A closer look at next week…

Congress and the White House have until the end of next week to reach a long-term budget deal for FY 2011, punt with a short-term funding deal or watch the government shut down — or possibly some fourth option that no one can imagine yet.

Because of the uncertainty surrounding the budget, the House schedule is a little more hazy than usual, based on the expectation that legislators at some point will have to start work to pass an agreement, or possibly another stopgap funding bill.

Monday

The House meets at 2 p.m. to consider H.R. 1246, which would reduce Defense Department printing costs. This bill will be taken up under a suspension of House rules, and a vote is expected around 6:30 p.m.

The Senate meets at 2 p.m., and is expected to hold a vote on a judicial nominee in the evening.

Tuesday

The House meets at noon to take up one or possibly two bills. The first is H.R. 910, which would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

The second is H.J.Res 37, which disapproves of the Federal Communications Commission's 2010 decision to regulate the Internet.

The Senate is expected to resume consideration of S. 493, which would reauthorize small-business programs. A Tuesday vote is expected to repeal IRS reporting language in last year's healthcare law. The so-called 1099 repeal could come in the form of an amendment to the small-business bill, or a vote on the House-passed bill, H.R. 4.

Wednesday

The House meets at noon, possibly to continue consideration of legislation listed on Tuesday, or to work on a budget bill. The Senate is in session.

Thursday

The House meets at 9 a.m. with no planned schedule, although work on a budget deal is possible. The Senate is also in session.

Friday

The House is not scheduled to be in session, although this could change depending on the status of the budget. The Senate is in.