House Cloakroom: April 23 – April 27, 2012 Analysis: This week the House will take up a proposal to increase internet security.  The bill is based on the idea that the private sector knows best how to defend its networks. As a result, it creates a clear legal avenue for companies to share cyber threat information with each other and the federal government as well as defend themselves from attack. Additionally, several committees will continue work on budget reconciliation packages which are the vehicles for the actual cuts proposed in … More

House Cloakroom: March 19 – March 23 Analysis: This week marks the second anniversary of the passage of a government takeover of our health care, Obamacare.  Fittingly, this anniversary will coincide with the release of Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) Fiscal 2013 Budget, which places us on a path to reducing the size and scope of government.  Watch this week for more information on the details of the plan as it is released.  The House will also vote on a repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) that includes a … More

House Cloakroom: March 5 – March 9 Analysis: This week the House will take up legislation on a variety of issues.  The JOBS Act is a combination of several financial services related bills meant to ease access to capitol and remove barriers to entry for startup companies.  The countervailing duties bill will allow the federal government to place tariffs on imports from nonmarket economies, particularly China, to combat the practice of dumping.  Dumping is defined as a country exporting goods at an artificially low price, but it is difficult to … More

House Cloakroom: February 6 – February 10 Analysis:  This week the House the will consider legislation to sell off civilian property it owns, institute a line-item veto and ban congressional insider trading.  The week will begin with the Civilian Property Realignment Act, which would create a BRAC-like process to determine the usefulness of government owned property and which of those properties can be sold off.  The Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Recessions Act would allow the President to propose specific recessions and have those voted on by Congress in an … More

House Cloakroom: January 30 – February 3 Analysis: This week will be a busy week on the House floor.  They will begin today by voting to send the FAA reauthorization to conference.  The houses are still working to resolve dispute over a pro-labor ruling recently made by the National Mediation Board.  The most significant bill on the floor this week will be a repeal of the CLASS Act.  The CLASS Act is a long term care entitlement program that was included in Obamacare.  Recently the Department of Health and Human … More

Analysis: Over the weekend the Senate passed a two month extension of the payroll tax cut, unemployment insurance and SGR (the doc fix) along with a provision to expedite the decision making process for the Keystone XL pipeline.  The House will return today to vote on this Senate compromise and a likely to vote it down over objections to the extension lasting for only two months.  At this time Senator Reid (D-NV) does not have plans to bring the Senate back into session should the House vote down the Senate … More

House Cloakroom: December 12 – December 16 Analysis: This week the House will take up two large year end packages.  The first will be the extension of the payroll tax cut, unemployment insurance, TANF and the “doc fix.”  The cost of the bill is offset through a federal pay freeze, means testing of Medicare, flood insurance reform and increases in fees for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  The bill also includes a provision to speed approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and stop the EPA’s Boiler MACT regulations. The House … More

House Cloakroom: December 5 – December 9 Analysis: This week the House of Representatives will take up two major bills relating to regulations.  The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act would require that major regulations from executive agencies be approved by Congress.  The Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act would block a new EPA rule that imposes regulations on the dust kicked up by farming activities.  The House could also take up legislation related to expiring programs including payroll taxes, unemployment insurance and the Sustainable Growth Rate … More

This week the House will take up several regulatory reform bills. The Regulatory Accountability Act would increase the requirements an executive agency has to meet in the rule making process as well as expand judicial review of legislation. The House will also take up the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act that would prevent micro-unions. When the Senate returns from the Thanksgiving holiday this week they are expected to vote on an extension of the payroll tax cut. More