Weekend Thread: How to Keep Tabs on Your Congresscritters [Y-not]

I wrote this Thursday afternoon, before the outcome of the House vote(s) was known. Whatever the outcome, I think it's still useful.

Thursday, as the Twitterverse was ablaze over "The House Border Bill," and as the pit in my stomach was expanding like a supernova, I suddenly realized that I had absolutely no idea what bill was being considered.

I could tell it was probably, very very very likely, BAD. But I could not find in all of the news articles and tweets and opinion pieces and blog posts a single mention of the bill number or the sponsor.

Perhaps you found yourself in the same position. If so, here's a primer on how to find out something like that from me, just a regular person. Our resident experts can jump in and add to this, but here are the basics:

You probably know there are various sites that show what bills are pending or have been voted upon. Thomas may be the one that springs to mind. I decided to try one called Open Congress. It's run by a non-profit called the Sunlight Foundation. (Note: For all I know, this is a pinko group, but given the nature of the data I'm seeking, I don't think that matters right now.)

I found this site easy to navigate. Here, for example, is the tab for all legislation (both houses) that have had "recent action:"

You'll see two bills pertaining to President Obama's manufactured border crisis (H.Res.696, H.R. 5230) and the recently passed resolution to initiate litigation against the administration.

First one:

H.Res.696 - Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5230) making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5272) to prohibit certain actions with respect to deferred action for aliens not lawfully present in the United States, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 5021) to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.

Someone can jump in here, but this seems to be a procedural thing. Sole sponsor is Republican Tom Cole from Oklahoma. The entry notes that it has been placed on the House calendar, July 30, 2014.

Second one, H.R. 5230:

Secure the Southwest Border Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2014 - Provides supplemental FY2014 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); the Department of Defense (DOD); the Department of Justice (DOJ); and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for expenses related to the rise in unaccompanied alien children and alien adults accompanied by an alien minor at the southwest border. Permits funds previously appropriated for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for assistance to the countries in Central America to be used for repatriation and reintegration activities. Specifies other authorized, restricted, and prohibited uses of appropriated funds. Includes rescissions of funds previously appropriated to various federal agencies. Secure the Southwest Border Act of 2014 - Amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Authorization Act of 2008 to change the procedures for screening and processing unaccompanied alien children who arrive at the border from certain countries. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include the commission of certain drug-related offenses as grounds for per se ineligibility for asylum. Permits appropriations provided to DOD under this Act to be used for the National Guard to provide support for operations on the southern border. Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) from impeding, prohibiting, or restricting certain CBP activities on federal lands. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should not allow the placement of unauthorized aliens at military installations unless certain conditions are met.

Sole sponsor is Harold Rogers, R-KY.

There's also this one (referred to in Cole's resolution), H.R. 5272:

Prohibits a federal agency or instrumentality from issuing after July 30, 2014, guidance, memorandums, regulations, policies, or other similar instruments the effect of which is to: modify the June 15, 2012 executive memorandum concerning deferred action for childhood arrivals in any manner that would expand the number of aliens eligible for deferred action; newly authorize deferred action for any class of aliens not in lawful immigration status in the United States; or newly authorize any alien (except a parolee or a crewman permitted to land temporarily) to work in the United States who was not lawfully admitted into, and not lawfully present in, the United States.

Sponsor is Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

And this one (H.R. 5021): Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014

To provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

As I said, I'm just a regular person. But it looks to me like one problem with this approach is that the flow of money, which I guess is either coming from the Highway bill or is using that bill as the mechanism for allocating funding, is decoupled from the measure designed to limit the President's powers.

This administration is lawless. It seems unwise to give it any money without strings firmly attached.

More generally (and to the main point of this post), this process of trying to find out what the heck Congress is doing is onerous, even with a pretty handy tool like this. At the end of the day, an ordinary citizen is left trying to decipher what these measures do, which is complicated when they are interwoven the way these ones are. So that's why many (most?) of us find ourselves resorting to looking at these things through the lens of whichever "tribe" (for want of a better word) we find ourselves aligned with most of the time, whether it be Tea Party or libertarian-leaning or Chamber of Commerce or whathaveyou.

If the GOP wants to change this and really unite the Party, they need to realize many of us simply do not trust Congressional leadership. And when we are told late in the week - just before Summer recess - that leadership wants to pass Something Right Away (eleventy!11!!!), we look at it with a jaundiced eye. Especially when that "something" involves giving this lawless administration more money through a process that does not seem to tie his hands.

Long story short, it is good to find out what the bills say, but I'm going to stick with my tribe until the GOP makes a serious effort to win back my trust.

It goes without saying that I denounce myself.

You can read about the outcome at Ace's Friday night post, HERE.

posted by Open Blogger at 08:33 AM

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