Skip to content
News and updates

Category: On the Hill

Rep George Miller Announces Retirement

Posted on

Yet another Congressional leader of Higher Education announced his retirement today. Rep. George Miller announced he was retiring after four decades of serving his Oakland, CA district. The right-hand of Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Miller currently serves as the House Education and Labor Ranking Member and has served at that committee’s Chairman as well.

Miller’s retirement opens up internal politics on who will be the next Democrat to lead the Education and Labor Committee. Rep Steve Rothman is the next senior Democrat on the committee.

Finally, due to House Republican term limits, Chairman Kline will need a waiver in the next Congress to remain Chair (assuming the RS keep the majority).  If not, the next Republican leader of the committee could be Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC).

Senate Gives Final Approval to Federal Budget Deal

Posted on

The Senate this afternoon voted 64-36 to give final approval to the federal budget agreement reached by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI). The House passed the measure last Thursday on a 332-94 bipartisan vote.

The budget sets spending levels at just above $1 trillion for FY2014 and FY2015 and includes $63 million in sequestration relief over the next two years which is directed to be split evenly between defense and non-defense discretionary programs. It is estimated that the agreement will reduce the deficit by $23 billion and all new spending is offset in other areas of the budget. The legislation also includes a 3 month extension of the doc-fix.

Congressional appropriators and their staff will now work through the next few weeks to draft spending bills with the goal of getting them passed through both chambers by the January 15th deadline, which is when the current Continuing Resolution expires.

Budget Deal Clears Procedural Hurdle

Posted on

This morning, the bipartisan Budget deal, which would roll back the sharp Sequester spending cuts,  cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate. The vote to invoke cloture — a procedural step that requires a 2/3rds vote ends and signals an end to debate and allows the measure to be voted upon by the Senate — ensures that the agreement will be passed and sent to President Obama in the coming days.

Senators voted 67 to 33 to end debate and proceed to final passage on the budget agreement. A final vote could come as soon as Tuesday evening if Senate Republicans agree to speed things up. Otherwise, the chamber is likely to send the measure to the White House late Wednesday

Murray to Speak on Bipartisan Budget Act Before Crucial Vote

Posted on

At 9:50am ET today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) will deliver remarks on the Senate floor urging the passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.  Murray will call on members of the Senate to vote to cut off a filibuster on the bipartisan compromise she reached with House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), which passed through the House of Representatives last week by an overwhelming 332-94 majority. The cloture vote is expected shortly following her speech. You can watch Senator Murray speak live on C-SPAN 2.