http://www.nwyc.com/Vol. 14 No. 2-31
Monday, December 06, 2010
REVIEW
Congress is currently holding a lame-duck session which includes lawmakers who are not slated to continue to hold office.
GOP Senate Blockade: All 42 Senate Republicans have pledged to vote against bringing any legislation to the floor before the government has been funded for the current fiscal year and Congress deals with expiring 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. The move will effectively keep the Senate from acting on other matters because at least 60 votes are needed to overcome any filibuster against a motion to proceed to a bill.
Middle Class Tax Cuts: The Democrat-led House has voted to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for families making $250,000 or less - but not on incomes above that threshold. The bill would also extend the maximum $1,000 child tax credit and limits on the so-called marriage penalty. It would put a two year “patch” on the AMT and extend expensing rules for small businesses. The total 10-year cost of the measure would be $1.5 trillion. The bill is not expected to get the 60 votes it needs to break a GOP filibuster in the Senate that is now considering the bill. (H.R.4853) Click here to voice your opinion on this issue.
GOP Senate Blockade: All 42 Senate Republicans have pledged to vote against bringing any legislation to the floor before the government has been funded for the current fiscal year and Congress deals with expiring 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. The move will effectively keep the Senate from acting on other matters because at least 60 votes are needed to overcome any filibuster against a motion to proceed to a bill.
Middle Class Tax Cuts: The Democrat-led House has voted to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for families making $250,000 or less - but not on incomes above that threshold. The bill would also extend the maximum $1,000 child tax credit and limits on the so-called marriage penalty. It would put a two year “patch” on the AMT and extend expensing rules for small businesses. The total 10-year cost of the measure would be $1.5 trillion. The bill is not expected to get the 60 votes it needs to break a GOP filibuster in the Senate that is now considering the bill. (H.R.4853) Click here to voice your opinion on this issue.
Child Nutrition: The House passed a sweeping child nutrition bill designed to promote better eating habits and giving the federal government more authority to set standards for food sold on school grounds. The bill passed 264-157, largely along party lines. It has already been approved by the Senate and now advances to the President's desk to be signed into law. (S.3307)
Food Safety: The Senate passed a food safety bill that will extend the powers of the FDA. Language was added to the bill that would exempt small farmers from most of the new regulations. It goes next to the House. (S.510)
Continuing Resolution (CR): The House and the Senate passed legislation to maintain federal appropriations through Dec. 18. The measure was sent to the President for a signature shortly before the last CR expired. Congress has yet to enact any of the
12 appropriations bills for fiscal 2011. Congress is considering options for extending the current funding levels into or through next year — or passing a fiscal 2011 omnibus spending bill.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: As the Armed Services Committee continues to hear testimony about the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” study, it remains unclear whether the measure will advance to the Senate floor. Marine, Air Force and Army chiefs have spoken out in opposition of a quick repeal of a ban on gays serving opening in the military. Most Democrats and the President want to lift the ban. Most Republicans do not, but some GOP votes are needed to pass the bill. Click here to voice your opinion on this issue.
Food Safety: The Senate passed a food safety bill that will extend the powers of the FDA. Language was added to the bill that would exempt small farmers from most of the new regulations. It goes next to the House. (S.510)
Continuing Resolution (CR): The House and the Senate passed legislation to maintain federal appropriations through Dec. 18. The measure was sent to the President for a signature shortly before the last CR expired. Congress has yet to enact any of the
12 appropriations bills for fiscal 2011. Congress is considering options for extending the current funding levels into or through next year — or passing a fiscal 2011 omnibus spending bill.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: As the Armed Services Committee continues to hear testimony about the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” study, it remains unclear whether the measure will advance to the Senate floor. Marine, Air Force and Army chiefs have spoken out in opposition of a quick repeal of a ban on gays serving opening in the military. Most Democrats and the President want to lift the ban. Most Republicans do not, but some GOP votes are needed to pass the bill. Click here to voice your opinion on this issue.
Censuring Rangel: Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) was required to stand in the well of the House as Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) rebuked him for 11 instances of breaking House rules by submitting numerous inaccurate financial disclosure statements and running a campaign office from a property leased as a rent-stabilized residential apartment. The House vote was 333 - 79 in favor of censuring Rep. Rangel with 21 not voting.
Criminal Background Checks: The Senate passed a one-year extension of a program that allows certain volunteer programs to conduct criminal background checks on those who work with children. The program allows fingerprint and background checks for both employees and volunteers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (S.3998)
Criminal Background Checks: The Senate passed a one-year extension of a program that allows certain volunteer programs to conduct criminal background checks on those who work with children. The program allows fingerprint and background checks for both employees and volunteers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (S.3998)
PREVIEW
The Week Ahead: The Senate: is likely to take up the DREAM Act, a bill giving a route to legal status for illegal immigrants’ children who go to college or join the military for two years. Lawmakers will also consider funding measures, a compensation fund for clean-up victims of 9/11 and a bargaining rights bill for police and firefighters. As meetings continue, on the START treaty, it is not expected to be brought to the floor. The House: is expected to deal with constitutional problems with the food safety bill that the Senate passed. All revenue generating bills must originate in the House. The House may correct the problem by sending the measure back to the Senate on another legislative vehicle.
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In news out of Washington D.C. on Monday, CNN Breaking News reported -- Obama: Famework for bipartisan deal would extren all Bush-era tax cuts for two years and jobless benefits for 13 months.
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