The R&P Report from National Write Your Congressman...
REVIEW
Short-Term Government Funding: Lawmakers in the House are moving ahead with another short-term continuing resolution (CR) that would keep federal agencies running past March 18, when the current spending law expires. Republicans and Democrats are able to agree on only two things in the current appropriations debate: Congress should avoid a government shutdown, and funding should be reduced in some areas. Beyond that, lawmakers have been unable to reach an agreement on how to fund the government through the end of September. The Senate defeated the current CR (H.R.1) by a vote of 44-56.
Spy Agencies: The House Intelligence Committee approved its annual authorization legislation that would set policies and spending for federal intelligence agencies. The bill seeks to limit leaks of classified information. In response to government information that appeared on the website WikiLeaks, the measure aims to make it more difficult to leak information to the public, other governments or rogue agents. The cost of the bill is classified. (H.R.754)
EPA Overreach?: Lawmakers have accused the Environmental Protection Agency of regulatory overreach and indifference to farmers as the agency toughens air quality rules on particulates. In one concession, the EPA said dairies would not be required to develop plans to contain large-scale milk spills. The agency is also expected to approve a blend of 15 percent ethanol in motor fuels for most U.S. vehicles, expanding biofuel markets.
FHA Program Termination: The House passed a measure that would permanently cancel funding for the Federal Housing Administration Refinancing Program which allows underwater borrowers who are current on their loans to refinance into an FHA-insured mortgage if their lender agrees to write off at least 10 percent of their principal. The bill goes next to the Senate. (H.R.830)
Debit Card Fees: Hundreds of small-business owners stormed Capitol Hill in an effort to sink a bipartisan draft bill that that would delay limits on debit card fees charged by banks.
PREVIEW
Rewriting No Child Left Behind:
A group Suspected Terrorist Detainees: Lawmakers in the House and Senate are considering legislation that would require all future detainees to be held in military, not civilian, custody unless the Secretary of Defense explicitly granted a waiver. That provision is aimed at limiting the likelihood of criminal trials in civilian courts, even for terror suspects detained within the U.S. The House version would bar families of current Guantánamo detainees from visiting them. The Senate version would not.
Pentagon Programs Funding Squeeze: In a draft bill, the Senate Budget Committee delivered a bipartisan message to the Defense and State departments that called for budget cuts even in the midst of war to help address the national debt.
2012 Budget Cuts: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), chairman of the House Budget Committee, announced he will unveil a fiscal 2012 budget resolution next month. The measure is expected to propose changes to entitlement programs — possibly including Medicaid and Medicare — that most experts agree are the major drivers behind the ballooning federal deficit. For more information and to voice your opinion on this issue, click here.
Public Broadcasting Corporation Funding: Lawmakers are considering a Senate Democratic amendment to a House-passed spending bill that would provide $445 million in funding to the PBC for fiscal 2013. The House-passed spending bill would zero out CPB funding for fiscal 2013. Democratic lawmakers trying to fend off GOP efforts to ban funding for public broadcasting say their work was made tougher when a video surfaced this week showing an National Public Radio executive disparaging the GOP and tea party members. (H.R.1) Click here to voice your opinion on this issue.
The Week Ahead: The House is expected to once again take the lead on a short-term CR aimed at preventing a government shutdown which the Senate would have to clear before the current extension expires by week’s end. The Senate is scheduled to vote on a judicial nomination and a small business technology bill before addressing the CR.
Locally, what's happening in government affairs?
- Look for Mayor Ron Corbett and the City Council to announce the Charter Review Commission at the first City Council meeting in April. The City of Cedar Rapids is seeking applicants to fill the final positions for the proposed 13 member citizen board/commission
- Debate continues in Iowa over enforcing records, meeting laws - The Gazette
DES MOINES — Attorney General Tom Miller says people who criticize his enforcement of Iowa’s Public Records and Open Meetings laws as too lax are mistaken...
State of Iowa will honor final WWI vet to pass: Frank Woodruff Buckles
Half-staff flags to honor Cpl. Frank Buckles, World War I vets - WaterlooCedarFalls Courier
Mar 14, 2011 ... Terry Branstad has ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. until sunset Tuesday in honor ... Buckles was the last known surviving American veteran of World War I. Born in Missouri, Buckles died Feb. ...
Defense.gov News Article: Last American WWI Veteran Dies - American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2011 – Frank Woodruff Buckles, the last surviving American World War I veteran, died yesterday at his ...
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