> CongressDaily AM for Wednesday, March 11, 2009
>
> --------------------
> CONTENTS
>
> APPROPRIATIONS: SENATE BELATEDLY WRAPS UP FY09 PROCESS
> By Humberto Sanchez and Dan Friedman
>
>
> Almost six months after the beginning of the fiscal year, the Senate
> Tuesday drew a line under the FY09 appropriations process after they
> approved a $410 billion omnibus appropriations bill, sending it to
> President Obama for his signature.
>
> The Senate approved the bill on a voice vote after voting 62-35 to > cut off
> debate. Senate action on the package came after Majority Leader Reid
> postponed a scheduled vote Thursday after realizing he did not have > the 60
> votes needed to invoke cloture. Three Democrats -- Sens. Claire > McCaskill
> of Missouri, Russell Feingold of Wisconsin and Evan Bayh of Indiana --
> voted against cloture. Eight Republicans voted to cut off debate:
> Appropriations ranking member Thad Cochran and Sen. Roger Wicker, > both of
> Mississippi, and Sens. Christopher (Kit) Bond of Missouri, Lisa > Murkowski
> of Alaska, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Richard Shelby of Alabama, > Arlen
> Specter of Pennsylvania and Olympia Snowe of Maine. Of that group, > all but
> Wicker and Snowe are appropriators.
>
> Senate passage also prevented Congress from having to pass another
> continuing resolution. The current CR, which is funding at FY08 levels
> programs covered by the nine FY09 spending bills in the omnibus, > expires at
> midnight tonight.
>
> Three of the appropriations bills -- Defense, Military Construction-> VA and
> Homeland Security -- were included with the CR Congress passed in
> September. The House passed the package last month.
>
> The omnibus fight was tougher than expected for Democrats, Reid
> acknowledged today. "It's been surprising," he said.
>
> The struggle indicates Democrats face a tough fight passing Obama's > FY10
> budget, a fact indicated by both parties' decision to trot out budget
> talking points before completing votes on the omnibus.
>
> At a briefing Tuesday, Minority Leader McConnell and Budget ranking > member
> Judd Gregg said several times the budget "spends too much, taxes too > much
> and borrows too much." Democrats, meanwhile, stepped up accusations > of GOP
> obstructionism. "Saying 'no' to everything is not a way to move this
> country forward," Reid said.
>
> The Democratic National Committee offered a similar take, citing "50 > days
> of GOP obstructionism" since Obama took office. "Republicans in > Washington
> have chosen to follow Rush Limbaugh's obstructionist politics every > step of
> the way," the DNC said in a release.
>
> Senate Democratic leaders Tuesday remained focused on repelling > amendments
> to the omnibus, which would have required the House to vote on the > bill
> again before the president could sign it.
>
> The Senate defeated six amendments, including a bid from Sen. David
> Vitter, R-La., to require Congress to vote on cost-of-living pay > increases,
> which occur automatically. The Senate voted 52-45 to table the > amendment.
>
> Prior to that vote, Reid sought to pass, by unanimous consent, a > similar
> bill as stand-alone legislation.
>
> "By passing this legislation as stand-alone, it can become law without
> threatening completion of this appropriations bill," Reid said.
>
> But Vitter objected and argued that Reid's bill would not likely be
> considered in the House and was just a way to provide political > cover for
> senators to oppose Vitter's amendment.
>
> "The best way to get it into law is to put it in a must-pass bill," he
> said.
>
> The Senate also batted down, 50-47, an amendment from Sen. John Thune,
> R-S.D., to prevent the FCC from using omnibus funds to reinstate the
> Fairness Doctrine, which would force broadcasters to give varied > political
> views equal time.
>
> Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., offered an amendment to extend > authorization
> for the E-Verify program for five years, which was tabled, 50-47. The
> omnibus extends authorization through the end of FY09 for the program,
> which allows employers to check the citizenship status of employees.
>
> An amendment from Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., to strike language > prohibiting
> the use of omnibus funds for the District of Columbia's school voucher
> program before it is reauthorized, which Republicans claim would > kill the
> program, was also rejected, 58-39.
>
> The Senate also defeated two amendments by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas,
> including a proposal to prohibit state attorneys general from > entering into
> contingency fee agreements with experts or outside counsel. The Senate
> rejected the amendment 64-32. The other Cornyn amendment, which failed
> 59-38, would have prohibited omnibus funds from being used to pay > for the
> portion of a Jan. 30 executive order relaxing regulations requiring > federal
> contractors to post signs that non-union workers in union shops can > seek a
> refund of union dues used for political activities.
>
> Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., withdrew his amendment to require the > secretary
> of state to issue a report on investments by foreign companies in the
> energy sector of Iran.
>
> Passage of the bill came after Senate Democratic leaders secured the
> support of Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Bill Nelson, D-Fla., > who had
> both backed away from voting for the package due to language that > would
> loosen restrictions on travel to Cuba. The senators got behind the > omnibus
> after being assured by Treasury Secretary Geithner that the agency > would do
> its best to ensure the provisions would not benefit the regime of > Raul and
> Fidel Castro.
>
> "I would have preferred that the [Cuba] provisions not be in this > bill at
> all, but the assurances that I have received from Secretary Geithner > have
> allayed my most significant concerns and I will vote in favor of the
> omnibus appropriations bill," Menendez said.
>
> Nelson also agreed that the assurances were enough to allow him to > support
> "badly needed operational funding for the U.S. government and so > many other
> important initiatives."
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_3310.php >
> -----
> TRADE: LAWMAKERS MIGHT LOOK FOR OPENINGS FOR GOODS FROM UNCONVENTIONAL
> PLACES
> By Peter Cohn
>
>
> Congress may soon move to eliminate tariffs on goods from war-ravaged
> regions of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Georgia, and could eventually > consider
> easing trade ties with Russia and Kazakhstan, according to key > Democrats.
>
> At a panel organizational meeting Tuesday, House Ways and Means Trade
> Subcommittee Chairman Sander Levin, D-Mich., said his aim was to > "try to
> avoid the polarization that has gripped the nation for the last > decade,"
> noting an "easy tendency to look at trade policies as an either-or
> proposition."
>
> One proposal that blurs partisan lines is a bill from Rep. Chris Van
> Hollen, D-Md., to provide duty-free access for goods produced in
> "Reconstruction Opportunity Zones," encompassing Afghanistan and > border
> regions of Pakistan.
>
> The measure is co-sponsored by Republicans, including Intelligence > ranking
> member Pete Hoekstra, and "the Obama team has pretty much embraced > it," Van
> Hollen said. "We see it as just as much a national security bill as > a trade
> bill."
>
> Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Sens. Maria
> Cantwell, D-Wash., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. It would provide 15 > years of
> duty-free access for goods produced in "ROZs," designed to bolster the
> local economy and counteract terrorism.
>
> The measure was a priority of the Bush administration, but it ran > out of
> time in the 110th Congress, particularly after lengthy negotiations > with
> the domestic textile and apparel industry to exempt sensitive > products such
> as knit fabric, cotton yarn, shirts, socks and underwear.
>
> One domestic group, the National Council of Textile Organizations, > will
> not oppose the bill given its language carving out sensitive > products, NCTO
> President Cass Johnson said.
>
> But the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition is not > completely
> sold. AMTAC spokesman Lloyd Wood said the textile and apparel > exclusions
> were welcome, but prospects for enforcing the measure were murky.
>
> "There are two problems here. One potentially is the rules of origin > being
> followed. And two, things like misclassification, where you claim a > product
> is bathrobes when in reality it's cotton trousers. Enforcement is > going to
> be very difficult," Wood said. "There's more potential for abuse in > the
> rules of origin in Pakistan, where it's easier to manufacture products
> outside the ROZ, or even in other countries, including China."
>
> Afghanistan exports a relatively small amount of textile and apparel
> products to the United States, $3.9 million worth in 2008, according > to the
> Commerce Department. Pakistan is the 7th-largest exporter to the > United
> States, sending $3.1 billion last year.
>
> A spokeswoman for Rep. Bob Etheridge, D-N.C., who represents textile
> interests, said he would be closely examining the bill to ensure it > does
> not negatively affect North Carolina workers. Levin also said further
> examination was necessary. "This is a perfect example that trade > isn't a
> simple issue," he said. "Few trade proposals are win-win. I don't > like that
> word."
>
> The House may move a bill to extend trade preferences to Georgia, > which is
> recovering from its war with Russia last year. At the same time, > Russia is
> still in negotiations to join the World Trade Organization, which > would
> require Congress to vote to establish permanent normal trade > relations with
> Russia.
>
> Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., suggested taking up PNTR for Russia might
> "give us a little bit of additional leverage" with that country. > Levin said
> the Obama administration "has signaled they want to try to review our
> relationship with Russia," which "could be a controversial exercise."
>
> Levin also said Congress may consider PNTR for Kazakhstan, a former > Soviet
> Republic subject to similar Cold War-era restrictions facing Russia. > That
> country is making a bid to join the WTO.
