GOP praise of Obama's emphasis on taking responsibility for leading the nation out of crisis. "Republicans will work with him because we also want to get to a good place," said Sessions. "But he will be held accountable as all of our presidents have."

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, echoed Sessions' bipartisan sentiment. "The next four years will be marked by considerable challenges -- but also considerable opportunities for all leaders in Washington, regardless of party, to work together on behalf of the American people," he said in a statement.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Obama's success in meeting the "tremendous" challenges he focused on will be the single standard by which his presidency is judged. "I have great confidence in our new president and his seasoned team of advisers," said Hoyer. "Congress stands ready to work with the administration to rebuild our economy, create jobs, and restore American leadership in the world. But rising to meet our challenges will take all of us working together. If change ends in Washington, we will know that our Nation has not lived up to the promise of this moment."

Members from both parties, like many in the throng below, snapped pictures and wondered at the size of the crowd. Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman and Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye, bundled against the cold, leaned out over a balcony to photograph the crowd.

]]>

Repeal of terms limits for House chairs irks GOP

Christian Bourge — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

House Democrats approved rules Tuesday for the 111th Congress that repeal six-year term limits for committee chairmen and prevent Republicans from using a procedural gambit to disrupt floor action. The vote was 242-181.

Republicans were particularly peeved at losing the minority's right to offer an alternative to legislation on the floor through a motion to recommit that "promptly" forces the underlying measure back to committee.

The change means that if GOP lawmakers want to deal with tax provisions in any legislation, their alternative versions must comply with Democratic pay-go budget rules, which Republicans oppose.

Rules ranking member David Dreier sought to put the changes into the context of President-elect Obama's pledge to work in a bipartisan fashion, saying during debate on the measure that it "shreds the Obama vision" by making the rules of the last Congress even more restrictive on the minority.

He said the changes could help lead to the rise of a tyrannical speaker.

"We cannot have a good outcome without a good process," Dreier said.

Democrats argued that Republicans abused the floor process in the 110th Congress by using motions to recommit to stop bills from moving rather than changing or improving them. House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., said the GOP's use of "procedural gimmicks" stifled debate and ensured partisanship.

Republicans had made effective use of the motion by offering alternatives with amendments that appealed to moderate and conservative Democrats, effectively derailing, if only temporarily, major pieces of legislation.

"What they can't do is pretend to be amending the bill," Frank said. "It is a legislative Ponzi scheme."

The rules package repeals a rule preventing a floor vote from being held open for the "sole purpose" of reversing the outcome of the vote.

The displaced rule had been adopted by Democrats in response to a three-hour vote in 2003 enacting Medicare prescription drug coverage and was a major tenet of the ethics reforms enacted by Democratic leaders when they took control of the House two years ago.

Repeal was suggested by the bipartisan select committee empowered to investigate the failed 2007 agriculture appropriations vote, which prompted Republicans to walk off the House floor.

]]>

Holder hearing, bailout might spoil bipartisan start in '09

Dan Friedman and Christian Bourge — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Senate Democrats are expected to start the 111th Congress with popular measures that could set a bipartisan tone -- and woo Republican allies -- but potential fights over bailout legislation and Attorney General nominee Eric Holder might short-circuit those warm feelings.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has touted plans to pass a stimulus package in time for President-elect Barack Obama to sign when he takes office.

Aides also expect the Senate to move fast on most of Obama's Cabinet nominations and on legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program, expand stem-cell research and fund health information technology.

The low-hanging fruit could give the chamber a quick set of accomplishments and help establish a legislative coalition. Also, an early agenda that is heavy on health issues could serve as a test run for the upcoming push to overhaul the healthcare system.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will start next year preparing for his role, once President Bush exits, as the last defense against an ambitious Democratic agenda opposed by the GOP base. But Republicans must balance that role with a desire to avoid an obstructionist label, and will likely try to limit fights early, Republican aides said. Staffers said Republican cooperation might depend in part on whether Reid, after often limiting senators' ability to offer amendments in the 110th Congress, relents. Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., initially set a Jan. 8 hearing on Holder's nomination, over objections by Judiciary ranking member Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who wanted more time to study Holder's record. Monday, Leahy pushed back the hearing to Jan. 15 and said Specter agreed to the move. Republicans have said they will grill Holder about his role in President Bill Clinton's 2001 pardons and even Holder's 2004 job offer from Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

In the House, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., has said the Democratic leadership will focus on finishing the business of the 110th Congress. But Democratic leadership sources said fiscal 2009 appropriations matters that must be rectified before the continuing resolution expires March 6 might not be addressed right away. Instead, the House will focus on the economic stimulus package -- including possible tax cuts aimed at middle-income earners and small businesses as advocated by Obama -- and the SCHIP measure. Long-stalled renewable portfolio standard legislation could also be on the House agenda right away, and both chambers are likely to have to deal at some point with rescue plans for the automobile industry. Senior sources on and off Capitol Hill said they expect the Bush administration to do the minimum needed to ensure that that automakers do not go into bankruptcy in the near term. "The goal is to just avoid a bankruptcy on this administration's watch," said one top financial services industry lobbyist. "Then it will fall in Obama's lap."

Anna Edney and Humberto Sanchez contributed to this report.

