According to Roll Call, discussions about taxes and spending dominated the Sunday shows yesterday.

The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post say Republican leaders have “doubled down” on their call for spending cuts as part of any deal to raise the debt ceiling. The Hill and Roll Call have more on this story.

The New York Times says earmarks are not dead.

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The Associated Press reports foreign holdings of U.S. debt are at an all-time high.

Despite a current ban on the practice, Politico reports lawmakers are still pushing for earmarks.

The Associated Press says the White House has threatened to veto the House FY 2013 defense appropriations bill since spending in it exceeds what was agreed to in last summer’s budget deal.

House Speaker John Boehner said Republicans would block any debt ceiling increase that  is not accompanied by spending cuts. Bloomberg,The Hill, The New York Times, Politico, Reuters, The Washington Post have the story.

According to The Hill, Speaker Boehner is also pushing for quick action on tax legislation. Meanwhile, according to Politico, former President Bill Clinton is advising lawmakers raise taxes across the board.

The Hill and The Washington Free Beacon says the Senate is poised to reject several different budget outlines on Wednesday. According to Politico, some moderates are frustrated with the Senate’s inability to pass a budget.  

The Hill, Politico and The Washington Post report the Senate has passed a House-supported bill to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank.

According to The New York Times, states are using funds from the housing settlement with banks to plug their budget gaps. Also on housing, Bloomberg says Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may soon be allowed to forgive homeowners’ debts.

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Politico reports House Republican freshmen may be waffling on their opposition to earmarks.

The Chicago Tribune looks at the number of Americans who have played an online debt reduction “game” and what it says about their willingness to change certain programs.

According to The Washington Post, the Treasury Department will announce today it plans to start issuing a new type of federal debt, reflecting the “government’s desire to avoid unexpected disruptions in its ability to borrow.”

Politico says 2012 is the year of the “wild” economy.

The Washington Free Beacon says money from the 2009 stimulus went to companies that ship jobs overseas.

On the opinion pages: Chuck Blahous and James Capretta say the 2010 health care bill will not cut the deficit while The Washington Post urges Congress to pass Postal Service reform.

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Yesterday the Social Security and Medicare trustees released their annual report on the entitlement programs’ financial status. According to the report, the Social Security trust fund will be exhausted in 2033 and Medicare nine years earlier, in 2024. The Associated Press, Bloomberg,The Hill, Politico, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post have the details.

National Journal reports the Veterans Affairs budget is exempt from the automatic spending cut set out in last year’s deal to raise the debt ceiling.

The Washington Post examines the Postal Service reform bill the Senate will vote on this week.

Politico and Roll Call say members of Congress are finding ways around the ban on earmarks.

Politico notes a Senate committee will mark up a draft farm legislation today.

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According to Reuters, Republicans are thinking about bringing back earmarks.

The Hill wraps up the votes on the seven different budget resolutions debated last week.

Reuters reports the U.S. now how has the highest corporate tax rate in the world.

The Hill reports Senate disagreements over procedure may derail a bill to reform the U.S. Postal Service.

The Associated Press examines how new greenhouse gas regulations will affect energy consumption and production.

The New York Times looks at the fiscal pressures faced by cities around the country.

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Skirting the Earmark Ban

Let’s Take Another Look at the Line Item VetoBA

According to The Hill, the federal reserve chairman is worried that an increase in the price of oil will harm recovery.

The Hill reports that the House has passed third GOP Budget Reform Bill.

Washington Times looks at the impact of running deficits for 40th straight months.

Politico says that extensions to the payroll tax, have escalated tensions on capitol hill this week, while the Wall Street Journal reports that talks have stalled, regarding specifics in the extension.

The Speaker of the House is ready to fight for the highway bill reports Politico. The Hill looks at who is on each side of legislation to improve transportation and infastructure.

The Wall Street Journal reports that concessions have begun to make way for a debt deal in Greece.

Washington Post examines instances of legislators sending millions to family connected groups.

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In the article the article the Post details numerous accounts of nearly direct benefit to Members or their family members. Some of the top cases include;

Spanning 2008-2010 Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) helped to secure $250 million in earmarks. Two of which went to the renovation of Roger’s own street and another for downtown Somerset, Kentucky, Roger’s hometown.

In 2005 Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett (R-MD) secured $4.5 million in earmarks to renovate a Frederick County interchange on Interstate 270. The interchange then leads to Bartlett’s home, his 104 acre farm, and rental properties that bring Rep. Bartlett approximately $150,000 a year in revenue.

During 2009 Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) sought an earmark for an outdated overpass. The planning, and the earmark, would cost$750,000 dollars for updating the bridge, which happened to be located only 3 blocks from the Columbia Basin Paper & Supply Co. The same company thatRep. Hasting’s had ran until election and his brother now manages.

Rep. C.A. Ruppersberger (D-MD) supported a 2008 earmark totaling $187,000 for replenishment of Ocean City Beach in Maryland. Rep. Ruppersberger owns 2 rental properties on Ocean City Beach.

The fact is that both the House and the Senate set the rules. While direct benefit from the earmark is strictly prohibited, it only applies to the Member and their spouse, leaving children and parents to be direct beneficiaries of allocated funds.

While the moratorium on earmarks may have slowed down the process, members are still using “special funds” added to spending bills, to direct funds. Americans would be much better off if lawmakers spent less time looking out for their personal interests and started putting the country’s economy first.BA

The Hill recently reported that most lawmakers are opposed to military base closures.

Roll Call says the U.S. Senate is exploring a permanent ban on earmarks even though, according to Politico, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has defended the earmark process.

On Wednesday the U.S. House voted to freeze pay for federal workers.

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The Washington Post lists lawmakers who have won earmarks that not only benefit their districts, but the neighborhoods in which they live and work. The New York Times reports federal lawmakers are looking for ways to get around the congressional ban on earmarks.

Roll Call looks at the debate over whether or not Congress needs to pass a budget resolution. The Wall Street Journal previews the President’s fiscal year 2013 budget outline, to be released next week.

Politico reports the Senate has passed a long-term funding bill for the FAA. The bill now goes to the President for his signature.

Politico says negotiations over extending the payroll tax cut for another year are a “mess.”

The Associated Press says tax reform is unlikely to happen this year.

The Washington Post says low-skill workers are still feeling the effects of a bad economy.

Bloomberg and The New York Times report Greece has agreed to additional spending cuts in an effort to fulfill the terms of its bailout.

On the opinion page: Emily Miller says Congress should consider budget reform while The Wall Street Journal takes a look at state that are reducing income taxes.

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