MegaVote: GA 13th, 2/13/2012

Comments in italic bluuue.......

Congress.org (congress.org) presents:  MEGAVOTE February 13, 2012
In this MegaVote for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes -
* Senate: FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act
* House: Budget and Accounting Transparency Act
* House: Expedited Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011
* House: STOCK Act

Upcoming Congressional Bills -
* Senate: Surface transportation authorization
* House: Surface transportation authorization

Recent Senate Votes:

FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act
Vote Agreed to (75-20, 5 Not Voting)
The Senate gave final approval to this conference report authorizing $15.9 billion per year through the 2015 fiscal year for the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA has been operating under a series of short-term extensions since the 2008 fiscal year. The president is expected to sign the measure.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted YES
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES

Stuff for everybody, the Georgia Senators get spending for Hartsfield, one of the biggest two airports in the country.  The President gets money for the TSA union.   

Recent House Votes:

Budget and Accounting Transparency Act
Vote Passed (245-180, 8 Not Voting)
This House bill would incorporate the costs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into the federal budget, change how the government accounts for loan programs, and require federal agencies to post their budget information on their websites. The Senate is unlikely to take up the bill.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
I have to agree with David Scott's vote on  this one> I suspect we have different reasons though.  My opposition is on the grounds that bills like this mean nothing at all.  Politicians WILL avoid transparency when the the situations dictate that.  It is true for virtually all of them.  If this was a Democratic sponsored bill, you could bet the bank the David Scott would be on it like white on rice. A waste of time to even bother reading, legislation with false teeth.
Expedited Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011
Vote Passed (254-173, 6 Not Voting)
The House passed this bill to give the president a line-item veto and rescission authority over discretionary spending bills. The bill would give Congress three days to vote to accept or reject the presidents rescissions. The White House supports the bill, but the Senate is not expected to take it up.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
Sort of like the above Transparency bill, this is a political ritual, that is set up in a manner so as to never come to life.  Republicans say they want it, the President for sure wants it, but none of this crap will ever get through the Democratic controlled Senate.  Another bullshit waste of time.

STOCK Act
Vote Passed (417-2, 14 Not Voting)
The House passed an amended version of this Senate bill that would strengthen rules prohibiting lawmakers, Capitol Hill staff and some executive branch officials from using confidential information to buy or sell stocks. The Senate now will either accept the modified bill or request a conference committee.
Rep. David Scott voted YES
More of the same old crap. Useless bills that are little more than a mis-statement of intention to be "law abiding". There are already ample SEC rules for enforcement.  Problem is that when issues come to like the politicians hold sway over the enforcement divisions.  Nothing ever happens.

Upcoming Votes:

Surface transportation authorization - S.1813
The Senate is scheduled to work on their two-year, $109 billion bill to fund transportation projects.
Bridge safety.

Surface transportation authorization - H.R.7
Meanwhile, the House is scheduled to work on their four and a half year, $260 billion transportation bill.
Upgrade and refurbish existing systems. Stop building roads into undeveloped regions as a manner of  repayment to campaign donors.

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