]]>

Waxman ousts Dingell for energy and commerce post

Dan Friedman and Christian Bourge — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., ousted Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., Thursday as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in a Democratic Caucus vote that would have seemed far-fetched two weeks ago. The secret ballot vote was 137-122.

Dingell, who has served as chairman or ranking member of the panel since 1981, becomes chairman emeritus.

"I am gratified," Waxman said later in a speech that included praise of Dingell. "It was a contentious race. It was a close race."

Dingell did not address reporters, but issued a statement: "This was clearly a change year, and I congratulate my colleague Henry Waxman on his success today ... What will never change is my commitment to the working men and women of the 15th Congressional District of Michigan who have honored me with the opportunity to represent them here in Washington."

Thursday's vote completes a surprise coup led by a group of mostly California liberals close to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. The group includes Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman, D-Calif., who both whipped for Waxman. Although Pelosi was publicly neutral in the fight, Waxman's win is also hers. Dingell, an old bull with his own power base, has clashed with Pelosi. His loss may mean fellow bulls like Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., will follow Pelosi's lead.

Waxman is set to play a leading role in crafting healthcare legislation as well as environmental and energy measures sought by the incoming Obama administration.

"We have an opportunity that only comes once in a generation," Waxman said.

He told colleagues he is better able to work with the incoming administration and with House and Senate colleagues to move the Democrats' agenda.

Like Waxman, Dingell has pushed universal health care and a cap-and-trade greenhouse gas emissions bill. But Waxman backs more aggressive cuts in emissions than Dingell, who works closely with car makers in his state. Environmental groups stayed out of the fight but rushed to congratulate Waxman Thursday.

The vote was a blow to the seniority system and to the chairmen it gave independence to. "Seniority is important, but it should not be a grant of property rights to be chairman for three decades," Waxman said.

As the second-ranking Democrat on Energy and Commerce for decades, Waxman has long been involved in health and environmental legislation. He has also used the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to investigate the Bush administration's health and environmental polices. Waxman will likely bring most of his highly-regarded staff with him to Energy and Commerce, members said.

In his bid for the chairmanship, Waxman was boosted by the expanded Democratic majority. New members, many of whom received Waxman campaign contributions, appear to have leaned toward him, as did Californians and liberals. Reps. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, and Elijah Cummings, D-Md., gave speeches on Waxman's behalf, members said. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., also whipped for Waxman. Reps. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., Mike Doyle, D-Pa., Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, D-S.D., and John Lewis, D-Ga., spoke for Dingell.

The vote opens a vacancy atop the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., has seniority and has said he will seek the chairmanship. At the time of publication, it was unclear if Cummings, whom some members have asked to run, would challenge Towns. Cummings said Waxman's effort does not disrupt the traditional Democratic seniority system for committee assignments. Any action on the chairmanship has been postponed until members have time to consider the candidates. As for the other committees, all panel leaders won re-election to their posts.

]]>

House leaders remain unsure about lame-duck session

Christian Bourge — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

House Democratic leaders have yet to decide whether to return for a lame-duck session, waiting to see which party wins the White House and the size of their majorities in the House and Senate, senior leadership sources said Tuesday after the leaders held a conference call.

The Senate is set to return Nov. 17, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said he wants to work at that time on a second economic stimulus measure and another package of bills held by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. The length of the Senate's lame-duck session remains unclear, although it would likely be short if the House did not come back.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the rest of the Democratic leadership made clear last week that they would also like to see a second economic stimulus package approved in the near term.

But the details of such a package remain up in the air and House Democratic lawmakers have not gotten any indication that they will be expected back in Washington before next year.

Senior House Democratic aides said the biggest variable in whether they return for a lame duck is if Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., wins the presidential election. Other political variables include the number of seats picked up in the House and Senate by Democrats and the Bush White House's willingness to come to terms on another stimulus package.

If Obama is elected president and Democrats make a major gain of 20 or more seats in the House while achieving a filibuster-proof majority of 60 in the Senate, they could avoid compromising with Republicans on the measure until January. Alternatively, they could also put up a bigger fight on a stimulus package under an administration led by GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona with major seat gains.

An Obama win is also viewed as a large incentive to getting the Colombia Free Trade Agreement -- a Bush administration priority -- off the table before the Democrat takes office. Senior Democratic aides said Bush's wish for Colombia might be a negotiating point to get the president to sign off on a stimulus deal before he leaves office, no matter which senator wins the White House.

Ben Schneider contributed to this story.

]]>

Orszag: Economic mess will change incoming president's agenda

Humberto Sanchez and Christian Bourge — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Dealing with the fallout from the economic meltdown will boost the federal budget deficit and will limit the agenda of the next president, according to Congressional Budget Office Director Peter Orszag.

"There is no question the budget deficit is going up," Orszag said on PBS' "Newshour with Jim Lehrer" Thursday. "It was increasing even before the most recent turmoil. If you add the potential for a significant recession and the operation of the federal government in trying to stave off the financial turmoil, we could be seeing a deficit of $750 billion or more."

CBO projects fiscal 2008 ended Sept. 30 with a deficit of $438 billion. Orszag said either Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., or Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will find it difficult to deal with much beyond the economy in the early stages of the next presidency. "It's going to be hard to get other topics on the agenda, not just for fiscal reasons, but also because we are just human beings and there is a limited amount of time and attention that can be given to different topics," he said.

