Recapping yesterday's action:
No action at all yesterday. Both houses were out of session for Memorial Day.
Looking ahead to today:
Six bills are scheduled for floor action today, all under suspension of the rules, which means there's a maximum of 40 minutes of debate, no amendments are permitted, and a 2/3 vote is required to pass. Normally, suspension of the rules is reserved as an expedited procedure used for bills that are non-controversial and have broad, bipartisan support. The other use for suspension of the rules is to dispense with bills you've decided for some reason you'd like to hold a vote on, but would also like to ensure will lose. And that's what's happening with the first of the bills being considered today: the "clean" debt ceiling increase.
A "clean" bill is one with no special conditions or riders pertaining to other subjects attached to it. So the "clean" debt ceiling increase bill would simply raise the debt limit, period. None of the concessions Republicans have demanded in exchange for their votes, like cuts to Medicare or Medicaid, the elimination of entire federal government departments, etc. And that's why the bill isn't expected to get enough Republican votes to pass the 2/3 threshold.
And when it doesn't, count on Republicans to point to the failed vote and say that it means there's no appetite in Congress for raising the debt limit without major cuts as a concession. Nevermind the artificially-imposed barrier to passage.
The other five suspensions, listed below the fold, are mostly of the first kind. That is, non-controversial bills with broad support. So aside from the first bill, which is designed to fail, the rest of the short work day should be relatively unremarkable.
Today's floor and committee schedules appear below the fold.
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE NIGHTLY WHIP: MONDAY, MAY 30, 2011
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Following “One Minutes,” the House will Recess until approximately 4:45 p.m. When the House reconvenes, the House will begin consideration of H.R. 1954 – Debt Limit Extension. Any recorded votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
“One Minutes”
Suspensions (6 Bills)
- H.R. 1954 – Debt Limit Extension (Rep. Camp – Ways and Means)
- H.R. 1484 - Veterans Appeals Improvement Act, as amended (Rep. Filner – Veterans’ Affairs)
- H.R. 802 - To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a VetStar Award Program (Rep. Filner – Veterans’ Affairs)
- S. 1082 - Small Business Temporary Extension Act of 2011 (Sen. Landrieu – Small Business)
- S.Con.Res. 16 - Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha (Sen. Akaka – House Administration)
- H.R. 1194 - To renew the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve demonstration projects designed to test innovative strategies in State child welfare programs (Rep. McDermott – Ways and Means)
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
Convenes: 10:00am
Pro-forma session only, with no business conducted