Thursday, March 16, 2006

7:33 Budget Resolution is Agreed To By a vote of 51-49, the Budget Resolution was agreed to. 7:34:00 PM

7:13 Final Passage The Senate is currently considering final passage of S.Con.Res.83, the Budget Resolution. 7:13:41 PM

7:09 Ensign Amendment Fails The Ensign amendment was rejected by a vote of 50-50. 7:10:48 PM

7:01 Domenici Amendment Agreed To The Domenici amendment was agreed to by a vote of 51-49. The Senate is currently considering the Ensign amendment which would move funds allocated for the United Nations Human Rights Council to border security. 7:01:28 PM

6:33 Senate Now Voting on Domenici Amendment The Senate is considering the Domenici amendment which would allocate revenue proceeds derived by drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to offshore oil states.  The amendment would send revenues from oil and gas exploration in ANWR to Gulf Coast states to help recover from last year's hurricanes. 6:33:26 PM

6:20 Amendment on Global AIDS Funding Passes By Voice Vote The Senate just passed by voice vote an amendment on Global AIDS funding sponsored by Senators Durbin and Santorum. This amendment will provide $866 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria. 6:24:32 PM

6:15 Stabenow Amendment Fails By a vote of 39-60, the Senate rejected the Stabenow amendment. 6:20:22 PM

6:05 Senate Now Voting on Stabenow Amendment The Senate is now voting on an amendment proposed by Senator Stabenow of Michigan.  The Stabenow amendment would create a deficit-neutral Medicare Part D reserve fund to provide seniors with a prescription drug benefit option that proponents say is affordable, user-friendly and administered directly by Medicare.  The amendment does not eliminate the private plans, or change the manner of their reimbursement.     6:08:13 PM

5:50 Bingaman Amendment Fails By a vote of 50-50, the Bingaman amendment was not agreed to. 5:54:15 PM

5:33 Boxer Amendment Fails - Senate Now Voting on Bingaman Amendment By a vote of 43-57, the Boxer amendment was defeated.  The Senate is now voting on an amendment which would strike a provision on Medicare in the Budget Resolution that has the effect of creating a point of order against any direct spending program for new spending.  Proponents of the amendment believe that not striking this Medicare provision, could pit Medicare against programs like Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, food stamps, farm programs, student loans, child care programs. 5:38:13 PM

5:28 Senate Voting on Boxer Amendment The Senate is now voting on an amendment sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer, which would provide afterschool programs to 716,000 children by rolling back tax cuts on individuals making over $1 million.  5:29:29 PM

5:10 DeMint Amendment Not Agreed To By a vote of 46-53, the DeMint amendment failed. 5:11:49 PM

5:00 Kerry Amendment Fails; Senate Voting on DeMint Amendment By a vote of 46-53, the Kerry amendment failed.  The Senate is now voting on an amendment offered by Senator DeMint that would create a reserve fund for Social Security reform if the Finance Committee enacts legislation to privatize the program.  4:58:30 PM

4:40 Lincoln Amendment Fails; Senate Voting on Kerry Amendment By a vote of 48-52, the Lincoln amendment did not pass.  The Senate is now voting on an amendment offered by Senator Kerry that would eliminate the President’s budget proposal to increase TRICARE healthcare fees and co-payments for military retirees under the age of 65 and their dependents. The five-year cost of the amendment is $11.158 billion, paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes. 4:38:49 PM

4:20 Inhofe Agreement Fails; Senate Now Voting on Lincoln Amendment By a vote of 35-63, the Inhofe amendment was not agreed to.  The Senate is now voting on the Lincoln Amendment.  This amendment would restore the $2.029 billion in proposed discretionary funding cuts for programs administered by USDA. These include conservation, rural development, research and extension, nutrition and forestry programs. The amendment is offset by closing corporate tax loopholes. 4:22:23 PM

