Daily Whackjob

House:

The House worked on H.R. 1362 (reforms government contracting practices).

• Amendment 1 - Matheson amendment that requires Congress to be notified if a sole-source contract is awarded to a foreign company based in a country known to sponsor terrorism. Halliburton craps itself. Agreed by voice vote.
• Amendment 2 - Castle amendment that requested the Ethics committee to draft policies requiring contractors and federally funded research centers to comply with personal financial interest restrictions. Agreed by voice vote.
• Amendment 3 - Tom Davis (VA) amendment that prohibits assigning contracts to educational institutions that don’t support U.S. defense efforts. Yeah, good luck finding a non-religious college without war protests. Passed 309-114. You Democrats should be ashamed. Did I miss someone burning down the Reichstag?
• H.R. 1362 (reforms gouvernement contracting practices) passed 347-73.

Please call your Congressman and tell them where to stick this bill. Then call your Senators and ask them to strip the Davis amendment from the bill.

Tomorrow, the House is taking another break, since they’ve worked a hard three weeks.

Senate:

The Senate brought a few things to the floor.

• S.J.Res 9 - Reid Iraq Resolution. Rejected 48-50. This sets up for two other resolutions to come to the floor: Gregg amendment that funds the troops and gives Bush total control and the Murray amendment that funds the troops but says the President and Congress are in joint control.
• S.Res 107 - Sense of the Senate that the Congress shouldn’t undermine the troops. Passed 96-2.
• S.Con.Res 20 - Concurrent resolution that the Congress should fully fund the troops. Passed 82-16.

The Senate is off tomorrow because it’s hard work, harder than the work the rest of us do for less pay.

The House passed several bills today that assist in open government. The Democrats seem to be really showing the party jewels. Lets get to it:

• H.R. 1254 - Requires disclosure of donors to Presidential libraries. Passed 390-34.
• H.R. 1255 - This is in response to a Bush executive order that gives broad power to the administration to keep the archivist from releasing Presidential records. Basically throws out the executive order. Passed 333-93.
• H.R. 1309 - Strengthens the Freedom of Information Act. There was a Washpo article today that talked about some FOIA requests are 10 years overdue. Passed 308-117.

The House next worked on H.R.985 (Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act). Here are the amendments and the results:

• Amendment 3 - Platts amendment ensuring that the forum of disclosure doesn’t disqualify someone from whistleblower protections. Passed by voice vote.
• Amendment 5 - Tierney amendment that limits which members of Congress can hear testimony on sensitive subjects (e.g. National Security). Passed by voice vote.
• Amendment 1 - Stupak amendment that further defines what constitutes political interference with science as abuse of power. Passed 250-178.
• Amendment 4 - Sali amendment to remove the whole section about political interference in science. Failed 159-271
• Amendment 2 - Stupak amendment that creates a standard for a company to prove that a whistleblower would have been fired even if they had not disclosed damaging information. Passed 252-173.
• H.R.985 (Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act) passed 331-94.

This was a very positive day. Tomorrow, the House works on H.R. 1362 (Reform Government Contracting Procedures).

The Senate started work on the Iraq Resolution Bill (S.J.Res. 9). Reid managed to get cloture on the bill today, so expect a vote either Saturday or Monday. Cloture passed 89-9.

It’s another Courthouse Day. Here are the passed by voice votes:

• H.R. 1003 - Reauthorizes the US Advisory Commission on Public Policy (Whatever the hell that is).
• H.Res. 107 - Hamas, Let my people go! (Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli soldiers
  held captive by Hamas and Hezbollah, and for other purposes.)
• H.Res. 230 - Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome signed on March 25, 1957, which was a key step in creating the European Union, and reaffirming the close and mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and Europe.
• H.R. 478 - Scott Reed (Bob Dole’s campaign manager?) gets a courthouse in Lexington, KY.
• H.R. 429 - Hugh Carey gets a courthouse in Brooklyn.
• H.R. 430 - Conrad Duberstein (famed bankruptcy judge) gets a bankruptcy courthouse in Brooklyn.
• H.R. 1045 - Neal Smith gets a federal building in Des Moines, IA.

