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To encourage responsible
Americans to use their influence in government to preserve the freedoms set
forth by our Founding Fathers.
REVIEW
Health Care Legislation
Medicare Formula Bill: Thirteen members of the Senate Democratic Caucus voted against a procedural move to call up a bill that would stop cuts to the Medicare formula for paying physicians over the next decade. The tally on the vote to end discussion was 47-53. Those in favor of the bill say it is necessary in order to fairly compensate Medicare physicians. Those against it say the separate Medicare bill is a way to disguise the total cost of health care overhaul legislation. (S.1776)
‘Public Option’- House: House Majority leaders say out of 256 Democrats in the House, they have nearly the number of votes needed to include a “strong” government-run insurance plan in the health care overhaul bill. A majority in the House would be 218 votes. No House Republicans have said they will support any version of the public option. (H.R.3200)
‘Public Option’ - Senate: Discussions in recent days have moved away from a choice between a single government-run insurance plan, as proposed in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee bill (S.1679) and the consumer-owned “co-ops” in the Finance Committee bill. (S.1796)
Antitrust Repeal for Health Insurers: The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would partially repeal the 60-year-old exemption from antitrust law for health insurers. (H.R.3596)
$2.35 Billon AIDS/HIV Bill: The House passed a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and to revise and extend the program for providing care for those with HIV/AIDS. (S.1793)
Consumer Protection Agency: A House committee approved a measure that would create a new federal regulator with broad powers to police large areas of the economy, including credit cards, home mortgages and payday lenders. (H.R.3126)
$680.2 Billion Defense Authorization: The Senate voted to send the fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill to the President, who is expected to sign it despite objections to its funding for a controversial backup jet fighter engine. It also carries an expansion of federal hate crimes law to cover offenses committed on the basis of sexual orientation. (H.R.3326)
Developing Solar Energy: The House passed a measure that would lead to the creation of a federal research strategy for solar energy. The bill would authorize $350 million for the Energy Department in fiscal 2011, rising to $550 million in fiscal 2015, for a total of $2.25 billion over a five-year period. (H.R.3585)
Fighting Pirates: Members of two House committees are at odds over legislative language that would exempt ship crews from legal liability for using force to fight off pirate attacks. (H.R.3619)
PREVIEW
Boosting National Debt Limit to Above $13 Trillion: Senate Majority leaders are considering attaching a debt limit boost to a must-pass spending bill in order to avoid lengthy floor objections from GOP lawmakers over the government’s rising debt. The House already approved a debt limit increase of $925 billion — above the $12.1 trillion ceiling Congress approved as part of the economic stimulus package last February.
$8,000 Homebuyer Credit Vote Expected with Unemployment Bill: Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) said Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) assured him that the amendment to extend an expiring tax credit for first-time homebuyers will get a vote next week when the Senate takes up a measure to extend unemployment benefits. (S.1796) (H.R.3548)
Carbon Emissions Permits: The formula for allocating billions of dollars worth of emissions permits under a cap-and-trade system is expected to be laid out this week by the authors of the Senate’s climate change bill. Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) are expected to include the EPA cost analysis along with the formula. (S.1733)
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