Also Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., urged President Bush to call a meeting of G-8 leaders to address the downturn in the world economy. In a letter to Bush, they argued that the United States should take an even more proactive leadership role given the financial market crisis that has unfolded in recent days. "There is a sense of urgency that the United States take a leadership role in bringing together leaders of the largest economies to help avoid even more serious economic consequences," the leaders wrote.

House leaders will consider bringing lawmakers back to Washington before the Nov. 4 election to vote on an economic stimulus plan, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said Friday in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Pelosi has said the House might return after the election to consider a economic stimulus plan or package.

She and other Democratic House leaders will meet with economists Monday as lawmakers seek to craft the stimulus plan. The package is likely to include items Democrats have sought for months, including expanded unemployment insurance, increased spending for food stamps and Medicaid and infrastructure funding aimed at creating jobs. A spokesman told Bloomberg that Reid "will work with the House of Representatives and leave all options open to address this issue. Recent developments only reinforce the need for additional action to reinvigorate the economy."

Democratic leadership sources said such a move remains in play, given the need for more action to stabilize the U.S. economy. Bush has remained steadfastly opposed to a second stimulus package, but congressional aides said the state of the economy might allow Democrats to force his hand. Bush sought to calm the economic waters Friday, saying the government has an "aggressive" plan to address the mess, but that the plan would "take time to have its full impact." He added: "The American people can be confident in our economic future. We know what the problems are. We have the tools to fix them."

]]>

Senate sends economic rescue bill to the House

Bill Swindell and Christian Bourge — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The 74-25 vote came as some House members who opposed the package Monday said they were reconsidering after the Senate bill was reworked to include sweeteners such as a tax-extender package, a patch for the alternative minimum tax, disaster aid and an increase in FDIC coverage amounts from $100,000 to $250,000 for one year, along with an unlimited credit line for the agency from the Treasury.

In addition, a lobbying campaign by business interests affected by the credit crunch -- small shops, auto dealers and restaurant franchisees -- began to temper populist outrage over what critics saw as a bailout for Wall Street executives who sparked the liquidity crisis.

Business groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and Information Technology Industry Council wrote to lawmakers announcing they were making it a "key vote" in their annual scorecards. And nearly 700 companies and trade associations have written congressional leaders urging them to adopt the energy tax incentives in the Senate bill for wind, solar and other renewable sources, which could be important in gaining votes for candidates in both parties.

Such efforts appear to be swaying House Republicans. GOP sources on the House side predicted as many as 25 members of both parties who voted against the first plan could switch Friday. The House voted 228-205 to reject the package Monday.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., Wednesday called it unfortunate that the Senate attached a tax extenders' package that is only partially offset, but he conceded it was more important to swiftly pass the recovery bill.

"We are making the deficit worse as we're trying to stabilize the economy by passing extenders which are not paid-for, so, yes, there are people concerned about that. I'm concerned about that," Hoyer said. "But again, I think we are focused on the recovery package, on stabilizing the economy, on reasserting confidence in the markets, so that the recession can be stemmed and so average working men and women aren't more disadvantaged than they already are."

Some in the Blue Dog Coalition who voted for the bailout plan Monday, such as Reps. Jim Cooper of Tennessee and Dennis Moore of Kansas, appeared to be supportive despite the lack of extender offsets.

"I have grave concerns about any legislation that passes off the costs to our children and grandchildren, adding to our $9.6 trillion debt. But in this difficult time, I'm glad the Senate is moving on this much-needed emergency economic rescue plan," said Moore, a Blue Dog co-chairman.

All told, the tax provisions would add $110.4 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation, on top of the underlying cost of the rescue package.

Hoyer said he is discussing timing and, if possible, the measure might come up late Thursday, but the current plan calls for a vote Friday in the late morning or early afternoon.

He said he has been talking with House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., "three, four, five times a day" about the situation.

"I know he is working this issue; I think many of his members are going to find the [tax extenders] and the FDIC provisions to their liking, so hopefully he'll be able to have some progress. But he'll need 100 Republican votes to pass this," Hoyer said.

House Democratic leaders have worked hard to keep from owning the bailout and insisted on a large level of GOP support that they failed to get on the first vote. Of 235 Democrats, 140 supported Monday's bill. Of 199 Republicans, 65 voted for it.

Underneath the public diplomacy there is an undercurrent of resentment at the Senate by Blue Dogs and others.

"It's pretty clear that Mr. Hoyer and the Blue Dogs were trying to do the responsible thing by paying for [the extenders] and taking it through regular order, and it's pretty clear the only way the Senate could get around doing the fiscally responsible thing was to play politics and use this urgent piece of legislation to force the hand of the House," said a senior House Democratic aide.

House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel said in a statement that the move sets a dangerous precedent. "Apparently, in the Senate, they just decide what can get 60 votes and insist the House follow suit. There is something wrong with this, not just for this Congress, but for those to follow," Rangel said. "The Senate can't believe this is the way the Congress and the House will move forward in the future."

But despite such hard feelings, many sources said the bill is likely to pass.

A senior aide to one liberal House Democrat who did not back the earlier version of the bill said that despite rumblings from opponents, the Senate bill would win House approval.

"It's going through," said the aide. "They could have a provision that says it's OK to club baby seals, and they will find the votes for this. At this point it is only a question of how many votes by which this passes."

