Medical Marijuana - Co-Sponsor List is Growing: July 12, 2009

Barney Frank offered this bill last year and was the sole sponsor. Several months later, he introduces the bill again - this time with 12 co-sponsors...and bi-partisan support. The tides may be shifting.

By Mr. FRANK (D-MA)(for himself, Mr. BLUMENAUER (D-OR), Mr. FARR (D-CA), Mr. MCDERMOTT (D-WA), Mr. PAUL (R-TX), Ms. WOOLSEY (D-CA) , Mr. ROHRABACHER (R-CA), Mr. GRIJALVA (D-AZ) Mr. THOMPSON (D-CA), Mr. GEORGE MILLER (D-GA), Mr. STARK (D-CA), Mr. HINCHEY (D-NY), Mr. OLVER (D-MA) and Ms. BALDWIN (D-WI)):

H.R. 2835. A bill to provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Ceiling Fans, Films and Working Abroad for Child Support - June 4, 2009

Been quite a while - a few odd bills introduced in June 4th, 2009 - 2 seems pretty special interest oriented and the third makes me wonder what circumstances arose that triggered the need for the bill.

By Mr. CROWLEY (D-NY):
H.R. 2719. A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on certain ceiling fans; to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. CROWLEY (D-NY) (for himself and Mr. DREIER (R-CA)):
H.R. 2720. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the election to treat the cost of qualified film and television productions as an expense which is not chargeable to capital account; to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. GERLACH (R-PA) :
H.R. 2723. A bill to amend the Social Security Act to provide for an exemption to allow an individual otherwise ineligible to travel outside the United States to do so for employment purposes to pay child support arrearages, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.

Credit Card Ratings, Child Marriage, Tax on Single-Use Bags and Selecting Programs Your Taxes Go To

Here are several interesting bills from the last week:

This first one seems like a pretty good idea - coming up with standard rating system from credit cards to help consumers weed out the shady card companies.

By Mr. WYDEN (D-OR):
S. 900. A bill to require the establishment of a credit card safety star rating system for the benefit of consumers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.


Another good idea to treat physical activities same as medical care in terms of tax and credits.

By Mr. KIND (D-WI) (Mr. BRADY (R-TX), Mr. BLUMENAUER (D-OR), and Mr. WAMP (R-TN):
H.R. 2105. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat certain amounts paid for physical activity, fitness, and exercise as amounts paid for medical care; to the Committee on Ways and Means.


Interesting bill with good motive, but how the heck would we be able to enforce?

By Ms. MCCOLLUM (D-MN) (for herself, Mrs. CAPPS (D-CA), Ms. CORRINE BROWN (D-FL), Ms. JACKSON-LEE (D-TX), Mr. OBERSTAR (D-MN), Ms. LEE (D-CA), Mrs. MALONEY (D-NY), Ms. WATSON (D-CA), Mrs. TAUSCHER (D-CA), Mr. HONDA (D-CA), Mr. HINCHEY (D-NY), Mr. MOORE (D-KS), Mr. MCGOVERN (D-MA), Mr. BISHOP (D-GA), Mr. MORAN (D-VA), Mr. ELLISON (D-MN), Mr. FILNER (D-CA), Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (D-TX), Ms. DELAURO (D-CA), Mr. CARNAHAN (D-MO), Mr. FARR (D-CA), Ms. ESHOO (D-CA), Mr. MCNERNEY (D-CA), Ms. SCHAKOWSKY (D-IL), Mr. WALZ (D-MN), Mr. CROWLEY (D-NY), Mr. HASTINGS (D-FL), and Ms. MOORE (D-WI)):
H.R. 2103. A bill to protect girls in developing countries through the prevention of child marriage, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.


I imagine the environmentalists will love this bill:

By Mr. MORAN (D-VA):
H.R. 2091. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a retail tax on single-use carryout bags, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.


Finally, I don't see this bill going anywhere - basically opens the door to each person deciding what they put their tax dollar to.

