Mar 1, 2013
No one really tried to avert the sequester, the House of Representatives travels in style, and something good actually happened this week in Congress.
Sequester
Here is a rundown of what kind of effort each division of Congress put forth to try to avert the sequester. Senate Democrats offered S. 388: The American Family Economic Protection Act of 2013
This bill failed to pass the Senate; Republicans don't like it. Senate Republicans offered S. 16: Sequester Replacement
This bill failed to pass the Senate; Senators were uncomfortable giving the President the authority to do Congress' job. House Democrats wanted to vote on H.R. 699: The Stop the Sequester Job Loss Now Act
The House Republicans leadership wouldn't allow this bill to come up for a vote. House Republicans... did nothing. House Committee Travel Report, Oct 1 - Dec 31 2012 Examples of airfare we paid to send our Representatives on trips: $15,037 to send Todd Platts (R-PA) to India/Afghanistan for 4 days. Orbitz: $6,800 $19,743 to send Steven Pearce (R-NM) to Egypt/England for 4 days. Orbitz: $3,400 We paid similar costs per person for him to bring along 3 staff members. $8,023 to send Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) on a weekend trip to Germany. Staff member on same trip flew for $1,821. $10,200 each for Robert Wittman (R-VA), Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam delegate) and two staff members to spend 3 days in Taiwan and Japan. Orbitz: $1,900 per person. $13,575 for Bill Flores (R-TX) to go on the same trip on the same days $21,063 to fly Duncan Hunter (R-CA) to Afghanistan for a day. Orbitz: $8,800. Military transportation: Free. Total spent on House of Representatives travel in 3 months: $855,743.25 Good News: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Passes Congress ... Despite an attempt by House Republicans to eliminate protections for lesbians, immigrants, Native Americans, and college students.