>
> Congress will also have to deal with existing preferences programs > that
> expire Dec. 31. That includes the 132 country-strong Generalized > System of
> Preferences, which provides duty-free access for thousands of > products.
>
> Some of the biggest beneficiaries are countries that have run afoul of
> domestic industry interests, however, such as Thailand, India and > Brazil.
> Similar problems exist with Vietnam's desire to be added to the > program as
> a beneficiary.
>
> There is also the Andean trade preferences program, which also expires
> Dec. 31. The Bush administration suspended Bolivia's eligibility > last year
> after it deemed that country uncooperative in counter-narcotics.
>
> Obama could decide to reinstate Bolivia, but that country's > prospects were
> hurt by its expulsion of a U.S. diplomat Monday. There is also > concern with
> Ecuador's treatment of U.S. companies operating there, expressed in > recent
> days by Chevron Corp. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
>
> Another wild card is the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, which has
> implications for that nation's inclusion in the Andean program. > Republicans
> and some Democrats have argued that it makes little sense to keep > allowing
> Colombian goods into the United States duty-free when passing the
> reciprocal trade pact would eliminate average tariffs on U.S. goods > of 12.5
> percent. The United States exported $11.4 billion worth of goods to
> Colombia in 2008.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_6161.php >
> -----
> LABOR: MODERATE DEMOCRATS START HEARING FROM INTERESTS BACK HOME
> By Kasie Hunt
>
>
> Moderate Senate Democrats will be getting an earful from business and
> labor groups in their home states about the Employee Free Choice Act > when
> they head home for the spring recess next month.
>
> Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said he doesn't spend much time listening to
> national organizations lobbying on card check, but pressure from > home was
> intense. "I've heard from a lot of business people around my state," > he
> said Tuesday.
>
> Wal-Mart is one of the largest employers in Arkansas -- and one of the
> large retail companies that have the most to lose if the legislation
> becomes law and companies lose the ability to demand a secret-ballot
> election before workers can form a union. "They're concerned," Pryor > said.
> "They want us to vote 'no.' "
>
> "We remain opposed to card check because it would effectively > eliminate
> freedom of choice and the right to a secret-ballot election," said > Wal-Mart
> spokeswoman E.R. Anderson. "Our employees should have the right to > make a
> private and informed decision regarding union representation that is > free
> of intimidation and coercion."
>
> Pryor would not say he opposes the bill outright but said > circumstances
> have changed since he supported the measure in 2007. "The economy is > in a
> whole different situation right now," he said.
>
> He said he could look home to find possibilities for compromise, too,
> despite claims that each side's position is set in stone. "There's a > range
> of reasonableness from the business community" in Arkansas, Pryor > said.
>
> Democrats introduced the measure in the House and Senate Tuesday,
> escalating the war of words and sparking speculation about whether > there
> are enough Senate Democrats to overcome a filibuster and, if not, > how the
> bill will change.
>
> "There are some legitimate concerns that the unions have, and now > might be
> a good time to address some of those questions," Pryor said.
>
> Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., another moderate who will be heavily > lobbied by
> business and labor interests, said he would wait to see what came > out of
> the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee before he > made
> any decisions. "We're just starting the legislative process," Warner > said.
> "We'll just have to see how it turns out."
>
> Pryor said changing some of the procedures that govern the National > Labor
> Relations Board to help unions was a possibility. "That system is > tilted a
> little bit toward management right now," he said.
>
> Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Ensign of Nevada > was less
> accommodating. "I am appalled by the Democrats' decision to > introduce this
> bill. I will not rest until this bill is dead," he said.
>
> Majority Leader Reid said the Senate might consider the bill on the > floor
> before the August recess and said his party could overcome a > Republican
> filibuster. Reid made a clear distinction between voting for cloture > and
> voting to pass the bill. "Getting 60 on the procedural aspect of it is
> certainly doable," he said Tuesday.
>
> That tactic has set off alarms in the business community. Voting for
> cloture "is the same as supporting the bill, because EFCA lives or > dies on
> the cloture vote," said Tim Miller, a spokesman for the pro-business > Center
> for Union Facts.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_4419.php >
> -----
> HOMELAND SECURITY: BORDER AGENCY DRAWS FIRE FOR WEAPONS TRAFFIC TO > MEXICO
> By Chris Strohm
>
>
> For years, the Homeland Security Department has been criticized for > not
> doing enough to prevent illegal immigrants and drugs from coming > into the
> country across the southern border. Now the department is under > heavy fire
> for not stopping the flow of illegal weapons from the United States to
> Mexico.
>
> Homeland Security officials told lawmakers Tuesday they are quickly > trying
> to clamp down on arms trafficking into Mexico that is fueling a > bloody war
> between drug cartels and the Mexican government.
>
> According to the Mexican government, about 90 percent of weapons > seized
> from the cartels came illegally from the United States.
>
> One shipment seized in November included 500,000 rounds of > ammunition, 288
> assault rifles, 287 grenades, two grenade launchers and a rocket > launcher
> used to take out tanks, Mexico's ambassador to the United States wrote
> recently in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
>
> U.S. Customs and Border Protection is ramping up its ability to > inspect
> vehicles traveling through checkpoints into Mexico, Jayson Ahern, the
> agency's acting commissioner, told the House Homeland Security
> Appropriations Subcommittee at a hearing Tuesday.
>
> The effort includes using nonintrusive inspection equipment and dogs > to
> find weapons, Ahern said. He added that the department's FY10 budget
> request in April will include initiatives to inspect southbound > traffic.
>
> But lawmakers expressed frustration over the lack of coordination > among
> U.S. agencies to combat arms smuggling.
>
> House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman David > Price,
> D-N.C., demanded a detailed report explaining what CBP is doing, and > what
> Immigration and Customs Enforcement is doing, to address the > situation.
>
> Price said he wants the report to include what kinds of weapons are > being
> smuggled from the United States into Mexico.
>
> Other lawmakers said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
> Explosives, an arm of the Justice Department, lacks enough resources > to
> inspect firearm dealers in the United States.
>
> Ahern said stopping illegal arms smuggling depends on assistance > from the
> Mexican government, especially through inspections at Mexico's border
> checkpoints.
>
> He said after the hearing that CBP is examining what it needs in > terms of
> checkpoint improvements and technology to sustain inspection efforts > of
> southbound traffic over time. He said everything is under > consideration,
> from scanners to personnel.
>
> Feinstein and Senate Majority Whip Durbin want the Senate to ratify > the
> Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and
> Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related
> Materials.
>
> To date, 29 countries have ratified the convention, including Mexico > --
> but not the United States.
>
> Feinstein and Durbin wrote to Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John > Kerry
> and ranking member Richard Lugar asking them to consider the > convention and
> report it to the full Senate.
>
> They said ratification would "provide an unequivocal statement that > the
> United States is serious about stemming the tide of weapons flowing to
> Mexico."
>
> Feinstein asked President Obama in a letter Monday to support > ratification
> of the convention.
>
> "The bottom line is this: Mexican drug cartels are spewing death and
> destruction across large swaths of territory along the U.S.-Mexican > border
> which will inevitably spill over to the American side and threaten > American
> lives," Feinstein wrote.
>
> Lawmakers emphasized at Tuesday's hearing they worry that violence > will
> spread in the United States due to Mexico's drug wars.
>
> "This is a war with potentially devastating consequences for the > United
> States," said Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee ranking > member
> Harold Rogers, R-Ky.
>
> "Don't tell me there's no spillover possibility in the United > States," he
> added. "And yet I don't believe we're taking it seriously."
>
> Ahern said CBP has developed contingency plans under which it would > flow
> more personnel and technology to the border if needed. He declined to
> provide details on the contingency plans to reporters after the > hearing.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_4632.php >
> -----
> JUDICIARY: BUSINESSES LEAD CHARGE AGAINST PATENT CHALLENGE LANGUAGE
> By Andrew Noyes
>
>
> A few little words added to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy's
> patent legislation could spark a controversy among stakeholders if
> testimony before his committee Tuesday is an indicator.
>
> The bill adopts House-passed language from 2007 that extends the > current
> timeline for challenging a granted patent rather than the limitless > window
> approved by Leahy's committee last session. It also adds prior > "public use
> or sale" as a basis for challenging a patent, which some witnesses > believe
> could be a poison pill.
>
> Johnson & Johnson Chief Intellectual Property Counsel Phillip Johnson
> testified on behalf of the Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform. > He
> said components of Leahy's bill would improve patent quality and > spur R&D
> investment, but added the prior use or sale clause was unwise.
>
> His group, which includes 3M, General Electric, Motorola and others,
> claims patentees would be disadvantaged if proceedings are initiated > years
> after the alleged acts took place without letting the patent holder > engage
> in discovery and cross-examination, which courts can provide. "This
> [change] is neither appropriate nor acceptable." he said.
>
> The Innovation Alliance also opposes the wording. The group represents
> small technology firms and those whose business models rely heavily on
> licensing patents. An alliance spokesman said the proposal would
> "exacerbate confusion and uncertainty as to the statutory standards > that
> govern patentability" while overburdening the Patent and Trademark > Office.
