Editorial: “If we are going to talk the talk of fiscal discipline, surely we can walk the walk of self-restraint. The American people are not getting a raise this year. Why should Congress?” [AzCentral Opinions]
Holding “Congress on Your Corner” one-on-one listening session at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at Mesa Community College.
“Mitchell said he cannot [...]

The New York Times has a great picture of John McCain looking Very Concerned.

Senate Republicans blocked a $410 billion omnibus spending measure on Thursday night, forcing Congressional Democrats to prepare a stopgap budget resolution to keep the federal government from shutting down.
The ability of the diminished minority to delay the bill signaled growing unease [...]

H R 1106, Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009, seeks to prevent mortgage foreclosures and enhance mortgage credit availability. Passed the House 234 – 191.
Yea: Kirkpatrick, Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
Nay: Franks, Shadegg, Flake

H Res 153, Commending the University of Southern California Trojan football team for its victory in the 2009 Rose Bowl. Yes, [...]

H Res 45, establishing March as National Criminal Justice Month. Passed 415 – 0.

H Res 195, Recognizing and honoring the employees of the Department of Homeland Security on its sixth anniversary for their continuous efforts to keep the nation safe. Passed 418 – 0.

H Res 201, Recognizing Beverly Eckerts service to the Nation and particularly [...]

On report that thousands of VA files are missing: “It is unacceptable to have them lost, to have their dates changed, to have them shredded. This is not acceptable.” Outrageous story: [CBS News]
“It is impossible not to be shocked by the numbers from Detroit,” said Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., who chairs the House Veterans’ Affairs [...]

H R 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act for 2009, passed the House 245 – 178. $410 billion, read Republican and Blue Dog responses in posts below.
Yea: Kirkpatrick, Pastor, Grijalva
Nay: Franks, Shadegg, Mitchell, Flake, Giffords

Radio Business Report:
The musicFirst Coalition trotted out a posse of nationally-known musicians to kick off the latest attempt to extract performance royalties out of radio stations. The two chairs of the Congressional Judiciary Committees Committees – Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and John Conyers (D-MI) — are on board, along with supporters from both parties.
The musicians coming [...]

Hotline blog reports that Gabrielle Giffords and Harry Mitchell, both part of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, are joining an energy policy task force that aims to “‘drive viable, comprehensive policy solutions and alternatives’ — with national and economic security as the foremost goals.”

From a statement:
Citing concerns about unnecessary spending, U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell cast a vote on Wednesday against the Democratic-backed appropriations package for the current fiscal year.
Despite Mitchell’s nay vote, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, H.R. 1105, passed 245-178. Mitchell was one of 20 Democrats who voted against the measure.
Mitchell said he could not [...]

H R 80, the Captive Primate Safety Act, seeks to treat nonhuman primates as prohibited wildlife species. Passed the House 323 – 95.
Aye: Kirkpatrick, Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
No: Franks, Shadegg, Flake

H R 911, Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act. Seeks to require certain standards and enforcement provisions to prevent child abuse and neglect in residential programs. Passed the House 295 – 102.
Yea: Kirkpatrick, Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
Nay: Franks, Shadegg, Flake

H R 44, Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act. Seeks to implement [...]

The Hill:
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named Monday 40 of its most vulnerable junior members who would be added to the party’s Frontline program, designed to protect the most at-risk incumbents.
…
More senior members who still represent districts President Bush or Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won find themselves on the list as a precaution as well. [...]

East Valley Tribune:
Mesa Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh is thrilled the President chose his district to talk about the economic future of the country. While he wasn’t sure he was going to get one of the coveted tickets, Kavanaugh said he worked with Congressman Harry Mitchell’s office to pitch the district and Dobson High for the visit.
“As [...]

H.R. 1, The Stimulus, passed the House again 246 – 183 – 1.
Yea: Kirkpatrick, Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
Nay: Franks, Shadegg, Flake

From a statement:

Today, U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell and the House of Representatives voted to stem massive job losses and provide critical tax relief to Arizona employers and working families.
…
“Arizona’s job losses last year were worse than every other state but one. People are facing foreclosure and struggling to make ends meet,” said Mitchell. “The [...]

H. R. 448, the Elder Abuse Victims Act, passed the House 397 – 25.
The bill seeks to protect seniors in the United States from elder abuse by establishing specialized elder abuse prosecution and research programs and activities to aid victims of elder abuse, to provide training to prosecutors and other law enforcement related [...]

Harry Mitchell’s floor speech today:
I rise today to thank Speaker Pelosi for agreeing to block the next scheduled Congressional pay raise. As government acts to cap executive compensation, and as millions of Americans watch their incomes shrink, a pay raise for Members of Congress would have seemed glaringly out of touch.
If we are going [...]

H RES 114, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Passed 398 – 0. Everyone from AZ voted Yea.
H RES 60, Recognizing and commending University of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford for winning the 2008 Heisman Trophy and for his academic and athletic accomplishments. Passed 394 – 0. Happy that [...]

From a press release:
U.S. Rep Harry Mitchell today praised House Leaders for giving up the 2010 pay raise for Members of Congress. Earlier today, House leaders confirmed that, because of worsening economic conditions, House members would forego their regularly scheduled cost-of-living pay increase.
“As government acts to cap executive compensation, and as millions of Americans watch [...]

Senate
John McCain’s amendment to prohibit the applicability of Buy American requirements in the stimulus bill to the utilization of funds provided by the Act failed 31 – 65. The Senate is still working on the stimulus.
House
S 352, the DTV Delay Act, passed the House 264 – 158. The bill’s purpose is to postpone the DTV [...]