DOCSLIB.ORG

Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 112 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 112 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 112 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 157 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2011 No. 91 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was even with nations like Iran working REPUBLICAN WOMEN IN called to order by the Speaker pro tem- with the United States in that critical CONGRESS pore (Mr. FITZPATRICK). 2001–2002 post-9/11 era. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The f It was a tragic mistake not to finish Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the job and withdraw with global sup- DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO Tennessee (Mrs. BLACKBURN) for 5 min- port. Instead, the Bush administration, TEMPORE utes. sadly, with support from too many in Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, ear- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- Congress, started a reckless, flawed lier this week my Republican female fore the House the following commu- and ultimately tragic war in Iraq. colleagues spent an hour on the floor of nication from the Speaker: President Obama reasonably says this great Chamber talking about why WASHINGTON, DC, that we won’t try to make Afghanistan they have chosen to come to Congress, June 23, 2011. a perfect place. We won’t because we talking about why they have chosen to I hereby appoint the Honorable MIKE leave the private sector and come to FITZPATRICK to act as Speaker pro tempore can’t. America has already invested on this day. enough, direct costs of over 1,500 Amer- the public sector, and talked about JOHN A. BOEHNER, ican lives, approaching one-half tril- why it is so important, so vitally im- Speaker of the House of Representatives. lion dollars. Indirect and long-term portant that they chose to come as Re- f will be much greater. Bear in mind, we publican women. have invested $2 trillion in the war I think that as you listened to that MORNING-HOUR DEBATE against terror, and the long-term costs debate, their stories were inspiring. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- are going to be between $4 trillion and You realized the diversity of the back- ant to the order of the House of Janu- $6 trillion. ground of the Republican women that ary 5, 2011, the Chair will now recog- In Afghanistan, ultimately there will have come to this Chamber, the rich- nize Members from lists submitted by be a negotiated settlement with the ness of the experiences, the life experi- the majority and minority leaders for least, worst guys, the Taliban and war- ences that they have brought with morning-hour debate. lords, assorted tribal strongmen. It’s them. You also realized how solidly The Chair will alternate recognition already started. and firmly committed they are to between the parties, with each party strengthening and preserving this We cannot afford to continue this ef- limited to 1 hour and each Member great Nation. fort, not when crying needs are here in other than the majority and minority I think it’s fair to say that our Re- America to rebuild and renew our leaders and the minority whip limited publican philosophy of government country. to 5 minutes each, but in no event shall centers on faith, family, freedom, hope, debate continue beyond 11:50 a.m. Last week, the American mayors got opportunity, and preserving those te- it right when they called this question f nets that really underpin this Nation. and called for renewed investment here I can say that, as a wife, a mother, a TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM at home. The tragedy is that it’s not grandmother, a small business owner, AFGHANISTAN ultimately going to make that much I’ve had the blessing of learning first- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The difference the longer we’re there and hand how very important it is that we Chair recognizes the gentleman from the more we fight. Whether it’s going take our conservative philosophy of Oregon (Mr. BLUMENAUER) for 5 min- to be 1 year, 2 years, 10 years, far in the life and government into the public utes. future, it’s not going to look that sector of our Nation. Daily we work to Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, much different in terms of the ultimate preserve opportunities for all of our it’s time, after a decade, to wind down outcome in Afghanistan. children and our grandchildren. this American-Afghanistan adventure. America needs to be engaged in this We work to make certain that each With his speech last night, President dangerous region. It needs to help Af- and every child in our presence knows Obama started a process America needs ghanistan. It needs to help the Paki- the value of, and realizes there is an to accelerate, removing 100,000 combat stani people. It needs to be involved, opportunity for them to achieve the troops from Afghanistan. both diplomatically and with develop- American Dream; that it is a good I supported the initial move 10 years ment assistance. No longer do we need thing, a healthy thing for them to ago against the Taliban in Afghani- to have combat troops being a part of dream big dreams and to work very stan. It began on a very hopeful note, that mission. hard to make those dreams come true. b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H4463 . VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Jun 24, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN7.000 H23JNPT1 rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with HOUSE H4464 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 23, 2011 We know, and we teach our children moral issue. Trillions of dollars are MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT in our families and our extended fami- spent on undeclared wars, but who’s Messages in writing from the Presi- lies, in our classrooms, that if you paying for it? The poorest among us, dent of the United States were commu- work hard, you exercise discipline, you the lesser among us—in health care, in nicated to the House by Mr. Pate, one show integrity, and you put others education, in homelessness, in jobless- of his secretaries. first, that inevitably, you’re going to ness. And now the wealthiest of Ameri- prevail and enjoy seeing your dreams cans have the lowest tax rates since f come true in the marketplace of prod- 1950. And really, it just bothers people THE FAIR TAX ucts and ideas. when you say they, too, should make We all know, and we work hard so some sacrifices, not just for the war The SPEAKER pro tempore. The that our children don’t have to work that I don’t support, but for the secu- Chair recognizes the gentleman from harder. We work hard so that we’re giv- rity, the economic security of this Na- Georgia (Mr. WOODALL) for 5 minutes. ing more opportunities to the next gen- tion, where the debt ceiling is going to Mr. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, I am eration. be an issue, and yet those that are pay- pleased to rise today after the former That is why you’re going to see our ing for the cuts have nothing to do chairman of the Ways and Means Com- Republican Conference women con- with the crisis that we’re in. mittee. I want to talk about taxes tinue to lead the fight on preserving So I conclude, I’ll be back in support today, but I want to associate myself jobs, rebuilding jobs, rebuilding this of H.R. 1152. And I will ask you to con- with the previous speaker’s comments economy, making certain that the 21st sider that as we wind down from our in- about how we make different decisions century economy is jobs-rich for our volvement in the Middle East, think when we have skin in the game because children and our grandchildren. about giving some relief to our volun- that is absolutely something that we That is why we have taken the lead teers. Think about asking young Amer- are losing in this country. We are los- on the issue of health care. Women are icans to make some type of commit- ing what used to be that common value the drivers when it comes to health ment. Think about having an America that we rise and we fall together. care decisions, and we are committed that says, yes, I support the involve- I see my colleague from the Rules to making certain that we reverse this ment and am prepared to make sac- Committee, Mr. MCGOVERN, sitting in course that we are on with ObamaCare, rifices, which includes my family, my the Chamber today. And he tells the that we push to repeal that law, and community, and our great Nation. committee on a regular basis that we that we make certain we preserve ac- We should not just have professional need to pay for those things that we do. cess to affordable health care for ev- volunteers; it is not American, it is not We’re involved in wars, and we need to eryone in this Nation. moral. When our country is involved, pay. We need to have a populace that We are committed to strengthening everyone should be prepared either to believes in what we’re doing in such a our Nation, our economy, jobs, stand up and be counted or don’t sup- way that they are willing to sacrifice strengthening our people, and making port this type of involvement.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download Transcript
    The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. The Gang of Six’s Work on Reducing the Budget Deficit Welcome and moderator: David Rubenstein, President, Economic Club of Washington Speakers: Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) Washington, D.C. 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2011 Transcript by Federal News Service Washington, D.C. DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN: Everybody please take their seats. We’re on a tight schedule. Thank you. I want to welcome everybody to our 10th event of this season. I know we’ve had a lot of events, but I think they’ve been pretty good. I want to thank all of you for coming to the events. I want to recognize our corporate sponsors first: Bank of America – Bill Cooper, Larry Parrish is here. Bank of America is where? Right here; thank you. And Akin Gump – is Tony Pierce here? Thank you. Information Management Consultants: Sudhakar Shenoy – where is Sudhakar? There you are; thank you. Ernst & Young: Dan Murrin – Dan is there. Thank you. And Carlyle Group: Ed Mathias. There you are. We have some special guests today. Jack Evans is here. Jack is a member of the city council. And Nat Gandhi from the District of Columbia government. The ambassador of Switzerland, Ambassador Sager, is here. Thank you. So, we have upcoming events. I think people know on June the 28th, we have a breakfast at the JW Marriott with Tony Blair. There’s a fair amount of interest so if you’re interested in going, please sign up. I think you’ll find that interesting, a session with former Prime Minister Blair.
