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Tuesday in Congress …BP


The Senate Convenes: 10:00amET June 29, 2010

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business for 1 hour with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Majority will control the first 30 minutes and the Republicans will control the next 30 minutes.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume the motion to proceed to HR5297, the Small Business Jobs bill.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

At 2:15pm, the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Small Business Jobs bill.

The Senate is considering HR5297, the Small Business Jobs bill. The following amendments are pending to the bill:
– Baucus amendment #4402 (substitute)
– Reid #s 4403-4409 (technical amendments)

Votes:
202: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to HR5297, Small Business Jobs bill;
Invoked: 66-33

Unanimous Consent:
Adopted H.Con.Res.285, Year of the Father.

Adopted S.Res.554, National Day of the Cowboy.

Adopted S.Res.564, Japan.

Adopted S.Con.Res. a concurrent resolution providing for the use of the catafalque situated in the Exhibition Hall of the CVC in connection with memorial services to be conducted in the U.S. Senate Chamber for the Honorable Robert C. Byrd, late a Senator from the State of West Virginia.

Adopted S.Res.574, a resolution relative to the memorial observances of the Honorable Robert C. Byrd, late a Senator from the State of West Virginia.

*********************************************************

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JUNE 29, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

2/3 votes needed to pass – but the House REJECTS continuing federal benefits 261-155 HR5618

4:43 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

4:42 P.M. –

Mr. Poe of TX requested that Mr. Moran of KS be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on July 2.

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on July 1: Mr. Paul for 5 min.

Mr. Poe of TX requested that Mr. Paul be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on June 30.

4:35 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

H. Res. 1484:

expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives on the death of the Honorable Robert C. Byrd, a Senator from the State of West Virginia

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

The previous question was ordered without objection.

3:47 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1484

3:46 P.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

H.R. 5623:

to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the homebuyer tax credit for the purchase of a principal residence before October 1, 2010, in the case of a written binding contract entered into with respect to such principal residence before May 1, 2010, and for other purposes

3:45 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 – 5 (Roll no. 401).

3:38 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 5552:

to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that the payment of the manufacturers’ excise tax on recreational equipment be paid quarterly and to provide for the assessment by the Secretary of the Treasury of certain criminal restitution

3:37 P.M. –

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 – 6 (Roll no. 400).

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

3:30 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

3:23 P.M. –

MOMENT OF SILENCE – The House observed a moment of silence in memory of the late Honorable Marvin Esch.

H. Res. 1244:

recognizing the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for its now five-year effort to promote cyber security curriculum in institutions of higher learning

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 – 2 (Roll no. 399).

3:16 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 5618:

to continue Federal unemployment programs

3:15 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 261 – 155 (Roll no. 398).

2:48 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

2:47 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Res. 1153:

recognizing the heroic efforts of the West Virginia National Guard and local responders for their work rescuing 17 individuals from a downed military helicopter on a rugged, snow-covered mountain on the Pocahontas-Randolph county line

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 voice vote.

2:33 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1153.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Critz moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H.R. 5623:

to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the homebuyer tax credit for the purchase of a principal residence before October 1, 2010, in the case of a written binding contract entered into with respect to such principal residence before May 1, 2010, and for other purposes

2:32 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

2:14 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5623.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Levin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 5552:

to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that the payment of the manufacturers’ excise tax on recreational equipment be paid quarterly and to provide for the assessment by the Secretary of the Treasury of certain criminal restitution

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

2:00 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5552.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Kind moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 5611:

to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, and for other purposes

1:59 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

1:48 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5611.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Lewis (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H. Res. 1460:

recognizing the important role pollinators play in supporting the ecosystem and supporting the goals and ideals of National Pollinator Week

1:47 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Cardoza objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

1:36 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1460.

Mr. Cardoza moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

H.R. 2340:

to resolve the claims of the Bering Straits Native Corporation and the State of Alaska to land adjacent to Salmon Lake in the State of Alaska and to provide for the conveyance to the Bering Straits Native Corporation of certain other public land in partial satisfaction of the land entitlement of the Corporation under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

1:35 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Heinrich objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

1:32 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2340.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Heinrich moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 4445:

to amend Public Law 95-232 to repeal a restriction on treating as Indian country certain lands held in trust for Indian pueblos in New Mexico

1:31 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Heinrich objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

1:27 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4445.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Heinrich moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 1554:

to take certain property in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, into trust for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and for other purposes

1:26 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

1:21 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1554.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Boren moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

S.J. Res. 33:

to provide for the reconsideration and revision of the proposed constitution of the United States Virgin Islands to correct provisions inconsistent with the Constitution and Federal law

1:20 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

1:12 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S.J. Res. 33.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mrs. Christensen moved to suspend the rules and pass the resolution.

