Overhauling Nothing

Congress.org presents MegaVote for November 20, 2017 and Georgia's 13th Congressional District.

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Kan Nomination – Confirmation
• Senate: Bradbury Nomination – Confirmation
• Senate: Esper Nomination – Confirmation
• Senate: Zatezalo Nomination – Confirmation
• Senate: Otting Nomination – Confirmation
• House: Flood Insurance Reauthorization
• House: Fiscal 2018 National Defense Authorization-Conference Report
• House: Tax Overhaul

The House of Representatives and Senate are not doing legislative business this week.

Congress takes many and long vacations, though no doubt the elected legislators, consider the fund raising that they do on these breaks per of their position requirements. In fact fund raising is not what we pay their salary for, they should be expected to put in 1900 hours (52 x 40 less 160 for vacation) a year toward their primary responsibility.

No measurement will ever by made, but I would estimate that we half of that. 

Recent Senate Votes:
Kan Nomination – Confirmation Vote Confirmed (90-7, 3 Not Voting)
The Senate confirmed the nomination of Derek Kan to be undersecretary of Transportation for policy.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES

It is interesting that nominees involved with President Obama receive overwhelming votes of approval. The Senate confirmed Kan unanimously for the last president and 90-7 for this president. Kan was general manager for the Uber rival Lyft.

Bradbury Nomination – Confirmation Vote Confirmed (50-47, 3 Not Voting)
The Senate confirmed the nomination of Steven Bradbury to be general counsel of the Department of Transportation.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES

A closer vote, therefore he must be a pure Trump man. Let's see, Bradbury first served during President GW Bush's second term heading the Office of Legal Counsel in the DOJ. A Stanford BA and Michigan JD who clerked for Clarence Thomas. Conservative credentials are a reason Democrats vote no.

Esper Nomination – Confirmation Vote Confirmed (89-6, 5 Not Voting)
The Senate confirmed the nomination of Mark T. Esper to be secretary of the Army.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES

The Secretary of the Army is responsible for the authority to convene general courts-martial and management of the Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army Program. Esper is a graduate of West Point where he earned a BS, Harvard MPA and George Washington for a PhD. In the Army, Esper achieved the rank of  , Lieutenant Colonel, serving in the 101st Airborne Division and earned a Bronze Star in the Gulf War.

Zatezalo Nomination – Confirmation Vote Confirmed (52-46, 2 Not Voting)
The Senate confirmed the nomination of David G. Zatezalo to be assistant secretary of Labor for mine safety and health.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES

Awesome, President Trump nominated a coal industry man. Zatezalo has been given instructions to a relax inspection rules for hard rock mines, rules that during the last administration had become onerous.

Otting Nomination – Confirmation Vote Confirmed (54-43, 3 Not Voting)
The Senate confirmed the nomination of Joseph Otting to be Comptroller of the Currency.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES

Another industry man who's entire carer has been in banking.

Recent House Votes:
Flood Insurance Reauthorization Vote Passed (237-189, 7 Not Voting)
Passage of the bill, as amended, would reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program through fiscal 2022 and would make modifications to the program, including: raise annual surcharges and reserve fund assessments on federal flood insurance policyholders, raise rates on properties that incur multiple losses, establish an annual deductible for severe and extreme repetitive loss properties and end the requirement that flood insurance be purchased for commercial and multifamily properties located in flood risk zones.
Rep. David Scott voted NO

Argument Ad nauseam.

Fiscal 2018 National Defense Authorization-Conference Report Vote Passed (356-70, 7 Not Voting)
Adoption of the conference report on the bill would authorize $692.1 billion for defense programs in fiscal 2018, including $65.7 billion for overseas operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, and for the general war on terror. It would authorize $241.2 billion for operations and maintenance; $146.2 billion for military personnel; 10.7 billion for military construction and family housing; $15 billion for ballistic-missile defense; and $33.9 billion for defense health care programs, including $396 million from the overseas operations account. It also would prohibit the use of funds for a new round of base closures. It would authorize $8 billion for various cyber-security programs. The bill would authorize a 2.4 percent pay raise for military personnel. It also would prohibit detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from being transferred to U.S. soil, and would prohibit the closing of the main base and detention facility at Guantanamo.
Rep. David Scott voted YES

Defense bills are generally good for Georgia, thus David Scott cannot vote against without alienating persons dependent on bases in his district.

Tax Overhaul Vote Passed (227-205, 2 Not Voting)
Passage of the bill would revise the federal income tax system by: lowering individual and corporate tax rates; consolidating the current seven tax income rates into four rates; eliminating the deduction for state and local income taxes; limiting certain deductions for property taxes and home mortgages; and creating a new system of taxing U.S. corporations with foreign subsidiaries. Specifically, it would eliminate personal exemptions and would nearly double the standard deduction. It would raise the child tax credit through 2022, repeal the alternative minimum tax, repeal the estate tax in 2025 and reduce the gift tax rate in 2025. It would establish a new top tax rate for pass-through business income and would modify tax credits related to energy production.
Rep. David Scott voted NO

I feel a diatribe coming on. The House of Representatives, under pressure from voters know that they have to show progress on improving the tax situation. Under the table they are ok with the structure of the taxes, it is not tethered to expenditures in a real way and the general practice of over taxing everything provides a money stream that allows them as representatives to have projects aimed at direct payments to constituents or indirectly through purchases of goods. To listen to these folks, on both sides of the aisle, most legislators say that he system needs to be over healed, their actions belie their dishonesty. The most we ever see done is some nibbling at the edges. That is what this proposal is. If they were serious about tax reform, they would strike the system and move to a consumer based taxed system like the Fair or Flat tax designs. To see this bill passed then harangued over by the Senate is like watching a soap opera, total bullshit, and nothing serious.

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