Goobergunch Political Report

10 January 2012

The 2012 New Hampshire Primary

Goobergunch @ 18:00 CT
Posted in: Election 2012, GPR Live
Tags:

Happy election night, true believers! Tonight, we’re in New Hampshire for this year’s Republican primary. It’s not really that exciting, as everybody’s expecting Mitt Romney to win in a blowout, with Jon Huntsman and Ron Paul vying for second and Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum both hoping to finish fourth. The real action will be in South Carolina a week from Saturday.

But New Hampshire’s also the first Republican race where delegates are truly allocated. (As opposed to Iowa, where the delegate count was at best an educated guess.) Any candidate that gets at least 10% of the vote will get at least one delegate.

NH-R Gingrich Huntsman Paul Romney Santorum Unallocated
Total 2 3 7
Last updated 9:22 Eastern Standard Time

UPDATE [20:00 EST by Goobergunch]: At this time, all polls have closed in New Hampshire, and I can now project that Mitt Romney has received the most votes statewide.

UPDATE [21:50 EST by Goobergunch]: Well, this was a boring primary. The only remaining delegate-count questions are whether either Gingrich or Santorum will get over the 10% threshold.

3 January 2012

The 2012 Iowa Caucuses

Goobergunch @ 19:00 CT
Posted in: Election 2012, GPR Live
Tags:

The Republican caucuses in the state of Iowa have now begun, and we’ll shortly see the results. At stake tonight are… well actually there aren’t any delegates being formally allocated tonight. Tonight’s precinct caucuses only select delegates to county conventions to be held on 10 March. Those conventions select delegates to congressional district conventions that will be held on 21 April, which select delegates to the state convention. The national convention delegates aren’t selected until that state convention meets on 16 June—over five months from now.

That being said, it’s possible to estimate delegate preferences from tonight’s caucus Presidential preference vote. These are, naturally, extremely rough estimates which can and almost certainly will change before the actual delegates are selected. (Updates to the Iowa delegate count will be made if the race is still contested during subsequent Iowa delegate selection stages.) So, here’s the current estimate of pledged delegate preferences from Iowa:

IA-R Gingrich Paul Perry Romney Santorum Unallocated
Total 2 7 2 7 7
Last updated 8:42 Central Standard Time

UPDATE [19:08 CST by Goobergunch]: The CNN entrance poll of “early bird” caucus voters: Paul 26%, Romney 23%, Santorum 19%. Note that this result is skewed in favor of more enthusiastic voters and won’t necessarily hold up—Romney led the entrance poll in 2008, but Mike Huckabee was the winner at the end of caucus night.

UPDATE [19:30 CST by Goobergunch]: The final CNN entrance poll data: Romney 24%, Paul 24%, Santorum 18%, Gingrich 13%, Perry 11%. The “winner” of the Iowa caucuses doesn’t really matter in term of the delegate count, but the order of finish, especially for the top three, matters in terms of the media narrative and that mystical momentum factor.

UPDATE [20:57 CST by Goobergunch]: Well, NBC is saying they’re not going to project a winner in Iowa until all the votes are counted. Fun. At the moment, with 31% reporting, the order is Romney>Santorum>Paul, each with 23% of the vote.

UPDATE [21:13 CST by Goobergunch]: Paul’s fallen behind Santorum/Romney by about a thousand votes. Looks like he’ll drop to third. Also looks like Santorum might be the One True Not-Romney. (I know, I can’t believe that either.)

UPDATE [22:41 CST by Goobergunch]: Well, Bachmann didn’t drop out in tonight’s speech, so looks like we won’t scratch anybody from the field tonight. And the first-place spot is still too close to call with 95% in!

UPDATE [22:59 CST by Goobergunch]: Perry’s not actually withdrawing tonight, but he says he’s going back to Texas and mulling over his options. Look for the official withdrawal in the next couple days.

UPDATE [1:25 CST by Goobergunch]: With one precinct remaining, Santorum’s ahead by 4 votes. Fox News and the Romney campaign are claiming that the final precinct will yield a 14-vote Romney victory. With that effective tie (I think the designation of Rick Santorum as the One True Not-Romney is the most important result of the caucuses), I’m calling it a night. I’ll see who won and make the final delegate calculations tomorrow morning.

