Tuesday, March 14, 2006

5:05 Senate Does Not Agree To Bingaman Energy Amendment By a vote of 46-54, the Bingaman amendment was not agreed to. 5:07:00 PM

4:39 Akaka Amendment Not Agreed To This amendment provides $1.5 billion for veterans', including support for returning veterans, funding veterans’ centers and mental health care services. The funds are paid for by closing certain corporate tax loopholes. By a vote of 46-54, the Akaka amendment was not agreed to. The next vote is on the Bingaman amendment. 4:40:10 PM

4:20 Burns Amendment Agreed To By a vote of 100-0, the Burns amendment was agreed to.  Senators are now debating the Akaka amendment. 4:20:34 PM

4:10 Senate Now Voting on Burns Amendment The Senate is now voting on an amendment offered by Senator Burns that would increase funding for Veterans health programs, but includes an across the board cut. 4:10:11 PM

4:00 Chafee Amendment Agreed to By Voice Vote The Senate passed the Chafee amendment by voice vote. 4:01:23 PM

3:56 Kennedy Amendment Not Agreed To By a vote of 50-50, the Kennedy amendment was not agreed to.  Senators are now considering the Chafee amendment.  This amendment would increase funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by $2 billion.  Senator Conrad argued that because the amendment also includes an across the board cut and is paid for by a section of the budget that has no money, the amendment would not provide additional funding for IDEA. 4:00:29 PM

3:35 Talent Amendment Agreed to By Voice Vote; Senators Now Voting on Education Amendment Senators agreed to the Talent amendment by voice vote.  Senators are now voting on an amendment offered by Senators Kennedy and Collins.  This amendment would restore $6.3 billion in funding for higher education and vocational education programs such as Gear Up and TRIO cut in the President's FY07 budget.  The amendment would also increase the maximum Pell Grant to $4,500. 3:40:13 PM

3:35 PAYGO Amendment Not Agreed To By a vote of 50-50, the PAYGO amendment was not agreed to.  Senators are now debating the next amendment - the Talent amendment. 3:35:17 PM

3:15 Senate Voting on PAYGO Amendment The first roll call vote in a series of 7 votes has just begun.  The Senate is currently voting on an amendment offered by Senators Conrad and Feingold.  The “PAYGO” amendment requires that all mandatory spending bills and tax cut bills garner the support of 60 Senators for passage. 3:16:50 PM

3:05 Senator Bingaman Adds Energy Amendment An unexpected seventh roll call vote has been added to the stack of roll call votes scheduled to begin momentarily.  Senator Bingaman plans to offer an amendment to fully fund the energy bill passed last year, known as the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  The amendment would also add an additional $500 million for LIHEAP funding and extend by 4 years the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit and Clean Renewable Energy bonds. 3:08:08 PM

2:45 Senator Cantwell Offers Meth Amendment As the 3PM scheduled vote-a-rama grows closer, Senators have rushed to speak on amendments they plan to offer to the budget resolution.  Senator Maria Cantwell spoke on an amendment she is offering to combat the Meth problem in this country.  The program, known as the Meth Hot Spots Program, trains state and local law enforcement to investigate and convict meth offenders and was cut by 23.5% in the President’s FY07 budget request.  Senator Cantwell’s amendment would increase funding by $59 million to $99 million.  Senator Cantwell justified the funding by reminding Senators that the Patriot Act, passed by the Senate just last week, asks for this same amount. 3:01:42 PM

1:00 Debate on Veterans Funding and Special Education The Senate has been debating two different proposals dealing with veterans funding, one offered by Senator Akaka of Hawaii, the other by Senator Burns of Montana.  Prior to the debate on veterans funding, Senator Chafee of Rhode Island came to the Floor to discuss an amendment he has offered to increase funding for special education. 1:17:04 PM

12:00 Senate Now Debating Kennedy Amendment on Education Funding The Senate has turned to the consideration of an amendment championed by Senator Kennedy on education funding.  Senator Kennedy's amendment would restore $6.3 billion in funding for higher education and vocational education programs such as Gear Up and TRIO.  The amendment also increases the Pell Grant maximum award to $4,500.  12:03:50 PM

10:15 Senate Debates PAYGO Amendment For approximately the last hour, the Senate has been debating the PAYGO amendment introduced by Senator Conrad. This amendment states that all mandatory spending and tax cuts that increase the deficit must be paid for or require a supermajority of 60 votes in the Senate. The Chairman of the Budget Committee, Senator Gregg, strongly opposes this amendment, which he believes is a "stocking horse" for a tax increase.  10:24:43 AM

9:30 In Committee News The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing this morning on consolidation in the oil and gas industry to examine gas prices and oil industry profits. The Committee will hear testimony from the CEOs of ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP America, Valero, and ConocoPhillips.   9:36:41 AM

9:10 Senate Reconvenes The Senate convened at 9:00 this morning.  Debate on S.Con.Res. 83, the Budget Resolution will dominate today's business.  Multiple roll call votes are expected to occur this afternoon on amendments pending to the Budget Resolution. There are forty hours of debate remaining on this bill. 9:12:53 AM