Recorded Votes:

• H.Res. 64 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of Bangladesh should immediately drop all pending charges against Bangladeshi journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhur. Passed 409-1.Ron Paul hates Bangladeshis.
• H. Res. 228 - Recognizing the 186th anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating Greek and American democracy. Passed 413-0. Ron paul loves the Greeks.
• H.Res. 222 - Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, as a blueprint for a lasting peace in Northern Ireland, and for other purposes. Passed 419-1. Ron Paul hates the Irish.

Tomorrow, the House will work on the following bills (pasted from the majority leader’s report):

• H.R. 1309 - The Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007 (Rep. Clay - Oversight and Government Reform)
• H.R. 1255 Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 (Rep. Waxman Oversight and Government Reform)
• H.R. 1254 - Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2007 (Rep. Waxman Oversight and Government Reform)
• H.R. 985 - Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 (Rep. Waxman Oversight and Government Reform) (Subject to a Rule)

The Senate passed S. 4 (The 9/11 Bill) and tabled a few amendments:

• Amendment 275 - Coburn amendment to sunset the 9/11 bill in 2012. Tabled 60-38
• Amendment 325 - .Coburn amendment to create risk assessments for the grant program. Tabled 66-31.
• Amendment 383 - Biden amendment that diverts hazardous material transport away from major cities. Tabled 73-25.
• S. 4 - The 9/11 bill passed 60-38. John McCain couldn’t be bothered to vote today.

Tomorrow, the Senate will start on S.J.Res 9 (the Iraq war resolution).

***On a personal note, leave a comment if you find CongressWatch to have any value and if you have any thoughts on how to improve it.

The House loves the Dutch and black people. Let start with those passed by voice vote:

• H.R. 1068 - To amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991.
• H.R. 1126 - To reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988.
• H.Res. 198 - Recognizing the significance of Black History Month.

Recorded votes:

• H.R. 85 - Energy Technology Transfer Act. Passed 395-1. Jeff Flake hates technology.
• H.Res. 136 - Commending the Girl Scouts of the United States of America on the occasion of their 95th anniversary, for providing quality age-appropriate experiences that prepare girls to become the leaders of tomorrow and for raising issues important to girls. Passed 395-0. Jeff Flake loves girl scouts.
• H.Res. 89 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a day should be established as Dutch-American Friendship Day to celebrate the historic ties of the United States and the Netherlands. Passed 391-0. Everyone loves the Dutch.

As Senator Jim Webb seeks to add language that requires the President to seek permission from Congress before attacking Iran, the House Democrats caved into pressure from the Blue Dog Democrats to remove similar language from the war supplemental bill:

The Blue Dogs, who balked at the Iran language as well as some of the proposals for getting troops out of Iraq, will meet to consider the measure this morning. The move is unusual, given that the group usually does not caucus on national security issues.
The leaders have "been responsive enough to take out Iran. That’s one of the two things they need to do," said Rep. Lincoln Davis, a Blue Dog Democrat from Tennessee, who added that the second step they need to take is to insert waiver provisions that would allow the president to sidestep troop withdrawals and other limitations in specific circumstances.

Today, the Senate continued work on S.4 (the 9/11 bill) with no recorded votes. The Senate is expected to vote on a few remaining amendments tomorrow and pass the bill, though it includes a provisioning to give collective bargaining rights to TSA screeners, which Bush has threatened to veto.

Today, the House worked on H.R.700, the Healthy Communities Safe Water Act.

• Amendment 1 - Price amendment to require offsets. Failed 176-256.
• Amendment 3 - Conaway amendment that deals with selection of projects. Passed by voice vote.
• Motion to recommit with instructions - Price asked to recommit and require the bill to reported back with a new section that limits the use of funds. Passed 427-0 and the floor proceeded with the new version of the bill.
• H.R.700, the Healthy Communities Safe Water Act passed 368-59.

The House also passed (269-150) the committee budget (H.Res. 202). Wanna feel sick? Check the bill out, especially the amounts each committee gets. Yes, those are in millions.

Tomorrow, the House completes water week with H.R. 720, Water Quality Financing Act of 2007.

