Congresspedia's "Congress in the News" updates, May 18-June 21, 2007
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- Legislation expanding federally funded embryonic stem cell research was scheduled to be vetoed by President Bush, and lacks sufficient support to override a veto. (AP story)
- The House Agriculture Committee voted to maintain farm subsidies at current levels, which have been in place since 2002, rather than offer additional farm subsidies in the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007. (CQ story)
- The Wyoming Republican central committee nominated three potential replacements for recently deceased Senator Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.), and Democratic Governor Dave Freudenthal has five days to select one of the three as Thomas' successor. (The Hill story)
- Following the resignation of Rob Portman as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), President Bush announced his intended replacement, former representative and House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa).
- House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.) removed provisions from a draft energy bill that would have prevented states like California from establishing their own emission standards higher than national requirements. (The Hill story)
- In keeping with a bipartisan agreement over earmark disclosure, the house adopted a rules change that allows members to raise a point of order on appropriations bills if earmarks are added in a conference committee. (CQ story)
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) threatened to have the Senate work through the July 4 recess if progress was not made on the comprehensive immigration and energy bills. (The Hill story)
- The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee issued a report detailing extensive White House deletion of internal communications conducted via external email accounts, amounting to what "could be the most serious breach of the Presidential Records Act in the 30-year history of the law." (The Hill story)
- Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) admitted that he was the owner of a gun for which his aid, Phillip Thompson, was arrested when he carried it into the Capitol Complex in March. (AP story)
- A federal Grand Jury investigated ties between Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and oil services company VECO Corp. regarding the 2000 remodeling of his Alaska home. (Anchorage Daily News story)
- During markup, the House Subcommittee on Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry voted along partisan lines, 6-5, to defeat an amendment to the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 which would have allowed private contractors to administer food stamp programs.(CQ story)
- The House passed the FY2008 Homeland Security appropriations bill, following a final agreement between Democrats and Republicans over earmark disclosure. (CQ story)
- Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced a bill that would close a tax loophole exempting certain publicly traded partnerships from a level of taxation. (The Hill story)
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) denied Sen. Russ Feingold's (D-Wis.) request to be included in the conference committee on lobbying reform legislation. (The Hill story)
- The Senate's efforts to pass comprehensive energy legislation stalled following disagreements about renewable energy standards. (CQ story)
- A loan from Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) to Vernon Jackson, a Kentucky business man imprisoned for bribing him, was revealed today with the release of the 2006 personal financial statements for Congress. (The Hill story)
- House Democratic and Republican leaders reached a final deal regarding earmark disclosure in the FY2008 appropriations bills. (The Hill story)
- The House released reports of their net worth revealing that four of the top eight members of the House leadership are millionaires, and that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the richest member of the House with an estimated net worth of $56.4 million. (Roll Call story)
- Key Democratic and Republican Senators worked to revive the Senate's comprehensive immigration legislation, and agreed to bring the bill to a floor vote with a restricted number of amendments and increased funding for border security. (Washington Post story)
- Following a House GOP press conference claiming victory in a partisan battle over earmark disclosure, the agreement between House Republicans and Democrats became uncertain. (The Hill story)
- In a confirmation hearing before the Senate Rules Committee regarding FEC nominees, Democrats grilled former Justice Department official Hans von Spakovsky over his support of questionable voter-identification and redistricting plans. (Politico story)
- The Senate Finance Committee unveiled legislation that would force the Treasury Department to acknowledge China's manipulation of its currency, the yuan. (The Hill story)
- In a meeting between key Democratic and Republican senators, a tentative deal was reached to revive the failed immigration bill, focusing primarily on increased funding for border security and workplace enforcement. (AP story)
- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved legislation already passed by the House that would require additional public disclosure of White House records. President Bush has threatened to veto the bill if it passes. (CQ story)
- The NICS Improvement Act of 2007, recently passed by the House to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), faces more uncertainty in the Senate. (CQ story)
- In the Senate, Democratic leaders announced their intention to disclose all earmarks after they leave the Appropriations Committee, and publish the information on their website. (Roll Call story)
