"A Flurry of GOP Victories?"

This article by Charles Babington and Justin Blum mentions all the major legislation that passed both or one of the houses of Congress recently:

After years of partisan impasses and legislative failures, Congress in a matter of hours yesterday passed or advanced three far-reaching bills that will allocate billions of dollars and set new policies for guns, roads and energy.

You know what? I don't agree with these bills, but I never expected a significant "liberal" bill to pass in the current right-wing theocratic state of the nation, but the recent Congressional activity is promising for the future.

On guns:

After four days of emotionally charged debate, the Senate easily approved a broad liability exemption for the firearms industry that would protect gun manufacturers and sellers from lawsuits by shooting victims.

The legislation, which passed 65 to 31, would protect the industry from a rash of lawsuits brought forward in recent years, including the 33 cases brought by government entities such as the District of Columbia. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said the suits could bankrupt gun manufacturers and threaten police and military firearm supplies.

I think Frist is stretching it... And I generally don't like it when the National Rifle Association is happy, but it's sensible. I can live with this.

Transportation bill passed with a slightly bigger margin in the House:

Lawmakers packed $24 billion in special projects into the transportation bill that finally passed Congress yesterday, including $5.9 million for a Vermont snowmobile trail and $3 million for a documentary about Alaska infrastructure.

The legislation took nearly two years to complete and comes close to the $284 billion cap set by President Bush. Lawmakers were eager to deliver the heaping platter of road-construction dollars, mass-transit support and safety assistance. The package is worth $286.5 billion over six years, a 30 percent increase over the $218 billion program that expired in September 2003.

Of course, they all admit that it was popular because of the political capital involved in bringing home transportation and infrastructure projects and jobs.

Although lawmakers say they are trying to hold down spending, transportation dollars are regarded as among the more meritorious forms of pork.

Ah, gotta love the way bipartisanship works in this country.

Annnnnd, the energy bill. I couldn't finish listening to Ed Schulz analyze it, though it seemed that most responses were something like, "It's not great because it still keeps the U.S. Government subservient to the oil industry and hurts environment, but it's better than nothing. A net improvement." It's all kinda tricky:

The energy bill, [which was] touted as a way to reduce dependence on foreign oil or moderate gasoline prices, has been turned into a piñata of perks for energy industries.

"Every industry gets their own little program," said Myron Ebell of the free-market Competitive Enterprise Institute. "There's pork in there for everybody."

The bill exempts oil and gas industries from some clean-water laws, streamlines permits for oil wells and power lines on public lands, and helps the hydropower industry appeal environmental restrictions. One obscure provision would repeal a Depression-era law that has prevented consolidation of public utilities, potentially transforming the nation's electricity markets.

It also includes an estimated $85 billion worth of subsidies and tax breaks for most forms of energy -- including oil and gas, "clean coal," ethanol, electricity, and solar and wind power. The nuclear industry got subsidies for research, waste reprocessing, construction, operation and even decommission. The petroleum industry got new incentives to drill in the Gulf of Mexico -- as if $60-a-barrel oil wasn't enough of an incentive. The already-subsidized ethanol industry got a federal mandate that will nearly double its output by 2012 -- as well as new subsidies to develop ethanol from other sources.

The final bill dropped most of the controversial amendments that blocked passage of earlier versions, including authorizing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, relieving the petroleum industry of liability for the gasoline additive known as MBTE and exempting some communities from clean-air standards. Eco-friendly measures to tighten fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles and take a stand against global warming were deleted as well. What's left, said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), is "a smorgasbord."

Having JUST read The Crime against Nature by Robert Kennedy Jr, even the slightest concession to Big Oil seems infuriating and unjust. But overall, this new support for ethanol and alternative energy is great. Considering the Vice president is another one of 'em oilmen, it's a pleasant surprise to know that they're going to leave ANWR alone... for now.

From the first article:

Since his first State of the Union address in 2001, Bush has been calling for an energy policy, and he appointed Vice President Cheney to lead a task force to make recommendations. Since then, Bush has pressed Congress to enact a policy that would lower energy prices for consumers and businesses, and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

In the past year, oil prices have soared to record levels, pushing gasoline prices well above $2 a gallon. Prices for natural gas have also increased, leading to higher bills for consumers.

Yes, after a few trips to the gas station, I know this sad, sad fact about gas prices. Oh, and according to Robert Kennedy Jr's article, Cheney's energy task force was basically a coalition of industry execs trying to find ways to extract as much profit as possible while keeping their plan politically feasible.

And... some GOOD news- the Senate lives up to its "Support the Troops" slogans and approves additional funding for Veterans health care.

The Senate sent President Bush a $1.5 billion budget increase for veterans' health care programs yesterday as it cleared the first spending bill for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

The move ends an embarrassing episode for the administration, which had repeatedly miscalculated the needs of veterans and used outdated budget models in fashioning estimates for Congress.

I first heard this from Randi Rhodes on AAR. They sent them there, so they should be responsible and take care of them when they get back. But I also wonder if this signals anything about future plans in Iraq? Are they expecting more soldiers to return anytime soon?

And, last but definitely not least, the Patriot Act "extension" approved by Senate:

The Senate approved legislation last night that would make permanent most provisions of the USA Patriot Act anti-terrorism law while placing new limitations on the government's use of secret search and surveillance powers.

The vote, by unanimous consent in the GOP-controlled Senate, marks a defeat for the Bush administration, which campaigned heavily for total renewal of the law and opposed efforts to enact any new restrictions on government powers. The vote sets up fall negotiations between the Senate and the House, where lawmakers have approved legislation with fewer restrictions.

The only thing redeeming about this is the new limitations on the overtly invasive government powers. But PERMANENT provisions of the Patriot Act? Next thing you know, we'll be officially a tyrannical theocracy with Big Brother Bush and Completely Corruptible Cheney ruling every minute aspect of our lives.

And that sums up the flurry of ambivalent news stories for today. As you can see, none of this is "liberal" or even "moderate" stuff. But the key is that they're learning to compromise, kinda. Or avoid subjects on which they are at opposite polar ends. And where they CAN'T compromise, like the CAFTA, it's a very very close vote (had two Republican representatives actually VOTED, it would've tied and stalemated). I can hardly wait until 2006.