CQ Today Midday Update
Midday Update for Friday, September 25, 2009 – In This Issue
--------------------------------- Today in WashingtonThe 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 StoriesDemocrats Set on Appropriations Conference AgreementsDemocrats 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 OctoberThe 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 BillThe 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 HouseThe $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 ClippingsThe 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.
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