>
> The higher education community also finds the language problematic,
> Association of American Universities Executive Vice President John > Vaughn
> said last week.
>
> But the ability to base a re-examination request on evidence of prior
> public use or sale is essential in order to make the new procedure > relevant
> to the technology sector -- a key area where questionable patents > have been
> granted, Micron Technology CEO Steve Appleton told the committee. His
> company, along with Apple, Google, Microsoft, Time Warner and others,
> belongs to the Coalition for Patent Fairness, which has championed > Leahy's
> legislation in its various forms for several years.
>
> Those most closely aligned with Leahy's thinking believe the wording
> offers a more efficient challenge to patents that should have been > rejected
> by the PTO the first time. Anticipating the potential spat, a > Republican
> Senate aide has asked those stakeholders who vehemently support or > oppose
> the proposal to engage in informal discussions on how a compromise > might be
> reached, according to an aide.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_3358.php >
> -----
> TECHNOLOGY: ADMINISTRATION MIGHT MOVE INTO NEW CYBERSECURITY ROLE
> By Andrew Noyes
>
>
> The Obama administration's 60-day examination of federal cybersecurity
> should result in a mandate for a national strategy for safeguarding
> cyberspace and the commitment of executive-branch involvement, House
> Homeland Security Emerging Threats Subcommittee Chairwoman Yvette > Clarke,
> D-N.Y., said at a Tuesday hearing intended to inform the review.
>
> The Bush administration drafted a high-level cyber strategy in 2002, > but
> it stopped short of requiring security changes, Clarke said. It > initiated a
> largely classified multibillion-dollar program in 2008 to reduce the
> connections from federal agencies to external computer networks and > get
> real-time awareness of potential threats to government systems. NSC > Senior
> Director Melissa Hathaway, who is leading Obama's review, was on > former
> President George W. Bush's cybersecurity team as well.
>
> A lack of leadership "has cost our country dearly," Clarke said, and
> Hathaway's audit must clearly delineate roles and responsibilities > of each
> agency with a stake in cybersecurity. It should describe how the White
> House will coordinate policies and budgets for each department, she > said.
> To accomplish that, Clarke called for the appointment of an > assistant to
> the president for cyberspace security -- a key recommendation in a > report
> from a Center for Strategic and International Studies task force > last year.
>
> Emerging Threats Subcommittee ranking member Dan Lungren, R-Calif., > agreed
> "much, much more work needs to be done" and any strategy should > involve the
> private sector, which designs, deploys and maintains much of the > nation's
> infrastructure.
>
> A renewed focus on cybersecurity by the subcommittee, which plans to > hold
> two more hearings on the topic this month, is timely given Friday's
> resignation of Rod Beckstrom, who ran the National Cybersecurity > Center for
> less than a year, Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson said. > "Mr.
> Beckstrom did not have experience working miracles," Thompson said > of the
> former Silicon Valley entrepreneur, who was in the audience. > "Without clear
> authority or budget, he was placed in a no-win situation."
>
> Lawmakers' frustration was echoed by witnesses. Amit Yoran, who > directed
> the Homeland Security Department's National Cybersecurity Division > in the
> Bush administration, said federal cybersecurity would be in grave > peril if
> the effort is dominated by the National Security Agency. He said DHS > is a
> suitable hub for coordinating cyber efforts. But Jim Lewis, who > spearheaded
> the CSIS report, said that function should reside at the White House.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_7652.php >
> -----
> ENVIRONMENT: DEMS RESISTANT TO USING RECONCILIATION FOR CLIMATE BILL
> By Darren Goode
>
>
> Senate Democratic leaders might face healthy opposition within their > party
> if they decide to use the budget reconciliation process to move > climate
> change legislation.
>
> Several Democrats Tuesday echoed many Republicans in citing concern > that
> using reconciliation would shortchange the legislative process and
> bipartisan comity. "Reconciliation tends to be partisan," Senate > Finance
> Chairman Max Baucus said. "It's not a good idea."
>
> One clear advantage of doing a climate change bill through > reconciliation
> is avoiding the need to overcome a filibuster and its 60-vote > threshold,
> which would likely be needed if it were brought up otherwise. But Sen.
> Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is not convinced it is worth it. "I don't > believe
> that's the way we ought to do climate change legislation," Dorgan > said.
> "It's going to be difficult, controversial. It's going to take some > time,
> but I think it ought to be done under regular order."
>
> It is not clear whether Democratic leaders -- who are contemplating > how to
> move a bill mandating a market-based cap-and-trade plan for > greenhouse gas
> emissions -- face too much opposition in their party to do it through
> reconciliation.
>
> "I'd be surprised if there wasn't enough [opposition] to make it > happen a
> different way, if it's going to happen at all," Sen. Ben Nelson, D-> Neb.,
> said. Nelson is one of 15 Senate Democrats who sent a letter to party
> leaders last year citing the need to "ensure that consumers and > workers in
> all regions of the U.S. are protected from undue hardship" from such a
> bill.
>
> Nelson said it is possible these senators will revolt if > reconciliation is
> used. "I don't think we have any strategy at this point but that > certainly
> is one possibility," he said.
>
> One of those 15 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio -- said he does not much
> care how a climate change bill is moved as long as the substantive > issues
> are worked out.
>
> That would include the possibility that Majority Leader Reid echoes > the
> strategy of House Democratic leaders and combines climate and energy > bills,
> which Dorgan and Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman > would
> rather not do. "The bigger and more complex any legislation gets, > the more
> difficult it is to move ahead with it," Bingaman said.
>
> GOP critics said they hope Democrats revolt. "It would undermine the
> process where public policy of that significance should be open on the
> floor for amendments and subject to significant airing," Budget > ranking
> member Judd Gregg said.
>
> But there are obvious advantages for Democrats. "Well, you only need > 51
> votes," Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer said.
>
> It can also be used to combine the input of multiple committees.
>
> "It's not by its nature an attempt by one party to ram something > through
> on a party-line vote," said Jim Horney, a former CBO and Senate Budget
> Committee Democratic aide, who heads the Center for Budget and Policy
> Priorities. "But that's how many Republicans view it this year."
>
> There is little public advantage for Democrats to favor a process > removing
> the minority party's main procedural tactic, leading some to wonder > whether
> they might only use it as a bluff.
>
> There is also the potential that a climate bill might violate the Byrd
> rule, which forbids nongermane language in a reconciliation bill. > "It seems
> entirely likely a number of things" in a climate bill would be > subject to
> the Byrd rule, which requires 60 votes to waive, Horney said.
>
> Democrats could avoid it, though, if there is a link between revenue
> generated and deficit reduction or if it concerns revenues for already
> authorized programs.
>
> Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said reconciliation "brings a lot of
> difficulties with it," but said the idea is being discussed because, > while
> the Byrd rule makes it more challenging, avoiding filibusters helps. > "It's
> complicated," she said. She and the other Gang of 15 senators have not
> begun writing elements of a partial substitute cap-and-trade bill.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_2397.php >
> -----
> BUDGET: ORSZAG PUSHES RECONCILIATION AS OPTION FOR UPCOMING FIGHT
> By David Hess
>
>
> OMB Director Orszag told the Senate Budget Committee Tuesday the
> administration might push Congress to use the filibuster-proof
> reconciliation procedure to shepherd President Obama's FY10 budget
> proposal, due to its large number of contentious proposals.
>
> Despite warnings by Budget ranking member Judd Gregg that such tactics
> would guarantee no Republican support for the plan, Orszag said, "We'd
> prefer not to start there ... but we're not taking anything off the > table."
>
> Gregg said it would "create real consternation [and] be regarded as > an act
> of violence" against the minority. "There would be no point > [cooperating]
> in the exercise if we are going to get blindsided by reconciliation."
>
> In some respects, the clash over use of reconciliation in pushing > through
> the more controversial items -- such as a cap-and-trade program to > limit
> greenhouse gas emissions -- could be moot, since most Republicans > and a few
> Democrats have indicated their opposition.
>
> Those oft-cited objections were raised anew at Tuesday's hearing, as
> Republicans assailed several provisions they said would lead to big
> increases in spending, including the enlargement of the federal role > in
> health care and education, and a substantial increase in deficits > and the
> national debt.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_4870.php >
> -----
> SENATE: DESPITE THREAT, APPOINTED SENATORS HOLD FIRM AGAINST VITTER
> By Dan Friedman, with Erin McPike contributing
>
>
> Cue the attack ads. Fourteen Democrats facing re-election next year,
> including appointed Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Kirsten > Gillibrand of
> New York and Roland Burris of Illinois, voted Tuesday night to table > an
> amendment to abolish automatic cost-of-living increases for lawmakers.
>
> Sen. David Vitter, R-La., offered that amendment to require a vote > before
> any pay raise could take effect that, had it passed, would have been
> included in the $410 billion omnibus spending bill the Senate > subsequently
> sent to the White House for President Obama's signature.
>
> Vitter's insistence on a vote on his amendment helped force Senate
> Majority Leader Reid to postpone final action on the omnibus until > this
> week. It was the most politically painful of several GOP amendments > Reid
> allowed in exchange for GOP votes for cloture on the bill.
