HCR Over Next Week?

Daily Kos Staff

Saturday March 13, 2010 · 10:00 AM PST

2010/03/13 · 10:00

Obama didn't postpone his Asia trip just for optics, though the optics--and relations with a House that wasn't too pleased at another relatively arbitrary deadline--are important. The March 18 deadline was slated to be his early departure to take the kids to Indonesia on their spring break. The official business part of the trip doesn't start until Monday the following Monday.

His trip postponement also means, and now we have leadership confirmation, that they're nearing in on the actual vote in the House on the reconciliation package. Pelosi says it could happen next week.

"We stand ready to stay as long as it takes to pass the bill," Pelosi said at her weekly press conference this morning, adding that Obama's delay "increases the prospects that we will be here--since he'll be here--three more days."

After her conference, her spokesman Nadeam Elshami added "If we have to be here next weekend or the week after we will."

Pelosi was once again careful to note that the House's timeline for passage of reform depends largely on when CBO hands them a final analysis, and that could come as early as today.

To put a period on that, Chris Van Hollen's office sent a memo out to House Dem staffers Friday, "telling them to clear members' schedule for next weekend, saying a vote could come as early as Friday or Saturday." And the House Budget Committee announced on it's schedule that it will begin markup of the instructions for the reconciliation bill Monday at 3:00 p.m., EDT. That's the beginning of the markup process.

Keep a close eye on the various whip counts, though some members will likely continue to play coy for as long as they can.

HCR Over Next Week?

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