Friday’s Political Roundup

The following is a roundup of political activity going on in Washington and across the nation. It is courtesy of Scott Wilk, Community Organizer, and Anchor Consulting group. The Beacon will be posting these daily as they become available.

IN THE HOUSE

• The House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.
• Last votes are expected at 2:00 p.m.
• One Minutes (5 per side)
• Complete Consideration of H.R. 2701 – Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Sponsored by Rep. Reyes / Intelligence Committee)
• Pending Amendment Votes (3 Votes): Reyes Amendment / Hastings (FL) Amendment / Schauer Amendment
• Postponed Suspension Vote (1 Bills):
  1. H.Con.Res. 238 – Recognizing the difficult challenges Black veterans faced when returning home after serving in the Armed Forces, their heroic military sacrifices, and their patriotism in fighting for equal rights and for the dignity of a people and a Nation Sponsored by Rep. Kissell / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)                                                       
• Special Orders 
• Rep. Rangel’s trips broke congressional gift rules, panel says  -  Rep. Charles B. Rangel broke congressional gift rules by accepting trips to Caribbean conferences that were financed by corporate interests, the House ethics committee said Thursday. (Wash Post)

IN THE SENATE

• The Senate convenes at 9:30am for a period of morning business; senators will be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.
• The Senate reached an agreement to begin consideration of HR4213, an act to provide for certain extenders, at 3pm on Monday, March 1.
• There will be no roll call votes during Friday’s session of the Senate. The next roll call vote is expected to occur Tuesday morning.
• Senate inaction jeopardizes unemployment benefits  -  The Senate failed late Thursday to extend programs for laid-off workers, jeopardizing unemployment benefits scheduled to expire over the weekend. (AP)

OTHER NEWS

• More Talk, No Deal at Health Summit  -  After hundreds of hours of congressional debate, a summer of rowdy town hall meetings and a Massachusetts election that upended all political calculations, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders spent Thursday talking still more about reforming the U.S. health care system. (WSJ)
• Senate demands that FAA make reforms in the way pilots commute to work  -  Senators demanded Thursday that federal regulators do something about airline pilots who regularly make exhausting commutes of hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of miles to work. (Wash Post)
• High court to define reach of gun-control laws  -  In 2008, when national gun rights advocates were looking for residents to challenge Chicago’s ban on handguns, Otis McDonald was in effect looking for them. McDonald, 76, says he had seen his neighborhood on the far South Side of Chicago turn from bad to worse over the years with “gangbangers and drug dealers.” (USA Today)
• Fed’s Posture Improves in the Senate  -  The Federal Reserve is gaining support in the Senate and could emerge from the overhaul of financial-market rules as the primary regulator of the country’s largest financial firms, according to people involved in the negotiations. (WSJ)
• Democrat Seeks Part of Spotlight in Florida Senate Race -  Representative Kendrick B. Meek, the leading Democratic candidate for Florida’s open Senate seat, listened quietly last week to tales of woe: a college student who nearly ended up homeless because her mother had lost her job; a laid-off mother who paid for health care with credit cards; an electrician struggling to get unemployment benefits. (NY Times)

FEDERAL GRANT OF THE DAY

• Special Education Research- The Director of the Institute of Education Sciences (Institute) announces the Institute’s FY 2011 competitions for grants to support education research and special education research. The Director takes this action under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, title I of Public Law 107-279. The intent of these grants is to provide national leadership in expanding fundamental knowledge and understanding of education from early childhood education through postsecondary and adult education. Purpose of Program: The central purpose of the Institute’s research grant programs is to provide parents, educators, students, researchers, policymakers, and the general public with reliable and valid information about education practices that support learning and improve academic achievement and access to education opportunities for all students. In carrying out its grant programs, the Institute provides support for programs of research in areas of demonstrated national need. For a list of eligible applicants and more information, grant announcement. Application deadline: June 24, 2010

TODAY IN HISTORY

• February 26, 1815- On this day, Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from the island of Elba (where he had been exiled) to begin his second conquest of France.

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