This is a bill so huge, you should fear its wrath if you don’t support it.

It’s “The MEGA.”

Congressional staff put a surprising amount of time and effort into naming their bills in clever ways. If the title of the bill can be made to spell something clever, the bill will be more likely to pass and better for the country, right? (Like the USA-PATRIOT Act!)

So this one’s called “The MEGA.” That stands for Metro Economies Green Act. It’s a name that doesn’t actually mean anything, but it’s probably about some environmental something.

BUT YOU MUST FEAR IT! FEAR THE MEGA AND SUPPORT IT!

Here’s the current vote on the MEGA. Click to vote, comment, learn more, fear the MEGA, or edit the wiki article about the bill.

I wrote here six weeks ago about how the telecommunications subsidy programs run by the Federal Communications Commission were poorly run and subject to waste, fraud, and abuse.

Well, evidently, the FCC got the message and has cleaned up its act! Or started to . . . . Or at least they did something.

Today, the agency has debarred a Mr. George Marchelos from from the schools and libraries universal service support program (often called the “E-Rate program”) for three years. Marchelos was recently convicted of participating in schemes to defraud the E-Rate program and of engaging in bid rigging on E-Rate projects for certain school districts. (Here’s a look at part of his indictment.) He must be devastated that he can’t rig bids or defraud this particular corner of the government for a whole three years.

Interestingly, Marchelos was a witness at a congressional hearing on problems with the e-rate program back in 2004. (The House Commerce Committee says his testimony will be online “as soon as possible after the conclusion of the hearing,” which evidently is something more than three years.)

So you can go ahead and pay your telephone taxes again with the confidence of knowing that waste, fraud, and abuse have been squeezed out of this program - ummm, for three years at least.

Debate is running fast and furious on H.R. 5924, The Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act. The bill would increase the number of nurses and physical therapists that are allowed to immigrate into the country.

The bill apparently responds to a shortage of nurses in the country, but there are many commenters who don’t trust foreign nurses, assuming their poor language skills or training, or perhaps wishing to keep them out because they could lower the wages of U.S. nurses. From what little I know, we could use more nurses in the country, and concerns with language or training are for the hospitals and health systems that might hire them to worry about - not for the immigration laws to take care of.

One of the people who seems not to like the idea of immigrant nurses is a commenter identified as “Sam.” Sam’s jab at foreign nurses is a pretty good joke. But maybe it’s inappropriate. Depends on the spirit in which it’s intended, I suppose. Here it is:

The Immigration Officer said, “Sindhu, you have passed all the tests so far, there is only one test left. Unless you pass it you cannot stay in the United States of America. Make a sentence using the words, Yellow, Pink and Green.”

Sindhu said, “The telephone goes green, green, green, and I pink it up, and say, ‘Yellow, this is Sindhu.”’

Make your own judgement about the joke. And make your own judgement about whether we should have more nurses in the country. Here’s the current vote on H.R. 5924, The Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act. Click to vote, comment, learn more, or edit the wiki article about the bill:

A little over a month ago, I wrote here about the debate on oil speculation.

One of the commenters on S. 3268, The Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act of 2008 had pointed to a Web site called Stop Oil Speculation Now. I speculated (ahem) that this commenter might be a spinmeister for that campaign.

Whatever the case, now there’s a Web site on the other side. The Airline Oil Spin is its name, and it says:

The U.S. Airline Industry is wracked with problems. And the airline industry is working hard to pin all of those problems on “oil speculators,” by creating pseudo-grassroots campaigns like their recent effort to push legislation to stop some kinds of oil speculation.

The airlines “are currently engaged in the buying and selling of ‘paper contracts’ for jet fuel through their extensive fuel hedging programs,” this site says. Airlines are speculators themselves.

Now, The Airline Oil Spin links to a site called How Was Your Flight? that highlights problems with the airlines. How Was Your Flight? is a project of the Reaching Higher Coalition, which is “a coalition of community groups, clergy, elected leaders, and airport workers represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) United Service Workers West.”

Well, we have quite a selection of Web sites to root through, and we’re better off for having them, even if they’re all trying to spin us. Through the spin and counter-spin, we’ll learn a little bit and be in a better position to decide what we think.

