Boxer, Governors Urge Republicans to Vote for Funds for Medicaid, Teachers

On a call with reporters this afternoon, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Gov. Ed Rendell (D-Pa.) and Gov. Bill Ritter (D-Colo.) urged their Republican colleagues to vote for a $26.1 billion state-aid package.

Bernanke on the States’ Budget Crises

Today, Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, addressed the annual meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments. The topic was timely: the yawning budget gaps facing states.

Senate Moves EduJobs and FMAP Funding

This evening, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) attached an amendment with funding to preserve teachers’ jobs and to provide much-needed Medicaid funding to states to a Federal Aviation Administration bill. The amendment is fully paid-for, and the FAA bill is just a vehicle. Reid filed cloture, meaning the More…

Senate Fails to Pass House Appropriations Bill, Passes Its Own Instead

Last night, the U.S. Senate attempted to move on the House’s version of a war-funding bill, providing much-needed funds to the Pentagon for Afghanistan and Iraq as well as billions of dollars for domestic programs. But the bill failed to get cloture, 46-51, with 10 members of the Democratic More…

EduJobs Funding Dead

So much for stimulus.

Just before the July 4 congressional recess, the House passed a massive piece of legislation: a war-funding bill with billions in funding for domestic programs included, and a budget enforcement resolution attached. The bill moved on to the Senate, where Democrats hoped to preserve More…

Obey: White House Suggested Cutting Food Stamps to Pay for Education Program

This entire interview with Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.), the head of the House Appropriations Committee and a powerful veteran member of Congress, who is retiring this year, is worth a read. But one passage is particularly striking. Obey is discussing his proposal to divert funds from the Obama administration’s More…