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 [3] 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 [4] 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.

Because new “pay as you go,” rules are in effect, lawmakers will probably have to abandon pet programs in 2009, since any new spending would have to be offset by cuts elsewhere. Since the stimulus package is “emergency” spending, it’s exempt from paygo, and lawmakers may try to load it up with their own projects.

On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, joined by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Michael Mullen, will present the fiscal year Defense Department operating budget to the Senate and House Armed Services committees. The pair will face questions on big-ticket weapons systems and funding for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Gates has asked for $70 million – enough to funds the wars for several months – but, as before, is seeking an emergency appropriation. Critics in Congress argue the funds should be appropriated through the normal budget process.

The Energy committees in each chamber will hold hearings this week with Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, and members will likely grill him on the failed $1.8 billion FutureGen project. Slated to be an emissions-free coal-fired power plant, the project has been abandoned in favor of a push to offer smaller grants for the capture and storage of carbon emissions.

Health and Human Services Secraty Mike Leavitt will appear before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday to discuss the President’s proposed $200 billion cuts in Medicare and Medicaid.

As we mentioned last week [5], the Senate reached a deal on amendments to the RESTORE Act [6], the much-debated reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act [7]. Three amendments are up for discussion, with debate resuming today:

• A measure sponsored by Sens. Chris Dodd [8] and Russ Feingold [9] that would strip retroactive immunity from the bill.
• An amendment by Dianne Feinstein [10] and Bill Nelson [11] would require the secret FISA court determine whether the phone companies should be giving immunity.
• A third amendment, offered by Sens. Arlen Specter [12] and Sheldon Whitehouse [13], would substitute the government for the telecom companies in about 40 pending civil lawsuits.

Other amendments would make FISA the sole legislation authorizing electronic surveillance, determine the FISA court's role in overseeing intelligence gathering, or whether the bill should expire.

February 5, 2008

Senate

• Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs [14]
  To continue oversight hearings to examine veterans disability compensation, to hold hearings to examine the President's proposed budget for fiscal year 2009, proposed budget for fiscal year 2009, 9:30 a.m., [SD-215]
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [15]
  To hold hearings to examine the world threat,10 a.m., [SH-216]
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [15]
  To hold closed hearings to examine the world threat, 2:30 p.m., [SH-219]

February 6, 2008

Senate

• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations [16]
  To hold hearings to examine the Six Party Talks for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, 9:30 a.m., [SD-419]
• Senate Committee on Armed Services [17]
  To hold hearings to examine the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2009, the future years defense program, and for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, 9:30 a.m., [SD-106]
• Senate Finance Committee [18]
  To hold hearings to examine the President's proposed budget for fiscal year 2009, 10 a.m. [SD-215]
• Senate Committee on the Budget [19]
  To hold hearings to examine the President's Fiscal Year 2009 budget and revenue proposals, 10 a.m., [SD-608]
• Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works [20]
  To hold hearings to examine perspectives on the Surface Transportation Commission report, 10 a.m. [SD-406]
• Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources [21]
  To hold hearings to examine the President's proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2009 for the Department of Energy, 10 a.m., [SD-366]
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations [16]
  To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Margaret Scobey, of Tennessee, to be Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, James Francis Moriarty, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, and Deborah K. Jones, of New Mexico, to be Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, all of the Department of State, 1 p.m., [SD-419]
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [15]
  Closed business meeting to consider pending calendar business, 2:30 p.m., [SH-219]
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations [16]
  To receive a closed briefing on Sudan, 3 p.m.

House

• House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense, executive [22]
  Hearing on F-15 Aircraft, 10 a.m., H-140 Capitol
• House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense, executive [22]
  Briefing on World-Wide Threat, 1:30 p.m., H-140 Capitol
• House Committee on Natural Resources [23]
  Hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2176, To provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community; and H.R. 4115, To provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, 2 p.m., 1324 Longworth.
• House Committee on Armed Services [24]
  Hearing on Fiscal Year 2009 National Defense Budget Request from the Department of Defense, 1 p.m., 2118 Rayburn.

