Is the United States Senate moving towards a vote on unemployment extension?
Very interesting question. Let’s start by establishing the original population of the infant United States. The total population was about 2.67 million, broken down as follows: New Hampshire – 87,800 Massachusetts (including Plymouth) – 317,700 Rhode Island – 52,900 Connecticut – 206,700 New York – 210,500 New Jersey – 139,600 Pennsylvania – 327,300 Delaware – 45,400 Maryland – 245,500 Virginia – 538,000 North Carolina – 270,100 South Carolina – 180,000 Georgia – 56,100 http://merrill.olm.net/mdocs/pop/colonies/colonies.htm Now, “at the start of the United States” could be taken one of two ways, either as under the Articles of Confederation, or under the Constitution. Under the Articles it’s easy, each state had one vote in Congress, irrespective of population. So the ratios varied widely. There was no Senate. Under the Constitution, “The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty t
Senators differ on extending homebuyer tax credit By ANDREW TAYLOR (AP) – 2 days ago WASHINGTON — Top Democrats in the Senate are pressing a plan that would extend a popular tax credit for first-time homebuyers but gradually phase it out over the course of next year. The proposal, by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., would extend the $8,000 tax credit — which expires Nov. 30 — through March 31. Its value would drop by $2,000 for each of the subsequent three quarters of 2010. The plan, which could face a vote in the Senate this week, appears aimed at countering a far more generous $17 billion bipartisan plan that would extend the $8,000 credit through June 30, 2010, boost the income cap for eligibility and open the credit to all buyers, rather than first-timers. Senators are manuevering to add the homebuyer tax credit extension to legislation to extend unemployment benefits by up to 20 weeks. That bill faces a key test vote on
Ah, the arcane proceedings of government. Yesterday Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) threatened to hold a midnight vote to speed up bringing to the floor a final vote on pending unemployment extension legislation. On Tuesday the Senate passed a vote for cloture to proceed, which passed easily. However, there were amendments still in debate. In order to move forward without agreements on the amendments, it would be necessary to hold a roll call vote to proceed; the earliest this could have been done, according to Senate rules, is 30 hours after the cloture vote – that is to say, shortly after midnight this morning. Sources: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?
