This Week in the People's House 5-23-10

This week in the People's House
By Bobby Frederick
5/23/2010

Another light work week in the House which convened at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18th (first votes at 6:33 p.m.) and adjourned at 9:04 a.m. on Friday, May 21st (last vote at 4:23 p.m. on May 20th), registering 18 votes for the week. The House was in session for a total of 30 hours and 47 minutes.

Current Balance of the House : 255 Democrats, 176 Republicans and 4 vacancies (GA-9, NY-29, HI-1, IN-3). Congressman Mark Critz (PA-12 was sworn in on 5/20 and Congressman Mark Souder (R-IN-3) resigned on 5/21 after he admitted to an affair with a staff member. The HI-1 vacancy will be filled this week by Congressman-elect Charles Djou (R-HI).

Notable Floor Proceedings

5/19
While there were no rule bills this week, there were some notable moments on the House floor. First, Democrats tried again to pass a reauthorization of the America COMPETEs Act, which would authorize funding for science and technology research programs.

Last week, Democrats pulled H.R. 5116 (a five year, $85.6 billion bill) from the floor after Republicans & Democrats voted to amend the bill by freezing spending at FY 2010 levels, cutting it down to a three year bill and banning any government funds from being spent to pay the salaries of any federal employee who has been caught looking at pornography on government computers.

This week, Democrats introduced a new version of America COMPETEs, H.R. 5325, which was trimmed to a $48 billion, three year authorization. It also included the no salary for federal employees/pornography provision. During floor debate, Democrats argued that this compromise version included Republican ideas and would create jobs. Republicans countered that the bill contained duplicative programs and that the spending levels were still too high.

Process-wise, this bill was placed on the Suspension Calendar which bars any amendments and requires a two-thirds majority of those present and voting to pass. H.R. 5325 failed 261-148 (Voting Yes-246 D's & 15 R's : Voting No 0 D's & 148 R's). Majority Leader Hoyer said the bill would be brought up, under a rule, next week.

5/20

Mexican President Felipe Calderon addressed a joint session of Congress and criticized Arizona's new immigration law.

5/20

The House also considered H Res 1363, a non-controversial measure granting the Education and Labor Committee deposition authority to investigate the April 5th West Virginia mine disaster.

Towards the conclusion of debate, Rules Chairwoman, Louise Slaughter (D-NY) ordered to "move the previous question." If adopted, this procedural motion essentially cuts off debate and moves to a vote on the resolution at hand (H Res 1363). If defeated, the minority earns an extra hour of debate, with the possibility of offering an amendment.

Republicans urged a "no" vote so that they could offer an amendment to cut $2.5 billion from a program that gives states extra money if they increase welfare caseloads. This was part of a new effort by Republican Whip Eric Cantor called "You Cut", a program that allows citizens to vote on where they would like to see spending cut. The winning submissions are then taken and voted on by the House (usually through a "Motion to Recommit" or "Ordering of the Previous Question").

In this case, the previous question passed 240-177 (Voting Yes- 240 D's & 0 R's : Voting No- 9 D's & 168 R's) thus preventing the amendment to cut spending and moving on to a vote on H Res 1363 which passed 413-1 (Voting Yes- 247 D's & 166 R's : Voting No- 0 D's and 1 R).

Suspensions

Generally reserved for non-controversial measures, legislation can be passed under Suspension of the Rules by 2/3’s of those present and voting.

This week, the House suspended the rules to pass fifteen pieces of legislation: Endangered Fish Recovery, Enhanced DNA collection, Honoring Floyd Dominy, Juvenile Accountability Grants, National Missing Children's Day, Celebrating life of Lena Horne, Michael Rothberg Post Office, National Teacher Day, Congratulating Emporia State women for winning DII NCAA basketball championship, Honoring they historic Chatham County Courthouse, Assist Israel with anti-missile defense system, Congratulating Phil Mickelson, University of Texas men's swim team, North Carolina Central University and naming the Interior Department building after Stewart Udall. H.R. 5325, America COMPETEs failed on Suspension. Click here for vote tallies (Roll Call votes 273-87, & 290).

Other Big News

On 5/20, the Senate passed their financial overhaul bill 59-39 with northeast Republicans Scott Brown, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe voting "YES" and Democrats Maria Cantwell and Russ Feingold voting "NO". This bill would create a new consumer financial protection agency and place more regulations on banks with the goal of avoiding future financial crises. The Wall Street Journal has a GREAT summary. Dems hope to have a bill on Obama's desk by July 4th.

On 5/18, The New York Times reported that the American death toll in Afghanistan has reached 1,000. The Washington Post estimate this sad milestone was reached in late February. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense has Operation Enduring Freedom casualties at 1,070 American deaths.

One month later, the Gulf Oil Spill is still not contained and new reports show that the 5,000 barrel a day rate leak estimate is inaccurate. Anger is building as the oil continues to spread along the Gulf Coast.

The People's House Politics Extra!

With 163 days until Election Day 2010, this week's primary contests from PA, AR, KY & OR gave political pundits plenty to chew on. Another incumbent ousted, a tea-party favorite wins (then stumbles) and Republicans finally break the Democrats long special-election winning streak.

-In Pennsylvania, party-switching incumbent Senator Arlen Specter was taken down by Congressman Joe Sestak (another incumbent of sorts) 54%-46% in the Democratic primary for Senate.

-In a special election in PA-12, former John Murtha staffer Mark Critz (D) bested former small business owner Tim Burns (R) 52.6% - 45.1% as both sides poured more than $1 million into this race. Republicans pointed to this as the type of race they need to win to earn back the majority in the House. Some argue that this result should allow D's to breathe easier while others argue that Critz (a pro-life, pro-gun, anti-cap & trade, anti D health care plan) is hardly an endorsement of the Democrat policy agenda. The two face off again in November.

-In Arkansas, Incumbent Blanche Lincoln could not earn a majority of the vote and will face a runoff against LT. Gov Bill Halter on June 8th for the Democrat nomination for Senate.

-In Kentucky, Tea Party favorite Rand Paul (R) defeated the establishment candidate, Secretary of State Trey Grayson 59% to 35%, but immediately found himself in hot water over comments on the Civil Rights Act.

-In the Aloha State, Republican Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou won a special election to fill out the term of 21 year Democrat incumbent Neil Abercrombie. This is Obama's home district and the President took 70% here in the 2008 election. Full results here.

-Idaho holds its Primary on Tuesday, May 25th.

Next week in the People's House

The House is likely to take up a possible $150 to $200 billion package of tax extenders (unemployment, Medicare Doc Fix and COBRA benefits, etc). Democrats did not have the votes to pass this last week as conservative Blue Dog Democrats continued to have cost concerns.

The House may also take up H.R. 5136, the FY 2011 National Defense Authorization Act introduced by Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO). This bill would authorize $726 billion for Defense programs as well as fund for the Afghanistan troop surge and operations in Haiti. Finally, the bill includes a 1.9% pay raise for military personnel.

Democrats hope that the third time is the charm as they take another crack at H.R. 5116, The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act introduced by Congressman Bart Gordon (D-TN).