There were several signs Wednesday of movement on the Republican side. Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., indicated he was leaning toward supporting it after voting "no" Monday. Shadegg cited the raising of the FDIC cap and a SEC decision to offer guidance on mark-to-market accounting rules that require companies to value assets at current prices, not their value when they mature. The issue is crucial in the real estate market, where many properties have been severely devalued but are expected to regain value.

Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, who voted against the bill Monday, appears ready to vote for the Senate version. "He's very encouraged by what he sees in the bill. Those were the two main things that he has been talking about since Monday that he wanted to see in the bill," said a Tiberi spokeswoman.

Representatives from groups like AARP and the Business Roundtable and lobbyists said pressure is focused on members from Ohio, Georgia, California and Texas who voted "no," with particular pressure on some members from Florida.

Sunshine State lawmakers are being prodded to vote "yes" because of the large number of retirees who rely on retirement accounts that are losing value. Additionally, the tax package would allow residents of states, such as Florida and Texas, that do not have an income tax to continue to be able to deduct their sales tax on their federal returns.

Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Fla., who faces a tough re-election race, is reviewing the Senate bill and is undecided -- but is not considered a likely switch to a "yes." Fellow Florida Republican Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, who also voted "no" Monday, is uncommitted.

While the FDIC insurance increase is seen as a positive for getting extra votes on both sides of the aisle in the House, GOP leadership aides said there is also a downside for fiscally conservative lawmakers. The insurance program is paid for from bank fees, which will likely be passed on to the consumer.

"It could be pegged against us as a tax increase, but that is less an immediate concern than getting this done," said one senior GOP leadership source.

In addition, some conservative groups were circulating lists of tax "earmarks" senators added to the bill, such as provisions benefiting film and television studios, wooden arrow-makers and litigants in the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.

They singled out "extenders" like tax breaks for railroad track maintenance, motorsports complexes, wool research and rum produced in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

On the House's Democratic side, there are several members who voted "no" Monday who indicated Wednesday they would re-evaluate their positions.

Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., wants to look over the bill and hear people out in the Democrats' Caucus meeting Thursday, an aide said.

Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., is in the same boat as Stupak, but an aide indicated she could be swayed. Solis spokesman Roberto Soberanis said Solis does not agree with some of the energy incentives, specifically oil shale and credits for coal-to-liquid projects. "She's not a hard 'no;' she's not a hard 'yes,' " Soberanis said.

Grassroots pressure is building in Northern California where the Bay Area Council, a business-sponsored, public-policy advocacy organization for the nine-county region, has urged four area House Democrats to switch their votes to "yes" -- Reps. Barbara Lee, Fortney (Pete) Stark, Mike Thompson and Lynn Woolsey.

"We fully appreciate the principled position you have taken on this issue and we understand that this is a very difficult issue for members to vote on, but we ask that you consider the implications of doing nothing or letting this credit freeze continue for an extended period," the council said in a letter Tuesday. "Please support the economic rescue plan when it next comes up for a vote."

It's a mixed bag among Oregon Democrats, who have been at the forefront of pushing for rural county payments to be extended, as the Senate package would do.

Its funding is not enough to sway Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., who has led an effort for an alternative bailout plan that includes the Senate's increase of the FDIC insurance limit to $250,000.

Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., is a longtime advocate of the rural schools program as well and "that is one that is being talked about [that] is very important," his spokeswoman said. "But he's going to consider the whole package."

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., might change his mind. "That is something he is taking note of and is taking under special consideration," a spokeswoman said. The spokeswoman said it is unclear whether the rural schools funding or the renewable energy tax incentives are enough to sway Blumenauer, as he opposes the package's incentives for coal-based liquids, tar sands and oil shale.

Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., who supported Monday's bill, is trying to keep the coal and oil incentives out of the bill. His spokesman could not say whether that would be enough to make Markey oppose the Senate version. "Right now he's just focused on trying to make sure those elements aren't part of the package," he said. "That would make it, I think, for many people an easier vote."

Markey and Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, a "no" vote on Monday, both circulated letters to House Speaker Pelosi Wednesday urging her to strip the "dirty fuels" provisions from the package. In addition, Doggett said, the lack of "pay-fors" in the Senate extender package only cemented his opposition. "The Senate has changed my position from 'no' to 'no way,'" Doggett said.

Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, is fond of the energy incentives and added taxpayer protection in the Senate version and could be swayed, his spokesman said. "We're just beginning to understand it," the spokesman said. "It's certainly more positive than the House bill."

Pelosi might face a tough sell trying to get help from the Congressional Black Caucus. Only 18 of 39 CBC members voted "yes" on Monday. One Democratic strategist said the CBC vote count is not likely to change because the extender package is viewed by them as helping business interests, while provisions for homeowners -- such as a major change in bankruptcy law to allow judges to reduce the principal of a mortgage to market value -- were not included.

"The things that they care about still aren't being addressed," said the strategist.

The Bush administration endorsed the Senate legislation Wednesday. "The administration believes this legislation should be passed as quickly as possible to permit subsequent action by the House and to facilitate prompt signing into law," read a Statement of Administration Policy. "A strong bipartisan showing in support of the legislation will send an important, helpful signal to markets here and abroad that the federal government will take the actions necessary to get our financial system back on track."

Dan Friedman, Ben Schneider, Peter Cohn, Anna Edney, Darren Goode and Humberto Sanchez contributed to this report.

