Today in Washington D. C. - Nov 13, 2007

From Senate sources: The consequences of Democrats’ epic mismanagement of Congress are manifesting themselves this week as the end of the year rapidly approaches. Unfortunately, two days after Veterans Day, Congress still has not completed work on veterans’ funding. The Senate is scheduled to recess for two weeks at the end of this week, although there is still much to do this year and little has been completed.

Critically, Congress has yet to pass dedicated funding for the troops into next year. The Defense spending bill that was finally approved last week (the latest in 20 years the first spending bill was sent to the president) allows the Pentagon to divert funds from its usual accounts to war funding. Democrats continue to hold up supplemental funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It appears a bill with $50 billion in bridge funding will likely move through Congress this week, but Democrats have decided yet again to tie the funding to a specific withdrawal date, this time in December 2008. That Democrats persist in including arbitrary withdrawal dates in Iraq legislation shows astonishing ignorance of events on the ground in Iraq.

The Politico reports on Democrats’ “political and substantive paralysis” on Iraq today, noting that not one of their measures has become law. The Politico story counts 40 Iraq votes, but the actual total is close to 60, because there have been a number of votes on non-binding resolutions, including several that disparaged the surge strategy. Despite Democrats’ demands for retreat, the surge continues to produce positive change in Iraq.

Democrats’ mismanagement has also resulted in a delay in relief for taxpayers who will be affected by the alternative minimum tax (AMT) next year. In a new web video, Sen. McConnell warns of the consequences to taxpayers if the AMT is not fixed soon.

On The Floor: The Senate reconvened at 10 AM today. After 15 minutes of debate, there will be a vote on a district judge nomination.
- The $283 billion farm bill (H.R. 2419) is still on the floor, but because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has prohibited Republicans from offering amendments, work remains stalled.
- Action is possible on an AMT patch the House passed on Friday, which amounts to a tax hike.
- Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) has introduced a bill to condemn state governments that issue driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. The Coleman bill is being cosponsored by GOP Sens. McConnell, Alexander, Dole, DeMint, Chambliss, Martinez, Isakson, Roberts, Lott, Vitter, Burr, Bond, Inhofe, Coburn, and Graham.
- Meanwhile, the Judiciary Committee is expected to mark up FISA legislation in a meeting on Thursday.

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