Finance Committee Strikes Language Regarding Abortion from HOPE Act

Chairman Baucus, Sens Schumer and Lincoln Lead the Debate Against Section 4 for the Democrats

Senators in the Finance Committee just struck section 4, containing changes to the Public Health Act and abortion, from its HOPE Act.

Senator Schumer introduced the amendment, and after a heated debate, found success.

When Senator Grassley said the bill did not explicity mention abortion, Chairman Baucus retorted, "the implicit language does not make the explicit fact go away".

Grassley firmly defended the section, offering changes but hoping to "maintain the religious protections that our doctors have enjoyed for several decades".

Senator Kyl chimed in, adding that current language in the Public Health Act "forcing providers to perform any sort of abortion... violates part of a very hippocratic oath that they take to become a doctor".

In a final attempt, Senator Grassley introduced a second amendment that would not strike Section 4, but would add a clarifying statement at the end of the bill regarding a threat to life for mothers seeking an abortion. 

Before administering the vote, the Chairman told his colleagues, "we vote on second degree amendments first, that means keep your hands down". The democrats listened and in succession voted down the second degree amendment and voted for the first degree amendment that struck section 4 from the bill.

Democratic Press Conference

President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner centered their press conference on economic issues. Obama opened by emphasizing the need to restore consumer confidence and economic stability. Geithner then presented a more detailed account of how to reach these objectives through legislation.

Geithner wants to use his reform strategy as the “New rule of the road” to protect consumers and investors through greater government regulation. This regulation applies to distressed companies but also allows the government to preemptively regulate certain companies that could put the American economy at risk.

Republicans have responded by calling this bill reckless and unconstitutional. Not surprisingly the administration disagrees and feels these reforms are necessary to build back consumer confidence and credit in the market. Stay tuned to see Congressional reactions.

EWP at standstill

The EPW committee reached a standstill as Democrats and Republicans argued over the appropriateness of opening statements concerning the Green Bill, or Climate and Energy Protection Act.

According to Senator Kit Bond, "Senator Alexander was speaking and cut off by chairwoman Boxer without parliamentary justification. Therefore, Republicans felt it necessary to walk out." The Republicans' action, he said, was "unavoidable" because "Democrats are currently prohibiting cooperation."

After yielding 10 minutes to Senator Inhofe, who then yielded to Senator Alexander, a discussion of the Green Bill. Republicans quickly cited serious errors in the bill such as appropriations for "$60 $200," which Alexander asserted was not a real number.

"Republicans would rather play politics than legislate," said Democratic Senator Conrad of the incident.

Democratic Senator Reid and Senator Alexander exchanged heated words during the showdown, continuing the hostility shown to one another from the previous session.

Currently, the walkout continues with no resolution in sight.

BREAKING: Republicans Walk Out of EPW Hearing

Ten minutes ago, Republican members walked out of the Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing, citing mistreatment from Chairwoman Boxer as reasoning. More to come from correspondent Danielle Peebles who witnessed the dramatic event.

Sen. Roberts' taxi hijacked by French youth

Senator Roberts' taxi was hijacked on his way to the hearing by "some youth from France," according to his text message to his fellow Senators. Roberts initially believed the French youth was Jeb Bush, former President George W. Bush's younger brother. He will be late to the hearing, beginning imminently.

BREAKING NEWS: Republicans Speak Out Against “The Blank Check Act”

The Republican Caucus held a press conference at 5:00pm PST, outlining the party’s grievances with the Authority for System Significant Financial Companies Act of 2009. In their press conference, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stood before a large group of united Republicans on the steps of the Capitol and delivered a passionate statement calling for support against the “Blank Check Act.”

The act is an effort by the Democratic Party to ease the economic crisis that has ripped through the financial services industry over the past few months. In a statement issued by Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, the Democrats remark that the US government needs additional authority to handle a financial collapse on the scale of the AIG or Lehman Brothers. The Democratic statement observes that the government only has two options in the current environment: 1). Give the struggling financial firm funds; 2). Allow the firm to fail. In the statement, the Democrats mention that “those options do not provide the government with the necessary tools to manage the resolution of the firm efficiently and effectively in a manner that limits the systemic risk with the least cost to the taxpayer.”

As a solution to the current situation, the Authority for System Significant Financial Companies Act of 2009 would give the government the power to put the firm into a conservatorship or receivership the government decided to reorganize or liquidate of the firm. The act would further reduce the burden on taxpayers by giving the government the ability to pay off a company’s debt obligations through the sale of assets.

According to the statement attached to the act, the proposed legislation would be financed by the government’s ability to liquidate firm’s assets. Any additional funding would come from the FDIC, ex-ante or ex-post taxation.

The Republican caucus firmly opposes this legislation because it effectively gives the government a “blank check” and unregulated authority when dealing with struggling financial institutions. Senator McConnell remarked that the act gave the government “unprecedented and irresponsible” levels of power. McConnell observed that the act would effectively give the government a blank check in bailing out non-bank financial firms, without any mention of where the funds would be appropriated from.

Senator Grassley (R-IA) was most especially concerned with the bill’s provision that gives the government the ability to seize power of an organization for 30 days without any regard for the shareholders of the company. Grassley remarked that this effectively gives the government the ability to do whatever they want with a company without regulation or oversight.

Finally, Senator Specter (R-PA) drew on his experience as a former prosecutor and took issue with the constitutionality of the potential for ex-post-facto taxation. He directly referenced the constitution, demonstrating that ex-post-facto taxation is explicitly unconstitutional.

The Republican press conference closed with the GOP proclaiming that they are dedicated to fighting this legislation in order to protect the freedoms that Americans hold to be self-evident.

Republicans Fight Back for HOPE Act

Republican leaders addressed allegations of deceitful clauses in the HOPE Act from the Obama Administration during their press conference today held in North Quad. 

Senator Grassley, the author of the bill, stood up for the clause regarding the Public Health Act. He said expanding coverage of the conscience clause with regards to abortions would be "giving doctors and hospitals in American the same choice as women". 

"The bill will keep doctors practicing medicine who may not be covered because of their religious convictions", Grassley responded to questions of why a clause regarding abortion was included in an act titled the "Hospital Operating Procedure Enhancement for America's Veterans Act of 2009". Republicans argue this would make sure rural areas retain a sufficient number of physicians, keeping as many doctors practicing as possible.

With his republican colleagues standing behind him, Grassley declared and repeated, "Republicans will defend religious freedom until the day we die".