Good news- the Webb-McCaskill Wartime Contracting Commission amendment passed the Senate last night, too! Here's the press release. It got unanimous approval. However, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the amendment was water down to get approval. Most importantly, the commission wouldn't have subpoena power under this draft. Now it's on to the House. Rep. John Tierney (D-MA) has introduced a bill that set up a commission, too.

Continuing Resolution Adopted: By 94-1, the Senate voted late yesterday to keep the government operating through Nov. 16, adopting an FY 2008 continuing resolution (CR) which will fund government programs at fiscal 2007 levels. The CR keeps funds flowing to federal programs whose authorizations lapse Sept. 30, including food stamps, the Federal Aviation Administration and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. As we noted, House passed the CR on Wednesday, 404-14. Debt Limit Increased:

The President has signed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (summary)! The act gradually raises the maximum Pell Grant, which helps low-income students pay for college, to $5,400 by 2012, from $4,050 in 2006. And it cuts interest rates in half for subsidized college loans over the next five years. The nearly $20 billion in new funding is all paid for without tax increases, because the bill cracks down on excessive subsidies to the student loan industry.

The SCHIP expansion just got cloture (meaning it can't be filibustered and will get an up or down vote) on 69-30 vote (roll call). That's a veto proof majority! The vote on passage should be coming up shortly. Plus, get this (emph. mine): However, Democrats -- and their Republican allies on the issue -- made clear Bush's veto will not be the last word on the measure. They said they will keep coming back to the bill every six weeks to three months until either the White House relents or Republican opposition collapses.