    [Show full text]
  • Health Care in America: a Right Or a Privilege? John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP; Introduction by Richard L
    Health care in America: A right or a privilege? John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP; introduction by Richard L. Byyny, MD, FACP remedies—was more about public health than individual Dr. Tooker (AΩA, University of Colorado, 1970) served as patients, and was considered more effective than care by Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of the doctor. While doctors could diagnose some illnesses, the American College of Physicians from 2002 – 2010. there were primarily mystical treatments with potions that In that capacity he was involved in developing the policy did nothing, or could cause further harm. framework of the Affordable Care Act. He is a member Health care was inexpensive, with the average American of the AΩA Board of Directors. spending about $5 per year on health care. Physician payment was often a bartering system of reciprocal exchange of goods or services, or direct financial payment. Introduction Hospitals were largely places to die, or be isolated from by Richard L. Byyny, MD others, with some surgeries performed using rudimentary anesthesia. Most medical care, births, and surgeries were performed in the home. Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every Health insurance evolved during the industrial devel- rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those opment, that followed the Civil War. Most industrial jobs who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are were dangerous and associated with job-related injuries not clothed. that often resulted in life-long disabilities. In some indus- tries, more than 10 percent of workers were injured, or —President Dwight D.
    [Show full text]
  • President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2013
    S. HRG. 112–733 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013 HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION FEBRUARY 14, 2012 ( Printed for the use of the Committee on Finance U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 79–764—PDF WASHINGTON : 2012 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Nov 24 2008 20:27 Mar 25, 2013 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 R:\DOCS\79764.000 TIMD COMMITTEE ON FINANCE MAX BAUCUS, Montana, Chairman JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah KENT CONRAD, North Dakota CHUCK GRASSLEY, Iowa JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts JON KYL, Arizona RON WYDEN, Oregon MIKE CRAPO, Idaho CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York PAT ROBERTS, Kansas DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming MARIA CANTWELL, Washington JOHN CORNYN, Texas BILL NELSON, Florida TOM COBURN, Oklahoma ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey JOHN THUNE, South Dakota THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware RICHARD BURR, North Carolina BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland RUSSELL SULLIVAN, Staff Director CHRIS CAMPBELL, Republican Staff Director (II) VerDate Nov 24 2008 20:27 Mar 25, 2013 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0486 Sfmt 0486 R:\DOCS\79764.000 TIMD C O N T E N T S OPENING STATEMENTS Page Baucus, Hon. Max, a U.S. Senator from Montana, chairman, Committee on Finance ...........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • PRESSPASS April 23, 2014 Capitol Hill Receptive To
    PRESSPASS April 23, 2014 Capitol Hill receptive to newspaper's lobbying efforts MONTANA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION June 13-14, 2014 Butte Plaza Inn Butte, Montana info on pages 16-19 U.S. Senator Jon Tester discusses postal issues with Philipsburg Mail Publisher Ann Mullen. Reporting for the National Newspaper Association’s proposes bi-partisan compromise to reduce the U.S. Day on Capitol Hill, Tom Mullen met with Montana’s deficit. entire congressional delegation and most of Idaho’s. On the United States Postal Front, the NNA has backed “Both Democratic Senator Jon Tester and Republican most of California Congressman Darrell Issa’s plan over Congressman Steve Daines agreed that the current bill to that of Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn. amortize advertising expenses is a bad idea. Neither of “Our recently appointed Montana Senator John Walsh, them think it will go anywhere. That bill was introduced a Democrat from Butte, is still learning the ropes in by former Montana Sen. Max Baucus and was originally Washington but he seemed genuinely interested in our designed to eliminate advertising as an expensable item attitudes toward both the postal and advertising bills. for businesses. It’s a bad idea as it would constrict the He raised no objections to our positions,” Mullen said. growth of business. Amortizing the expense over 10 “Everyone is in agreement that the U.S. Postal Service years, the latest plan, makes sense only if you make your needs reform but the NNA is still fighting for Saturday money as an accountant,” Mullen said. delivery and that’s the only thing we don’t like about He was able to talk to both of Idaho’s senators, Congressman Issa’s bill.