The Senate was in gridlock today on S.4 (the 9/11 bill). Here’s how it went:

• Mary Landrieu wants an amendment to help Katrina victims added to the 9/11 bill.
• Jim DeMint placed a hold on her amendment.
• Mary Landrieu places a hold on several other amendments.
• On a separate note, the leadership is trying to get a group of amendments passed en bloc, but members from both parties objected.

So, no vote tomorrow, possibly Sat according to Reid. McConnell is saying Tuesday. The Senate will continue on S. 4 tomorrow.

The King of Jordan visited today. And after he was gone, we’re off to the races. The House worked on H.R. 569 (Water Quality Investment Act) which basically creates grants for sewer overflows.

• Amendment 3 - King (IA) reduces the grants by 5%. Passed by voice vote.
• Amendment 1 - Price(GA) requires offsets. Failed 166-260.
• Amendment 2 - Rohrabacher tries to sneak in some employment verification program. The chair slapped it down as not germane.
• McHenry amendment to limit the use of funds. Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 569 (Water Quality Investment Act) passed 367-58. Republicans like sewage overflow.

The House also passed H.R. 710 (The Living Kidney Organ Donation Act) which was drafted by the late Charlie Norwood. Specifically, the bill says that paired kidney donation transplants do not constitute value (it’s illegal to sell body parts). Passed 422-0.

Tomorrow, the house will work on H.R.700, the Healthy Communities Safe Water Act.

The Senate continued work on S.4 (9/11 bill).

• Amendment 316 - McCaskill amendment that provides appeal rights to passengers and collective bargaining rights for screeners. Passed 51-48.
• Amendment 342 - Collins amendment concerning collective bargaining rights for screeners, basically no collective bargaining rights. Rejected 47-52.
• Amendment 345 - Coburn amendment to examine the possibility of allowing commercial entities to develop public safety communications networks, and for other purposes. Tabled 71-25.

Tomorrow, the Senate will continue work on S.4 (9/11 bill). More information about the competing collective bargaining amendments. The Collins amendment would give some protection to screeners, but not collective bargaining rights. The McCaskill amendment grants collective bargaining rights, but doesn’t let screeners strike.

I’m back home so we’ve got two days of CongressWatch. Lets get to it:

The House worked on memorial and supporting bills for the last two days. On Monday:

• H.R. 995 - creates a Disabled Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. This is a total CYA bill, as it was rushed through the House in the wake of the Walter Reed Scandal. Passed 390-0.
• H.R. 497 - creates a memorials to General Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox. Passed 390-0.

On Tuesday:

• H.Res. 98 - honors Dr. John Garang de Mabior of the Sudan. Darfur still not resolved. Passed 410-1. Ron Paul hates black people.
• H.Res. 149 - International Women’s Day. Passed 403-0.

Tomorrow will be a short legislation day for the House due to a Joint Session with the King of Jordan.

The Senate is still working on S.4.(9/11 bill). Some amendments worked on (well, pretty much all were tabled) today:

• S. Amendment 314 - DeMint amendment which removes the TSA collective bargaining rights section. Tabled 51-46.
• S. Amendment 335 - Feinstein amendment concerning DHS grants. Tabled 56-43.
• S. Amendment 338 - Obama amendment requiring high-risk qualifiers for DHS grants. Tabled 59-41.
• S. Amendment 333 - Leahy amendment to increase the minimum grants amount for DHS state grants. Rejected 49-50 (lots of crossovers, this wasn’t party-line).

Tomorrow, the Senate is in Joint Session with the King of Jordan.

It’s union day in the House, with H.R. 800 (Employee Free Choice Act). Lets get to it:

• Amendment 1 - King (IA) - An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 110-26 to add a section to the bill to amend the National Labor Relations Act to discourage the practice of `salting’. This amendment will change the NLRA to ensure that a company’s workers are employed for the sole benefit of that company. Failed 164-264.
• Amendment 2 - Foxx - An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 110-26 requires the National Labor Relations Board to promulgate standards and a model notice for an employee to put him- or herself on a `do not call or contact’ list to avoid union solicitation. Failed 173-256.
• Amendment 3 - McKeon - An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 110-26 in the Nature of a Substitute. This amendment in the nature of a substitute would strike the underlying text and insert in its place the text of H.R. 866, the Secret Ballot Protection Act. The amendment would prohibit the recognition of unions via card check, and provide that a union may only be recognized and certified after a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. This is the part of the bill that will bring a White House veto, if secret ballots aren’t enforced. Failed 173-256.
• H.R. 800 passed 241-185.

