The R&P Report for Monday, January 24, 2011 ...

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www.nwyc.com

Vol. 15 No. 2
Monday, January 24, 2011

The 112Th Congress is now in session. It’s leaders include:

• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
• Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
• 53rd Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-OH)
• House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor (R-VA)
• House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
  
  

REVIEW

Memorial Observances: After a week long pause to reflect on the shootings in Arizona that left six dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) critically injured, the House reconvened on Monday last week. The Senate remained on recess until Jan. 25.

Repealing the Health Care Law: After seven hours of debate, the House passed a measure (245-189) to repeal the health care law. The bill goes next to the Senate, where it is not expected to reach the floor of the Democrat–led chamber. President Obama has vowed to veto the repeal. Lawmakers also passed a resolution calling for legislation to replace the health care law. (H.R.2)

Regulatory Reform: President Obama passed an executive order that requires federal agencies to review health and safety regulations to determine if they are too burdensome on businesses, in which case they may be changed or repealed. The President sent two memorandums directing enforcement agencies to make compliance information easily accessible online and to look for ways to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses. While Republicans had hoped to take the lead in regulatory reform, and say this proposal is remarkably similar to theirs, most are praising the move.

Stop the Overprinting: The House considered a bill that would eliminate a current requirement that copies of all bills and resolutions introduced by members of Congress automatically be printed. It would require that bills and resolutions be made available in electronic format accessible on the Internet and printed at members’ request. (H.R.292)

Mine Safety: Democratic lawmakers in the House called for passage of stricter mine safety regulations after a preliminary report blamed the fatal explosion at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine on a series of safety violations.

PREVIEW

House Tax Reporting: The House and Senate plan to considered separate measures that would repeal the 1099 requirement in the health care law that calls for businesses to report to the IRS any payment over $600 made to a vendor. The requirement is estimated to bring in $19.2 billion over 10 years. The Senate’s repeal draft bill would include an offset of $39 billion in spending rescission's. ( H.R.4)

Spending Limits: The House is expected to vote on a resolution that would require the Budget Chairman, Paul Ryan (R-WI) to move toward setting non-security discretionary spending limits at fiscal 2008 levels. Democrats criticized the GOP rule, which they say would give Rep. Ryan too much power. Republicans countered that the authority was necessary to set enforceable spending limits since Congress failed to enact a budget resolution for fiscal 2011.

Tax Code Overhaul: The House Ways and Means committee has begun a series of hearings to tackle what could be the most significant corporate and individual tax overhaul in 25 years. Under the microscope are corporations that outsource jobs overseas and tax breaks for big oil and gas companies.

Medical Malpractice: The House is expected to address legislation that would revamp the medical malpractice liability system. Many GOP members blame it for increasing health care costs, while many Democrats says patients deserve to be compensated when they have been injured at the hands of their physicians.

Reducing Federal Spending: Lawmakers in the House are preparing a measure that would reduce federal spending by $2.5 trillion over 10 years,

The Week Ahead: The House will consider medical malpractice legislation. The Senate is expected to address the 1099 issue as it returns to Capitol Hill.

The Senate and House meet in a joint session Tuesday night to hear President Obama’s State of the Union speech.

The House this week considers a resolution to reduce fiscal 2011 appropriations at least to fiscal 2008 levels. The House also considers a bill to end public financing of presidential campaigns and party nominating conventions.

House and Senate committees hold hearings on the health care overhaul.

The Senate could continue debate on an overhaul of its rules, including those on filibusters, which the chamber had discussed before it recessed Jan. 5. Look for your action alert later today!

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Thank you for being a responsible American; your voice is making a difference.

The year 2011 will be an interesting year for public policy at all levels, local, regional, state and Federal. At the Federal and State levels, we will likely continue to see the Tea Party movement to unfold. However, they appear focused more on Federal, than local issues.

At the State and local levels, the budget process will be extremely tight in 2011. In our local community of Cedar Rapids:

• The Home Rule Charter is up for review for the City of Cedar Rapids
• We will have redistricting across the State of Iowa. Iowa will lose a U.S. House member for the 2012 election
• The City's FY 12 budget will be discussed heavily in the month of February
• Changes to Chapter 69 of the municipal code have been recommended by the local civil rights commission
• The City of Cedar Rapids will likely look to extend the Local Option Sales Tax for 20 years with a proposed May vote
• Some in the City suggest that the City should revert back to our old form of government
• The City will have elections in November for District 2, 4 and one at-large position

Robin Tucker