]]>

Economic rescue bill remains in limbo

Christian Bourge — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

As the stock market made up some of the ground it lost after Monday's vote failed, staff-level talks continued among representatives of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

President Bush kept up the pressure for a deal, warning of "painful and lasting" economic damage if lawmakers do not act quickly. "The consequences will grow worse each day if we do not act," Bush said.

Senate leaders from both parties predicted a rescue plan would be approved by the end of the week. "We will get the job done," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said, echoing similar comments by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "We will get it done this week and hopefully that will convince the American people that Congress can rise to the occasion, act like grownups, if you will, and get the job done for all of our people."

In a letter to Bush, Pelosi and Reid said Congress "will pass a responsible bill in the very near future." But specifics were hard to come by. "It's a complete information-free zone," said the chief of staff to one moderate House Democrat.

Sources on K Street and Capitol Hill said they believed a second vote is possible on a slightly modified version of the bill when the House returns Thursday. "Not only will it get done, the bill that is going to pass is going to look a hell of a lot like the one that just failed," predicted the chief of staff to one conservative Republican who did not back the bill. He compared the expected second vote to July's passage of revisions to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act after a year of negotiations, only coming more quickly.

Some lawmakers who voted against the package reported their offices were receiving many more calls in favor of the rescue plan than they had received before the vote. Senate Banking Chairman Christopher Dodd, an ardent backer of the plan, said he was encouraged by talks with House and Senate colleagues who might be ready to change their votes. "I'm told a number of people who voted 'no' yesterday are having serious second thoughts," Dodd said without naming names.

Some of that pressure was coming from grassroots efforts by the National Association of Manufacturers and the Business Roundtable that targeted opponents of the plan. "My feeling is members of Congress want to hear from their constituents," said Jay Timmons, NAM's executive vice president. "So we're encouraging our members to call and ask their employees to call and make sure Congress understands exactly what it means to real people and the real world."

NAM is targeting about 40 lawmakers who opposed the bill Monday and have a large number of manufacturers in their districts. BRT President John Castellani said 90 CEOs participated in a conference call this morning to coordinate their lobbying plan. "Maybe we just didn't do a good enough job in explaining as a business community that the circumstances require dramatic action."

Ben Schneider, Darren Goode and Terry Kivlan contributed to this report.

]]>

Leaders looking for combination of continuing resolution and stimulus

Humberto Sanchez and Christian Bourge — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

House Democratic leaders are working on a continuing resolution to fund the federal government beyond the end of the fiscal year and provide a stimulus to the economy. But deliberations continue over what the legislation will include, with the list getting longer, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Thursday.

"I do expect additional items on the bill," Hoyer told House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., at their evening colloquy. But "the extent has not yet been determined."

The fiscal year ends Sept. 30 and Congress must pass a CR to provide additional time to finish work on the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund federal programs. To date, Congress has passed none of the annual spending bills.

Hoyer said he has had discussions with the White House on the CR, as have top Democratic appropriators. But the talks appear so far to be largely limited, sources said, with Democratic leaders and administration officials yet to decide on an exact strategy or wish list of items to include in the CR outside of the necessary government funding.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had initially sought to enact a CR and a stimulus package separately, but on Wednesday she said some of the stimulus effort may have to go into the CR.

According to individuals involved in the process, this week's economic upheaval threw both sides for a loop and helped drive the decision by Pelosi not to bring a stimulus package to the floor this week, and complicated the effort to develop the CR.

"It's a complete mess," one senior Democratic aide said of the situation. "Would you want to bring a stimulus package to the floor focused on infrastructure spending amid all this turmoil?"

Despite the distraction, sources said that the CR could be completed over the weekend in time for a vote as early as Tuesday. The fiscal 2009 Homeland Security funding bill was filed Thursday in the House and is considered a prime vehicle for the package.

Some items from the stimulus package that might find their way into the CR include an unemployment insurance extension and low income energy assistance.

Senior Democratic sources indicated that while not a definite, there appears to be some momentum for bringing a jobs package to the floor later in the week to address items that do not make it into the CR.

Hoyer said that he and Pelosi would like to have the CR that extends funding through late February or early March, though mid-November is an option, which would entail a lame-duck session.

Some Democratic leadership sources said that an extension of funding past the middle of November remains improbable.

The CR is not expected to address the expiration of oil and gas drilling restrictions on the Outer Continental Shelf. Sources said Pelosi appears intent to let the provision expire at the end of September in hopes of taking up the drilling issue next year under a new administration.

That potential strategy has the Blue Dog Coalition concerned as to whether that effort will be aimed at coming to terms on a drilling compromise or reinstating the drilling restrictions.

"That's [a reinstatement of the ban] going to be a real problem for a lot of us," said one Blue Dog.

Hoyer said Democratic leaders are willing to come back during October if necessary to address the growing financial crisis, something that was echoed by a letter Pelosi sent to Bush on Thursday evening that said, "Accordingly, we stand ready beyond the targeted adjournment date of September 26 to permit Congress to consider legislative proposals and conduct necessary investigations."

]]>

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.

]]>

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.

]]>

Democratic leaders weigh defense bill as vehicle for continuing resolution

Christian Bourge — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

House Democratic leaders are considering using the stalled fiscal 2009 Defense appropriations bill as a vehicle for a continuing resolution to fund the federal government into the next administration, according to senior Democratic sources.

