Jack took to the floor today during the debate over H.R. 5522. The bill, which would regulate combustible dust standards, was drafted after the February 7th explosion at the Imperial Sugar Refinery in Port Wentworth. While Port Wentworth sits just outside the First District, Jack represented the area for a long time and many employees are Jack’s constituents.
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The Federal Reserve has announced it’s cutting the interest rate by .25% making it 2%.
The full release is available here.
Speaker Pelosi claims to be holding off on considering the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, “until we pass a legislative package for jobs and economic growth here at home, it will be extremely difficult to approve any trade legislation.” (“Pelosi: Economic Aid Must Come Before Colombia Vote” CongressDailyPM, 4/23/08). Is she admitting that the “stimulus” Congress passed earlier this year won’t do that. If Speaker Pelosi is serious about creating jobs and economic growth, then Congress should pass the Colombia FTA, make the Bush tax cuts permanent, and do something to alievate the pain we’re all feeling at the pump.
The opening paragraph of today’s article in Roll Call sums up the last year of the debate on Iraq:
“A year and a half after voters’ frustrations over the Iraq War carried Democrats to victory in Congress, the last solid opportunity for the party to change the direction of the conflict appears likely to pass with only token attempts to bring it to an end.”
Rather than answer the call of the left-wing groups that swept them into power, Democrats are offering up no real effort to bring the Iraq war to a close. They’re in the driver’s seat, they hold the power yet all they do is blame Republicans.
The article points out that the last significant debate on Iraq (last February in the Senate) occurred when, “Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) only brought [it] up as a way to assuage anti-war crusader, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.).”
Perhaps these leaders are finally realizing that we’re making progress in Iraq. Perhaps they’re realizing that their campaign promises were unrealistic. In either case, it’s starting to show and one’s got to wonder how they’re going to energize their, “angry, far-left base” this year.
To read the full article, click here.
Recent press reports have indicated that, under the direction of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Appropriations Chairman David Obey intends to bypass the Rules of the House and take the supplemental straight to the floor without vetting the bill through the Appropriations Committee. That would free Democrats from having to face tough votes and answer questions by blocking any ability for amendments or motions to recommit. In essence, it would protect the bill from having to stand up to the same scrutiny and transparency to which spending bills should be subject.
Today’s CongressDailyAM, contains a report of a letter sent by House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Jerry Lewis to Obey in which he said:
“Any attempt to bypass the normal supplemental appropriations process will be strongly opposed by Republican members of the committee. The American people deserve and expect a fair and transparent legislative process, not one rife with procedural ticks and loopholes designed to gag opposing and alternative views.” (full story here)
This bill is expected to total in excess of 20% of the regular discretionary spending provided last year for the entire federal government. Don’t you think it deserves a little transparency?
To give you a little history, Congress has passed 36 emergency supplemental appropriations bills since 1989. Of those, seven did not go through a mark-up of the House Appropriations Committee but were developed with bipartisan input and agreement by both parties. They were all in response to unique circumstances that warranted a rapid response such as post-9/11 recovery, Hurricane Katrina, and unexpected shortfalls during Operation Desert Storm.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
The Department of Energy just launched a new feature on their website to give folks tips on how to save energy throughout your day. It’s pretty neat. Check it out here.
From their release:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today launched a new internet feature which provides tips to consumers on how to make everyday Earth Day by making smart energy choices to save money while protecting the environment. The interactive web page, at www.energy.gov, shows consumers steps to use less energy with household electronics, lighting, and appliances to save on monthly bills and how to avoid wasting energy by improving the energy efficiency of their homes and cars.
The site also features the Department’s work to develop cleaner, more affordable, diverse, reliable and sustainable energy sources supporting the President’s goal to stop the growth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 while meeting increasing energy demands. DOE and its seventeen world class National Laboratories, in partnership with private industry and universities, perform cutting-edge research to meet these challenges, developing innovative energy solutions in areas such as cellulosic biofuels, solar, geothermal, nuclear, and clean coal power. Other areas of emphasis highlighted include DOE’s work to make a smart and efficient electric transmission grid, make homes, buildings and industrial sites more energy efficient, and reduce dependence on oil with Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles and hydrogen-powered cars.
In case you missed it, the Savannah Morning News has a great editorial today about why we Speaker Pelosi should stop blocking the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. As you may recall, she had to change house rules to prevent a vote on the measure that would level the playing field for American exports into Colombia and help stabilize a crucial ally that can help stem the growing power of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez.
From the editorial:
“SPEAKER OF the House Nancy Pelosi should stop playing politics with a measure that could level the playing field for trade between the United States and Colombia…
“A permanent free trade agreement proposed by President Bush would end that disparity and make American products cheaper to buy in Colombia…
“the Colombian Free Trade Agreement would do more than bolster this complementary trade - it could help stem the tide of anti-American sentiment in this hemisphere. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, a friend of the U.S., has worked diligently to rein in illegal drugs and government corruption…
“A stable Colombia could then act as a bulwark against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, as well as socialist leaders in Chile, Bolivia and Brazil. What’s more, Republicans are not the only ones calling for free trade with Colombia…”
To read the full article, click here.
For more information on the agreement, check out the U.S. Trade Representative’s website here.
