Constitutional Law

CapHill Round-Up: 3/9/09

A slew of attempted amendments to the D.C. Voting Rights Act and the Omnibus Appropriations Bill make these two issues the top of the agenda on Capitol Hill this week once again. The battles over these bills are likely to overshadow busy schedules in both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

In the HOUSE

Though there is not vote yet scheduled, the D.C. Voting Rights Act looms over the House this week. However, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) warns that a quick vote should not be expected. A critical hurdle to giving D.C. a voting representative in the House was cleared last week when the Senate voted for the bill 62-34. However, the Senate version of the bill included an amendment to weaken D.C.'s gun safety laws.

House leaders count 190 solid votes in favor of passing the bill without watering down gun safety laws in the District – 28 fewer than needed to send it back to the Senate without amendments. Despite having a significantly increased majority in the House, The Washington Post reports that Democrats have picked up many seats largely from 'rural conservative-leaning regions,' where representatives may become electorally vulnerable for standing up to National Rifle Association.

Also, House Education and Labor Committee Chair George Miller (D-Calif.) may introduce the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) this week. Among other things, the anticipated struggle over the EFCA will focus on whether organizers should be able to unionize a workplace by petition, bypassing open elections. ACS is hosting an expert discussion on the legislation this Wed., March 13 at the National Press Club, for which you can register now. (Video of the panel will soon be available at www.ACSLaw.org.)

In the SENATE

Tempers soared after the Senate failed to pass the Omnibus Appropriations Bill last week. Now, after scores of attempted amendments to the bill, it looks likely to pass the Senate this week, funding a number of government services. After passage, any Senate alterations to the bill will force reconsideration by the House.

If the Senate can pass the Omnibus bill this week, it is expected to take up the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which the House passed Thursday.

Full post as published by ACS Blog on March 09, 2009 (boomark / email).