Today the House passed (H.R. 1314) a bipartisan budget agreement (266-167) that would increase the debt ceiling and set budget levels for the next two years. Seventy-nine Republicans joined 187 Democrats in voting for the agreement. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) called the agreement “a good deal for our troops, for taxpayers, and for the [...]
Yesterday, President Obama vetoed the FY2016 Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 1735), which passed congress early this month. The president has threatened to veto defense authorization bills throughout his presidency, but this is the first time he has actually taken the veto pen to the defense bill. Although the president identified opposition to provisions in the [...]
Today the Senate passed the FY2016 Defense Authorization bill (70-27) that reconciles the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The House passed the conferenced bill last week (270-156). The Senate vote sets the stage for a presidential veto that the White House has threatened ever since the House passed its version [...]
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued guidance setting the rules under which federal agencies will operate during the FY2016 Continuing Resolution (CR) enacted (H.R. 719) last week. The CR period runs from October 1 through December 11, 2015. Under guidance in a memo from Director Shaun Donovan, OMB will apportion (distribute funds [...]
This afternoon, the House passed (277-151) a Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds federal government agencies through December 11, 2015. In the final vote, 91 Republicans joined all voting Democrats (186) in passing the CR. Earlier today, the Senate passed the CR 78-20 as 32 Republicans joined all 44 Democrats and two Independents (who caucus as [...]
Today, the Senate defeated a motion to proceed to a vote on a Continuing Resolution (CR) that would fund the government until December 11, 2015, but provide no funding for Planned Parenthood in FY2016. The 47-52 vote fell far short of the 60 yes votes needed to proceed to a vote on the CR. Eight [...]
Congress should craft a long-term budget deal now rather than continue budget gridlock by approving a long-term Continuing Resolution (CR), according to five major defense associations. Leaders of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Air Force Association (AFA), Navy League, and National Guard Association sent a letter this week urging congress [...]
Congress is currently debating a bill to disapprove the Iran nuclear deal and working to put together a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government running after September 30. Both of these issues are staring at a deadline that requires immediate action. Congress has until September 17 to act to either approve or disapprove the [...]
Congress returns next week (September 8) from a five-week recess facing a vote on the Iran nuclear deal and another threat of a government shutdown. The most pressing, time-sensitive issue is legislation to approve or disapprove the Iran nuclear deal that was agreed to by the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, and [...]
President Obama last week notified Congress he has determined that federal civilian employees should receive a 1.3 percent pay raise in 2016. This is the same civilian pay raise the president included in the FY2016 federal budget request. The 1.3 percent pay raise is a combination of a 1.0 percent across-the-board raise announced in last [...]