Next up in the House — surface transportation, IRS reporting rule

The House Rules Committee on Tuesday approved two rules for bills that will be considered on the House floor Wednesday and Thursday.

The first is a rule for the Surface Transportation Act, H.R. 662, which will come up on Wednesday. The measure would fund federal transportation spending at 2010 levels. As approved, it only allows a Republican technical amendment to be in order, so Democrats will not be able to offer amendments.

The second is a rule for a bill, H.R. 4, that would repeal the IRS reporting requirement in last year's healthcare law, a requirement that both parties oppose. This is a closed rule that will not allow for any amendments, but it will allow for two and a half hours of debate that is expected to conclude on Thursday.

After the House approved a two-week spending bill on Tuesday, Republicans began a one-hour special-order discussion in opposition to the healthcare law.