    [Show full text]
  • Panel of Journalists Explores Nation's Dramatic 2012 Election Campaign
    Panel of Journalists Explores Nation’s Dramatic 2012 Election Campaign Panelists Mike Allen Chief White House Correspondent Politico Charlie Cook Editor and Publisher “The Cook Political Report” Chris Wallace Anchor “Fox News Sunday” Judy Woodruff Senior Correspondent “PBS News Hour” Moderator David Rubenstein President The Economic Club of Washington October 11, 2012 Excerpts from the Panel Discussion What Went Wrong for President Obama in the First Debate? Mr. Cook: “The President looked to me like a team that was vastly overconfident, that didn’t fear or respect his opponent and didn’t take it very seriously.” Ms. Woodruff: “I keep thinking of The New Yorker cartoon with Romney standing there and an empty chair….” Mr. Allen: “When you’re President, it’s been four years….since anybody has gotten in your grill.” Mr. Wallace: “I wasn’t a bit surprised that Romney did as well as he did. He did 23 debates in the Republican primaries that lasted 43 hours.” Will the Republicans Gain Control of the Senate? 1 Mr. Cook: “A year-and-a-half ago, I would have said a 60, 70 percent chance of Republicans taking a majority. Now I’d put it down maybe around 40 (percent).” Mr. Allen: “We think whoever gets the White House will get the Senate.” Mr. Wallace: “Right now, I think the conventional wisdom and the Charlie Cook wisdom is it’s probably less than 50-50 that the Republicans will take the Senate.” Can the Democrats Gain Control of the House? Mr. Cook: “It’s a real long shot.” Ms.
    [Show full text]
  • October 2, 2012 Tax Credit Tuesday Podcast
    Summary: October 2, 2012 Michael J. Novogradac, CPA, alerts listeners to a continuing resolution for the fiscal year 2013 budget and a new Gang of Six in Washington, D.C. In low-income housing tax credit news, he covers two Government Accountability Office reports, one on the Community Reinvestment Act’s effect on low-income housing tax credit investment and one on collaboration of federal housing assistance programs. Additionally, he addresses an expansion of the Multifamily Low- Income Housing Tax Credit Pilot program and the 2013 Difficult Development Areas. In new markets tax credit news, he discusses final rules for non-real estate investments and the amount of credits requested during the 2012 application round. In historic tax credit news, he announces the winners of the 2012 J. Timothy Anderson Awards for excellence in historic preservation. In renewable energy tax credit news, he discusses an act to extend master limited partnerships to renewable energy projects and a recent Congressional Service Research report on energy tax policy. Summaries of each topic: 1. General News (2:20 – 4:50) Page 2 2. Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (4:51 – 16:22) Pages 3-5 3. New Markets Tax Credits (16:23 – 22:33) Page 6-7 4. Historic Tax Credits (22:34 – 24:04) Page 8 5. Renewable Energy Tax Credits (24:05 – 28:10) Pages 9-10 Editorial material in this transcript is for informational purposes only and should not be construed otherwise. Advice and interpretation regarding tax credits or any other material covered in this transcript can only be obtained from your tax adviser.
    [Show full text]
  • Second Street Gangs: Ad Hoc Policy Commissions in the Senate Jennifer N
    Southern Illinois University Carbondale OpenSIUC Working Papers Political Networks Paper Archive 6-26-2013 Second Street Gangs: Ad Hoc Policy Commissions in the Senate Jennifer N. Victor George Mason University, [email protected] Kristen Coopie Allen Wright State University - Main Campus, [email protected] Ian Palmer Cook University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus, [email protected] Zacharcy Auter University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/pn_wp Recommended Citation Victor, Jennifer N.; Allen, Kristen Coopie; Cook, Ian Palmer; and Auter, Zacharcy, "Second Street Gangs: Ad Hoc Policy Commissions in the Senate" (2013). Working Papers. Paper 68. http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/pn_wp/68 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Political Networks Paper Archive at OpenSIUC. It has been accepted for inclusion in Working Papers by an authorized administrator of OpenSIUC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Second Street Gangs: Ad Hoc Policy Commissions in the Senate Kristen Coopie Allen University of Pittsburgh Zachary Auter University of Pittsburgh Ian Palmer Cook University of Pittsburgh Jennifer Nicoll Victor George Mason University Abstract Recent debates in the US Congress over major policy issues, such as the US debt ceiling, the use of the filibuster in the Senate, and health care reform, have witnessed the emergence of small groups of legislators -- given names like “The Gang of Six” in popular press -- working to craft a bill that (they may expect) covers the middle-ground between opposing factions. Given the usual expectations that, 1) committee members are not preference outliers, and 2) committees have better policy expertise than the average chamber member, what purpose do these small groups serve? The argument here is that these gangs represent a focal point for accusations of ideological compromise and potential blame (if the product does not proceed to a floor vote).
    [Show full text]
  • American Politics As a Zero-Sum Game Research Thesis Presented
    1 A Comprehensive Examination of Trumpism: American Politics as a Zero-Sum Game Research Thesis Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with research distinction in Political Science in the undergraduate college of The Ohio State University By Colin Flanagan The Ohio State University April 2021 Project Advisor: Professor Thomas Wood, Department of Political Science 2 Abstract This thesis investigates the effects of demographics on modern American electoral politics. Despite recent sociological works and media conjecturing, there is little agreement on increasing polarization and among what lines the poles have been pulled to. This thesis includes data from the 2019 American Community Survey Five Year Estimates in its Ordinary Least Squares regression model which accounts for divisions among racial, economic class, and geographic differences. Using this data, I find a shifting partisan alignment on educational and urban-rural fronts, while racial divides have continued at roughly the same rate as in the past. I also find evidence of retrospective economic voting in the 2020 presidential election. These findings confirm the theories put forth by sociologists that American politics are becoming more polarized than at any point in modern history, and it proposes that the ideological homogenization of both the Democratic and Republican parties is to blame. Keywords: polarization, zero-sum game, ideological homogenization Acknowledgements: I thank my advisor, Dr. Thomas Wood, for his assistance throughout this process. I also thank Dr. Amanda Robinson and Sean Trende for their counsel at the beginning and end my work, respectively. Further thanks go to Dr. William Minozzi and Dr. Nicole Yadon for their willingness to evaluate this endeavor.
    [Show full text]
  • The Murray-Ryan Budget Deal
    Effective Public Management February 2015 Profiles in negotiation: The Murray-Ryan budget deal By Jill Lawrence IntroductIon en. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) did not have relax- ing holidays in 2013. When they weren’t closeted in a room with each other, Sthey were texting, emailing and talking on the phone. Halloween came, and Thanksgiving, and the frenetic run-up to Christmas. As Americans ate, shopped and Jill Lawrence trick-or-treated, Ryan and Murray soldiered on. Their mission: find a way to keep the is a national columnist government open and solvent for at least a year or two. Find a way to stop the recur- for Creators Syndicate, a contributing editor at U.S. ring political showdowns that had cost the nation money, stability and respect. That News & World Report, and a they succeeded makes them unusual in these polarized times, and provides a hopeful contributor to the 2015 book The Surge: 2014’s Big GOP Win template for future negotiators. and What It Means for the Next Presidential Race. Congress is rarely popular, but 2013 was a year for the record books. Its Gallup ap- proval rating plummeted from 19 percent in September, to 11 percent amid a federal government shutdown in October, to 9 percent in November, on its way to a rock- bottom 14 percent average for the year. The disaffection was earned. The 16-day government shutdown, triggered by conservatives trying to block funding for the Affordable Care Act, was the latest of a series of fiscal emergencies that had rattled the country and the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Download the Transcript