UPDATE [8:40 CST by Goobergunch]: And the final tally: Romney 30,015, Santorum 30,007, Paul 26,219. Rommey wins by 8 votes. Of course, delegatewise that’s a three-way tie.

2 June 2011

Military/Veterans Appropriations Bill, FY2012 (First Day)

Goobergunch @ 18:50 CT
Posted in: Appropriations, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, GPR Live, Veterans' Affairs

The House is considering H.R. 2055, the FY2012 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. This is the second general appropriations bill to be considered in the House for fiscal year 2012. The bill was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee on 24 May, by a voice vote.

Any amendment is in order so long as it complies with House rules. All points of order against the bill itself have been waived.

No votes are expected today. All votes postponed tonight will be taken tomorrow morning.

At this time, the bill has been read through Veterans Health Administration (Medical Services). The following amendments have been considered:

Sponsor Summary Disposition
Culberson Managers’ Amendment: To redirect funds for the medical services and general administration divisions of the Veterans Health Administration. Adopted

[19:10 CDT]: And looks like the House is done for the night. More tomorrow!

Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, FY2012 (Day 2)

Goobergunch @ 11:28 CT
Posted in: Appropriations, Domestic Security, GPR Live, Immigration, The Coast Guard

The House is considering H.R. 2017, the FY2012 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. This is the first general appropriations bill to be considered in the House for fiscal year 2012. The bill was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee on 24 May, by a 27-20 party-line vote.

Any amendment is in order so long as it complies with House rules. All points of order against the bill itself have been waived except for one against Section 536, which extends the chemical security program expiration date by one year.

The following amendments were considered today:

Sponsor Summary Disposition
Baldwin To prohibit the use of funds to be used to design, develop, or procure any vessel of the Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter class of ships, unless it is manufactured in the United States. Point of Order Sustained
Speier #19 To prohibit the use of funds used by TSA to purchase clothing that is not 100 percent domestic in origin. Point of Order Sustained
Speier #18 To prohibit the use of funds to be used to award a noncompetitively bid contract to an Alaska Native Corporation, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian Organization in an amount in excess of the competive bidding threshold. Point of Order Sustained
Jackson Lee (TX) To prohibit the use of funds to be used to limit the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance the use of Federal Air Marshals on inbound international flights considered to be high risk by the Department of Homeland Security. Adopted

[11:54 CDT]: Voting is now beginning on several of the pending amendments that were debated yesterday and on which a vote was postponed. You’ll find them in the previous post on this bill.

[12:52 CDT]: The House has now voted on everything up to the second Scalise amendment. Now, it’s taking a break from this bill to debate the rule for the Military Construction / Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill.

[13:27 CDT]: With the rule for the MC/VA bill adopted, we’re back.

Sponsor Summary Disposition
Cole #42 To prohibit the use of funds to be used to implement any rule or regulation regarding the disclosure of political contributions that takes effect on or after the date of enactment of this Act. Adopted (252-170)
Gohmert To prohibit the use of funds for the new construction, purchase, or lease of any building or space in the District of Columbia except where a contract for the construction, purchase, or lease was entered into before the date of the enactment of this Act. Rejected (199-224)
Issa To prohibit the use of funds to promulgate regulations that will result in private sector job losses to United States companies. Withdrawn
Mica To add a new section requiring the amount made available to the Transportation Security Administration for screening operations, not more than $2,760,503,458 may be used for screener personnel, compensation, and benefits. Adopted (219-204)

[14:20 CDT]: And it’s time for another break. The House is now in recess subject to the call of the chair. The next votes are expected between 17:00 and 18:00 EDT today.

[15:13 CDT]: We’re back again.

Sponsor Summary Disposition
Polis #23 To prohibit the use of funds for being used to carry out section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Rejected (107-313)
Eshoo To prohibit the use of funds to enter into contracts with corporations or business entities that do not disclose their political expenditures. Point of Order Sustained

[16:08 CDT]: More votes! This series will dispose of all of the pending amendments.

[17:21 CDT]: Done with amendments, the Committee of the Whole rises. Next up: the motion to recommit and final passage.

