Don't expect a party invite Sen. David Vitter, R-La., shouldn't be surprised if he's not invited to the next party by some of his congressional colleagues. One week after he pushed to amend a transportation and housing bill with language barring automatic congressional pay increases, he's decrying a decision by the Obama administration to continue to allow members and...
Don't expect a party invite
Sen. David Vitter, R-La., shouldn't be surprised if he's not invited to the next party by some of his congressional colleagues. One week after he pushed to amend a transportation and housing bill with language barring automatic congressional pay increases, he's decrying a decision by the Obama administration to continue to allow members and staff to get federal subsidies for their health care, just as other federal employees do.
There had been questions about that ever since congressional Democrats bowed to Republican pressure, and agreed that congressional members and staff would, beginning January 1, 2014, get their health insurance from exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. The exchanges are being set up to help people choose private insurance coverage, and qualify for subsidies if their incomes meet the criteria.
But until last week, it wasn't clear how that language would be interpreted for members of Congress and their staffs. On Thursday, the administration revealed that their interpretation is that members and staff members must buy coverage from the exchanges, but are still eligible for the normal federal contributions for their health insurance.
"This is exactly why America rightly hates Washington. ObamaCare's a train wreck, even for Congress," Vitter said. "So it gets fixed - for Congress only. What the flip about fixing it for America?"
"And this behind-closed-doors deal, announced right after Congress is safely away from the crime scene on break, was fully supported by establishment Republicans. When it comes to protecting their own, they find a way to work just beautifully with the Democrats." Take that Mitch McConnell.
Cassidy's new flood insurance bill
Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, has introduced legislation designed he says to prevent big spikes in flood insurance premiums for Louisiana residents.
Under his bill, sections of a 2012 flood insurance law allowing sharp increases would be put on hold until FEMA adopts a flood mapping procedure that is fully vetted by local stakeholders and community leaders.
The bill also instructs FEMA to use a circular wind model where appropriate for maps, instead of a one-dimensional still water elevation system. Cassidy said that system of assessing flood risk isn't appropriate for coastal areas.
He would also return to criteria in effect before the 2012 flood insurance bill that allowed for a phase-out of subsidized flood insurance premiums when homeowners makes an improvement equal to 50 percent or more of the cost of the home. The 2012 flood insurance law lowered that threshold to 30 percent, which Cassidy contends is too low.
The bill is in addition to legislation, introduced by Cassidy and other Louisiana House members, which would delay some of the increases resulting from the 2012 flood insurance law until Sept. 30, 2014. That measure was approved as part of a House-passed homeland security bill. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who Cassidy is challenging in the 2014 Senate race, has added similar language to a Senate homeland security spending bill. Landrieu is chair of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.
Landrieu also has a stand-alone bill to block big premium increases.
No need to pay back that loan
Some Louisiana governmental entities got good news this week -- federal forgiveness of some disaster loans from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The forgiveness was made possible by legislation Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La, helped pass after she complained federal criteria for loan forgiveness didn't reflect the fiscal problems faced by Louisiana governmental entities. Many were without much of their tax base for months after the hurricanes.
Here are the loan amounts forgiven by FEMA: New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, $25.1 million; Orleans Levee district, $3.9 million; Slidell, $2 million; New Orleans Communications district, $1.3 million; New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, $896,756; and Jean Lafitte, $43,652.
Landrieu, Hoeven and pipeline economics
Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., joined North Dakota Republican Sen. John Hoeven Wednesday in offering a sense of Congress resolution that construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline is in the nation's national interest. "We have studied this project for long enough," Landrieu said. "We know its tremendous economic benefits and the critical role it will have for our nation's energy security. With Nebraska now on board, every state involved has realized this project is a job creator with minimal effects on the environment."
The decision rests with President Barack Obama.
The president recently told the New York Times that job estimates for the project, once pegged at 100,000, are grossly inflated. "My hope would be that any reporter who is looking at the facts would take the time to confirm that the most realistic estimates are this might create maybe 2,000 jobs during the construction of the pipeline -- which might take a year or two -- and then after that we're talking about somewhere between 50 and 100 jobs in an economy of 150 million working people," the president said.
The Washington Post did a fact check on the president's statement and concluded a more realistic estimate would be that 10,400 construction workers would get jobs for just under a half a year. On an annual basis, it said, the number would be 3,900.
Congress eases airport security ordeal for wounded soldiers
Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, said he is pleased the House has passed a bill that would ease airport security requirements for wounded and severely disabled service members and veterans. Richmond is an original co-sponsor of the bill.
He said "the bill will make a difference in the lives of our wounded heroes." Richmond continued: "This country has a duty to honor all veterans, especially those who are wounded and disabled. Once President Obama signs this bill into law, TSA will put in place expedited screening procedures for wounded warriors and severely injured veterans to ensure that those who sacrificed so much for their country are treated with respect and dignity while traveling."