House plans busy Thursday: Budget, EPA, net neutrality

The House starts legislative business at 10 a.m. Thursday, and has plenty to get to.

The House plans to consider H.R. 1363, a one-week stopgap spending bill, barring a breakthrough at Wednesday night's meeting between congressional leaders.

Members also plan on final passage of H.R. 910, which would restrict the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Finally, the House might also take up a resolution disapproving of the Federal Communications Commission's net-neutrality rule.

House leaders on Wednesday noted that they originally planned to finish all legislative business for the week by 3 p.m. on Thursday. But a note accompanying the Thursday schedule implied that the uncertainty over the budget situation may keep them longer, possibly into Friday.

House Republicans on Wednesday night spoke on the floor in defense of H.R. 1363, nothing that it would fund Defense Department spending for the rest of FY 2011, and arguing that this is needed to give U.S. military certainty about their pay.

Several Democrats disagreed, arguing that Republicans need to consider cuts to all areas of the government if they are going to win consensus.