Legislation & Politics

Week Ending June 6, 2008

Congress – The Week of June 2, 2008


Congress adopts budget for next year; moves to spending bills.

Congress Adopts Budget for Next Year; Moves to Spending Bills

Congress adopted the budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 70) for fiscal year 2009. Largely on a party-line vote, the Senate adopted the budget blueprint 48-45. Maine Republican Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe voted for the package, while Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh voted against it. The House gave final approval by a vote of 214-210. No Republicans voted for it, while 14 Democrats voted against.

The non-binding budget resolution provides the parameters for Congress to consider spending and tax bills throughout the year. Congress' budget calls for $24.5 billion more in yearly-approved spending than President Bush's budget request. It also makes extensive use of reserve funds for domestic spending priorities, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), child support enforcement, 9/11 health programs, infrastructure investments, and unemployment insurance modernization. And, it rejects President Bush's proposed cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. Next week, Congress will begin to move forward on the 12 annual spending bills. Bush has vowed to veto any bill that exceeds his budget. The Democratic-led Congress will likely be forced to wait until Bush leaves office before completing work on these spending bills. 

County Payments Legislation Defeated on House Floor

This week, the House voted 218-193 to defeat legislation (H.R. 3058) that would have reauthorized the Secure Rural Schools Act. The legislation failed to garner the two-thirds majority needed to pass. The Act provides funding to rural counties to replace revenue they lose as a result of declining timber sales. The $2 billion bill would have extended county payments for four years, decreasing funding by 10 percent each year. H.R. 3058 was to be paid for by increasing fees on some existing oil and gas leases. Republicans and Democrats split along party lines during the House floor debate over the oil and gas lease fees. County payments have traditionally received bipartisan support, but this vote pitted rural schools and public services against "big oil" interests. Republicans from states that are currently suffering as a result of lost timber payments sided with "big oil." 

Community Health Centers Bill Passes House

The House passed legislation (H.R. 1343) to reauthorize the community health center program for five years. The bill authorizes $2.2 billion for FY 2008, increasing to $3.5 billion by FY 2012. This funding boost will allow the centers to expand to serve 30 million people in the coming years. The legislation would also extend federal protection from lawsuits to health providers who travel to emergency areas to provide care. Similar legislation (S. 901) is pending action by the Senate.

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