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Congresspedia Preview: This Week in Congress (Feb. 29 - March 7, 2008)

The House and Senate will begin laying the groundwork for the 2009 federal budget this week, with proposals coming from the Senate Finance Committee and from the House and Senate budget and appropriations committees. Also this week, a compromise might be reached on electronic surveillance, with some saying a bill could head to the President by the end of next week.

The budget proposals — to be unveiled on Wednesday — are produced with two separate frameworks: each resolution is non-binding, but includes policy priorities in “reserve funds” and “reconciliation” instructions. Reconciliation instructions are provided to authorizing committees, which then produce a set dollar amount to fund policy priorities based on spending and taxation. The reserve funds, on the other hand, must follow “paygo” rules, and be offset by revenue increases or spending cuts.

Bush Administration officials have already threatened a veto for any budget proposals that exceeds the president' spending goals.

More on FISA, ethics reform, consumer protection and the week's committee schedules below...

Congresspedia Review: This Week in Congress (Feb. 22 - 29, 2008)

While several measures advanced by the Senate were stripped from the economic stimulus bill signed earlier this month by President Bush, Democrats this week were still pushing for their inclusion in a second stimulus package. Also, negotiations continued on the long-debated farm bill extension, the Senate briefly discussed a withdrawal timetable for Iraq, and the House fought over a proposal for an independent ethics panel.

Jousting with the Lancet: More Data, More Debate over Iraqi Deaths

U.S. soldier carries a wounded Iraqi child (Marine Corps photo)It's one of the most controversial questions today: How many Iraqis have died since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion?

That there is no definitive answer should not come as a surprise, given the chaotic situation in Iraq. Still, it's an important question to ask, for obvious humanitarian, moral and political reasons.

Theoretically, the public health surveys and polls that have been conducted in Iraq -- at great risk to the people involved -- should help inform and further the debate. But the data is complicated by different research approaches and their attendant caveats. The matter has been further confused by anemic reporting, with news articles usually framed as a "he said / she said" story, instead of an exploration and interpretation of research findings.

These are the conditions under which spin thrives: complex issues, political interests and weak reporting. So it's not too surprising that last month saw a spate of what international health researcher Dr. Richard Garfield calls "Swift Boat editorials."

Beyond Advertising: The Pharmaceutical Industry's Hidden Marketing Tactics

In early January, the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce began investigating celebrity endorsements in television ads for brand-name drugs. The investigation was sparked by Pfizer's commercials for its best-selling cholesterol drug Lipitor. These direct-to-consumer (DTC) ads feature Dr. Robert Jarvik, a pioneer in the development of the artificial heart. Viewers are not told that Jarvik is not a cardiologist, nor is he licensed to practice medicine. His presentation as a trusted expert, Pfizer presumably hopes, is enough to persuade viewers to ask their doctors for Lipitor by name. And that would help erode the increasing competition from generic alternatives.

Without Academic Partnerships, the Tobacco Industry Loses Power

Taking research grants helps tobacco companies thriveA February 9 Los Angeles Times article about University of California, Los Angeles professor Edythe London taking a $6 million grant from Philip Morris to study the brains of child smokers and monkeys addicted to nicotine once again raises questions about the appropriateness of university researchers accepting tobacco industry funding. Philip Morris denied that they have a stake in this particular project, but the denial had little credibility since the company no doubt will benefit from understanding more about youth smoking and nicotine addiction. After all, the future of their business depends on these two topics. Still, we wonder why any person curious enough to be engaged in scientific research isn't also curious enough to find out what's in it for Philip Morris before they accept the funds? These days, the answer is as close as your computer.

Congresspedia Review: This Week in Congress (Feb. 9 - 15, 2008)

Democrats in Congress this week challenged their Republicans colleagues in the House and Senate and the Bush Administration, approving contempt citations for two White House aides and a controversial intelligence authorization that drew a veto threat from President Bush.

The animosity on the Hill came on the heels of a bipartisan push to approve an economic stimulus package, which Bush signed on Wednesday. The spirit of compromise that ushered the stimulus bill through Congress in less than two weeks was quickly erased when the debate over intelligence reform resumed this week.

