RECENT SENATE VOTES
- Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act - Rejected (57-41, 2 Not Voting)
- Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010 - Rejected 58-42
RECENT HOUSE VOTES
- Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010 - Passed 308-114 with 10 Not Voting
- Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011 - Passed 411-6, with 15 Not Voting
- Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011 - Passed 251-167 with 14 Not Voting
UPCOMING VOTES
- FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act - H.R.1586
- Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010 - H.R.5297
- Elena Kagan to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States - PN1768
- Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act of 2010 - S.3663
By Ray Long/ Chicago Tribune
By Ambreen Ali/ Congress.org
In Washington, DC
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act - The Senate passed the final version of the financial regulation reform legislation, 60-39. Senators Durbin and Burris voted YES.
Telework Improvements Act - The House passed this bill 290-131 with 11 not voting that would set standards for federal employees working remotely. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act - The House passed this legislation, 329-90 with 13 not voting, reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program through September 2015. The bill heads to the Senate.
By Mike Riopell/The Southern Springfield Bureau
Recent Key Vote in the U.S. House and Senate
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act - The Senate and House approved the conference report to this bill that would impose new sanctions on companies doing business with Iran.
Motion to Invoke Cloture on Reid Amendment; American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 - The Senate rejected the motion to end debate on a bill to extend several expired tax provisions and unemployment benefits.
Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act - The House passed this bill that would establish new reporting requirements for corporations, unions and other interest groups for campaign-related activities.
By Joe Kovacs/ WorldNetDaily
Illinois Senate and House to Reconvene
The 96th General Assembly Legislation (2009-2010) returns for business this week. The Illinois House is back on Monday at 4:00pm to attempt to finalize a budget. The Illinois Senate is back on Wednesday.
Recent Vote in the U.S. House:
Motion to Recommit; America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (292-126 with12 Not Voting). The House voted to send this bill back to the House Science committee with instructions to freeze funding at fiscal 2010 levels and to only fund the bill for three years. The bill would reauthorize science and technology research programs.
By Steven T. Dennis & Tory Newmyer/ RollCall
Recent Key Votes in the U.S. Senate
Part 1 - Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 - Vote Rejected (56-42, 2 Not Voting) The Senate failed to approve procedural motion and begin floor debate on legislation to overhaul financial regulations. However, it appears the Senate will proceed to floor debate this week and begin voting on amendments to the bill. Sen. Richard Durbin and Roland Burris voted YES.
Part 2 - Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 - Vote: 93-5, 2 Not Voting). The Senate voted to remove a part of the bill that would have created a $50 billion fund to cover the cost of liquidating failing financial companies.
Recent Votes in the U.S. House
Home Star Energy Retrofit Act - The House passed this measure, 246-161, authorizing a $6.6 billion rebate program for energy-efficient home renovations for households with incomes up to $250,000. The bill now goes to the Senate.
IMPROVE Acquisition Act of 2010 - The House passed this measure (417-3, 10 Not Voting) that would require the Defense Department to develop a system with specific metrics for the acquisition of weapons, technology and services. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Puerto Rico Democracy Act - The House approved this bill (223-169, 1 Present, 37 Not Voting) to establish a two-stage process to determine Puerto Rico's political status. The first step would be a referendum on the question of whether to maintain or change Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth. If a majority of Puerto Ricans were to vote for a new status, then a second vote would be held to ask residents whether they favor statehood, full independence, independence with a special political association with the United States, or to retain the current commonwealth status. The legislation goes to the Senate.
Call your representative in the Illinois House and ask them to support SB 2494.
In classic style the Teacher's Union is opposing Senate Bill 2494 that creates a pilot program to give parents in Chicago's lowest-performing and most severely overcrowded schools educational options. Each family enrolled in one of these schools will be offered a school voucher to cover qualified education expenses at a state recognized nonpublic school.
Lael Brainard Confirmed as Treasury Department's Under Secretary for International Affairs
The U.S. Senate recently confirmed Lael Brainard as the Treasury Department's under secretary for international affairs after her nomination had been held up over concerns that she allegedly failed to pay property taxes on time. Sen. Richard Durbin & Sen. Roland Burris both voted YES.
