Friday, January 30, 2009
This Week in Wasington
A good week for SCHIP! The Senate warded off a number of amendments to the SCHIP reauthorization and completed action on a bill with Senator Brown voting yes and Senator Voinovich voting no. Meanwhile, the House passed the economic recovery package on Wednesday. The Senate will start debate on the economic recovery package on Monday and is expected to debate it for at least one week.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE MOVING IN SENATE AND HOUSE
The House passed its version of the economic recovery package by a vote of 244-188. For the Ohio delegation is was a strict party line vote.
The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees adopted their pieces of the economic recovery package earlier this week. Senator Voinovich, newly appointed to the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted against the bill that came out of committee.
There is concern about possible floor amendments that would: 1) reduce state fiscal relief (temporary FMAP increase and the state fiscal stabilization/education fund); 2) reduce or modify the improvements in the refundable tax credits that help low-income working families and stimulate the economy, and 3) strike unemployment modernization from the bill at the time it is most needed.
In addition, there will likely be a significant number of poorly designed and badly-targeted tax cuts offered on the Senate floor that could end up squeezing out key spending investments that are far greater economic stimulus.
SCHIP REAUTHORIZATION MOVING IN THE SENATE
After three days of contentious floor debate, the Senate passed its version of SCHIP by a strong bipartisan vote of 66 – 32 with the restoration of legal immigrants at state option intact! We’re well on our way to increasing health care coverage for approximately 4 million low-income children!
Next Steps
Yesterday House Speaker Pelosi echoed floor statements by Senator Baucus of hopes the House will take up the Senate’s version of the bill next week, and move the legislation quickly to the President’s desk for signature. There are some differences between the House and Senate versions, however. If the House does not adopt the Senate’s SCHIP bill, both houses should be able to resolve their differences pretty quickly.
HOUSE TO ACT ON FY 2009 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL NEXT WEEK
The Speaker has indicated that the House is likely to take up a bill next week to fund the nine unfinished domestic appropriations bills through the remainder of the fiscal year (September 30, 2009). This is probably not a significant opportunity for advocacy as the Committees have already drafted their bills to use funding provided through the FY2009 Budget Resolution. The current continuing resolution provides funding through March 6, 2009.
PRESIDENT’S BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS TO BE UNVEILED FEB 24
We expect to get a first look at the President’s budget proposals on Tuesday, February 24.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE MOVING IN SENATE AND HOUSE
The House passed its version of the economic recovery package by a vote of 244-188. For the Ohio delegation is was a strict party line vote.
The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees adopted their pieces of the economic recovery package earlier this week. Senator Voinovich, newly appointed to the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted against the bill that came out of committee.
There is concern about possible floor amendments that would: 1) reduce state fiscal relief (temporary FMAP increase and the state fiscal stabilization/education fund); 2) reduce or modify the improvements in the refundable tax credits that help low-income working families and stimulate the economy, and 3) strike unemployment modernization from the bill at the time it is most needed.
In addition, there will likely be a significant number of poorly designed and badly-targeted tax cuts offered on the Senate floor that could end up squeezing out key spending investments that are far greater economic stimulus.
SCHIP REAUTHORIZATION MOVING IN THE SENATE
After three days of contentious floor debate, the Senate passed its version of SCHIP by a strong bipartisan vote of 66 – 32 with the restoration of legal immigrants at state option intact! We’re well on our way to increasing health care coverage for approximately 4 million low-income children!
Next Steps
Yesterday House Speaker Pelosi echoed floor statements by Senator Baucus of hopes the House will take up the Senate’s version of the bill next week, and move the legislation quickly to the President’s desk for signature. There are some differences between the House and Senate versions, however. If the House does not adopt the Senate’s SCHIP bill, both houses should be able to resolve their differences pretty quickly.
HOUSE TO ACT ON FY 2009 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL NEXT WEEK
The Speaker has indicated that the House is likely to take up a bill next week to fund the nine unfinished domestic appropriations bills through the remainder of the fiscal year (September 30, 2009). This is probably not a significant opportunity for advocacy as the Committees have already drafted their bills to use funding provided through the FY2009 Budget Resolution. The current continuing resolution provides funding through March 6, 2009.
PRESIDENT’S BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS TO BE UNVEILED FEB 24
We expect to get a first look at the President’s budget proposals on Tuesday, February 24.
