Today in Washington D. C. - June 25, 2008

On The Floor: The Senate - yesterday invoked cloture on the Dodd substitute amendment to the housing bill. They will resume post-cloture consideration of the motion to concur with the Dodd substitute amendment to the housing bill (House message to Senate amendments to H.R. 3221). Later in the day, there will be a cloture vote on the compromise FISA bill (H.R. 6304). Democrats opposed to the bill, including Sens. Barack Obama, Russ Feingold, and Chris Dodd, are hoping to get a vote on an amendment to strip from the bill the critical immunity provisions for telecoms that cooperated with terror surveillance. However, Obama has indicated that he will vote for the final bill. Wonders how he will justify that vote to the ACLU and trial lawyers if the amendment to strip the immunity provisions fails as it is expected. The Senate also confirmed former Clinton appointee Judge Helene White to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The House - yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee voted to cut and remove funding for proven enforcement measures such as the 287(g) program, which enables local police and sheriffs to enforce immigration laws, and workplace enforcement activities. The measure will, among other things, require ICE to spend $800 million to identify and deport illegal aliens who have committed serious crimes. The committee was not interested in deporting illegals who violated the our laws but who had not yet committed in their definition "serious crimes."

From Senate & News Sources: Senate Republicans are continuing to call for American energy solutions that increase domestic supplies and create jobs. GOP senators also continue to highlight the lack of serious proposals from Democrats on energy issues and the Democrats’ “gradual adjustment” approach to high gas prices. A Senate Democrat aide remarked that passing legislation to curb rising gas prices “would not actually have a tremendous enough impact on gas prices in time for the election” and “can almost hurt you” politically.

Republicans disagree and have been trying for some time to pass legislation to increase available domestic energy supplies. GOP senators will roll out a new energy package tomorrow with the goal of pressuring Democrats to sign on to proposals Americans agree with, such a drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. Republicans, led by Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) continue trying to get renewable energy tax credits but Democrats leaders have blocked all attempts on legislations expected to be signed into law.

Unfortunately, the Democrat's liberal leaders have shown little interest in doing anything about energy supplies, and instead have looked for scapegoats like futures traders and oil companies or returned to old hobbyhorses such as price gouging, as House Democrats did yesterday. In particular, Democrats in the Senate have made a great deal of noise about “speculators” in the oil markets. The New York Times notes today, “one of the nation’s best-known energy experts, Daniel Yergin, is expected to tell Congress that the focus on speculation is largely misguided.”

In contrast, responsible Democrats have come together with Republicans on a compromise on reforming FISA. Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO), Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee explains the importance of the FISA agreement in an op-ed for USA Today: “The agreement also gives vital civil liability protection to companies that answered the call of duty after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Without such protection, it is likely our private partners will refuse to cooperate with future requests for assistance. This is a risk our nation cannot accept." Unfortunately, some Democrat Senators indicated htey will support an amendment to strike these liability protections. The Senate has already rejected a similar amendment and should do so again.

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