January 22, 2010
J.R. Reskovac
Sarah Strup
Appropriations- Debt Limit/Budget
Senate debate continues Friday, but no votes on amendments will occur until next week. Democrats want to use the measure to increase the debt ceiling by $1.9 trillion. The chamber on Thursday rejected an amendment by John Thune (R-SD) to immediately sunset the TARP bank bailout law.
As Senate leaders continue to hash out a deal on amendments to the debt limit bill, Senator Coburn (R-OK) today said he plans to offer a measure rescinding $120 billion in funding by consolidating more than 640 government programs he believes are duplicative.
In a statement, Coburn said the cuts would "alleviate the need to increase the national debt limit," which would rise by $1.9 trillion if the bill is passed. A vote on the amendment would likely come next week, according to his office.
Of the $120 billion in cuts, roughly $100 billion would come from rescinding discretionary funding that has been available for more than two years but not designated for a particular purpose, the statement said.
Additionally, the amendment would rescind $4.1 billion from HHS and direct the department to eliminate and consolidate more than 36 duplicative programs. Another $3.2 billion would be rescinded from the Education Department, while 230 federal education programs would be consolidated or cut.
Washington Outlook
The Senate is set to continue debate on legislation to raise the statutory debt limit, while the House will see the return of two lands measures that stalled on the floor this week.
In the Senate, pending to the debt limit joint resolution (H J Res 45) is a substitute amendment that would increase the debt limit to $14.29 trillion, a $1.9 trillion increase over the limit set in December.
The measure sets up a fight over government spending and broader issues surrounding the federal deficit, with an amendment pending from Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) and ranking Republican Judd Gregg of New Hampshire to establish an 18-member bipartisan fiscal task force. Legislative proposals from the task force would face expedited consideration in Congress. The proposal has drawn opposition from congressional leaders who fear it could undermine the prerogatives of the legislative branch.
The Senate may also tackle pending nominations, with senators girding for a fight over the nomination of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke for a second term. The vote may face a rocky path, with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) facing questions about Bernanke from within his own caucus.
The House will spend a condensed workweek taking up a pair of lands bills that previously failed to pass the chamber under suspension of the rules; an expedited floor procedure that requires a two-thirds majority vote. The first bill (HR 3726) would establish the Castle Nugent National Historic Site in the Virgin Islands. House leaders plan to bring up the legislation under a rule. A second bill from Democrat Walt Minnick (D-ID) would authorize the continued operation of certain water facilities in Idaho wilderness areas. Similar legislation (HR 3538) from Mike Simpson (R-ID) failed to pass under suspension of the rules on January 20.
Legislative action in both chambers will pause Wednesday evening as lawmakers gather in the House chamber for President Obama’s first State of the Union address.
I have attached two documents to the e-mail bearing this report; a calendar of the 2010 Congressional schedule, based on the info posted on the Senate’s and House Majority Leader’s Web sites and the remaining legislative items for the second session of the 111th Congress, as put out in an email from Congressman Steny Hoyer's office.
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Sarah Strup
Capitol Decisions
Suite 675 East
101 Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-737-8727
Fax: 202-638-0353
