House approves six amendments to spending bill, continues work on funding limitations

The House on Thursday evening approved six funding limitation amendments to its FY 2011 spending bill, and then continued consideration of amendments into Thursday night. The process was again expected to go late into the night in the hopes that the bill can be completed either Thursday or Friday.

The House approved amendments that would:

• Prevent the use of funds for presidential campaigns or political conventions, from Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.). The vote was 247-175. This amendment is similar to a bill the House has already passed, and would save $38 million in FY 2011.

• Bar funds from being used to enforce certain requirements of the Federal Fire Prevention Act, from Rep. David Price (D-N.C.). The vote was 267-159.

• Stop the Federal Communications Commission from spending any money to implement its December decision to regulate the Internet, from Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.). The vote was 244-181.

• Cease the government's reimbursement of legal fees in court cases the government loses, to allow for an assessment of which groups are getting those funds, from Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.). The vote was 232-197.

• Block implementation of an Environmental Protection Agency rule setting limits on mercury in cement, from Rep. John Carter (R-Texas). The vote was 250-177.

• Eliminate funding for all "czar" positions in the administration, from Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.). The vote was 249-179.

The House rejected amendments that would:

• Prevent any money from being spent on research or development of the expeditionary fighting vehicle or the V-22 Osprey aircraft, from Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.). The vote was 91-339.

• Stop funds from being used to open locks that keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes, from Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.). The vote was 137-292.

• Transfer $131 million from the Treasury Department and IRS to the Securities and Exchange Commission, from Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.). The vote was 160-270.

• Transfer $63 million from IRS enforcement to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, from Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.). The vote was 163-265.