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A closer look at next week…
Bipartisanship will be put to the test next week, as the House and Senate face a soft deadline on the payroll tax holiday extension, and will be looking to advance starkly difference transportation bills. Also in the forecast: a week-long fight over President Obama's budget proposal.
The payroll tax holiday ends February 29, and the House has voted twice to encourage House-Senate conferees to reach a deal by Friday. But next week may prove that it's easier to vote for a deadline than to meet a deadline.
House Republicans continue to insist that the payroll tax holiday should be paid for with spending cuts. On Thursday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) indicated that Republicans would oppose any new taxes to pay for it.
But Democrats continue to insist on raising taxes to pay for the extension, putting the two sides in a conflict that may not be easy to resolve.
The highway bills are equally contentious, if less pressing. The House bill funds federal transportation programs for five years, and pays for part of the $260 billion in expenditures with revenues from expanded oil and gas drilling.
The Senate bill, in contrast, is a $109 billion, two-year bill that raises some money by increasing taxes. These differences are likely setting up yet another fight down the road over how to pay for federal transportation programs.
Lurking in the background is the question of how the two parties can agree to affirm a prohibition on insider trading by members of Congress. House Democrats were outraged that Republicans changed the Senate bill, particularly the removal of language that would make political intelligence consultants register as lobbyists. That bill doesn't have to be finished next week, but Democrats are likely to keep up the drum beat in favor of the Senate version.
The two parties will also spend much of the week fighting over President Obama's FY 2013 budget proposal. Republicans were already attacking the budget this week, and will keep up the attack in a series of hearings.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner will testify in the House on Wednesday and the Senate on Tuesday and Thursday about the budget proposal. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will also testify in each chamber on the Defense Department budget; others testifying during the week are Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Below is a more detailed look at the week ahead:
Monday
The Senate meets at 2 p.m. for speeches and at 4:30 p.m. will take up the nomination of Adalberto Jordan to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit. A vote on this nomination is expected at 5:30 p.m.
The Senate is in for the rest of the week, and is expected to spend most of its time on the Senate transportation bill, S. 1813, titled the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century act. Some amendment votes are possible during the week, although no firm schedule is set.
The Monday is out today, and will meet only for a brief pro-forma session at 1 p.m.
Tuesday
The House meets at noon for speeches then later in the day for work on three bills to name post offices, H.R. 2079, H.R. 3247, and H.R. 3248.
Wednesday-Thursday
The House meets at 10 a.m. for speeches, then at noon to take up the House GOP transportation bill, H.R. 7, titled the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. Members will start by taking up the rule to that bill, which the House Rules Committee is expected to approve Tuesday evening.
Several amendments are expected to be proposed to this bill, which means the House could spend time late Wednesday and Thursday nights considering these amendments.
Members may also consider additional motions to instruct House conferees on the payroll tax holiday bill, or, alternatively, could take up the conference report on the bill.
Friday
The House meets at 9 a.m. and could hold votes on any remaining amendments to the transportation bill, and could also vote on final passage.
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