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OVERNIGHT MONEY: Veterans jobs bill up on the Senate floor
TUESDAY'S BIG STORY:
Veterans jobs riding shotgun: A veterans jobs bill is jumping into the front seat of the Senate agenda this week as the chamber tries to move forward on the measure being pushed by Democrats and the White House.
With everyone getting back into what will be a short-term groove on Capitol Hill after a five-week recess, the upper chamber will consider the bill that would help step up efforts for veterans to find jobs after returning to civilian life.
The measure, which provides $1 billion over five years, would increase training and hiring opportunities for veterans, and help them move into positions as first-responders such as firefighters and police officers, as well as into conservation and resource management, such as maintaining the infrastructure and facilities needed at national and state parks, wildlife refuges and coastal areas.
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the bill would create “really good jobs” and “really important jobs.”
The bill will need 60 votes to move forward.
Even if the Senate can get through cloture and pass a bill, it is unlikely that the Republican-controlled House would take up the measure any time soon.
The measure also establishes a pilot program to provide veterans with the tools needed to conduct Internet job searches as well as a program to help veterans and their families relocate for work.
In addition, it helps provides veterans in rural areas gain greater access to career specialists to help them write resumes and prepare for interviews.
The measure is paid for by authorizing the IRS to recover additional money from Medicare providers and suppliers who are delinquent on their tax bills, and rescinding or denying passports to any individuals who owe in excess of $50,000 in unpaid taxes.
"This bill would provide returning veterans with short-term jobs to get them on their feet while transitioning back to civilian life," said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) recently.
"Our vets deserve better than political gridlock, and we should work together to quickly get this to the president’s desk.”
Jobs are a central issue in the presidential campaigns, and President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney have picked up their pace of jabs over veterans issues in recent weeks.
Democrats and Republicans ganged up on Romney for not mentioning veterans or the war in Afghanistan in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.
Meanwhile, Romney's campaign argues that the president wants to slash defense spending, thus hurting veterans.
As of last month, there were more than 225,000 unemployed post-9/11 veterans, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
WHAT ELSE TO WATCH FOR
Healthcare reform: A House panel will hold a hearing Tuesday on the Internal Revenue Service’s role in implementing the healthcare reform law.
The House Ways Ways and Means subcommittee will examine the IRS's new duties under the law and how it affects taxpayers. Steven Miller, deputy commissioner for Services and Enforcement for the Internal Revenue Service, will testify along with a group of tax experts.
Plow ahead, maybe: Sen. Debbie Stabenow, chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is again ramping up her efforts to get a farm bill passed before the current measure expires at the end of the month.
The Michigan Democrat will hold a conference call on Tuesday as farmers and ranchers still absorb the hit from this summer's drought.
The Senate has passed a bipartisan farm bill, but the House was only able to get through a drought relief package before breaking for the August recess. The farm lobby is expected to rally in Washington later this week to urge action from lawmakers.
BREAKING NEWS
Deficit eclipses $1T: The Congressional Budget Office reported Monday that the budget deficit has hit $1.17 trillion through the first 11 months of the fiscal year after $192 billion was added to the deficit in August.
This is the fourth straight year that the deficit will exceed one trillion dollars, all under President Obama. The deficit in 2008 was $459 billion.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
Trade Balance: The Department of Commerce releases July data on exports and imports of U.S. goods and services.
WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
— Conrad tied to Obama's failure to embrace Bowles-Simpson, book says
— Chamber to Washington: Don’t blow it
— Two Senate Democrats renew push for refinancing bill
— Liberal tax watchdog says new Romney claims 'impossible'
— More metros showing improvement in housing markets
Catch us on Twitter: @VickoftheHill, @peteschroeder, @elwasson and @berniebecker3
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