Miccheck Archives
Tag: Congress
Political Junkie
Say What?
"What can I say -- it's true. Republicans are making love to Wall Street, while the people on Main Street are getting screwed."-- Jim Manley, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), on the comments his boss made earlier about the GOP and Wall Street. [Huffington Post]
Posted 4:07 PM | Thursday, May 6th, 2010 | Permalink
Money Money Money
Economics Researcher Pat Garofalo Explains Wall Street Reform
Pat Garofalo has been closely following the financial regulatory reform debat in Congress. Miccheck Radio had a chance to sit down with him to talk through the basics of the legislation as it stands right now and the politics of getting effective wall street reform passed. Below is one of Pat's posts from this week after Senate Republicans gave up their bid to filibuster the bill.
Listen to the podcast here.
Republicans Cave On Financial Reform, Will Let Dodd’s Bill Come To The Senate Floor
Today, after Republicans voted against beginning debate on Sen. Chris Dodd’s (D-CT) financial regulatory reform bill for a third time, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and the Democrats said that they were prepared to keep the Senate in session all night, forcing the GOP to actively filibuster the bill.
“All the talk of the Republicans about wanting to do something about this bill before it gets on the floor is really anti-Senate and anti-American,” said Reid. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) added that the plan “is to stay all night asking consent of Republicans to let us debate Wall Street reform. I just don’t get why we can’t debate.”
However, before it got to that point, the Republican leadership caved, and now seems poised to let Dodd’s bill come to the floor for debate. There doesn’t seem to have been any deal cut with the Republicans, aside from unspecified “loopholes” that Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) claims were closed in the $50 billion resolution authority fund that the GOP has been railing against (but that many, including Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair, support).
Already, Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) have said that they will be voting to move to debate. Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) also seemed poised to vote to proceed earlier today, while Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) dismissed the “alternative” plan that Republicans have been circling today (which, in large part, looked like Dodd’s bill anyway).
What remains to be seen is the sort of amendments that Republicans will propose during the actual floor debate. If they look anything like the amendments Republican members of the Senate Banking Committee drew up (then never offered) during committee markup, Democrats will have to take a strong stand against them. Floor debate is expected to take up to two weeks.
Posted 10:14 AM | Friday, April 30th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
Quote Of The Day
"Well, I probably shouldn't say this. But I have thought from time to time that I might have helped the country more if I'd stayed a Republican." -- Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), in an interview with the Allentown Morning Call, on his party switch just one year ago. [Political Wire]
Posted 9:23 AM | Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
Source: flickr/Drtchock
QOTD
"People want a congressman who stands up and speaks out. People have come to think that a Democratic Congressman with guts is a mythological creature, like a unicorn."-- Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL). [Plum Line]
Posted 12:53 PM | Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
Press
Reps. Steve King (R-IA) and Michele Bachmann (R-MN) are hiring a joint press secretary. Yes, you read that right. The unprecedented move means that the employee, Sergio Gor, “will be handling press for two different lawmakers, getting paid from their personal offices as well as campaign funds.” Strange. [The Hill]
Posted 10:52 AM | Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
Source: Flickr/uhuru1701
America The Beautiful
A new Smart Politics analysis of nearly 400 members of the U.S. House found that "Republican Representatives are 36 percent more likely to incorporate the United States flag prominently on their campaign websites than Democratic members." There was an increase in gender disparities, where male Representatives were 64 percent more likely to use the flag's imagery than female Representatives. [Smart Politics]
Posted 1:00 PM | Monday, April 12th, 2010 | Permalink
Money Money Money
Hey Mr. Postman
According to a draft of a government audit, the U.S. Postal Service's current business model "is not viable." The audit recommended that the postal service should make deeper job and wage cuts, hire more part-time staff and consider outsourcing operations elsewhere. Postmaster General John E. Potter estimates the Postal Service will lose a record $7 billion this fiscal year and could lose at least $238 billion in the next decade if Congress fails to act on removing restrictions on the Postal Service's ability to cut Saturday mail delivery and close post offices. [Wash Post]
Posted 12:34 PM | Monday, April 12th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
The Price Of Inaction
Congress' inaction will force more than 200,000 laid-off workers to lose their access to unemployment benefits this week. Leaders in Congress failed to pass programs such as the Emergency Unemployment Compensation, the National Flood Insurance Program, and a 65 percent subsidy of COBRA health benefits before taking a two-week Easter break. [Huff Post]
Posted 12:17 PM | Monday, April 5th, 2010 | Permalink
Right Wing Wackiness
My Dog Ate It
You can't blame this on (now defunct) ACORN. It's hard for census takers to count everyone in rural Texas – especially when not everyone wants to be counted.
Just 39 percent of Zapata County residents in South Texas mailed back their questionnaires during the 2000 census. It wasn't much better in Coke County in West Texas, which had a 41 percent return rate. There are already signs that this will be the case for this year's census.
