Ten Senate Democrats joined 48 Republicans on Wednesday in voting against a Democratic Continuing Resolution (CR) to cut less than $5 billion from the Federal budget through the remainder of this Fiscal Year (58 against and 42 for; roll call here), with five of those ten Democrats planning to run for re-election in 2012 (including, in Mississippi River states, Herb Kohl in Wisconsin and Claire McCaskill in Missouri), and each of the five up against potentially formidable opponents. On that same day, the Senate voted on a GOP bill that would have cut $57 billion from current spending. That vote was 56 against and 44 for (roll call here).
Since Senate Republicans and Democrats are still more than $50 billion apart on those dueling alternatives to fund the government, House Republicans today (March 11) plan to unveil yet another CR that would finance government operations an additional three weeks beyond March 18, when the current CR expires. Details are unknown at present, but it's expected that the GOP proposal will contain about $6 billion in additional budget cuts. The cuts will likely come from earmarks already slated in the 2011 budget for agriculture, law enforcement, scientific, defense, military construction, environmental, public lands and foreign aid projects. Republicans are divided as to whether the new CR will be a "clean" funding bill or will include "riders" that limit or eliminate government authority or the ability to implement Federal programs already in place. However, it would be safe to bet on a "clean," rider-free CR, so that it sails relatively smoothly through the House and Senate before next Friday's CR deadline.
A chronological review of the week's budget "highlights" is included in our "Federal Budget" section, below. Look to our blog for details on the new Republican proposal when it is released later on March 11.
Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week:
Agriculture -
- Wall Street Journal: world is consuming grains faster than farmers are growing themhttp://on.wsj.com/efehMu
- RT @ChrisClaytonDTN: DTN's Urban Lehner [Commodity Agriculture] "Ag Plays Defense on Federal Budget Cuts." http://dld.bz/aFjk
- Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testimony Thursday on USDA 2012 budget proposal (link here: http://1.usa.gov/gm8Eiq)
- EPA Administrator Jackson questioned re: EPA regs during House Ag Committee hearing http://1.usa.gov/fte6Fc & http://bit.ly/eoVx5d
- Ethanol subsidies coming under attack on two fronts in US Senate http://bit.ly/h3P3sD
- New working group of lawmakers & EPA & USDA heads has 1st mtg http://bit.ly/hdvmHm (USDA report) http://bit.ly/ejaNJC (Stabenow statement)
- Christian Science Monitor analysis: Farmers, EPA clash over Chesapeake Bay regulations http://bit.ly/hH0gbW
- Pharmaceutical chemicals widespread in water samples from 25 sewage treatment plants across MN http://bit.ly/g3SM6q
- National Association of Water Companies calls for more tax-free financing to invest in water/wastewater systems http://bit.ly/fYvrFb
- Chicago's Link to Gulf Hypoxia http://bit.ly/e8PhPx
- MN Gov Dayton signs into law bill to speed state environmental reviews & permits for businesses http://bit.ly/fALI9b
- Coal ash waste management plan raises concerns in Missouri community http://bit.ly/g4HjHr
- Here is the latest issue of the Tennessee Clean Water Network e-newsletter http://bit.ly/fMZAfq
- Environmental group demands that MN regulators impose new clean-up plan on abandoned iron ore pit owner http://bit.ly/i9zh5r
- Four environmental groups accuse KY coal mining companies of Clean Water Act violations http://bit.ly/fxuwVa
- Army Corps issues permit for WV mountaintop mine http://bit.ly/dJvhng
- Environmental groups say that water quality protections take big hit in WI Gov. Walker's budget http://bit.ly/if9Tqb
- Op-ed: "Increasing Flood Risk: Is This Our Floodplain Management Policy?" http://bit.ly/gEbXaO
- Articles on high upper Mississippi Basin flood threats http://bit.ly/gqdbtehttp://bit.ly/dJEacQ http://bit.ly/iiYVGe http://bit.ly/eU5bnm
- Monday: Senate Democrats introduce own budget for remainder of fiscal year http://bit.ly/ihUpku full bill: http://bit.ly/hG87KI
- Wednesday: Senate rejects competing spending plans, leaving legislative stalemate http://bit.ly/f9EwRn
- Wednesday: Dem proposal to cut $6 billion from 2011 federal spending defeated http://bit.ly/dEfMiB
- Thursday: Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) ready to compromise on spending cuts after GOP bill gets more votes than Dem's http://bit.ly/eSJhdZ
- Friday: House Republicans plan to unveil another short-term bill today to keep government running 3 more weeks http://on.wsj.com/fVQQNX
- National League of Cities’ Conference in DC this weekend to highlight EPA's new stormwater rulemaking http://bit.ly/hHS5Fb
- April 2, 2011 "Green Tie Affair" Nashville, TN Benefits the Tennessee Environmental Council http://bit.ly/gA0kmo
- Missouri Trout anglers' help sought in keeping damaging algae strain out http://bit.ly/gWfAR9
- RT @NestDC: DC gets another great local coffee house [on Capitol Hill for us Federal policy wonks] http://bit.ly/i8qv9k
- New carbon model contributes new info on role of rivers as sources & sinks for organic carbon at various scales http://1.usa.gov/h8O6nq
- American Water Resource Association adopts 2 new water policy statements http://bit.ly/dNpJf8 & http://bit.ly/fv77oX (pdf files)
- New AWF report calls for greater urgency, tough decisions in saving wetlands in Mississippi River delta http://bit.ly/goii7M
- Despite failing scores from interest group, House GOP freshmen defend environmental credentials http://nyti.ms/eOz0a1
- Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) may be in more trouble over billing for political trips http://politi.co/fxmDhs (possible ethics violations)
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