House Cloakroom: March 8 – 12, 2010
Analysis:
Again, the question expected to dominate the discussion in Washington will be whether there are enough votes to pass the health care legislation on the House side. In order to move the ball forward it is expected there will be a health care reconciliation mark up in the Budget Committee sometime during the week. Besides the ongoing health care saga the House and Senate will likely put the finishing touches on a “jobs” bill this week. Two other likely votes include legislation to impeach a district judge and another to withdraw troops from Afghanistan led by Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH).
Major Floor Action:
- H. Con. Res. 248 – Afghanistan War Powers Resolution
- H. Res.1031 – Impeaching G. Thomas Porteous, Jr., judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, for high crimes and misdemeanors
- Possible action on “jobs” measures
Major Committee Action:
- Possible health care reconciliation mark up in House Budget Committee in preparation for bringing it to the floor.
- Budget season continues with several hearings on Fiscal 2011 budgets for federal departments, agencies, and programs.
Senate Cloakroom: March 8 – 12, 2010
Analysis:
It’s a trifecta! Jobs, health and regulatory reform are on the agenda for the Senate this week. On the floor, Senators will focus on a massive tax extenders package that has been billed as a stimulus. Behind closed doors, Senate Democrats will be discussing how to move health care via reconciliation. Also behind closed doors, several Senators will continue to hammer out the details of financial regulatory reform. As with most weeks, the consequential action is taking place out of the eyes of the public.
Major Floor Action:
- The Senate will continue on H.R. 4213, the tax extenders package.
Major Committee Action:
- An Environment and Public Works subcommittee will hold a hearing on the effort to overhaul the chemical safety law.
- The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on reauthorization the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
- The Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the Citizens United case.
- The Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on the future of public diplomacy.
The House Cloakroom: March 1 – 5, 2010
Analysis
The House will be in for a short week, only taking votes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The fallout from President Obama’s health care summit will continue to take center stage this week as negotiations continue to bring a health care vote to the House and Senate floors once again. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said to expect “further action on jobs” this week but it is unclear what exactly that means. Also expected on the floor next week is a bill out of the Education and Labor Committee, worrying some private schools as well as those who disagree with a Washington-centric one-size-fits-all policy.
Major Floor Action
- Expect legislation to extend some expiring provisions on things like unemployment insurance, highways, the “Doc Fix”, satellite TV and perhaps others.
- Still-to-be-defined jobs measures
- HR 4247 The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in School Acts
Major Committee Action
- The House Appropriations Subcommittees will continue to hold hearings on proposed fiscal 2011 appropriations.
- The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on Navy Shipbuilding.
- Several Committees will continue to hold hearings on the 2011 budget requests.
The Senate Cloakroom: March 1 – 5, 2010
Analysis
While the Senate focuses on the shiny object of government job creation and tax extenders, the real action will take place behind closed doors as Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and his deputies explore their options on Obamacare. Following last week’s health care summit and the President’s assertion that there are indeed “ philosophical disagreements,” the stage seems set for reconciliation. If the Senator Reid does go nuclear, the entire Congressional agenda, including talks on financial regulatory reform, could well be thrown into chaos.
Major Floor Action
- On Monday, the Senate will take up H.R.4213, which will serve as the vehicle an extension of jobless benefits, COBRA insurance and numerous health payments offered by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT). Numerous tax provisions will also be extended in the bill.
Major Committee Action
- The Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing on chemical security.
- The Finance Committee will hold a hearing on the 2010 trade agenda.
- The Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on the 2011 Air Force budget.
- The Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on the Clean Air Act.