CQ Today Midday Update

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Midday Update for Friday, September 25, 2009 – Edited by Frank Oliveri and Joe Warminsky | Email the editor In This Issue Democrats Set on Appropriations Conference Agreements House Passes Bill to Fund Government Through End of October President Objects to Exclusion of Afghan Funds From Defense Bill Legislative Branch Spending Bill Moves Ahead in House --------------------------------- Today in Washington The House voted to adopt an appropriations package that contains both the fiscal 2010 Legislative Branch spending bill and a continuing resolution with stopgap funding. The Senate began debate on the fiscal 2010 Defense appropriations bill. The President attended G-20 plenary sessions and leaders lunch, has a news conference scheduled at 4:40 p.m and returns to Washington this evening. In Washington, the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network honors award-winning actor Vivica A. Fox, actor/author Hill Harper, actor/philanthropist Malinda Williams, McDonald's Corporation Chief Global Diversity Officer Pat Harris, Universal Motown EVP of Urban Marketing Shanti Das and HIV/AIDS activist Maria Davis. 6 p.m., Recording Industry Association of America, 10th floor, 1025 F St. N.W. --------------------------------- Top Stories Democrats Set on Appropriations Conference Agreements Democrats are ready to begin moving conference agreements on fiscal 2010 spending bills following a deal struck Thursday night between House and Senate appropriators over how to handle earmarks for for-profit companies, House Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey , D-Wis., announced Friday. [Read More] House Passes Bill to Fund Government Through End of October The Obama administration said Friday that it "strongly objects" to an exclusion of about $900 million from the fiscal 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that would be used to bolster Afghanistan security forces, but the Office of Management and Budget largely supports the bill. [Read More] President Objects to Exclusion of Afghan Funds From Defense Bill The Obama administration requested $7.5 billion for the Afghan security forces. U.S. military commanders say a force increase is necessary to blunt advances made by the Taliban and al Qaeda in the almost eight-year-old war. [Read More] Legislative Branch Spending Bill Moves Ahead in House The $4.7 billion Legislative Branch conference report, adopted Friday by a vote of 217-190, would increase spending by $155 million, or 3.5 percent, from fiscal 2009. It includes a stopgap spending measure, known as a continuing resolution, that would continue funding for all federal departments and programs whose regular appropriations bills have not been enacted before the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year. [Read More] --------------------------------- Political Clippings The Denver Post reports that "Colorado Democrats cheered after the past three election cycles, but Republicans increasingly believe they'll be the ones celebrating in 2010..." The GOP has been buoyed on two fronts: "One is a perceived spending spree by a Democratic-controlled Washington, including health care reform. The other is Democrats' intraparty fight after Gov. Bill Ritter tapped political neophyte Michael Bennet for a Senate vacancy. Bennet now faces a primary challenge from former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff," the newspaper states. The Chicago Tribune reports that "Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias was endorsed . . . by one of the nation's most politically active unions, but he also got criticism from a Democratic primary challenger and the Republicans." The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that "Kentucky Senate hopeful Rand Paul hit a $1 million campaign fund-raising benchmark after netting an additional $185,000 through the same 'money bomb' technique that his father Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas pioneered. --------------------------------- Other CQ Products Sign up for free trials CQ Floor Video CQ.com CQ Weekly CQ Today CQ Today Action Alerts CQ BillTrack CQ Budget Tracker CQ Committee Amendments CQ HealthBeat CQ Homeland Security CQ House Action Reports CQ LawTrack CQ Politics CQ Press CQ Top Docs See all CQ products Published by Congressional Quarterly Editorial Director: Mike Mills Executive Editors: John Dineen and Susan Benkelman Deputy Executive Editor, News: Randy Wynn Senior Editor, Politics: Anne Q. Hoy Managing Editor, CQ Politics, Katherine Rizzo Assistant Managing Editor, Web News: Caitlin Hendel Associate Editor: Martha Angle News Editors: Charles Hoskinson, Frank Oliveri and Joe Warminsky Midday Update Product Editors: Jessica M. Cuellar, Michelle Hirsch and Jamisha Purdy Reporters: The staff of Congressional Quarterly Political Clippings compiled from BNN Frontrunner and CQ Politics.com Information Services V.P.: Keith A. White Advertising V.P.: Victoria Lion Monroe Marketing V.P.: Greg Hamilton Circulation Sales V.P.: Jim Gale Technology V.P.: Dennis Arndt Strategy and Development V.P.: Neil Maslansky To sign up for CQ's free newsletters, click here: http://www.cq.com/corp/newsletters.do Follow CQ Politics on Twitter. Copyright 2009 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.