- In the House, after GOP members successfully stalled the appropriations process, House Republicans and Democratic leaders came to a tentative agreement over earmark disclosure in the FY2008 appropriations bills. (The Hill story)
- Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) underwent surgery to remove a benign tumor and is expected to make full and quick recovery. (The Hill story)
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) called for GSA Administrator Lurita Doan's resignation during a hearing regarding her violation of the Hatch Act. (TPM Muckraker story)
- Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) announced that he is proud of his earmarks; these have included a so-called "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska and a road project in Florida which benefited a major campaign contributor. (The Hill story)
- The Department of Transportation responded to accusations by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), denying that it violated anti-lobbying restrictions regarding state emission standards. (The Hill story)
- The House passed a gun control bill to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) by improving state reporting to the FBI's national database. (AP story)
- The president's "fast track" authority to negotiate trade agreements, established under the Trade Act of 2002, is set to expire on July 1. No significant efforts have been made to extend it, despite calls of several trade interest groups. (Roll Call story)
- The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee approved the District of Columbia Fair and Equal Voting Rights Act by a vote of 9-1. The bill would grant a voting seat in the House to the District and provide an additional seat for Utah. (The Washington Post story)
- The Senate Judiciary Committee and House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed two former Bush administration officials in connection with the U.S. attorney firings controversy. (CNN story)
- Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) scheduled a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on authorizing subpoenas for documents on the NSA eavesdropping program. (The Politico story)
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) unveiled a new set of Democratic amendments to the 2008 Defense Authorization bill that would seek to end the war in Iraq, following earlier efforts that were vetoed by President Bush and dropped from enrolled legislation. (The Hill story)
- Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) secured more earmarks than any other senators in the 2008 Defense Department authorization bill. (The Hill story)
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) accused the Department of Transportation of improperly lobbying Congress regarding requests to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by California and other states to set their own emission standards higher than federal law mandates. (The Hill story)
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) creation of an independent ethics commission was stalled by concerns of fellow Democrats that the panel's ability to accept complaints by non-members would result in its use for politically-motivated attacks. (CQ story)
- The National Rifle Association (NRA) endorsed the NICS Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 297), a gun control bill set to reach the House floor this week.(CQ story)
- Senate Democrats' resolution of "no confidence" on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales failed to get the 60 votes required for cloture and failed, 53-38. (The Hill story)
- At the urging of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the Senate's comprehensive energy bill was softened, allowing many work trucks to be exempted from higher fuel efficiency standards.(CQ story)
- Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) said the United States must be prepared to take military action against Iran in response to the training of anti-U.S. forces for operations in Iraq. (The Hill story)
- In response to an announcement by congressional Democrats that earmarks for the FY 2008 appropriations bills would be added in conference committees between the House and Senate, Republicans stated that they will use aggressive procedural tactics to disrupt the appropriations process. (The Hill story)
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he was willing to return to the failed comprehensive immigration bill if Senate Republicans can agree to a limited number of amendments and a limited time for debate. (New York Times story)
- President Bush promised to lobby Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill to revive the failed comprehensive immigration bill upon his return from a visit to Europe. (Washington Post story)
- Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has led the investigation into the U.S attorney firing controversy, announced that the Senate would hold a vote of no confidence regarding Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Monday, June 11. (The Hill story)
- Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) responded to allegations of trading earmarks for a Florida construction project for campaign contributions by stating that it was "old news." (TPM Muckraker story)
- A review of funding requests by the House Armed Services Committee revealed millions of dollars in earmark trade-offs for campaign contributers, including up to $91,000 in contributions to Rep. Jim Saxton (R.-N.J.). (The Hill story)
- Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) pleaded not guilty to the 16 criminal charges filed against him, days after his indictment and the initiation of a formal House Ethics Committee investigation into his actions. (AP story)
