In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
First Vote Of The Week: Monday 6:30 p.m.
Last Vote Predicted: ???Thursday 3:00 p.m.
MEMBERS ARE ADVISED THAT ANY EXPECTED ABSENCES SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE WHIP’S OFFICE AT X5-3130.
Members are also advised that the House GOP Leadership has announced that votes are not expected after 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2011. However, it is possible that votes on the short-term Continuing Resolution could occur on Friday, March 4, 2011.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2011
On Monday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. There will be no Morning Hour debate.
Suspensions (4 Bills)
- H.R. 394 - The Federal Courts and Venue Clarification Act of 2011 (Rep. Smith (TX) - Judiciary)
- H.R. 386 -The Securing Cockpits Against Laser Pointers Act of 2011 (Rep. Lungren - Judiciary)
- H.R. 368 - The Removal Clarification Act of 2011 (Rep. Johnson (GA) - Judiciary)
- H.R. 347 - The Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011 (Rep. Rooney - Judiciary)
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2011
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. No votes are expected before 1:00 p.m.
H.J.Res. __ - Further Continuing Appropriations Amendments, 2011 (Rep. Rogers (KY) - Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2011 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. No votes are expected before 1:00 p.m. On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business with last votes no later than 3:00 p.m. On Friday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for pro forma session. No votes are expected in the House.
H.R.662 - Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011 (Rep. Mica - Transportation and Infrastructure) (Subject to a Rule)
H.R. 4 - Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011 (Rep. Lungren - Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule)
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
Convenes: 2:00pm
Following the prayer and pledge, Senator Isakson will deliver Washington’s Farewell Address.
Following the address, there will be a period of morning business until 3:30pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
At 3:30pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S.23, the Patent Reform Act of 2011.
At 4:30pm, the Senate will turn to Executive session to consider the following nominations:
- Amy Tottenberg, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; and
- Steve C. Jones, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
The time until 5:30pm will be equally divided and controlled in the usual form. At 5:30pm, senators should expect a voice vote on the Tottenberg nomination and a roll call vote on the Jones nomination.
We're back, and there's just a week left before the current continuing resolution funding the government expires. When we last left our... Congress... the usual escape mechanism from a situation like this—a short-term "clean" CR that just continues current funding levels—was being ruled out by Republicans, who were insisting on significant cuts even in a short-term bill.
Since then, House Republicans have said they'd put forward a two-week extension proposal that nonetheless imposes some $4 billion in cuts, and that will likely be embodied in the still-unnumbered joint resolution scheduled for floor action on Tuesday. Senate Democrats, for their part, seem willing to meet in the middle on cuts, but only in the context of a longer-term CR, which would presumably make a "clean" short-term CR necessary in order to give everyone time to work out an acceptable compromise. Unless you think Senate Democrats will buckle and accept a short-term CR with cuts in order to buy time to work towards even more cuts. But who would believe that? Ha ha! Ha. Hmm.
The Senate will bide its time with a bill or two, interrupt here and there for a few more of the non-controversial judicial nominations, and wait to see what the House is going to insist on with the CR. The House, for its part, seems primed to spend the week dealing. Yes, there are other bills on their schedule, but nothing that can't wait. Hell, one of the bills repeals part of the health care bill (the infamous 1099 provisions) that the House already voted to repeal. How many times and in how many pieces are they trying to make us believe they're going to do this?
Please.
The week's committee schedule is supposed to appear below the fold. Last night, Google Calendar was on the fritz. Hopefully it'll be back up and running by the time this post goes up.