>
> Democrats did what they could to give senators cover on the vote. It > came
> on a motion to table the amendment, giving senators the protection > of an
> additional layer of procedural opaqueness.
>
> Reid attempted to pass by unanimous consent a stand-alone bill that > would
> have eliminated the automatic pay raise provisions, although Vitter > stopped
> that by objecting to its consideration.
>
> "Sen. Vitter just confirmed what we already knew: that he is > interested
> only in scoring political points," Reid said, after Vitter objected to
> consideration of his alternative.
>
> Additionally, senators noted the omnibus itself already prevents > lawmakers
> from receiving a pay increase in 2010.
>
> But few in either party doubted the vote will be used in campaigns to
> accuse incumbents of voting to give themselves a pay raise during a
> recession.
>
> "It's always possible to do a 30-second spot," noted Democratic > Senatorial
> Campaign Committee Chairman Robert Menendez of New Jersey.
>
> A National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman said in a > statement
> that "Democrats effectively used the pay raise issue against several
> Republican candidates in past cycles, notably against Senator [Rick]
> Santorum [R-Pa.], so I don't think they should be at all surprised > if this
> emerges as an issue in some of their own campaigns, particularly at > a time
> when working families across the country are struggling to make ends > meet."
>
> Former NRSC Chairman John Ensign of Nevada said while it is hard to
> predict which votes senators will be attacked for, "I wouldn't want > to vote
> against this one."
>
> Four Democrats who are up for re-election next year -- Sens. Blanche
> Lincoln of Arkansas, Russell Feingold of Wisconsin, Evan Bayh of > Indiana
> and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut -- voted against tabling Vitter's
> amendment.
>
> "It is wrong for members of Congress to accept a cost-of-living > raise at a
> time when families and small businesses across the country are > struggling,"
> Lincoln said in a statement.
>
> Gillibrand declined to comment on her vote, suggesting that a reporter
> contact her office to set up an interview. Four more Democrats -- > Sens.
> Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Jon Tester > of
> Montana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska -- also voted to keep Vitter's > amendment
> alive.
>
> Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, will not face the voters until 2014 but
> expects to be attacked for his vote against Vitter. "This is all about
> developing campaign commercials," he said.
>
> Democrats got help from several Republicans in defeating Vitter's
> amendment. Two of them would have been on the 2010 ballot had they not
> announced their retirements -- Sens. Mel Martinez of Florida and > Judd Gregg
> of New Hampshire.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_7844.php >
> -----
> FINANCE: DODD SECURES SOME REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR FDIC BILL
> By Bill Swindell
>
>
> Senate Banking Chairman Christopher Dodd has some key GOP support on > his
> bill that would expand the FDIC's borrowing authority up to $500 > billion
> for a limited time in an effort to give the agency resources to > address the
> banking sector's problems.
>
> Dodd has attracted as co-sponsors committee Republican Sens. Mike > Crapo of
> Idaho and Bob Corker of Tennessee. Banking ranking member Richard > Shelby of
> Alabama has not signed onto the bill, with an aide saying Tuesday > that the
> measure needs to be first examined in a committee hearing.
>
> Dodd unveiled the bill last week after receiving a letter from FDIC
> Chairwoman Sheila Bair asking for an increase. She noted that her > agency
> has not had an increase in its $30 billion cap since 1991, though > banking
> assets have tripled since then to $13.6 trillion. The Dodd bill would
> increase it to $100 billion and give the agency the authority to > borrow up
> to $500 billion through the end of 2010.
>
> The House passed legislation last week that would boost the FDIC's
> borrowing authority from the Treasury to $100 billion. It was > combined with
> legislation that would allow bankruptcy judges to restructure home
> mortgages, including reducing the principal.
>
> Corker said he was not concerned that the Dodd effort could be > construed
> as a backdoor effort to bolster funding efforts to banks similar to > the
> Troubled Asset Relief Program. The key difference, Corker noted, is > that
> banks will pay into the agency's insurance fund, not taxpayers.
>
> "This money gets paid back by financial institutions. I don't want the
> FDIC to be timid right now. I want them to feel like they have the
> resources they need if they need to seize a facility, seize a bank > and make
> sure a depositor's deposits are guaranteed. I want them to have the > ability
> to do that," said Corker, who has recently played a more visible > role on
> the panel.
>
> The FDIC recently imposed a special assessment fee on banks because > of its
> small margin of error without a bigger cap. In a March 5 letter to > Dodd,
> Bair said increased borrowing authority would allow the agency to > lower
> such assessments, which have been particularly hard on community > banks. "In
> some cases for some small banks, it's their entire quarterly > earnings,"
> Corker said.
>
> Camden Fine, president of the Independent Community Bankers of > America,
> said scaling back the assessment is a good first step, but the FDIC > should
> consider broadening the base of the fees so its does not > disproportionately
> affect smaller banks.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_8714.php >
> -----
> PEOPLE: PEOPLE
> By Gregg Sangillo
>
>
> ON A BUDGET. Joseph Gaeta has been named general counsel at the Senate
> Budget Committee under its chairman, Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. In the
> position, he'll deal with legal and parliamentary issues and help > enforce
> Senate budget rules. Gaeta spent the past four-and-a-half years in the
> Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. He's also been a special
> assistant attorney general in Rhode Island. Gaeta has a master's > degree in
> political theory from the London School of Economics and Political > Science
> and a law degree from Stanford University. Gaeta replaces Lisa > Konwinski,
> who is working for the Obama White House as deputy director of > legislative
> affairs.
>
> CAR TALK. Some people are landing jobs in the beleaguered auto > industry.
> Toyota Motor North America has hired Thomas J. Lehner in its > Washington
> office. In a statement, Toyota's Lehner didn't dance around how > tough times
> are for automakers: "The current economic crisis has severely impacted
> Toyota's operations in the U.S. market, and we are responsible for
> protecting the interests of our employees, customers, dealers and
> suppliers." From 1993 through early 2001, Lehner was chief of staff > for
> former Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va. The graduate of San Francisco State
> University is also a former treasurer of the Democratic Senatorial > Campaign
> Committee. He most recently served as director of public policy at the
> Business Roundtable. Lehner will serve as vice president of > government and
> industry affairs for Toyota.
>
> NEW RESOURCE. Emily Lawrimore, a former White House spokeswoman in the
> Bush administration, has landed as communications director for the > minority
> at the House Natural Resources Committee under its ranking member, > Rep. Doc
> Hastings, R-Wash. Lawrimore was most recently press secretary at the
> Commerce Department. Earlier in her career, she was an aide for Rep. > Joe
> Wilson, R-S.C.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_4290.php >
> -----
> WIRED IN WASHINGTON: DEAL HIM IN
> By David Hatch
>
>
> Sen. John (Jay) Rockefeller, D-W.Va., wears a poker face these days. > On
> the surface, there's been little activity stirring with > telecommunications
> and media issues before the Senate Commerce Committee he chairs, but > behind
> closed doors and in hushed conversations around town, there's plenty > of
> legislative shuffling.
>
> Rockefeller has emerged as one of the most influential voices on
> communications policy in Washington. Even President Obama's pick for > FCC
> chairman, Julius Genachowski, can't move into his new digs without the
> approval of the senator's committee. For now, the seasoned lawmaker > and his
> aides are playing it cool and not showing their cards.
>
> But the senator can't completely escape this congressional > oddsmaker. I've
> been reviewing his record, working the angles and gauging the shifting
> political winds to bring you: Beat the House -- The Unofficial and > Wholly
> Unauthorized Guide to Sen. Rockefeller's 2009 Communications Agenda. > Let's
> review his hand:
>
> Aces in the Hole: These cards must be played to meet deadlines or fill
> vacancies.
>
> Broadband Oversight: After fighting to up the stimulus ante to spur
> broadband deployment to mostly rural areas, Rockefeller will use his > panel
> to monitor how the Commerce Department doles out the $4.7 billion > jackpot.
>
> Confirmation Hearings: One or more hearings will be scheduled for at > least
> three (and potentially four) FCC nominees. A source said Rockefeller > also
> is planning hearings on the topics his committee will tackle, but > Senate
> aides, perhaps bluffing, claim few are in the works.
>
> Digital Television: There will be continued oversight of the shift > from
> analog to digital signals culminating June 12. The four-month > postponement
> from February to June came about with the help of Rockefeller, who > engaged
> in a high-stakes gamble with a bill delaying the switch.
>
> Satellite Reauthorization: With a Dec. 31 deadline, legislation
> streamlining copyright licensing for broadcast programming carried on
> satellite television systems is the only major communications bill > that's a
> sure bet to pass this year.
>
> House Edge: The House Energy and Commerce Committee already plans to > open
> the legislative round with bills in these areas.
>
> Mobile Phones: Rockefeller wants to review the results of an > upcoming GAO
> report assessing the wireless industry before plotting his next > move, aides
> insisted recently. But a range of sources confirmed he is quietly > working
> with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., on reintroducing legislation > overhauling
> regulation of the mobile phone sector. The measure would establish > national
> standards for consumer protection, which the industry wants, > balanced with
> regulations carriers oppose. Rockefeller co-sponsored the original > version
> offered by Klobuchar in 2007.
