On November 18, Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio) introduced the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) of 2010 with 29 cosponsors to reauthorize this popular program for another five years.
While most of us will be enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday, the members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform will continue working to finalize their report before the December 1 deadline. AGC held several high-level meetings last week with Commission members and their staff and learned that at this point in negotiations, the 15 cent per gallon gas tax increase that was recommended in the co-chairmen’s draft proposal has not been ruled out of being included in the commission’s final proposal.
On November 15, 2010, Senator Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, sent a letter to the Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis expressing concerns over the direction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
A long list of issues face Congress when they return to the nation’s capital next week, including a meeting between President Obama and the incoming GOP House Leadership. Several issues are certain to draw attention next week, including: expiring unemployment benefits (November 30); a report on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (due December 1); and a report by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility (December 1).
Meetings for party leadership elections and respective Democratic and Republican caucuses in the House and Senate dominated behind-the-scenes during the first week of the lame duck session. Many of the same faces will serve in the leadership in the next Congress, but some will be in different roles.
Senate and House Republicans took two different approaches this week on banning earmarks. While Senate Republicans passed a nonbinding resolution to not request earmarks, House Republicans approved a rule change that would ban the insertion of earmarks in legislation for the 112th Congress. Under the new rules passed by House leaders, Democrats must also adhere to the ban.
Yesterday, the Senate failed to get cloture on a bill (S. 3772) that would have given greater government control over how employees are paid at even the smallest of companies.
As members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform work to finalize their report before the December 1 deadline, AGC and other transportation stakeholders continue to meet with those members to ensure any final package includes the 15 cent per gallon gas tax increase that was recommended in the co-chairmen’s draft proposal.
Next week begins Congress' lame duck session - the last chance for Democrats to push climate change, card check and immigration. The week will include leadership elections in the House and Senate, and Congress will reassemble after Thanksgiving to finish the session.