TWICNOV9

(TheWeekInCongress.com-November 9, 2007) - A privileged motion was brought to the House floor by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) presenting Articles of Impeachment to remove Vice President Cheney from office.

The Articles hold that the Vice President is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors from misrepresenting facts about Iraq to support the 2003 invasion of that country and for other reasons. The Articles hold that he made, in violation of his oath of office "assertions that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction to support invading Iraq despite his having been fully informed that that is not likely...that there was a relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda to justify the use of force against Iraq despite his having been informed that there is no credible evidence supporting that claim, and his threat of military force against Iran in violation of the Constitution and international law."

Members are allowed to bring resolutions to the floor as a privileged matter. The effort can circumvent normal procedure including committee review before floor debate. When the resolution was presented, the Majority Leader moved to table it, but his motion was not agreed to 162 to 251. The Majority Leader then moved that the resolution be referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration due to the gravity of the subject matter. The previous question was ordered on the motion, a procedure that allows for the motion to move forward. The previous question succeeded 218 to 194. The motion to refer the resolution to Judiciary then succeeded with a vote of 218 to 194.

{HRES 799}

CONGRESS OVERRIDES ENERGY & WATER VETO

The Bill Authorizes Water-related Studies and Construction Projects for the Army Corps of Engineers, and provides for Continuation of Some Projects Currently Underway.

US Policy is Set Regarding Water Projects to Include Economic and Environmental Benefits.

{HR 1495}

House Vote 361 to 54 November 6, 2007 RC 1040

Senate Vote 79 to 14 RV 406

DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION ADDRESSED

Employers Would be Prohibited from Hiring or Discharging an Employee on the Basis of Actual or Perceived Sexual Orientation.

Businesses Without a Balanced Sexually Oriented Workforce Would not be Required to Meet a Quota or Show Preferential Treatment

{HR 3685}

MILITARY BILL ADDED TO HEALTH, LABOR AND EDUCATION SPENDING, THEN REMOVED

(TheWeekInCongress.com November 9, 2007) -The $607 billion Health, Labor and Education bill conference report was joined with the bill appropriating funds for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs, bringing the total spending for both to over $700 billion for FY 2008.

The combination, though, was seen as in violation of Senate rules allowing for a point of order against consideration of a conference report when matters are included that were not in the previous House and/or Senate version of the underlying bill. A point of order was made against consideration of HR 3043 with HR 2642 attached. A motion to waive the point of order failed 47-46. The Senate then voted 56-37 to remove HR 2642 thereby sending HR 3043 back to the House for consideration without that measure included. The House then agreed to removing HR 2642.

{HR 3043} - HHS, Labor & Education

{HR 2642} - Military Construction, Veterans

HEAD START PROGRAM CONFERENCE SET

Minority Moved Successfully to Cap Program Administrator's Salaries

(TheWeekInCongress.com November 9, 2007) - House Minority members, with agreement from the Majority, moved to limit pay for private individuals running Head Start Programs to Executive Level II pay, about $168,000 yearly. The effort would instruct conferees, soon to hash out differences in the bill, to limit the pay based on reports that some administrators were earning as much as $800,000 over three years and were leasing high-end vehicles through the program.

{HR 1429}

SENATE CONFIRMS MICHAEL B. MUKASEY

AS U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL

The former judge faced opposition due to his lack of clarity when asked if he defined the interrogation technique called 'water boarding' as torture. Mukasey tended to hold that he could not offer his conclusion on water boarding until he had time to review the Bush administration policies on the technique. He was confirmed 53 to 40. All Senators running for the presidency did not vote.

Vote: RV 407

Bills Would Give Tax Breaks to Troops / Responders; Protect Troop Credit Ratings; Increase Military Pay; Extend Expiring Tax Breaks.

Troop Tax Break

Various tax provisions would benefit active duty troops, volunteer firefighters and emergency responders, and Peace Corps volunteers.

HR 3997

Troop Credit Protected

Credit reporting agencies would note in account information if slow or delinquent payments are due to deployment. Lenders must ignore negative credit if deployment-related.

HR 513

Military Pay Increase

The President is urged to bring military pay in line with private sector.

HCR 162

House Passes Tax Break Extensions

The bill addresses Alternative Minimum Taxes, expiring tax breaks and home mortgage problems.

HR 3996

Catastrophic Insurance Loans Program

The House agreed to a bill intended to stabilize the State reinsurance programs drained of resource due to natural disasters over the past few years. The bill creates a consortium of participating States to participate in the catastrophic insurance markets on several levels and authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to make loans to reinsurance funds to ensure liquidity, reduce risk overhead and so lower home insurance rates and other perceived benefits.

HR 3355

The Senate consideration of HR 2419, the Farm Bill, has stalled

The Senate will continue on Tuesday, November 13th and it is anticipated that a continuing resolution to fund the government through mid-December will be considered. The Continuing Resolution will include disaster relief funding and related funds requested by the President.