House

House Democrats on Wednesday afternoon argued that Republicans should fix a federal mortgage aid bill rather than repeal it, but Republicans nonetheless were on track to vote on repealing the program by the end of the day.

At issue is H.R. 861, which would prevent another $1 billion from being spent on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), which funds the purchase and upkeep of foreclosed homes. This is one of three mortgage programs Republicans have already moved to terminate, and the GOP plans to terminate a fourth later this month.

Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) signaled agreement with a Rolling Stone editor who likened the general's performance to that of the troubled actor.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Wednesday argued that Congress should eliminate the $1.1 trillion in tax "loopholes and preferences" as a way of reducing the deficit because focusing only on spending cuts to discretionary spending will require cuts that go too deep for people who rely on these discretionary programs.

"Our tax code is a monumental collection of rules and regulations, riddled with loopholes and preferences which are a drain on job creation and frankly exacerbate the deficit," Hoyer said on the floor. Hoyer said these so-called "tax expenditures" exact a high price on U.S. productivity because businesses and families spend millions of hours working to minimize their taxes. He said ending these tax breaks and imposing lower tax rates overall would be more efficient.

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) on Tuesday said he would soon introduce the Free Competition in Currency Act, which would dismantle what he described as the federal government's self-proclaimed monopoly on legal tender in the U.S. and allow states and private enterprises to issue their own currency.

Paul made it clear that his intention is to end the ability of the federal government to control the supply of money and spend it as it sees fit, including on wars that Paul has consistently opposed.

The House will meet at noon today to begin consideration of H.R. 861, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Termination Act, which would end a federal program in which the government helps buy and develop foreclosed homes.

But the House has decided to postpone a planned vote on H.R. 839, the Home Affordable Modification Program Termination Act. That bill would end a Treasury program aimed at helping 3 to 4 million people by modifying at-risk mortgage loans. A vote on this bill is expected the week of March 28.

On Tuesday, the White House said it would veto both bills if they were approved by Congress and sent to the president.

Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) argued on the House floor Tuesday night that while women have a legal right to abortion in the U.S., women should reject this decision and bear all babies to term.

"Every one of us has the right to life, born and unborn, and it is the women who have the responsibility to make sure that that baby is born," Schmidt said.

"Unfortunately our courts, over 33 years ago, decided to change that, and decided that women have the right to end that life," she said. "But Mr. Speaker, we don't have that right. It is our responsibility to bear those children."

Fifty-four Republicans defected on the three-week spending measure; 85 Democrats voted with the GOP.

Approval of the rule sets up a final vote on the three-week funding measure cutting $6 billion in spending.

House Republicans and Democrats began debate on a three-week spending resolution shortly after noon, but the focus of the debate was H.R. 1, the complete FY 2011 spending bill approved by the House but rejected by the Senate. The debate was on the rule for the resolution, and debate and vote on the resolution itself will take place later in the afternoon.

Rep. Rob Woodall (R-Ga.) led the debate by saying the purpose of the three-week spending bill is to give the Senate more time to consider H.R. 1 and establish its own budget position so the House and Senate can negotiate.

"I rise today … to support this rule that will bring to the floor a continuing resolution that will give the Senate three more weeks to get its house in order to do the business that the American people sent the Senate here to do, to join us in doing the good work that we have done, and to move a bill to the president's desk," Woodall said.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) on Tuesday said he would not vote for the short-term spending bill, and said his vote would be in protest of the inability of Congress to find and make real budget cuts.

"I think it's time to take a stand for taxpayers and for future generations, and I will not vote for the short-term continuing resolution that is coming to the floor of the House today to make that statement," Pence said.

He also criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the House-passed budget, H.R. 1, that would have cut $61 billion in cuts.

"Is it reckless and irresponsible to ask for $61 billion in cuts when the national debt is 230 times that size?" he asked. "The truth is they just don't get it."