February 7, 2008

Senate

• Senate Committee on Indian Affairs [25]
  To hold hearings to examine the nomination of Robert G. McSwain, of Maryland, to be Director of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, 9:30 a.m., [SD-628]
• Senate Committee on Armed Services [17]
  To hold hearings to examine the final report of the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves, 9:30 a.m., [SD-106]
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations – African Affairs [16]
  To hold hearings to examine the immediate and underlying causes and consequences of Kenya's flawed election, 9:30 a.m., [SD-419]
• Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources [21]
  To hold an oversight hearing to examine the energy market effects of the recently-passed renewable fuel standard, 9:30 a.m., [SD-366]
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation [26]
  To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Robert A. Sturgell, of Maryland, to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and Simon Charles Gros, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary, both of the Department of Transportation, 10 a.m., [SR-253]
• Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions [27]
  To hold hearings to examine weathering the economic storm, focusing on helping working families in troubling times, 10 a.m., [SD-430]
• Senate Finance Committee [18]
  To hold hearings to examine selling to seniors, focusing on the need for accountability and oversight of marketing and sales by Medicare private plans, 10 a.m., [SD-215]
• Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs [28]
  To hold hearings to examine ways to reform the regulation of government sponsored enterprises, 10 a.m., [SD-538]
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary [29]
  To hold hearings to examine the Founding Fathers papers, focusing on ensuring public access to our national treasures, 10 a.m., [SD-226]
• Senate Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
  To continue hearings to examine anti-Semitism in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) region, 2:30 p.m., [SD-406]
• Senate Committee on Armed Services – Readiness and Management Support [17]
  To hold hearings to examine business transformation and financial management at the Department of Defense, 2:30 p.m., [SR-222]
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [15]
  To hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., [SH-219]

House

• House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry [30]
  Hearing to review the National Veterinary Medical Service Act, 10:30 a.m., 1300 Longworth.
• House Committee on Small Business [31]
  Hearing entitled “The Small Business Administration's Budget for Fiscal Year 2009,” 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Veterans' Affairs [32]
  Hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2009, 1 p.m., 334 Cannon.
• House Committee on Agriculture [30]
  Full Committee, to mark up the following: The Global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008; a measure authorizing assistance for the export of independent documentaries regarding the United States; H. Res. 185, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the creation of refugee populations in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf region as a result of human rights violations; H. Res. 854, Expressing gratitude to all of the member states of the International Commission of the International Tracing Service (ITS) on ratifying the May 2006 Agreement to amend the 1955 Bonn Accords granting open access to vast Holocaust and other World War II related archives located in Bad Arolsen, Germany; H. Res. 865, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the March 2007 report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development makes an important contribution to the understanding of the high levels of crime and violence in the Caribbean, and that the United States should work with Caribbean countries to address crime and violence in the region; H. Res. 909, Commemorating the courage of the Haitian soldiers that fought for American independence in the ``Siege of Savannah'' and for Haiti's independence and renunciation of slavery; H. Con. Res. 154, Expressing the sense of Congress that the fatal radiation poisoning of Russian dissident and writer Alexander Litvinenko raises significant concerns about the potential involvement of elements of the Russian Government in Mr. Litvinenko's death about the security and proliferation of radioactive materials; H. Con. Res. 255, Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the United States commitment to preservation of religious and cultural sites and condemning instances where sites are desecrated; and H. Con. Res. 278, Supporting Taiwan's fourth direct and democratic presidential elections in March 2008, 1 p.m., 1100 Longworth.
• House Committee on Ways and Means [33]
  Hearing on President Bush's budget proposals for fiscal year 2009, 9:30 a.m., 1100 Longworth.
• House Committee on the Budget [34]
  Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget, 11 a.m., 210 Cannon.
• House Committee on Energy and Commerce [35]
  Hearing entitled ``Department of Energy's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Proposal,'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Financial Services [36]
  Hearing entitled ``The Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2007 (H.R. 1746): Holocaust Era Insurance Restitution After ICHEIC, the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims,'' 9:30 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology [37]
  Hearing entitled ``Other Transaction Authority: Flexibility at the Expense of Accountability?'' 2 p.m., 311 Cannon.
• House Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education [38]
  Hearing on Visas for Foreign Scholars and Students, 2 p.m., 2318 Rayburn.
• House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment [39]
  Hearing on Agency Budgets and Priorities for Fiscal Year 2009, 2 p.m., 2167 Rayburn.
• House Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies [22]
  Hearing on Department of Interior, Overview with the Secretary, 10 a.m., B-308 Rayburn.
• House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch [22]
  Hearing on Capitol Visitor Center, 10 a.m., 2362-A Rayburn.
• House Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies [22]
  Hearing on Quality of Life, 2 p.m., H-143 Capitol.
• House Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies [22]
  Hearing on Department of Transportation Fiscal Year Budget Request, 1 p.m., 2359 Rayburn.
• House Subcommittee on Military Personnel [24]
  Hearing on beneficiary advocacy overview, 3 p.m., 2212 Rayburn.
• House Committee on the Judiciary [40]
  Oversight hearing on the Department of Justice, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.

February 8, 2008

House

• House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health [41]
  Hearing on the Political Crisis in Kenya: A Call for Justice and Peaceful Resolution, 10 a.m., 2200 Rayburn.
• House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties [40]
  Oversight hearing on Voter Suppression, 9:30 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Foreign Affairs [41]
  Full Committee, to mark up the following: The Global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008.
• House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement [42]
  Hearing on Military Base Realignment: Contracting Opportunities for Impacted Communities,'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.