I, for one, remain convinced that “oil speculation” is a bugaboo that we really shouldn’t be worried by. Buying and selling of futures contracts in commodities like oil helps to spread risk and smooth out supply and demand. Fast recent rises in the price of oil reflect uncertainty about where oil is going to come from, uncertainty caused by war and political instability in places like Iraq and Venezuela. And it’s caused by increasing consumption in countries with growing economies like China and India. Going after “speculators” is sort of shooting the messenger. (This is an opinion I concealed oh-so-cleverly in my earlier post.)

The debate continues. Here’s the vote on S. 3268, The Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act of 2008. Click to vote, comment, learn more, or edit the wiki article about the bill.

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email newsletter | tell a friend | wiki | about | home | log in On the WashingtonWatch.com Blog Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) will be Senator Barack Obama’s (D-IL) vice presidential candidate. A post on the WashingtonWatch.com blog called “Senator Biden’s Priorities” takes a look at the legislative work of Senator Biden. Featured Items Congress continues its August recess and will not return to Washington for a couple more weeks. This week, the Democratic party convention in Denver will complete the process of selecting that party’s presidential nominee. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) has indicated that his vice presidential candidate will be Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE). Biden has been in the U.S. Senate for 35 years and has been an active legislator in the current Congress. We took a look at his overall record on the WashingtonWatch.com blog, and will examine a few key bills here. A significant bill Biden introduced that has been passed into law is the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. The law will spend about $300 per U.S. family on assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. (It was the House version that passed, but Biden sponsored it in the Senate.) Biden also sponsored the Recidivism Reduction and Second Chance Act of 2007. The law continues a grant program to assist criminal offenders as they reenter their communities after serving their time. The law costs about $3.50 per U.S. family. A bill Biden has introduced that has not yet passed is S. 3168, the International Development Association Replenishment Act of 2008. The bill would contribute funds to the International Development Association. The IDA is a part of the World Bank that provides long-term, interest-free loans to the world’s 80 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. The spending amounts to just under $34 per U.S. family. S. 2731 The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 Costs $298.60 per family S. 1060 The Recidivism Reduction and Second Chance Act of 2007 Costs $3.49 per family S. 3168 The International Development Association Replenishment Act of 2008 Costs $33.81 per family What People Think The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 31% For, 69% Against Vote on this Bill The Recidivism Reduction and Second Chance Act of 2007 71% For, 29% Against Vote on this Bill The International Development Association Replenishment Act of 2008 45% For, 55% Against Vote on this Bill Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family. New Items H.R. 263 The Cybersecurity Education Enhancement Act of 2007 Costs $0.09 per family S. 3341 The Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2008 Costs $2.17 per family S. 1933 The Small Community Drinking Water Funding Act Costs $26.32 per family S. 952 A bill to amend the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental and Native American Public Policy Act of 1992 to provide funds for training in tribal leadership, management, and policy, and for other purposes Costs $0.04 per family H.R. 5743 The Scientific Transformations through Advancing Research (STAR) Act Costs $0.00 per family S. 3155 The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008 Costs $19.51 per family H.R. 6339 The Federal Employees Deserve to Volunteer on the Elections Act of 2008 Costs $0.73 per family H.R. 6524 To authorize the Administrator of General Services to take certain actions with respect to parcels of real property located in Eastlake, Ohio, and Koochiching County, Minnesota, and for other purposes Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 6159 The Deafy Glade Land Exchange Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 6580 The Hubbard Act Costs $0.05 per family S. 3362 The SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2008 Costs $1.87 per family Updated Items H.R. 404 The Federal Customer Service Enhancement Act Costs $0.55 per family   Passed Items none   email newsletter | tell a friend | wiki | about | home | privacy | contact | log in WashingtonWatch.com P.O. Box 77576 Washington, D.C. 20013

Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) will be Senator Barack Obama’s (D-IL) running mate. A Bloomberg story says the Biden pick is “aimed at addressing questions about Obama’s inexperience on international affairs, his biggest vulnerability against [Republican presidential candidate Senator John] McCain.”

Let’s take a look at Senator Biden’s legislative priorities. (Disclosure: I was a college intern in Senator Biden’s personal office in the fall of 1988.)

