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FARM BILL
The Chesapeake Bay stands to benefit from a $288 billion farm bill approved by Congress this week. Almost $400 million dollars of the bill is directed to reducing sediments in the bay.
"It's particularly of concern to my farmers who need to comply with environmental regulations and need help to change the way they run their farms and recognize people downstream," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th, the top Republican on the House Agriculture Committee.
Goodlatte called the House-passed Farm Bill "the most reform-minded farm bill that the House has considered." The bill passed with a veto proof vote, 318-106 Wednesday and similarly wide margin in the Senate Thursday.
The bill would increase conservation spending by nearly $8 billion and spend $10 billion on nutritional programs. President Bush had vowed to veto the bill for not doing enough to limit subsidies to wealthy farmers.
MOVING SHIPS
Seeking to prevent Navy ships based in Norfolk from being moved to Florida, Rep. Thelma Drake, R-2nd, succeeded in changing a military spending bill Wednesday to force the Navy to study the economic impact of relocating the vessels.
A Navy report has laid out 13 alternatives for moving surface ships to a homeport at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Fla. Drake's amendment would require the Secretary of the Navy to submit an additional report on the potential impacts to the community that will give up surface ships before finalizing a decision on the ship movements.
"It should not be assumed that all ships moved to Mayport will come from Norfolk," Drake said in a statement. "I believe the Secretary of the Navy should be well informed of all the options and potential impacts before making such an important decision."
Naval Station Norfolk is currently the home port for about 70 Navy vessels.
GOP PROBLEMS
In a 20-page political memo circulated among Republican Leaders, Rep. Tom Davis III, R-11th, says the election year outlook for Republicans "is the worst since Watergate."
In a memo that he calls "an honest assessment of where our party stands," Davis writes the political atmosphere is "far more toxic than the fall of 2006 when we lost thirty seats (and our majority)."
Citing "daunting and troubling" public opinion polls and fundraising totals, the outgoing Northern Virginia lawmaker warns the Republican Party that it needs to change to win.
Davis recommends the GOP put Democrats "on the defensive" and force action on issues like taxes and terrorism that can help Republicans with their core supporters.
"We can go our own way with our own programs, and even disassociate ourselves from President Bush. But, we should be on offense," the memo said.
SICK LEAVE
Rep. Jim Moran, D-8th, has found new ammunition in his quest to reform federal sick leave laws.
A Treasury Department report on IRS workers in 2005 and 2006 found the current "use it or lose it" sick leave policy led employees to use more sick leave as they neared retirement.
Federal employees hired since 1984 do not get compensation for unused sick time.
"This policy is bad for employee morale and is costing taxpayers $68 million per year in productivity losses," Moran said in a statement.
Moran has introduced a bill to give retiring workers a lump-sum payment of up to $10,000 for unused sick leave.
--Neil Simon
The Chesapeake Bay stands to benefit from a $288 billion farm bill approved by Congress this week. Almost $400 million dollars of the bill is directed to reducing sediments in the bay.
"It's particularly of concern to my farmers who need to comply with environmental regulations and need help to change the way they run their farms and recognize people downstream," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th, the top Republican on the House Agriculture Committee.
Goodlatte called the House-passed Farm Bill "the most reform-minded farm bill that the House has considered." The bill passed with a veto proof vote, 318-106 Wednesday and similarly wide margin in the Senate Thursday.
The bill would increase conservation spending by nearly $8 billion and spend $10 billion on nutritional programs. President Bush had vowed to veto the bill for not doing enough to limit subsidies to wealthy farmers.
MOVING SHIPS
Seeking to prevent Navy ships based in Norfolk from being moved to Florida, Rep. Thelma Drake, R-2nd, succeeded in changing a military spending bill Wednesday to force the Navy to study the economic impact of relocating the vessels.
A Navy report has laid out 13 alternatives for moving surface ships to a homeport at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Fla. Drake's amendment would require the Secretary of the Navy to submit an additional report on the potential impacts to the community that will give up surface ships before finalizing a decision on the ship movements.
"It should not be assumed that all ships moved to Mayport will come from Norfolk," Drake said in a statement. "I believe the Secretary of the Navy should be well informed of all the options and potential impacts before making such an important decision."
Naval Station Norfolk is currently the home port for about 70 Navy vessels.
GOP PROBLEMS
In a 20-page political memo circulated among Republican Leaders, Rep. Tom Davis III, R-11th, says the election year outlook for Republicans "is the worst since Watergate."
In a memo that he calls "an honest assessment of where our party stands," Davis writes the political atmosphere is "far more toxic than the fall of 2006 when we lost thirty seats (and our majority)."
Citing "daunting and troubling" public opinion polls and fundraising totals, the outgoing Northern Virginia lawmaker warns the Republican Party that it needs to change to win.
Davis recommends the GOP put Democrats "on the defensive" and force action on issues like taxes and terrorism that can help Republicans with their core supporters.
"We can go our own way with our own programs, and even disassociate ourselves from President Bush. But, we should be on offense," the memo said.
SICK LEAVE
Rep. Jim Moran, D-8th, has found new ammunition in his quest to reform federal sick leave laws.
A Treasury Department report on IRS workers in 2005 and 2006 found the current "use it or lose it" sick leave policy led employees to use more sick leave as they neared retirement.
Federal employees hired since 1984 do not get compensation for unused sick time.
"This policy is bad for employee morale and is costing taxpayers $68 million per year in productivity losses," Moran said in a statement.
Moran has introduced a bill to give retiring workers a lump-sum payment of up to $10,000 for unused sick leave.
--Neil Simon