One of the keys to WashingtonWatch.com is good data about federal legislation. A reason why WashingtonWatch.com is not a much better resource is because it’s very hard to get good data out of the legislative branch.

So it’s nice to see that a new Open Senate Project is joining the Open House Project. These are both efforts to improve the workings of the Congress and make it more transparent to the public.

Over the past year-and-a-half plus, the Open House Project has developed a list of recommendations for the House, some of which have gotten some traction, as discussed in this retrospective on that work.

Now, here’s the dirty, and unfortunate, little secret: It is against Congress’ institutional interests and Congressmembers’ individual interests to be more transparent. Information is power, and giving the public access to the really good, really timely information about Congress’ workings would dramatically reduce their freedom of action.

So, while they will say nice things and make nice gestures about transparency, Members of Congress and congressional leaders will not give up power all that easily. Roadblocks of all kinds will get in the way of these projects, and ultimately information will have to be taken from Congress. Congress won’t just hand it over.

Getting leaders to talk favorably about transparency and take small steps in that direction is a start, though. At the very least, these efforts will lay traps for the politicians whose natural habitat is still the cigar-smoke-filled room.

Kudos to the Sunlight Foundation for building on the Open House Project with Open Senate.

Dozens of press releases come out every day on some public policy issue or another. I picked one pretty much at random to write about a couple of months ago. It was an American Trucking Associations release touting the support of a professional truck driver for a piece of legislation. I thought that was a little gimmicky, but it’s far from the worst thing I’ve ever seen in public policy advocacy.

So up went a picture of Tony Sifford and a post about his support for some energy bill or other. (Gosh – remember when energy was the biggest issue going, and not government bailouts and the reeling economy? Those were the days – two months ago.)

Tragically, Tony was killed in an accident a month later.

I’ve been honored to see commenters on my post about his passing offering their condolences to his family and illustrating how Tony Sifford touched their lives. It’s a nice illustration of the value of every life and how we all rely on each other. Even a “random” truck driver from Hillsville, Virginia is a part of our community and someone who we’ll miss when he’s gone.

This would be a nice lesson for the people debating H.R. 6798 to remember. It’s a bill dealing with whether certain cancer diagnoses should be attributed to Agent Orange, and the people debating it right now are being needlessly cruel to one another.

Take a moment out, people, to remember your common bond with one another and the importance we have to one another – in ways you might not realize until it’s too late.

A couple of months ago, we reviewed the legislative priorities of the candidates in the presidential race.

Here are the posts on Senator McCain, Senator Obama, and Senator Biden.

Since then, more legislation introduced by the Democratic candidates has passed into law.

Two bills introduced by Senator Biden are now law.

Public Law 110-401, the Combating Child Exploitation Act of 2007, is intended to make children safer from online predation in particular. It cost a little over $5.00 per U.S. family.

Another Biden bill is Public Law 110-408, the Criminal History Background Checks Pilot Extension Act of 2008. It extends a pilot program for volunteer groups to obtain criminal history background checks. No cost estimate yet.

While Senator Biden makes the world safe from criminals, Senator Obama has seen to it that we’re safe from . . . elemental mercury?

An Obama-introduced bill has become Public Law 110-477. It’s the Mercury Market Minimization Act, and it prohibits any federal agency from conveying, selling, or distributing elemental mercury; it prohibits the export of elemental mercury from the United States effective January 1, 2010; it requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to report to Congress on mercury compounds that may currently be used in products or processes; and it establish the Excess Mercury Storage Advisory Committee. Cost: about $0.04 per U.S. family.

Can’t wait to read the reports of the Excess Mercury Storage Advisory Committee!

Here’s the WashingtonWatch.com email newsletter for the week. Subscribe here.

