Last week, we discussed how immigration reform including a roadmap to earned citizenship for the 11 MILLION undocumented immigrants already here would be an $832 BILLION cumulative boost to the economy over the next ten years. Today, there’s even more evidence that immigration reform is just what the economy needs.
Official government estimates show that reforming our immigration system to increase legal immigration will be a huge boost to deficit reduction efforts. A chart highlighted today by ThinkProgress and Quartz shows why immigration reform might be one of the smartest and most effective deficit reduction plans out there:
The OMB estimates (pdf, p. 56) that increasing immigration by 300,000 people a year, to 1.3 million, would be the equivalent of 0.6% of GDP in deficit reduction, or about $100 billion, each year between 2014 and 2088. Sounds like plan to tackle the debt to me.
In addition to underscoring the benefits of immigration reform, this also shows that deficit reduction does not have to come exclusively from the kind of painful austerity spending cuts championed by the GOP. Smart policy changes in areas like immigration can also help reduce our deficit and grow the economy.
BOTTOM LINE: Immigration reform will boost the economy, reduce the deficit, and help create new opportunities for all Americans, no matter where they were born.
Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed
The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Tuesday, April 23, 2013.
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.743, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013. All time during adjournment, morning business and recess will be counted post-cloture on the motion to proceed.
The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
Senator Reid asked unanimous consent to request a conference with the House and name conferees on the Budget resolution.
Senator Toomey objected on behalf of Senator Sessions.
Senator Reid asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass S.788, a bill to suspend the fiscal year 2013 sequestration and offset with funds from the Overseas Contingency Operations. Senator Coburn objected. Senator Coburn then asked consent to take up and pass an Inhofe-Toomey bill, Calendar #19, S.16, a bill to provide for a sequester replacement. Senator Reid objected.
The Senate reached an agreement that if the Senate receives H.R.475 from the House of Representatives and the bill is identical to the text of which is at the desk, then the bill be read three times and the Senate proceed to a vote, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Minority Leader, with no intervening action or debate. H.R.475, a bill to amend the internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include vaccines against seasonal influenza within the definition of taxable vaccines.
At 10:30am tomorrow, Wednesday, April 24, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:
– Executive Calendar #60, the nomination of Jane Kelly, of Iowa, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit; and
– Executive Calendar #64, the nomination of Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
There will be 90 minutes of debate, with time from 10:30 until 11:00am on the Kelly nomination and the time from 11:00am until 12:00 noon on the Burwell nomination. At approximately 12:00 noon, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations. If all time is used, the votes would begin at approximately 12:00 noon. The first vote will be a 15 minute vote and the second vote will be a 10 minute vote.
WRAP UP FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013
No ROLL CALL VOTES
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
Adopted S.Res.105, designating April 2013 as “Financial Literacy Month”.
Adopted S.Res.106, commending rehabilitation counselors and supporting the goals and ideals of National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day.
Adopted S.Res.107, honoring military children during the National Month of the Military Child.
Adopted S.Res.108, designating April 2013 as “National 9-1-1 Education Month”.
Began the Rule 14 process of S.788, to suspend FY2013 sequestration. (Reid)
The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:32 P.M.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Kerry L. Bentivolio to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:54 P.M.
MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:15:25 P.M.
The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.
2:00:24 P.M.
The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 23.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Ms. Foxx demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx made a point of no quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.
ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:19:05 P.M.
BRITISH-AMERICAN INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP – Pursuant to 22 U.S.C 276L, and the order of the House of January 3, 2013, the Speaker appointed the following member of the House to the BRITISH-AMERICAN INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP: Mr. Holding.
2:19:10 P.M.
The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 4:30 P.M. today.
4:29:19 P.M.
The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 23.
4:30:26 P.M.
The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
4:30:40 P.M.
H.R. 1067
Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1067 — “To make revisions in title 36, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current and make technical corrections and improvements.”
