Feb 20 2011

Under the Radar: While We Were Watching Wisconsin

(2 pm. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

While were distracted by the events in Wisconsin, there was other “stuff” happening, some of it not so good.

During an all night session on Friday, early Saturday morning the House passed a spending bill with massive budget cuts. The bill passed 235 to 189 without one Democrat voting “yay” and would slash $60 billion, mostly discretionary spending, from government spending between now and September. The Democratic led Senate has made it clear that it will not back the draconian cuts that the House bill imposes and sets up a confrontation with the Obama administration that would shut down the government.

Deja vu all over again ala Bill Clinton v Newt Gingrich 1995. The clear winner back then was Clinton and Gingrich eventually resigning from the House with his tail between his legs.

Congress is in recess for the Presidents’ Day holiday. Heh, They get a week off. If we peasants are lucky if get a three day weekend. They they return on March 4 with a mere four day to reconcile the differences and send a bill to the President’s desk.

Some of the cuts this bill proposes:

  • It killed funding to a Pentagon program to build duplicate fighter jet engines. That amendment, which was supported by the Pentagon, passed on Wednesday in a 233-198 vote with bipartisan support despite House Speaker John Boehner’s opposition to its passing.
  • A longtime Republican target, Planned Parenthood, would be banned from receiving funding under an amendment. Democrats called this an “all-out war on women.” The measure would prevent the organization from receiving any federal funding because it performs abortions, even though using government money for abortions is already illegal, undermining programs for reproductive health and pregnancy prevention.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency, already facing $3 billion in cuts from the main bill, would lose an additional $8.4 million for its greenhouse gas registry thanks to a measure introduced by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kans.), which was added in a 239-185 vote.
  • Also targeted the EPA’s regulations on cement plants, approving in a 250-177 vote an amendment prohibiting the agency from using funds to implement or enforce the rule.
  • Blocks ATF request for emergency anti-gun trafficking authority that would have required gun dealers in southern border states to report bulk purchases of assault weapons
  • It prohibited funding for so-called czars on health care, climate change, global warming, green jobs, automobiles, Guantanamo Bay Closure, Pay and Fairness Doctrine.
  • Blocked funding to implement health care reform and prohibit agencies from hiring staff to implement the law, effectively rendering its protections against insurance companies unenforceable.

    • One of the amendments that failed was an amendment to end a tax loophole for major oil companies, introduced by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.). It failed in a 251-174 vote on Friday. Democrats aimed to end subsidies to Big Oil as a revenue-booster to protect social programs.

    “Republicans once again sided with BP, Exxon and the oil companies, not with the American taxpayer and the poorest Americans most in need of help,” Markey said in a statement. “This legislation focuses on just the kind of special interest loophole that should be closed before we open attacks on programs for the poorest Americans.”

    President Obama has already indicated that he would veto this bill. We shall see.

    2 comments

      • on 02/20/2011 at 06:20
        Author
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      • on 02/20/2011 at 20:05
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      i hate the news you bring in these…..

      but i’m very glad you do!

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