email newsletter | tell a friend | wiki | about | home | log in On the WashingtonWatch.com Blog In each of the debates, Senators McCain and Obama have been asked what programs they would prioritize or cut given the large existing deficit and the weakening economy. Both have largely refused to talk about scaling back their spending plans. How they would both grow the debt is discussed on the WashingtonWatch.com blog. Featured Items Congress has adjourned until January, but leaders may call the membership back to take care of unfinished business later this year. Numerous bills have been passed into law in the last few weeks. The WashingtonWatch.com blog features many of them here, here, and here. Among the new laws is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008, which is now Public Law 110-422. The law authorizes fiscal year 2009 spending on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for science, aeronautics, exploration, and education. The cost of the law is about $200 per U.S. family. Another new law is the Health Centers Renewal Act, Public Law 110-355. The law amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize and spend money on a program that provides funding for community health centers. The law costs the average U.S. family about $100. P.L. 110-422 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 Costs $200.57 per family P.L. 110-355 The Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007 Costs $107.08 per family What People Think The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 50% For, 50% Against Vote on this Bill The Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007 25% For, 75% Against Vote on this Bill Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family. New Items S. 2779 A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to clarify that uncertified States and Indian tribes have the authority to use certain payments for certain noncoal reclamation projects Costs $0.00 per family S. 2609 The Global Service Fellowship Program Act of 2008 Costs $0.42 per family H.R. 1014 The Heart Disease Education, Analysis Research, and Treatment for Women Act Costs $1.60 per family S. 3065 The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area Act Costs $0.00 per family S. 3499 An original bill to protect innocent Americans from violent crime in national parks Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 642 The College Fire Prevention Act Costs $3.10 per family S. 2805 The Rio Grande Pueblos Irrigation Infrastructure Improvement Act Costs $0.21 per family P.L. 110-369 The United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act Costs $0.00 per family S. 3085 The Cooperative Watershed Management Act of 2008 Costs $0.37 per family H.R. 6658 The Disaster Response, Recovery, and Mitigation Enhancement Act of 2008 Costs $11.32 per family S. 3010 The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program Reauthorization Act Costs $0.06 per family S. 3194 The Oregon Surplus Federal Land Act of 2008 Costs $0.00 per family S. 3662 The Implementing the Controlled Unclassified Information Framework Act of 2008 Costs $0.58 per family H.R. 813 The Santa Ana River Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2007 Costs $0.27 per family H.R. 1139 The Riverside-Corona Feeder Water Supply Act Costs $0.20 per family S. 2535 The Martin Van Buren National Historic Site Boundary Revision Act Costs $0.01 per family S. 3069 The Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act Costs $0.09 per family Updated Items P.L. 110-389 The Veterans’ Notice Clarification Act of 2008 Saves $0.11 per family H.R. 1943 The Stop AIDS in Prison Act of 2007 Costs $0.16 per family P.L. 110-293 The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 Costs $1.28 per family P.L. 110-417 The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 Costs $0.27 per family Passed Items P.L. 110-383 The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2007 P.L. 110-384 The Let Our Veterans Rest in Peace Act of 2007 Costs $0.00 per family P.L. 110-385 The Broadband Data Improvement Act Costs $1.94 per family P.L. 110-386 The Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2007 Costs $7.63 per family P.L. 110-387 The Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007 Costs $8.06 per family P.L. 110-388 A bill to provide for the appointment of the Chief Human Capital Officer of the Department of Homeland Security by the Secretary of Homeland Security Costs $0.00 per family P.L. 110-389 The Veterans’ Notice Clarification Act of 2008 Costs $1.24 per family P.L. 110-390 The White Mountain Apache Tribe Rural Water System Loan Authorization Act P.L. 110-391 The Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program Act P.L. 110-392 The Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Act of 2007 Costs $11.94 per family P.L. 110-393 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 P.L. 110-394 The National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008 Costs $2.81 per family P.L. 110-398 To amend the commodity provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to permit producers to aggregate base acres and reconstitute farms to avoid the prohibition on receiving direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, or average crop revenue election payments when the sum of the base acres of a farm is 10 acres or less, and for other purposes Costs $0.01 per family P.L. 110-400 The Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2007 Costs $0.00 per family P.L. 110-401 The Combating Child Exploitation Act of 2007 Costs $5.13 per family P.L. 110-402 A bill to extend the authority of the United States Supreme Court Police to protect court officials off the Supreme Court Grounds and change the title of the Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice Costs $0.00 per family P.L. 110-403 The Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act of 2008 Costs $3.83 per family P.L. 110-404 The Presidential Historical Records Preservation Act of 2008 P.L. 110-405 The Air Carriage of International Mail Act P.L. 110-406 The Judicial Administration and Technical Amendments Act of 2008 P.L. 110-407 The Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008 P.L. 110-408 The Criminal History Background Checks Pilot Extension Act of 2008 P.L. 110-409 The Improving Government Accountability Act Costs $0.70 per family P.L. 110-411 The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2007 Costs $21.27 per family P.L. 110-412 The Personnel Reimbursement for Intelligence Cooperation and Enhancement of Homeland Security Act Costs $0.00 per family P.L. 110-413 The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act of 2008 P.L. 110-414 The Mercury Market Minimization Act of 2007 Costs $0.04 per family P.L. 110-415 The Methamphetamine Production Prevention Act of 2007 Costs $0.00 per family P.L. 110-416 The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2007 Costs $4.46 per family P.L. 110-417 The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 Costs $0.27 per family P.L. 110-419 To clarify the boundaries of Coastal Barrier Resources System Clam Pass Unit FL-64P P.L. 110-420 The Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2007 P.L. 110-421 The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2008 P.L. 110-422 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 Costs $200.57 per family P.L. 110-423 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 P.L. 110-424 To authorize funding for the National Advocacy Center Costs $0.26 per family P.L. 110-425 The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 Costs $0.17 per family P.L. 110-426 The Organ Transplant Authorization Act of 2008 P.L. 110-427 To authorize the Administrator of General Services to take certain actions with respect to parcels of real property located in Eastlake, Ohio, and Koochiching County, Minnesota, and for other purposes Costs $0.00 per family P.L. 110-428 The Inmate Tax Fraud Prevention Act of 2008 Costs $0.01 per family P.L. 110-429 To authorize the transfer of naval vessels to certain foreign recipients, and for other purposes P.L. 110-431 A bill to authorize funding for the National Crime Victim Law Institute to provide support for victims of crime under Crime Victims Legal Assistance Programs as a part of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 P.L. 110-432 The Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007 Costs $11.59 per family P.L. 110-433 To extend through 2013 the authority of the Federal Election Commission to impose civil money penalties on the basis of a schedule of penalties established and published by the Commission P.L. 110-434 The Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008 P.L. 110-435 The Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008 P.L. 110-436 To extend the Andean Trade Preference Act, and for other purposes email newsletter | tell a friend | wiki | about | home | privacy | contact | log in WashingtonWatch.com P.O. Box 77576 Washington, D.C. 20013

