Crying Fouls and Political Chicken: House manages to pass Neighborhood Stabilization Act

The noise from Capitol Hill today seems to be emanating from all sides. The House Republicans (including Reps. Porter (R-NV3) and Heller (R-NV2) are still having their tantrum over procedures in regard to the Iraq Supplemental funding bill. [ClerkHse] The Blue Dogs aren’t happy because the G.I. Bill provisions don’t follow pay-as-you-go rules, [Roll Call sub req] The “Out of Iraq Caucus” isn’t gleeful either. [The Hill]

In the midst of the cacophony, the House did manage to pass H.R. 1174 to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make loans to states to acquire foreclosed housing and to make grants to the states for related costs. The bill passed 223-192 with Rep. Berkley (D-NV1) voting in favor and Reps. Porter (R-NV3) and Heller (R-NV3) voting against it. [rc 289] Would this mean that with the mortgage foreclosure and price issues now holding sway in Nevada, that two of its representatives are opposed to allowing HUD to step in before vacant and abandoned properties drive property values down further?

The House also passed H.R. 5818, the Neighborhood Stabilization Act, 239-188, with Representatives Berkley and Porter voting in favor and Rep. Heller opposed. [rc 299] President Bush has vowed to make himself ‘relevant’ in the mortgage meltdown by vetoing both H.R. 5818, and H.R. 3221 the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act. [VetoWatch]

Senate Republicans, tired of being called obstructionists because they long ago broke the record for the number of filibusters in a single session, tacked their version of an Energy Bill on to the Flood Insurance Bill and will try to force a confrontation on the Senate floor. Their other political footballs of choice include McCain’s watered-down milquetoast version of the G.I. Bill, tax cut legislation, and an Iraq Funding Bill that would cut everything except what President Bush requested. [Roll Call sub req]