CQ Midday Update

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Midday Update for Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:25 p.m. Edited by Martha Angle and Charles Hoskinson | Email the editor In This Issue House Passes Bill To Avert Medicare Premium Increase Sen. Byrd Released From Hospital Kennedy Ally Kirk Tapped for Massachusetts Senate Seat --------------------------------- Today in Washington The House considers a bill to prevent an increase in Medicare premiums. The Senate continues to debate the fiscal 2010 Interior-Environment spending bill; may clear a bill to extend the FAA's authorization. The President in New York City, chairs the U.N. Security Council meeting and co-chairs the Friends of Pakistan leaders meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown; then travels to Pittsburgh for the G-20 economic summit. In Washington, the National Research Council holds a symposium on use of scientific data to inform policy and promote transparency. 3:30 p.m., 2100 C St. N.W. --------------------------------- Top Stories House Passes Bill To Avert Medicare Premium Increase The House on Thursday passed a bill that would prevent Medicare premiums from rising sharply for about 11 million senior citizens. [Read More] Sen. Byrd Released From Hospital Sen. Robert C. Byrd , D-W.Va., the longest-serving senator in history, was released from the hospital early Thursday afternoon, two days after he was admitted following a fall at his northern Virginia home. [Read More] Kennedy Ally Kirk Tapped for Massachusetts Senate Seat Paul G. Kirk Jr., a longtime Democratic Party insider and associate of the late Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy , was appointed Thursday by Gov. Deval Patrick as Kennedy's interim replacement. [Read More] --------------------------------- Taegan Goddard's Political Wire The Connecticut Post reports that Republican Rob Russo, erstwhile aide to former Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn., on Tuesday jumped into a growing field of Republicans hoping to oust Democratic freshman Rep. Jim Hines next year in the 4th Congressional District. "Russo, a 34-year-old Bridgeport resident who served a partial term in the state Senate before losing the seat last year, has a real estate and land-use law practice in Fairfield." He faces several GOP rivals in the primary, including state Sen. Dan Debicella. The radio station WIBC-FM in Indianapolis reports that Republicans are lining up to take a shot at Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., next year even though he has never lost an election and is widely viewed as safe. The list includes Richmond banker Don Bates Jr., former Schererville Rep. Dan Dumezich; Howe State Sen. Marlin Stutzman and Carmel "Tea Party" organizer Richard Behney. To even make it to the starting line, candidates will have "to gather petition signatures in each of Indiana's nine congressional districts -- approximately 4,500 in all." --------------------------------- Other CQ Products Sign up for free trials CQ Floor Video CQ.com CQ Weekly CQ Today CQ Today Action Alerts CQ BillTrack CQ Budget Tracker CQ Committee Amendments CQ HealthBeat CQ Homeland Security CQ House Action Reports CQ LawTrack CQ Politics CQ Press CQ Top Docs See all CQ products Published by Congressional Quarterly Editorial Director: Mike Mills Executive Editors: John Dineen and Susan Benkelman Deputy Executive Editor, News: Randy Wynn Senior Editor, Politics: Anne Q. Hoy Managing Editor, CQ Politics, Katherine Rizzo Assistant Managing Editor, Web News: Caitlin Hendel Associate Editor: Martha Angle News Editors: Charles Hoskinson, Frank Oliveri and Joe Warminsky Midday Update Product Editors: Jessica M. Cuellar, Michelle Hirsch and Jamisha Purdy Reporters: The staff of Congressional Quarterly Political Clippings compiled from BNN Frontrunner and CQ Politics.com Information Services V.P.: Keith A. White Advertising V.P.: Victoria Lion Monroe Marketing V.P.: Greg Hamilton Circulation Sales V.P.: Jim Gale Technology V.P.: Dennis Arndt Strategy and Development V.P.: Neil Maslansky To sign up for CQ's free newsletters, click here: http://www.cq.com/corp/newsletters.do Follow CQ Politics on Twitter. Copyright 2009 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.

