House Leadership Pulls Deficit Reduction Reconciliation bill from House floor

The House leadership pulled the Deficit Reduction Reconciliation bill from the House floor yesterday afternoon because they did not yet have the votes to pass it.  The House recessed for Veterans Day as Members were all going home for events in their Congressional districts.  The leadership also announced that there would be no votes on Monday, Nov. 14. 

There are many issues at stake in this bill -- from important public lands/resource issues regarding oil/gas drilling to Medicaid to foodstamps to the cuts in farm programs, including the elimination of the popular Sec. 9006 Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Program and the Sec. 6401 Value-Add Grant Program.  Moderate Republicans were key in the creation of this stalemate in the House.  There will undoubtedly be many continuing efforts by the House leadership to persuade Members to change their votes, so this will be an important ongoing issue during the upcoming week. 

If you have questions, please email or call Jetta Wong at jwong@eesi.org or (202) 662-1885.  For more information on the House Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, see: http://www.house.gov/budget/.