- The Senate's efforts to reach a "grand compromise" on comprehensive immigration legislation collapsed as a move to cut off debate on the bill fell 15 votes short. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) declared the Senate was done with addressing immigration "for the time being." (New York Times story)
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), who suffered a brain hemorrhage in late 2006, would likely return to the Senate in September. (AP story)
- A federal judge froze the assets of indicted Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) as part of a forfeiture charge, one of 16 criminal complaints levied against Jefferson for soliciting bribes. (AP story)
- The House passed a stem cell bill, previously approved by the Senate, which would lift restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. (The Hill story)
- The House passed a bill establishing the "H-Prize," a government-sponsored competition for advances in hydrogen energy technology which would award a series of cash prizes for various areas of innovation. (CQ story)
- Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) disclosed that he was asked by the FBI to preserve his records as part of an ongoing federal corruption investigation in Alaska. (Washington Post story)
- Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) earmarked $10 million for a road construction project in Florida which benefits a major Young campaign contributer, despite the district's own desires not to carry out the project. (New York Times story)
- The Senate's comprehensive immigration legislation was put in jeopardy after an amendment offered by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) to place a five-year limit on a temporary worker program passed by a vote of 49-48. (New York Times story)
- The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) came to the defense of indicted Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) against a House ethics investigation of the congressman, claiming it could unjustly influence a future trial. ( The Hill story)
- After President Bush called for doubling U.S. aid for global HIV/AIDS relief, a House Appropriations subcommittee approved a measure allowing the president, now or in the future, to waive current laws requiring one-third of U.S. aid for HIV/AIDS prevention to be spent on abstinence-only programs. (AP story)
- The House voted to formally investigate indicted Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) after adopting two resolutions Tuesday night. (National Journal story)
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that he would move to close debate and force a vote on the Senate's comprehensive immigration legislation, dismissing Republican calls for additional time. (Roll Call story)
- Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) announced that he would take "temporary leave" from the House Small Business Committee following his indictment on corruption charges. (The Hill story)
- Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a former aide to Vice-President Dick Cheney, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for perjury and obstruction of justice in connection to an investigation of a Bush administration leak of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity. (CNN story)
- Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) was indicted on 16 counts of public corruption, prompting the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee to meet to vote on Jefferson's committee assignments amid calls for his resignation from Congress. (The Hill story)
- Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.) died at age 74 after battling leukemia. Wyoming's Republican Central Committee chair has 15 days to select three candidates to succeed Thomas, one of whom must be selected by the state's Democratic Governor, Dave Freudenthal. (The Hill story)
- Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) is expected to be indicted today on charges that he accepted bribes to promote high-tech business ventures in Africa. (Washington Post story)
- Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has planned to announce the creation of an independent ethics commission that would allow outside groups to file complaints against members of Congress. (The Hill story)
- The Senate Intelligence Committee said the Senate would not consider a FY 2008 Intelligence Authorization bill until it receives the presidential orders which authorized a warrant-less wiretapping program several years ago. (CQ story)
- Lobbying groups came out in disagreement over the President Bush's request to reauthorize and double the President's Emergency Program For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and its existing provisions for "abstinence-until-marriage education." (The Hill story)
- U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin resigned from his post and may join the presidential campaign of former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.). Griffin was appointed following the dismissal of predecessor Bud Cummins, who was fired along with seven other U.S. attorneys in late 2006. (Washington Post story)
- The Senate Intelligence Committee released its report on the FY 2008 intelligence authorization bill, challenging the Bush administration's policies on detention, interrogation, and surveillance. (Washington Post story)
- Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) included a provision in last week's Iraq supplemental spending bill to prevent the Bush administration from reducing Medicaid payments to hospitals for one year. (The Hill story)
- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) faced criticism for accepting rides on a private jet from campaign contributer Vinod Gupta, CEO of InfoUSA Inc. Gupta is facing a lawsuit for excessive company spending, including on Clinton's travel, which she claims did not violate Senate rules. (AP story)
- Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee released a letter critical of jurisdictional crossover between multiple committees with oversight of the Homeland Security Department. (CQ story)
- Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) introduced a bill that would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award a $3 million contract to enable the Capital Power Plant to be a demonstration site for new carbon-capture technologies. (Hill story)
- Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) has taken official steps toward a 2008 presidential run, and is expected to formally announce his candidacy over the July 4, 2007 holiday. (Washington Post story)
- House Republicans are considering a procedural measure that would kill a comprehensive immigration bill currently being debated in the Senate. The basis of the measure would be a constitutional rule requiring all revenue-related bills to originate in the House. (Hill story)
- President Bush criticized members of his own party for using "scare tactics" to defeat the bipartisan immigration plan negotiated by the administration with Congress earlier this month. (Post story)
- President Bush has called for an additional $30 billion in the FY 2008 budget for AIDS relief in Africa as part of a continuation of PEPFAR (President's Emergency Program for AIDS Relief). (York Times story)
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) applauded President Bush's decision to tighten sanctions against the Sudanese government for refusing to comply with United Nations demands that it halt the ongoing genocide in the country's Darfur region. (The Hill story)
- Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.), facing allegations that he used his office to favor certain businesses and individuals, adopted a new rule requiring that any city requesting his help in delivering federal funds first certify that it is for the benefit of the community, and not any other specific entity. (Whittier Daily News story)
- Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), a longtime supporter of the Iraq War, said this weekend that he is open to the idea of withdrawing some U.S. troops from the country later this year. (The Hill story)
- Both the House and Senate passed an Iraq supplemental spending bill which does not include timetables or recommendations for U.S. troop withdrawal. (The Hill story)
- The Senate will hold a “no confidence” vote on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales next month. (The Hill story)
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) has asked GSA Chief Lurita Doan to testify regarding allegations that she made false statements during an investigation into whether she violated the Hatch Act. The act restricts executive branch employees from using their positions for political purposes. (Washington Post story)
- Rep. Bob Brady (D-Pa.) was named chair of the House Committee on House Administration by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Brady had been serving in an interim capacity since the death of Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald last month. (The Hill story)
- Rep. David Scott's (D-Va.) congressional campaigns have paid $643,000 to members of Scott's family, its company and the company's employees since 2002. (Politico story)
- The Justice Department confirmed that it remains opposed to a bill currently in Congress which would grant the District of Columbia a voting member of the House. (Roll Call story)
- Democratic leaders in the House and Senate will pursue an Iraq supplemental spending bill without timetables for withdrawal. The approach has been criticized by several Democrats, including Rep. Lynn Woolsey (Calif.) and Sen. Russ Feingold (Wis.). (The Hill story)
- The Senate voted 64-31 in favor of retaining a "guest worker" program in the comprehensive immigration bill it is currently debating. (The Hill story)
- The House, in a largely partisan vote, opted not to admonish Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) for threatening to strip another member's earmarks from an appropriations measure. (The Hill story)
- A former staffer of Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) has been indicted on a felony count of voter fraud. The issue of contention is whether or not the staffer intended on making NC his "permanent place of abode." (The Charlotte Observer story)
- Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) violated House Rules when he failed to inform the Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) of an earmark for the National Drug Intelligence Center. (The Hill story)
- Of the $8 billion of pork barrel spending that was included in a defense appropriations bill last week, Democratic lawmakers directed 60% of the funds. (The Hill story)
- Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Artur Davis (D-Ala.) have introduced a resolution calling for President Bush to fire Attorney General Alberto Gonzales because he failed to "assure the public that the laws of the nation are being enforced in an independent, nonpartisan and judicious manner." (The Hill story)
- Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, urging him to rebuke Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick; after police found evidence of dog-fighting on his Virginia farm. (The Hill story)
- Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has issued a series of criticisms regarding the Senate's immigration bill.(The Hill story)
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