Today in Washington D. C. - June 27, 2008

On The Floor: Yesterday, the Senate voted overwhelmingly, 92-6 to pass a war funding bill to fund troops in Iraq and Afghanistan through next year that also included an expanded and updated GI bill (H.R. 2642). The bill provides $164.5 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through June 2009. The Senate also confirmed two district judges last night. A cloture vote on a bill to prevent Medicare pay cuts to doctors (H.R. 6331) failed because Democrats decided they wanted to pay for it by cutting Medicare Advantage programs. Democrats subsequently blocked an effort by Sen. McConnell to pass a bill to postpone the pay cuts until Congress could come to an agreement.

Uncompleted are the compromise FISA bill (H.R. 6304) and the housing bill. After more than four months of reduced surveillance capability because of the intransigence of House Democrats, A yesterday a few Democrats stepped in to again delay passage of a compromise FISA bill until July. The delaying tactics by Democrats opposed to the immunity provisions in the bill; Sens. Russ Feingold (D-WI), Pat Leahy (D-VT), and Chris Dodd (D-CT) forced Reid to put off FISA votes until after the Senate returns.

From Senate & News Sources: Consumer Reports has a new survey reflecting the frustration of Americans with high gas prices. According to CNN, “77% of consumers said the root of high gas prices lies with the government’s failure to implement an effective energy policy.”

As reported yesterday, Republican Senators offered the Gas Price Reduction Act of 2008 to finally start producing more American energy and take away Democrats’ excuses for opposing any proposals to increase domestic supplies of oil. Democrats can no longer hide behind ANWR or their opposition to clean coal technology. If they are serious about doing anything on gas prices, they should support this bill. Sen. Lamar Alexander said yesterday, “When we say, ‘deep shore exploration,’ they say ‘no we can’t.’ When we say ‘oil shale development,’ they say ‘no we can’t.’ When we say ‘more nuclear power to plug in electric cars and trucks,’ they say ‘no we can’t.’” The American people want Congress to say “yes we can” on domestic oil production and it’s time for the Democrats to step up.

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