Omnibus Energy Bill Considered in the House
On December 5, 2007, the full House of Representatives voted 235 to 181 to pass a 1,036-page energy bill (H.R. 6). While expressing support for some of the key provisions, Congressman Todd Platts voted against the overall package.
“For the last several years, I have been working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle in leading efforts in Congress to strengthen our nation’s energy independence and decrease our reliance on foreign oil. It was with great disappointment that I felt compelled to oppose the energy bill that was approved by the House of Representatives last week,” Congressman Platts stated. “While this legislation included measures that I have long championed—such as raising fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks and increasing renewable energy usage—it also contained $21 billion in tax increases, almost three times the tax increase included in the original version of H.R. 6, as well as ‘earmarks’ and other programs that were completely unrelated to energy independence.”
The original version of H.R. 6, which was passed by the House of Representatives in January, would have raised about $7 billion in revenue over 10 years largely by eliminating a special reduced corporate tax rate given to oil companies in 2004. The new version of H.R. 6, which was considered under a special rule that expedited consideration and prohibited amendments, contains three times this amount in tax increases—including higher taxes on energy investments and some tax increases unrelated to energy altogether. The new version of H.R. 6 also contains nearly $2 billion in spending on infrastructure for New York City and $160 million for a new fish habitat program.
H.R. 6 is now pending consideration in the Senate. Congressman Platts urged the Senate to remove the additional taxes contained in H.R. 6 and focus the bill solely on energy independence.
Medicare Prescription Drug Open Enrollment Period
The open enrollment period for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit began on November 15, 2007 and will end on December 31, 2007. During the open enrollment period, seniors can switch to another prescription drug plan without penalty. Current enrollees may want to review their existing drug plan, as well as any changes which have been made to it, to ensure it continues to meet their needs.
For assistance, please call APPRISE at 1-800-783-7067 or the office of Congressman Platts at 1-877-902-1919. The office's web site also contains information at http://www.house.gov/platts/services/medicare-rx.shtml. The next open enrollment period will not begin until November 15, 2008.
House Reconsiders Terrorist Surveillance Law
On November 15, 2007, the House voted 227-189 to pass legislation (H.R. 3773) which would require intelligence agencies to obtain warrants for the surveillance of foreign terrorist suspects. H.R. 3773 would effectively repeal a law enacted in August expressly permitting intelligence gathering without a court-issued warrant so long as there are reasonable safeguards in place to determine the targets of the surveillance are outside the country (see the August 2007 E-Newsletter).
Critics of H.R. 3773 argued that a warrant requirement would undermine effective intelligence gathering. Congressman Platts voted against H.R. 3773. The legislation is now pending in the Senate.
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