New York’s senators are maneuvering within an extremely narrow window of opportunity as they try to pass legislation that would aid people exposed to toxic materials at the Sept. 11 attack site.Although Democrats Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrandsay they have the two Republican votes they need to block a filibuster, it remains unclear whether any GOP senators were swayed by the reduced $6.2 billion cost of the bill announced Dec. 19. As of Monday night, none had expressed public support for ending a filibuster.And even if Democratic leaders muster the votes to bring the bill (HR 847) to the floor, Senate Republicans could still trip it up by running out the clock. It is also uncertain whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., would be willing to keep her members in town, or to call them back next week, to clear the changes made in the Senate to win GOP support.“Let’s see what happens in the Senate, but there is interest in the House,” said a House Democratic aide.This story is from CQ Today. Request a free trial.Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has committed to holding a procedural vote to move to the health measure after a final vote on an arms control treaty (Treaty Doc 111-5) with Russia, which could take place as early as Dec. 23.The bill would create a 10-year program to treat and monitor individuals with medical conditions that resulted from exposure to toxic dust and other materials at the sites of the terrorist attacks or during debris removal. It would also reopen until 2031 enrollment for a fund that provides money to those injured during the attack or debris removal, and to the families of those who died during the attacks.Several senior Republicans dismissed the idea that the measure would be completed this year.Minority Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona said he believed debate on the arms agreement, known as New START, could continue into Dec. 24, leaving little time for debate on the Sept. 11 health bill.“If we’re on the START treaty on Christmas Eve, you can do the math yourself,” said Kyl, who declined to say whether he would support the health measure.A Democratic leadership aide said the START vote would come before Dec. 24, but that the Senate could be in session that day to deal with the health legislation.John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Republicans are likely to force at least three cloture votes on the measure. One would be on a motion to proceed to the bill, the second on a motion to adopt the Schumer amendment making changes to the House measure, and a third on the bill itself.If Republicans do not allow time on those cloture motions to run concurrently, Senate consideration of the bill would be pushed into next week. Despite Reid’s pledge to keep the Senate as long as it takes to finish its business, Cornyn said he thought it unlikely he would call the chamber back next week to work on the measure.“There would be bipartisan opposition to that,” he said. “I hope we can defer it to [the next Congress in] January. There’s no reason we have to do that now,” Cornyn added.Lower Cost EstimateThe Congressional Budget Office reported Monday that the revised bill, reduced to a 10-year cost of $6.2 billion from $7.4 billion, would trim the deficit by $57 million over 10 years.The new version also would shift the costs from corporate taxes, a mechanism that Republicans had opposed, to an excise tax on government purchases of material overseas, and extensions of increased fees on visas for so-called outsourcing companies and on foreign travelers.But despite changes to the measure’s size and funding and pressure from GOP allies in New York, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, no Senate Republicans have pledged support.Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who has been a target of Democratic lobbying, is still reviewing the revised legislation, said spokesman Michael Brumas.Susan Collins of Maine, another potential GOP supporter, called the new revenue provisions a “step in the right direction” but did not say whether she would vote for cloture.An aide to Gillibrand said supporters were not making further revisions to win Republican support. Supporters were promoting the legislation on Fox News, an important outlet for GOP lawmakers. And party members in the House were calling for leadership to stay in session to clear the bill for President Obama’s signature.“Whatever it takes to pass the bill — probably best to stay in session,” said Rep. Peter T. King, a New York Republican and sponsor of the House-passed measure.Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, was urging leaders to do “whatever it takes to get the job gone, even if it means keeping members in Washington,” said spokesman Ilan Kayatsky.The House passed its version of the measure in September.
New York’s senators are maneuvering within an extremely narrow window of opportunity as they try to pass legislation that would aid people exposed to toxic materials at the Sept. 11 attack site.
Although Democrats Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrandsay they have the two Republican votes they need to block a filibuster, it remains unclear whether any GOP senators were swayed by the reduced $6.2 billion cost of the bill announced Dec. 19. As of Monday night, none had expressed public support for ending a filibuster.
And even if Democratic leaders muster the votes to bring the bill (HR 847) to the floor, Senate Republicans could still trip it up by running out the clock. It is also uncertain whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., would be willing to keep her members in town, or to call them back next week, to clear the changes made in the Senate to win GOP support.
“Let’s see what happens in the Senate, but there is interest in the House,” said a House Democratic aide.
This story is from CQ Today. Request a free trial.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has committed to holding a procedural vote to move to the health measure after a final vote on an arms control treaty (Treaty Doc 111-5) with Russia, which could take place as early as Dec. 23.
The bill would create a 10-year program to treat and monitor individuals with medical conditions that resulted from exposure to toxic dust and other materials at the sites of the terrorist attacks or during debris removal. It would also reopen until 2031 enrollment for a fund that provides money to those injured during the attack or debris removal, and to the families of those who died during the attacks.
Several senior Republicans dismissed the idea that the measure would be completed this year.
Minority Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona said he believed debate on the arms agreement, known as New START, could continue into Dec. 24, leaving little time for debate on the Sept. 11 health bill.
“If we’re on the START treaty on Christmas Eve, you can do the math yourself,” said Kyl, who declined to say whether he would support the health measure.
A Democratic leadership aide said the START vote would come before Dec. 24, but that the Senate could be in session that day to deal with the health legislation.
John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Republicans are likely to force at least three cloture votes on the measure. One would be on a motion to proceed to the bill, the second on a motion to adopt the Schumer amendment making changes to the House measure, and a third on the bill itself.
If Republicans do not allow time on those cloture motions to run concurrently, Senate consideration of the bill would be pushed into next week. Despite Reid’s pledge to keep the Senate as long as it takes to finish its business, Cornyn said he thought it unlikely he would call the chamber back next week to work on the measure.
“There would be bipartisan opposition to that,” he said. “I hope we can defer it to [the next Congress in] January. There’s no reason we have to do that now,” Cornyn added.
Lower Cost Estimate
The Congressional Budget Office reported Monday that the revised bill, reduced to a 10-year cost of $6.2 billion from $7.4 billion, would trim the deficit by $57 million over 10 years.
The new version also would shift the costs from corporate taxes, a mechanism that Republicans had opposed, to an excise tax on government purchases of material overseas, and extensions of increased fees on visas for so-called outsourcing companies and on foreign travelers.
But despite changes to the measure’s size and funding and pressure from GOP allies in New York, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, no Senate Republicans have pledged support.
Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who has been a target of Democratic lobbying, is still reviewing the revised legislation, said spokesman Michael Brumas.
Susan Collins of Maine, another potential GOP supporter, called the new revenue provisions a “step in the right direction” but did not say whether she would vote for cloture.
An aide to Gillibrand said supporters were not making further revisions to win Republican support. Supporters were promoting the legislation on Fox News, an important outlet for GOP lawmakers. And party members in the House were calling for leadership to stay in session to clear the bill for President Obama’s signature.
“Whatever it takes to pass the bill — probably best to stay in session,” said Rep. Peter T. King, a New York Republican and sponsor of the House-passed measure.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, was urging leaders to do “whatever it takes to get the job gone, even if it means keeping members in Washington,” said spokesman Ilan Kayatsky.
The House passed its version of the measure in September.
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