Hill Watching, May 22nd, 2008 -

Things were wrapping up before Memorial Day recess Thursday, a lot of work done on the Farm Bill, the '09 budget, the '08 supplemental war funding bill.

In the Senate, Sen. Lautenberg introduced a bill to help those soldiers struggling financially through stop-loss:

By Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. CASEY, and Mr. MENENDEZ):
S. 3060. A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to require the payment of monthly special pay for members of the uniformed services whose service on active duty is extended by a stop-loss order or similar mechanism, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services. Source GPO: [S4792]

On the House side, an interesting bill involving trade agreements. When a bill is subject to 'Point of Order', any member may raise a point of order if they feel a rule has been breached, thus requiring a 60% vote for that bill to pass.

By Mr. DEFAZIO (for himself, Mr. TAYLOR, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. MELANCON, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. HINCHEY, Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas, Ms. WOOLSEY, and Mr. HARE):
H.R. 6148. A bill to make bills implementing trade agreements subject to a point of order unless certain conditions are met, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Source GPO: [H4830]