Recapping yesterday's action:
What a surprise. Not a single amendment to the "Drill, Drill, Drill! Because We Don't Understand Gas Prices" Act was passed yesterday. And there are more amendments, plus the actual passage the bill slated for today. But we should expect more of the same. Republicans are only too happy to permit Democratic amendments onto the floor, because they know very well that they control the votes of their troops, and their bill is in no danger of actually being amended.
The Senate managed to get another judicial nomination through yesterday (Edward Milton Chen, N.D. CA), with just 56 votes in favor, but no cloture vote necessary. Wacky!
Looking ahead to today:
So, what makes a good follow-up in the House to the second Drill, Baby, Drill! bill in a week? A third one, of course! This time it's the "Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act," which differs from the other two bills reversing President Obama's offshore moratorium in... some way.
You know, you'd think that there'd be some kind of lesson in all this for Republicans, who are constantly campaigning on the idea that there are easy, cut-and-dried, black-and-white solutions to everything. On the stump, it's all about how they're "just gonna repeal" whatever it is they don't like. And yet, there's virtually nothing they hate that they've been able to simply repeal in one stroke. Because the world is complicated, and nuance is real, you dumbasses. But, whatever.
The Senate returns to the executive calendar today, for another judicial nomination (Arenda Wright Allen, E.D. VA). No cloture vote is scheduled, so the guess is that the vote will go much like yesterday's.
Today's floor and committee schedules appear below the fold.
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE NIGHTLY WHIP: TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2011
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
Last votes are expected between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.
“One Minutes” (15 per side)
Complete Consideration of H.R. 1229 – Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act (Rep. Hastings (WA) – Natural Resources)
Postponed Amendment Votes:
Hanabusa (HI) Amendment
Holt (NJ) Amendment
Polis (CO) Amendment #7
Hastings (FL) Amendment #8
Deutch (FL) Amendment
Hastings (FL) Amendment #11
H.R. 1231 - Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act (Rep. Hastings (WA) - Natural Resources) (Subject to a Rule)
The Rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments:
Hastings (WA) Amendment
Connolly (VA), Scott (VA), Moran (VA) Amendment
Markey (MA) Amendment
Keating (MA) Amendment
Tsongas (MA) Amendment
Brown (FL) Amendment
Thompson (CA) Amendment
Inslee (WA) Amendment
HOUSE FLOOR WRAP-UP FOR MAY 10, 2011
Bill Adopted Under Suspension of the Rules (1):
- H.R. 1016 - Assessing Progress in Haiti Act (Rep. Lee (CA) – Foreign Affairs)
Unfinished Business:
H.R. 1229 – Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act (Rep. Hastings (WA) – Natural Resources)
- Amendments – Not Adopted (4):
· Polis (CO) Amendment #1
· Garamendi (CA) Amendment
· Markey (MA) Amendment
· Hastings (FL) Amendment #10
- Amendment – Not Offered (1):
· Jackson Lee (TX) Amendment
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
Convenes: 9:30am
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the first hour equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees, with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the Majority controlling the next 30 minutes.
At 2:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #44, the nomination of Arenda Wright Allen to be a District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia with one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 3pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Allen nomination.
Votes:
At approximately 3pm, the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Allen nomination.
5/10 Senate wrap-up:
At 2:15pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #61, the nomination of Edward Milton Chen, of CA, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of California.
There will be 3 hours of debate on the Chen nomination, with the time equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time (approximately 5:15pm), the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of the Chen nomination.
There will be no further roll call votes today.
Votes:
68: Confirmation of the nomination of Edward Milton Chen, of CA, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of California;
Confirmed: 56-42.
Unanimous Consent:
adopted S.Con.Res.16, authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the CVC for an event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha
adopted S.Res.178, expressing support for the designation of May1, 2011, as “Silver Star Service Banner Day”.