>
> Universal Service: Revamping the $7.1 billion universal service fund
> subsidizing telecom costs in rural and low-income areas is a high > priority
> for Rockefeller, who helped modernize the program and whose state > benefits
> heavily from it. But it's unclear whether he wants Congress to bet > on a
> bill, so he might let the FCC wager on new regulations instead.
>
> Trump Card: Senate Commerce has an opportunity to one-up the House.
>
> Network Neutrality: In the House, Energy and Commerce Communications
> Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va., wants broadband and content
> providers to agree on preserving an openly accessible Internet, > favoring
> such deals over legislation. But Senate Commerce is moving in the > opposite
> direction as Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine,
> prepare to reintroduce a net neutrality measure. Rockefeller is on > record
> supporting tough neutrality laws to ensure telecom and cable giants > don't
> act as Internet gatekeepers.
>
> Soft-Play: Rockefeller might go easy on another player.
>
> FCC Overhaul: You're forgiven for assuming Rockefeller would > champion a
> bill to restructure the FCC, since he proposed one in late 2007. Now > that
> his party runs the agency, many experts think he's backing off. Not > so,
> insists a Senate aide, who said the goal remains a priority, but some
> changes can be implemented without a bill.
>
> Wild Card: Anyone's guess as to whether this comes up.
>
> TV Violence: The senator cares deeply about reducing violence on > broadcast
> television, but has run into constitutional hurdles with > legislation. The
> outcome of a Supreme Court case involving the scope of the FCC's > authority
> to regulate content might determine his next step. A horrendous > incident --
> such as another school shooting -- might provide momentum for action.
>
> Fold: Democrats will give up some issues in a recession.
>
> Media Ownership: When the Republican-controlled FCC relaxed media
> ownership limits to throw a lifeline to struggling newspapers, > lawmakers on
> both sides of the aisle railed against the plan. Dorgan led the > charge with
> a resolution of disapproval that passed the Senate last May by voice > vote
> with Rockefeller's support. Among the co-sponsors was Sen. John Kerry,
> D-Mass.
>
> But with newspapers now dead or dying, Kerry -- who as chairman of the
> newly created Commerce Communications Subcommittee is in a position > to keep
> the pressure on -- is suddenly sympathetic to their plight. "I will > make it
> a priority to take a hard and close look at the disturbing trend > that is
> the disappearance of journalism," Kerry said last month after the > Rocky
> Mountain News, one of Denver's two major papers, closed.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_6070.php >
> -----
> MARKUP REPORTS: FIRST LADY'S FEDERAL STATUS AT ISSUE IN HOUSE PANEL
> By Andy Leonatti
>
>
> The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved a bill
> Tuesday to strengthen a 1972 law regulating the more than 1,000 > federal
> advisory committees, sparking a debate over the employment status of > the
> first lady.
>
> The bill, passed on a 16-1 vote, would clarify that appointees to > federal
> advisory committees must be made without regard to political > affiliation
> and require agencies to obtain conflict-of-interest statements from
> committee members, with beefed up disclosure requirements.
>
> Bill sponsor Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., said the GAO has found > that
> many advisory committee appointments were made "based on ideology > rather
> than on expertise."
>
> The GAO also found that many committee members are improperly > designated
> as members of outside organizations instead of as special government
> employees, who are temporary employees used to consult or provide > expertise
> on certain issues. Special government employees are subject to tougher
> conflict-of-interest rules.
>
> Oversight and Government Reform ranking member Darrell Issa > introduced,
> but then withdrew, an amendment that would have classified the > spouse of a
> sitting president as a nonfederal employee for purposes of the bill.
>
> Issa said a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in 1993 found that former > first
> lady and current Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was a > federal
> employee and that allowed her to conduct meetings of a healthcare task
> force with other federal employees in secret.
>
> After the committee's markup of the bill in the 110th Congress, former
> Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., then the panel's ranking member, wrote that > the bill
> "should be amended to prevent certain high-level advisory committees > from
> evading transparency and accountability by using this presidential > spouse
> loophole."
>
> Clay argued the amendment "pigeonholes [First Lady Michelle Obama] > into
> some clearly defined role," and that President Obama might see the
> amendment as an attack. "Let's not go in that direction," he said.
>
> Other committee Democrats argued that the first lady's status as a > federal
> employee should be taken up in separate legislation. Issa said his
> amendment did not prevent a president from designating a spouse as a
> federal employee in regards to other issues. He also said he had no
> preference for a spouse's status, but was offering the amendment to
> establish rules.
>
> Issa voted against the bill, but said he would work with committee > counsel
> on the amendment before the bill reaches the House floor.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_2621.php >
> -----
> POLITICAL ROUNDUP: SCHWARZENEGGER SETS DATE FOR CALIF. SPECIAL > ELECTION
>
> California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the special
> election primary for the seat vacated by Rep. Hilda Solis will take > place
> May 19.
>
> If a candidate wins a majority vote in that contest, there will be no
> general election. If not, the top vote-getters from each party would
> qualify for the general election, which would be July 14.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_1231.php >
> -----
> POLITICAL ROUNDUP: AIDE TO EX-REP. SIMMONS WEIGHS CHALLENGE TO MURPHY
>
> Justin Bernier, who served as a senior legislative aide to former > Rep. Rob
> Simmons, R-Conn., is contemplating a run against Democratic Rep. Chris
> Murphy for Connecticut's 5th District.
>
> In an interview Tuesday, Bernier said concerns about the faltering > economy
> and Congress' handling of the issue propelled him to consider > running for
> the seat.
>
> Bernier is an officer in the Navy Reserve and served in Afghanistan in
> 2007. Last week, he stepped down as executive director of > Connecticut's
> Office of Military Affairs.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_7879.php >
> -----
> POLITICAL ROUNDUP: FRANKEN IS READY TO REST IN MINNESOTA SENATE CASE
>
> Minnesota's Senate saga will take a large step toward conclusion > today,
> when lawyers for Democrat Al Franken plan to call their final > witnesses,
> the Associated Press reported.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_6531.php >
> -----
> POLITICAL ROUNDUP: SEN. BUNNING REFUSES TO DIVULGE POLL RESULTS
>
> Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., hurled an expletive during a conference > call with
> reporters Tuesday and declined to release the results of an internal
> political poll, McClatchy Newspapers reported.
>
> Bunning told the reporters the results are "none of your g--d---
> business."
>
> When asked by a reporter if Bunning's choice to keep the survey > numbers
> private implies that he is not satisfied with the results, he > responded:
> "You are going to infer any damn thing you choose, so why should I > try to
> influence it."
>
> Bunning had said he would release the results of the poll conducted in
> late February.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_7276.php >
> -----
> POLITICAL ROUNDUP: HORN SAYS SHE LIKELY TO MAKE ANOTHER > CONGRESSIONAL BID
>
> Republican Jennifer Horn says it is highly likely she will make > another
> run for New Hampshire's 2nd District, the Associated Press reported.
>
> Horn lost to Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes 57-41 percent last year.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_1126.php >
> -----
> TAXES: BAUCUS DRAFT BILL TARGETS MONEY FLOWING INTO TAX HAVENS
> By Peter Cohn
>
>
> Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus is circulating a draft bill to > crack
> down on offshore tax dodgers by doubling fines and penalties for
> underpayments and providing a paper trail of funds being transferred > to
> overseas accounts so the IRS can spot potential red flags. The 15-page
> draft aims to give the administration more tools to stop tax evasion > at the
> earliest signs, rather than simply reacting once it occurs. It would
> require financial institutions transferring more than $10,000 to an > account
> outside the United States on behalf of an individual or business, > other
> than a publicly traded company, to report to the IRS the name and > address
> of their client as well as the destination and account information > related
> to the offshore account. A Baucus spokeswoman declined to comment on > the
> proposal, which has not been publicly unveiled. The measure would also
> extend the statute of limitations from three to six years for tax > returns
> reporting international transactions to give the IRS more time to > detect
> potential offshore abuses. It would allow the IRS to require U.S.
> individuals to submit reports on their foreign financial accounts > along
> with their tax returns. The bill also would boost penalties for > failure to
> file information about foreign trusts to a minimum of $10,000, up > from 35
> percent of the gross reportable amount, and broaden the definition of
> foreign trust property to include items like real estate, artwork and
> jewelry as well as securities.
>
> The measure is being readied for introduction as the Obama > administration
> and congressional Democrats look for ways to close the "tax gap" > that costs
> the Treasury hundreds of billions dollars annually, and wealthy > individuals
> and companies that shelter money in offshore accounts have become
> particularly attractive targets. Obama consistently raised the issue > on the
> campaign trail, and it has been in the news of late particularly > given the
> massive frauds allegedly perpetrated by financiers Bernard Madoff > and R.
> Allen Stanford, in which offshore tax evasion has reportedly played > a role.
> The Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing Tuesday on overseas tax
> shelter issues. Treasury Secretary Geithner has told lawmakers the
> administration is eager to move forward on a bill to crack down on tax
> haven abuses, but is letting Congress take the lead on drafting
> legislation.
>
> Since Baucus' panel has primary jurisdiction over tax matters, his > bill
> will likely form the basis for the eventual legislation. But other
> Democrats have also gotten out front on the issue. Sen. Carl Levin,
> D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental > Affairs
> Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, has held a series of > hearings
> about offshore tax abuses, including the failure of the Swiss > government to
> identify 52,000 U.S. holders of UBS AG bank accounts. Levin and Rep. > Lloyd
> Doggett, D-Texas, have introduced legislation in both chambers to > require
> companies operating in offshore tax haven countries controlled by
> individuals within the United States to pay taxes as a U.S. domestic > firm.
> That bill, seen as more punitive by tax lobbyists, would also boost
> penalties for tax-shelter promoters to 150 percent of their unpaid > taxes
> and to $1 million for individuals that transfer stock option > holdings to
> offshore accounts in violation of U.S. securities law.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_3572.php >
> -----
> BUDGET: OBAMA CALLS FOR EARMARK OVERHAUL BUT WILL SIGN OMNIBUS
> By George E. Condon Jr. and Humberto Sanchez
>
>
> President Obama called for fundamental earmark reform today even as he
> prepared to sign an FY09 omnibus spending bill packed with thousands > of
> earmarks the White House did not want. The president was expected to > sign
> that $410 billion spending bill today, away from cameras and > questions.
> Obama offered a mild defense of the bill during brief remarks this > morning
> and rejected Republican calls that he issue his first veto. "I am > signing
> an imperfect omnibus bill because it's necessary for the ongoing > functions
> of government, and we have a lot more work to do. We can't have > Congress
> bogged down at this critical juncture in our economic recovery," he > said.
>
> But Obama made it clear that this bill is an exception as he laid out
> principles for reforming the process. Those principles call for more
> transparency, public acknowledgment of earmarks on the Web sites of
> lawmakers who request them and public hearings. "These principles > begin
> with a simple concept -- earmarks must have a legitimate and worthy > public
> purpose," Obama said. But he also acknowledged that lawmakers have a > right
> to seek funds for "worthy projects that benefit people in their > districts."
> If future legislation includes money for a project that does not > have a
> public purpose, he said, "we will seek to eliminate it, and we will > work
> with Congress to do so." Such earmarks, he said, "have been used as a
> vehicle for waste and fraud and abuse."
>
> Obama's comments came as House Speaker Pelosi and other Democratic > leaders
> announced two new initiatives on earmark transparency. One would > give the
> appropriate executive-branch agency 20 days to review a member-> requested
> project to ensure the earmark is eligible to receive funds and meets > the
> goals established in law. The other would require the executive > branch to
> ensure that any earmark for a for-profit entity be awarded through
> competitive bidding. These two initiatives are part of a raft of
> earmark-related reforms House Democrats issued earlier in the year. > "With
> the inclusion of these new reforms, we will ensure accountability for
> congressional earmarks at every step of the process," Pelosi said in a
> statement.
>
> The omnibus bill funds most government operations through the rest of
> FY09. It includes about 8,600 earmarks totaling $7.7 billion, > according to
> Taxpayers for Common Sense, a watchdog group. The House Appropriations
> Committee minority staff puts the number at about 8,000 earmarks, > with a
> price tag of $5.5 billion. Obama said Congress could avoid many > problems
> with spending-related bills by considering spending bills on time and
> sending them to him "without delay or obstruction, so that we don't > face
> another massive, last-minute omnibus bill like this one."
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_8927.php >
> -----
> FINANCE: SEC CHIEF: COMMISSION NEEDS MORE MONEY, SKEPTICISM
> By Otto Kreisher
>
>
> The new head of the SEC said today the commission's failure to > regulate
> the rapidly expanding financial markets and understand the risk > involved in
> a host of new investment products contributed to the collapse of the
> economy. SEC Chairwoman Mary Schapiro said that failure was due > partly to
> inadequate staff and technology. But she said SEC officials were > also at
> fault for assuming that self-regulation would work and relying on > honesty.
> "We as regulators lost our skepticism," Schapiro told the House > Financial
> Services Appropriations Subcommittee. In comments later, she also > said the
> Financial Accounting Standards Board has promised to issue mark-to-> market
> accounting guidance in the second quarter for banks struggling to > price
> assets.
>
> The SEC chairwoman said she was determined to restore SEC's role as > the
> protector of the individual investor and to "get back to basics and > rebuild
> our enforcement structure." She listed a number of steps SEC has > already
> taken, including increasing the commission's ability to act quickly on
> reports of fraud and hiring a veteran federal prosecutor, Robert > Khuzami,
> as director of enforcement. But she said SEC needs more staff and to
> overhaul its information technology systems so that regulators can > enforce
> rules and keep pace with the expanding and changing investment > field. A
> priority is improving IT to enhance SEC's ability to process the > flood of
> tips received about possible fraud.
>
> On the issue of funding, Schapiro said the commission was grateful > for the
> $943 million provided by the subcommittee in FY09 appropriations. > But she
> asked for authority to reprogram $17 million in unspent funds to pay > for
> some of the new initiatives. House Financial Services Appropriations
> Chairman Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., noted that under the Bush > administration the
> SEC assured the subcommittee it did not need additional resources, > telling
> Schapiro "it is our intent to make sure you have the resources you > need."
> But House Financial Services Appropriations ranking member Jo Ann > Emerson,
> R-Mo., pointed out that following the collapse of Enron and other > major
> financial institutions, Congress provided the SEC with additional > authority
> and doubled its funding. She said it is "hard to see how the SEC was
> unprepared to deal with" the emerging crisis and the massive Bernard > Madoff
> fraud. She added the panel would want to ensure that "any resources > we give
> you are used efficiently."
>
> Responding to committee members' questions, Schapiro endorsed a > proposal
> to have two major institutions oversee the financial markets. She also
> agreed on the need for a "systemic regulator" governing investment > products
> and financial institutions, as well as a separate body primarily > concerned
> with protecting investors. The latter would be the SEC's role, she > said.
> Schapiro said she is working closely with the SEC's inspector > general on
> his probe into why the commission failed to act on numerous warnings > about
> Madoff's operations. She suggested the SEC might want authority to > reward
> individuals who provide actionable tips on fraud and probably would > need
> additional regulatory authority to close the "gaps" created by new and
> risky forms of investment. The SEC is studying the need for additional
> authority to regulate credit rating agencies, which have been cited as
> contributors to the financial crisis, she added.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_4396.php >
> -----
> FINANCE: HOUSE COMMITTEE WANTS TRANSPARENCY ON TARP REPORTING
> By David Hess
>
>
> House members in both parties blistered Treasury's financial bailout > boss
> today for what they claimed is the department's leniency in not > demanding
> stricter accountability from banks that have received billions in > federal
> dollars to rescue them from bankruptcy. In a hearing of the House > Oversight
> and Government Reform Domestic Policy Subcommittee, Neel Kashkari, > head of
> Treasury's Office of Financial Stability, was swarmed by members who > said
> their constituents are up in arms about what they perceive as the > coddling
> of corporations whose reckless behavior triggered the swoon of the > housing
> and financial markets. "Our constituents are demanding to know how
> [Congress and the banks] are spending all this money, and we can't > give
> them an answer," said Rep. Dan. Burton, R-Ind. "People are madder > than hell
> and we don't have the facts to explain what's going on. If you want > support
> for your [recovery plan], you're going to have to give us the facts."
>
> Treasury is providing monthly reports on which of the larger banks are
> receiving federal assistance and how much they are receiving. But > there is
> no breakdown of how the banks are using the money to provide credit to
> small businesses and consumers. The GAO and the Special Inspector > General
> of the Troubled Asset Relief Program told the subcommittee that > Treasury
> and some regulatory agencies are posting a lot of information about > the
> rescue effort online and reporting to Congress. But they also urged
> Congress to make sure that more details are disclosed about how the > money
> is being used. House Oversight and Government Reform Domestic Policy
> Subcommittee Chairman Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and Rep. Darrell Issa,
> R-Calif., ranking member of the full committee, charged that the TARP
> program lacks "transparency and accountability." That has enraged > citizens,
> they said. "That money was provided with virtually no strings > attached,"
> Kucinich said. "Most of the banks didn't even bother to account > separately
> for the federal monies. Treasury doesn't even ask TARP recipients > for a
> detailed accounting of their use of TARP funds."
