Woooo! T.G.I.T.! L8Rz!
Recapping yesterday's action:
This is getting depressing, though I suppose we should count our blessings that the output volume is so low. The House yesterday passed the "Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act," then debated but did not vote on another Democratic motion to instruct conferees on the payroll tax cut extension.
That's it.
The Senate was not in session. Senate Dems used the down time (things were being held up while the clock ran on the ripening of a cloture motion) for an off-site issues conference and retreat.
Looking ahead to today:
No improvement on tap for today. The House is in and out today, with the session convening at 9:00 a.m., and expected to be over a little more than an hour later. What little work is slated involves consideration of the STOCK Act, recently passed by the Senate. Only House Republicans intend to pass a different version of the bill rather than the one that came over from the Senate. That by itself isn't all that unusual. But they're going to consider their version of it under suspension of the rules, which will limit debate to 40 minutes, require a 2/3 vote to pass, and prevent any amendments from being offered.
Normally, you can't bring suspension bills to the floor after Wednesday, but the rule governing debate of yesterday's line item veto bill actually included a provision waiving the usual prohibition, and clearing the way for this suspension on a Thursday. So Republicans are really going out of their way to get the STOCK Act to the floor under this particular procedure.
This sets up something of a dilemma for Democrats, who may be angered by the changes in the bill—including one stripping the requirement that "political intelligence consultants" (like, say, Newt Gingrich) register as lobbyists—to vote against it. Under normal circumstances, that wouldn't make much of a difference and the bill would pass without their support, so long as Republicans supported it. But under suspension of the rules, bills require 2/3 to pass, and widespread rejection by Democrats would kill it (or at least force it to come back under regular order later on). And wouldn't that make a great headline if you were, say, a Mitt Romney supporter? Or were shortly anticipating being forced to become one? "Democrats reject anti-insider trading STOCK Act?"
The Senate returns to "action" today, with a 2:00 vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to the surface transportation bill.
HOT DAMN, HUH?!
Today's floor and committee schedules appear below the fold.
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE NIGHTLY WHIP: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2012
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.
First/Last votes: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
“One Minutes” (5 per side)
Suspension (1 bill):
House Amendment to S. 2038 - STOCK Act (Sen. Lieberman - Judiciary/House Administration/Oversight and Government Reform Financial Services Agriculture/Rules)
Postponed Vote (1 vote):
Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 3630 - Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 (One Hour of Debate) (Offered by Rep. Timothy Bishop)
In the Senate, courtesy of the
Office of the Majority Leader:
Senate Floor Schedule for Thursday, February 9, 2012
Convenes: 9:30am
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business 11:00am with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill.
At approximately 2:00pm, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1813.
Today's House committee schedule:
APPROPRIATIONS-------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Legislative Branch Subc. On FY 2013 budget request for the Architect of the Capitol. Stephen Ayers, Architect of the Capitol. HT-2 Capitol.
ENERGY & COMMERCE---------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Health Subc. On reviewing the proposed generic drug and biosimilars user fees and further examination of drug shortages. Dept. and public witnesses. 2123 RHOB.
JUDICIARY--------------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Immigration Policy and Enforcement Subc. On agricultural guestworker programs. Public witnesses. 2141 RHOB.
SELECT INTELLIGENCE------------------------------------------------------9:00-Ex.
Full Committee. On ongoing intelligence activities. HVC-304 Capitol.
SMALL BUSINESS-------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Contracting and Workforce Subc. On small business participation in federal construction contracts. Public witnesses. 2360 RHOB.
VETERANS’ AFFAIRS-----------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Oversight and Investigations Subc. On reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs flawed fiduciary system. Dept. and public witnesses. 334 CHOB.
Today's Senate committee schedule:
9:30 am
Armed Services
Hearings to examine the nominations of Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, USN, for reappointment to the grade of admiral and to be Commander, United States Pacific Command, and Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick, USA, for reappointment to the grade of lieutenant general and to be Chief of Engineers, and Commanding General, United States Army Corps of Engineers, both of the Department of Defense.
SD-G50
9:30 am
Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine H.R.1904, to facilitate the efficient extraction of mineral resources in southeast Arizona by authorizing and directing an exchange of Federal and non-Federal land, and the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2009.
SD-366
10:00 am
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Hearings to examine the state of the housing market, focusing on removing barriers to economic recovery.
SD-538
10:00 am
Budget
Hearings to examine assessing inequality, mobility, and opportunity.
SD-608
10:00 am
Judiciary
Business meeting to consider S.1945, to permit the televising of Supreme Court proceedings, and the nominations of John Z. Lee, and John J. Tharp, Jr., both to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, George Levi Russell, III, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland, and Kristine Gerhard Baker, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
SD-226
2:15 pm
Indian Affairs
An oversight hearing to examine the Department of Justice's opinion on internet gaming, focusing on what's at stake for tribes.
SD-628
2:30 pm
Intelligence
Closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters.
SH-219