Friday, December 21, 2012

Congress at Work (sic)

Congress.org (congress.org) presents:  MEGAVOTE  December 17, 2012
In this MegaVote for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes -
  • Senate: TAG Extension  Motion to Waive
  • House: Suspension Authority
  • House: Epinephrine Inhalers  Suspension
  • House: Defense Authorization  Motion to Instruct
Upcoming Congressional Bills -
  • Senate: Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
  • House: Defense Authorization
Recent Senate Votes:
TAG Extension  Motion to Waive
Vote Rejected (50-42, 8 Not Voting)
Last week the Senate began and stopped the process of considering legislation to extend the FDICs Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) program. The program, initiated in 2008 as a way of shoring up the banking system, provides unlimited government backing for non-interest bearing transaction accounts, such as those used for business expenses. (The normal threshold for government guarantees on such accounts is $250,000.) The Senate invoked cloture on the legislation earlier in the week by a healthy 76-20 margin (Roll Call 225). But the bill foundered on a budgetary point of order raised by Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey. Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-S.D. moved to waive Toomeys point of order, but he fell ten votes shy of the 60 needed for such a maneuver.  Like so much unfinished business, an extension may well get lost in the year-end rush to avert the fiscal cliff. Even if a bill does get through the Senate, however, House Republicans have signaled they would prefer to let TAG expire, which it is scheduled to do on December 31.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted NO
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted NO 
Who knows what the hell all of this mean, it sounds like the Republicans want to end the system which tends to favor the smaller banks. For that I have disagreement with the Republicans in so much as all support should be obiliterated, not just a system that beneits the larger banks.
Recent House Votes:
Suspension Authority
Vote Passed (226-178, 27 Not Voting)
In a sign of things to come, House leaders brought a rule to the floor allowing bills to be considered under suspension of the rules through Friday, December 28. That would allow for expedited consideration of any deal to avert the fiscal cliff, as suspending the rules prevents any amendments from being offered and limits debate to one hour. It also raises the threshold for passage to a two-thirds majority, which could prove difficult, depending on the exact parameters of any agreement between President Obama and Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
Explain to me why this, essentially a rules change, would be opposed by anybody.  Are the Democrats so entrenched that they assume all failures will stick to the Republicans and not themselves?  Answer is “probably” with the support of the press.
Epinephrine Inhalers  Suspension
Vote Failed (229-182, 20 Not Voting)
The House failed to muster a two-thirds majority for a bill that would have granted a seven-month grace period for the distribution and sale of over-the-counter asthma inhalers that use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as a propellant. The inhalers have been banned since December 1, 2011 per the Montreal Protocol, an international convention, which bans ozone-depleting substances (including CFCs). The bill under question, introduced by Texas Republican Rep. Michael C. Burgess, would have lifted the ban until August 1, 2013. Because it was considered under suspension of the rules, the bill would have needed 274 votes to pass. The bill appears to have enough support to pass under regular order, but leadership would need to clear enough floor time for a full debate.
Rep. David Scott voted NO 
Sounds like a waste of time to me, if the tree huggers, minority in House, majority in the Senate want to kill it, they will.  This is a fine example of liberal policy that causes greater cost to consumer.
Defense Authorization  Motion to Instruct
Vote Passed (399-4, 28 Not Voting)
The House and Senate named conferees last week to negotiations over the final version of the national defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2013. Rep. Susan A. Davis, D-Calif. moved to instruct House negotiators to agree to a provision in the Senate bill (S. 3254) that would mandate a report to Congress on how the U.S. will promote the security of Afghan women and girls as allied forces transition out of the country. The House also agreed to a motion from Armed Services chairman Buck McKeon, R-Calif. to close portions of the negotiations to the public, presumably those dealing with intelligence and other particularly sensitive matters.
Rep. David Scott voted YES 
Even a dipshit can get a vote correct once in a while.

Upcoming Votes:
Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 - H.R.1
The Senate is scheduled to begin consideration of the supplemental appropriations bill providing emergency relief to the states victimized by Hurricane Sandy. Because all spending bills must originate in the House, Senate leaders are using H.R. 1 which the House passed in February 2011 - as a legislative "shell" to carry the emergency spending language.
This is one more  “off the books” or “special” expense that our representatives will jum p to approve without fical counterbalance.

Defense Authorization - H.R.4310
Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., has indicated that the defense authorization may be ready for floor action by mid-week.
Spend spend spend.

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