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Congress 12.06.10--What Have Republicans Been Blocking This Week?

In the two months since the mid-term election, Democrats in Congress have introduced some important legislation.

In their ...letter to Harry Reid (D-Nev), all 42 Republicans vowed to oppose all legislationuntil they get Bush tax cuts extended for millionaire and billionaires. This week they blocked:

•  Unemployment Benefit Extension for 4 million out-of-work Americans
  
  
• "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Republicans say they will filibuster against the repeal of the 1993 bill. . There are only 56 Democrats in Congress. Democrats are still trying to get a few Republicans to cross over and break the filibuster.
  
  
• The Dream Act--This bill would give children of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship if they go to college or join the military. Democrats got this passed in the House on Wednesday. But near-unanimous Republican opposition means it has been delayed in the Senate
  
  
• Sept. 11 First Responder Compensation: Thursday, Senate Republicans also blocked a Democratic bill that would allocate $7.4 billion to compensate Sept. 11 first responders who have suffered from health problems. 

 

 

Tea Party Caucus Used Congress to Request 100s of Earmarks; Added Over $1Billion to the Federal Budget

12.02.2010. Washington  

The Congressional Tea Party Caucus talks a lot about commitment cutting government spending and getting rid of the expensive process of funding constituent projects (called “earmarks”).

However, the reality is that in 2010 the 52-member Congressional Tea Party Caucus actually requested hundreds of earmarks in the 111th Congress. Together, these legislators requested 764 earmarks, adding up to $1,049,783,150

"It's disturbing to see the Tea Party Caucus requested that much in earmarks. This is their time to put up or shut up, to be blunt," said David Williams, vice president for policy at Citizens Against Government Waste.

Some examples:

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont)--88 earmarks—total: $100,514,200

Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-La.)—41 earmarks—total: $65,395,000.

Rep.Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.)—39 earmarks—total: $63,400,000

Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah)—47 earmarks—total: $93,980,000.

Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss)--25 earmarks—total: $80,000,000  

READ MORE....www.cbsnews.com