Friday: Freezing government pay, condemning North Korea on nukes

The House meets at 9 a.m. for legislative work on two measures, one freezing the pay of federal workers and members of Congress, and the other condemning the nuclear test North Korea conducted this week.

Work on the pay freeze bill, H.R. 273, was started on Thursday — members approved the rule, and now just have to debate the bill and pass it.

Democrats not only oppose this bill, but they accused Republicans this week of trying to look busy by stretching consideration of the measure into two days.

The North Korea resolution, H.Res. 65, is a reaction to that country's nuclear test on Tuesday. It calls on the Obama administration to exert as much pressure on North Korea as it can through sanctions.

It also calls on China to prevent the transshipment of technology and equipment to North Korea that might be used in its nuclear program.

The House should be able to pass both measures by noon, after which its work is done for the week.

The Senate is out, after a late afternoon Thursday vote in which senators rejected a proposal to end debate on the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel to be the next Secretary of Defense.

Both the House and Senate are out next week.

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