CQ Midday Update

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Midday Update for Wednesday, September 23, 2009 – 2:10 P.M. Edited by Martha Angle and Charles Hoskinson | Email the editor In This Issue Senate Panel Turns Back Initial GOP Health Bill Amendments Democrats Seek To Avert Big Medicare Premium Increase for Some Seniors House GOP Leaders Urge Greater Attention to Afghanistan Senator Delays Fight Over Net Neutrality Rule House Chairman Still Plans Regulatory Push This Year --------------------------------- Today in Washington The House considers a number of measures, including short-term extensions of the Highway Trust Fund and the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as a bill to establish a Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Area. The Senate considers amendments to the fiscal 2010 Interior-Environment spending bill. The President in New York City, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama; addresses the U.N. General Assembly; meets with leaders of countries contributing peace-keeping troops; participates in a wreath laying ceremony for fallen U.N. staff members; attends a lunch hosted by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon; meets with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and, with First Lady Michelle Obama, hosts a reception for heads of state. In Washington, the Georgetown University Law Center holds a discussion on new media and covering news in the legal community, with David Lat of Above the Law, Tony Mauro of National Law Journal, and Matt Welch of Reason magazine. 7 p.m., Hart Auditorium, McDonough Hall, 600 New Jersey Ave N.W. --------------------------------- Top Stories Senate Panel Turns Back Initial GOP Health Bill Amendments Senate Finance Committee Democrats rebuffed Republican efforts Wednesday to delay a vote on a health care overhaul and to gut major provisions of the legislation. [Read More] Democrats Seek To Avert Big Medicare Premium Increase for Some Seniors House Democrats could move legislation as early as this week to prevent Medicare premiums from rising sharply for certain senior citizens. [Read More] House GOP Leaders Urge Greater Attention to Afghanistan House Republican leaders Wednesday blamed Democratic "intransigence" on health care for delaying a decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan. [Read More] Senator Delays Fight Over Net Neutrality Rule Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, has agreed to hold off for now on an effort to block new federal rules aimed at ensuring unfettered broadband use for all, according to a GOP aide. [Read More] House Chairman Still Plans Regulatory Push This Year The House Financial Services chairman said Wednesday he still intends to push a financial regulatory overhaul through the chamber this year, warning panel members to be prepared for packed fall schedule. [Read More] --------------------------------- Political Clippings The New York Daily News reports that "Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., says the White House's effort to push aside New York Gov. David Paterson is a public display of botched politics like he has not ever seen in his tenure in Congress." The Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot reports that "a former Navy SEAL today joined a field of Republicans hoping for a chance to take on U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, [a District 2 Democrat], in the 2010 election. Scott Taylor, who made an unsuccessful bid for Virginia Beach mayor in 2008, announced he will seek the GOP nomination." The Trentonian reports that New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine is using President Obama's image and his partnership with the president to help him win his reelection bid. --------------------------------- Other CQ Products Sign up for free trials CQ Floor Video CQ.com CQ Weekly CQ Today CQ Today Action Alerts CQ BillTrack CQ Budget Tracker CQ Committee Amendments CQ HealthBeat CQ Homeland Security CQ House Action Reports CQ LawTrack CQ Politics CQ Press CQ Top Docs See all CQ products Published by Congressional Quarterly Editorial Director: Mike Mills Executive Editors: John Dineen and Susan Benkelman Deputy Executive Editor, News: Randy Wynn Senior Editor, Politics: Anne Q. Hoy Managing Editor, CQ Politics, Katherine Rizzo Assistant Managing Editor, Web News: Caitlin Hendel Associate Editor: Martha Angle News Editors: Charles Hoskinson, Frank Oliveri and Joe Warminsky Midday Update Product Editors: Jessica M. Cuellar, Michelle Hirsch and Jamisha Purdy Reporters: The staff of Congressional Quarterly Political Clippings compiled from BNN Frontrunner and CQ Politics.com Information Services V.P.: Keith A. White Advertising V.P.: Victoria Lion Monroe Marketing V.P.: Greg Hamilton Circulation Sales V.P.: Jim Gale Technology V.P.: Dennis Arndt Strategy and Development V.P.: Neil Maslansky To sign up for CQ's free newsletters, click here: http://www.cq.com/corp/newsletters.do Follow CQ Politics on Twitter. Copyright 2009 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.