By Mr. LEWIS (D-GA) (for himself, Mr. OBERSTAR (D-MN), Mr. ELLISON (D-MN), Mr. STARK (D-CA), Mr. MCDERMOTT (D-WA), Mr. PAYNE (D-NJ), Mr. RUSH (D-NJ), Mr. FATTAH (D-PA), Ms. BALDWIN (D-WI), Mr. MCGOVERN (D-MA), and Mr. HOLT (D-NJ)):
H.R. 2085. A bill to affirm the religious freedom of taxpayers who are conscientiously opposed to participation in war, to provide that the income, estate, or gift tax payments of such taxpayers be used for nonmilitary purposes, to create the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund to receive such tax payments, to improve revenue collection, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Test Message Spam & Industrial Hemp - April 2009

The U.S. Congress is still on recess and return next Monday, April 20th. Here are two bills introduced before they left on recess that caught my eye.

I am all for both of these pieces of legislation and am happy to see both have bipartisan support:

By Ms. SNOWE (R-ME) (for herself and Mr. NELSON (D-FL)):

S. 788. A bill to prohibit unsolicited mobile text message spam; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Source GPO Page: S4309)



By Mr. PAUL (R-TX) (for himself, Ms. BALDWIN (D-WI), Mr. CLAY (D-MO), Mr. FRANK (D-MA), Mr. GRIJALVA (D-AZ), Mr. HINCHEY (D-NY), Mr. MCCLINTOCK (R-CA), Mr. GEORGE MILLER (D-CA), Mr. ROHRABACHER (R-CA), Mr. STARK (D-CA) and Ms. WOOLSEY (D-CA)):

H.R. 1866. A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marihuana, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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 Page: H4518)

FDR Docs, Unlawful Entry Aggravated Felons, US Using Other Currency & Alien Students

I definitely need to change the title of this blog. 'Daily' tidbits have become too difficult. I presume things will slow down a little once (if) the 2010 budget passes. This week will be a big step towards its passage.

Here are some bills that stood out to me over past week:

This first one makes me just think....huh? Claims of US to certain FDR docs?

By Mr. SCHUMER:

S. 692. A bill to provide that claims of the United States to certain documents relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt shall be treated as waived and relinquished in certain circumstances; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


Not so sure about this one . Would an illegal cited for something as minor as 'jaywalking' be considered an aggravated felon? Perhaps the purpose of bill meant to speed up deportation by labelling aggravated felonies to all crimes.

By Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida (for herself, Mr. BILBRAY, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. JONES, Mr. CHAFFETZ, Mr. POE of Texas, and Mr. AKIN):

H.R. 1753. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to include in the definition of the term ``aggravated felony'' a criminal violation committed by an alien who unlawfully entered the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary.


Here's a House Joint Resolution. Don't see this ever being an issue, but who knows. It would create constitutional amendment to prohibit US from using another country's currency. I have a few trillion Zimbabwe Dollars burning a hole in my pocket, so I'm still holding out hope.

By Mrs. BACHMANN (for herself, Mr. HENSARLING, Mr. PRICE of Georgia, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. KIRK, Ms. FOXX, Mr. PITTS, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. GINGREY of Georgia, Mr. WAMP, Ms. FALLIN, Mr. FLEMING, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. AKIN, Mr. ISSA, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. PAUL, Mr. CULBERSON, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. JONES, Mr. POSEY, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, and Mr. CONAWAY):

H.J. Res. 41. A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit the President from entering into a treaty or other international agreement that would provide for the United States to adopt as legal tender in the United States a currency issued by an entity other than the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary.


Interesting bill about immigrant students. I have to think there are some horror stories out there that caused this bill to come up.

By Mr. BERMAN (for himself, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mr. NUNES, Mr. POLIS, Mr. CAO, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. CONYERS, and Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida):

H.R. 1751. A bill to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to permit States to determine State residency for higher education purposes and to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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.

Travel to Cuba, Flat Tax, Cell Phone Photo Noise, Dying on Wrong Date, Double Decker Horse Transport & College Football Bowls/Playoffs: Feb 27, 2009

Here are several bills from the past two weeks that have peaked my interest and will likely be controversial.