Some people say they're skeptical of government and have no interest in filling out the forms or are answering just some of the census questions this year either. Others in remote areas are simply hard to find. Regardless, the low response rate could very well cost these areas Congressional seats. [Dallas Morning News]
Posted 4:38 PM | Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
Source: flickr/freefoto
This is NOT what democracy looks like
At least 10 House Democrats have reported death threats or incidents of harassment or vandalism at their district offices over the past week. Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) had his address published online, and the house (which actually belongs to his brother), had the gas line cut, prompting an FBI investigation. Rep Betsy Markey (D-CO) received two death threats the day before Sunday's vote. The incidents have gotten bad enough that, while usually only the congressional leadership has regular personal protection from the Capitol Police, 10 lawmakers have been offered the additional protection. [Washington Post]
Posted 10:12 AM | Thursday, March 25th, 2010 | Permalink
Right Wing Wackiness
He Said, He Said
After Democrats passed health care reform, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said: "There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year. They have poisoned the well in what they've done and how they've done it."
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responds: "I find it curious that not getting your way on one thing means you've decided to take your toys and go home. It doesn't work well for my six-year-old. I doubt it works well in the United States Senate, because we have issues that are important for his constituents and for all of America."[The Hill]
Posted 10:09 AM | Thursday, March 25th, 2010 | Permalink
Right Wing Wackiness
The Crystal Ball Says You’ll Get Health Care Then Lose Health Care
Health care reform was signed into law today, but in case you missed it, the National Review's Bill Kristol says it will be repealed by 2013. Remember, to repeal, Republicans will need a super majority in both houses of Congress AND would need to have a Republican president. We'll see how that works out, Bill. [Real Clear Politics]
Posted 3:52 PM | Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 | Permalink
Health & Wellness
Health Care, forever!
The health care reform debate really might last forever. One of the most trusted progressive voices in the senate, Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said Monday evening the effort to improve health care in America will not be over once the Democratic bill passes. In fact, he declared, it's just the beginning.
"I believe that at the end of the day, what we need is a Medicare-for-all, single payer system," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said on MSNBC's The Ed Show. "This is far from that. But that fight continues. So, this is a step forward. And let us not underestimate the good in this bill, let's continue to fight." [Rawstory]
Posted 4:10 PM | Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
Source: flickr/8692813@N06
CSPAN on Demand
Tomorrow, C-Span will formally announce completion of the C-Span Video Library with virtually every minute of its video archives, spanning 23 years of history, uploaded on the Internet. C-Span founder thinks the library will be great for seeing if politicians have changed their tunes over the past 15 years. We think it'll be great for seeing if they've changed their hairstyles. [NYT]
Posted 10:28 AM | Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
KEEPIN’ IT IN THE CONGRESSIONAL FAMILY
Interesting fact of the day: Since World War II, the number of former Congressional staffers who have seats in Congress has dramatically increased, with many in the positions once held by their former bosses. In the current session of Congress, 75 one-time staffers are now members, while at least six staffers are currently vying for seats in elections coming up this year."[Congress]
Posted 3:38 PM | Monday, March 15th, 2010 | Permalink
Safe, Sound, Secure
Big Old Jet Airliner
The Government Accountability Office just finished their audit into the project to build a fleet of new Joint Strike Fighter jets...and the news isn't good. GAO top analyst Michael Sullivan testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee that the contract with Lockheed Martin is way over budget and way behind schedule, which means there is a "substantial risk" there won't be as many jets as promised and they won't be delivered on time. (The "cost of the program has increased $46 billion over the 2007 baseline of $276.5 billion and that development is 2 1/2 years behind schedule.") [Washington Post]
Posted 7:37 PM | Thursday, March 11th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
Sen. Harry Ried’s Wife, Daughter in Serious Car Accident
The Washington Post is reporting Sen. Harry Reid's (D., NV) wife and daugher were in a serious car accident and are currently being treated in the hospital for injuries. According to his spokesman, "Mrs. Reid has a broken nose, broken back and broken neck. Lana has a neck injury and facial lacerations. Both Mrs. Reid and Lana are conscious, can feel their extremities, and according to doctors their injuries are non-life threatening." [WashPo]
Posted 6:16 PM | Thursday, March 11th, 2010 | Permalink
Massa Ethics Probe Dropped
The Washington Post is reporting the House Ethics Committee this afternoon decided "to close its short-lived investigation into allegations that now-resigned congressman Eric Massa groped and sexually harassed younger male staffers in his office, according to two sources familiar with the decision." [Washington Post]
Posted 6:54 PM | Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
What Filibuster?
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pledged on Wednesday to take a serious look at revising the filibuster rules at the beginning of the next Congress, calling the current level of obstruction in the Senate unacceptable.
In a reflection of the party's commitment to changing the parliamentary rules, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) followed the majority leader by saying that his committee would address the topic soon. [Huffington Post]
Posted 4:00 PM | Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 | Permalink
Health & Wellness
“Give My Health Care Proposal A Vote In The Next Few Weeks”
President Obama spoke out today about the health care reform bill currently being held up in the Senate. Read the full text of his remarks here.
Posted 2:07 PM | Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
Source: flickr/pingnews
REAGAN’S FACE: COMING TO A $50 BILL NEAR YOU?
Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry from North Carolina is fighting for the $50 bill to feature the face of former President Ronald Reagan. McHenry wants Congress to tell the U.S Treasury to replace former President Ulysses S. Grant on the bill because he thinks Reagan transformed the nation's political and economic thinking. The representative already has 13 Republican co-sponsors on the bill. [AP]
Posted 1:32 PM | Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
We Saw This One Coming
Despite having announced last night that he would remain the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) has announced that he has requested a "leave of absence" from his duties. This decision follows last week's ethics panel finding that Rangel violated House rules by taking trips to the Caribbean that were funded by corporations and an on-going investigation of his financial disclosures. [TPM]
Posted 9:26 AM | Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 | Permalink
Right Wing Wackiness
Record Breaking Performance
Congratulations to Senate Republicans, who are officially on pace to break the record for most filibusters in a single Congress.
From the AP story: "The numbers are astonishing in this Congress," says Jim Riddlesperger, political science professor at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.
Last year, the first of the 111th Congress, there were a record 112 cloture votes. In the first two months of 2010, the number already exceeds 40.
The Republicans are on track not just to break the record, but to shatter it; if they keep their pace, they will more than triple it. [Associated Press via Rawstory]
Posted 4:29 PM | Monday, March 1st, 2010 | Permalink
Safe, Sound, Secure
No Bonus For You
Congress has denied millions of dollars in bonuses to KBR, the military contractor accused of electrocuting soldiers through shoddy work and poor electrical maintenance. The most well known, Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, was electrocuted two years ago in a shower in Iraq after an electric water pump malfunctioned. More than a dozen other similar deaths are under investigation. In light of that, the federal governmetn did not award KBR with a $25-million bonus, saying that the company failed to meet a level deserving of the money. Now if only they'd do that for the banks...[WXPI]
Posted 9:16 AM | Friday, February 26th, 2010 | Permalink
Safe, Sound, Secure
I spy the same old, same old
Change we can believe in? Maybe not. Senate Democrats have retreated from adding new privacy protections to the nation's primary counterterrorism law, as Republicans refused to lend support and portrayed the majority as willing to harm terror investigations. Lacking the necessary 60-vote supermajority, Democratic leaders settled on a one-year extension of expiring surveillance and seizure provisions of the USA Patriot Act. They tossed aside curbs — and greater scrutiny — on government authority agreed to by the Senate Judiciary Committee in October after spirited debate. [AP]
Posted 4:20 PM | Thursday, February 25th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
In Case You Missed It
"Of course it's the nature of the modern Congress, which hires lots of nice young staffers who have never had a real job, who spent their entire life being arrogant to visitors from back home, who end up thinking they know a lot because they stay up until 3 o'clock working on a word processor, and who write legislation as though they have some contact with reality." --Newt Gingrich, on Congressional staffers. [Politico]
Posted 9:14 AM | Thursday, February 25th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
JOBS BILL PASSED
Earlier today, the Senate passed a $15 billion jobs package bill by a vote of 70 to 28. The bill, which is being sent to the House of Representatives, includes a $13 billion payroll tax break for businesses that hire unemployed workers and also extends the highway-construction fund through the end of 2010. [Reuters]
Posted 2:00 PM | Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 | Permalink
And Justice For All
Underrepresented
Hispanics make up nearly one-sixth of the U.S. population, but a new study finds they are wildly underrepresented in high-level staff positions on Capitol Hill. Out of 100 Senate chiefs of staff, only one is Hispanic. There are no Hispanic legislative directors or deputy chiefs of staff in the Senate, and only one Hispanic staff director. In the House, the numbers are almost as dismal: Hispanics hold only 12 of the roughly 440 chief of staff jobs and only nine of about 440 legislative director slots. [Politico]
Posted 9:46 AM | Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 | Permalink
Political Junkie
DON’T LOOK AT US, IT’S THEM!
There’s a reason why many call the Senate of the United States a dysfunctional body.
“Exasperated House Democratic leaders have compiled a list showing that they have passed 290 bills that have stalled in the Senate.
The list is the latest sign that Democrats in the lower chamber are frustrated with their Senate counterparts.
An aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says the list is put together during each Congress, but that this year’s number is likely the largest ever. However, he said Pelosi blames GOP senators, not Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) or Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
In January, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) suggested the Senate was out of touch with Americans, and did not differentiate between the two parties.” [The Hill]
Posted 1:34 PM | Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 | Permalink
Money Money Money
We Work Hard For Our Money (So Hard For It Honey)
The so-called "skinny" jobs bill cleared a huge hurdle in the House yesterday after five Republicans crossed the aisle to vote with their Democratic colleagues for cloture (the motion to block a filibuster, which requires 60 votes.) Voting to allow the bill to continue: the newest member of the body, Sen. Scott Brown (R., MA), Sens. Susan Collins & Olympia Snowe (R., ME), George Voinovich (R., OH) and Chris Bond (R., MO). Stay tuned for an upcoming final vote. [NYT]
Posted 12:33 AM | Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 | Permalink
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