The House is off until Monday because that last week off wasn’t enough.

The Senate continued work on S.4 (9/11 Bill). Republicans and a few Democrats managed to table a Schumer amendment (S. Amendt. 298 - not yet in Thomas) that would require that all cargo coming into ports be scanned. The amendment was tabled 58-38. Here’s the breakdown:

Republicans voting against tabling the measure:

• Specter

Democrats voting to table the measure:

• Akaka
• Bingaman
• Brown
• Byrd
• Cantwell
• Carper
• Conrad
• Inouye
• Landrieu
• Murray
• Nelson
• Wyden

Lieberman also voted against it. From Hotline:

With strong opposition from the shipping and trade industry, Senate Republicans and a handful of Democrats defeated a proposal Thursday that would have required all cargo be scanned at foreign ports before being put on ships bound for the United States.

Senators voted 58-38 to table the proposal, which was offered by Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Robert Menendez, D-N.J., as an amendment to a bill to implement unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

The Senate will continue work on S.4 tomorrow.

The House worked on H.R. 556 (National Security Foreign Investment Reform and Strengthened Transparency Act of 2007). Before we get to the final vote, lets have a look at the amendments our contestants proposed:

• Amendment 3 - Frank - An amendment numbered 3 printed in the Congressional Record making sundry changes to the bill. Agreed by voice vote.
• Amendment 4 - King (IA) - An amendment numbered 4 printed in the Congressional Record to add a requirement that the President consider the potential effects of a covered transaction on the efforts of the United States to curtail human smuggling. Agreed by voice vote.
• Amendment 12 - Barrow - An amendment numbered 12 printed in the Congressional Record to add language to section 7 (which deals with Oversight by the Congress) providing that Senators representing States and Members of Congress representing congressional districts that would be significantly affected by a covered transaction should be affected by the reporting requirements. Agreed by voice vote.
• Amendment 5 - McCaul - An amendment numbered 5 printed in the Congressional Record, to insert a new paragraph entitled Contents of Report Related to Barriers to Investment into the United States and specifies for inclusion in the report a detailed discussion of factors including the effective rate of taxation on entrepreneurs and businesses and other sources of capital in the U.S. as compared to other countries. Failed 198-228.
• Amendment 6 - McCaul - An amendment numbered 6 printed in the Congressional Record, to insert a new paragraph entitled Contents of Report Related to Barriers to Investment into the United States and specifies for inclusion in the report a detailed discussion of factors including the amount of burdensome regulation in the United States as compared to other countries that affect the number of filings, changes in the types of business sectors involved in filings, and changes in the number of investments originating from specific countries. Failed 197-231.
• Amendment 7 - McCaul - An amendment numbered 7 printed in the Congressional Record, to insert a new paragraph entitled Contents of Report Related to Barriers to Investment into the United States and specifies for inclusion in the report a detailed discussion of factors including trend information on the number of jobs in the United States related to foreign investment resulting from covered transactions, that affect the number of filings, changes in the type of business sectors involved in filings, and changes in the number of investments originating from specific countries. Failed 197-231.

Today’s loser is McCaul of TX, for trying to shove three unsuccessful amendments that seriously look like handouts to American corporations. The House passed H.R. 556 423-0. For good measure, they threw in H.Con.Res. 52 (American Heart Month). Passed 412-0.

The House will start work on H.R. 800 (Employee Free Choice Act) which the White House has already threatened to veto over the section that removes the need for secret ballots to unionize. I have to agree that this card check idea (all they have to do is have a majority sign cards). With a history of strong-arm tactics, I think we should keep secret ballots.