When Democrats in the House approved contempt citations for former White House counsel Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolton – rather than conference with the Senate on a reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act – GOP members walked out and staged a protest on the Capitol steps.

Congresspedia Preview: This Week in Congress (Feb. 9 - 15, 2008)

With the Senate approving an economic package last week, it looks like Congress can now return to some issues that were put on hold while the stimulus plan was crafted.

For example, while both the House and Senate approved a Farm bill last year, the chambers never met to iron out their differences. Earlier his month, the Senate announced conferees, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is expected to do the same tomorrow.

One possible snag may be subsidies for farmers: President Bush has threatened a veto if subsidies are included for individuals making more than $200,000 per year. Another might be the Sen. Finance Committee: Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) wants to check the bill for tax loopholes that can be closed.

A quick update on FISA, the FARM bill and the budget are after the break, along with committee schedules.

Congresspedia Review: This Week in Congress (Feb. 2 - 8, 2008)

Less than two weeks after President George W. Bush issued his call for action, Congress approved an economic stimulus package designed to put spending money in the hands of Americans. While the Senate was able to exert some pressure on the legislation, expanding eligibility for seniors and disabled veterans, Republicans successfully blocked additional measures geared toward lower-income workers and the unemployed.

Meanwhile, the debate over the stimulus package stalled work on the RESTORE Act (the FISA reform bill) in the Senate. With the recently approved 15-day extension of the Protect America Act expiring on February 16, time is again running out for electronic surveillance reform.

Major differences exist between the House and Senate versions of the bill, including the question of whether phone companies that helped the administration eavesdrop on Americans’ phone calls should receive immunity from civil lawsuits. The House approved its bill last year without an immunity provision. Meanwhile, the Senate spent the first few weeks of the year fighting over immunity, which President Bush has said is essential in a completed bill.

For more on FISA and on energy legislation, follow the link after the break.

Congresspedia Preview: This Week in Congress (Feb. 2 - 8, 2008)

The same fears of recession that are fueling quick Congressional action on an economic stimulus package are also forcing President Bush to submit a budget that trims spending on popular programs. However, despite any belt-tightening, the stimulus package will likely push the budget deficit to $400 billion, the highest since 2004 (though lower in real terms due to inflation) and a figure that will tie lawmakers’ hands heading into the 2008 elections.

The FY 2009 Federal Budget is the first to break the $3 trillion threshold. In it, Bush aims to increase defense spending by five percent, but will propose reductions in Medicaid and some education programs. Others, like the Early Start reading program, would be eliminated entirely.

The Senate will resume its review of the stimulus bill today, including amendments that would extend unemployment benefits for 13 weeks and would provide tax rebates for seniors and disabled veterans. Also up for consideration: food stamp extensions, low-income heating assistance, and home investment incentives.

For more on the budget, the FISA debate in the Senate, and committee schedules for the week, check after the break.

Congresspedia Review: This Week in Congress (Jan. 26 - Feb. 1, 2008)

This week, we saw Democrats in the Senate becoming more assertive in their second year as the majority party, as the chamber continued its fracas over electronic intelligence reform and prepared to vote on its own economic stimulus package.

The House on Tuesday passed its version of an economic stimulus bill. Backed by President Bush, the legislation includes tax incentives for business investment and rebate checks for working Americans. However, also on Tuesday, Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), rained on the stimulus parade, signaling his committee would vote on an expanded economic package.

The Senate’s plan for stimulus varies from one drafted in the House. The Senate version would offer tax rebates check to more Americans, including seniors and the wealthy. However, those rebates would be worth less compared to the House proposal: $500 vs. $600 for individuals, and $1,000 vs. $1,200 for couples. It also raises the ceiling for who can get checks: for individuals, $150,000 and, for couples, $300,000. The House ceilings are half as high.

The Senate will take up the House version of the bill on Monday, and will then offer provisions of its plan as amendments. It’s unclear whether Democrats will have enough votes to include a long-term unemployment benefits extension or 5.6 billion in renewable energy and efficiency tax credits. There does appear to be support for funding low-income heating assistance.

There’s more on FISA below the fold including details on a deal reached in the Senate.

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