Bipartisan House Passes Intel Bill On Eve Of 9/11 Anniversary

In a 384-14 vote, the House voted nearly unanimously Friday to pass legislation that keeps federal entities vital in the America’s national security efforts funded through FY2012 . 

Given that the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack on America is just two days awe, the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2012, originally introduced by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), ensures agencies like the CIA, FBI, DEA, along with the Departments of State, Defense, Energy and Justice, among others, have the capabilities to operate and continue to keep the country protected from terror threats. 

“This bill makes smart choices that will help eliminate wasteful spending while still ensuring that our intelligence community personnel have all the tools they need to keep America safe,” Deomcratic Whip Steny Hoyer said in a statement. “As we approach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and confront new threats to the homeland, we are reminded of the challenges we face and honor the brave men and women in the intelligence community who work around the clock to protect us.”

Aside from authorizing agencies vital to the nation’s national security, the bill would require officials to provide Congress with detailed information about the mission that ultimately ended in the death of Osama bin Laden. 

Same Faces, New Roles Predicted In House Leadership Elections

The House will hold leadership elections Wednesday for both parties, with most predicting that job titles and not faces will change.

The Republicans, who achieved the majority during the Midterm Elections, are expected to vote Ohio Congressman John Boehner in as Speaker of the House. Current Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) will likely be taking the role of House Majority Leader, second in command under Boehner.

For the Democrats, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif..) is set to leave her role as Speaker and has voiced her candidacy to become House Minority Leader. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is predicted to become Minority Whip with Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC.) to in line for a third in command role.

There has been some tension over Clyburn and Hoyer’s simultaneous bids for the Whip position and many Democrats are still wary of the prospect of Pelosi in a leadership position.

Hoyer: No Vote On Tax Cuts Until After Elections

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced today that Democrats will wait until after the midterm elections to vote on the extension of the Bush-era tax cuts. The GOP wanted a vote to occur before Congress adjourned to return to the campaign trail.

If the tax cuts are not extended by the end of the year, they will expire for all Americans on January 1, 2011.

Hoyer Defends Dissapointing GDP Report

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is defending his party over criticism regarding the Commerce Deparment’s report today that the nation’s GDP during the 2nd quarter grew at a rate of only 2.4%. Conversely, GDP grew at a rate of 3.7% in the first quarter of the year.

“Today we learned that the U.S. economy grew by 2.4% between the months of April and June, meaning that our economy has consistently grown every quarter for a year,” said Hoyer. “The last time our economy grew for four quarters in a row was 2007. While there is still much to be done, our economy is recovering from the crisis inherited by President Obama from President Bush.”

Rangel Hoping To Avoid Trial

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) said on Tuesday that he is hopeful for a settlement with House ethics investigators, but added that he isn’t sure about the status of such talks.

Rangel is facing a number of allegations that he violated House ethics rules; including claims that he improperly used a rent-stabilized apartment as a campaign office, used official stationery to solicit support for a City College center named in his honor and failed to properly report ownership of a vacation villa in the Dominican Republic.

The negotiations surrounding the case between senior congressional Democrats and Rep. Rangel have put some Democrats in an uncomfortable situation. Many House Democrats that have been close with Rangel for years are now worried about the subsequent political fallout for the Democratic Party in the November elections if an ethics trial occurs in September…

- Alexa Gitler