You don't get to hear a lot about what Democrats are doing in Congress, especially in the House. Senate Democrats are, of course, busy thinking they can figure out what Republicans want. House Democrats, as far as floor activity goes, mostly have to sit there and absorb the confusion and hatred of House Republicans.
But they do have ideas. And here's their latest: Make It in America, summarized in 90 seconds by Main Street Insider.
Now back to our regular feature: Republican Stuff that Can't Pass.
Last Week in Congress
A banner week in the politics of dogma and distraction for the House Republicans last week. The killing of Osama bin Laden changed Republican plans not a whit (though it kept the less-bonkers of them somewhat subdued), and they went straight ahead with their plans for passing two more bills aimed at repealing bits and pieces of the Affordable Care Act, the first of a raft of oil drilling bonanza bills, and the dangerously backward H.R. 3.
The Senate didn't manage to get around to the threatened vote on the Ryan budget (or the threat of the competing vote on the President's budget), though Kent Conrad (D-ND) did manage to do a bit of freelancing and float a not particularly well-received budget outline himself. Substantively, though, the Senate accomplished nothing at all. There was, of course, the momentous decision to pay tribute to the members of the military and intelligence communities who contributed to the killing of bin Laden, but only upon the concession that both Presidents Bush and Obama be equally credited for putting the plan in motion. And on the matter of the long-lingering Small Business Jobs bill? Cloture could not be had, now that Republicans have learned that keeping it on the floor keeps it available as a vehicle for every ridiculous amendment they can think of.
This Week in Congress
The House keeps its head down at the beginning of the week, charging ahead with the ideological agenda. This time, it's the second and third in the series of oil drilling bills. But by the end of the week, they'll move on to the Intelligence authorization bill. Surprising, no? This is the first indication we have that the bin Laden killing has made a dent of any kind in the House. The intel bill was originally reported out of committee in early March, but languished with no action, while the House repealed the ACA over and over and over again. But suddenly—for no particular reason, I'm sure— the bill turned up, amended, ready for floor action last Tuesday. Ta-da!
No telling what they'll get to in the Senate, but we know where they'll start. First order of business: another cloture vote on another nomination. This time it's Deputy Attorney General-designate James Cole. What's holding Cole up? Well, for one thing, he's currently serving in the position by virtue of a recess appointment made in December, and that always generates a little resentment in the Senate. But what's probably really getting certain Senators' goats, so to speak, is the fact that Cole was the special counsel to the House ethics committee in the mid-90s who busted Newt Gingrich.
That's the run-down on where we stand heading into the week. Now on with the show!
Full floor and committee schedules are below the fold.
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE WEEKLY WHIP: FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2011
First Vote Of The Week: Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
Last Vote Predicted: Friday 3:00 p.m.
MONDAY, MAY 9, 2011
On Monday, the House is not in session.
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2011
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. Members are advised that close votes are possible on Tuesday.
Suspension (1 Bill)
- H.R. 1016 - Assessing Progress in Haiti Act(Rep. Lee (CA) – Foreign Affairs)
H.R. 1229 – Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act (Rep. Hastings (WA) – Natural Resources)
The Rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments:
Polis (CO) Amendment #22 (10 minutes of debate)
Garamendi (CA) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Markey (MA) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Hanabusa (HI) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Jackson Lee (TX) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Holt (NJ) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Polis (CO) Amendment #23 (10 minutes of debate)
Hastings (FL) Amendment #12 (10 minutes of debate)
Deutch (FL) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Polis (CO) Amendment #21 (10 minutes of debate)
Hastings (FL) Amendment #13 (10 minutes of debate)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2011 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business with last votes no later than 3:00 p.m.
H.R. 1231 – Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act (Rep. Hastings (WA) – Natural Resources) (Subject to a Rule)
H.R. 754 – Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (Rep. Rogers (MI) – Intelligence) (Subject to a Rule)
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
Convenes: 2:00pm
At 2:00pm, Senator-designee Dean Heller will be sworn in as Senator from Nevada.
Following any leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 4:00pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of James Cole, to be Deputy Attorney General.
At approximately 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Cole nomination.