The following is a roundup of political activity going on in Washington and across the nation. It’s courtesy of Scott Wilk, Community Organizer, and Anchor Consulting group. The Beacon will be posting these daily as they become available.

In the House:

• The House convenes at 10:30 a.m. for morning hour, proceeding to legislative business at 12:00 p.m.
• Unlimited “One Minutes” Per Side
• The following votes will be considered under suspension:
  1. H.Res. 505 – Condemning the murder of Dr. George Tiller, who was shot to death at his church on May 31, 2009 (Rep. Slaughter – Judiciary)
  2. H.Res. 515 – Condemning the murder of Army Private William Long and the wounding of Army Private Quinton Ezeagwula, who were shot outside the Army Navy Career Center in Little Rock, Arkansas on June 1, 2009 (Rep. Franks – Judiciary)
  3. H.R. 2675 – Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 Extension Act (Rep. Johnson (GA) – Judiciary)
  4. H.R. 1741 – Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2009 (Rep. Cummings Judiciary)
  5. H.R. 2344 – Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009 (Rep. Inslee – Judiciary)
  6. H.Res. 503 – National Recognizing National Physical Education and Sport Week (Rep. Altmire – Education and Labor)
  7. H.Res. 453 – Recognizing the significant accomplishments of the AmeriCorps and encouraging all citizens to join in a national effort to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni, and raise awareness about the importance of national and community service (Rep. Matsui – Education and Labor)
  8. H.Res. 411 – Supporting the goals and ideals of the Intermediate Space Challenge in Mojave, California (Rep. McCarthy (CA) – Education and Labor)
  9. H.Res. 454 – Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (Rep. Poe – Education and Labor)
  10. H.R. 1687 – To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at McKinley Avenue and Third Street, SW., Canton, Ohio, as the “Ralph Regula Federal Building and United States Courthouse” (Rep. Boccieri – Transportation and Infrastructure)
  11. H.Res. 472 – Congratulating and saluting the seventieth anniversary of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and their dedication to general aviation, safety and the important contribution general aviation provides to the United States (Rep. Dent – Transportation and Infrastructure)
  12. H.Res. 410 – Recognizing the numerous contributions of the recreational boating community and the boating industry to the continuing prosperity and affluence of the United States (Rep. Klein – Transportation and Infrastructure)
  13. H.Res. 484 – Expressing support for designation of June 10th as “National Pipeline Safety Day” (Rep. Larsen – Transportation and Infrastructure)
  14. H.Res. 385 – Celebrating the life of Millard Fuller, a life which provides all the evidence one needs to believe in the power of the human spirit to inspire hope and lift the burdens of poverty and despair from the shoulders of one’s fellow man (Rep. Bishop (GA) – Financial Services)
  15. H.Res. 502 – Recognizing National Homeownership Month and the importance of homeownership in the United States (Rep. Gary Miller – Financial Services)
  16. H.Res. 498 – Honoring and congratulating the U.S. Border Patrol on its 85th anniversary (Rep. Teague – Homeland Security)
  17. H.R. 2751 – Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act (Rep. Sutton – Energy and Commerce)

• The House Appropriations Committee has two bill markups scheduled for today:
  1. Subcommittee Markup – Legislative Branch
  2. 9:30 AM, H-144 The Capitol
  3. Full Committee Markup – Commerce Justice Science
  4. 11:00 AM, 2359 Rayburn

In the Senate:

• The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.
• Morning Business for up to 1 hour. Majority will control the first 30 minutes and the Republicans will control the second 30 minutes. Senators will be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.
• Following morning business, resume consideration of H.R. 1256, Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
• Time during any recess, adjournment, or period of morning business will count post-cloture.
• The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.
• 4:30 vote in relation to Burr substitute amendment.
• Additional roll call votes are expected to occur throughout the day as senators work through other amendments to the bill.
• The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee continues its mark up of draft energy policy legislation. 10 a.m., 366 Dirksen
• Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) has unveiled a compromise public insurance plan that functions much like a co-op. Under the plan, which is designed to bridge the gap between Republicans who oppose a government-run insurance plan and Democrats who support one, the plan would be a non-profit entity. It would be subject to the same rules as private insurers, controlled by the members of the health plan, governed by an elected board; and surpluses would be returned to members or reinvested.

Other News

• With public doubts growing over whether the stimulus will have a significant effect on the slumping economy, President Obama “vowed Monday to accelerate stimulus spending with the goal of creating or saving 600,000 jobs by summer’s end.” (LAT)
• The President’s announcement came “in the wake of 9.4 percent unemployment, as a new opinion poll showed lower confidence in his handling of the economy.” (The Hill)
• Despite the nominee having been “approved easily by the Senate homeland-security committee in May,” Republican Senators “are blocking a vote on the nomination of Robert Groves to be the Census Bureau’s director, leaving the agency without a leader less than a year before the 2010 nationwide head count… It is unclear why Republicans are blocking the vote. A McConnell spokeswoman, Jennifer Morris, said she had no information on the delay.” (WSJ)
• Virginia Democrats head to the polls today to select a gubernatorial nominee from three candidates: state Sen. Creigh Deeds, former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe, and former state Del. Brian Moran.  The latest polls show Deeds with a lead over his two rivals.  The winner will face former state attorney general Bob McDonnell (R) in November. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• “The Supreme Court refused on Monday to hear a legal challenge to the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, a decision that allows the Obama administration to continue its slow, back-burner response to liberal activists who want gays to serve openly in the military.” (ABC)
• In other SCOTUS news, the High Court ruled that “[e]lected judges must disqualify themselves from cases involving people who spent exceptionally large sums to put them on the bench,” in remanding a case that served as the basis for John Grisham’s most recent novel. (NYT)
• “Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was warmly welcomed Monday night to a major GOP fundraiser dinner, a development that was surprising only because her appearance came after a bizarre, weeks-long saga that had party leaders questioning whether she would show up.” (WaPo)

Federal Grant of the Day

• Green Retrofit Program for Multifamily Housing
• Grants and loans will be made available through HUD’s Office of Affordable Housing Preservation (OAHP) for eligible property owners to make energy and green retrofit investments in the property, to ensure the maintenance and preservation of the property, the continued operation and maintenance of energy efficiency technologies, and the timely expenditure of funds. Physical and financial analyses of the properties will be conducted to determine the size of each grant and loan. Incentives will be made available to participating owners. The terms of the grants or loans will include continued affordability agreements. Grant and loan funds must be spent by the receiving property owner within two years. No Applications will be accepted until June 15, 2009. Applications received after on and after that date will be evaluated on a first come, first served basis.

Today in History

• On June 9, 1973, Secretariat became the first horse since Citation in 1948 to win America’s coveted Triple Crown–the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. In one of the finest performances in racing history, Secretariat, ridden by Ron Turcotte, completed the 1.5-mile race in 2 minutes and 24 seconds, a dirt-track record for that distance.

Source and thanks to www.anchor-consult.com | For more information, contact Jamie Gregorian at 571-205-1393 or jgregorian@anchor-consult.com