Oscar Arboleda Palacio, Nancy Pelosi’s counterpart in the Colombian House of Representatives, sent her a letter today calling on her to pass the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. In the letter, Speaker Palacio says:
“The decision of the United States House of Representatives to stay approval of the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia is a blow to the Colombian economy, and affords colonial treatment to us that is unbefitting one of the United States’ staunchest allies.
“The Democratic Party’s decision to involve Colombia in an internal electoral process is unfair, as national policy should rightly be placed above partisan considerations.
“The argument that signing the FTA puts union leaders and workers at risk is even more seriously erroneous, given that under the framework of the Democratic Security Policy, Colombia has made great efforts to prevent crimes of that nature from occurring. The numbers speak for themselves: while 196 union workers were murdered in 2002, only 26 such deaths occurred in 2007. Our goal is to put an end to this scourge and achieve a prosperous, peaceful, developed nation with social justice.
“In order to reach those goals, generate legitimate employment, and strengthen our economy, Madam Speaker, we require the decisive support and cooperation of our largest trade partner. Colombia’s recent history is painful because hundreds of Colombians have sacrificed their lives in the war on terrorism and drug trafficking, both of which are stoked by consumer nations.
“At this time Colombia needs your invaluable cooperation in the process of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.”
It seems strange that the Speaker of the House in a nation Democrats consider too backward for us to form this agreement with would be the one who puts policy before politics. Maybe it’s not Colombia that backwards, maybe it’s House leadership.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
In today’s The Hill, it is revealed that conservative Democrats continued defiance of House leadership includes their desire to block illegal immigrants from getting tax breaks. According to the article:
“Twenty-one Democrats voted for the measure that would have changed the tax bill to prevent illegal immigrants from getting tax breaks.” (click here for full article)
The article goes on:
“The Republican motion would have tried to stop illegal immigrants from claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit and sought to block subsidies from going to so-called ’sanctuary cities’ that don’t enforce immigration laws.”
Not only did Democrat leaders block Republican efforts to cut off those who are in our country illegally from benefitting from the hard earned tax dollars of the American people, they had to break their own rules to do it!
“The tie vote came with some procedural wrangling. The vote was held open with the clock at 0:00 as the narrow margin fluctuated by a vote or two…The vote was gaveled closed by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) in the Speaker’s chair after someone on the Democratic side shouted, ‘Shut it down, Sheila.’”
For a list of members who voted in favor of allowing illegal immigrants to recieve tax benefits, check out the “Nays” on this page.
According to CongressDaily, the House Administration Committee proposed that Federal Express be used to deliver ballots from military and overseas voters. This comes on the heels of an Election Assistance Commission report that many of their votes are not counted because they arrive too late.
Dan Lungren (R/CA) got it right by saying, “it isn’t rocket science.” Everyone’s vote should be counted, especially those serving our Nation overseas. While our home state loyalties may go to UPS, nothing should stand in the way of these people’s voices being heard.
Democrats who refuse to allow up or down votes on nominees to serve on the Federal Elections Commission scored a victory on Monday. So exasperated by the log jam Robert Lenhard, a nominee (one of theirs no less) whose recess appointment expired four months ago, gave up and went to the private sector.
Not only is the FEC which governs federal elections still two seats short of have a quorum call to issue guidance or levy fines but the clock is running out. According to Lenhard:
“There are two windows in which the president and leadership can reach a resolve on the nominees: One is to get something done prior to [Congress] going out on recess in June…after that it will be sometime in March of the next administration.” (quote from today’s Roll Call)
That means if Democrat senators continue to block these nominations, federal elections could go unmonitored and the laws unenforced through the election. Doesn’t that seem a little opportunistic and George Soros and the 527s are reving up to go into high gear?
In another sign of their ineffective leadership, a spitting contest between two Democrat chairmen is holding up a bill considered a “high priority” by Speaker Pelosi and Democrat leaders.
In today’s The Hill, it’s reported that:
“Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.), who has clashed with other powerful Democrats on data security and energy legislation, is engaged in yet another turf battle. This time Dingell has run up against Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and their jurisdictional dispute has stalled tobacco legislation that Democratic leaders consider a high priority.” (full article here)
This is just one more example of how Democrats are letting turf battles and enlarged egos get in the way of legislating. Regardless of the merit (or lack thereof) of the legislation, they can’t get beyond the sqabbling to bring something of substance up for a vote. Instead, we name post office after post office, and pass do-nothing legislation night after night just to buy leadership time to soothe and to wrangle their caucus enough to have a vote turn out their way.
“Republicans Believe Every Day Is The Fourth Of July, But Democrats Believe Every Day Is April 15.” - Ronald Reagan
This is the time of year that we all start thinking of that song “Taxman” and begruding the IRS for making April 15th the unhappiest day of the year but they aren’t all bad over there.
In today’s Roll Call, it is reported that the IRS is scrutinizing political activity by groups parading as “social welfare” organizations. According to the article:
“the [IRS] is taking a ‘close look’ at allegations involving excessive political activity, particularly by ’social welfare’ organizations that register under section 501(c)(4) of the federal tax code.”
As previously reported here (and here) the FEC is hampered from its rulings by Democrats who have placed holds on nominees. Rather than allow these folks an up or down vote, Democrats including presidential candidate Barack Obama and former campaign finance reform champion Russ Feingold are blocking any consideration of the nomines like Hans Von Spakovsky.
These holds smack of election year politics. At least the IRS is stepping up to fill in the gap.
