NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE ON SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Negotiations between Senate leaders and the White House continue on a new version of the fiscal year FY2007 emergency supplemental appropriations bill, with a goal of final action by the Memorial Day recess.
Last week, the House passed a two-tier, short-term bill to fund the war effort in Iraq/Afghanistan along with additional funding for some domestic items. Also approved was a bill that includes agriculture disaster funding contained in the original supplemental. The White House has issued a veto threat against both measures.
FY2008 BUDGET RESOLUTION CONTINUES
Conferees on the FY 2008 budget resolution also continue their negotiations; although a meeting last week did not produce an agreement, one is anticipated this week.
Key issues that remain under discussion include the level of the domestic discretionary spending cap; whether to use the projected surplus in FY2012 to extend expiring tax provisions and add new spending for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or identify new offsets for the costs.
Conferees also are debating whether to include a "trigger" mechanism to allow extensions of the tax cuts in 2010 only if surpluses materialize; and how to treat a House education reconciliation instruction that calls for the expansion of direct government aid to college students by cutting private lender subsidies.
Last week, Office of Management and Budget director Rob Portman warned that the President would veto any spending bill that exceeds his proposed FY 2008 discretionary spending cap of $933 billion.
WRDA MOVES IN SENATE; BILL COST CUT BY MORE THAN HALF FROM LAST WEEK
Yesterday, the Senate turned again to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The measure stalled on the Senate floor last week over judicial nominations.
On Wednesday, May 9, a managers' amendment was released that made substantial changes to the committee-passed version by re-working funding for hurricane projects in Louisiana and for several new programs that had unlimited funding authorizations. This action reduced the cost of the Senate bill from $31 billion to $13.9 billion. The House version of the bill contains projects estimated at $15 billion.
A number of amendments are anticipated, but Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) remains committed to keeping WRDA funding at the current level. The White House has objected to the Senate bill, but has not issued a veto threat.
COPS PROGRAM CONSIDERED TODAY
The House is scheduled to vote today on two criminal justice measures under suspension. The COPS Improvement Act of 2007 would authorize $1.5 billion annually from FY2008 through FY2013 for state and local law enforcement programs.
It would provide
$600 million annually (over six years) for officers hired to
perform intelligence, antiterrorism, and homeland security
duties; $350 annually for law enforcement technology grants; and
$200 million annually to assist district attorneys in hiring
community prosecutors.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ON HOUSE FLOOR LATER THIS WEEK
The House later this week is scheduled to debate the $503.8 billion FY2008 Defense authorization bill, which includes $8.4 billion for base realignment and closure (BRAC) and $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment from their unfunded requirements list.
The measure also gives the Guard enhanced authorities to fulfill its expanded role in the nation's defense; authorizes a fourth star for the Chief of the National Guard Bureau; makes the Bureau a joint activity of DoD; and requires DoD to report to Congress on the readiness of the National Guard to support Governors on missions relating to homeland security and natural disasters.
Of interest to Governors is language repealing a provision in the FY2007 DoD authorization bill that allows the President to federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement purposes during emergencies without consent of the Governor. These changes to the Insurrection Act have been strenuously opposed by nearly all Governors through the National Governors Association.