CQ Midday Update

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Midday Update for Tuesday, September 22, 2009 – 1:54 P.M. Edited by Martha Angle and Charles Hoskinson | Email the editor In This Issue Baucus Pushing to Send Health Bill to Senate Floor by Week's End Hoyer Reaches Out to GOP on House Health Bill Dodd Proposal Shakes Up Debate Over Financial Regulations Sen. Byrd Taken to Hospital After Fall --------------------------------- Today in Washington The House votes on a number of water resources bills under suspension of the rules, as well as a bill to extend unemployment aid. The Senate continues to debate the fiscal 2010 Interior-Environment spending bill. Votes on amendments are expected. The President is in New York City to deliver remarks at a U.N. Climate Change Summit; meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas; attend a lunch with African heads of state; meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao; speak at the Clinton Global Initiative; and attend the secretary general's Climate Change Summit dinner. In Washington, the U.S. Navy Memorial holds its Lone Sailor awards dinner, honoring Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, Estee Lauder Companies Chairman Leonard Lauder, and FedEx founder Fred Smith. 6 p.m., National Building Museum, 401 F St. N.W. --------------------------------- Top Stories Baucus Pushing to Send Health Bill to Senate Floor by Week's End The Senate could begin debating a health care overhaul as soon as next week if the Finance Committee approves its version of legislation this week, the panel's chairman said Tuesday. [Read More] Hoyer Reaches Out to GOP on House Health Bill House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said Tuesday he will try again to find a bipartisan approach to a health care overhaul by reaching out to a few Republican leaders who have said they agree with about 80 percent of the ideas House Democrats have outlined. [Read More] Dodd Proposal Shakes Up Debate Over Financial Regulations Senate Banking Chairman Christopher J. Dodd 's unexpected plan to consolidate federal banking regulators into a single "super regulator" has set a new tone in the overhaul debate and caught lawmakers and lobbyists alike off-guard. [Read More] Sen. Byrd Taken to Hospital After Fall Sen. Robert C. Byrd , D-W.Va., the longest-serving senator in history, was taken by ambulance to a Washington-area hospital Tuesday as a precaution after a fall, his spokesman said. [Read More] --------------------------------- Political Clippings The Miami Herald reports that Republican Marco Rubio's campaign suggested that campaign fundraisers are frequently keeping Florida Governor Charlie Crist in South Florida. "Monday's reception for Crist was his sixth South Florida campaign event in just three weeks. He made a public appearance either before or after each one," the newspaper reports. The Arkansas News reports that "Republican Tim Griffin, a former interim U.S. attorney, said...he plans to challenge incumbent 2nd District Democrat Vic Snyder in next year's election. The 41-year-old Griffin replaced former federal prosecutor Bud Cummins, who later said he was forced out by the Bush administration in a controversial purging of Justice Department officials." The Baltimore Sun reports that the latest Maryland statewide poll results show Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley leading former Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., and former Lt. Gov. and current Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele. --------------------------------- Other CQ Products Sign up for free trials CQ Floor Video CQ.com CQ Weekly CQ Today CQ Today Action Alerts CQ BillTrack CQ Budget Tracker CQ Committee Amendments CQ HealthBeat CQ Homeland Security CQ House Action Reports CQ LawTrack CQ Politics CQ Press CQ Top Docs See all CQ products Published by Congressional Quarterly Editorial Director: Mike Mills Executive Editors: John Dineen and Susan Benkelman Deputy Executive Editor, News: Randy Wynn Senior Editor, Politics: Anne Q. Hoy Managing Editor, CQ Politics, Katherine Rizzo Assistant Managing Editor, Web News: Caitlin Hendel Associate Editor: Martha Angle News Editors: Charles Hoskinson, Frank Oliveri and Joe Warminsky Midday Update Product Editors: Jessica M. Cuellar, Michelle Hirsch and Jamisha Purdy Reporters: The staff of Congressional Quarterly Political Clippings compiled from BNN Frontrunner and CQ Politics.com Information Services V.P.: Keith A. White Advertising V.P.: Victoria Lion Monroe Marketing V.P.: Greg Hamilton Circulation Sales V.P.: Jim Gale Technology V.P.: Dennis Arndt Strategy and Development V.P.: Neil Maslansky To sign up for CQ's free newsletters, click here: http://www.cq.com/corp/newsletters.do Follow CQ Politics on Twitter. Copyright 2009 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.

