Yesterday, the House passed an appropriations bill which would fund the Consumer Product Safety Commission at a level $3.6 million above President Bush's request, according to the National Journal (subscription required). In February, Reg•Watch derided President Bush for proposing cuts in the budget of the independent agency which regulates and forces recalls of common household items such as toys, clothes and electronics. Bush's budget request would result in the lowest staffing levels in agency history.

Congressional Democrats, still smarting from their perceived capitulation in May to President Bush on ending the war on Iraq, are serving notice that their next stand will come during the debate next month on H.R. 1585, the half-a-trillion-dollar Defense Department FY 2008 reauthorization bill. According to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chair of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) H.R. 1585 will feature "timelines, parameters, accountability, and a pathway" to remove U.S. fighting men and women from Iraq.

Senate Budget Committee chair Kent Conrad (D-ND) issued an unorthodox statement yesterday regarding the expected nomination of Jim Nussle to succeed Rob Portman as OMB Director: Representative Nussle and I had a very frank discussion today. While I understand the President's desire to appoint an OMB Director of his choice, a number of Members have spoken with me about their very real concerns about his nomination. Members expressed serious reservations about Mr. Nussle's reputation for confrontation.

The House will soon pass the Financial Services/General Government appropriations (HR 2829). Its total funding should comes under the Presidents request, though the President has threatened a veto anyway, conditional on including provisions regarding abortion and Cuba. The media will probably focus on the fact that the bill may defund the OVP's office- in response to the OVP's clumsy claims, which we covered in the Watcher, that it is not a part of the executive branch, and therefore is not subject to disclosure requirements that apply to that branch.