4:20 Inhofe Agreement Fails; Senate Now Voting on Lincoln Amendment By a vote of 35-63, the Inhofe amendment was not agreed to.  The Senate is now voting on the Lincoln Amendment.  This amendment would provide $7.8 billion over two years to fund refundable tax credits targeted to small businesses with up to 100 employees so that they may help purchase group health insurance for their low-wage workers.  The amendment is offset by closing corporate tax loopholes.  4:21:32 PM

4:00 Akaka Amendment Fails; Senate Now Voting on Inhofe Amendment By a vote of 49-51, the Akaka amendment failed.  The Senate is now voting on an amendment offered by Senator Inhofe.  The amendment would permanently lock in the current levels of discretionary spending unless overcome by a 66 vote point of order. 4:05:05 PM

3:45 Stabenow Amendment Fails; Senate Voting on Akaka Amendment By a vote of 45-55, the Stabenow amendment failed.  The Senate is now voting on an amendment offered by Senator Akaka.  This amendment would increase Title I funding by $3 billion.  Senator Akaka explained that the President’s budget is $12.3 billion below the level promised in the No Child Left Behind Act.  He argued that the underlying budget resolution proposes $12.7 billion for the Title I program, and leaves 3.7 million children behind.  3:45:12 PM

3:35 Cornyn Amendment Fails; Senate Now Voting on Stabenow Amendment By a vote of 42-56, the Cornyn amendment was not agreed to.  The Senate is now voting on the Stabenow amendment.  This amendment would make veteran's health care spending mandatory instead of discretionary.  3:36:22 PM

3:10 Dorgan Amendment Fails; Senate Voting on Cornyn Amendment By a vote of 42-56, the Dorgan Amendment was not agreed to.  The Senate is now voting on an amendment offered by Senator Cornyn.  The amendment would direct the Finance Committee to assemble $10 billion in entitlement cuts and the Energy Committee to assemble $3 billion in spending cuts. 3:13:33 PM

3:05 Sarbanes Amendment Fails; Senate Voting on Dorgan Amendment By a vote of 49-51, the Sarbanes amendment failed.  The Senate is now voting on an amendment offered by Senator Dorgan that would increase funding by $1 billion for various tribal programs and provide additional funding. 3:06:29 PM

3:00 Sarbanes Amendment Fails; Senate Voting on Dorgan Amendment By a vote of 49-51, the Sarbanes amendment failed.  The Senate is now voting on an amendment offered by Senator Dorgan that would increase funding by $1 billion for various tribal programs and provide additional funding based on recommendations from Indian country. 3:05:44 PM

2:45 Lieberman Amendment Fails; Lautenberg Amendment Agreed To; Senate Voting on Sarbanes Amendment Senator Lieberman's amendment on Homeland Security failed by a vote of 43-53.  The Senate then agreed by unanimous counsent to a Lautenberg amendment on aviation security fees.  The amendment will remove a $1.2 billion airline fees increase from the budget, and offsets it by closing corporate tax loopholes.  The Senate is now voting on an amendment offered by Senator Sarbanes.  This amendment would would increases funding for natural resources and environmental programs by $2.9 billion.  The funding would go to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works programs, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the National Park Service, NOAA, USDA Forest Service and conservation programs and other natural resource needs.  The amendment is offset by closing corporate tax loopholes. 2:45:30 PM

2:35 Specter-Harkin Amendment Agreed To; Senate Voting on Lieberman Amendment By a vote of 73-27, the Specter-Harkin amendment was agreed to.  Currently, 60 votes are pending which, if none are withdrawn, means the Senate will complete this vote-a-rama in 20 hours, at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon. The Senate is now voting on an amendment offered by Senator Lieberman.  This amendment would provide $8 billion in additional funds for homeland security government-wide, by restoring cuts to first responder programs at the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice.  Specifically, it would provide an additional $1.2 billion for first responders, $1.7 billion for the Coast Guard and port security, $150 million for chemical security, $1 billion for rail and transit security, $456 million for FEMA, $1 billion for health preparedness programs, and $752 million for aviation security.  Offsets are paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes. 2:40:31 PM