The Senate continued work on S.4 (9/11 Bill). Two amendments were offered: S. Amendt. 285 and S. Amendt. 279 (these aren’t in Thomas yet). Both amendments appear to be about criminal offenses that will disqualify someone from getting a transportation security card. From Hotline:

Senators approved an amendment by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., that would disqualify individuals from getting credentials to work at the nation’s seaports if they were convicted of any one of several serious offenses, such as spying, murder, treason, terrorism, a crime involving a transportation security incident and illegal possession or sale of explosives. The prohibition would also extend to individuals who were convicted within the last seven years of less serious crimes, such as firearms offenses, identity fraud and immigration violations.

The language in the amendment drew objections from Democrats who said it was too broad. So Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, offered a second degree amendment that would allow the Homeland Security Department to modify the list of offenses that bar individuals from getting credentials.

S. Amendt. 285 (Inouye amends 279 to allows DHS to modify the list) passed 58-37, after which S. Amendt. 279 (DeMint, says which criminal offenses disqualify) passed 94-2

Tomorrow, the Senate continues on S.4.

Congress, we hope you enjoyed having a week off, while the rest of us maybe got a day, unless we’re poor, in which case we probably worked overtime. Now that you’re well rested, lets see what you’ve done today:

The House got off to a strong start, by passing H.Con.Res. 47 (National Medal of Honor Day–Can someone tell me why it isn’t a month?) Passed 411-0.

The House passed the following by voice vote:

• H.R. 1066 - to increase community development investments by depository institutions, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 644 - to facilitate the provision of assistance by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the cleanup and economic redevelopment of brownfields.
• H.Res 42 - recognizing Ann Richards’ extraordinary contributions to Texas and American public life.
• H.R. 990 - to provide all low-income students with the same opportunity to receive a Pell Grant by eliminating the tuition sensitivity provision in the Pell Grant program.
• H.Res. 126 - commending the University of Southern California Trojan football team for its victory in the 2007 Rose Bowl.
• H.Res. 103 - congratulating the Mount Union College Purple Raiders for winning the 2006 NCAA Division III Football National Championship.
• H.R. 1129 - to provide for the construction, operation, and maintenance of an arterial road in St. Louis County, Missouri.
• H.R. 494 - to provide for the conditional conveyance of any interest retained by the United States in St. Joseph Memorial Hall in St. Joseph, Michigan.
• H. Con Res 74 - expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for additional research into the chronic neurological condition hydrocephalus, and for other purposes.

The House worked on two other bills:

• H.R. 755 - Promoting Transparency in Financial Reporting Act of 2007. This bill requires annual testimony from the heads of the SEC and other accounting boards. Passed 412-0. (Paging Tom and Jo Ann Davis, would you mind showing up for work?)
• H.R. 884 - Promoting Antiterrorism Cooperation through Technology and Science Act. Passed 396-16.

Tomorrow, the House will start work on H.R. 556 - National Security Foreign Investment Reform and Strengthened Transparency Act of 2007.

In the Senate, Harry "Pickles" Reid brought S.4. (9/11 Commission Recommendations bill) to the floor. Democrats have agreed to pass a clean bill without attaching any Iraq resolutions to the bill out of respect to the 9/11 family members. However, rumor has it McConnell wants to attach a Gregg amendment that would vow not to cut funding for troops.

Chertoff (Skelator) told Congress that if a provision in the 9/11 bill that gave TSA screeners collective bargaining rights, or offered them whistleblower protections remained in the bill, it would be vetoed.

I leave you with a Hotline article concerning Trent Lott’s pissing match with State Farm Insurance after the jump.

Continue Reading »

Reid lost the cloture vote on S. 574 (the Iraq resolution) 56-34 (60 needed for cloture). Lieberman voted against it, McCain skipped to go campaign, and the following Republicans voted for cloture:

• Snowe (R-ME)
• Specter (R-PA)
• Warner (R-VA)
• Collins (R-ME)
• Hagel (R-NE)
• Coleman (R-MN)
• Smith (R-OR)

The Republicans Senators also forced a recorded vote on taking the next week off, which passed 47-33. While I appreciate having President’s Day off, I appreciate more that it’s called President’s DAY and not President’s WEEK. If it’s convenient Mr. Reid, would you mind terribly giving the appearance that you plan to earn your pay?

