Should DC have Voting Rights? What's up in Washington D.C.? R&P Report ...

We received the following from National Write Your Congressman ...

Action Alert
DC Voting Rights

The House of Representatives is expected to consider legislation that would grant Washington DC residents a voting member of Congress. House Majority Leader released a statement announcing his intention to bring the DC Voting Rights Act to the House Floor next week. Supporters of the measure say it is an injustice to deny Americans living in our nation's capital full voting representation in Congress. Opponents of the measure say that the bill changed dramatically when the Senate added an amendment to its D.C. Voting Rights bill that would force the District of Columbia to weaken its gun control laws.

Do you support the DC Voting Rights Act?

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DC Voting Rights:
http://capwiz.com/nwyc/issues/alert/?alertid=14946596

Here's the R&P Report from National Write Your Congressman for the week of April 19, 2010 ...

http://www.nwyc.com/
Vol. 14 No. 2-11
Monday, April 19, 2010

REVIEW

Nuclear Treaty: Republicans say their strong concerns about President Obama’s Nuclear Posture Review, particularly the decision to specifically outline cases in which the U.S. would not use nuclear weapons against an adversary, could complicate the approval of a new arms control treaty.

Some lawmakers say the longstanding, bipartisan U.S. policy of ambiguity about the use of nuclear weapons better serves the nation and that they might use the ratification process for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), recently signed by the U.S. and Russia, as a lever to push the administration to clarify the outcome of its nuclear review.

Veterans’ Health Coverage: The Senate passed a measure that would clarify that health benefits provided by the VA qualify as minimum coverage under the new health care law. It would also apply to dependents of veterans who receive their health insurance coverage through VA programs. (S.3162)

Pentagon Spending: Leaders of the House Armed Services Committee are attempting to bolster oversight of the Pentagon’s procurement bureaucracy in a measure to rein in spending on services other than weapons, such as maintenance and logistics. The bill aims to improve the Pentagon’s efficiency with better cost estimates and more accountability. (H.R.5013)

Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling - Climate Change: President Obama approved a five-year plan for energy development on the outer continental shelf that would allow new oil and gas leasing in federal waters off the shores of the mid-Atlantic and southeastern U.S. and in the Gulf of Mexico. It comes as a group of senators completes the draft of a climate change bill that would cut greenhouse gases, put a new “carbon fee” on gasoline and overhaul the nation’s energy economy. To voice your opinion on this issue, go to www.nwyc.com.

Panel Backs Bills for Legal U.S. Immigrants: A Senate panel approved a pair of measures to allow immigrants living legally in the U.S. to work overseas under certain circumstances without preventing their immigration status from being adjusted to lawful permanent residency.

PREVIEW

Gun Control: The House will consider a bill that could include language that would roll back many of D.C.’s gun control laws, including a repeal of restriction on semiautomatic weapons.
To voice your opinion on this issue, go to www.nwyc.com.

Financial Industry Overhaul: Senators are expected to consider legislation that would overhaul the nation's financial industry. GOP senators could filibuster against the motion to bring up the measure because of language that they say opens the door, and sets aside funds, to future bailouts of failing financial firms.

Bank Tax: The Senate Finance Chairman, Max Baucus (D-MT) is adding a $90 billion bank tax proposal to the mix of potential budgetary offsets for upcoming bills in Congress. The first hearing will be April 20.

Greenhouse Gas Caps: After almost six months of negotiations, Sen. John Kerry’s (D-MA) climate change bill appears set to be unveiled on April 26. It is expected to compete with a bipartisan carbon capping bill (S.2877). Under both bills, polluters would have to buy emissions allowances.

Campaign Spending: Democrats are expected to unveil legislation that would impose stringent disclosure requirements for such expenditures and prevent money from being funneled anonymously to shell groups. The bill is a reaction to a recent Supreme Court decision.

The Week Ahead: The Senate is preparing for a fight over bank regulation. The House is expected to consider voting rights for the D.C.Go to http://www.spesend.net/SpeClicks.aspx?X=2R0QE581HVCDD4MS06W2WV for complete review.

Click here to view the R&P Report as a PDF

Robin Tucker