2:10 Reed Amendment Passes; Senate Voting on Specter-Harkin Amendment By a vote of 51-49, Senator Reed's LIHEAP amendment passed.  An amendment offered by Senator Clinton that would increase funding for family planning services and programs and policies that support women who choose to carry their pregnancies to term has been withdrawn. The Senate is now voting on an amendment offered by Senators Specter and Harkin. The amendment adds $7 billion to the appropriations available to the Appropriations Labor-HHS Subcommittee. 2:10:40 PM

1:40 Senate Voting on LIHEAP Amendment The Senate just began a long series of roll call votes.  The first is an amendment sponsored by Senator Reed that would increase funding for LIHEAP by $3.318 billion in FY 2007.  Senator Reed explained that this would fully fund LIHEAP at $5.1 billion - the level authorized in the 2005 Energy Bill.  The amendment is offset by closing corporate tax loopholes. 1:41:28 PM

12:10 Burr Amendment Passes By a vote of 99-1, the Senate just passed an amendment sponsored by Senator Burr. This amendment would allow for spending on vaccine research and development; stockpiling vaccines and medical products; and state and local infrastructure investments, if the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passes legislation authorizing this action.  This spending would not be allowed to exceed budget caps.   12:11:34 PM

11:50 Senate Defeats Avian Flu Preparedness Amendment Sponsored by Senator Conrad By a vote of 44-55, the Senate just defeated an amendment to the Budget bill sponsored by Senator Kent Conrad. This amendment sought to add $5 billion for avian flu preparedness.  One billion would be set aside for state and local preparedness, $1.5 billion for antiviral & medical supply stockpiling and $2.5 billion for enhanced vaccine manufacturing capabilities. 11:55:21 AM

11:40 Bill to Increase Debt Passes Senate By a vote of 52-48, the Senate just passed the Debt Limit Resolution. 11:44:59 AM

11:20 Vote on Debt Limit Resolution The Senate is now voting on the Debt Limit Resolution. The U.S. Treasury’s debt limit is currently $8.2 trillion.  This bill would raise that amount by $781 billion to $9 trillion.  11:20:32 AM

11:05 Baucus Amendment Fails By a vote of 44-55, the Senate voted down the Baucus amendment. 11:04:29 AM

10:40 Senate Begins Roll Call Vote on Baucus Amendment The Senate is now voting on an amendment relating to the national debt, introduced by Senator Max Baucus. Recently there has been a large increase in U.S. Treasuries held by foreigners, especially by foreign central banks. Five years ago, foreigners held about $1 trillion of U.S. Treasuries. Today that number has doubled to about $2.2 trillion. Foreign investors financed 96 percent of the net increase in federal debt held by the public last year.  Individual countries are especially large holders of U.S. publicly held debt:  Japan holds $680 billion and China holds $750 billion. The Baucus amendment directs the U.S. Treasury Department to study and report on the increase of foreign holdings of U.S. debt and the consequences for America.  10:58:37 AM

10:30 Senator Reid Voices Concern on Increasing the Debt Senator Harry Reid is talking about increasing the debt limit. He does not understand how his Republican colleagues believe that increasing the debt will be good for our country. Senator Reid feels it is unfair to our children and grandchildren, who will have to finance this debt through higher taxes. Senator Reid stated that most Americans believe that increasing the debt is the last thing we should be doing.  10:37:33 AM

9:20 Work on Budget Bill Continues - Roll Call Votes Expected Throughout the Day Debate on the Fiscal Year 2007 Budget bill,S.Con.Res.83, continues.  The first roll call votes are expected to begin at 10:30 this morning, two of which are on Avian Flu funding.  The Senate is also expected to vote on legislation to increase the debt limit this morning. At 1:30 this afternoon, debate on the Budget bill will conclude and the Senate will begin what's referred to as the "vote-a-rama". 9:25:38 AM