The House passed the Iraq War Resolution (H.Con.Res 63) 246-182 (17 crossover Republicans). Steny Hoyer, in the spirit of cooperation, put out a pdf entitled "Republican Goofy Quotes." Hoyer’s office put out the following statement on H.R. 976, the Small business Tax Cuts (passed 360-45) 25 minutes before the pdf file:

"I’m hopeful that the newfound tone of civility, cooperation and accountability in the United States Congress will continue to guide our actions and the important work that lies ahead."

Yeah, that newfound tone of civility lasted 31 minutes by the timestamps in my inbox. Steny Hoyer: the Democratic Tom Delay. The House will be off Monday (hey, at least it’s not a week like the Senate wanted).

One problem with the Senate is they don’t have an up to the minute daily record, so often times, voice vote passage bills aren’t available until the Congressional Record comes out (or unless I strap myself to CSPAN, and that sucks).

Yesterday, the Senate passed (by voice vote) two bills:

• S.188 - amends the name of the "Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006" to the "Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks,Coretta Scott King, Cesar E. Chavez, Barbara C. Jordan, William C. Velasquez, and Dr. Hector P. Garcia Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006". Thank you Ken Salazar.
• S. 487 - clarifies that paired kidney donation doesn’t count as selling an organ.

The Senate will vote on cloture on S. 574 (Reid’s Iraq Resolution) at 1:45 pm Saturday.

Per H.Res 157 (rules for debate on H. Con. Res. 63), there was supposed to be a vote today on 63, but the House adjourned until tomorrow while still debating the bill. The House will also try to reconcile H.R. 976 (tax cuts for small business to offset the minimum wage hike). The Senate and House versions differ by about $6.3 billion.

The Senate can’t even get into the Iraq debate. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Reid offered to put the debate until after the week-long break coming up.
2. Hagel and Snow said they would object to the adjournment without debate on an Iraq War Resolution.
3. Reid and McConnell get into it over how to schedule the debate. Reid wants to House bill (that Hoyer is still trying to get to a vote) and McConnell wants to allow debate on the Warner’Levin Resolution, McCain Resolution, and the Gregg Resolution (not in Thomas.loc.gov for some reason).
4. Reid says, “Fine! We’ll do McCain and the House version.”
5. McConnell objects to Reid picking the minority’s agenda.
6. Reid “calls the Republicans’ bluff” and decides to make the Senate work through the weekend and next week (hey, the rest of us are working next week).
7. Senate will vote on cloture on S. 574 (Reid’s Iraq Resolution) at 1:45 pm Saturday.
8. Reid finds himself back in the minority party in 2 years because he’s a dumbass and unwilling to rise above this crap.

Interesting thought for the day: The Lieberman/Collins 9/11 Commission bill (S.4), which made it out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today 16-0 (Coburn abstained because he hates puppies). The bill coming out of committee is 230 pages.

Stupid Floor Comment of the Day (well, couple days ago):

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, we come here today, we have spent most of the day on this, to discuss a resolution. It has two parts. The first says that we support our troops, and the second says that we are opposed to the mission that the troops are sent on.

Now, the problem with the resolution is that it is self-contradictory right up front. If we were going to say we are supporting our troops, we would give them body armor. We would give them up-armored Humvees. We would give them tanks. But would we withhold the most important in our arsenal and that is other American fighting men and women? So to say that we are going to support our troops, but we are not going to send them any reinforcements is on the face of it contradictory. Could you picture Davy Crockett at the Alamo looking at his BlackBerry, getting a message from Congress: Davy Crockett , we support you. The only thing is we are not going to send any troops. I am sure that would really be impressive to Davy Crockett .

The House worked on H.Con. Res. 63 (Anti-Surge Resolution). Every member gets 5 minutes to speak. The Black Caucus was slated to speak from 4-6, the Blue Dogs from 6-8, and the 30-something working group from 10-11. Per the rules set forth in H.Res 157, debate will probably continue until late Thursday. Friday, the House will resume and probably pass the Small Business Tax Cuts bill (H.R. 976). The House version is $2 billion, the Senate version is $8.3 billion.

The House paused for a few minutes to pass H.Res. 159 (condolences on the death of Charlie Norwood) by voice vote.

The Senate passed H.J. Res 20 81-15. The Senate will work on nominations tomorrow.