CQ Midday Update

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Midday Update for Monday, September 21, 2009 – 2:00 P.M. Edited by Martha Angle and Charles Hoskinson | Email the editor In This Issue McHugh Resigns, Takes Up Pentagon Post LeMieux Gets Committee Assignments August a $3 Million Month for DCCC, NRCC --------------------------------- Today in Washington The House meets in a pro forma session. The Senate debates amendments to the fiscal 2010 Interior-Environment spending bill. The President tours Hudson Valley Community College in Albany, N.Y., with Jill Biden and speaks on the economy; visits New York City to tape an interview on "The Late Show with David Letterman." In Washington, American Enterprise Institute holds a discussion on Implications for World Trade Organization subsidy rules and for the future of commercial aircraft competition. 3 p.m., 1150 17th St. N.W. --------------------------------- Top Stories McHugh Resigns, Takes Up Pentagon Post Rep. John M. McHugh resigned Monday from Congress, shortly before he was sworn in at the Pentagon as the new secretary of the Army. [Read More] LeMieux Gets Committee Assignments Florida Sen. George LeMieux is poised to take the least senior Republican slots on the Armed Services, Commerce and Aging committees, a GOP aide said Monday. [Read More] August a $3 Million Month for DCCC, NRCC Powered by big giving from its top three leaders, the campaign arm of House Democrats narrowly outraised its Republican counterpart in August, according to reports just filed with the Federal Election Commission. [Read More] --------------------------------- Political Clippings The Tampa Tribune reports that GOP activists are rebelling against Gov. Charlie Crist's bid for the Senate nomination. Crist's opponent, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, has been winning straw polls across the state. 'I'm not saying (Crist) won't win the primary, but it won't be the cakewalk a lot of people say. He is not the conservative Republican he needs to be to win this race," said Andy Tuck, GOP chairman in Highlands County, where Rubio bested Crist 75-1 in a July straw poll. The San Antonio Express-News suggests in a column that Texas Gov. Rick Perry could appoint state Sen. Dan Patrick to Kay Bailey Hutchison's Senate seat if the GOP senator resigns as she has pledged. Patrick, who is seeking re-election, said he's not lobbying for the job, but "obviously, I would have an interest if the governor thought I was the most conservative and best candidate to serve." If Perry goes with someone else, Patrick said, he won't run if the appointee is the only Republican in the race. --------------------------------- Other CQ Products Sign up for free trials CQ Floor Video CQ.com CQ Weekly CQ Today CQ Today Action Alerts CQ BillTrack CQ Budget Tracker CQ Committee Amendments CQ HealthBeat CQ Homeland Security CQ House Action Reports CQ LawTrack CQ Politics CQ Press CQ Top Docs See all CQ products Published by Congressional Quarterly Editorial Director: Mike Mills Executive Editors: John Dineen and Susan Benkelman Deputy Executive Editor, News: Randy Wynn Senior Editor, Politics: Anne Q. Hoy Managing Editor, CQ Politics, Katherine Rizzo Assistant Managing Editor, Web News: Caitlin Hendel Associate Editor: Martha Angle News Editors: Charles Hoskinson, Frank Oliveri and Joe Warminsky Midday Update Product Editors: Jessica M. Cuellar, Michelle Hirsch and Jamisha Purdy Reporters: The staff of Congressional Quarterly Political Clippings compiled from BNN Frontrunner and CQ Politics.com Information Services V.P.: Keith A. White Advertising V.P.: Victoria Lion Monroe Marketing V.P.: Greg Hamilton Circulation Sales V.P.: Jim Gale Technology V.P.: Dennis Arndt Strategy and Development V.P.: Neil Maslansky To sign up for CQ's free newsletters, click here: http://www.cq.com/corp/newsletters.do Follow CQ Politics on Twitter. Copyright 2009 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.

CQ Almanac: Get the definitive guide to the second session of the 110th Congress

Dear Colleague, Understanding the second session of the 110th Congress is critical for those who monitor congressional activity. Last year, lawmakers returned to Washington for the second session of the 110th Congress ready for what they knew would be a year of partisan politics in advance of the November elections. But with the scope of the financial and economic crises facing the country, partisan lines began to blur and Congress granted the Treasury the authority to use a staggering $700 billion in an effort to rescue the financial services industry, after allowing up to $800 billion to salvage mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Click here to order the CQ Almanac 2008 today—your definitive reference guide to the first session of the 110th Congress—and see how the actions and decisions made during this session could affect your interests going forward. This historic session provides a road map for where Democrats would like to take the nation on many issues—the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, health care and energy—having expanded their majority in both chambers and captured the White House in the 2008 presidential election. Brought to you by the expert, nonpartisan CQ editorial staff, the CQ Almanac chronicles and analyzes the major bills brought before Congress in 2008. It includes exclusive insight into the forces that drove action on legislation, as well as nominations and congressional oversight activities. Don’t miss the opportunity to have this complete at-your-fingertips resource in your office. Order your copy of the CQ Almanac today. Sincerely, Keith White Associate Director CQ-Roll Call Group Congressional Quarterly is now part of CQ-Roll Call Group

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