This Week On The Hill

A preview from Greg Kaufmann:

The Administration has had a far tougher time passing the $96 billion war supplemental than anyone anticipated. At play is opposition to escalation, a $108 billion line of credit for the IMF, and a Lieberman amendment that allows Defense Secretary Gates to withhold detainee photos as he sees fit. Great time to tell your reps how you want them to vote.

Healthcare talks continue in Senate Finance and also Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committees this week. Look for Democrats on both committees to release more details on the kind of legislation they want to introduce -- it remains to be seen if a public plan option will be included and, if so, how strong it will be. (Here's a disturbing quote from Robert Reich on that front.) CongressDaily reports that Ways and Means Chair Charlie Rangel will lay out his framework for healthcare on Tuesday to the Democratic Caucus. House Energy and Commerce and also Labor and Education committees will have a hand in the House legislation as well.

The 80-member Congressional Progressive Caucus -- the largest Caucus in Congress -- isn't waiting around to see a final bill before speaking out. It released its "Principles for a Public Health Care Option", defining a truly robust public plan option that would need to be included in the final bill to gain the CPC's support.

As for climate change, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hopes to mark-up its energy bill this week. Should be interesting to see how much stock members put in the prospects of carbon capture. In the House, the Agriculture Committee will take a shot at reviewing the Energy and Commerce-approved energy bill on Thursday, and Energy and Commerce will hold another hearing on how emissions permits are allotted -- free versus auction.

The Senate will try to get 60 votes to wrap-up tobacco legislation. The bill would allow the FDA to regulate nicotine, advertising and marketing, and restrict the sale of flavored cigarettes to menthol only. The bill was held up last week because Senator McCain wanted a vote on an amendment to allow re-importation of prescription drugs. Majority Leader Reid wouldn't allow it because he said it wasn't germane. Strange on many fronts -- Reid has allowed pro-gun amendments by Republicans on a DC voting rights bill and the credit card reform bill. His spokesman said there was nothing he could do to stop them. But… he stopped McCain -- and this amendment was introduced by a Democrat, Senator Byron Dorgan. Not to mention that prescription drugs seems far more germane to the FDA than guns seem to credit cards and DC representation in Congress.

In the House, both the Foreign Relations Authorization Act and the Pakistan Assistance bill will probably be debated on the floor -- depending what happens with the supplemental. The former would allow an additional 1500 people to join the Foreign Service over the next two years and increase the budget for the Peace Corps.

Hearings…. If you want to check out the FY2010 budget there will be a host of appropriations hearings this week, including Secretary Geithner, and Secretary Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Michael Mullen, testifying on their departments' budget requests before Defense Appropriations subcommittees on Tuesday.

Other notable hearings: Senate Judiciary takes a look at "The Legal, Moral, and National Security Consequences of 'Prolonged Detention'"…. It also has a hearing on Senator Jim Webb's good bill to establish a commission that would examine issues like drug treatment, effective parole policy, racial injustice and sentencing, education for inmates, and reentry programs…. On Wednesday, the Commission on Wartime Contracting presents its interim report to the House Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, chaired by CPC member Rep. John Tierney…. Sen. Claire McCaskill, who helped establish the Wartime Contracting Commission, will chair a Senate Homeland subcommittee hearing on fraud allegations occurring at the US Embassy in Kabul…. House Financial Services will examine regulating the over-the-counter derivatives market tomorrow…. and on Thursday House Energy and Commerce looks into FDA approval of affordable generic biologic drugs.

Comments (19)

1. <As for climate change, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hopes to mark-up its energy bill this week. Should be interesting to see how much stock members put in the prospects of carbon capture.>

   We demand to know when Congress is going to address this crisis of global cooling!

   Will they wait until the Great Lakes freeze over?

   Will they wait until Hawaii, Florida, and California file bankruptcy from the lack of tourism?

   And where will we get the fuel for heating our homes when the Ice Age hits?

   Posted by antisocialist at 06/08/2009 @ 2:22pm

2. Posted by antisocialist at 06/08/2009 @ 2:22pm

   Who exactly in power or POTENTIAL power, is left supporting GW Denial, Larry?

   You lost McCain and nobody will take my bet that the 2012 GOP nominee will say it's a hoax or even not man-made.

   So why do you guys keep fighting a war, you've already lost???

   Posted by Mask at 06/08/2009 @ 3:32pm

3. Once in a while, hope arises that there are still pockets of our institutions that know a crisis is no excuse to screw people!