So far in the current Congress, Biden has introduced 37 bills, mostly dealing with foreign affairs and criminal justice issues. Of those, nine have passed into law, either directly or as part of other legislation. (This analysis does include amendments or symbolic resolutions, and relies on the Thomas legislative database for incorporation of bills into passed legislation.)

Listed below are bills that Senator Biden has introduced and that have been passed into law, followed by the bills he has introduced but that have not been passed into law.

PASSED INTO LAW

S. 676 became Public Law 110-38
A bill to provide that the Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank or the Alternate Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank may serve on the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1060
The Recidivism Reduction and Second Chance Act of 2007
Costs $3.49 per family
was passed as The Second Chance Act of 2007, Public Law 110-199

S. 1709
The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2007
was passed as The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, Public Law 110-229.

S. 2106 became P.L. 110-113
The Procedural Fairness for September 11 Victims Act of 2007

S. 2257
The Burma Democracy Promotion Act of 2007
was pased as The Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2007, Public Law 110-286.

S. 2565 became P.L. 110-298
The Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2007
Costs $0.01 per family

S. 2731
The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008
Costs $298.60 per family
was passed as The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, Law 110-293.

S. 3218 became Public Law 110-296
The Criminal History Background Checks Pilot Extension Act of 2008

S. 3370 became Public Law 110-301
The Libyan Claims Resolution Act

INTRODUCED BILLS

S. 345
The Homeland Security Trust Fund Act of 2007

S. 368
The COPS Improvements Act of 2007
Costs $1.72 per family

S. 392
A bill to ensure payment of United States assessments for United Nations peacekeeping operations for the 2005 through 2008 time period
Costs $1.59 per family

S. 449
The State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2007

S. 534
The FBI Act of 2007

S. 1011
The Recognizing Addiction as a Disease Act of 2007
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1044
The Effective Care for the Armed Forces and Veterans Act of 2007

S. 1055
The American Automobile Industry Promotion Act of 2007

S. 1399
The College Affordability and Creating Chances for Educational Success for Students Act of 2007

S. 1467
A bill to establish an establish an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Demonstration Program

S. 1515
The National Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network Act

S. 1562
The Fluorescent Lightbulb Implementation Program to Save Americans Value and Energy

S. 1565
The Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2007
Saves $0.52 per family

S. 1684
The Return of Talent Act

S. 1687
The Global Pathogen Surveillance Act of 2007
Costs $0.98 per family

S. 1711
The Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007

S. 1738
The Combating Child Exploitation Act of 2007
Costs $4.91 per family

S. 1839
A bill to require periodic reports on claims related to acts of terrorism against Americans perpetrated or supported by the Government of Libya
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1876
The National Security with Justice Act of 2007

S. 2230
The Nursing Education Opportunities Act

S. 2237
The Crime Control and Prevention Act of 2007

S. 2274
The Dextromethorphan Abuse Reduction Act of 2007

S. 2279
The International Violence Against Women Act of 2007

S. 2349
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation Reauthorization Act of 2007

S. 2495
The Bail Bond Fairness Act of 2007

S. 2756
The Child Protection Improvements Act of 2008
Costs $0.09 per family

S. 3024
The Eurasia Foundation Act
Costs $0.26 per family

S. 3052
The Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2008
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 3061
The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008

S. 3103
The International Space Station Payments Act of 2008

S. 3136
The FIND Act

S. 3168
The International Development Association Replenishment Act of 2008
Costs $33.81 per family

S. 3169
A bill to authorize United States participation in, and appropriations for the United States contribution to, the eleventh replenishment of the resources of the African Development Fund
Costs $4.21 per family

S. 3245
The Justice Integrity Act of 2008

S. 3263
The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2008

S. 3273
The International Clean Development Technology Fund Act of 2008

S. 3351
The Drug Trafficking Interdiction Assistance Act of 2008

S. 3433
The Iraq Security Agreement Act of 2008

What do avocadoes have to do with national security? Nothing!

One of the things the federal government is supposed to be doing is protecting the nation. One of the things the federal government is not supposed to be doing is marketing avocadoes.

But there it is, looking after the marketing of avocadoes grown in southern Florida.

In a Federal Register announcement out this morning, the Agricultural Marketing Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is initiating a referendum among producers of avocadoes in south Florida to see if they want the marketing order regulating the handling of their avocadoes to continue.

