From the Blog: Comment Control

The bills in Congress can be controversial, not everyone deals with conflict well, and it’s tough to balance free speech with civility. The 25,000 comments on a bill to extend unemployment benefits illustrate that tension well.

So last week we added an “automated schoolmarm” to our comment system, inviting people to tone down their language when they post harsh comments. Does it work? Eh . . . so so. Read about it in a post called: “A Fun New Comment System Improvement!“

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Featured Items

This week, the House and Senate will address a variety of different issues.

The House will debate H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. The bill would authorize spending on the operation of the Coast Guard for the 2010 fiscal year.

The Coast Guard is a military service that protects the maritime economy and environment, defends U.S. maritime borders, and rescues boaters in peril.

Passage of H.R. 3619 would cost the average U.S. family about $87.

The House will also debate H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act. This bill would guide and provide for research, development, and demonstration of solar energy technologies.

Passage of H.R. 3585 would cost the average U.S. family about $12.50.

The Senate will debate S. 1776, the Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009.

The bill would repeal the “sustainable growth rate” formula that is currently used to establish Medicare physician payment rates each year.

Future payment updates would be set at zero, for now, setting the stage for creating a new payment formula as part of broader health care reform or other legislation.

A cost estimate for S. 1776 is not yet available.

H.R. 3619
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010
Costs $86.94 per family

H.R. 3585
The Solar Technology Roadmap Act
Costs $12.48 per family

S. 1776
The Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009

What People Think

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 53% For, 47% Against Vote on this Bill

The Solar Technology Roadmap Act 56% For, 44% Against Vote on this Bill

The Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009 40% For, 60% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

H.R. 3570
The Satellite Home Viewer Update and Reauthorization Act of 2009
Costs $10.96 per family

H.R. 3585
The Solar Technology Roadmap Act
Costs $12.48 per family

S. 965
The Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act
Costs $0.23 per family

S. 1105
The Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act
Costs $1.54 per family

S. 1388
The Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act
Costs $1.01 per family

H.R. 3548
The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009
Costs $24.41 per family

H.R. 1471
To expand the boundary of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in the State of Georgia, to redesignate the unit as a National Historical Park, and for other purposes
Costs $0.45 per family

H.R. 2811
To amend title 18, United States Code, to include constrictor snakes of the species Python genera as an injurious animal
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2489
The AmericaView Geospatial Imagery Mapping Program Act
Costs $0.42 per family

Updated Items

none

Passed Items

P.L. 111-70
To amend the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 to reauthorize the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy

P.L. 111-71
To amend the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to extend by one year the operation of Radio Free Asia, and for other purposes

P.L. 111-72
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay the date on which the accreditation requirement under the Medicare Program applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies

P.L. 111-73
The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009