House set to pass Patriot Act extension on second try

House Republicans are poised to pass an extension of the Patriot Act on Monday evening after a procedural snafu sent the measure down to defeat last week.

Republicans will meet at noon and begin debate at 2 p.m. on an extension of Patriot Act surveillance. A vote on the extension is expected Monday evening.

The measure was defeated last week when Republican leadership attempted to force it through on a fast-track procedure that required a two-thirds majority. Monday evening's vote will require only a simply majority and is almost certain to pass.

Both parties are also gearing up for a monumental fight on the budget that will consume the remainder of the legislative week.

Republicans introduced a bill Friday evening to keep the government funded for the rest of fiscal 2011. The bill seeks to cut $100 billion from non-discretionary, non-defense spending when compared to President Obama's budget request, which was never enacted.

Legislation funding the government is set to expire on March 4. Expect Democrats to complain that the cuts proposed by Republicans are too swift and too deep.

President Obama's budget for 2012 also arrives on Capitol Hill on Monday. According to the White House, the president’s budget sets the government on a path to save $1.1 trillion over the next 10 years.

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Budget Committee ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) will react to the budget at a 2:30 p.m. press conference.

The House Rules Committee is expected to meet at 5 p.m. to write a rule for the House to take up the the fiscal 2011 funding bill.

The Senate returns at 2 p.m. Monday to consider the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, and at 5:30 p.m. will vote on two judicial nominees.