House approves financial services spending bill

The House on Thursday approved the $24.1 billion fiscal 2010 Financial Services appropriations bill, 219-208, after rejecting 15 Republican amendments.

Approval came after the House barely passed the rule for the bill on a 215-213 vote after several Democrats changed their votes.

Republicans charged Democratic leaders held the vote open well beyond the allotted five minutes to flip more of their members.

Thirty-nine Democrats voted against the rule, including some who were concerned that Democratic leaders did not allow an amendment to reinstate a ban on the use of all public funds for abortions in the District of Columbia. The bill includes federal funding for the city.

Some Democrats also voted against the rule because of concern over a provision to restore dealer franchise agreements that had been terminated by General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC.

"We are playing with fire," said Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., who voted for the rule but warned Congress cannot help the auto dealers at the expense of the automakers on whom they depend.

Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., who backs the dealers' language, said it "is simply an effort to find a way to give auto dealers across the country [an opportunity for a review process.] GM and Chrysler have set up their own arbitrary process to shut them down."

Obey said he supports the provision because of the nearly 200,000 jobs that would be lost if the dealers were to shut down and because the automakers have received $60 billion in government funding. "I hardly think they have been underprivileged," Obey said.

He added that, "I don't think anybody expects that language to survive intact. What we do want is to see that language is used as an opportunity to work out a better appeals process" for the dealers.

The White House on Wednesday came out against the dealers' provision.

During debate, Republicans continued their criticism of Democratic leaders for limiting amendments to the appropriations bills and said the leaders were trying to protect their members from having to take votes on contentious issues such as abortion rights and expanding D.C.'s school voucher program. The bill includes a provision to only fund students who are currently in the program.

Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, who sought to have the voucher amendment considered, said "it is outrageous that members on either side of the aisle don't have an opportunity to offer amendments to these appropriations bills."

Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., said Republicans were just seeking to look tough on those issues to burnish their reputations in their districts.

Meanwhile, Democratic leaders did approve one Republican amendment, on a voice vote, from Rep. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota that would increase by $15 million the appropriation for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network at the Treasury Department. It would be offset by an equal reduction in the General Services Administration's rent account.

The House defeated four amendments, including a proposal by Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., that would cut all the $4.2 million provided for the President's Council of Economic Advisers and another from Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., to reduce by $50 million funding for states to upgrade their voting machines and systems under the Help America Vote Act.

Price's amendment was defeated 279-146 and Emerson's 250-172.

An amendment from Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., defeated 247-189, would have imposed a 5 percent across-the-board cut totaling $1.2 billion on the bill. A proposal from Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., rejected 282-149, would have cut funding to the office of the president's climate change czar.

Broun argued that funding for the office is a waste of money since the White House czars are not confirmed by the Senate, and avoid congressional oversight. "The current administration has no less than 30 czars, more than Communist Russia," Broun said.

Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Norman Dicks, D-Wash., said that it does not make sense to hinder the government's efforts to address global warming just as Congress is seeking to address the matter.

"The gentleman's view represents a misguided view on climate change and global warming," Dicks said.

The House also rejected 11 amendments from Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., seeking to cut earmarks from the bill, including $900,000 in funding for an infrastructure expansion project to promote small business in the city of Loma Linda and the city of Grand Terrace, Calif., requested by Appropriations Committee ranking member Jerry Lewis, R-Calif.

The House on Friday is expected to wrap up work on the $33.3 billion fiscal 2010 Energy and Water appropriations bill, with votes on the remaining 13 amendments to the bill, including a proposal from Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, to eliminate $500,000 to upgrade the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art's antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning system with direct digital control systems.