Cabbage News Network Week #47

[kmusser]

Status of Puerto Rico infrastructure - it's been 86 days and the island is still 30% without power.

Monday 12/11

• EPA has reduced its enforcement of anti-pollution laws (source).
  
• Career diplomats are leaving the State Dept. (source).
  
• GOP wonders why its tax bill that screws over most of the nation is unpopular (source).
  
• Southern Poverty Law Center sues government over raids on immigrants (source).
  
• DJT request to delay allowing transgender recruits is denied (source).

Tuesday 12/12

• Russian hacker confesses to hacking DNC under orders from Russian government (source).

Wednesday 12/13

• Two of DJT's judicial nominees are too repulsive even for the GOP (source).
  
• Senate and House reach deal on tax bill? (source).

Thursday 12/14

• FCC revokes Net Neutrality rules, will be challenged in court (source).
  
• Some senators wavering on revised tax bill (source).
  
• Labor board revokes rule that made employers responsible for their sub-contractors (source).
  
• Most judicial nominees still sailing through (source).

Friday 12/15

• White House sends conflicting messages on whether or not Tillerson represents the administration (source).
  
• Omarosa Manigault Newman, DJT's only black adviser resigns (or is fired depending on who you ask) (source).
  
• Anti-opioid efforts hampered by 2006 law (source).

Legislative action this week

• Legislation signed into law
  
  • Continuing resolution https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hjres123
    
  • DoD authorization bill for FY 2018 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2810
    
  • 1 minor bill
  
  
• Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
  
  • 3 minor bills
  
  
• Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
  
  • Bill limiting circumstances in which regulators can order banks to close customer accounts https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2706
    
  • Bill increasing penalties for crimes against religious institutions https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1730
    
  • Bill strengthening sanctions on Iran https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1638
    
  • Bill halting aid to the Palestinian Authority https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1164
    
  • Bill requiring states to honor concealed carry permits of other states https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr38
    
  • Bill to deregulate mergers between companies making less than $25 million https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr477
    
  • Bill extending the probationary period for most Federal employees from one to two years https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr4182
    
  • Bill providing humanitarian aid to Venezuela https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2658
    
  • Bill reauthorizing EPA's brownfields program https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3017
    
  • Bill renewing the National Flood Insurance Program https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2874
    
  • Bill reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program while cutting funding for it https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3922 (letter opposing: http://phi.org/policy-advocacy/tell-congress-yes-on-health-no-on-champion-act/)
    
  • Bill reducing regulatory oversight over credit rating agencies (really? yes, really) https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3911 (letter opposing: http://consumerfed.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cfa-opposes-hr3911-and-hr2201.pdf)
    
  • Bill overturning recent court decisions holding employers liable for labor violations in joint employment situations https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3441 (letter opposing: https://fightfor15.org/fight-back-anti-worker-h-r-3441/)
    
  • Bill transferring authority over hydroelectric facilities to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, would remove some environment protections re dams https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3043 (letter opposing: https://secure.everyaction.com/GDXK5rkx0Ei63nPxxiptqQ2)
    
  • Iran sanctions bill https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1698
    
  • Bill drastically reducing what activities on Forest Service, BLM, and Tribal lands require environmental review https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2936 (letter opposing: https://www.npca.org/articles/1674-position-on-h-r-2936-resilient-federal-forests-act-of-2017)
    
  • Bill revoking passports of individuals affiliated with a terrorist organization https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr425
    
  • Bill eliminating the Independent Payment Advisory Board https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr849
    
  • Bill loosening reporting requirements for IPO's (essentially opening options that were for start-ups only to all companies) https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3903
    
  • Bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr36
    
  • Bill reauthorizing the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s782
    
  • Renewal of law promoting democracy in North Korea and helping North Korean refugees https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2061
    
  • Bill giving the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration authority over self driving cars https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3388
    
  • Bill restricting IRS use of civil asset forfeiture https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1843
    
  • Bill to allow publicly traded companies to use SEC crowdfunding rule https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2864
    
  • Authorization bill for CIA and other intelligence activities https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3180
    
  • DoD appropriations bill https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3219
    
  • Dept. of Interior appropriations https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3354
    
  • 14 bills dealing with veterans
    
  • 343 other minor bills
  
  
• Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
  
  • The GOP tax bill https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1 (passed Senate with changes, so back to the House)
    
  • Bill expanding the requirements of when suspected sexual abuse must be reported https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s534
    
  • DHS authorization bill https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1370
    
  • 81 other minor bills
  
  
  Maps of the week
  
  • Satellite image time lapse.
    
  • Uncovering a map forgery.