   Supreme Court puts Chrysler sale on hold High court issues a stay of the sale of Chrysler to the Italian automaker, delaying Chrysler's exit from bankruptcy.

   By Chris Isidore, CNNMoney.com senior writer

   June 8, 2009: 4:27 PM ET

   NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Supreme Court threw a wrench into the plans to have a quick bankruptcy process at Chrysler LLC, delaying the company's combination with Italian automaker Fiat.

   The bankruptcy judge overseeing the Chrysler case had given approval for the company's most valuable assets, such as plants, dealerships and contracts, to become part of a new company in which Fiat would hold a significant stake.

   But the Supreme Court, in an order issued late Monday, granted a request for a delay of that approval sought by Indiana state pension funds, which had argued that they and other lenders deserved better treatment by the bankruptcy court.

   The Obama administration has stated that Chrysler is no longer viable as a standalone company and that it must join with Fiat in order to justify additional federal tax dollars needed to keep the company alive.

   Posted by Happy at 06/08/2009 @ 3:39pm

4. Who exactly in power or POTENTIAL power, is left supporting GW Denial, Larry?

   You lost McCain and nobody will take my bet that the 2012 GOP nominee will say it's a hoax or even not man-made.

   So why do you guys keep fighting a war, you've already lost???

   Posted by Mask at 06/08/2009 @ 3:32pm

   I haven't lost. the American people have lost by being subjected to further socialist takeover simply because of a nonexistent threat.

   Why should I accept phony science and manipulated models?

   Posted by antisocialist at 06/08/2009 @ 3:55pm

5. Amazing that the "global warming" cabel still fatasizes about destroying what is left of the nations economic force by chasing all the remaining jobs and industries off shore to underdeveloped countries who will NOT buy into the foolishness they sell!

   If you wanted to destroy a ntion the way these anti-Americans do you chould think of few better ways to do it than the "tax and die" system they imagine!

   Why would any venture capitalist want to invest in America ever again if they pass this crap dream?

   Posted by BigPasture at 06/09/2009 @ 12:16am

6. I love the idea the Dems in congress are putting into the free health care bill...pay or play...you decide that for your family and your health that you do not want what the DEMS are "giving" you for a health care program..you get fined...

   The party of free choice for you and your body...except your wallet ,of course.

   The loons are killing off business...even Microsoft will move...doesn't anyone here realise how much damage is being done to the engine that produces the money you clowns on the left can't wait to steal and spend? California is the model..deep debt, business fleeing faster than illegals out of Mexico,wealth transfering to tax havens, courts ruling no cuts in wages...tax revenues down, and looking to Washington for help..and the same who flee to other states because of the Californication problem, seem to vote into power the same fools in the new state...and the cycle repeats. Self inflicted wounds until the host dies..we are drowning in parasites.

   You WILL make China the safest, most prospeous and the only engine of growth in the world..and it will never lose that title...while the union owned governemnt car company makes more electric cars...even as the sales have drop to near zero for them...

   Anyone ever visit Singapor?

   Posted by YourJomamma at 06/09/2009 @ 08:11am

7. Anyone ever visit Singapor? (sic)

   Posted by YourJomamma at 06/09/2009 @ 08:11am

   Only for the annual caning fest.

   Posted by schnellerheinz at 06/09/2009 @ 10:57am

8. As for Climate Change, I think the next bumper sticker I'll have printed will say "I am not Responsible for Global Warming." I'll put it right between the "Real Americans don't get Offended" and the "Screw Diversity-Celebrate Competence" messages.

   As for Tobacco, I see the battle continues between those who would do what's best for us (whether we want it or not) and those who realize that the Individual is still the best arbiter of his own fate.

   Posted by YEH-LIU-TA-SHIH at 06/09/2009 @ 2:49pm

9. Clusterbomb, that anyone with your inane beliefs would even attempt to engage in a conversation pertaining to science is beyond laughable. You-

   1. don't believe in evolution 2. believe that the earth is 6000 years old (you have denied this, but also claim biblical inerrancy, so you are also a dogdamn liar.) 3. believe in witches and demons 4. believe said witches and demons attack people 5. do not believe in modern medicine

   I'm sure there are hundreds of other ignorant, anti science beliefs you also hold, but i have a lot of drinking to do so brevity precludes an exhaustive list. Perhaps you can explain why anyone, anywhere should take your anthropogenic global warming denial seriously, given your track record of being diametrically opposed to most of modernity?