Continuing Extension Act of 2010 - Passed
(59-38, 3 Not Voting). The U.S. Senate passed this measure that would add a two month extension for federal unemployment benefits, flood insurance programs, increased payment rates to Medicare providers and COBRA health care premium assistance. Sen. Richard Durbin & Sen. Roland Burris both voted YES.
District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act - H.R.157.
The U.S. House is expected to vote on this bill that would provide the District of Columbia with full voting rights in the House of Representatives.
Months after President Obama urged federal agencies last year to cut wasteful spending, the U.S. Department of State paid $3,814 to fill an order of Jack Daniel's whiskey for gratuities at one of its many overseas embassies. The booze buy wasn't unusual.
Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
It appears that the ENDA, a policy that provides a new federally protected class entitlement, is about to reappear on Capitol Hill. The ENDA would ban "discrimination" based on sexual orientation and give legal protection to a behavior that is morally destructive. Let your representative know how they should vote on this attempt to protect even the most deviant behavior.
Sen. Richard Durbin, Phone: 202-224-2152, Email:
http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Sen. Roland Burris, Phone: 202-224-2854, Email:
http://burris.senate.gov/contact.cfm
U.S. House of Representatives, 202-224-3121 Email:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
By Chase Castle/ Daily Herald
Recent Key Votes in the Illinois House & Senate
- [HB 1188] Increasing Cemetery Regulations - Concurrence Vote Passed (House)
- [SB 315] Education Law Amendments - Concurrence Vote Passed (Senate)
- [HB 1188] Increasing Cemetery Regulations - Bill Passed (Senate)
- [SB 315] Education Law Amendments - Bill Passed (House)
- [SB 1216] 2010 State Budget - Bill Passed (House)
By Jennifer Yachin/ CQ-Roll Call
By Chris Cillizza, Washington Post
Congress.org
By Timothy Magow/ Daily Herald
By Darlene Porteus/ Truth in Accounting
By Chase Castle and John Patterson/ Daily Herald
By Jim Snyder and Silla Brush/ The Hill
By Greg Giroux/ CG-Roll Call
How Your Illinois U.S. Senators Voted
Nomination of Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board - Vote was rejected by a 52-33 margin with 15 not voting. Senators Durbin and Burris both voted YES.
Jobs for Main Street Act-H.R.2847 - The Senate will vote on proceeding with the House-passed jobs bill following the President's Day recess.
Sen. Richard J. Durbin (202) 224-2152; email form:
http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Sen. Roland W. Burris (202) 224-2854; email form:
http://burris.senate.gov/contact.cfm
By Jared Allen/ The Hill
How your Illinois Senators voted:
Debt Limit Extension - would raise the federal debt limit to $13.029 trillion.
Sen. Richard Durbin voted YES Sen. Roland Burris voted YES
Confirmation of Ben S. Bernanke to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Sen. Richard Durbin voted YES Sen. Roland Burris voted YES
By James Sherk/ The Heritage Foundation
By Tony Blankley/ The Washington Times
By Alexander Bolton/ The Hill
By J. Taylor Rushing/ The Hill
By Mark Silva/ LA Times
By Michael Muskal/ LA Times
by Dr. Scott Lively
by Ryan Teague Beckworth/ Congress.org
by Jordan Fabian and Emily Goodin/The Hill
by Carmen Greco, Jr./ Chicago Tribune
CNN
by Christina Wilkie/ The Hill
by Jeffrey Young/ The Hill
The American Legion
Follow the money as lobbyists impact major issues such as healthcare, climate control, and more.
White House Communications Director Anita Dunn told high school students in May about her two favorite political philosophers but we didn't hear about it until Glenn Beck played the video.
House Leadership may attempt a back door approach to slipping in the very controversial hate crime legislation that will put a stranglehold on free speech.
Illinois Congressman joins other representatives in responding to increased demand for congressional transparency.
Richard Daley doesn’t seem to want to leave his position when his term is up in 2010 regardless of some recent major bumps in the road.
