October just got very interesting — with a post-Boehner Leadership scramble; government shutdown off the table; short-term CR, Debt Ceiling, Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization, Highway bill possibly *on* the table… And the Reconciliation process begins with aims to repeal Obamacare, defund Planned Parenthood.
Last week began with a historic address to Congress by Pope Francis, with a special message for lawmakers:
Speaker John Boehner Announces Retirement
The Pope's visit reportedly helped Speaker John Boehner decide to announce his retirement from Congress. He will depart both his Speakership and his Congressional seat on his birthday, November 17.
Many expect that Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy will ascend to the position, but that has not stopped the scrambling and speculation. And remember, the Speaker of the House does not have to be a Member of Congress!
From our Hill Sources: Majority Leader McCarthy is known as a consensus-builder and well-respected by both sides of the aisle. But that doesn't mean he will pick up a lot of Democratic votes. Our sources said that would be "the worst thing that could happen to a Republican Speaker" (to get elected only with the help of Democrats.)
Take the POPVOX Poll: Who Should Replace John Boehner as Speaker of the House?
While we will release the results of the POPVOX poll next week, we can share that the leading write-in candidate (beyond those listed in the poll) is Trey Gowdy (R, SC).
At least for now, Boehner's announcement appears to have shut down talk of a government shutdown. House conservatives had threatened to hold up a bill to keep the government running after the current authorization ends September 30, if it did not de-fund Planned Parenthood. Last week, the Senate started work on a "clean bill", extending funding through December 11, 2015. But does that punt a possible shutdown to December?
A procedural "cloture" vote is scheduled for Monday on the legislative vehicle for a "clean" continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11, 2015:
A "Clean" Continuing Resolution
(traveling as amendment 2689 to H.R. 719, the TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act.)
Flurry of Legislative Activity Expected
Speaker Boehner's resignation sparked discussion of a possible opportunity to for him to "clear the decks" without fear of retribution from House conservatives. Some are speculating that there might be a gridlock reprieve, if a Speaker with nothing to lose teams up with a President nearing the twilight of his last term.
John’s not going to leave for another 30 days, so hopefully he feels like getting as much stuff done as he possibly can,” President Obama said on Friday.
If Boehner does decide to take that approach, issues potentially on tap include: Reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, raising the debt ceiling, a long-term highway bill (possibly with international tax reform and tax "extenders"), education reform, and reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (which expired in 2007).
Reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank
HR 3611: To reauthorize and reform the Export-Import Bank
Sponsor: Rep Stephen Fincher (R-TN)
According to the sponsor:
"This legislation is a five-year reauthorization bill that will keep American jobs here at home, make the Bank’s practices more accountable, and enhance taxpayer protections by requiring the Bank to become more solvent and self-sufficient."
Raising the Federal Debt Ceiling
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated Congress will have to increase or suspend the debt ceiling between mid-November and early December.
HR 692: Default Prevention Act
Sponsor: Rep Paul Ryan (R-WI)
According to the sponsor:
The bill "guarantee[s] that the sovereign debt of the United States Government will be paid in full and on time, under any circumstances, even total political gridlock. [The bill] simply provides that if the debt limit is reached, the Treasury Secretary may continue to borrow above that limit for the sole purpose of paying interest and principal that is due. It is an absolute guarantee that the debt of the United States will be honored.
Reauthorizing the Highway Trust Fund
The current highway bill will expire on October 29, before Speaker Boehner leaves office. The Senate passed a three-year bill, while the House is working on an ambitious five year plan that would be funded with significant changes to the international tax system. (Senate Majority Leader McConnell has not embraced that approach.) If the House can pass its bill in the next few weeks, the Senate could either take that bill or go to conference. (The looming deadline and Boehner's departure will provide an increased sense of urgency.)