>
> "We don't know how $300 billion of taxpayer money has changed anyone's
> behavior," Issa said. Kucinich said that "several very large > transactions"
> were conducted by some banks after they got their first tranche from > the
> Treasury. Citigroup, he said, arranged an $8 billion loan for a public
> project in Dubai; Bank of America pumped $7 billion into the China
> Construction Bank Co., and JPMorgan Chase invested $1 billion in > expanding
> operations in India. "How does that help U.S. taxpayers?" Kucinich > asked
> Kashkari. Without addressing those transactions, Kashkari said many > of the
> troubled banks that got federal loans are multinational institutions > that
> routinely make profitable loans abroad. If they make money on such > loans,
> he said, it will strengthen their finances and enable them to pay > off their
> debts to the federal government. "We want these banks to make > money," he
> said, adding that Treasury does not intend to get into the position of
> micromanaging banks.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_9692.php >
> -----
> DEFENSE: PANEL CHAIRMAN SAYS RIVAL FIRMS SHOULD SHARE TANKER PACT
> By Megan Scully
>
>
> House Armed Services Air and Land Forces Subcommittee Chairman Neil
> Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, said today that he will push to split the > contract
> for the Air Force's next fleet of aerial refueling tankers between > the two
> defense contracting giants who have been at war over the lucrative > program.
> "I think the most sensible thing to do is to have what is come to be > termed
> as a split buy," Abercrombie said after delivering a speech today. > "If we
> do that sensibly and take into account the strategic interests > involved ...
> I think we can come to a reasoned conclusion on getting both bids > accepted,
> if you will, and moving forward with that." Last year, the Air Force
> awarded the $35 billion contract for the refueling tankers to a team > led by
> Northrop Grumman Corp. and the European firm EADS, which proposed > using
> modified Airbus A330 commercial aircraft. Losing bidder Boeing Co., > which
> offered a modified 767 passenger plane, successfully protested the > award.
> The Pentagon does not expect to award another contract until early > 2010.
>
> Abercrombie said a consensus is developing behind the split-buy > approach
> but acknowledged there is opposition to buying two tanker models. > House
> Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Murtha, D-Pa., has > backed
> the idea. But others, including Defense Secretary Gates and dozens of
> lawmakers, have argued that doing so would be too costly. "I think > the idea
> of a split buy is an absolutely terrible idea and a very bad mistake > for
> the U.S. taxpayer," Gates told the House Armed Services Committee in
> January.
>
> Opponents of a split buy have argued that fielding two types of > tankers
> would cost more because each would have its own training and > maintenance
> requirements. They have said it would eliminate competition and > ultimately
> drive up development and procurement costs of the program. Abercrombie
> suggested today that the tanker capability is needed now. "How do we
> justify the costs of saying we need to have a tanker seven or nine > years
> ago and the explosion of costs since then just by not doing it?" he > said.
> "I justify everything on the basis of meeting the strategic interest > of the
> nation. ... If you have a mission and you agree that that's what the
> mission is, then you pay for it."
>
> Abercrombie criticized the Obama administration for regarding as one
> option for budget cuts a delay of the tanker replacement program, > which the
> Air Force has repeatedly called its top procurement priority. "If > you could
> do that [delay the program] in the first place, why did we go > through all
> this?" Abercrombie said. "Why did we go through this for seven or > eight or
> nine years ... and say we've got to have it?" A postponement of the
> contract award is among several options on the table as the > administration
> weighs the details of the FY10 budget, but several sources tracking > the
> issue said such a move was not likely.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_8120.php >
> -----
> HEALTH: WAXMAN, DEAL INTRODUCE BILL TO PERMIT GENERIC BIOLOGICS
> By Anna Edney
>
>
> House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and Health > Subcommittee
> ranking member Nathan Deal, R-Ga., introduced a final version today of
> long-awaited legislation that will permit FDA to approve generic > versions
> of biologic drugs but with significantly fewer incentives for brand-> name
> drugmakers than other bills originating from Democrats. Sen. Susan > Collins,
> R-Maine, will co-sponsor the Senate version of the bill expected to be
> introduced soon by Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sherrod Brown,
> D-Ohio, a spokesman for Collins confirmed today. Sen. David Vitter, > R-La.,
> also will co-sponsor the Senate version, according to Waxman's office.
> Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-> N.J., and
> Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., are key sponsors of the House bill. The
> legislation would protect brand biologic drug companies from generic
> competition for five years. A brand biologic that is improved or > approved
> to treat a new condition would be eligible for three years free from
> generic competition, and an additional six months can be tacked on > if the
> company conducts a pediatric study on the product.
>
> Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and House Energy and Commerce ranking > member
> Joe Barton are expected to reintroduce legislation Thursday that would
> award brand companies 12 years of protection from generic > competition, a
> term known as exclusivity. "There's bipartisan support both ways, > and we'll
> sit down and talk it out," Waxman said today when asked how he will > bring
> even his own party together on the issue. Waxman's bill also gives FDA
> discretion to decide whether a follow-on biologic company's > application for
> a generic version should be accompanied by clinical trials and > whether a
> generic product can be substituted for a brand drug at the pharmacy
> counter. Waxman said he is unsure when his committee will move to > markup
> the bill given other major issues on its plate, including universal > health
> care and climate change.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_6526.php >
> -----
> TRADE: LEVIN OUTLINES CONDITIONS FOR U.S.-PANAMA TRADE DEAL
> By Peter Cohn
>
>
> House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sander Levin, D-> Mich.,
> said today that the proposed Panama Trade Promotion Agreement, > slated for
> action this year by the Obama administration, has potential but faces
> hurdles that must be addressed. "Panama is a country of small size > but an
> important ally. Right now, 96 percent of our exports come to the U.S.
> duty-free, while our exports face significant barriers. An agreement > would
> change that," Levin said in a speech to the Washington International > Trade
> Association. But he added that Panama must first boost labor > standards such
> as loosening restrictions on smaller, newer firms where employees > cannot
> form a union. "I think that has to change. Panama has expressed a
> willingness to proceed, and before congressional consideration of the
> agreement, that must occur." With Levin and other Democrats calling > for a
> crackdown on tax-haven abuses, the country's liberal banking laws > have run
> into criticism from groups like Public Citizen, and 54 Democrats > wrote to
> Obama last month opposing the deal. "We have to face the issue of tax
> havens in Panama," Levin said
>
> Levin said he hopes to take a fact-finding trip to Panama "fairly > soon."
> He also wants to visit Colombia, with which the United States has a > pending
> free trade agreement. The Colombia FTA "poses an expanded > challenge," Levin
> said, although he noted U.S. exporters would gain better access and > that it
> "will affirm our strong relationship." But he said Democratic > leaders have
> reiterated their concern about labor violence in that country, and
> improvements will be necessary before that pact can move. Levin is > probably
> most opposed to a pending deal with South Korea, which he said would > lock
> in an imbalance where more than 600,000 cars are shipped to the United
> States annually while between 5,000 and 10,000 U.S. cars are shipped > on
> average to South Korea. He said other industrial goods, such as home
> appliances sold by Whirlpool Corp., face obstacles to the Korean > market.
> "We made it clear to USTR before they started the negotiations that > they
> had to effectively address the issue of one-way trade with Korea. They
> failed to do it. And unless that's remedied, the Korea FTA cannot > proceed,"
> Levin said.
>
> Levin said he expected the Obama administration to take a tougher > line on
> enforcing international trade rules, including bringing more cases > at the
> World Trade Organization against countries like China. He said > Congress
> would move enforcement legislation strengthening trade remedy laws > against
> unfair imports, such as products enhanced by export subsidies. He > did not
> specifically mention Chinese currency devaluation, but noted that he
> expects there "will be a lot of discussion as to China" at next > month's
> G-20 summit of global economic ministers in London. In general, Levin,
> said, he expected "a more active role of the U.S. Congress" in trade
> policy, including when it comes time for Obama to request "fast-track"
> trade negotiating authority. "It will not work simply for the > Congress to
> be told we'll touch lightly with consultation and then in the end > vote yes
> or no," he said.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_2523.php >
> -----
> FINANCE: OVERSIGHT PANEL SAYS IT LACKS DETAILS ON TARP SPENDING
> By Bob Kemper
>
>
> The Congressional Oversight Panel, the group charged with overseeing > how
> the federal government allocates $700 billion to prop up the nation's
> financial institutions, supports greater public disclosure of how the
> program is working, but the panel itself often can't get the > information it
> needs to do its job, members said today. Damon Silvers, the oversight
> panel's deputy chairman, told the Joint Economic Committee that he and
> other panel members are waiting for Treasury Secretary Geithner to > appear
> before them to explain how the Obama administration plans to help > failing
> banks. Among the things the panel still needs to know is how the
> administration plans to deal with the toxic assets like failed loans > and
> foreclosures that are bogging down banks, panel members said.
>
> The oversight panel had asked Henry Paulson, Treasury secretary in the
> Bush administration and the chief architect of the Troubled Asset > Relief
> Program, for the same information but never heard back from him, > Silvers
> said. The bottom line, panel members said, is that even though about > $300
> billion has been spent and another $350 billion has been made > available to
> bail out financial institutions, those who are supposed to be > overseeing
> the program lack the information they need to perform their duties, > Silvers
> said.
