Issue: H.R. 5325 Making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes.  

Result: Passed in House, 255 to 165, 11 not voting.  Republicans scored.

Bill Summary:  Appropriates $32 billion for FY 2013 for (Title I) the civil functions of the Army Corp. of Engineers; (Title II) Water Development by the Department of the Interior; the Department of Energy; (Title III) the Department of the Energy; and (Title V) various related independent agencies. Includes numerous prohibitions on the use of funds.

Analysis:  The discretionary budget authority for the agencies and programs funded through this bill is $87million or $0.3 percent below the FY2012 funding level — a miniscule cut for a nation in deep recession. However, the deeper issue is a continued willingness of both branches of government to fund programs and departments (such as Jimmy Carter’s Department of Energy) that are blatantly unconstitutional.

In this Republican bill, the largely unconstitutional Department of Energy would receive $345 million more than last year but $1.6 billion below the President’s request. There is no serious necessary course correction for America here.

Moreover, as usual, the House doesn’t play hardball with the Senate to enforce its small spending cuts. It regularly agrees to Continuing Resolutions to fund federal operations.

We have assigned (good vote) to the Nays and (bad vote) to the Yeas. (P = voted present; ? = not voting; blank = not listed on roll call.)