Well, it was a total madhouse yesterday on Daily Kos Radio, but easily our best day ever. How could it not be? We had the hottest topic in the country, extended hours of coverage, plus for the first time, the ability to have you join in the fun with a call-in number. Thanks for that bit of engineering goes to the brain trust of Netroots Radio, most especially
yuriwho, who rigged the system up, and
winkk, who agreed to make himself available to facilitate a three-hour call-in marathon. If you missed the show, you can listen to the podcast(s)
here. And what a party it was! We had calls from
brooklynbadboy,
Bill in Portland Maine,
Joan McCarter,
Militarytracy, and several other community members who stopped by. But if you ask me, this was the best part: when Monica from Maryland called to tell us how glad she was that she was listening when we got it right and CNN got it wrong:
Join us this morning for yet another early morning drop-in from DemFromCT, who'll not only let us know what's happening in the world of polling, post-SCOTUS, but also offer us a sneak preview of his upcoming Sunday essay, the subject of which I think you'll find pretty fascinating.
Hear that, people? You can get a sneak preview of front page stuff that hasn't been posted yet, if you listen to Daily Kos Radio. If you thought reading Daily Kos was like getting the newspaper a day early, imagine what it'll be like to get Daily Kos a day early.
Recapping yesterday's action:
The House turned away from appropriations business for the day, instead mopping up postponed votes on suspension bills, and then considering the contempt of Congress resolution against Attorney General Eric Holder, plus the resolution authorizing the Oversight Committee to go to court to seek a declaratory judgment enforcing its subpoenas. Both measures passed easily, with the bulk of the Democratic Caucus following the Congressional Black Caucus's lead in walking out of the chamber in protest of the contempt vote.
The Senate once again held no roll call votes, using the flood insurance bill to keep the wheels turning, but all the while working on finalizing a deal to pass that bill, a student loan fix, and the surface transportation conference report. That deal does finally appear to have come together, and will likely be embodied in a single measure rolling them all into the conference report.
Looking ahead to today:
The House will convene early, and likely make its first order of business to dispense with the transportation conference report, along with the other bills wrapped up in it. Since they were already scheduled to be in for some votes on Friday, they may then return to the Transportation/HUD appropriations bill and finish that up before adjourning for the July 4th week.
The Senate will also convene early, and most likely stay in a holding pattern until the House can send over whatever deal package has been worked out. There's some chance the Senate may be able to vote earlier, if they can get unanimous consent to do so (that is, to vote on the package notwithstanding having not received the papers from the House, I guess). But the plan is to wrap this all up before the weekend, and break camp.
Today's floor and committee schedules appear below the fold.
Don't forget to check in with Daily Kos Radio for commentary on all this and more, every Monday through Friday, from 9-11 a.m. EDT. Just click on the player below.
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In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE NIGHTLY WHIP: THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.
First votes expected: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Last votes expected: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
“One Minutes” (5 per side)
Conference Report on H.R. 4348 – Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012 (Rep. Mica – Transportation and Infrastructure/Energy and Commerce/Natural Resources/Science, Space, and Technology/Ways and Means/Financial Services) (1 hour of debate) (Subject to a Rule)
Complete Consideration of H.R. 5972 – Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2013 (Rep. Latham – Appropriations)
Postponed Amendment Votes (5 amendments)
Rep. Blackburn Amendment
Rep. McClintock Amendment #13
Rep. Lankford Amendment
Rep. Denham Amendment
Rep. Landry Amendment
In the Senate, courtesy of the
Office of the Majority Leader:
Senate Floor Schedule for Friday, June 29, 2012
Convenes: 10:00am
Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
The transportation conference report was filed in the House on Thursday evening. We hope to get consent to consider it Friday morning.
6/28 wrap-up:
Senate Floor Wrap Up for Thursday, June 28, 2012
No ROLL CALL VOTES
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
Adopted S.Res.514, commemorating the victory of Loyola University Maryland in the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse National Championship.
Completed the Rule 14 process of S.3342, a bill to improve information security and for other purposes. (McCain and others)
No EXECUTIVE ITEMS
Today's House committee schedule:
HOUSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Friday, June 29, 2012
HOUSE MEETS AT 9:00 AM
ARMED SERVICES-------------------------------------------------------11:00-Open
Full Committee. On assessing the Afghan National Security Forces. Public witnesses. 2118 RHOB.
ENERGY & COMMERCE---------------------------------------------------9:00-Open
Energy and Power Subc. On reviewing the EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations. Dept. witnesses. 2123 RHOB.
FINANCIAL SERVICES----------------------------------------------------9:30-Open
Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subc. On mobile payment services. Dept. witnesses. 2128 RHOB.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights Subc. On discussing the Tuareg revolt in Mali. Dept. and public witnesses. 2172 RHOB.
VETERANS’ AFFAIRS----------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Health Subc. Markup of H.R. 3337 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an open burn pit registry to ensure that members of the armed forces who may have been exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits while deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq receive information regarding such exposure, and H.R. 4079 - To amend Title 38, U.S. Code, to require recipients of grants and other assistance from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the provision of housing and other services for homeless veterans to comply with codes relevant to operations and level of care provided. 334 CHOB.
No Senate committee meetings are scheduled.