Congresspedia Review: This Week in Congress (Feb. 2 - 8, 2008)

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Less than two weeks after President George W. Bush issued his call for action, Congress approved an economic stimulus package designed to put spending money in the hands of Americans. While the Senate was able to exert some pressure on the legislation, expanding eligibility for seniors and disabled veterans, Republicans successfully blocked additional measures geared toward lower-income workers and the unemployed.

Meanwhile, the debate over the stimulus package stalled work on the RESTORE Act (the FISA reform bill) in the Senate. With the recently approved 15-day extension of the Protect America Act expiring on February 16, time is again running out for electronic surveillance reform.

Major differences exist between the House and Senate versions of the bill, including the question of whether phone companies that helped the administration eavesdrop on Americans’ phone calls should receive immunity from civil lawsuits. The House approved its bill last year without an immunity provision. Meanwhile, the Senate spent the first few weeks of the year fighting over immunity, which President Bush has said is essential in a completed bill.

For more on FISA and on energy legislation, follow the link after the break.

However, there are other differences besides the battle over immunity: the House version would require more judicial oversight of the government’s wiretapping activities, through the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The Senate version provides blanket authority for warrantless surveillance, and would require the attorney general to certify that those targeted are not Americans.

The Senate is scheduled to take up the bill on February 12, following debate on several amendments.

A host of other issues is afoot in Congress, notably regarding energy legislation. For starters, the Senate Energy Committee on Thursday examined the CLEAN Energy Act, with some calling provisions in the bill unworkable. Specifically, Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), the committee’s ranking member, said new mandates for the use of ethanol and biodiesel fuel use could be hard to implement.

In the House, Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi is readying a package of renewable energy tax breaks, similar to those offered as part of the CLEAN Energy Act last year. The Senate was able to block the tax credits from inclusion in the energy bill when it passed, mainly because the breaks would have been paid for by repealing similar subsidies for the oil and gas industry.

With companies like Exxon reporting record profits for 2007, critics say the industry doesn't need subsidies. Democrats in the House are looking to exploit the situation, and could try to repeal the oil and gas tax breaks as early as next week.

Finally, our friend Donny Shaw over at Sunlight Foundation partner Open Congress blogged about the Lieberman-Warner global warming bill earlier this week:

The Energy industry, environmental advocacy groups, bloggers and legislators are beginning to stake out strategic positions, knowing that any global warming bill that is enacted by the current Congress and President is going to go easier on polluters than any bill that next year's Congress and President may produce.

After you’re done reading Donny’s post, you can find out more about the America's Climate Security Act of 2007Climate Security Act here on Congresspedia.