"It is a real possibility," said one Democratic leadership aide.

Democratic staffers stressed that a final decision has yet to be made, but they noted President Bush would not be able to veto the defense measure, making it an attractive vehicle.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., has said he does not plan to finish work on fiscal 2009 appropriations bills, citing a GOP effort to amend them with unrelated oil and gas drilling language.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and senior Democratic staff have acknowledged the likelihood of not completing any of the 12 bills beyond the Military Construction-VA and Defense appropriations measures. Reid and top aides on both sides of the Capitol have also said the CR will be needed with Congress not returning for a lame-duck session. Democratic leaders are expected to use the CR and a second economic stimulus package as vehicles for other must-pass bills and unfinished business for the year.

A defense source called making the Defense spending measure the vehicle for the continuing resolution a "tried and true method." But the source cautioned that it would be "extremely difficult" to conclude work on the Defense spending measure by the end of September unless at least one chamber passes it before the August recess. Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, has said his panel will most likely wait to mark up the measure until the House completes the bill. The timing for House action is uncertain, following the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee's decision to postpone last week's scheduled markup.

One lobbyist with an appropriations practice said the strategy could open Democrats to charges that funding for federal agencies would suffer because of their inability to complete work on all 12 spending bills. "If the White House is smart they would make clear that their budget provided a modest increase for many agencies," the lobbyist said. "A CR would amount to a cut." The Democratic strategy of extending the CR into early next year is built on the hope that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will win the presidency and the fiscal 2009 bills could be approved after he takes office.

Humberto Sanchez and Megan Scully contributed to this report. ]]>

House spending bill markups at a standstill

Humberto Sanchez and Christian Bourge — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The regular order for the appropriations process inched closer to oblivion Wednesday as House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., shot down the possibility of any movement from his panel.

"There aren't going to be any markups," he said.

The rift stems from the fracas that took place during the House Appropriations Committee markup of the Labor-HHS appropriations bill just prior to the Independence Day break.

At the markup, Appropriations ranking member Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., tried to offer the Interior appropriations bill as an amendment to the Labor-HHS bill. The move was an effort to try to force a vote on repealing a restriction on offshore oil drilling.

Republicans have been eyeing the Interior appropriations bill as a vehicle to advance their energy agenda, including allowing more domestic drilling and production.

In response, Obey angrily adjourned the meeting and said the appropriations process was done for the year.

Obey reiterated that point Wednesday, when he said there would be no more markups from his panel.

On Wednesday, Lewis said he will refrain from seeking to offer the Interior bill as an amendment to other appropriations legislation once Obey schedules a full committee markup date for the measure. But the lines of communication seem to be frayed.

"I waited for two months to have the chairman to talk to me about the [Iraq war] supplemental," Lewis said, "I am not going to go in there two months from now" to get this issue settled.

House Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., told CongressDaily Wednesday that it appears likely that "if any" appropriations legislation comes to the floor it will not be before the last week of the month.

Aides and Democratic lawmakers close to the issue also confirmed that Democratic leaders are not planning to complete the entire slate of fiscal 2009 funding bills.

Instead, sources said that leaders plan to pass a continuing resolution just prior to the October recess and not return after the November elections.

Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, accused Democratic leaders of going to "outrageous lengths" to "short-circuit the entire appropriations process" in order to avoid having their members take votes aimed at increasing domestic energy supplies.

One Democratic lawmaker dismissed the potential for voter blow-back, saying the move is an "umbrella plan" intended to protect Democrats.

The lawmaker noted that nothing can get passed in the current political environment and argued that attempting to complete the entire slate of appropriations bills would lead to "confrontation after confrontation" which would be detrimental to voter sympathy heading into November.

Meanwhile, Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is seeking $910 million in fire fighting, prevention and rehabilitation funding to be included in a second supplemental spending package being discussed by Senate and House Democratic leaders.

Feinstein made the request Wednesday in a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd, D-W.Va. She said that hundreds of wildfires burning in California threaten to deplete federal firefighting resources early in the fire season.

"The situation in California is explosive: Excessive heat warnings have been issued, more dry-lightning strikes are expected, our resources are stretched to the breaking point, and the state remains tinder-dry," Feinstein said. "The governor has informed the president that without more help, we can no longer adequately protect lives and property. This emergency funding is necessary to counteract this untenable situation."

The $910 million would be used by the U.S. Forest Service and the Interior Department. Of that amount, $610 million would go to wildfire suppression; $125 million to reduce the number of dead and dying trees that can serve as fuel for future fires on state and private lands; $100 million for rehabilitation; $50 million for dead and dying tree reduction on federal lands, and $25 million for firefighter recruitment and retention in high-risk areas.

]]>

White House threatening to veto war supplemental bill

Humberto Sanchez and Christian Bourge — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The White House issued a veto threat Thursday against the emergency supplemental war funding package because the bill would impose limitations on military commanders in the field, provide unrelated domestic funding and raise taxes.

The $183.7 billion package, expected to pass the House Thursday, consists of three distinct amendments.

The first includes $96.6 billion to fund the war for the rest of fiscal 2008, and $65.9 billion for part of fiscal 2009.

Those figures are less than the $100 billion for fiscal 2008 and $66 billion for fiscal 2009 requested by President Bush.

House Democratic leaders expect the war-funding portion to pass with a majority of Republican votes.

