Washington Digest: House passes bill to slash spending
WASHINGTON -- The House worked through dozens of amendments last week as it formed a bill that would implement record cuts in federal spending.
The marathon was driven by Republicans, including 87 freshmen who argued they were sent to Washington to reduce the government and they intended to do so.
Just before dawn Saturday, the House voted 235-189 to pass the bill, which would set $1 trillion in spending for the current fiscal year ending Sept. 30. The amount was $61 billion less than current spending with the reductions concentrated on mostly domestic programs and some in the Pentagon. Nevada's congressional delegation split along party lines, with Republicans Joe Heck and Dean Heller voting for the bill and Democrat Shelley Berkley voting against it.
Most amendments sought to cut even further, or to rearrange spending priorities. Along the way, Republicans took aim at familiar targets including President Barack Obama's health care reform, environmental regulations they say are stifling the economy and programs like Planned Parenthood.
The fate of the bill is far from settled. The Senate has yet to act on the legislation, with Democratic leaders in that body charging the Republican-controlled House cut too much and in many of the wrong places.
A government shutdown looms if some resolution is not reached by March 4.
Among the House votes:
■ In the first major vote on defense spending this year, lawmakers stripped $450 million for an alternative engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a cut endorsed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
The vote was a showdown between primary engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, and General Electric, whose secondary engine contract the Obama administration said could be terminated. Both companies had congressional allies in districts where they or their subcontractors have factories.
The vote was 233-198 to remove the GE funding. Berkley, Heck and Heller all voted against the cut.
■ The House shifted $298 million from NASA to the Community Oriented Policing Services program that had been targeted for termination. The COPS program sends grants to local law enforcement agencies to hire officers and buy equipment. The vote was 228-203. Berkley, Heller and Heck voted to shift the funding.
■ A vote to reduce funding for the National Endowment for the Arts by $20.1 million passed 217-209. Heller and Heck voted for the cut. Berkley voted against it.
■ Republicans aimed again at the health care reform law, propelling several amendments aimed at cutting off funding for its implementation. All passed, although they may be stripped out in the Senate. An amendment by Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., would prevent the Labor and Health and Human Services departments from using federal funds to put programs in place passed, 239-197, with Heck and Heller voting for it and Berkley voting against it.
■ An amendment by Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., to deny federal funding to Planned Parenthood of America or its affiliates was passed 240-185. Pence charged the group was "the largest abortion provider in America," while opponents said it would prevent the group from offering other forms of health care for women. Opponents also said the amendment was unconstitutional because it singles out a specific and identifiable entity for punitive action. Heck and Heller voted to deny federal funding to Planned Parenthood. Berkley voted in defense of the organization.
■ Voting 281-148, the House defeated an amendment that would have banned the military from sponsoring NASCAR teams. The services spend about $30 million on the Sprint Cup circuit, including the Army's sponsorship of Ryan Newman's No. 39 Chevrolet and the National Guard's relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr. The Pentagon defended the spending, saying last year it generated 46,000 leads for recruiters. Berkley, Heck and Heller voted to allow NASCAR spending to continue.
Aviation bill passes
The Senate passed a bill that would update federal aviation policies. A key feature would allow the Federal Aviation Administration to modernize the nation's air traffic control system.
The bill would finance some of the improvements by increasing a tax on jet fuel by 65 percent, from 22 cents per gallon to 36 cents per gallon.
A thorny dispute was resolved when senators compromised on allowing airlines a dozen additional lucrative round trips each day from Western states into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and another four could be added after further study.
The vote for the bill was 87-8. Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., voted for the bill.
The bill would retain "essential air service" subsidies for commercial airlines that fly unprofitable routes to remote communities.
An amendment by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to end the subsidies was defeated 61-38. Ensign voted for the amendment while Reid voted against it.
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau
Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault
@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.
