Congresspedia's "Congress in the News" updates, July 11-July 18, 2007

From the Congresspedia Editor

Conor Kenny's Blog

Congresspedia's "Congress in the News" updates, July 11-July 18, 2007

In anticipation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales's upcoming appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) sent Gonzales a letter detailing questions the chairman planned to ask, in order to help avoid so many "I don't recall" responses. (TPM Muckraker story)
Following an all night debate over troop withdrawal from Iraq, as expected, Senate Republicans successfully filibustered the Levin-Reed amendment to the Defense appropriations bill, in a 52-47 vote. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) then responded by temporarily setting aside the overall Defense Authorization bill until Republicans refrained from filibustering Iraq War measures. (CQ story)
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) objected to unanimous passage of bipartisan disaster-loan legislation over the bill's financial safeguards. (The Hill story)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) followed through with any earlier threat, holding an overnight debate on the Levin-Reed amendment to the Defense appropriations bill which calls for a troop withdrawal from Iraq, following a Republican filibuster of the measure. (Washington Post story)
The runoff election for the replacement of Rep. Charlie Norwood appeared to be an upset, though a recount is expected. (The Politico story)
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) received a second extension for submitting his financial disclosure forms to the Senate Ethics Committee, after the panel requested technical clarifications of his previous financial records. (TPM Muckraker story)
Bob Penney, who was involved in the corruption scandal with Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Ala.), also was involved in a land deal with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.). (TPM Muckraker story)
A watchdog group reported that senators have failed to claim responsibility for at least $7.5 billion worth of projects approved by the Appropriations Committee. (The Hill story)
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) denied allegations of any relationship with prostitution in New Orleans, but confirmed his connection to the "DC Madam" escort service. (CNN story)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has threatened to keep the Senate in session all night tomorrow if Republicans filibuster the Reed-Levin amendment to the 2008 Defense funding bill. The amendment would require that U.S. troops begin leaving Iraq and have only a "limited presence" in the country by Apr. 2008. (TPM Cafe story)
In light of an ongoing federal investigation, approval ratings of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) dropped to below 45%. (TPM Muckraker story)
In the second quarter of 2007, former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), who resigned in 2006 as part of the congressional page scandal, spent nearly $300,000 in legal fees. (The Hill story)
House Republicans successfully added an amendment to the housing bill through a "motion to recommit," making it more difficult for illegal immigrants to receive housing assistance. (The Hill story)
Sens. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and John Warner (R-Va.) introduced an amendment to the FY2008 defense appropriations bill that would require the President to devise an exit strategy from Iraq within three months, recommending the implementation of a redeployment of troops in Iraq by the end of the year. (CQ story)
The Senate passed an amendment, 87-1, to the FY 2008 Defense Department authorization bill to double to $50 million the bounty on Osama bin Laden. (CQ story)
The House Judiciary Committee authorized the issuing of subpoenas to the Republican National Committee for documents and emails relating to the U.S. attorney firing controversy. (CQ story)
The House passed the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act, which would significantly reduce U.S. troop presence in Iraq by April 1, 2008, in a vote of 223-201. (The Hill story)
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) made plans to introduce legislation to require that violent television programming be shown only after 10 p.m. (The Hill story)
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) unveiled a draft climate-change bill, which has already garnered significant bipartisan support from other senators and outside organizations. (CQ story)
Following revelations that Senator David Vitter (D-La.) had frequented brothels in DC and Louisiana, Louisiana Republicans discussed the possibility of a deal wherein Vitter would be asked to resign, and Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco would name a Republican replacement for him. (Shreverport Times story)
Sens. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), high ranking members in the Senate Committee on Appropriations, took home almost one-third of the total dollar value of earmarks in the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill. (CQ story)
The House passed the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, which would increase student financial aid and create loan forgiveness programs, among other provisions. (MarketWatch story)
An attorney for Harriet Miers announced that she will not appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions relating to the U.S. attorney firings controversy. Committee members have stated that this refusal may result in contempt of Congress proceedings. (The Hill story)
An amendment to the FY 2008 Defense Department authorization bill offered by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) which would have increased the amount of time troops spent at home between deployments failed to garner the 60 votes necessary to close debate. (CQ story)
Following revelations of Senator David Vitter's (R-La.) patronage of a DC brothel, the operator of a brothel in New Orleans, Louisiana, revealed that Vitter had frequented her establishment as well. (Times Picayune story)