Washington Digest: House Republicans stumble over process

WASHINGTON -- Two bills that Republican leaders expected would sail through the U.S. House ran aground last week.

Despite large majorities in support, the House failed to extend expiring portions of the Patriot Act. Lawmakers also did not pass a bill to recover $179 million in excess payments to the United Nations. Both bills required a two-thirds majority to pass under fast track or "suspension rules."

Democrats said the Republican stumbles suggested new leaders were not ready for prime time.

"We're not going to be perfect every day," responded House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. "We've been in the majority four weeks."

Patriot Act

The House voted 277-148 in favor of extending three provisions of the Patriot Act that would otherwise expire at the end of the month.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and Attorney General Eric Holder asked Congress to extend the provisions, saying they are critical tools in collecting sensitive intelligence.

"It is common sense to give our national security investigators the same tools to fight terrorists that our police officers have to combat crime," said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., opposed the bill, saying it went well beyond a simple extension of the expiring provisions in that it would give government investigators sweeping and unfettered access to a person's private records and communications.

Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Joe Heck, R-Nev., voted in favor. Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., opposed it.

The House will take another vote on Monday under rules that require only a simple majority for passage.

U.N. Excess Funding

The House voted 259-169 to compel the United Nations to return $179 million that the U.S. government overpaid to the organization's "Tax Equalization Fund."

Republicans argued that the $179 million is owed to U.S. taxpayers and should be retrieved. But Democrats said the State Department obligated $100 million to upgrade security around the U.N. headquarters in New York City.
The Obama administration wants the remaining $80 million to be used against future U.N. payments.

Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, said the State Department was not authorized by Congress to obligate the $100 million and as a matter of "basic honesty" should take the funding out of its own budget.

Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., criticized the bill saying it is "radical, irresponsible, and reckless" to take money from security upgrades.

Heck and Heller voted in favor of the bill. Berkley opposed it.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau reporter Peter Urban at purban@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.