You are here: News Perspectives Today in Congress

Today in Congress

E-mail Print PDF

In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:

THE NIGHTLY WHIP: THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.

Last votes are expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

“One Minutes” (5 per side)

Complete Consideration of H.R. 658 - FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 (Rep. Mica - Transportation and Infrastructure/Science and Technology/Judiciary)

Postponed Amendment Votes:
·Pearce Amendment
·Schiff/Sherman/Berman Amendment
·Sessions Amendment
·LaTourette/Costello Amendment
·Shuster Amendment

H.R. 1255 - Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011 (Rep. Womack – Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule)

In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:

Convenes: 2pm

Following any leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will the Senate proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #42, Jimmie V. Reyna, of Maryland, to be United States Circuit Judge with one hour for debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley.

5:30pm roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #42, Jimmie V. Reyna, of Maryland, to be United States Circuit Judge.

Additionally, Senators should expect 2 roll call votes in relation to H.R.4, 1099 repeal on Tuesday prior to the caucus meetings.

Mop-up duty on the union-busting FAA bill. You can read up on the amendments for which votes are still pending here.

When they're done busting the unions, it's on to the "Let's Vote on the Same Bullshit Again and Pretend It's a Budget Act of 2011." Yes, this is the bill Republicans hope everyone will think can magically convert H.R. 1, which the House passed but the Senate rejected, automatically into law. Hey, remember that thing the Republicans made everyone read out loud back at the beginning of the Congress? That was hilarious! Especially this part:

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. ``Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States. If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to that House in which it shall have originated who shall enter the objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it.''

Yes, that was Joe Wilson (R-SC-02) reading Art. I, section 7, clause 2. Hey, Joe Wilson! You... uh, don't lie. That's actually true. Bills do have to pass both houses in order to become law. Wow, I guess this thing isn't going to work after all.

In the Senate, it's not even the small business jobs bill anymore. They've spent another whole week on it, but haven't managed a single vote, so now they're jumping off that stalled bill and going back—again—to the 1099 repeal issue. That's the one piece of the Affordable Care Act that everybody appears to agree to want repealed. And yet, they can't seem to get it done, though the Senate has voted on it several times in the last year. (Remember this one?) Wacky, huh? Oh, you nutty Senate!

There's a light committee schedule today, below the fold as usual. Everyone's smelling the jet fumes, as they say, and ready to get out of town for the weekend. It's good practice, too, since in another week from now they'll be back on the tarmac, waiting for flights home for a two-week recess.

Oh, and there's just a week left until the latest CR runs out. Again. Plus, for all the ranting, we managed to make it through the first week with Congress back in session without having anyone get a vote on any resolutions regarding Libya. One week left before the recess on that, too. Have a nice weekend!



Posted: 2011-04-01 08:45:02Author: