Recapping yesterday's action:
The House is not in session this week.
The Senate was able to wrap up its scheduled work on S. 679, the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act, and the companion resolution, S. Res. 116. With a unanimous consent agreement already in place locking in votes on these measures, there wasn't much opportunity for Ron Johnson (R-WI) to carry through on yesterday's threat to shut down the Senate by objecting to unanimous consent requests.
Looking ahead to today:
Today's business is likewise locked down by unanimous consent, and in any case, it's a vote on the nomination of General David Petraeus to be Director of the CIA, so it's not likely too many Senators would want to get in the way of that even if they could. But they can't now, so it doesn't matter.
On the other hand, there's nothing else scheduled for the day, and that may well be because they're unlikely to be able to get anything else done. Though it should be said that that's not a condition very much different from what existed before Johnson's petulant threat.
Now, normally, you could probably expect business to wrap up for the week after this vote, since they've had an Independence Day recess scheduled for next week. But having been chastised by President Obama in yesterday's press conference for recessing while the debt ceiling issue still looms, Congressional leaders may be reconsidering. Disastrous for me! I was looking forward to the time off.
Today's floor and committee schedules appear below the fold.
The House is not in session this week.
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
Senate Floor Schedule for Thursday, June 30, 2011
Convenes: 9:30am
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 12:00pm with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees, with the Majority controlling the first hour and the Republicans controlling the second hour.
Following morning business, the Senate will be in Executive Session to consider Calendar # 197, the nomination of David H. Petraeus, of New Hampshire, to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, with two hours for debate equally divided in the usual form.
Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 2pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Petraeus nomination.
Roll Call Votes
- DeMint amendment #501, To repeal the authority to provide certain loans to the International Monetary Fund, the increase in the United States quota to the Fund, and certain other related authorities, and to rescind related appropriated amounts. Amendment Rejected, 44-55.
- DeMint amendment #511, To enhance accountability and transparency among various Executive agencies. Amendment Rejected, 25-74.
- Passage of S.679, A bill to reduce the number of executive positions subject to Senate confirmation. Bill Passed, 79-20
- Coburn amendment #521, To prevent the creation of duplicative and overlapping Federal programs. Amendment Rejected, 63-34.
- Adoption of S.Res.116. Resolution Agreed to, 89-8.
6/29 Senate wrap-up:
Senate Floor Wrap up for Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Adopted S.Res.220, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the June 30, 2011, opening of the Tom Lantos Institute in Budapest, Hungary.
Adopted S.Res.221, congratulating Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity on reaching the historic milestone of 100 years.
Adopted S.Res.222, recognizing the American Revolution Center for its role in telling the story of the American Revolution and the continuing impact on struggles for freedom, self-government, and the rule of law throughout the world, and encouraging the Center in its efforts to build a new Museum of the American Revolution.