H.R. 5618:

to continue Federal unemployment programs

1:11 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

12:39 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5618.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Levin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H.R. 4307:

to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Artesia, New Mexico, as the “Alejandro Renteria Ruiz Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic”

12:37 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

12:30 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4307.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H. Res. 1228:

honoring the veterans of Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three and their families

12:29 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

12:22 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1228.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Res. 1446:

recognizing the residents of the City of Tracy, California, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the city’s incorporation, for their century of dedicated service to the United States

12:21 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

12:17 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1446.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H.R. 4505:

to enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces

12:16 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

12:10 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4505.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

12:09 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

11:29 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

11:28 A.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Johnson, Eddie Bernice of TX to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

11:27 A.M. –

On motion to adjourn Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 23 – 379 (Roll no. 397).

11:11 A.M. –

Mr. Broun (GA) moved that the House do now adjourn.

H. Res. 1439:

congratulating the Chicago Blackhawks on winning the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship

11:10 A.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): 395 – 5, 1 Present (Roll no. 396).

11:03 A.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

11:02 A.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.

11:00 A.M. –

MOMENT OF SILENCE – The House observed a moment of silence in memory of the late Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia.

On approving the Journal Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 219 – 175, 1 Present (Roll no. 395).

10:33 A.M. –

APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that she had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Melancon demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Melancon demanded the yeas and nays.

10:32 A.M. –

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed S. 3249. Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 286 with an amendment and S. Res. 572.

10:31 A.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Paul Powell, First Baptist Church, Tyler, Texas.

10:30 A.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of June 29.

9:35 A.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today.

9:31 A.M. –

MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 10:30 a.m. for the start of the legislative day.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Donna F. Edwards to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

9:30 A.M. –

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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Call Senators Cantwell/202-224-3441 and Feingold 202-224-5323 -Tell them to vote for Financial REFORM =Final Vote


Is it possible that Senators Cantwell and Feingold will continue to vote No to Financial Reform for the final vote?

Last week a bill that could have made sweeping changes to how business is done on Wall Street, in big Banks possibly in all things financial may now be in trouble today. Even Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln contributed to the reform bill but had to water down her strong derivative trading rule because of all the complaints coming from Republicans and Democrats.

The President stated that this bill will be finalized yet, no one expected the worst, and that was the death of Senator Byrd. Because of the unfortunate death of Senator Byrd and the 60 vote rule, the financial reform bill however watered down it is may not make it through the final vote. The problem is that democrats feel the bill could be stronger then its current form and with Cantwell stating she is now focused on aerospace jobs. Houston we now have a problem with the democratic party of two maybe more. Senator Cantwell, of Seattle, and Wisconsin Senator, Russ Feingold voted no during the conferees meetings; has not shown any efforts to vote the bill into law and have stated they may continue to say no. This attitude has now moved across the aisle as Republican Scott Brown, who voted for reform in May, and four other Republicans have stated they may vote no for the final vote.

We are at a moment that requires all of us to participate in getting this bill across the finish line. Congress works for We the People and though the bill has been watered down, it is definitely a start to getting America back on track in ways that obviously the last guy did not try or seem interested in doing. People on the right have said they want less government, unless and until their states need it. It is obvious every state needs financial reform, this being the biggest since the depression and explains how and why our economy was in such a vulnerable state. In addition, because Congress and previous Presidents failed to make the adjustments need to stave off such an incredible economic crisis we have to temper back Wall Street and reform the bad behavior that comes along with taking risks with other peoples money.

Again, the 27-16 vote for financial reform is a start but Congress has shown us that anything to do with reform will be treated like an ugly vegetable making Congress all but freeze up.  If you listen to radio you will know why democrats  just cannot get on the same page or vote as one Political Party and while it is true that any reform could have ill effects on the rest of the world we do need reform and even if it’s watered down.

This is a call to action for democrats, actually anyone who finally wants reform to call Senators Cantwell and Feingold because without the vote of Senator Byrd the needed vote of 60 is now one vote further away from passing.

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Should we add your name in support of Wall St. reform?


Organizing for America

After more than seven months of work and a prolonged effort by Organizing for America supporters, House and Senate leaders just agreed on a final Wall Street reform bill. They’re moving fast toward final votes.

This is the final hurdle to enacting the toughest financial reforms since the Great Depression — and delivering another historic accomplishment for the American people.

These votes in the House and Senate will come down to the wire. Lobbyists for the big banks will be knocking down the doors on Capitol Hill this week, so we’re going all-in over the next few days to fight back — and that starts with a massive public display of support for the bill.