This first bill would allow travel between US and Cuba:

By Mr. DORGAN (D-ND) (for himself, Mr. ENZI (R-WY), Mr. LUGAR (R-IN), and Mr. DODD (D-CT)):

S. 428. A bill to allow travel between the United States and Cuba; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


This second bill would create a flat tax alternative for paying income tax:

By Mr. BURGESS (R-TX):

H.R. 1040. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide taxpayers a flat tax alternative to the current income tax system; 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.


Here is a bill building off the paranoia of the digital age (most of the paranoia is deserved) - which requires cell phones to make noises when they take photos:

By Mr. KING (R-NY):
H.R. 414. A bill to require mobile phones containing digital cameras to make a sound when a photograph is taken; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.


This next bill is an odd one that can potentially cost folks who die on the wrong day of the month. I wonder why the PA Congressmen jumped on this piece of legislation.:

By Mr. HOLDEN (D-PA) (for himself and Mr. PLATTS (R-PA)):

H.R. 954. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that a monthly insurance benefit thereunder shall be paid for the month in which the recipient dies, subject to a reduction of 50 percent if the recipient dies during the first 15 days of such month, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means.


Ahhh, yes, the ole' double decker horse transport bill:

By Mr. KIRK (R-IL) (for himself, Mr. COHEN (D-TN), and Mr. WHITFIELD (R-KY)):
H.R. 305. A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit the transportation of horses in interstate transportation in a motor vehicle containing 2 or more levels stacked on top of one another; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.


For those of us who are college football fans, these next two are devoted to college football playoffs/bowl games:

By Mr. BARTON (R-TX) (for himself, Mr. RUSH (D-IL), and Mr. MCCAUL (R-TX)):
H.R. 390. A bill to prohibit, as an unfair and deceptive act or practice, the promotion, marketing, and advertising of any post-season NCAA Division I football game as a national championship game unless such game is the culmination of a fair and equitable playoff system; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.


Got to love pushing for playoff system in college football:

By Mr. GARY G. MILLER (R-CA):
H.R. 599. A bill to prohibit the receipt of Federal funds by any institution of higher education with a football team that participates in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, unless the national championship game of such Subdivision is the culmination of a playoff system; to the Committee on Education and Labor.

Electoral College, Cell Phone Pic Sounds and Tax deductions for Parents of Murdered Children - Feb. 5, 2008

I've fallen greatly behind with all the work going on with the recovery package the Senate has been debating this week. The House passed their recovery package last week and the Senate will try and pass theirs this week. After that, the two chambers will need to work out the differences in their packages and then have another vote on a final bill.

Here are some interesting bills from past couple weeks dealing with the Electoral College, cell Phone pic sounds and Tax deductions for parents of murdered children. All 3 are great ideas to me.

By Mr. GENE GREEN (D-TX):
H.J. Res. 9. A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to abolish the electoral college and to provide for the direct popular election of the President and Vice President of the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. KING (R-NY):
H.R. 414. A bill to require mobile phones containing digital cameras to make a sound when a photograph is taken; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

By Mr. POE (R-TX):
H.R. 432. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow parents of murdered children to continue to claim the deduction for the personal exemption with respect to such child; to the Committee on Ways and Means.

First Flurry of Senate Bills of 2009 (111th Congress): Jan 6, 2008

The Senate started the year with a bang, introducing 162 bills and 3 resolutions in their first full day back at work. The House did not introduce any bills yesterday, spending much of the day swearing in Members and electing Members to standing committees.

So below, I've pasted the 1st official bill introduced by Senate for the 111th Congress, as well as 6 other bills of interest:

Here is the 1st official bill introduced in the Senate for the new Congress, which deals with President-elect Obama's and the Congress' first priority of the new year - the economic recovery package:

By Mr. REID (D-NV) (for himself, Mr. LEVIN (D-MI), Mr. KERRY (D-MA), Mr. KENNEDY (D-MA), Mr. BEGICH (D-AK), Mrs. BOXER (D-CA), Mr. DURBIN (D-IL), Mr. MENENDEZ (D-NJ), Mr. BINGAMAN (D-NM), Mr. CASEY (D-PA), Mr. LAUTENBERG (D-NJ), Ms. STABENOW (D-MI), Mrs. MCCASKILL (D-MO), Mr. LIEBERMAN (I-CT), Ms. KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), Mrs. CLINTON (D-NY), and Mr. SCHUMER (D-NY):

