From Greg Kaufmann:
The Senate takes up the Recovery bill this week. It passed with no Republican support in the House but will need a couple Senators to cross the Grand Obstructionist Party line in order to overcome a possible filibuster.
The Senate will also confirm Eric Holder as Attorney General. In contrast, Tom Daschle faces an uncertain future as the Senate Finance Committee holds a closed-door meeting today on his now delayed confirmation hearings. On Thursday the Senate Intelligence Committee holds a hearing for CIA Director nominee, Leon Panetta — could be a tough one but Panetta will likely be confirmed.
Tomorrow Senator Barbara Boxer will outline her legislation for a cap and trade system for CO2 emissions — one of three key steps Al Gore has outlined as immediately necessary to begin turning climate change around.
The House will vote on the Senate version of the SCHIP bill to insure 11 million kids (an increase of 4 million from current enrollment).
On Wednesday Chairman Barney Frank’s Financial Services Committee will take up his bill “to promote bank liquidity and lending through deposit insurance, the HOPE for Homeowners Program, and other enhancements” (that’s seriously the title). The Hope program has fallen a tad shy of the 300,000 homeowners it was supposed to help, instead assisting “a few hundred,” according to CongressDaily.
On Thursday House Democrats take their annual three-day retreat to Williamsburg. Strange time for a short workweek.
Some cool and important hearings this week…. Today the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan — inspired by the Truman Commission — holds its first hearing on improving wartime contracting. The Commission is also charged with identifying fraud and holding those responsible accountable.
Tomorrow the Senate Banking Committee holds a hearing on “modernizing the US financial regulatory system.” (The Financial Services Roundtable has unveiled its plan for “streamlining” oversight of banks. We need to make sure those lobbyists don’t win out.) And on Thursday they will hold a hearing on TARP oversight — hopefully someone will push Sen. Bernie Sander’s idea of expanding the Oversight Panel’s charge to include an investigation into why this financial crisis occurred in the first place.
Finally, Progressive Caucus member and Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen will chair the House Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee hearing on “Midnight Rulemaking: Shedding Some Light” — crucial as we continue to undue the Bush legacy.
