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Saturday, April 1, 2006
Washington Week in Preview
Highlights of what is happening this week in Washington.
BORDER WARS CONTINUE
Once again immigration reform will be front and center in the Senate with two competing proposals in play. A decisive vote is not expected until the end of the week. The floor fight could be fierce. On Thursday Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter attacked Majority Leader Bill Frist for saying that Specter’s committee’s bill would offer amnesty to the millions of illegal immigrants, vowing to “take the leader head on” in the week to come. Frist is the sponsor of a competing bill without a guest worker provision.
BUSH
It’s a week of the things nearest and dearest to the president’s heart, starting with baseball and continuing with key issues on which he hopes to make progress. President Bush heads from Crawford to Cincinnati on Monday to throw opening pitch at the Reds’ home opener at Great American Ball Park. Back in Washington on Tuesday, Bush has a White House meeting on health care initiatives, followed by an RNC finance luncheon. On Wednesday, Bush is on the road in Bridgeport, Connecticut for a panel discussion on health savings account, an issue near the top of his legislative agenda for this year. Thursday it’s more war talk as Bush goes to Charlotte, N.C. for remarks on that topic. Later Thursday, Bush greets NCAA champs in a variety of sports at White House. Friday he makes remarks to National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
The House takes up next week a bill that could alter the campaigns of 2006 and 2008 by restricting the money-raising ability of nonprofit political groups. The bill would require these 527 groups to register as political committees and abide by contribution limits, and it will be opposed by Democrats, who in 2004 relied on 527s as a key source of financing. Republicans accuse Democrats of hypocrisy for supporting other reforms but not this; Democrats hurl the same charge at Republicans because this bill does not restrict trade associations and other business groups exempt from some rules applying to political committees.
HOMELAND SECURITY/ TERRORISM
On Tuesday, Yo-Yo Ma is among those who will testify at the House Government Reform Committee Oversight Hearing, “The Impact of Visa Processing Delays on the Arts, Education, and American Innovation.” On Thursday the House International Relations Committee will hear testimony from a whistle blower from DHS who will describe problems with security at the border.
LOBBY REFORM
The House begins Tuesday to hold hearings on its version of the “reform” bill. Also, the Center for Public Integrity is expected to release its massive study of congressional staff/member privately sponsored travels.
KATRINA
The Senate Katrina report has been delayed but is expected as early as this coming week. Also: On Wednesday the House Government Reform Committee holds a hearing on “Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth: A Post-Katrina Review of International Disaster Assistance.”
GOVERNMENT WASTE
Citizens against Government Waste release their 2006 “Congressional Pig Book” in Washington on Wednesday, with state-by-state breakdowns.
PENSION REFORM Hopes for a quick compromise may be fading according to House Majority Leader John A. Boehner. But others think an agreement may still be reached by the April 7, two-week recess.
TAXES
Tax issues could pop up at any time. President Bush’s proposals to extend dividend and capital-gains tax cuts now appear in doubt, and the report completed late last year by his Tax Reform Panel is gathering dust. Still, House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas may want to do one last tax cut before retiring, so this could come up.
ENERGY ISSUES
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute holds a briefing Tuesday on “Flexible-Fuel Plug-in Hybrids: Taking Charge to Reduce U.S. Oil Consumption.” Participants include Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Roger Duncan of Austin Energy.
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