Recapping yesterday's action:
They held a quorum call. Fifty-six Members didn't even bother to participate in that.
Then, they unanimously agreed to elect the new Sergeant-at-Arms, and sent formal notice to the President and the Senate that they were back in session. Or still in session, depending on who you ask. Although why you'd have to say you were still in session... well, you know.
Then they were done for the day.
Looking ahead to today:
Not much on the agenda today, either:
THE NIGHTLY WHIP: TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012
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.
First votes are expected between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m.
Last votes are expected between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.
“One Minutes” (15 per side)
H.J.Res. 98 - Relating to the disapproval of the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit, as submitted under section 3101A of title 31, United States Code, on January 12, 2012 (Rep. Reed - Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule, two hours of debate)
Today's vote is also pretty much a formality, in that the Senate is never going to approve this resolution of, uh, disapproval. And even if they did, it would get vetoed, anyway.
The very uselessness of it is starting to piss the Teabaggers off a little bit, too. Some of them feel like they got played in August. To which I say, "ha ha!" since I thought it was kind of a sucky deal, too. But I thought it was sucky because I thought the Super Committee might somehow succeed in doing something, even though the debt limit votes obviously never would. I guess the Teabaggers thought the opposite. Or something like it. Which is ridiculous. I don't know. Maybe they're just permanently mad about some damn thing or another.
Speaking of being mad at some damn thing or another, I don't see any scheduled activity on any sort of resolution regarding the recess appointments. Republicans might very well just be waiting until after their party issues conference that's taking place over the next few days, but there's not much in the way of binding action they can take, no matter how you look at it. Still, every day that passes without some sort of protest marker does appear to weaken the argument a little bit.
That'll be it for the week. The Senate returns next week, so quorum call fans thrilled by today's activity will really be on cloud nine.