Recapping yesterday's action:
Oil, oil, oil. All day long in the House. They finished their bill that would rush drilling permits through, even when the safety studies that became necessary in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster haven't been done. (The bill "deems" them done, though. Remember when "deeming" was evil?) Then they started, but will finish today, their bill repealing the drilling moratorium that doesn't really exist.
And the Senate? The Senate spent yesterday confirming a federal judge (Arenda Wright Allen, E.D. VA) by a vote of 96-0. Do you all know what I mean when I say "E.D. VA," by the way? That's the lawyer-speak abbreviation for "Eastern District of Virginia." But yeah, that's about all they got done on the floor with their day. Well, they did give unanimous consent to a resolution making some minority committee appointments. I didn't catch that one, and the text isn't available, but I'm guessing it assigned newly-appointed Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) to his committees.
Looking ahead to today:
The House starts the day by finishing the repeal of the imaginary drilling moratorium (read brief descriptions of pending amendments here), then moves on to that Intelligence authorization bill that magically appeared, ready for floor action after two months in limbo, just a few days after President Obama pretty much pwned everybody on intelligence and national security matters, including the do-nothing-that-can-pass GOP House, by overseeing the killing of Osama bin Laden. (Read brief descriptions of Intel bill amendments here).
In fact, it's said that in the newly-discovered bin Laden journals, one of the final entries said, "The Republicans will probably have to get up off their asses, cut a deal, and get an Intel authorization bill passed instead of goofing around with their pipe dream of an agenda, because there's somebody at the door, and it ain't the pizza guy. If it's who I think it is, Republicans aren't gonna have a speck of credibility left for trying to jerk Obama around on intelligence matters starting tomorrow."
There is no such entry, of course, but if there had been, it really would have been prescient, don't you think?
The Senate has a light schedule again tomorrow, at least in terms of planned accomplishments that I can list here. They'll be voting on yet another judicial nomination, this time Michael Francis Urbanski, W.D. VA. See? Western District of Virginia. You got it, now!
That'll likely wrap it up in terms of floor action for the week. Gotta get back home for the weekend, to recharge for the two-week push to... the coming Memorial Day recess!
Today's floor and committee schedules appear below the fold.
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE NIGHTLY WHIP: WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2011
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
On Thursday, 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 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.
“One Minutes” (15 per side)
Complete Consideration of H.R. 1231 - Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act (Rep. Hastings (WA) - Natural Resources)
Postponed Amendment Votes:
Tsongas (MA) Amendment
Brown (FL) Amendment
Thompson (CA) Amendment
Inslee (WA) Amendment
H.R. 754 - Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (Rep. Rogers (MI) – Intelligence)(Subject to a Rule)
The Rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments:
Rogers (MI) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Barrow (GA) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Dent (PA) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Welch (VT) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Gibson (NY) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Waters (CA) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Hinchey (NY) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Carney (DE) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Grimm (NY)/Reed (NY) Amendment (30 minutes of debate)
HOUSE FLOOR WRAP-UP FOR MAY 11, 2011
Unfinished Business:
H.R. 1231 - Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act (Rep. Hastings (WA) - Natural Resources)
- Amendment – Adopted (1):
· Hastings (WA) Amendment
- Amendments – Not Adopted (3):
· Connolly (VA)/Scott (VA)/Moran (VA) Amendment
· Markey (MA) Amendment
· Keating (MA) Amendment
Considered and Passed:
H.R. 1229 – Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act (Rep. Hastings (WA) – Natural Resources) (263 – 163)
- Amendments – Not Adopted (6):
· Hanabusa (HI) Amendment
· Holt (NJ) Amendment
· Polis (CO) Amendment #7
· Hastings (FL) Amendment #8
· Deutch (FL) Amendment
· Hastings (FL) Amendment #11
-Motion to Recommit Amendment – Not Adopted:
· Offered by Rep. Connolly (186-239)
Ordering the Previous Question to deny the McGovern Amendment on H.Res. 257 - Which allows for Mr. Peters of Michigan’s bill, H.R. 1367 – Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2011, to be considered. H.R. 1367 would provide for a research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program in vehicle technologies at the Department of Energy. H.R. 1367 advances the goals of “Make it in America” by ensuring our country remains a leader in producing the cars and trucks of the future and supporting high-tech research and engineering jobs here at home (241 – 179)
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
Convenes: 9:30am
Following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for debate only until 1pm 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.
Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #47, the nomination of Michael Francis Urbanski, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Virginia with one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.
Votes:
At approximately 2pm, the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Urbanski nomination.
5/11 Senate wrap-up:
Votes:
69: Confirmation of the Wright Allen nomination; Confirmed: 96-0
Unanimous Consent:
S.Res.179, making minority committee appointments