House Cloakroom: December 13-17, 2010
Analysis:
The House is scheduled to be in session this week but the agenda is unclear as a waiting game ensues to see what action the Senate takes on the proposed tax relief deal framework proposed by the Obama administration. Right now there is no sealed tax deal in place and many contentious issues must be resolved if there is a chance of the bill being able to move through the House & Senate next week as both sides of the aisle have significant disagreements. Work must also be completed in the Senate with the House version of the continuing appropriations through the end of the fiscal year bill that was passed last week by the House. More than likely, an overarching omnibus measure drafted by Senate appropriators will be substituted for the text of the House passed bill. Reports are saying that the omnibus bill in the Senate will provide funding at level in line with the president’s FY 2011 request, which would total approximately $1.13 trillion as opposed to $1.09 trillion in the House-approved CR.
Major Floor Action
HR 4853 <http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111hr4853eah/pdf/BILLS-111hr4853eah.pdf> – Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010
HR 3082 <http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111hr3082eah/pdf/BILLS-111hr3082eah.pdf> – Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
Major Committee Action:
- The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the legal and constitutional issues of Wikileaks. See Heritage’s latest research on this issue here.
- The House Judiciary Committee will also hold a full hearing on the causes and effects of the foreclosure crisis.
Senate Cloakroom: December 13-17, 2010
Analysis:
The Senate will reconvene after the weekend on Monday, with a cloture vote on the “Tax Deal” bill scheduled for 3pm that day. Assuming cloture is invoked, the Senate will likely consider the tax bill for the majority of the week, and might move towards the continuing appropriations bill if time allows at the end of the week.
Other issues that might come before the Senate before Christmas include a possible stand-alone bill that repeals the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, military policy, the New START treaty, or even the DREAM Act, (cloture on the DREAM Act failed last week, but it’s possible Leader Reid might try again in the lame duck).
Major Floor Action:
- The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing to consider various nominations.
- The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a markup to discuss the Federal Housing Finance Agency Nomination.
The conservative position on the tax deal is to accept the framework on the condition any new deficit spending is paid for by cuts elsewhere in the federal budget. If the 111th can't get it done, then the 112th will. GOP leaders should be out in front shouting this message from the rooftops to mitigate the "stability/predictability" concern for the economy.
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com
"Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive"
The way I understand it, this is the first time in the history of Social Security that it paid out more than it received. Doesn't anyone figure in the life expectancy of those currently drawing SS? What about the excess that will be paid in as this median age group passes on? FDR screwed up by not linking up life span legibility for SS? After all, 65 was pretty old in 1936/7 . You are right. Immediately up the starting/qualifying age and do not grandfather anything. The government is supposed to be the bif Daddy, so take some responsibility and change it, effectively today.