S 1647: The Senate Highway Bill (The DRIVE Act)
Sponsor: Sen Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
According to the sponsor:
“The DRIVE Act will provide states and local communities with the certainty they deserve to plan and construct infrastructure projects efficiently. This bipartisan bill also contains the hallmark accomplishment of a new freight program to prioritize federal spending on the facilities that will most directly benefit our economy, in addition to prioritizing federal dollars towards bridge safety and the interstate system. The DRIVE Act will help set the tone for America’s economic future by putting our nation back on the map as the best place to do business."
Reforming No Child Left Behind
The education program that introduced nationwide testing technically expired in 2007. Both the House and Senate have been working on reform bills that would give more authority to local governments, among other changes. Each chamber passed their own bills in July:
S 1177: Every Child Achieves Act (Senate Education Bill)
Sponsor: Sen Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
According to the sponsor:
"If senators were students in a classroom, none of us would expect to receive a passing grade for unfinished work. Seven years is long enough to consider how to fix No Child Left Behind. … Continue the law’s important measurements of academic progress of students but restore to states, school districts, classroom teachers and parents the responsibility for deciding what to do about improving student achievement. "
HR 5: Student Success Act (House Education Bill)
Sponsor: Rep John Kline (R-MN)
"By reducing the federal footprint, restoring local control, and empowering parents and education leaders, the Student Success Act will help provide all children access to an effective education. The bill is a commonsense response to a status quo that has failed students for far too long.
The Student Success Act will ensure our investment in K-12 education is more efficient and effective. The bill eliminates more than 65 ineffective, duplicative, and unnecessary programs, and replaces this maze of programs with a Local Academic Flexible Grant. H.R. 5 provides the freedom to allocate resources in a way that reflects local priorities, not Washington’s priorities.
A Reconciliation bill may include Obamacare Repeal, Planned Parenthood Defunding
photo: Energy and Commerce committee markup of energy bill by Whitney Wyszynski
One of the first battles awaiting a new Speaker will be sheperding a Budget Reconciliation bill through the legislative process. A reconciliation bill gets special procedural treatment and does not require 60 votes to proceed in the Senate.
(Flashback: Final Health Reform revisions passed in a 2010 reconciliation bill.)
Markup of a reconciliation bill will begin this week in the Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees. The bill will likely include Conservative priorities such as repealing Obamacare, defunding Planned Parenthood, and changes to the Sequester.
Bills up for a vote in Congress this week
Follow the links below to tell Congress what you think:
HR 3594 – Higher Education Extension Act
Sponsored by Rep. Mike Bishop
HR 2617 – To amend the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 to postpone a scheduled increase in the minimum wage applicable to American Samoa
Sponsored by Rep. Amata Radewagen
HR 2786 – Cross-Border Rail Security Act
Sponsored by Rep. Filemon Vela
HR 2835 – Border Jobs for Veterans Act
Sponsored by Rep. Martha McSally
Concur in the Senate Amendment to HR 2051
Agriculture Reauthorizations Act | Sponsored by Rep. Mike Conaway
HR 3596 – Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act
Sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith
HR 3595
To extend the authorization to carry out the replacement of the existing medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Denver, Colorado | Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Miller
HR 3594 – Higher Education Extension Act
Sponsored by Rep. Mike Bishop
HR 2617 – To amend the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 to postpone a scheduled increase in the minimum wage applicable to American Samoa
Sponsored by Rep. Amata Radewagen
HR 2786 – Cross-Border Rail Security Act
Sponsored by Rep. Filemon Vela
HR 2835 – Border Jobs for Veterans Act
Sponsored by Rep. Martha McSally
Concur in the Senate Amendment to HR 2051
Agriculture Reauthorizations Act | Sponsored by Rep. Mike Conaway
HR 3596 – Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act
Sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith
HR 3595
To extend the authorization to carry out the replacement of the existing medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Denver, Colorado | Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Miller
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Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill does not imply POPVOX endorsement in any way. As always, our goal is to offer one more way to help you stay informed about the complex U.S. legislative system. —