  • Mr. Bishop (NY) moves to recommit with instructions to increase grants for Transportation Security and Counterterrorism through offsets from the Department of Homeland Security’s National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility.

[17:52 CDT]: The motion to recommit fails, 187-234.

[17:58 CDT]: And the bill passes, 231-188.

1 June 2011

Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, FY2012 (Titles II-VII)

Goobergunch @ 18:03 CT
Posted in: Appropriations, Domestic Security, GPR Live, Immigration, Interstate Commerce, Providing for the General Welfare, Public Works, The Coast Guard, Transportation, War and National Defense
Tags:

The House is considering H.R. 2017, the FY2012 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. This is the first general appropriations bill to be considered in the House for fiscal year 2012. The bill was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee on 24 May, by a 27-20 party-line vote.

Any amendment is in order so long as it complies with House rules. All points of order against the bill itself have been waived except for one against Section 536, which extends the chemical security program expiration date by one year.

  • No further votes are expected today. All votes postponed tonight will be taken tomorrow afternoon.

At this time, the bill has been read through the end of title VII. The following amendments to Titles II (Security, Enforcement, and Investigations), III (Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery), IV (Research and Development, Training, and Services), V (General Provisions), VI (Emergency Supplemental Funding for Disaster Relief), and VII (Spending Reduction Account) were considered on 1 June:

Sponsor Summary Disposition
King (IA) To increase by transfer for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection by $1 million. Adopted
King (IA) To increase by transfer for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by $1 million. Adopted
Barrow To increase by transfer for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Adopted
Richardson To place instructions in the bill on the appropriation of certain funds. Point of Order Sustained
Richardson To appropriate $50,000,000 for the purposes of Interoperable Emergency Operations Grants. Point of Order Sustained
Clarke (MI) To appropriate by transfer, $2,000,000,000 to programs in the heading State and Local Programs. Withdrawn
Clarke (MI) To strike language relating to the top 10 highest risk urban areas. Adopted (273-150)
Heck To [change] language relating to the top 10 highest risk urban areas to 25. Rejected
Lowey To provide for designated emergency funds for the State and Local Programs and for the Firefighter Assistance Grants. Point of Order Sustained
Richardson To redirect a $100,000,000 with respect to the Disaster Relief fund. Adopted
Honda To prohibit the use of funds for immigrant integration grants. Adopted
Sessions To strike section 514 [USCIS workforce]. Adopted (218-204)
Lummis To strike section 547 [environmental mitigation]. Adopted (238-177)
Richmond To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to waive debts owed to the United States relating to covered assistance provided to an individual if the assistance was distributed based on an error by FEMA or the collection of the debt will create a financial burden on the debtor. Point of Order Sustained
Carter #1 To prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act to be used for the Climate Change Adaptation Task Force of the Department of Homeland Security. Adopted (242-180)
Poe (TX) #9 To prohibit the use of funds to provide to a State or local government entity or official that is in violation of section 642(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Point of Order Sustained
Poe (TX) #10 To prohibit the use of funds to be used in contravention of section 642(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Adopted
Richmond To include funds for disaster assistance that includes an emergency designation pursuant to section 3(c)(1) of H.Res. 5 (112th Congress) shall be required by any rule of policy to be accompanied by a budgetary offset. Point of Order Sustained
Poe (TX) To prohibit the use of funds be used to parole an alien into the United States, or grant deferred action of a final order of removal, for any reason other than on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Adopted
Price (NC) To prohibit the use of funds to enforce the requirements in section 34(a)(1)(A) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974. Adopted (264-157)
Scalise To prohibit the use of funds to require an approved Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) applicant to personally appear at a designated enrollment center for the purpose of TWIC. Adopted
Sherman To prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act may be used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution. Rejected (208-213)
Gosar To prohibit the use of funds to be used to comply with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code, popularly known as the Davis-Bacon Act. Rejected (183-234)
Altmire To add a new section at the end of the bill pertaining to the use of American iron, steel, and manufactured goods. Point of Order Sustained
Scalise To prohibit the use of funds to implement or enforce Executive Order 13502 [encouraging project labor agreements], the FAR Council supporting regulations FAR Rule 2009-005, or any agency memorandum, bulletin, or contracting policy that derives its authority for Executive Order 13502 or FAR Rule 2009-005. Rejected (207-213)
Engel To prohibit the use of funds to be used by the Department of Homeland Security to lease or purchase new light duty vehicles, for any excutive fleet, or for an agency’s fleet inventory, except in accordance with Presidential Memorandum—Federal Fleet Performance, dated May 24, 2011. Adopted
King (IA) To use the funds made available by this Act under the heading “Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology”, $50,000,000 shall be for carrying out section 102 of the Illegal Immigration and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Point of Order Sustained
King (IA) To prohibit the use of funds to carry out the provisions of Public Law 111-148 [PPACA], Public Law 111-152, or any amendment made by either of such laws. Point of Order Sustained
King (IA) To prohibit the use of funds to be used for various ACORN and Community Organizations. Adopted (251-168-1)
Cravaack To prohibit the use of funds used in contravention of section 236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Adopted (288-131)
Amash #1 To prohibit the use of funds to purchase new advanced imaging technology machines. Rejected (127-295)
Amash #2 To prohibit the use of funds to operate or maintain existing advanced imaging technology machines as mandatory or primary screening devices. Rejected (123-300)
Amash #3 To prohibit the use of funds for any action by a political appointee to delay, vacate, or reverse any decision by an employee in the Privacy Office of the Department of Homeland Security to make records available pursuant to section 552 of title 5, United States Code, popularly known as the Freedom of Information Act. Adopted (257-164)
Rokita #1 To hereby reduce funds made available by this Act (other than an amount required to be made available by a provision of law, amounts made available for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and amounts made available for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) by 10 percent. Rejected (110-312)
Rokita #2 To prohibit the use of funds to implement the determination of the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration regarding transporation security officers and collective bargaining as described in the decision memorandum dated February 4, 2011. Adopted (218-205)