   Posted by entropy at 06/09/2009 @ 3:12pm

10. Only for the annual caning fest.

    Posted by schnellerheinz at 06/09/2009 @ 10:57am

    I agree the caning incident was a joke...but I am sure they do not have property damage like we do here...perhaps a public spanking woulkd be a good compromise..for there as well as here?

    I think you might like their crime rates...tax rates, income average rates...amoung other things...

    to focus on a caning incident is like focusing on NY being the definition of America.. short sighted, ignorant, and foolish....

    but then,people on this site think govt creates all the wealth and that the people who earn it are stealing it.

    Posted by YourJomamma at 06/09/2009 @ 3:42pm

11. 'but then,people on this site think govt creates all the wealth and that the people who earn it are stealing it.'

    No, no, this is a simple inversion of your simplistic view, "YourJomamma," which is that investors create the wealth and that the government steals it.

    Stupidity inverted is still stupidity, and socialism is not an inversion of capitalism. It is an improvement upon it and a refinement of it. And I believe it is still beyond your intellectual grasp, which is why you continue to attack strawmen of your own creation, rather than socialism itself.

    The socialist principle is this: Wealth comes from natural resources and labor. Care for these, and you will always have wealth. Waste natural resources and exploit workers, and you will inherit a whirlwind.

    Posted by JakobFabian at 06/09/2009 @ 8:57pm

12. JAKOBFABIAN

    Socialism is a political monument to the stupidity of man. It crushes the human spirit and only works until people in a society realize how much better off they could be without it.

    Posted by YEH-LIU-TA-SHIH at 06/10/2009 @ 06:42am

13. Just look at all the rousing success story of socialist societies on the globe, Ohhhhhhhhh yeaaaa thats just what all the mindless slaves clamor for the opportunity to succeed at nothing!

    Posted by BigPasture at 06/10/2009 @ 10:52pm

14. Good for you SNOWBALL, I'm glad you make a lot of money. Thank your God (or whatever you worship) that you were able to do it under a free market system.

    And don't worry about gettin a loan in a socialist system: You won't need one, cause gov. will just give you your house, no bigger or better than anyone else's either, whether you OR they earned it or not.

    And what was that first thing you asked? What can't a man do under socialism as opposed to capitalism, Why nothing, as long as your shepard TELLS you you can.

    Posted by YEH-LIU-TA-SHIH at 06/11/2009 @ 07:01am

15. but then,people on this site think govt creates all the wealth and that the people who earn it are stealing it.

    Posted by YourJomamma at 06/09/2009 @ 3:42pm

    Lighten up and get over it.

    Posted by schnellerheinz at 06/12/2009 @ 10:04am

16. Posted by antisocialist at 06/08/2009 @ 2:22pm

    This post made me laugh.

    Thanks, anti!

    Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 06/12/2009 @ 1:29pm

17. As for Tobacco, I see the battle continues between those who would do what's best for us (whether we want it or not) and those who realize that the Individual is still the best arbiter of his own fate.

    Posted by YEH-LIU-TA-SHIH at 06/09/2009 @ 2:49pm

    I would agree with this statement, IF it weren't true that most of the costs in our horrible healthcare system are related to problems with smokers. An unnaturally high percentage of smokers are poor or low-income people who can't afford decent healthcare, which means Joe-taxpayer (you and me) end up picking up the tab for all the VERY EXPENSIVE treatments for smokers nowadays.

    I would never stop anyone from choosing to kill themselves slowly through the use of tobacco, but then make the tobacco companies foot the bill for the health insurance.

    Not to mention my mom died of cancer because she was a smoker from the age of 14 (she died at 64). It was an awful thing to watch and something I would even wish upon my worst enemy. Tobacco (nicotine) is the single drug most responsible for our inflated and out of control healthcare system. Everybody knows it.

    Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 06/12/2009 @ 1:38pm

18. ...something I WOULDN'T wish upon my worst enemy...typo.

    hmmmmm...or Freudian slip?

    hmmmmmmmmmm.

    Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 06/12/2009 @ 1:44pm

19. Sorry Steve, you are wrong. It turns out that we smokers die quicker than the rest of you - saving you a bundle in our healthcare costs.

    Posted by UnEasyOne at 06/12/2009 @ 3:17pm