TOPICS
TOPICS
House Democrats may prepare omnibus bill for January
House Democratic leaders hope to tee up in the next six weeks an omnibus package consisting of the nine remaining fiscal 2009 appropriations bills so President-elect Obama can sign the legislation into law shortly after he is inaugurated, senior Democratic aides said Tuesday. The plan, also heard in lobbying circles, would require the new Congress to come into session before the Jan. 20 inauguration to approve the package.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., made reference to work remaining for the rest of this year Tuesday.
"We're going to be here in December, not necessarily in session," Hoyer said at the National Press Club. "The year has not ended."
He added that keeping the House in recess will allow lawmakers to receive reorganization plans from automakers in exchange for $25 billion in loans or take other action to deal with the economic downturn.
Aides said it remains unclear whether the Senate would go along and allow the package to come to the floor. Federal government programs are being funded through a continuing resolution Congress approved in late September that expires March 6. Democrats opted to fund the government through a CR after President Bush said that he would veto any appropriations bills topping the levels recommended in his fiscal 2009 budget.
During debate on the CR Sept. 25, House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., said Bush sought to cut $14 billion from domestic programs, including research funding at the National Institutes of Health and low-income aid for home heating. Rather than capitulate, said Obey, "we would kick the can down the road ... so that if we have a president that will negotiate" some of that funding could be preserved.
The CR, which included three fiscal 2009 spending bills -- Defense, Military Construction-VA and Homeland Security -- funds most programs at fiscal 2008 levels. Along with three spending measures, the CR includes up to $22.9 billion in disaster relief funding; $2.5 billion for the Pell Grant program; and $5.1 billion in low-income heating assistance. The $25 billion loan program for the auto industry is part of the CR, costing $7.5 billion for the fiscal year.
Christian Bourge contributed to this report.
COMMENTS
- Party Pachiderm, I get it! You are too cute Tip! Tom Posted November 25, 2008 12:03 PM
- Very Well said, TIP OFF. I concur. It strikes me as odd that there is so much concern about what the New Administration will or might do. Yet I hear nothing about the absence of ideas, plans or leadership by the Existing Administration. For the last year it's been as if nothing needed to be done. I guess if you do nothing you can't be criticized for doing something wrong/badly. Another Hopeful Posted November 20, 2008 2:31 PM
- I know many in the Party Pachyderm are greatly concerned about this conjunction of power with the Blue Dogs in control of both legislative houses and the (incoming) executive branch, and even I must wonder if the momentum will reach an unforeseen, and potentially destructive, “high tide”. Such a Congressional presumptive automatic “blessing” of an omnibus bill by our future POTUS may, hopefully, be presumptuous. One of the winning attributes I saw in Barack was the centrist view point. Some thought him backpedaling on promises, I saw him responding to his perception of what the republic wanted and needed. That is my personal desire; for a chief executive who perceives and tries to accomplish what the people WANT and need. We may not always know what is best for us; that is why we “hire” experts. But we DO wish to have our opportunity for input, a hearing and consideration of our thoughts and desires. That was one of the most onerous aspects of the outgoing administration. It seemed like we were (perhaps) seen but definitely not heard. Once more, I may not know the answers to our security problems, but I am firmly convinced the answer is not in the remaking of our Constitution and the stripping of our rights; as exhibited by the PATRIOT Act, FISA, and the NSPS. I DO believe that it will take the combined legislative power of a Blue Dog Congress and Presidency to change this tide, that has been building for decades, in a timely manner. Despite the cries I hear of the danger in such a combination of power, it took just such a combination to get us in this current mess. Abdication by Congress of their oversight responsibilities resulted in the greatest expansion of Executive Power we have seen since the Civil War; nay, perhaps since the establishment of the republic! It will take work on both sides to resolve our many problems. I can only hope “the New Kids In Town” don’t go too far, or that the new “boss” can and will reign them in. I AM hopeful, but I am also watching! As most from Missouri would say, “You won my vote, Mr. President-elect, now show me what you can do!” Tip off Posted November 20, 2008 10:48 AM
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