Tuesday: Government oversight week starts in the House

House Republicans today will kickstart a week of work on legislation to moderate federal regulations, rein in the IRS, and make it easier to learn what the government is doing and what it’s spending.

Tuesday is reserved for suspension bills, but there are seven up today, and many of them are significant.

{mosads}Two are aimed at last year’s IRS targeting scandal. The Taxpayer Transparency and Efficient Audit Act, H.R. 2530, would require the IRS to tell people when their tax information is shared, and the Protecting Taxpayers from Intrusive IRS Requests Act, H.R. 2531, would prohibit the IRS from asking people and groups about their political views.

A third bill, the Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act, would require the government to provide a detailed description about how it’s spending taxpayer funds. The bill, H.R. 1423, essentially requires the government to audit itself.

The House will consider two bills today from House Oversight & Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). The FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act, H.R. 1211, is aimed at improving the process of obtaining information from the government, a process that for many years has operated about as smoothly as a [—– redacted —–].

Issa’s second bill is the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act, H.R. 1232. That bill attempts to streamline the process the government uses to buy new technology.

Also up today is the Private Property Rights Protection Act, H.R. 1944. This bill is meant to override a Supreme Court decision from 2005 that critics say make it too easy for the government to seize private property.

The bill targets the famous Kelo v City of New London decision.

Finally, members will consider the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, H.R. 1123. This bill would let people “unlock” their cell phones in order to use them with other mobile carriers.

While this bill sailed through the House, some Democrats said Monday that they now oppose it because it would not all companies to provide these unlocking services.

Each of these seven bills are on the suspension calendar, which means they’ll need a two-third vote for passage. Any roll call votes needed will start at 6:30 p.m.

The Senate starts at 10 a.m., and at 11:15 a.m. will continue with a series of judicial confirmation votes. Those will start with a vote to confirm James Moody to be a district judge in Arkansas.

After that, the Senate will vote to end debate on James Donato’s nomination for a judgeship in California, followed by his confirmation vote. Finally, a similar two-vote process will happen for Beth Freeman’s nomination, also be be a judge in California.

Because Senate Democrats used the “nuclear option,” votes to end debate on these nominees only requires 51 votes, not 60. Republicans continue to protest this process as one that strips away the minority’s historic right to delay them.

After the caucus lunches, the Senate will return for an afternoon vote on S. 1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act. Senators will vote to end debate on a motion to proceed to the bill, which looks to boost veterans health and retirement benefits.