What are marketing orders? According to the USDA:

Federal marketing orders are locally administered by committees made up of growers and/or handlers, and often a member of the public. Marketing order regulations, initiated by industry and enforced by USDA, bind the entire industry in the geographical area regulated if approved by producers and the Secretary of Agriculture.

What that means is that everybody producing a crop in a certain area has to pay in to a marketing and promotion fund for uses dictated by the majority of producers in that area. Big agribusinesses get to force the small ones to pay for programs that benefit the big agribusinesses because they’re usually the majority of producers and they set the rules. Result? Less competition and less variety in the crops that come to market.

The Agriculture Marketing Service is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is funded by the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The Senate version of this bill is S. 3289.

Here’s the current vote on the bill. Click to vote, comment, learn more, or edit the wiki article about the bill.

Though Congress is away for the month, the Congressional Budget Office is not. CBO is the source for most of the cost estimates we use to report the cost (and occasionally savings) of legislation, and it continues its work even during the dog days of summer (- which haven’t been all that bad this year, by the way!).

Here are the bills most recently analyzed by CBO, and thus reported to you here on WashingtonWatch.com with their cost per family, per person, etc.

H.R. 263
The Cybersecurity Education Enhancement Act of 2007
Costs $0.09 per family

S. 3341
The Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2008
Costs $2.15 per family

H.R. 404
The Federal Customer Service Enhancement Act
Costs $0.55 per family

S. 1933
The Small Community Drinking Water Funding Act
Costs $26.27 per family

If you want to see all bills as their cost estimates come out - it’s a decent sign that they’re moving - you can use the Cost/Savings RSS feed.

Don’t know what RSS is? Learn more here.

Yeah, I had never heard of him either, but the American Trucking Associations today announced its support for H.R. 6709, the National Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act - and they brought along professional truck driver Tony Sifford!

Tony is a driver for FedEx Ground out of Hillsville, Virginia, and he’s involved in various good causes around trucking (most of which appear to be sponsored by the ATA). Tony looks like a nice guy.

And he joined Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas) at ATA’s National Truck Driving Championships in Houston, Texas - now that’s a good time! - to say good things about the bill.

According to the ATA, it calls for domestic oil drilling, tax incentives, and alternative energy research to bring down the price of fuel.

Tony Sifford is for it. How could you not be?

It’s an interesting commentary on policymaking that having a truck driver endorse a bill is supposed to tell us that the bill is good. I look to truck drivers for knowing how to drive a rig, where to get good grub on the road, and the trucking business, but - no disrespect to all the solid, professional truck drivers - I have no idea what this truck driver can contribute to our knowledge of the economics, science, or business of energy. (Though I might hear it from all the drivers debating the proposed TRUCC Act.)

Here’s the current vote on H.R. 6709, the National Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act. Click to vote, comment, learn more, or edit the wiki article about the bill.

Last week, I wrote here about Congress passing through 10,000 introduced bills even while the annual spending process goes neglected.

Now the Wall Street Journal has picked up the story, coming at it from a slightly different angle. The story is called “As U.S. Economic Problems Loom, House, Senate Sweat the Small Stuff,” and reporter Elizabeth Williamson points out how many symbolic resolutions have been introduced in Congress while the real work of government goes by the wayside.

The 110th Congress, whose term officially ends in January, hasn’t passed any spending bills or attacked high gasoline prices. But it has used its powers to celebrate watermelons and to decree the origins of the word “baseball.”

Williamson’s story emphasizes the small number of bills that have been passed into law, but counting laws is not an appropriate measurement of Congress’ work. A small number of high quality laws would be much better than numerous junk laws.

But like the 10,000 bills post, the story highlights the fact that Congress hasn’t taken care of its basic responsibilities.

Congress, which won’t return to session until September, has yet to pass any 2009 appropriations bills, even though funding the federal budget is its official function. Before leaving town for summer break in August, lawmakers failed to establish August as Heat Stroke Awareness Month, blowing the deadline to make it official.

Now, you won’t find the Heat Stroke Awareness Month resolution or the “we love watermelon” resolution here on WashingtonWatch.com. We have them in our database, but generally don’t display the symbolic bills. The 10,000 bills I wrote about are all substantive and not the symbolic stuff featured in the WSJ story.

But the point is the same. Congress is frittering away its time, while its basic responsibilities are going neglected.