As both chambers debated their FY 2009 Budget blueprint, Republicans continued to push for a moratorium on all earmarks.
The ban on earmarks in the House was included in a substitute proposal put forth by the Ranking Member of the Budget Committee, Paul Ryan (R-WI). The proposal would have used the $14.8 billion saved by the earmark moratorium to reduce discretionary spending. The GOP proposal also asked for extending President Bush's landmark 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and retain the alternative minimum tax (AMT) "patch" for three years. The Ryan proposal was rejected by a 157 to 263 vote.
On the Senate side, an amendment with bipartisan backing and the support of all three presidential candidates was considered. The amendment proposed by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) would have put a one year ban on member-sponsored projects. Senate Democratic leaders argued that lawmakers best understand their states' funding needs and that it is Congress' Constitutional duty to control spending. The amendment was rejected by a 29-71 procedural vote.
CONGRESS PASSES SHORT-TERM EXTENSION OF FARM BILL
Congress passed a temporary extension of the farm law, which is now set to expire on April 18, in an effort to give lawmakers more time to finish their negotiations.
The Senate Agriculture Committee and Senate Finance Committee are having difficulties determining which offsets should be used to fund the extra spending in the bill.
Among other disputes, the Senate Finance Committee believes farmers should get tax credits instead of government payments when participating in land conservation programs. However, the Senate Agriculture Committee rejects that proposal.
ABANDONED MINE LANDS AND URANIUM MINING ISSUES ANALYZED
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing last week to analyze the issue of abandoned mine lands and uranium mining. The committee wants to update the 1872 hard rock mining law and to determine the best way to address Good Samaritan liability relief for mine clean-up needs.
Senator Feinstein has written a bill that would create a federal abandoned mine clean-up fund and would impose an 8 percent royalty on gross returns from new mining claims. The bill would also impose a .3 percent reclamation fee on all hard rock mining claims.