Many in Congress are fighting hard alongside President Obama for Wall Street reform — they need to hear our support. Others are standing with the special interests — and it’s even more important that they hear from us too.

Add your name now to the growing list of OFA supporters who are standing with the President on Wall Street reform.

Stand with the President for Wall Street reform. Add your name.

Reform doesn’t just help create a more stable economy, it greatly improves the daily lives of all American families. Here are five of the most important benefits of the bill:

1) Reform forces credit card and mortgage companies to play by the rules. No more hidden fees or pages of fine print.

2) Families who are hoping to buy a home or pay for college are put on a level playing field with lenders. Reform ensures they’ll get the information they need presented clearly and concisely so they can make good decisions. The same goes for small businesses and community banks who play fair and deserve to see their businesses grow.

3) The legislation cracks down on predatory lenders looking to mislead people into taking on irresponsible debt.

4) Wall Street reform establishes an independent agency — the Consumer Financial Protection Agency — whose sole job is to protect consumers and enforce the new consumer financial protections, which would be the strongest ever enacted.

5) Finally, American taxpayers will never again be asked to bail out the big banks that are “too big to fail.” Let’s be absolutely clear about this, no matter what our opponents in Congress say.

But these changes will only happen if the President can sign it into law. We need to get the bill to him.

Stand with the President in support of this crucial reform:

http://my.barackobama.com/WSRFinalSignOn

Thank you,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

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White House meeting -clean energy Summit


This is a big week. Tomorrow, President Obama is bringing a bipartisan group of Senate energy leaders to the White House to craft a clean energy bill in response to the Gulf oil disaster. And afterward, on Thursday, the Senate Democratic Caucus will meet again to decide its course of action.

But in the face of pressure from corporate lobbyists, there’s a very real chance that the Senate will wind up with a bill of half-measures, slapping a band-aid over the approximately 3 million barrels spilled into the Gulf so far, while ignoring the untold damage we cause by consuming over 2,000 times as much oil every year. We have to address the underlying causes of our addiction to dirty energy, not just the symptoms — and as President Obama said earlier this month, “The only way the transition to clean energy will ultimately succeed … is by finally putting a price on carbon pollution.”

Join Repower America and 17 other organizations in signing an urgent letter to President Obama and Senate energy leaders demanding they make comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation a reality — and we will deliver your signatures directly to the White House.

Sign the letter

Nearly one full year after the House of Representatives passed comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation, the President is calling on the Senate to find consensus and pass a bill that addresses America’s addiction to fossil fuels.

But time is running out to pass this legislation before Capitol Hill grinds to a halt in August so lawmakers can campaign for the November midterm elections — even as oil may still be still pouring into the Gulf. To adequately address the disaster on our hands, this legislation must accomplish four essential goals:

  1. Respond directly to the Gulf oil disaster to begin to remedy the damage and hold BP accountable
  2. Reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels
  3. Set limits on carbon pollution
  4. Improve energy efficiency and expand renewable energy production

Our letter to the President and Senate leaders emphasizes these essential points and stresses the need to include them in a comprehensive climate and clean energy bill, and pass this bill as soon as possible. Seventeen partner organizations have already signed on, but that’s not enough: We also need as many citizen co-signers as possible to demonstrate to our leaders in Washington that Americans all across the country demand a comprehensive solution.

Read the letter and add your name before the White House clean energy meeting tomorrow.

Thanks for your work to help America get the strong bill we deserve,

Maggie L. Fox
Chief Executive Officer
The Climate Protection Action Fund
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another manic Monday &some News


We are at a moment when Americans should speak up and out for the need to spend, to stimulate our economy, the end of G8/G20 summit showed how other countries are having a tough time with the decision to keep stimulating or to draw back and focus on the deficit;  this week will be full of  event that impact our lives in so many ways in Congress, the confirmation of a new Supreme Court Justice, or President’s second nominee that could change some outcomes on the panel and definitely debates/votes on a Jobs Bill this week.  …take part -call your representative tell them not to give up because rumors are that they will give HR4213 one more effort. Americans should not let the hammer of fear wielded by Republicans get the best of what the Obama Administration campaigned on and can’t do by himself –

