Before Congress can appropriate a dime, they have to pass a budget resolution. That is basically instructions to the appropriations committees in the House and Senate on how much they can spend and not where to spend it. The House and Senate are both expected to hold their final votes on the conference report for the fiscal 2010 budget resolution today.
According to CQ, "though nonbinding, the budget resolution sets a framework for future tax and spending decisions. It includes controversial reconciliation instructions that would ease passage of legislation, sought by Obama, to overhaul the nation’s health care system and curtail the role of private lenders in the federal student aid program. "
Stay tuned for the financial aid issue. This is more policy than appropriations, hence will the Obama administration succeed in making Pell Grants an entitlement program. And while we're on the financial aid front, the movement to have a central lending program run out to the Dept. of Education grows. Currently universities can choose between being a private lending school or a direct (gov't) lending school. As more private carriers get out of the business or keep bundling loans and selling to the Dept. of Education, the direct lending issue will grow.
29 April 2009
17 April 2009
Recess is over.....
Congressional recess that is. Well it's almost over, Monday they'll be back after being out for two weeks. They'll need to finish the FY 10 budget, maybe, and then move into the appropriations (actually handing out the money) process.
Also, energy bills will soon generate more attention. House Chairman Henry A. Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Edward J. Markey of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee released a draft of their omnibus bill several days ago. This includes climate change. http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1560&Itemid=93
In the senate Senator Jeff Bingaman has several bills (unlike the Waxman bill, energy and climate change are handled separately here) drafted and can be found here: http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=EnergyBill.2009
Bottom line is energy will be discussed soon and to a greater degree.
Side note, President Murano has been asked to co-chair a national commission on energy. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (formerly NASULGC) have created the Energy Initiative Advisory Committee to provide ongoing advice and help to congress and the administration on behalf of public universities. Gordon Gee, President of The Ohio State University is a co-chair with President Murano. Stay tuned!
Also, energy bills will soon generate more attention. House Chairman Henry A. Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Edward J. Markey of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee released a draft of their omnibus bill several days ago. This includes climate change. http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1560&Itemid=93
In the senate Senator Jeff Bingaman has several bills (unlike the Waxman bill, energy and climate change are handled separately here) drafted and can be found here: http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=EnergyBill.2009
Bottom line is energy will be discussed soon and to a greater degree.
Side note, President Murano has been asked to co-chair a national commission on energy. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (formerly NASULGC) have created the Energy Initiative Advisory Committee to provide ongoing advice and help to congress and the administration on behalf of public universities. Gordon Gee, President of The Ohio State University is a co-chair with President Murano. Stay tuned!
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