Recapping yesterday's action:
The House had a small batch of suspensions to run through yesterday, just to keep the wheels turning. Nothing Earth-shattering. Mostly building namings, and many of the votes were postponed and rescheduled for today.
The Senate, by contrast, had some important votes today. But lately in the Senate, that has meant cloture votes, and yesterday was no exception. Two nominations. Two cloture votes. One success. That was the nomination of Norman L. Eisen to be Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Republicans stuck to their crazy, crazy guns on Mari Carmen Aponte's nomination to be Ambassador to El Salvador, however.
In other Senate developments, the Rule XIV process was triggered, yet again. This time on the Unicorn Prevention Act. Whoopee! This avalanche of Rule XIV filings sure seems like a great idea!
Looking ahead to today:
First up on the agenda for the House is their version of the payroll tax cut extension bill. This is the one with the Keystone XL pipeline demands included, plus whatever else they're cramming in there with it. What else have they got? I don't know. The damn thing was referred to 12 different committees. No, seriously. Twelve. Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, the Budget, Natural Resources, Rules, and Intelligence.
We'll get 90 minutes on the floor to figure out what's in it. Although that's only a concern if you think the Senate Dems won't kill it.
Hmm.
After that? Seven suspensions, plus perhaps some of the five votes postponed from yesterday.
Speaking of the stalwart firewall of the Senate, they'll spend their day debating two versions of a constitutional balanced budget amendment, one by Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and the other by Mark Udall (D-CO). And I mean they'll spend all day on them. Eight hours of debate, carrying over into tomorrow, when the votes are actually scheduled.
So that should be fun. A whole Senate day on an amendment that didn't pass the House, but which they have to vote on anyway, because it was part of the debt ceiling deal that gave us the Super Committee which also didn't pass anything.
What an awesome Congress.
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, DECEMBER 12, 2011
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
First votes are expected between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Last votes are expected between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.
“One Minutes” (15 per side)
H.R. 3630 - Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011(Rep. Camp - Ways and Means/ Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule)
The Rule provides for 90 minutes of debate.
Suspensions (7 bills)
1) H.R. 3421 - Fallen Heroes of 9/11 Act (Rep. Shuster - Financial Services)
2) H.R. 886 - United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act (Rep. Womack - Financial Services)
3) H.R. 313 - Drug Trafficking Safe Harbor Elimination Act of 2011 (Rep. Smith (TX) - Judiciary)
4) H.R. 1905 - Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011 (Rep. Ros-Lehtinen - Foreign Affairs)
5) H.R. 2105 - Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Reform and Modernization Act of 2011(Rep. Ros-Lehtinen - Foreign Affairs)
6) H.Res. 306 - Urging the Republic of Turkey to Safeguard Its Christian Heritage and to Return Confiscated Church Properties (Rep. Royce - Foreign Affairs)
7) H.Res. 376 - Calling for the repatriation of POW/MIAs and abductees from the Korean War (Rep. Rangel - Foreign Affairs)
Postponed Suspension Votes (5 bills)
1) S. 384 - A bill to amend title 39, United States Code, to extend the authority of the United States Postal Service to issue a semipostal to raise funds for breast cancer research (Sen. Feinstein - Oversight and Government Reform)
2) H.R. 3246 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15455 Manchester Road in Ballwin, Missouri, as the “Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building” (Rep. Akin - Oversight and Government Reform)
3) H.R. 2767 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8 West Silver Street in Westfield, Massachusetts, as the “William T. Trant Post Office Building” (Rep. Olver - Oversight and Government Reform)
4) H.R. 2668 - A bill to designate the station of the United States Border Patrol located at 2136 South Naco Highway in Bisbee, Arizona, as the “Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station'” (Rep. Issa - Transportation and Infrastructure)
5) H.R. 1264 - To designate the property between the United States Federal Courthouse and the Ed Jones Building located at 109 South Highland Avenue in Jackson, Tennessee, as the "M.D. Anderson Plaza" and to authorize the placement of a historical/identification marker on the grounds recognizing the achievements and philanthropy of M.D. Anderson, as amended (Rep. Fincher - Transportation and Infrastructure)
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
Senate Floor Schedule for Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Convenes: 10:00am
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for two hours with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of the following items, en bloc:
- S.J.Res.10, Joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States introduced by Senator Hatch; and
- S.J.Res.24, Joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States introduced by Senator Udall (CO);
There will be up to 8 hours of debate, equally divided and controlled between the two Leader or their designees, on the joint resolutions during Tuesday’s session.
When the Senate resumes consideration of the joint resolutions, en bloc, on Wednesday, December 14th, there will be up to ten minutes of debate equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees, prior to votes on passage of the joint resolutions in the following order:
- S.J.Res.24; and
- S.J.Res.10.
12/12 wrap-up:
Senate Floor Wrap Up for Monday, December 12, 2011
ROLL CALL VOTES
1) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #360 Norman L. Eisen to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Czech Republic; Invoked: 70-16
2) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #501 Mari Carmen Aponte to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of El Salvador; Not Invoked: 49-37
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
Passed H.R.1801, Risk-Based Security Screening for Members of the Armed Forces Act with a Hutchison-Rockefeller amendment by voice vote.
Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.1633, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act.
EXECUTIVE ITEMS
Confirmed the nomination of Norman Eisen to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Czech Republic by voice vote.