And a shout goes out to Chuck Tood, husband of Kristian Denny Todd (Jim Webb’s Press Director) for being named NBC News Political Director.

Charlie Norwood passed away today from cancer. Our thoughts go out to Mr. Norwood’s family.

John Shadegg sent a Dear Colleague letter to House Republicans asking them not to debate the Iraq War Resolution in its current form:

Democrats want to force us to focus on defending the surge, making the case that it will work and explaining why the President’s new Iraq policy is different from prior efforts and therefore justified.

Steny Hoyer released the following statement concerning Shadegg’s letter:

If you support the troops, and you want to win this war on terror, then you do not support tactics that don’t work. This is not about Republicans or Democrats winning or losing. This debate is about making sure our country is successful in the war on terror.

The House brought H.Res 157 (rules for debating H.Con. Res 63) forward (Motion to bring back to the floor passed 227-197 with Jones (R-NC) voting for and Taylor (D-MS) voting against). The bill passed 232-192 (three more Republican crossovers).

• H.R. 437 - Lino Perez Jr got himself a Post Office in Rio Grande City, Texas. Passed 421-0.

The House is currently debating H.Con Res 63 (the Skelton Iraq War Resolution). The House is slated to continue with the Iraq War Resolutions tomorrow.

The Senate continued work on H.J. Res 20 (the budget). Expect a final vote tomorrow.

I leave you with a message from the President of the United States of America:

To the Congress of the United States:

In accordance with the provisions of section 1512 of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105-261), I hereby certify that the export to the People’s Republic of China of the following items is not detrimental to the U.S. space launch industry, and that the material and equipment, including any indirect technical benefit that could be derived from such exports, will not measurably improve the missile or space launch capabilities of the People’s Republic of China:

Twenty Honeywell model QA 750 accelerometers to be incorporated into railway geometry measurement systems for China’s Ministry of Railways.

Equipment and technology associated with the production and testing of composite components for Boeing commercial aircraft.

George W. Bush.

The White House, February 11, 2007.

The House worked on a few Post Offices, a Courthouse, some African-Americans, some Japanese-Americans and the Dept. of Homeland Security.

• H.R. 34 - a pilot program to designate certain judges to hear paten cases (or cases involving plants). Passed by voice vote.
• H.Res. 109 - recognizing the historical significance of Pinedale Assembly Center. Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 414 - West in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Post Office renamed Miguel Angel Garcia Mendez Post Office. Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 342 - Cape Girardeau, Missouri Courthouse renamed Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Sr. Courthouse. Pharmacy down the street named after Jr. Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 798 - 30 million for solar panels for the Department of Energy HQ. Passed by hot air voice vote.
• H.R. 134 - "We Love the Department of Homeland Security, Please Don’t Tap our Phone Lines" Bill. Passed 412-0. Yeah, like anyone was voting against that.
• H. Con. Res 44 - Honoring the 98th anniversary of the NAACP. Passed 410-0.

Tomorrow, the House is addressing H.R. 976 (Tax relief for small businesses–basically the tax cuts the Senate wants to pass the minimum wage hike) and the Iraq War resolution. Steny Hoyer is opening the floor to debate tomorrow, giving everyone five minutes for sound bites to be used in the next election. Mr. Hoyer appears to be high on something. Whoever is slipping him whatever it is, please continue.

The Senate is working on H.J. Res. 20 (the budget). They will resume tomorrow with a cloture vote that the Republicans have agreed to, as the current resolution expires at midnight on Thursday and Republicans do not want the government shutdown because they failed to pass a budget last session.

The Cantor Amendment to H.R.547 was designed to take a shot at Nancy Pelosi and her airplane:

Given their first open rule of this Congress, Republicans Thursday used it to offer amendments attacking Speaker Pelosi over the selection of military jets for her use and to challenge the reinstated Democratic rule giving House delegates a non-binding vote.

Chief Deputy Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., brought Pelosi into the debate through a seemingly innocuous amendment calling for the United States to embrace domestic alternative fuels to lessen the country’s dependence on foreign oil and decrease demand for jet fuel. It was adopted 422-3.