The second amendment will include war policy rules, such as a non binding requirement that troops begin to be withdrawn from Iraq within 30 days of the proposal becoming law, with a goal of completing withdrawal by December 2009. The second part of the package is expected to be passed with a majority of Democratic support.

The third amendment includes an increase of veterans' education benefits. The provision, estimated to cost more than $51 billion over 10 years, will be offset by a 0.5 percent tax on individuals with gross income of more than $500,000 and couples with income more than $1 million.

The provision was offset to appease the Blue Dog Coalition, which threatened to derail the package. The fate of such a tax increase in the Senate is unclear. The Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up its version of the supplemental Thursday.

That amendment also includes an extension of unemployment insurance benefits, which is expected to cost $11 billion over 10 years and will not be offset. That amendment is expected to be approved with mostly Democratic votes and some Republican support. Democratic leaders ran into last-minute anxiety from some Blue Dogs, including Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., over the nonbinding withdrawal timetable in the war-policy portion of the package.

Democratic leadership sources categorized the whipping as little more than an 11th-hour cleanup effort that would not jeopardize House approval of the provisions.

"It's nothing I didn't expect," said Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina. "I think we are all right." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Thursday expressed pride in the House's efforts to change war policy and placed the blame for their failure to get enacted on President Bush and Senate Republicans.

"We've done our share here, but the president refuses to listen to the American people and the Republicans in the Senate are complicit in that," Pelosi said.

During debate on the House floor, Republicans railed against Democratic leaders over the process, which bypassed the House Appropriations Committee, because of prohibited amendments and motions to recommit. Republicans also said that the true cost of the bill is $250 billion, including the domestic spending. "This is not the 'House of the Few Great Deciders.' " House Appropriations Committee ranking member Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., said. "It is the 'People's House.' It is the House of Representatives. We fail to recognize this at our great peril."

]]>

More domestic spending sought in emerging supplemental

Christian Bourge — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

House Democratic leaders are looking to add $3 billion to $4 billion in domestic spending to the emergency war supplemental beyond economic stimulus and troop-related funds, according to leadership sources.

Although still a moving target, that spending would come in addition to the likely $12 billion for both 13 extra weeks of unemployment benefits for those whose eligibility has expired and a boost in GI education spending that has broad, bipartisan support.

With final decisions on the package still to be made, a senior aide in the Democratic leadership said discussions now have moved to including money to cover shortfalls in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children as well as for census programs.

The administration is said to be looking to move existing funds from other programs around to cover WIC shortfalls.

Sources said leaders negotiating the measure are also looking to add one-time payments to Filipino World War II veterans, who have never received veterans' benefits. The Senate approved a bill Thursday that would expand benefits to those men, a move sources said was supported by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

As many as 6,000 of those veterans in the United States live in California, with 12,000 in the Philippines. Those veterans fought alongside U.S. forces against the Japanese early in the war. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, sponsored the measure, which would create around $250 million in new benefits over 10 years, but it is unclear just how much of the Senate bill would be adopted in the stimulus package.

Aides said Democratic leaders are also considering putting in language to block new Bush administration regulations decreasing Medicaid payments to states by around $13 billion over the next five years. Such legislation was overwhelmingly approved by the House Wednesday but faces a veto threat from President Bush, who has also said he would not accept a package that exceeds his $108 billion request for war funding.

Because of that threat, Democrats are expected to combine the administration's $108 billion initial funding request for Iraq and Afghanistan operations for the rest of fiscal 2008 with $70 billion in "bridge" funding for the first several months of fiscal 2009.

Sources said Appropriations Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., has hundreds of items that could potentially be added to the package, but has argued against a massive amount for domestic funding. A decision was made to limit domestic funding to stave off opposition from the White House and congressional Republicans. The measure also is likely to bypass the regular committee process and go straight to the floor in separate war policy, war funding and domestic funding votes. The tactic would be an effort by Democratic leaders to overcome potential hurdles from anti-war stalwarts in their own Caucus and Republicans intent on adding their own wish list items to the bill in committee.

"This is where things could get added to placate them (antiwar Democratic liberals)," said one Democratic leadership aide. "But many of those people can't be bought."

]]>

Supplemental likely to carry veterans' education funds

Christian Bourge — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Democratic leaders' plans to attach limited domestic spending to the emergency war supplemental will include a popular plan to boost GI education spending, according to Democratic leadership sources.

Although final decisions have not been made, the education measure is part of a strategy to include spending that "Republicans can't say no to," said aides.

Discussions also have included a limited extension of unemployment insurance benefits, funding for wildfire firefighting efforts and aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Leaders also are considering putting in language to block new Bush administration regulations decreasing Medicaid spending by around $13 billion over the next five years. Such legislation was overwhelmingly approved by the House Wednesday but faces a veto threat. "We're putting together our supplemental bill," said House Speaker Nacny Pelosi, D-Calif. "When it is ready we will announce it to you."

Any domestic funding would be part of a massive package combining $108 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan operations for the rest of fiscal 2008 and $70 billion for the first several months of fiscal 2009. The measure also is likely to bypass the regular committee process and go straight to the floor in separate war policy, war funding and domestic funding votes.

The measure is not expected to include any controversial war policy provisions, as Democratic leaders look to avoid a veto and anti-war factions in their Caucus.

"There is recognition we need it now, the sooner the better, and going to committee slows that down," said one Democratic leadership aide.

