This Week in the People's House
7/26/2010
By Bobby Frederick
Last week, the House and Senate finally agreed on a $33.9 billion extension of unemployment benefits which President Obama promptly signed into law. The House also began consideration of H.R. 1264, the Multiple Peril Insurance Act of 2009 -which would allow for the purchase of insurance to cover wind damage under the National Flood Insurance Program- but it was abruptly pulled from consideration after it appeared the measure did not have the votes to pass.
There is much to be done this week in the People's House. Before embarking on a six-week recess, the focus will be on spending as the House aims to come to agreement with the Senate on a war funding bill. In addition, the Transportation-Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs appropriations bills are scheduled for floor time. As is common before a long recess, a weekend session threat has been lodged.
Convening on Monday, July 19th (first votes at 6:02 p.m.) and adjourning on Thursday, July 15th (last vote at 4:10 p.m.), the House took 19 votes for the week. For the sixth legislative week in a row, Democrat's cancelled session for Friday. The House was in session for a total of 33 hours and 53 minutes.
Rule Bills
Quick Summary: Unemployment benefits expired on June 2nd after the House and Senate could not come to agreement on legislation that also included other tax credit extensions. This pure unemployment benefit extension bill comes at a price tag of $33.9 billion over ten years. The extension runs through November 30th (meaning the House is likely to address this again in a lame duck session) and the benefits are retroactive to June 2nd.
H.R. 4213 passed 272-152 (Voting Yes- 241 D's & 31 R's : Voting No- 10 D's & 142 R's).
Suspensions
Last week, the House suspended the rules to pass 14 measures, including legislation to rescind funding for National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, preventing the interstate commerce of animal crush videos and expressing support for Family Literacy week. For vote tallies, click here (roll call vote #'s 448-457, 459-60, 462 & 464).
Other Big News
The ethical woes of Congressman Charlie Rangel continue as the House Committee on Standards and Official conduct announced last Thursday that he had broken ethics rules. The Ethics Committee will produce more detailed charges this week and the possibility of a trial looms large.
The issue of race reared its head in Washington last week after the quick firing of Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod for remarks taken out of contest at an NAACP event last March. The selective clips were racially charged, but taken in their entirety show a tale of redemption. The White House immediately apologized and offered her a promotion. Sherrod is still considering the offer.
DC may be a town where you never say never, but it looks as though a cap and trade style energy bill is likely down for the count.
The People's House Politics Extra! (99 days until the 2010 Midterm Election)
Top election handicapper Charlie Cook was one of the first to predict a likely takeover of the House by Republicans. Here he takes a look at things from the Democrat point of view.
All politics may be local, but this charge coming from the treasurer of the Republican National Committee that the party failed to report $7 million in debt to the Federal Election Commission could sully the national party organizations brand and limit their reach when helping candidates.
Floor Action this week
There are only 21 days left on the legislative calendar for the House of Representatives.
H.R. 5822- Department of Veterans Affairs Appropriations- $141 billion for VA programs and military construction in FY 2011.
H.R. ____ -Department of Transportation and Housing & Urban Development Appropriations -$126.4 billion for FY 2011.
Battle continues over the reach and price tag of the "war supplemental" funding bill.
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