From Senate & News Sources: Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, House GOP Leader John Boehner and President Bush Are in agreement that a Democrats’ funding deal reported on over the weekend is unacceptable. McConnell said, “While it’s certainly encouraging to see Congressional Democrats stand up to the anti-war fringe and start the process of living up to Congress’ commitment to fund the troops in harm’s way, the rest of their self-negotiated ‘deal’ . . . remains unacceptable to Congressional Republicans. The funding levels they are reportedly prepared to offer for their 11 unfinished funding bills is too much to ask of the American taxpayer.”According to news reports, as the omnibus currently is $11 billion beyond the president’s budget request, which could cost $156 billion over ten years. It appears Iraq funding will not be included in the omnibus bill that could be sent from that House. This continues to be unacceptable to Senate Republicans, and if the money is not eventually added, Sen. Ted Stevens has said he will lead a filibuster of the package.
The current continuing resolution (CR) that is funding the government expires on Friday, so another CR may be needed until agreement on appropriations is reached. Meanwhile, the Senate continues to work on the farm bill, but that could be interrupted if there is House action on the omnibus or on the alternative minimum tax. House Democrats may try to again offer an AMT fix that includes offsetting tax increases.
Two intelligence measures are being worked on and could see floor action this week: 1) FISA reform, which Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell discusses in an op-ed today. 2) The intelligence authorization bill which has the potential to get caught up in another waterboarding debate. Democrats may offer an amendment concerning interrogation techniques to either bill. Other pieces of legislation that could come up this week are a conference report on the fiscal 2008 Defense authorization bill and a second try at the Democrats’ energy package.
On The Floor: On Friday, the Senate rejected, by a vote of 53-42, a cloture motion on the motion to concur with the House amendment to the Democrats’ energy package (H.R. 6). Republicans object to the inclusion of tax increases and mandates on renewable energy sources.
Today, the Senate reconvenes at 3 PM and will resume consideration of the farm bill (H.R. 2419). No voting until tomorrow. CQ SenateWatch details that in the debate on the 2007 farm reauthorization there will be a "hotly contested amendment" sponsored by Dorgan, D-ND, and Grassley, R-IA to cap annual farm subsidies at $250,000 per farming household, an increase from the current limit of $360,000 a year. Then there is another measure by Klobuchar, D-MN to bar full-time farmers making more than $750,000 a year and part-time farmers making more than $250,000 a year from getting subsidies. Also, Lugar, R-IN, has an amendment that would make deep cuts to farm subsidies and bolster crop insurance.
Tags: appropriations, Farm bill, FISA, omnibus bill, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
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