Appropriations

House Republicans will get a chance to make their mark on the federal budget and U.S. debt and deficits as the majority party in the 112th Congress. 

Republicans were swept into the House leadership on a platform that included smaller government and a reduction of spending. 

Republican Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.) is poised to take over the helm of the House Budget Committee but he'll be looking at a different leader across the aisle. 

Ryan, 40, has been a vocal critic of the federal budget deficit and has proposed "A Roadmap for America's Future," a budget plan that has gotten mixed reviews from his own party. He was easily elected Tuesday to his seventh term. 

Running on a message to balance the federal budget and relying on the private sector to create jobs, Republican Sean Duffy won a long-held Democratic seat Tuesday night. 

"That message resonated out," he said in a story in the Eau Claire, Wis. Leader-Telegram.

Duffy takes over the seat held for 40 years by House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, who opted to retire.  

"We're going in a new direction," Duffy said last night.

Duffy won 52 percent to 44 percent over Democrat Julie Lassa. Duffy had planned a run before Obey announced his retirement, getting an early jump on Lassa.

An overwhelming majority of respondents (70 percent) say the government does not spend taxpayers' money wisely and fairly, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll.

The $193,400 designated for the survivors of Sen. Robert Bryd (D-W.Va.) that was included in the recently passed continuing resolution is drawing fire from the Alliance for Retirement Prosperity because it is being funded by taxpayers. 

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said he plans to push legislation to cap government spending each year at a predetermined percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).

Corker, a freshman senator who's distinguished himself on budgetary and financial issues, said he hopes to build bipartisan support for legislation to steadily reduce spending over time.

"What I plan on introducing very soon is a bill that caps the amount of spending relative to our gross domestic product," Corker told the conservative website PJTV. "And as you know, we've got to step it down over time, you can't do it in just one year."

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The Transportation Department will spend $776 million to improve buses and facilities in 45 states and Washington, D.C. 

The funding will be directed to 152 projects from the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) new State of Good Repair discretionary grant program, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Monday. 

The FTA estimates that more than 40 percent of the nation’s buses are currently in poor to marginal condition. 

A June DOT report showed that the cost of updating and repairing the nation's rail and bus system would cost approximately $78 billion, according to data from 43 of the nation’s rail and bus operators in rural and urban areas. 

The Senate easily passed a bill on a 69-30 vote Wednesday night to keep the government running through early December.

The Senate is expected to begin a series of three votes around 7 p.m., on a continuing resolution to keep the government running through Dec. 3. 

The measure funds programs at this year's levels and doesn't include the additional $20 billion in spending requests made by the Obama administration, somewhat smoothing its passage. 

Overall, the continuing resolution reduces spending of discretionary programs by $8.2 billion, according to a summary released today by Senate Democrats.

The Senate has started consideration of a continuing resolution with three votes expected to begin around 8 p.m., with passage expected Wednesday night. 

The measure, which will keep the government running through Dec. 3 and funds programs at this year's levels, didn't include the additional $20 billion in spending requests made by the Obama administration, somewhat smoothing its passage. 

Overall, the continuing resolution reduces spending of discretionary programs by $8.2 billion, according to a summary released today by Senate Democrats.

Senate Republicans are asking for a couple of major changes to the measure before it heads to the House and is cleared for President Obama's signature. 

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said early Wednesday afternoon he won't block a Senate vote on a stopgap spending bill, paving the way for the chamber to adjourn until after the November elections.

DeMint had earlier stated objections to a procedural vote on a continuing resolution to fund the government until December, stating that he did not want Democratic leaders to insert objectionable items or play politics with the spending legislation.

Following a Republican caucus lunch, however, DeMint said, "I want to go home."

"I hadn't seen the adjournment resolution, but if we can get a clean CR I think everyone can go home," DeMint said. "But they've added some things to it. I'm just taking a look at what they are... People are starting to smell the fumes of the airplanes out at the airport, and I know they want to go home."

DeMint said he was unaware of any specific objections to items that have been added to the continuing resolution.

"There was about a page of things, and I haven't gone over it with my staff yet," he said.

--Cross-posted from Blog Briefing Room