Congresspedia's "Congress in the News" updates, July 11-July 18, 2007 [1]
Submitted by Conor Kenny [2] on
- 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 [3] detailing questions the chairman planned to ask, in order to help avoid so many "I don't recall" responses. (TPM Muckraker [4] story)
- Following an all night debate over troop withdrawal from Iraq, as expected, Senate Republicans successfully filibustered the Levin-Reed amendment [5] 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 [6] story)
- Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) objected to unanimous passage of bipartisan disaster-loan legislation [7] over the bill's financial safeguards. (The Hill [8] story)
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) followed through with any earlier threat, holding an overnight debate on the Levin-Reed amendment [5] to the Defense appropriations bill which calls for a troop withdrawal from Iraq, following a Republican filibuster of the measure. (Washington Post [9] story)
- The runoff election for the replacement of Rep. Charlie Norwood [10] appeared to be an upset, though a recount is expected. (The Politico [11] story)
- Sen. Ted Stevens [12] (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 [13] 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 [14] (R-Ala.). (TPM Muckraker [15] 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 [16]. (The Hill [17] story)
- Sen. David Vitter [18] (R-La.) denied allegations of any relationship with prostitution in New Orleans, but confirmed his connection to the "DC Madam" escort service. (CNN [19] 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 [5] and have only a "limited presence" in the country by Apr. 2008. (TPM Cafe [20] story)
- In light of an ongoing federal investigation, approval ratings of Sen. Ted Stevens [21] (R-Alaska) dropped to below 45%. (TPM Muckraker [22] story)
- In the second quarter of 2007, former Rep. Mark Foley [23] (R-Fla.), who resigned in 2006 as part of the congressional page scandal [24], spent nearly $300,000 in legal fees. (The Hill [25] story)
- House Republicans successfully added an amendment to the housing bill [26] through a "motion to recommit," making it more difficult for illegal immigrants to receive housing assistance. (The Hill [27] story)
- Sens. Richard Lugar [28] (R-Ind.) and John Warner [29] (R-Va.) introduced an amendment to the FY2008 defense appropriations bill [30] 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 [31] story)
- The Senate passed an amendment, 87-1, to the FY 2008 Defense Department authorization bill [32] to double to $50 million the bounty on Osama bin Laden. (CQ [33] story)
- The House Judiciary Committee [34] authorized the issuing of subpoenas to the Republican National Committee for documents and emails relating to the U.S. attorney firing controversy. (CQ [35] story)
- The House passed the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act [36], which would significantly reduce U.S. troop presence in Iraq by April 1, 2008, in a vote of 223-201. (The Hill [37] story)
- Sen. Sam Brownback [38] (R-Kan.) made plans to introduce legislation to require that violent television programming be shown only after 10 p.m. (The Hill [39] story)
- Sen. Jeff Bingaman [40] (D-N.M.) unveiled a draft climate-change bill, which has already garnered significant bipartisan support from other senators and outside organizations. (CQ [41] story)
- Following revelations that Senator David Vitter [42] (D-La.) had frequented brothels in DC and Louisiana, Louisiana Republicans discussed the possibility of a deal wherein Vitter would be asked to resign [43], and Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco would name a Republican replacement for him. (Shreverport Times [44] story)
- Sens. Thad Cochran [45] (R-Miss.) and Richard Shelby [46] (R-Ala.), high ranking members in the Senate Committee on Appropriations [47], took home almost one-third of the total dollar value of earmarks in the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill [48]. (CQ [49] story)
- The House passed the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 [50], which would increase student financial aid and create loan forgiveness programs, among other provisions. (MarketWatch [51] story)
- An attorney for Harriet Miers [52] announced that she will not appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee [53] to answer questions relating to the U.S. attorney firings controversy [54]. Committee members have stated that this refusal may result in contempt of Congress proceedings. (The Hill [55] story)
- An amendment to the FY 2008 Defense Department authorization [56] bill offered by Sen. Jim Webb [57] (D-Va.) which would have increased the amount of time troops spent at home between deployments [58] failed to garner the 60 votes necessary to close debate. (CQ [59] story)
- Following revelations of Senator David Vitter's [42] (R-La.) patronage of a DC brothel, the operator of a brothel in New Orleans, Louisiana, revealed that Vitter had frequented her establishment [60] as well. (Times Picayune [61] story)