This Week in the People's House

This Week in the People's House
6/13/2010
By Bobby Frederick

It was a light legislative week as Congressional leaders cancelled session on Friday, leading to a 3-day-week. Convening at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8th (first votes at 6:03 p.m.) and adjourning at 5:46 p.m. on Thursday, June 10th (last vote at 2:47 p.m.), the House registered 18 votes for the week. The House was in session for a total of 22 hours and 57 minutes.

Current Balance of the House : 255 Democrats, 177 Republicans and 3 vacancies (GA-9, NY-29, IN-3).

Note: Republican Tom Graves won the special election in GA-9 and will be sworn in on Monday, June 14th. He replaces former Republican Congressman Nathan Deal who resigned to focus on his race for Georgia Governor.

Constituents in NY-29 & IN-3 are likely to go without representation until November as Governors Patterson and Daniels are leaning towards holding these special elections on Election Day 2010.

Rule Bills

H.R. 5072 - The FHA Reform Act of 2010 introduced by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA).

Summary:
Via its website, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) "...provides mortgage insurance on loans made by FHA-approved lenders throughout the United States..insuring over 34 million properties since its inception in 1934." Traditionally, FHA has served low-income borrowers with low-cost mortgages, however the exodus of the private sector from the mortgage market due to the subprime crisis and recession increased FHA's share of the mortgage market.

H.R. 5072 would give FHA the authority to increase its premiums on mortgage insurance to 1.55% (up from .55%) on those whose down payment is less than 5% of their mortgage. This move is aimed to raise capital for the FHA.

H.R. 5072 passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 406-4 (Voting Yes- 241 D's & 165 R's : Voting No- 1 D & 3 R's). This bill now heads over to the Senate.

Suspensions

The House suspended the rules to consider 8 pieces of legislation this week. Of particular note, both House and Senate passed a measure allowing the President to access more of the Oil Spill Liability Trust fund for Gulf cleanup efforts. Current law only allows using $150 million of this fund per Fiscal Year. The President can now access multiple payments of up to $100 million for the Deepwater Horizon Spill.

The House also passed legislation regarding the Hoh Indian Tribe, honored Jacques Cousteau, made access to CBO scores more transparent, recognized World Ocean Day and named two Post Offices on suspension. Roll Calls 337-38, 342, 344-46. A measure urging the House to pursue international agreements on preventing ocean acidification (by controlling carbon) failed.

Other Big News

The BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill reaches day 54. President Obama plans to address the nation on Tuesday, June 15th. BP has spent $1.6 billion on cleanup efforts. Meanwhile, Congress is pressuring BP to suspend its second quarter dividend payment.

In a blow to the US economic recovery, retail purchases unexpectedly fell 1.2%.

General Stanly McChrystal warns that violence will rise over the summer in Afghanistan as the Obama troop surge battles insurgents in Kandahar.

The March to November continues as 12 states cast votes this past week. Senate incumbent Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) who had been written off by pundits, lived to fight another day, while House incumbent Bob Inglis (R-SC) looks to be in trouble.

There are 142 days until Election Day 2010. No primary contests this week.

Upcoming Actions in the House

This week, the House will consider H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2o10 which was introduced by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA). This bill aims to increase capital for small businesses by authorizing a new $30 billion lending fund to be administered by the Treasury Department.

The House may also consider H.R. 5175, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act, which was introduced by Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). This legislation is in response to the Supreme Court's Citizens United case decision and would provide rules on election spending by corporations.

Also this month, the House will consider H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Act for 2010 which was introduced by Congressman David Obey (D-WI). This measure will include funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as FEMA disaster assistance. It could include other "projects" as well. Last month the Senate passed a $58.8 billion supplemental, so now the ball is in the House's court.