On the Blog: Newtown

The tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, has spurred an emotional debate about gun deaths and violence.

The question is: “Should Emotion or Reason Rule?“

Featured Item

This week, the House and Senate come back to Washington, D.C., Thursday after Christmas anticipating debate on legislation to address the “fiscal cliff.”

The Senate will also debate a “Superstorm Sandy” spending bill. The Senate will amend H.R. 1, which was a full-year spending bill that did not pass.

The Senate bill, described in a post entitled, “Superstorm Sandy Spending, It’s Building Strength,” will likely spend about $520 per U.S. family. House version H.R. 6581 would spend about $115.

H.R. 6581
The Hurricane Sandy Recovery and Rebuilding Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2013
Costs $115.04 per family

What People Think

The Hurricane Sandy Recovery and Rebuilding Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2013 43% For, 57% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

S. 1744
The Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act
Costs $0.94 per family

H.R. 6684
The Spending Reduction Act of 2012
Saves $52.82 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 2471
To amend section 2710 of title 18, United States Code, to clarify that a video tape service provider may obtain a consumer’s informed, written consent on an ongoing basis and that consent may be obtained through the Internet
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 3193
The Barona Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Clarification Act of 2012
Costs $0.00 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 112-208
The Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal Act of 2012
Costs $0.01 per family

P.L. 112-209
The March of Dimes Commemorative Coin Act of 2011

P.L. 112-210
The American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act

P.L. 112-211
The Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 112-212
The Bridgeport Indian Colony Land Trust, Health, and Economic Development Act of 2011
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 112-213
The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011
Costs $230.79 per family

P.L. 112-214
To allow the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to determine the requirements for membership in that tribe

P.L. 112-215
To amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act with respect to information provided to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 112-216
To amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to limit the fee disclosure requirement for an automatic teller machine to the screen of that machine
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 112-217
The Department of Homeland Security Improved Financial Accountability Act of 2011
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 112-218
The No-Hassle Flying Act of 2012