This Week in the People's House
10/4/2010
By Bobby Frederick
It's all over but the (election day) shouting as House Democrats elected to adjourn a week earlier than scheduled, presumably to give their most vulnerable members a chance to break from Washington and defend their performance back in their respective congressional districts.
Last week, the House passed legislation providing health benefits for 9/11 first responders, a measure that makes it easier to investigate Chinese currency manipulation, and an authorization for intelligence programs. Finally a continuing resolution (CR) was passed to keep the government funded through December 3, 2010. What is the point of a CR, you ask? Because Congress has not passed any of its 12 appropriations bills this year, the CR was needed to prevent a shutdown of the government, the last of which occurred in 1995.
This does mean that Congress must return after the election to address these spending bills as well as the expiring tax cuts.
Convening on Tuesday, September 28th (first vote on Wednesday, September 29nd at 11:42 a.m.) and adjourning in the early morning hours of Thursday, September 30th (last vote at 12:25 a.m.) the House was in session for a total of 27 hours and 11 minutes, registering 21 recorded votes for the week.
Balance of the House: 433 members: 255 Democrats, 178 Republicans and two vacancies (NY-29 & IN-3). Republicans need to pick up 39 seats to take control of the majority in the House.
Last Week's Action
Suspension of the Rules: The House passed ten suspension bills by recorded vote last week (requiring http://www.vetsuccess.gov/ to be linked to va.gov, requiring life insurance companies to provide advice to beneficiaries of veterans, calling on Japan to address their abduction and retention of U.S. minors, creating a research program for rare earth materials, requiring federal jobs training programs to focus on high demand fields, preventing settled medical debts from appearing on credit reports, authorizing NASA programs through 2013, requiring federal documents to include plain language, prohibiting state election officials from working on federal campaigns, grants for public education in Guam about their political status). Roll Call Votes 551-53, 555-57, 561-63 &565 click here).
Bush Tax Cuts: Minority Leader John Boehner decided to turn a vote on the adjournment resolution into a referendum on tax cuts. During a floor speech, Boehner urged his colleagues to vote "no" on adjourning so that Congress could work on extending the Bush tax cuts. Thirty-nine Democrats joined 170 Republicans, but the adjournment barely squeaked by 210-209, allowing Republicans to paint any Democrat voting "yes" as THE deciding vote in the debate.
RULE BILLS: H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, introduced by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).
Quick Summary- Provides monitoring and health care services to 9/11 first responders with ailments related to exposure from the terrorist attack. It also reestablishes the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost of the provisions to be $7.4 billion. The "pay-for" for this bill would be achieved by altering the tax rules made by U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies.
During debate, Democrats maintained that this bill was the right thing to do, it would be paid for by closing a tax loophole, and that Republicans were merely looking for excuses to vote against it. Republicans countered by expressing support for the substance of the bill while criticizing the choice between helping 9/11 workers and raising taxes on companies that could lead to even more job loss.
H.R. 847 passed 268-160 (Voting Yes- 251 D's & 17 R's : Voting No-3 D's & 157 R's) and now must be considered by the Senate.
-H.R. 2378, the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, introduced by Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH)
Quick Summary- Many economists believe that China is undervaluing its currency leading to job loss and reduced GDP in the U.S. This bill would essentially pave the way for the Commerce Department to impose countervailing duties on China.
During Debate, supporters maintained that Congressional action was needed because Administration has yet to act on addressing this trade deficit and that this bill was good first step in getting China to appreciate the value of their currency. Meanwhile, opponents questioned whether or not this would result in more U.S. jobs and feared that this action would spark a trade war with China.
In a showing of bipartisanship that some argue is increasingly rare, H.R. 2378 passed 348-79(Voting Yes- 249 D's & 99 R's : Voting No- 5 D's & 74 R's), but faces an uncertain future in the Senate.
-H.R. 2701, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, introduced by Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX).
Quick Summary: This measure passed the House back in February, but had stalled over in the Senate. The Senate amended the bill and sent it back to the House. This measure authorizes classified amounts for intelligence programs and requires the president to brief and inform all members of the intelligence committees within 180 days of most intelligence activities.
During debate, Democrats touted the first intelligence authorization in five years as a t success that solidifies Congress' role in intelligence proceedings. Republicans argued that this bill does nothing to prevent Guantanamo detainees from being transferred to the U.S. and also fails to address the issue of mirandizing terrorist suspects.
H.R. 2701 passed 244-181 (Voting Yes- 243 D's & 1 R : Voting No- 9 D's & 172 R's) and has been sent to President Obama to be signed into law.
-H.R. 3081, the Continuing Appropriations for FY 2011 introduced by Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY).
Quick Summary- Because Congress did not clear any regular appropriations bills this year, this measure keeps the federal government funded through December 3, 2010.
There was fairly little debate on H.R. 3081 because the hour was nearing midnight and members knew this was the last must-pass action before hitting the campaign trail for a month.
H.R. 3081 passed 228-194 (Voting Yes- 227 D's & 1 R : Voting No- 22 D's & 172 R's) and was signed into law by President Obama on September 30, 2010.
Other Big News
-Liberals held their "One Nation" event in Washington D.C. this past weekend. It had been billed as a response to conservative Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally last August. According to the AP, Beck's rally drew more attendees, but the real question is which base will be the most energized 30 days from now?
-With recent chatter suggesting that al-Qa'ida continues to plan terrorist attacks, the U.S. State Department, on October 3rd, issued an alert for American citizens traveling to Europe.
-Remember the "Flash Crash" of May 6th that caused the DOW to drop nearly 1,000 points? Would you believe it was caused by one single trade?
-The last jobs report before the election is due out on Friday, October 8th. Unemployment currently sits at 9.6 percent.
-Rahm Emanuel stepped down as White House Chief-of-Staff to presumably run for mayor of Chicago. SNL had fun covering this story.
The People's House Political Extra (29 Days Out Edition)
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While Congress punted on the question of tax cuts, it was reported this week that taxes went up in 29 states last year. Nationwide, tax increases were at the highest levels in 30 years.
Watch for this to become an issue, especially for Democrats who voted to adjourn without acting on the tax cuts.-The Tea Party is out to get incumbents and they continue to pick-up steam.
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The latest polls and
projections for you election junkies.-Could the sun be
shining brighter on the election prospects for House Democrats? On paper, things still look good for R's, but who knows what kind of surprises October will bring? That's why they play the game.-
Which brings me to my last point...Campaign season is in full swing and with Congress in recess, hill staff will soon begin (if they have not already) descending into various districts around the country. They will be teaming up with local volunteers to rack up phone calls and pound the pavement in support of candidates that they believe represent the best shot for our future. These people will be knocking on your doors and calling your homes. It will get annoying. They will be nice to you. They will be cordial with you. And they will completely understand if talking to them is the last thing you want to do. But they will continue to walk because their enthusiasm is hard to curb. They will continue to dial because getting each and every vote out counts. And I promise that 30 days from now, it will quiet down again. The clock will reset and there will be 735 days until the 2012 Presidential Election!
This Week in the People's House