[22:54 CDT]: I have to say, the best part of the debate so far involved Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) comparing Rep. Steve King (R-IA) to Joe McCarthy during debate on the list of over three hundred organizations that King wanted to prohibit funds from going towards.

[23:28 CDT]: And finally, the Committee of the Whole rises. The House reconves at noon EDT tomorrow and will vote on all 15 amendments on which a vote was postponed today before proceeding to any further amendments and final passage.

Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, FY2012 (Title I)

Goobergunch @ 15:17 CT
Posted in: Appropriations, Domestic Security, GPR Live, Immigration, Interstate Commerce

The House is considering H.R. 2017, the FY2012 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. This is the first general appropriations bill to be considered in the House for fiscal year 2012. The bill was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee on 24 May, by a 27-20 party-line vote.

Any amendment is in order so long as it complies with House rules. All points of order against the bill itself have been waived except for one against Section 536, which extends the chemical security program expiration date by one year.

The following amendments to Title I (Departmental Management and Operations) have been considered:

Sponsor Summary Disposition
LaTourette To reduce the funding for the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management, Office of the Under Secretary for Management, and office of the Chief Information Officer by $459,180,000; and increase funding, by offset, for the Firefighter Assistance Grants, by $640,000,000. Adopted (333-87)
Cicilline To increase funding, by offset, for state and local programs by $337,000,000. Rejected (154-266)
Royce #2 To increase funding for Immigration Customs and Enforcement by $1 million. The increase would be offset by reducing funds for Homeland Security Department executive management. Adopted (268-151)
Jackson Lee (TX) #12 To increase the surface transportation account by $5 million. This amount is offset by reductions of $2.5 million each in the accounts for the Office of the Under Secretary for Management and for the development and implementation of screening programs of the Office of Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing. Rejected
Broun (GA) To reduce the funding for the Office of the Under Secretary for Management by $600,000 and deposit the same amount to the Spending Reduction Account. Adopted
Poe (TX) #8 To increase funding for border security fencing and infrastructure by $10 million. The increase would be offset by reducing funding for the Office of the Under Secretary for Management by the same amount. Adopted (327-93)
Norton To increase funding to the Office of the Under Secretary for Management by $500,673,000. Withdrawn
Poe (TX) #7 To increase funding for immigration enforcement, detention and removal operations by $100 million. The increase would be offset by reducing funding for the Office of the Under Secretary for Management by the same amount. Point of Order Sustained
McCaul To reduce funds for the Office of the Under Secretary for Management, and increase funds for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection expenses. Point of Order Sustained
McCaul To reduce funds for the Office of the Under Secretary for Management, and increase funds for the state and local divisions of FEMA. Point of Order Sustained
McCaul To reduce funds for the Office of the Under Secretary for Management, and increase funds for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Point of Order Sustained
McCaul To reduce funds for the Office of the Under Secretary for Management and increase funds for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Rejected
McCaul To reduce funds for the Office of the Under Secretary for Management and increase funds [for] U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Point of Order Sustained
McCaul To reduce funds for the Office of the Under Secretary for Management and increase funds for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Point of Order Sustained
Cuellar To reduce funds for the Office of the Under Secretary for Management and increase funds for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Rejected (162-256)

