Daily Archives: 06/17/2010
Republicans … judge for yourself
Apologize to BP? add your name …we won’t apologize
When BP CEO Tony Hayward testified before Congress this morning, many expected to hear him apologize for the disaster his company has caused. Instead, GOP Congressman Joe Barton was the one saying he was sorry — to BP.
In his opening statement, Barton, the top Republican on the committee overseeing the oil spill and its aftermath, delivered a personal apology to the oil giant. He said the $20 billion fund that President Obama directed BP to establish to provide relief to the victims of the oil disaster was a “tragedy in the first proportion.”
Other Republicans are echoing his call. Sen. John Cornyn said he “shares” Barton’s concern. Rep. Michele Bachmann said that BP shouldn’t agree to be “fleeced.” Rush Limbaugh called it a “bailout.” The Republican Study Committee, with its 114 members in the House, called it a “shakedown.”
Let’s be clear. This fund is a major victory for the people of the Gulf. It’s a key step toward making them whole again. BP has a responsibility to those whose lives and livelihoods have been devastated by the disaster. And BP oil executives don’t deserve an apology — the people of the Gulf do.
Rep. Barton and Republicans like him don’t understand that the real tragedy is what’s happening to the people in the Gulf Coast. They’re the ones who deserve his apology — not BP.
But big oil knows exactly who its allies are. And if Republicans win control of the House, Rep. Barton could be chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee — overseeing regulation of the oil and gas industry.
Notably, companies like Halliburton — the folks responsible for cementing the Deepwater Horizon rig — are directing their political committees to deliver thousands of dollars to GOP candidates this cycle. Barton himself has received more than $100,000 from the oil and gas industry this election cycle.
Barton should apologize to the people of the Gulf and he should step down as the highest-ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Adding your name to our open letter is one of the best ways you can show him and other Republicans that they weren’t elected to defend big oil.
Sign the open letter today:
http://my.barackobama.com/NoApologies
Thanks,
David Plouffe
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RADICAL RIGHT — CANADIAN BILLIONAIRE SET TO LAUNCH A CONSERVATIVE NETWORK BEING DUBBED ‘FOX NEWS NORTH’: Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s ex-communications director Kory Teneycke has teamed up with media company Quebecor — run by billionaire media tycoon Karl Pierre Peladeau — to start a new “24-hour conservative news and comment channel” called Sun TV News, which many media insiders are dubbing “Fox News North.” Interestingly, Teneycke met with News Corp. Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch and Fox News President Roger Ailes just four months before leaving his position to join Quebecor. The meeting was not listed on Harper’s public itinerary and “only came to light when The Canadian Press searched media consultant Ari Fleischer’s mandatory disclosures with the U.S. Justice Department,” although Teneycke insists that the Quebecor venture was not discussed. However, just four months later — “barely a year into his job as Harper’s chief spokesman” — Teneycke “pick[ed] up a contract with Quebecor to explore a project that Ottawa insiders almost immediately described as a fledgling ‘Fox News North.'” Teneycke, now the vice president of Quebecor, has told the press that Sun TV News will offer “an attractive mix of hard-news reporting during the day and straight talk opinion journalism at night” that will take on “smug, condescending, often irrelevant journalism” and “political correctness.” He insisted that the channel “will not be another network catering to elite opinion” or the “lame-stream media,” a phrase also used by former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. Peladeau plans to “invest $100 million over five years to tear up Canadian TV’s rule book with [the] conservative all-news channel in a mostly liberal Canuck TV landscape.”
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threnody Thursday in Congress
The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET June 17, 2010
Updates as needed -the first benefits test vote fell short of passing
Following any leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 10:00am with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The majority will control the first half and the Republicans will control the final half.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the House Message to accompany HR4213, Tax Extenders.
At 10:00am, there will be up to 2 hours for debate equally divided on the Thune amendment #4333 (Republican substitute). Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Thune amendment
Additional roll call votes in relation to amendments to the Tax Extenders bill are expected to occur throughout the day.
The following amendments are pending to Tax Extenders:
– Coburn amendment #4331 (pay-fors)
– Div 1. Disclosing true cost of Congressional borrowing and spending.
– Div 2. Reducing budgets of members of Congress.
– Div 3. Enacting the White House’s proposed 5 percent cut on government spending.
– Div 4. Eliminating nonessential government travel.
– Div 5. Reducing unnecessary printing and publishing costs of government documents.
– Div 6. Disposing of unneeded and unused government property.
– Div 7. Auctioning and selling of unused and unneeded equipment.
– Div 8. Capping the total number of federal employees.
– Div 9. Temporary one-year freeze on cost of federal employees salaries.
– Div 10. Collection of unpaid taxes from employees of the federal government.
– Div 11. Reducing excessive duplication and overhead within the federal government.
– Div 12. Eliminating bonuses for poor performance by government contractors.
– Div 13. $1 billion limitation on voluntary payments to the UN.
– Div 14. Returning excessive funds from an unnecessary, unneeded, unrequested, duplicative reserve fund that may never be spent.
– Div 15. Rescinding a state department training facility unwanted by residents of the community in which it is planned to be constructed. (Maryland)
– Div 16. Eliminating a wasteful and inefficient government program (Energy Star).
– Div 17. Rescinding unspent stimulus finds.
– Div 18. Reducing wasteful energy costs by the Department of Energy.
– Div 19. Striking an earmark that increases the Medicare payments for some California doctors.
– Div 20. No new taxes.
– Casey #4371 (COBRA)
– LeMieux #4300 (2007 spending levels)
– Senator DeMint moves to refer the House Message to accompany H.R.4213 (Tax Extenders) to the Committee on Finance with instructions to report the same back to the Senate with changes to include a permanent extension of the 15 percent income tax rate on capital gains and dividends under section 1(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and to include provisions which decrease spending or increase net revenues as appropriate to offset such permanent extension.
We are currently working on an agreement to vote at 7:30pm on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to HR4213, with Baucus amendment #4369 (substitute). We will set the filing deadline for second degree amendments to Tax Extenders for 7:30pm tonight. If your senator has a germane second degree amendment and would like to preserve their right to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the cloakroom prior to the deadline so that we may filed it at the desk for you.
Votes:
193: Thune motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Thune amendment #4333: (substitute);
Not Waived: 41-57
194: Motion to invoke cloture on the Baucus motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to HR4213, Tax Extenders, with Baucus amendment 4369 (substitute);
Not Invoked: 56-40.
Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.J.Res. 33, a joint resolution to provide for the reconsideration and revision of the proposed constitution of the U.S. Virgin Islands to correct provisions inconsistent with the Constitution and federal law.
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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00amET on June 17, 2010
CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JUNE 17, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION
2:16 P.M. –
SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
2:15 P.M. –
Mr. Graves of GA requested the following general leaves to address the House on June 24: Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min, Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min, and Mr. Jones for 5 min.
2:09 P.M. –
ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
recognizing the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and reaffirming the United States-Korea alliance
2:04 P.M. –
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Considered as unfinished business.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of a motion to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for small business job creation, and for other purposes
2:03 P.M. –
Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1436, H.R. 5486 is laid on the table.
to create the Small Business Lending Fund Program to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make capital investments in eligible institutions in order to increase the availability of credit for small businesses, and for other purposes
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 241 – 182 (Roll no. 375).
1:54 P.M. –
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 180 – 237 (Roll no. 374).
1:36 P.M. –
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
1:26 P.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Neugebauer motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House with an amendment to add a new paragraph and subsection pertaining to SIGTARP.
Mr. Neugebauer moved to recommit with instructions to Financial Services.
1:25 P.M. –
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
1:24 P.M. –
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 5297.
1:23 P.M. –
On agreeing to the Miller (NC) amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 418 – 3 (Roll no. 373).
1:14 P.M. –
On agreeing to the Cao amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 414 – 0, 1 Present (Roll no. 372).
1:07 P.M. –
On agreeing to the Israel amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 420 – 0 (Roll no. 371).
12:39 P.M. –
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Miller (NC) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Miller (NC) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
12:30 P.M. –
DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1448, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Miller (NC) amendment.
Amendment offered by Mr. Miller (NC).
An amendment printed in House Report 111-508 to expand the definition of `small business lending’ used in the bill to include loans made to small business concerns for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, or improving industrial, commercial, residential, or farm buildings.
12:29 P.M. –
On agreeing to the Schrader amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
12:20 P.M. –
DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1448, the Committee of the Whole House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schrader amendment.
Amendment offered by Mr. Schrader.
An amendment printed in House Report 111-508 to authorize the establishment of the Small Business Borrower Assistance Program which will create a fund for 7(a) loan borrowers to use if they need help paying the principal or interest payments of their small business loans.
12:19 P.M. –
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Considered as unfinished business.
12:18 P.M. –
The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed S.J. Res. 32.
celebrating the symbol of the United States flag and supporting the goals and ideals of Flag Day
12:17 P.M. –
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 – 0 (Roll no. 370).
12:10 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business.
12:09 P.M. –
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of a motion to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
providing for further consideration of the bill ( H.R. 5297) to create the Small Business Lending Fund Program to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make capital investments in eligible institutions in order to increase the availability of credit for small businesses, and for other purposes
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 237 – 179 (Roll no. 369).
12:01 P.M. –
On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 241 – 179 (Roll no. 368).
10:30 A.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1448
Considered as privileged matter.
10:06 A.M. –
ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 10 per side of the aisle.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Foxx to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
10:05 A.M. –
Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.
The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
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