4:30:55 P.M.
H.R. 1067
Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:30:56 P.M.
H.R. 1067
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1067.
4:34:53 P.M.
H.R. 1067
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.
4:35:03 P.M.
H.R. 1068
Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1068 — “To enact title 54, United States Code, “National Park Service and Related Programs”, as positive law.”
4:35:21 P.M.
H.R. 1068
Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:35:28 P.M.
H.R. 1068
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1068.
4:40:49 P.M.
H.R. 1068
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.
4:41:20 P.M.
The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for approximately 6:30 P.M. today.
6:30:18 P.M.
The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 23.
6:30:47 P.M.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:31:25 P.M.
H.R. 1067
Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1067 — “To make revisions in title 36, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current and make technical corrections and improvements.”
7:00:50 P.M.
H.R. 1067
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 – 0 (Roll no. 118).
7:00:51 P.M.
H.R. 1067
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:00:51 P.M.
H.R. 1068
Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1068 — “To enact title 54, United States Code, “National Park Service and Related Programs”, as positive law.”
7:08:40 P.M.
H.R. 1068
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 – 0 (Roll no. 119).
7:08:40 P.M.
H.R. 1068
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:08:43 P.M.
UNFINISHED BUESINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and put the question on agreeing to the Journal de novo.
7:16:33 P.M.
On approving the Journal Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 285 – 118, 1 Present (Roll no. 120).
7:17:13 P.M.
ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
9:31:18 P.M.
Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.
9:31:33 P.M.
On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
9:31:34 P.M.
The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on April 24, 2013.
The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, April 22.
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
At 5:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act, and immediately proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed.
As a reminder at 5:30pm today, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours for debate prior to adoption of the motion to proceed.
5:30pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act;
Invoked: 74-20
At 5:55pm, the Senate invoked cloture on the motion to proceed to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act, by a vote of 74-20. By consent, all time during any adjournment, recess, or period of morning business will count post-cloture. There will be no further roll call votes tonight.
WRAP UP
ROLL CALL VOTE
1) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.743, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013; Invoked: 74-20
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
Adopted S.Res.90, Standing with the people of Kenya following their national and local elections on March 4, 2013, and urging a peaceful and credible resolution of electoral disputes in the courts with a committee-reported amendment to the resolution, a committee-reported amendment to the preamble and a committee-reported amendment to the title.
Discharged the HELP committee of S.437, the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act and referred it to the Banking committee.
The problems with the current Senate rules — namely the abuse of the filibuster by Republicans — are well known. Less well understood is how the Senate by design empowers the residents of small states at the expense of residents of larger states. This fact explains why a policy like background checks that enjoys the support of over 90 percent of Americans can still be killed in the Senate through a combination of filibuster abuse and the Senate’s bias toward small states.
As the least populous state, Wyoming makes out like bandits when it comes to Senate representation, but they are far from alone in enjoying such a windfall. A voter in Idaho (population 1,595,728) counts as almost 24 Californians. A voter in Nebraska (population 1,845,525) counts as nearly 21 Californians. And a voter in North Dakota (population 699,628) counts as more than 54 Californians. Indeed, if you add up the combined populations of Wyoming, North Dakota, Alaska, Idaho, Nebraska, Utah, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Alabama, that still adds up to over 3 million fewer people than live in the state of California. That also adds up to 26 senators, all of whom opposed background checks.
Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed
The Senate’s side of the Capitol Building in DC. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, April 22.
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
At 5:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act, and immediately proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed.
Last Floor Action:4/18
2:56:55 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.
The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on April 19, 2013.
11:00:36 A.M.
The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:00:54 A.M.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Thomas E. Petri to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:01:15 A.M.
Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
11:02:36 A.M.
The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
11:02:39 A.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:02:45 A.M.
The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on April 19, 2013 at 9:48 a.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 1246, without amendment.
11:03:10 A.M.
The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on April 23, 2013.
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