This Week with George Stephanopolous did a great little set-up piece this morning on the budget situation the two presidential candidates would face if elected.

In each of the debates, Senators McCain and Obama were asked what they would prioritize or cut given the large existing deficit and the weakening economy. Both largely refused to talk about scaling back their spending plans.

The ABC News piece says that Senator John McCain’s economic plan would “cost” $5.0 trillion dollars and Senator Obama’s $3.5 trillion over 10 years.

It’s difficult to find their source (happy to get more info in the comments, folks), but I suspect it’s this report from the Tax Policy Center. “Cost” is a little ambiguous: What it says is that their plans would increase the national debt by these amounts – about $40,000 (McCain) or $29,000 (Obama) per U.S. family.

Increases in debt are caused by either more spending or less revenue (that is, taxes). The report says “Obama would raise revenues by about $800 billion over the decade, while McCain would lose $600 billion.” That means higher taxes to the tune of about $6,400 per U.S. family under Obama’s plans over a ten-year period. McCain’s tax cuts would be a total of about $4,750 per U.S. family over ten years.

So, in summary, both candidates would increase the debt by increasing spending. Obama would increase the debt less because of higher taxes. McCain would increase the debt more by cutting taxes while increasing spending.

Which of these two choices do you prefer? (Maybe neither?)

The This Week piece also says the head of the Congressional Budget Office recently estimated the 2009 deficit at $750 billion. A group called the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget says it’s more like $1 trillion. That’s between $7,700 and $10,250 per family in overspending just this year, even before either of the presidential candidates really gets to start in with their promised spending.

Both candidates are whispering sweet nothings about all the spending they’ll do, but that’s a bit of a siren song considering how much debt we’re swimming in.

Actually, it’s not personal. Your representatives didn’t know what you thought of these bills when they passed them into law. It’s up to you to tell them.

The bills that received a cost estimate – about half of them – add up to just shy of $240 in spending per U.S. family. Lots of interesting stuff here, from Andean trade to railroad safety. Take a look.

Previous posts in this series here and here.

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A growing trend in federal legislating seems to be naming proposed laws after girls. That’s right: laws for girls.

Take Michelle’s Law. Passed recently to become Public Law 110-381, it is intended to ensure that dependent students who take a medically necessary leave of absence do not lose health insurance coverage.

Michelle was a real person. Diagnosed with colon cancer as a student, she was told by her doctors to cut back on school, but if she did she would lose her coverage. This page, focusing on a state version of this legislation, has the details.

