From the WashingtonWatch.com Blog

Over the past week, the WashingtonWatch.com blog has had posts on animal cruelty, Guantanamo detainees, government paperwork reduction, and many other topics. Visit the blog to see how the bills in Congress are tied to the day’s headlines, what bills are being debated on the House and Senate floor, and to learn some inside stories from the Washington, D.C. beltway.

Featured Items

This week, the Senate will debate the controversial “Coburn Omnibus.” S. 3297, the Advancing America’s Priorities Act, combines 36 bills into one.

These bills have been held up by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has created this “omnibus” bill to break down the resistance spearheaded by Coburn.

On the WashingtonWatch.com blog last week, we listed all the bills that are in the Coburn Omnibus. Passage of the bill would cost the average U.S. family just under $70.00.

The House will debate the first of several bills to set spending levels for fiscal year 2009, which begins October 1st. (Watch all the spending bills on our FY 2009 Budget and Spending Process page.)

H.R. 6599, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Appropriations Act, 2009, would spend a little over $1,000 per U.S. family on construction in all branches of the U.S. military, and for other projects and programs. It also spends money on a wide variety of veterans benefits programs.

S. 3297
The Advancing America’s Priorities Act
Costs $69.86 per family

H.R. 6599
The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2009
Costs $1,070.98 per family

What People Think

The Advancing America’s Priorities Act 30% For, 70% Against Vote on this Bill

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2009 50% For, 50% Against Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family.

New Items

H.R. 1338
The Paycheck Fairness Act
Costs $0.13 per family

H.R. 3437
The Jackson Gulch Rehabilitation Act of 2007
Costs $0.07 per family

H.R. 3957
The Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act
Costs $0.74 per family

S. 2494
The Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act
Costs $0.76 per family

H.R. 5350
To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to sell or exchange certain National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration property located in Norfolk, Virginia, and for other purposes
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 5352
The Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2008
Costs $1.48 per family

S. 2892
The Wartime Enforcement of Fraud Act of 2008
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 6225
The Injunctive Relief for Veterans Act of 2008
Costs $8.15 per family

S. J. Res. 41
A joint resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003
Saves $0.02 per family

H.R. 6500
The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2008
Costs $14.73 per family

S. 3297
The Advancing America’s Priorities Act
Costs $69.86 per family

H.R. 6580
The Hubbard Act
Costs $0.06 per family

H.R. 6599
The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2009
Costs $1,070.98 per family

H.R. 3289
The PRE-K Act
Costs $14.26 per family

H.R. 3299
To provide for a boundary adjustment and land conveyances involving Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado, to correct the effects of an erroneous land survey that resulted in approximately 7 acres of the Crystal Lakes Subdivision, Ninth Filing, encroaching on National Forest System land
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 4255
The United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2007
Costs $0.44 per family

S. 3023
The Veterans’ Notice Clarification Act of 2008
Costs $1.19 per family

H.R. 6113
To amend title 44, United States Code, to require each agency to include a contact telephone number in its collection of information
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 160
The Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act
Costs $0.36 per family

H.R. 674
To amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the provision of law requiring termination of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans as of December 31, 2009
Costs $0.03 per family

H.R. 2192
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an Ombudsman within the Department of Veterans Affairs
Costs $0.03 per family

H.R. 2933
The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2007
Costs $0.36 per family

H.R. 3849
The Box Elder Utah Land Conveyance Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 4828
The Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Boundary Expansion Act of 2007
Costs $0.01 per family

S. 3301
The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009
Costs $1,080.46 per family

H.R. 2535
The Tule River Tribe Water Development Act
Costs $0.03 per family

H.R. 3336
The Camp Hale Historic District Study Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 5235
The Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act
Costs $0.01 per family

H.R. 6073
To provide that Federal employees receiving their pay by electronic funds transfer shall be given the option of receiving their pay stubs electronically
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 6322
The Public Charter Schools Home Rule Act of 2008
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 3289
The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009
Costs $825.04 per family

H.R. 2339
The Produced Water Utilization Act of 2007
Costs $0.61 per family

S. 2166
The Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007
Costs $15.30 per family

H.R. 6083
To authorize funding for the National Advocacy Center
Costs $0.25 per family

S. 2617
The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008
Costs $185.63 per family

S. 2700
A bill to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to double liability limits for single-hull tankers and tank barges for 2009, and for other purposes
Saves $0.05 per family

H.R. 6388
The Government Accountability Office Improvement Act of 2008
Costs $0.00 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 3221
The Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008
Costs $484.72 per family

P.L. 110-275
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
Costs $4.35 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 110-280
The Maritime Pollution Prevention Act of 2007
Costs $0.17 per family

P.L. 110-281
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act Amendment of 2007
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 110-283
The 911 Modernization and Public Safety Act of 2007
Costs $0.01 per family