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REVIEW
UN Disabilities Treaty
Defeated: A vote to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons With Disabilities fell short in the Senate, with the measure getting six
votes less than the 67 needed for ratification. Thirty-eight Republicans voted
against the treaty and eight voted in favor of it. While most Republican
lawmakers felt the treaty threatened U.S. sovereignty, most Democrats said the
treaty would promote equal rights for disabled people around the
world.
Fiscal Cliff Talks: The stalled talks
between the White House and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) have resumed as a
small but growing number of Republicans have indicated a willingness to raise
tax rates on the wealthy. White House officials have indicated they would not
insist on raising the top rate all the way back to the Clinton-era level of 39.6
percent.
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Here to express
your opinion on this issue.
Defense Authorization Passes in
Senate: The Senate passed a bipartisan defense authorization
measure, 98-0, setting up a House-Senate conference that must settle differences
before the new Congress convenes in January. The Senate bill contained 100
amendments. The House passed its version in May. The legislation would authorize
discretionary funds for defense activities, for the base Defense Department
budget, for Overseas Contingency Operations and for Department of Energy and
other national security programs related to nuclear safety. The White House has
threatened to veto the legislation because it would block Air Force personnel
and aircraft cuts and prohibit enrollment fees for the military health insurance
program. (H.R.4310)
(S.3254)
Bill to Rid Law of Word 'Lunatic' Sent to President:
The House passed a bill that would remove all
references to the word “lunatic” from U.S. Code with the goal of refining legal
language and increasing sensitivity to mental illness. (S.2367)
Stop Trading on Congressional
Knowledge: The House passed a bill that would push back the
deadline for the online disclosure of information federal employees are required
to report on certain financial transactions. Under the Stop Trading on
Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) law, lawmakers and some top executive branch
employees must report certain financial information annually and upload reports
of stock trades exceeding $1,000 within 45 days on a public database. The date
would change from Dec. 8 to April 15. (H.R.6634)
Farm Bill: Agriculture
committees remain apart on key elements of a farm bill compromise, but are
working toward a broad deficit-reduction agreement. (H.R.2419)
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Here to express
your opinion on this issue.
Trade with Russia: The Senate passed a
bill to authorize the extension normal trade relations with the Russian
Federation and Moldova and to require reports on the compliance of the Russian
Federation with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization. (H.R.6156)
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PREVIEW
Lawmakers Reid Wants to Change Filibuster Rules:
Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-NV), is urging
Congress to do away with the 60-vote threshold rule that applies to filibusters
in the Senate.
Payroll Tax Extensions: Congress is
considering the White House request for a continuation of the 2 percent payroll
tax holiday.
Marijuana Sparks States' Rights
Debate: A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has
introduced legislation to ensure that states can move forward with their
marijuana laws without federal interference. The bill would prevent a federal
statute from pre-empting state laws on marijuana. (H.R.6606)
Only Black in Senate to Replace
DeMint?: GOP Gov. Nikki Haley will name retiring Sen. Jim
DeMint’s replacement. Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC) is a likely successor. He's a
down-the-line conservative with support from both the establishment and tea
party wings. He'd be the only African-American serving in the Senate, and the
first black politician to hold a Senate seat in the South since
Reconstruction.
The
Week Ahead:
MONDAY, DECEMBER 10TH
On Monday, no votes are expected.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at
12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will
be posted until 6:30 p.m.
Motion to go to Conference on H.R.
4310 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 and
Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12TH, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On
Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for
legislative business.
On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last
votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.
On Friday, no votes are expected.
Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:
1) H.R.
6190 - Asthma Inhalers Relief Act of 2012
2) H.R.
5817 - Eliminate Privacy Notice Confusion Act, as amended
3) S.
3542 - No-Hassle Flying Act of 2012 4) S.
1998 - DART Act, as amended 5) H.R.
6364 - Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act, to be amended
6) H.R.
4053 - Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of
2012 7) S.
3315 - GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2012 8) S.
1379 - D.C. Courts and Public Defender Service Act of 2011
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