But the amendment cited "passenger planes with 42 business-class seats capable of transcontinental flights" as an example of the need to decrease jet fuel consumption.

And to set the record straight, Pelosi says, and no one is disputing, that she was not involved in picking the aircraft:

But Pelosi reiterated that negotiations on the type of jet have been conducted between House Sergeant at Arms Bill Livingood and the Pentagon, with no direct involvement by her office or White House officials.

"We’ve never asked for a larger plane — this is a myth that they [Republicans] are talking about on the floor," Pelosi told reporters after saying if the Air Force could not provide a plane that could travel nonstop she would fly commercial airlines instead.

Livingood issued a statement Thursday saying he indeed had requested a larger plane. "The fact that Speaker Pelosi lives in California compelled me to request an aircraft that is capable of making nonstop flights for security purposes, unless such an aircraft is unavailable," he said, noting her "constitutional position as second in the line of succession to the presidency."

Yesterday, I guessed about what was in H.Res 133 (consideration of H.R.547–the Sulfur Diesel Bill). I guessed that H.Res 133 was going to limit debate to an hour and ban amendments. I was 1-1, the bill did allow amendments, and amendments it got. Specifically, nine of them. The amendments aren’t referenced, they’re printed in the record, so I’ve only got descriptions from the floor summary. Lets get to it:

• Burgess Amendment: An amendment numbered 2 printed in the Congressional Record to add a paragraph to section 3 including provisions with respect to increased volatile emissions or increased nitrogen oxide emissions. Agreed to by voice vote.
• Eschoo Amendment to Burgess Amendment: An amendment to insert a new paragraph in lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the Burgess amendment to section 3. The new matter seeks to insert text regarding strategies to minimize emissions from infrastructure. Agreed 242-185.
• Hasting Amendment: An amendment to include language which encourages the Assistant Administrator to utilize Land Grant Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and other minority serving institutions among other resources to undertake research for programs covered by the bill.Agreed 424-0.
• Weller Amendment: An amendment to add a new paragraph to section 3 which includes issues with respect to certification by a nationally recognized testing laboratory of compenents[sic] for fuel dispensing devises that specifically reference compatibility with alcohol blended and biofuels that contain greater than 15 percent alcohol. Agreed 424-0.
• Dent Amendment: An amendment to add provisions which allow fuel distributors and retailers to transform their businesses by dispensing hydrogen, reformed on site from various feedstocks, or delivered by pipeline or tube trucks, resulting in new storage, handling, and equipment challenges necessary beyond that carried out under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Agreed 226-201.
• Rogers Amendment: An amendment to add a new paragraph to section 3, Biofuel Infrastructure and Additives Research and Development, to include issues with respect to where in the fuel supply chain additives optimally should be added to fuels. Agreed 419-6.
• Roskam Amendment: An amendment to amend section 6 of the bill to make authorization of appropriations subject to pay as you go provisions. Agreed by voice vote.
• Rogers Amendment (yes, another one): An amendment to add a new section 7 providing for the establishment of an energy security fund and an alternative fuel grant program. Agreed 354-58.
• Brugess Amendment (yes, another one): An amendment to add a new section providing for an increase in per gallon rates for biodiesel credit. Agreed by voice vote.
• Cantor Amendment: An amendment to add a new section 7 entitled Additional Funding. Agreed 422-3.
• Brown-waite Amendment: An amendment to add a new section requiring a report to Congress. Agreed by voice vote.
• Motion to recommit failed 200-207. Paging Mr. Moran,. Mr. Moran, we pay you to vote on things, especially when it’s this close.
• H.R. 547 (retitled: to facilitate the development of markets for alternative fuels and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel through research, development, and demonstration and data collection) passed 400-3.

The Senate confirmed George Casey as the Army Chief of Staff 83-14. Clinton and McCain voted against.

The Senate is taking the day off tomorrow. The House is in a pro forma session tomorrow. Both houses are pretty tired from having to work a five day week for 4 out of the past 6 weeks.

Quote of the day: “Americans don’t want Lassie turned into a fur coat.” - Jim Moran. Americans would like Jim Moran turned into a designer handbag, however.

The House did what the House does best: not much. Lets get right to it: