This was the first major legislation passed under new Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), and it passed, surprisingly, without much drama.<\/p>\n
Perhaps Ryan was given the benefit of the doubt by his more intransigent Republican colleagues, who in essence forced the retirement of former Speaker John Boehner.<\/p>\n
The bill did not contain any of the provisions members of the House Freedom Caucus \u2014 the hard right wing faction of the Republican membership who oppose nearly everything that even smacks of compromise with Democrats or President Obama \u2014 coveted, such as the repeal of \u201cObamacare,\u201d or the defunding of Planned Parenthood. Nonetheless, it passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 316 \u2013 113.<\/p>\n
The most controversial part \u2014 which almost, but not quite, derailed the bipartisan agreement \u2014 was the ending of a decades-long ban on the export of U.S.-produced oil, a boon to domestic oil companies. But that was a compromise worth making for Democrats, who vehemently opposed the too-numerous-to-mention \u201cpoison pill\u201d riders originally placed in the bill by Republicans.<\/p>\n The most important thing the spending bill does, however, is nearly guarantee that the government will not be shut down over foolish partisan squabbles during most of the 2016 election cycle \u2014 such as the aforementioned Planned Parenthood or decreasing taxes on the wealthy \u2014 at least until next September when the general presidential election will be in full throttle. That\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n Locally, it means that our military installations \u2014 which fuel much of the local San Diego economy \u2014 will be fully funded. And of our local Congressional delegation, only Cazador Duncan (R-50)<\/strong> voted against the bill, effectively voting in favor of shutting down the federal government, just like during the fall of 2013.<\/p>\n Overall, it also means that the two sides can actually work together when it matters most \u2026 at least for now, or until the honeymoon is over for Paul Ryan.<\/p>\n En otras noticias \u2026<\/p>\n Scott Peters (D-52)<\/strong> took to the floor<\/a> of Congress to admonish Congressional leadership for not allowing a bipartisan bill with 185 co-sponsors \u2014 that would expand background checks on gun purchases to include gun shows and private sales \u2014 from coming to the floor to a vote. Over the course of four days, Peters took to the floor to read the names of the victims of gun violence that he and many other co-sponsors of this bill argue might still be alive had Congress acted on some simple reforms.<\/p>\n \u201cThoughts and prayers are not enough,\u201d Peters said from the floor of the House of Representatives. \u201cMoments of silence are not enough. Maybe, Mr. Speaker, instead of a moment of silence the American people could get a moment of action. A moment of action that might keep their community from being next.\u201d<\/p>\n In a story published by the San Diego Union Tribune<\/a>, none of Peters\u2019 opponents support the gun bills that have been introduced in Congress.<\/p>\n \u201cEach of these names has something in common: They were defenseless in the minutes between the start of the shooting and when police were able to arrive,\u201d said John Horst, a Republican candidate hoping to unseat Peters in 2016.<\/p>\n Horst told the Union Tribune that he would introduce a national open carry law that would allow every person legally entitled to own a gun to carry their firearms openly in a holster in all public areas.<\/p>\n Peters and his colleagues should be commended for their efforts to bring attention to this and other bills designed to make it more difficult for people who shouldn\u2019t have guns to legally purchase them.<\/p>\n On Dec. 21, Peters awarded a La Jolla resident who served as an infantryman in World War II a medal for his combat service in the European theater<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was my honor to give Donald Breitenberg this long overdue recognition for his brave service,\u201d Peters said. \u201cGetting our San Diego World War II veterans the recognition they have earned is the very least we can do to honor our greatest generation and the sacrifices they made for our nation.\u201d<\/p>\n Juan Vargas (D-51)<\/strong> joined a group of Congressmembers who penned a letter to the House Appropriations Committee<\/a> imploring them to increase funding for refugee assistance and resettlement programs in the 2016 budget.<\/p>\n \u201cOver 75 percent of those seeking refuge in the U.S. are women and children who are desperately trying to escape the danger that has removed them from their homes and continuously threatens their lives,\u201d said Vargas in a press release. \u201cOur screening process is rigorous and thorough; increasing funding would aid any areas where additional support is required. Providing the additional funds needed to support several refugee-related accounts would reflect our country\u2019s moral leadership and counter ISIS\u2019s barbaric acts.\u201d<\/p>\n You might recall that in November, Scott Peters and 46 other Democrats joined with Congressional Republicans in opposition of allowing any Syrian or Iraqi refugees fleeing ISIS atrocities into the United States.<\/p>\n![\"congressional_watch_sidebar\"](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/congressional_watch_sidebar.png\")
<\/a>The spending bill extends some tax breaks for middle and low-income families, renewable energy development and for some businesses. It also boosts funds for the Pentagon (military) and for Pell Grants \u2014 much needed aid to college students.<\/p>\n