A closer look at next week …

Starting Monday, they’ll work until the work gets done.

Congress next week will try to cram what is arguably a year’s worth of work into just one week, as it races to put together a deal on spending for the rest of 2012, plus a package that extends the payroll-tax cut and unemployment insurance benefits.

This week, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) put members on alert that weekend work might be needed.

And that could be putting it mildly. Senate Democrats have warned that no one should leave town until a deal is done. Given Democratic opposition to the GOP’s plan for extending the payroll-tax holiday and unemployment insurance, there’s a potential for work right up until Christmas.

The fight, as ever, is how to pay for something that members on both sides have agreed to. Democrats spent the last two weeks pushing for extensions of the payroll-tax cut and unemployment benefits that are paid for with a tax hike on the wealthy.

The Republican plan relies on reforms and rescissions to pay for the extensions. Republicans point out that many of these “pay for” provisions are similar to what Democrats have proposed recently, but Democrats say it’s time to tax.

While Democrats have had the upper hand in the battle of words in the last few weeks, House passage of any package will likely shift the leverage back to Republicans. We’ve seen this before — the ability of the House to pass something has trumped the Senate, which has been unable to pass critical bills given the 60-vote threshold needed in the upper chamber.

If we’re on that same path again, look for House passage of the tax bill to lead to high-level talks with the White House, which might (once again) have to swallow a good chunk of what the GOP is looking for, and pass it along to the Senate.

The 2012 spending bill should be a little easier, although Republicans are hoping to pass an omnibus bill for the rest of the year, while Democrats have warned against the inclusion of policy riders. Plan B is another continuing resolution.

Below is a more detailed look at the week ahead:

Monday

The House meets at 2 p.m. for work on suspension bills, with votes planned for 6:30 p.m. There are several suspension bills planned for next week, including two that would tighten sanctions on Iran and companies doing business with Iran.

These bills are outlined here.

The Senate also meets at 2 p.m., and at 5:30 p.m. will vote on the nomination of Norman Eisen to be ambassador to the Czech Republic, and Mari Carmen Aponte to be ambassador to El Salvador.

Tuesday

The House meets at noon, and aside from looking at more suspension bills, members are expected to take up the rule for the Republican bill to extend the payroll-tax holiday and unemployment insurance, H.R. 3630. The House Rules Committee is expected to approve a rule for the bill Monday night, allowing for floor consideration Tuesday.

As is the case in the House, the Senate will be in session until both the spending bill and the tax bill are sorted out. In both cases, the Senate will most likely be waiting for the House to approve bills first.

Wednesday-Friday

By mid-week, the House will likely be starting work on the Republican 2012 spending bill, whether it’s a full omnibus or a continuing resolution.

After that, it gets hazy, as it’s unclear how quickly the spending and tax bills can move to the Senate, how the Senate reacts and what further steps need to be taken.

Again, House Republicans have warned about the possibility of weekend work, and a late Friday or early Saturday morning session is possible to finish work on a spending deal.

The House and Senate might also approve the conference reports for H.R. 2055, the military construction and veterans affairs spending bill, and H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act.

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