S. 1. A bill to create jobs, restore economic growth, and strengthen America's middle class through measures that modernize the nation's infrastructure, enhance America's energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need, and for other purposes; read the first time. Source: GPO [S39]


Here is a bill introduced by Democratic Senators to review the regulations President Bush issued in his final days occupying the White house:

By Mr. REID (D-NV) (for himself, Mr. LEVIN (D-MI), Mr. KERRY (D-MA), Mr. BEGICH (D-AK), Mr. DURBIN (D-IL), Mrs. BOXER (D-CA), Mr. MENENDEZ (D-NJ), Mr. BINGAMAN (D-NM), Mr. CASEY (D-PA), Mr. LAUTENBERG (D-NJ), Ms. STABENOW (D-MI), Mrs. MCCASKILL (D-MO), Ms. KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), Mrs. CLINTON (D-NY), Mr. SCHUMER (D-NY), and Ms. MIKULSKI (D-MD)):

S. 8. A bill to return the Government to the people by reviewing controversial ``midnight regulations'' issued in the waning days of the Bush Administration; read the first time. Source: GPO [S39]


Here is a bill to beef up work requirements of Federal prison inmates:

By Mr. ENSIGN (R-NV):

S. 41. A bill to require a 50-hour workweek for Federal prison inmates, to reform inmate work programs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [S39]


This bill is designed to help homeowners who are underwater (mortgage more than home value) restructure mortgages on their principal residences:

By Mr. DURBIN (D-IL) (for himself, Mrs. BOXER (D-CA), Mrs. FEINSTEIN (D-CA), Mr. HARKIN (D-IA), Mr. SCHUMER (D-NY), and Mr. WHITEHOUSE (D-RI)):

S. 61. A bill to amend title 11 of the United States Code with respect to modification of certain mortgages on principal residences, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [S39]


Here's a bill to ensure illegal immigrants cannot obtain credit cards, as the 9/11 hijackers did.

By Mr. VITTER (R-LA):

S. 84. A bill to close the loophole that allowed the 9/11 hijackers to obtain credit cards from United States banks that financed their terrorist activities, to ensure that illegal immigrants cannot obtain credit cards to evade United States immigration laws, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Source: GPO [S39]


Another bill by Vitter, who was busy introducing a schload of bills yesterday, requiring all felons to provide DNA samples:

By Mr. VITTER (R-LA):

S. 106. A bill to require that all individuals convicted of a felony under State law provide a DNA sample; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [S39]


And finally, a tri-partisan bill to provide DC a voting seat and Utah an additional seat in the House of Representatives:

By Mr. LIEBERMAN (I-CT) (for himself, Mr. HATCH (R-UT), Mr. LEAHY (D-VT), Mr. KENNEDY (D-MA), Mrs. CLINTON (D-NY), Mr. DODD (D-CT), Mr. SANDERS (I-VT), Mr. KERRY (D-MA), Mr. DURBIN (D-IL), and Mr. FEINGOLD (D-WI)):

S. 160. A bill to provide the District of Columbia a voting seat and the State of Utah an additional seat in the House of Representatives; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Source: GPO [S39]

The 111th Congress Begins Today - Jan. 6th, 2009

The House and Senate will officially kick off the 111th Congress today, and new Members will be sworn in. There are still several seats still to be filled (Senate seats for Illinois and Minnesota will remain open for time being and there will be a April 7th special election for Rahm Emanuel's Congressional seat).

The Economic Recovery package is the top priority for lawmakers as they return today, with hopes of the package being ready for President-elect Obama to sign into law before the end of the month.

The other priority will be to finish the fiscal 2009 appropriations process before March 6th, when the stopgap funding runs out.

The next year or two are going to be a hell of a ride.

Postings will start back up on normal schedule tomorrow as the 111th has finally kicked off!