25,000 Earmarks and Counting

Our earmarks contest continues to expose congressional earmark requests. We now have over 25,000 earmarks in our database! Read the latest in a WashingtonWatch.com blog post called Earmarks Contest Update #4!“

There are less than 150 members of Congress and senators to go, but a few states still haven’t gotten the attention they should. Enter the contest – and benefit millions of your fellow Americans – by adding earmarks to the database through our earmark entry form.

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Featured Items

The House and Senate are in a recess that lasts until September – an opportunity to look at some of the bills that are popular on WashingtonWatch.com.

One bill that is heavily visited on the site is H.R. 161, the Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act. The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in taxes on Social Security benefits, effective January 1, 2009.

No cost estimate for the bill is available. Because it would reduce taxes, it would save the average U.S. family some amount of money. The specific beneficiaries of the tax reduction would be people who collect Social Security.

Another bill, popular on the site just in the past week, is H.R. 2943, the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009. The bill would eliminate most federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use.

No cost estimate for the bill is available. It would probably reduce revenue a small amount, a small savings to families on average, because of reduced collection of fines and penalties.

With intense debate about health care reform happening in “town hall” meetings across the country, H.R. 3200, the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, is another bill that is getting a lot of attention. According to its sponsors, the bill “would provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending.”

The bill would cost the average U.S. family over $12,000. Comments on the bill include discussion of so-called “death panels,” which has catalyzed debate about the health care proposals in Congress.

H.R. 161
The Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act

H.R. 2943
The Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009

H.R. 3200
The America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
Costs $12,182.95 per family

What People Think

The Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act 91% For, 9% Against Vote on this Bill

The Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009 94% For, 6% Against Vote on this Bill

The America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 9% For, 91% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

S. 787
The Clean Water Restoration Act
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 806
The Federal Executive Board Authorization Act of 2009
Costs $0.12 per family

S. 872
The Effective Homeland Security Management Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1288
The Emergency Management Assistance Compact Reauthorization Act of 2009
Costs $0.11 per family

H.R. 3175
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to Miami-Dade County certain federally owned land in Florida, and for other purposes
Costs $0.02 per family

H.R. 715
The Saguaro National Park Boundary Expansion and Study Act of 2009
Costs $0.26 per family

H.R. 940
To provide for the conveyance of National Forest System land in the State of Louisiana
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 859
The Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Amendments of 2009
Costs $0.36 per family

H.R. 2121
To provide for the transfer of certain Federal Property to the Galveston Historical Foundation
Costs $0.00 per family

Updated Items

none

Passed Items

P.L. 111-44
The New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal Act

P.L. 111-45
To authorize the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office to use funds made available under the Trademark Act of 1946 for patent operations in order to avoid furloughs and reductions-in-force, and for other purposes

P.L. 111-46
To restore sums to the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes

P.L. 111-47
Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program

P.L. 111-48
The Miami Dade College Land Conveyance Act

P.L. 111-49
The Judicial Survivors Protection Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family