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: