FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

U.S. Congress


Continuing Resolution for Current Fiscal Year:  On March 17, 2011 the Senate passed another short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) for this fiscal year, which extends funding of the government until April 8. The vote was 87 to 13. Both Senators Burr and Hagan voted for the bill.


Some notable conservative Republicans such as Senators Jim Demint (R-SC), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) were among the nine Republicans voting against the CR because it only cut $6 billion in funding from current levels that both Republicans and Democrats had targeted. In addition they may have considered that mandatory federal spending as of March 16th exceeded all federal revenue (Weekly Standard cited by Red State). The $6 billion in CR cuts were mostly for earmarks, wildfire-suppression efforts, and technology funds for the Social Security Administration.

The two parties are $50 billion apart on cuts to the budget for the current fiscal year, that include riders identified by the House such as funding for Obamacare, Planned Parenthood, Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air regulations, and other liberal priorities. (The Wall Street Journal)

The House voted on the CR on March 15 where it passed 271 to 158 with 3 not voting.

NC Representatives voting for the CR: G. K. Butterfield (D-1st), Renee Ellmers (R-2nd), David E. Price (D-4th), Virginia Foxx (R-5th), Howard Coble (R-6th), Larry Kissell (D-8th), Sue Myrick (R-9th), Patrick Mc Henry (R-10th), Heath Shuler (D-11th), and Brad Miller (D-13th).

NC Representatives voting against the CR: Walter B. Jones, Jr. (R-3rd), Mike McIntyre (D-7th), and Melvin L. Watt (D-12th).

The House of Representatives

Federal Funding of National Public Radio (NPR):  On March 17the House voted on HB 1076 to end federal funding of NPR, and to prohibit federal funds from being used to acquire radio content. The vote passed 228 to 192 with 1 voting present and 11 not voting. For NC Representatives, the vote was along party lines with Republicans voting to end federal taxpayer funding of NPR and Democrats voting to continue the funding.

Final Vote on Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Termination:  On March 16, the House passed legislation to end the NSP program enacted in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The bill was for the "redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes and residential properties" as assistance to local and state governments. The bill cancels all funding balances that are unobligated (have no legal liability).

The vote was 242 to 182 with 8 not voting. NC Republican Representatives voted for the bill and NC Democrat Representatives against it.