    CONGRESS-2017/08/02 1 THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION SAUL/ZILKHA ROOM PROCEDURE AND POLITICS IN THE 115th CONGRESS Washington, D.C. Wednesday, August 2, 2017 PARTICIPANTS: SARAH A. BINDER, MODERATOR Senior Fellow, Governance Studies The Brookings Institution NORM ORNSTEIN Resident Scholar American Enterprise Institute RICHARD RUBIN U.S. Tax Policy Reporter Wall Street Journal SARAH KLIFF Senior Editor Vox MOLLY E. REYNOLDS Senior Fellow, Governance Studies The Brookings Institution * * * * * ANDERSON COURT REPORTING 706 Duke Street, Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone (703) 519-7180 Fax (703) 519-7190 CONGRESS-2017/08/02 2 P R O C E E D I N G S MS. BINDER: Well, thanks very much. I’m Sarah Binder, a senior fellow here in Governance Studies. I have the pleasure of moderating today. I’m going to introduce our speakers. I’ll say just a minute about Molly and her book, and then we’ll open it up to get going. To my left is Molly Reynolds, a fellow here in Governance Studies and the author of “Exceptions to the Rule: The Politics of Filibuster Limitations in the U.S. Senate,” which will be the launching point for us in thinking about procedural politics and their implications for policy, in particular health and tax today. Next, Norman Ornstein, a resident fellow at American Enterprise Institute and long, long time political science observer of Washington and everything in it. Then Sarah Kliff from Vox, a senior editor who specializes in healthcare coverage. And then Richard Rubin, U.S. tax policy reporter from The Wall Street Journal.
    [Show full text]
  • 2012 Post Election Advisory
    Legislative & Public Policy 2012 POST-ELECTION ADVISORY PICTURED ABOVE L TO R: Earl Pomeroy, Counsel at Alston & Bird and a former Member of the House Ways & Means and Agriculture Committees; Bob Dole, Special Counsel at Alston & Bird and former Senate Majority Leader; Billy Tauzin, Special Legislative Counsel at Alston & Bird and former Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee; and Blanche Lincoln, Special Policy Advisor at Alston & Bird and former Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Member of the Senate Finance and Energy Committee. This advisory is published by Alston & Bird LLP to provide a summary of significant developments to our clients and friends. It is intended to be informational and does not constitute legal advice regarding any specific situation. This material may also be considered attorney advertising under court rules of certain jurisdictions. TaBLE OF CONTENTS I. Fiscal Cliff, Budget, Appropriations & Transportation Finance 5 a. Background on the Fiscal Cliff ................................................................................................. 5 b. Lame Duck Fiscal Cliff Scenarios ............................................................................................ 6 c. Key Dates in the Budgetary Process ....................................................................................... 7 d. Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts ................................................................................................. 8 e. Transportation Finance ............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • S6-Ep02 ACA-Negotiations Sept 2, 2021 P
    An Arm and a Leg S6-Ep02_ACA-Negotiations Sept 2, 2021 p. 1 S6-Ep02_ACA-Negotiations - aug 27 draft Hey there-- today’s episode takes us someplace this show has never gone before: Inside the Washington, DC beltway. Deep inside-- one scene actually takes place inside the Oval Office. If you pay attention to politics AT ALL, you will hear a couple of very-familiar voices. But it’s not a familiar story. We’re looking at how a single provision landed in an humongous piece of legislation-- the Affordable Care Act. Given the absolutely enormous scope of that law--famously more than 900 pages -- this is a teensy-tiny provision. But it’s one that we’ve talked about a fair amount on this show, especially this year, because it turns out that it can be a SUPER-important tool for a lot of people with medical bills that seem un-payable. Charity care, financial assistance. Non-profit hospitals-- which is most hospitals in the U.S.-- are legally REQUIRED to have charity care policies: To write off bills for folks whose incomes fall below a figure the hospital sets. I really only learned that early this year-- along with millions of other people, thanks to a super-viral TikTok video. Spreading the word about that requirement has been making a difference for a LOT of people, and it’s been kind of a highlight of my year to see it. And charity care policies weren’t always the law. They only became a requirement when it got written into the Affordable Care Act.
    [Show full text]