Today we all found out that Senator Robert Byrd, the longest serving member of the Senate died at 92. This was a man who was ill during the HCR but came in to vote when he had to even though he was ill, he was once a KKK member and as he lived life he stated that intolerance has no room here on the planet. I have heard all day that this man will be missed. The Elena Kagan confirmation hearings start today and while we have all watched as Sonia Sotomayor was questioned, possibly abused verbally we all need to be aware of what goes on and take part because the Congress will only create laws and or pass legislation with the push of the people at their backs. Republicans and maybe a couple of Democrats will act and or vote with a personal agenda involved, which is okay in a normal situation but we almost had our complete financial system crash, which effected everything else here in the states as well as globally. I would like someone to tell me that should a crisis can be solved in 18 months. The downfall of our economy began a couple of Presidents ago but this particular one has to get it under control before everyone decides to vote for him again or holding votes because of the slow road of progress of DADT, Climate and Clean Energy over his head? Absurd behavior

As budget reductions, begin to happen here in Seattle. You have to wonder just how many people will be affected and how many other states are beginning to cut what they consider non-essential programs and how this is a direct result from the stalling blocking and obstructionist behavior of Republicans in the Senate because they have decided to say NO to a Jobs Bill. For an example, City Light programs like the “Fridge Program” and the popular Skagit Tours programs are suspended for the rest of the year and will not return until 2011. Seattle City Light recommends that people should still unplug your old second or third freezer or refrigerators’. Those people who already have appointments will still get the free pick-up. The domino effect from budgets having to be cut because states will have to cut whatever can be called non-essential will be things that could lead us all into the 21st Century but Congress has said no we cannot help the states we have big deficits. The cuts to our first responders will be deep all over the country and in a time when the gulf coast needs help the failure to pass a jobs bill and tax extenders will increase the problems there as well. The fridge program might seem small but the effort is to bring folks into the 21st Century increase savings by getting old appliances off the grid, apparently the savings can be big.

The Cash for Appliances and City light’s WashWise program is still running and people can get up to $200 by buying qualified washers; you can get a $75 rebate for Energy Star refrigerators. These two programs run until 12/31/2011 or until the funds run out. To get more information go to www.cashforapplianceswa.com or www.washwiserebate.com and for details about Energy Conservation call the help line 206-684-3800. If you want info about visiting the upper, Skagit River or the North Cascades go to www.ncascades.org or http://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm.

Other News …

**Supreme court Justices extended gun ownership rights to everyone w/some limitations

**Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) admitted to David Gregory that he does not agree with Brewer’s fallacious comments, but refused to address whether such gross exaggerations “make the debate harder”:TP

**In his New York Times column, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman warns we are in the early stages of a “third depression.” “This third depression,” he writes, “will be primarily a failure of policy” as the world’s leading governments obsess “about inflation when the real threat is deflation, preaching the need for belt-tightening when the real problem is inadequate spending.”TP

**A USA Today/Gallup poll finds a majority of Americans (53 percent) approve of President Obama’s decision to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal with Gen. David Petraeus. A greater percentage — 58 percent — back the plan to start pulling out U.S. troops in July 2011.TP

**The “headline achievement” of the G-20 summit was an agreement by developed nations to “halve their annual deficits within three years.” Although the U.S. signed on to the plan, President Obama urged continued spending to support growth, stating, “[W]e must recognize that our fiscal health tomorrow will rest in no small measure on our ability to create jobs and growth today.”TP

**Boeing workers voted to ratify a union contract against union leader advice

C-SPAN …

watch Pres. Obama’s Weekly Address watch Republican Weekly Address

watch Pres. Obama Concluding Press Conference

watch From Sunday, June 27 PM Haper G20 briefing

watch Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) in Las Vegas

Sen. Robert C. Byrd (1917-2010)

92-year-old Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) died earlier this morning. First elected in 1958, Sen. Byrd was the longest serving U.S. Senator and Member of Congress in history. He is also the author of five books, including a series on the history of the Senate.

House Majority Leader Discusses National Security Issues

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)speaks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on the Democrats National Security Strategy. He will likely discuss President Obama’s strategy that was released in May and the prospects for passage of additional funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.Tomorrow, Gen. David Petraeus will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee in a confirmation hearing to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal as lead commander of troops in Afghanistan. McChrystal resigned last week in the wake of a recently released Rolling Stone article. In the story, General McChrystal and members of his staff are quoted as criticing the Vice President and other members of the Administration.

Kagan confirmation hearing begins

The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up the nomination of Elena Kagan to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Judiciary Committee members and Elena Kagan will make opening statements and move to the question and answer session beginning Tuesday. She will be introduced by Massachusetts Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Scott Brown (R-MA).The committee plans four days of hearings with the questioning of the nominee Tuesday and Wednesday and outside witnesses on Thursday. If confirmed, Elena Kagan will replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens on the Court.

watch C-SPAN’s Senate Confirmation Hub Page
watch Opening statements on C-SPAN3 at 12:30pm ET