[15:24 CDT]: Under an open rule, amendments are often not available to the public in advance. I’ll be posting official summaries when possible but otherwise they’ll be based on what I’m hearing during floor debate.

[17:09 CDT]: The House is beginning a series of votes on the pending amendments.

[17:59 CDT]: No further votes are expected tonight. A new post for consideration of Title II (Security, Enforcement, and Investigations) will go up soon.

26 May 2011

H.R. 1540, the FY2012 Defense Authorization bill (Third Day)

Goobergunch @ 09:00 CT
Posted in: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, Conservation, Foreign Affairs, GPR Live, Highways and Byways, Hospitals and Asylums, Navigation and Navigable Waters, Providing for the General Welfare, Shipping, Transportation, War and National Defense

The House is continuing work on H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012. Of the 152 amendments in order, 60 amendments have been disposed of. Last night, Buck McKeon (the chairman of the Armed Services Committee) announced that there were seven more amendments (#110, #111, #134, #141, #146, #152, and #55) and four en bloc amendments remaining for consideration.

For more information on the bill, see the initial post.

A couple notes on how the floor consideration process will work:

  • Each amendment gets 10 minutes of debate — 5 for, and 5 against. (Unless the amendment is non-controversial, in which case it just gets 10 minutes of praise.) However, McGovern/Amash Amendment #55 will get 20 minutes of debate.
  • Either party’s Armed Services Committee leadership can move an “en bloc amendment” consisting of a bunch of amendments that are considered together to save time. Those get 20 minutes of debate.

There are 16 amendments which were debated yesterday but did not receive a vote. They’ll be voted on today, but to save space the votes will be listed in yesterday’s amendment table. Under the fold, I’ve got the list of amendments that the House is considering today. All links to amendment text are PDFs, and all descriptions come from the sponsors of the amendment. If you just want the full list (including information on amendments that are considered as part of the en bloc amendments), the Rules Committee Democrats have you covered.

[13:39 CDT]: Bill passed, 322-96.

(more…)

25 May 2011

H.R. 1540, the FY2012 Defense Authorization bill (Continued)

Goobergunch @ 18:17 CT
Posted in: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, Conservation, Foreign Affairs, GPR Live, Hospitals and Asylums, Navigation and Navigable Waters, Providing for the General Welfare, Shipping, Transportation, War and National Defense

The House is continuing work on H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012. Of the 152 amendments in order, 56 amendments have been disposed of.

For more information on the bill, see the previous post.

A few notes on how the floor consideration process will work:

  • There will be no further votes tonight. Amendment consideration will conclude tomorrow, and then we’ll have the vote on final passage.
  • Each amendment gets 10 minutes of debate — 5 for, and 5 against. (Unless the amendment is non-controversial, in which case it just gets 10 minutes of praise.)
  • Either party’s Armed Services Committee leadership can move an “en bloc amendment” consisting of a bunch of amendments that are considered together to save time. Those get 20 minutes of debate.

So, under the fold, here’s the list of amendments that the House is currently considering. All links to amendment text are PDFs, and all descriptions come from the sponsors of the amendment. If you want the full list, the Rules Committee Democrats have you covered.

(more…)

H.R. 1540, the FY2012 Defense Authorization bill

Goobergunch @ 14:05 CT
Posted in: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, Conservation, Foreign Affairs, GPR Live, Hospitals and Asylums, Navigation and Navigable Waters, Providing for the General Welfare, Shipping, Transportation, War and National Defense

Today the House is beginning its second day of consideration of H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012. Yesterday, the House finished general debate. Today, it’s going to begin work on a good 152 amendments.