Then there’s S. 144, known as Mynisha’s Law. It would provide Federal coordination and assistance in preventing gang violence. H.R. 1069 is the House companion bill. Mynisha Crenshaw was a San Bernardino girl, slain in an apparent gang-related shooting, and the bills are dedicated to her memory.

Jane’s Law, H.R. 871, is intended to strengthen enforcement of spousal court-ordered property distributions. You guessed it: Jane is a woman whose husband absconded with a bunch of property he owed her. Obviously, Jane is a woman, not a girl. Badly titled post.

Ari’s Law is in a similar vein. I’m pretty sure Ari is a boy’s name. And we can guess what happened to him. The bill would the construction of fencing and other protective structures along railroad tracks.

Haley’s Act (H.R. 1947) would promote safety and the welfare of big cats. That’s right: Haley was killed by a Siberian tiger.

There’s Danielle (House; Senate), and there’s Phylicia; Emily, and Savannah. Nino (House; Senate) – another boy, I think.

Jenny.

Now, each of these is a tragic or tough story for the victims and their loved ones, and I confess that I’m being a bit cavalier about them. But before you get mad at me, consider the politician who introduced the bill seeking to capitalize politically on the tragedy. Real as their pain is, I don’t like it when parents try to turn their private loss into public policy.

And there’s a real question whether the practice of lawmaking by anecdote is a good idea. Does one case illustrate a whole category where the law needs a fix and the fix won’t create new problems? Or are we punching holes in good law and spending money better used elsewhere just to make some bereaved parents happy for a while?

For my part, I’m taking bills named after girls to create reasonable suspicion of grandstanding, however real the tragedies behind them are.

The “swarm” of new laws featured earlier this week has grown. Below are the latest new laws to go on the books, hurried through Congress at the end of the regular session.

Most of them have received a cost estimate, and they add up to about $40 in spending per U.S. family. They cover all kinds of interesting topics.

Take a look:

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The plan to bailout the financial services industry has now become a plan to invest in it.  The President, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke announced a new plan yesterday, not to buy distressed assets, but to buy shares in distressed banks.

It’s a little bit of a stretch.  The bailout bills said the Treasury Secretary could “purchase, and [] make and fund commitments to purchase, troubled assets from any financial institution.” Now, we’re talking about buying pieces of the financial institutions themselves.

Whatever the case, you’re investing in the financial services industry, through your federal government.

If you’re a man, woman, or child – and chances are good that you are – you’re plunking down about $375. If your family is average – and it’s not; it’s very special – $990 is the size of your bet.

This AP article has some of the details. This Business Week article has others. But basically:

- JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Bank of America are each going to receive $25 billion apiece in exchange for shares of stock they give the government. That makes you and every other man, woman, and child in the United States an investor in each of these companies to the tune of about $80, which is about $250 per average family. Total: $240/$750

- Wells Fargo is supposed to get between $20 billion and $25 billion: That’s $65-$80 per person/$200-$250 per family.

- Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley should take $10 billion each, which is $30 per person, $100 per family. Total: $60/$200

- The Bank of New York and State Street Bank should get $2 billion to $3 billion apiece. Total: $12-20 per person/$40-$60 per family.

So there you have it: Every American just plunked down about $375 on the stock market, and every family about $990. In the risky financial services sector. It doesn’t matter much whether you think that’s a good idea. You don’t have any control over it – unless you’re going to be a voter in November.

On Saturday, I wrote here about how the National Debt Clock in New York City had run out of space. Things have taken a turn for the worse.

The U.S. Treasury’s version of the national debt clock is broken!

A visitor to this site emailed me today to point out that TreasuryDirect’s “Debt to the Penny and Who Holds It” feature is stopped. Stopped on Friday, October 10th.

Query what the national debt was on Monday, and it tells you about Friday, October 10th. Query what the national debt was on Tuesday, and it tells you about Friday, October 10th. Query any day after Friday, October 10th and it tells you about Friday, October 10th.

This may be great news: the national debt has stopped growing!

This may be dreadful news: The national debt is so high that computers can no longer compute it.

This may be sinister news: the U.S. Treasury is trying to conceal the debt numbers from the public!

Most likely, this is not really news: something is wrong with the Web site that displays this national debt clock.

But since we’ve had huge spending bills in Congress the last few weeks, this is no time for debt clocks to go out of whack. The public needs to see what’s going on from every direction, and the total national debt is a very important one.

By the way, just so you know, the national debt today is three or four days higher than:

$10,294,381,432,306.11

That’s $33,706.56 per man, woman, and child in the United States. $105,507.30 per average family.