Today in Washington D. C. - Jan 31, 2008

On The Floor: Senate reconvenes at 11 AM today. Depending on negotiations, Majority Leader Harry Reid could choose to continue consideration of the FISA reform bill (S. 2248) or move to the Finance Committee’s version of the economic stimulus bill (H.R. 5140). Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee passed a modified version of Sen. Max Baucus’ (D-MT) economic stimulus proposal by a vote of 14-7.

From Senate & News Sources: The Senate has now spent three days on the FISA bill without much to show for it. Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Kit Bond (R-MO) recorded a web video yesterday urging his Senate colleagues to “get serious about the need to pass this important legislation.” [Video at right -->]

As part of an effort to continue to bring greater transparency and confidence to the use of taxpayers’ money, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced the creation of a fiscal reform working group which will “review the earmark process for spending and revenue and recommend additional means for the Senate to bring greater transparency and fiscal responsibility to government spending.” The group is tasked with reporting its findings to the Republican Conference by March 15th. The group will be chaired by Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) and include Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Thad Cochran (R-MS), and Mike Crapo (R-ID).

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have decided to, in the words of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “lard up the stimulus and revive provisions on which House Democrats compromised with the president.” Sen. McConnell criticized this approach to the economic stimulus bill, “The Baucus proposal has become yet another Christmas tree and will only grow and slow down when it reaches the Senate floor. We need to act now, and the way to do that is the bill that passed the House by an overwhelming, bipartisan margin.”

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