The Defense Authorization Act is an annual bill that sets spending levels and defense policy for the next fiscal year. This year’s House bill has a few especially troubling provisions, such as section 533, which requires each of the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs to sign off on DADT repeal before it could be implemented, section 1034, an vast expansion of the authorization of military force, section 1039, which prevents transfers of Guantanamo detainees to the United States, and section 1055, which limits the President’s ability to comply with New START.

H.R. 1540 was reported by the House Armed Services Committee on May 11, with only Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) voting against it. Yesterday, the White House indicated [PDF] that while it supported House passage of H.R. 1540, President Obama would likely not sign the final bill unless a number of the more offensive provisions were excluded.

If you want more details on the bill, check out the legislative text or the committee report. (Be advised that the report is written by House Republicans.)

A few notes on how the floor consideration process will work:

  • The House isn’t expected to get through all 152 amendments today. (And for that matter, not all of the amendments will be offered.) Amendment consideration will conclude tomorrow, and then we’ll have the vote on final passage.
  • Each amendment gets 10 minutes of debate — 5 for, and 5 against. (Unless the amendment is non-controversial, in which case it just gets 10 minutes of praise.)
  • Either party’s Armed Services Committee leadership can move an “en bloc amendment” consisting of a bunch of amendments that are considered together to save time. Those get 20 minutes of debate.

So, under the fold, here’s the list of amendments that the House is considering. All links to amendment text are PDFs, and all descriptions come from the sponsors of the amendment. To save space, I’m going to try to only stay about ten to fifteen amendments ahead of where the House is right now. If you want the full list, the Rules Committee Democrats have you covered.

(more…)

8 April 2011

Seventh Continuing Resolution

Goobergunch @ 22:16 CT
Posted in: Appropriations, GPR Live

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tells us:

  • There will be a short-term continuing resolution through Thursday Friday. It will contain $2 billion in spending cuts.
  • The final omnibus appropriations bill will contain $78.5 billion dollars in cuts below the President’s FY2011 budget. That’s about $40 billion in cuts from FY2010.

To my knowledge, the legislative text of the continuing resolution at vote now is not yet publicly available.

[23:18 EDT]: Bill passes the Senate as amended.

[0:00 EDT]: The House still hasn’t convened, and the timer hits zero. The government is technically shut down at this time, but it shouldn’t have any practical impact.

[0:02 EDT]: House convenes.

[0:05 EDT]: The House is starting twenty minutes of debate on the short-term continuing resolution.

[0:13 EDT]: All time is yielded back. The House is now voting on the short-term resolution. I still have no idea what the $2 billion in cuts are.

[0:24 EDT]: A staffer in my Congressman’s office helpfully pointed me to the text of tonight’s legislation. It looks like most of tonight’s $2 billion come from transportation funds.

[0:40 EDT]: Bill passes the House, 348-70. 42 Democrats and 28 Republicans voted against it.

[0:43 EDT]: The bill is now enrolled and goes to the President for his signature. I’ll add a week back onto the government shutdown clock momentarily.

[1:20 EDT]: Here’s a summary table of the $2.171 billion cut tonight:

Budget Item FY 2010 funds FY 2011 funds Total Cut
Transportation Planning, Research, and Development $16,168,000 $9,800,000 $6,368,000
FAA Facilities and Equipment $2,936,203,000 $2,927,500,000 $8,703,000
FAA Research, Engineering, and Development $190,500,000 $187,000,000 $3,500,000
Capital Assistance for High Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail $2,500,000,000 $1,000,000,000 $1,500,000,000
Railroad Research and Development $37,613,000 $35,100,000 $2,513,000
Federal Transit Administration: Capital Investment Grants $2,000,000,000 $1,720,000,000 $280,000,000
Federal Transit Administration: Research and University Research Centers $65,670,000 $64,200,000 $1,470,000
Public Housing Operating Fund $4,775,000,000 $4,626,000,000 $149,000,000
Community Development Fund $4,450,000,000 $4,230,068,480 $219,931,520
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