>
> "Time is not on our side," Silvers told the committee, noting the > crisis
> has led to a consolidation of banks that means that half of all bank
> deposits in the U.S. are concentrated in just four federally insured > banks:
> JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America. The > oversight
> panel's problems came to light in a hearing on how to add > transparency to
> the bailout program so that the public can know how its money is being
> spent. Greater transparency, committee members said, could help > increase
> greater public confidence in the bailout process and the financial
> institutions. "If we continue down this road (with little public
> information about how TARP is performing) we're going to erode the
> confidence the American people should have a right to expect ... and > those
> of us in government need to sustain these programs over a long > period of
> time," said Sen. Robert Casey Jr., D-Pa.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_7050.php >
> -----
> ENERGY: CHU'S BUDGET PLAN FOCUSES ON RENEWABLE ENERGY, BIOFUELS
> By Jeannette J. Lee
>
>
> If President Obama's budget is enacted, the Energy Department would > move
> more money into loan guarantees for renewable energy; upgrades to > battery
> technology and the electricity grid; carbon sequestration; biofuels; > and
> making homes and buildings more energy-efficient, according to Energy
> Secretary Chu. He outlined those and other goals today to the Senate > Budget
> Committee in describing the priorities in Obama's proposed $26.3 > billion
> Energy budget. According to Chu, nuclear waste disposal would > receive a
> share, although the budget will scale back funding for the storage of
> radioactive materials at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. He called the Yucca
> facility "not a workable option" for nuclear power-plant waste and > promised
> to "begin a thoughtful dialogue" on alternatives.
>
> Republicans criticized the administration for not putting more stock > in
> nuclear energy. Senate Budget ranking member Judd Gregg said he was
> disappointed that $50 billion in loan guarantees for the industry > had been
> stripped from the economic stimulus bill. Gregg called the pullback on
> Yucca a "backdoor way" of limiting licensing for new nuclear plants > by not
> making waste disposal possible. Chu countered that nuclear power and > other
> controversial energy sources, such as coal and offshore oil, have a > place
> in a diversified mix of energy sources. The Energy Department, he > said,
> "will be focused on finding oil substitutes and decreasing > unnecessary use
> of oil" to reduce dependence on imports. Despite coal's high output of
> carbon and pollutants, Chu said it will remain a major energy resource
> because of its abundance in the United States. "We have to develop
> clean-coal technologies because India and China will not turn their > backs
> on coal," he said. "I plan on putting a lot of money into research > to test
> new ideas that could revolutionize this." The budget would bump up > funding
> for the basic sciences. The Office of Science, the field of climate > study,
> and graduate students in "critical energy-related fields" all stand to
> benefit. Over the long term, Chu said, the administration will work > with
> Congress on a cap-and-trade system.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_7584.php >
> -----
> ENVIRONMENT: PUBLIC LANDS LEGISLATION FALLS SHORT OF PASSAGE IN HOUSE
> By Darren Goode
>
>
> A massive and long-sought package of public lands, water and natural
> resources bills fell two votes shy today of getting the two-thirds > support
> necessary for expedited approval in the House. The 282-144 vote came > after
> a Senate-approved package of more than 150 bills was modified with > language
> from Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., that clarifies the measure would not
> restrict access to hunting, fishing, trapping and other recreational
> activities. But enough Republicans complained about the expedited > process
> -- which does not allow for amendments -- of the 1,200-page-plus > product. A
> spokeswoman for House Natural Resources Chairman Nick Rahall said 73 > of the
> 166 bills in the package were previously passed by the House and > another 20
> were reviewed in committee.
>
> Republicans said 19 of the bills would block energy production, > including
> hundreds of millions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of
> natural gas. This includes a House-passed bill that designates the > Taunton
> River in Massachusetts as part of the National Park Service's Wild and
> Scenic River program. Republicans said it would kill a proposed > liquefied
> natural gas facility along an urban section of the river. > Environmental
> groups, who are pushing for the overall package, oppose one of its
> provisions that would authorize a road in Alaska's Izembek National
> Wildlife Refuge. The package would set aside more than 2 million > acres in
> nine states as protected wilderness and 100 miles of wild and scenic
> rivers.
>
> The next step for House Democratic leaders is unclear. "We will > continue
> to determine the best course of action to advance these measures," > Rahall
> said in a statement. All but 34 Republicans opposed the package, while
> three Democrats -- Reps. Dan Boren of Oklahoma, Jim Marshall of > Georgia and
> Collin Peterson of Minnesota -- voted against it. The package had > trouble
> getting through the Senate. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., forced a > cloture vote
> on it in January after holding it up for months on grounds it > contained
> frivolous spending.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_1548.php >
> -----
> HILL BRIEFS: AT&T CHIEF WARNS OBAMA NOT TO 'STIFLE' INVESTMENT
>
> Telecommunications. AT&T Chairman Randall Stephenson urged the Obama
> administration today to tread lightly with regulations, declaring that
> "less regulation results in more investment." Speaking at a Newseum > event
> sponsored by the Economic Club of Washington, Stephenson warned that > "if
> you want to stifle investment, if you want to slow down the amount of
> capital attracted into" the telecom sector and other industries, then
> impose burdensome regulatory requirements. His firm spent $38 > billion over
> the last two years on its broadband network and plans to spend up to > $18
> billion this year on infrastructure. Stephenson anticipates the > biggest
> growth opportunities in wireless services, both domestically and > abroad.
> AT&T said Tuesday it is adding 3,000 high-technology jobs, a > development
> that comes three months after it disclosed plans to shed 12,000 > positions,
> or 4 percent of its workforce. Meanwhile, Stephenson announced that > AT&T
> would spend up to $565 million over the next decade to buy 15,000
> alternative-fueled vehicles, the largest such commitment by a U.S. > company.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_5844.php >
> -----
> HILL BRIEFS: REPUBLICANS PROPOSE DRILLING OFFSHORE AND IN ANWR
>
> Energy. A group of House and Senate Republicans Tuesday introduced > energy
> legislation that would expand oil and gas drilling on the Outer > Continental
> Shelf, open the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve to oil and gas > drilling,
> and encourage other initiatives they contend will spur the economy > at no
> cost to taxpayers. "It is a broad-based energy proposal, which would > have
> major positive impact on the economy," said Sen. David Vitter, R-La. > The
> bill has 11 co-sponsors in the Senate and 30 in the House; it is > estimated
> to create about 2 million jobs, and would reduce the cost of energy, > Vitter
> said. Revenue raised by increased oil and gas drilling would be used > for a
> clean and renewable energy trust fund. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, > called the
> bill "a different way to create jobs" and handle the nation's energy > needs
> until clean energy production methods are perfected.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_7835.php >
> -----
> HILL BRIEFS: HOUSE GOP TO OFFER OWN BUDGET
>
> Budget. House Republicans plan to offer an alternative budget on the > floor
> as GOP lawmakers from both chambers step up pressure on the Obama
> administration. House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of > Indiana
> offered few details at a news conference this morning but said the > budget
> will focus on "fiscal restraint" and tax cuts for "working families > and
> small business and family farmers." Senate Republican Conference > Chairman
> Lamar Alexander of Tennessee said Senate Republicans will not offer > their
> own budget but will push alternatives to specific White House > proposals,
> such as a market-based cap-and-trade program. House Minority Leader > Boehner
> and Senate Minority Leader McConnell are expected to offer a similar
> message at a news conference this afternoon.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_6956.php >
> -----
> HILL BRIEFS: SCHOCK TOUTS MIDDLE GROUND ON FILLING SENATE VACANCIES
>
> Politics. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., said today the House bill he has
> offered would be the quickest solution to keep Senate seats from > sitting
> vacant while waiting for a special election to fill them. Testifying > before
> a joint hearing of the House and Senate Judiciary Constitution
> subcommittees, Schock said his bill would allow governors to make a
> temporary appointment until a special election is held within 90 > days to
> finish the term. Schock said his proposal was a "middle ground" > approach,
> although he would support a constitutional amendment being offered > by Sen.
> Russell Feingold, D-Wis., House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers and > House
> Rules ranking member David Dreier stripping governors of their power > to
> fill Senate vacancies and requiring special elections instead. "The > fact
> that only 33 percent of appointed senators win their first general > election
> bid speaks to the fact that the will of the people is not being > represented
> when politicians are allowed to hand-select other 'elected' leaders,"
> Schock said.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_9416.php >
> -----
> HILL BRIEFS: CORRECTIONS
>
> Corrections: Due to incorrect information provided to CongressDaily, a
> story in Tuesday's PM edition mistakenly identified Rep. Tim Murphy of
> Pennsylvania as one of three Republicans co-sponsoring the card > check bill
> in the House. He is not a cosponsor. The third Republican co-sponsor > is
> Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey. Also, a headline in Tuesday's PM > attributed
> language to the wrong lawmaker. It should have read "Specter's > 'Gatekeeper'
> Language Gets Backing."
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_7660.php >
> -----
> THE FINAL WORD: THE FINAL WORD
>
> "The fact that somebody knows how to type with their thumbs can't hurt
> us."
>
> -- Intel Chairman Craig Barrett commenting today on President Obama's
> high-tech prowess. He was responding to a question at a Washington > press
> breakfast on what impact Obama's administration will have on his > industry.
>
>
>
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdai...090311_4513.php >