They also face difficulties from House Republicans. Appropriations Committee ranking member Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., announced Thursday he would offer the Senate-passed overhaul of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act as an amendment should the supplemental come before the committee.

Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, Thursday acknowledged the popularity of the GI education funding, but decried any plan to bypass the regular committee process.

"To just tack it onto a supplemental without hearings, without the committee process doesn't seem like the best way to legislate," said Boehner. "Their ability to control what goes on to these bills, they don't have a very good track record."

It is unclear exactly how Congress would appropriate the fiscal 2009 dollars, but it likely will include operations and maintenance and military personnel dollars. A senior military official said he hopes it also includes billions to repair and replace equipment lost and damaged in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I think the bridge [funding] is a great idea to get us rolling in the new [fiscal year] and to cover war costs, but it also needs to cover reset," the official said. The Army and Marine Corps received reset funding at the outset of fiscal 2007 as part of a bridge fund attached to the annual Defense spending bill -- a move service leaders lauded.

That, however, has not been the case this fiscal year, with the Army still waiting for a large chunk of its fiscal 2008 reset funds. "There is still $7.6 billion for the Army sitting out there and time is not on our side," Army Vice Chief of Staff Richard Cody told the House Armed Services Committee earlier this month. The military argues that providing those funds at the beginning of the fiscal year allows the military to get a jump start on equipment purchases and overhauls and provides adequate time to order enough spare and replacement parts to keep depot lines running throughout the year.

]]>

Republican congressman indicted in federal probe of Arizona land-swap deal

Christian Bourge — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., was indicted on federal charges of extortion, wire fraud and money laundering stemming from an investigation of land deals in his home state and an alleged payment in return for the lawmaker's influence, the U.S. attorney's office in Arizona said Friday.

The 26-page indictment accused Renzi and two former business partners of conspiring to sell land that buyers could swap for federal property. The sale netted $4.5 million for one of the associates, the government said. The FBI conducted a raid in April on a business owned by Renzi's wife, leading to his decision to step down from the Intelligence, Natural Resources and Financial Services committees. Renzi previously announced he would not run for another term and would work to clear his name.

The indictment claims Renzi and former business partner James Sandlin concealed a payoff of at least $733,000 to the lawmaker in return for him using his influence on the Natural Resources Committee to push through land swaps. "Renzi was having financial difficulty throughout 2005 and needed a substantial infusion of funds to keep his insurance business solvent and to maintain his personal lifestyle," says the indictment.

"Congressman Renzi did nothing wrong," his attorney, Reid Weingarten, said in a statement that suggested the Justice Department "may have allowed the investigation to have been influenced by political considerations." The statement also criticized the department for announcing the charges just hours after the lawmaker buried his father. Renzi will be arraigned March 6 in Tucson.

The indictment creates problems for House Republicans looking to distance themselves from ethics problems that helped cost them control of the House in the 2006 elections. If Renzi resigns to fight the charges, state law requires a special primary to be held 75 to 105 days from the day the seat becomes vacant, followed by a general election 35 to 45 days later. The Phoenix-area district looks ripe for a Democratic takeover given the indictment and problems the GOP has had in finding a candidate for the seat. President Bush carried the district by 8 points in 2004.

The area is becoming more diverse with a growing population of Native Americans and Hispanics. Democrats have recruited state Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick to run for the seat. She is in a good position for a special-election run with almost $300,000 in cash on hand. Several potential GOP candidates passed on a run, leaving Arizona Mining Association president Sydney Hay in the race. State Rep. Bill Konopnicki decided not to run, but state GOP sources say he is reconsidering.

]]>

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.

]]>

House chairman calls for ban on earmarks in fiscal 2009 spending bills

Christian Bourge — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., called for the suspension of all earmarks in fiscal 2009 appropriations bills and said Tuesday he would not make such requests this year.

"We have a problem in Congress," Waxman said in a statement that seemingly puts him in line with House Republican leaders on the issue. "Congressional spending through earmarks is out of control. I think our best approach would be to suspend all earmarks for the 2009 appropriations cycle while we consider the right reforms for the earmark process. As a result I will not submit any requests to the Appropriation Committee for this fiscal year."

Waxman praised the "real progress" made by Appropriations Chairman David Obey, D-Wisc., in cutting earmarks in fiscal 2008 appropriations bills by 30 percent. But, he added, too many questionable projects were still being funded.

While he did not directly address the call from Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, for a moratorium on lawmakers requesting earmarks so a bipartisan task force can review ways to reform the process, Waxman's declaration places him at odds with the Democratic leaders. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the rest of the Democratic leadership have largely ignored the GOP's rhetoric, dismissing it as not a real effort at reform.

Republicans were quick to welcome one of the most reform-minded Democrats to their side of the issue.

"I'm glad to see that a senior Democrat like Chairman Waxman has realized that the earmark reform measures that House Democrats have enacted are completely inadequate," said a Boehner spokesman.

While Boehner's office has been gung-ho on the GOP earmark reform plan as a means to get back in touch with its fiscally conservative base, some in House GOP circles do not see the effort as a winning one for House Republicans. They point out that lawmaker-directed earmarks actually represent less than 1 percent of the federal budget.

Boehner launched a Web site today to tout the GOP's earmark efforts. The site is at earmarkreform.house.gov.

]]>