Hill Update Wrap Up: New Bills, Hearings and More

LEGISLATION

Transparency

Congressman Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) has introduced H.R. 1061, the Federal Agency Transparency Act, which would require federal agencies to publish receipts and expenditures every two weeks on their websites. Under this bill, Americans will be able to track every dollar of government agency spending, scrutinize the goals and performance of every federal program, and perform searches of millions of forms and filings in a similar cohesive manner.

In God We Trust

Last week the House Judiciary Committee considered a resolution introduced by Rep. Randy Forbes (H. Con. Res. 13) that acknowledges “In God We Trust” as the national motto and encourages its public display in public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions. The Judiciary Committee approved the resolution and reported it to the full House for its consideration. You can read Rep. Forbes’ most recent Press Release on the issue here, and can view video footage of the Judiciary Committee markup of the bill in 8 segments here.

ADMINISTRATION

The tax break for charitable giving targeted for elimination again. Under the president’s fiscal 2012 budget, the amount wealthy taxpayers could save through itemized deductions would be reduced to 28 percent, down from the current top level of 35 percent.

A 2010 Bank of America Merrill Lynch study on philanthropy said that roughly two out of every three wealthy households would either dramatically or somewhat limit their giving if there were no tax deductions for donations.

JUDGES

Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226
March 31, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

Nominations

John J. McConnell, to be United States District Judge for the District of Rhode Island

Reported 11-7

Ayes: Kohl, Feinstein, Schumer, Durbin, Whitehouse, Klobuchar, Franken, Coons, Blumenthal, Leahy, Graham

Nays: Grassley, Hatch, Kyl, Sessions, Cornyn, Lee, Coburn

Held over for one more week:

Goodwin Liu, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit

Esther Salas, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey

J. Paul Oetken, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York

Paul A. Engelmayer, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York

Ramona V. Manglona, to be Judge for the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands
Also reported out of Committee:

Kevin Hunter Sharp, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee

Roy Bale Dalton, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida

Claire C. Cecchi, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey

Esther Salas, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey

J. Paul Oetken, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York

Paul A. Engelmayer, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York

Ramona V. Manglona, to be Judge for the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands

Despite being held over for a week the Committee vote on Goodwin Liu was held over once again and is now expected to be on April 7th. Mr. Liu is considered so left wing and radical that even former WH Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel tried to nix his nomination.

The Conservative Action Project put out a “Memo for the Movement” opposing Mr. Liu’s nomination

Another of the nominees up is John McConnell. Judicial Watch has more on why his nomination is so troubling

New information about the advocate trial lawyer and Democratic fundraiser that President Obama keeps pushing as a federal judge sheds light on why the Senate has twice rejected the controversial judicial candidate who was nominated for a third time earlier this year.

Not only is the renowned plaintiff attorney (John J. McConnell) an outspoken partisan who donates big bucks to Democrats, he’s made tens of millions of dollars in lawsuits against tobacco companies and will continue receiving checks for years to come, even if Obama fulfills his dream of giving McConnell a lifetime federal judgeship in Rhode Island.

As the top litigator at his mega Providence law firm (Motley Rice), McConnell has raked in between $2 to $3 million a year since 1999 and will receive between $2.5 and $3.1 million annually through 2024 in “deferred compensation” for work on tobacco litigation. McConnell revealed the astounding figures in response to disclosure requirements by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee considering his nomination.

The Washington Times have come out in an editorial opposing the nominee on his partisan ties as well as his trial lawyer profiteering. There are also questions if the nominee failed to tell the truth on his relations with ACORN.

Other troubling nominations that are on the horizon include Edward Carroll DuMont for the 5^th Circuit. Mr. DuMont has a history of advocating and donating to radical liberal causes. As a litigator he has been heavily involved in cases advocating for assisted suicide as well as against freedom of speech in relation to campaign finance reform. More on his record can be found here

Additionally President Obama has nominated abortion advocate Steve Six for Federal Appeals Court. As the Kansas Attorney General Mr. Six repeatedly tried to protect abortionists from prosecutor Phill Kline.

HEARINGS/BRIEFINGS

Health Overhaul Funding Repeals Approved by Energy & Commerce Subcommittee

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health approved, in separate roll call votes, five bills that would repeal mandatory funding for several provisions of the 2010 health overhaul law. Three of the measures (HR 1213, HR 1214, HR 1217) would repeal the state-based insurance exchanges, school-based health center construction and the Prevention and Public Health Fund. They all were approved 14-11. The others (HR 1215, HR 1216) would convert funding for state teen sex education programs and certain graduate medical education programs from direct appropriations to authorized appropriations. HR 1216 approved 14-11, while HR 1215 was approved, 15-11.

House Panel Votes to Bar Tax Credits, Deductions for Abortion Coverage

The House Ways and Means Committee approved, 22-14, a measure (HR 1232) as amended that would bar taxpayers from claiming benefits related to the cost of abortions. Before approving the measure the panel adopted by voice vote a substitute amendment by Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., that would add language to the measure to make the provision in the bill prohibiting the use of tax credits in the 2010 health care overhaul to pay for health plans that cover abortion effective for taxable years after December 31, 2013.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal Implementation

House Armed Services — Subcommittee on Military Personnel

Subcommittee Hearing, Friday, April 1, 9:30 a.m., 2212 Rayburn Bldg.

Military Personnel Subcommittee (Chairman Wilson, R-S.C.) of House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on the implementation plans for the repeal of law and policies governing service by openly gay and lesbian service members.

Witnesses:

Clifford L. Stanley, undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, and co-chairman, ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal Implementation Team

Vice Adm. William E. Gortney, director, Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff

AARP Oversight

House Ways and Means — Subcommittee on Oversight

Subcommittee Joint Hearing, Friday, April 1, 9 a.m., 1100 Longworth Bldg.

Oversight Subcommittee (Chairman Boustany, R-La.) and Health Subcommittee (Chairman Herger, R-Calif.) of House Ways and Means Committee will hold an oversight hearing on the organizational structure and finances of AARP.

Contact: Safavian, Jennifer – Majority General Counsel & Subcommittee Staff Dir. at 202-225-5522

AARP, which calls itself a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership group for Americans age 50 and over, spent $22 million on lobbying last year and was a strong supporter of Obamacare. In addition to its advocacy work, the group offers members the chance to buy various products, including AARP-branded insurance. According to AARP’s 2009 tax filing, the group made $656 million in royalties from those sales — about 60 percent of its total $1.09 billion in revenue. It collected $246 million in membership dues. “In light of AARP’s dependence on its income from insurance products, there is good reason to question whether AARP is primarily looking out for seniors or just its own bottom line,” said Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Charles Boustany Jr.