Legislative Debate

Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and five other House Democrats, as expected, sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) Monday morning requesting an emergency resolution to stress support for Egyptian pro-democracy demonstrators.

Other signatories were Reps. John Conyers, Jr. (Mich.), Jim McDermott (Wa.), Michael Honda (Calif.), Raul Grijalva (Ariz.), and Keith Ellison (Minn.).

Over the weekend, the intensity of street protests in Cairo faded as many began a return to a semblance of normal life following nearly three weeks of demonstrations. But thousands of protesters remain in Tahrir Square demanding the immediate resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.

Michael Steel, who is the spokesman for Boehner responded to the letter with this statement to The Hill Monday afternoon.

“As the White House has said, President Mubarak has not sufficiently addressed the legitimate concerns of the Egyptian people.  Moving forward, all parties need to address legitimate grievances, renounce violence, and to ensure respect, dignity, and political freedom are equally and consistently applied to all.”

This post was updated at 4:26 p.m.

The Senate is scheduled to convene at 2 p.m. Monday in order to debate additional amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill.

At 4:30 p.m., the Senate will begin one hour of debate on the confirmation of three judicial nominees. Votes are expected at around 5:30 p.m.

The Senate is only in for two days this week and will adjourn on Tuesday, when the House is scheduled to reconvene.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) denied a request by C-SPAN to allow the cable network control over cameras in the House.

C-SPAN said it was "disappointed" in a decision by Boehner this week to maintain the status quo in the House, meaning that broadcasts from the House are restricted and under the control of the Speaker.

Boehner wrote C-SPAN on Thursday to say he believes the House is "best served by the current system of televised proceedings provided by the House Recording Studio."

The nonpartisan network wrote Boehner in November to make the same request it made to his predecessor, requesting permission to install additional, privately-operated cameras in the House that allows C-SPAN and other networks to produce a "journalistic product."

“We’re disappointed to learn that despite 32 years of experience with televising its sessions and in an age of ubiquitous cameras in political life, the House of Representatives has chosen not to allow C-SPAN’s cameras into its chamber to cover its sessions," network CEO Brian Lamb said in a statement. "We continue to feel that the public is best served by seeing a more complete picture of the legislative process than what’s delivered by Congressionally-controlled cameras and will continue to work with Speaker Boehner and other leaders in the House in hope of one day gaining access on behalf of the media.”

Boehner did decide this week, however, to assent to some requests by the Radio-Television Correspondents' Association (RTCA) to increase media access at the Capitol.

Boehner wrote the RTCA, in a letter posted by TalkingPointsMemo, to notify them that he'd agreed to add several new permanent stakeout locations, and allow more opportunities for reporters to broadcast live from the House chamber.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) adjourned the upper chamber for the weekend, saying there will be votes early next week on three judicial nominees as well as additional debate on an aviation bill.

The Senate will reconvene on Monday at 2 p.m. and shortly thereafter will debate additional amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill, Reid said.

At 4:30 p.m., the Senate will begin one hour of debate on the confirmation of three judicial nominees:

* Paul Holmes of Arkansas, to be U.S. district judge for the Western District of Arkansas

* Diana Saldana of Texas, to be district judge for the Southern District of Texas

* Marco Hernandez of Oregon, to be United States district judge for the District of Oregon.

Votes on the confirmation of these nominees are scheduled to occur at 5:30 p.m.

Senate leaders recently announced a new agreement that allows for an expedited confirmation process for non-controversial judicial nominees.

The three-way split divides Democrats and Republicans on how long to extend the authorities and how much oversight to include.

The Senate convened at 10 a.m. but is expected to have a light schedule Friday, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) reiterated that no votes are expected today.

Today could see more floor remarks from senators who want to discuss their proposed amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill. The Senate hopes to complete work on that bill early in the week of Feb. 14.

Reid said this morning that the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday would report out legislation to fund the FAA.

In the meantime, senators continue to offer amendments to the bill. Eleven new amendments were introduced yesterday, and Senate leaders have said they would consider amendments in pairs — one from a Democrat and one from a Republican.

The Senate on Thursday rejected a Republican proposal to lower labor costs in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) construction projects.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) offered an amendment to the FAA authorization bill that would have exempted infrastructure projects under the FAA from an 80-year old law, the Davis-Bacon Act. That act requires prevailing wages to be paid on public works projects.

Paul argued that exempting FAA from Davis-Bacon would allow the market to set construction wage rates, and thus would serve to keep costs in check. He estimated that his amendment would reduce the price of construction costs by $500 million in the context of FAA projects, and said his amendment is a small step toward reducing government spending. "If you can't vote for this one small step forward, you're not serious about balancing the budget," Paul said.

But Senate Democrats moved to set the amendment aside, and prevailed in a 55-42 vote.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) affirmed his independence from President Obama and the Democratic Party on Thursday, criticizing the federal government for its excesses in his maiden speech on the Senate floor. 

"America's manufacturing sector is dominated by the cruel irony of rules and regulation that make it easier to create jobs abroad than in the United States," Manchin said. "Madam President, West Virginians are not asking for a handout. We're asking for a work permit."

Manchin singled out the Environmental Protection Agency for criticism in his speech. The agency is set to impose limits on greenhouse gases that could have a large impact on coal producers in West Virginia.

"I believe it is fundamentally wrong for any bureaucratic agency, including the EPA, to regulate what has not been legislated," he said.

Manchin also rapped Congress for letting the federal deficit get out of hand.

“This is what I learned growing up in West Virginia: When things are tough, we don’t back down," he said. "When we are having a trouble paying out bills, we don’t think of spending more money.”

Manchin’s speech, which he touted as a look at his “common-sense agenda,” was heavy with references to West Virginia's role as the nation’s primary coal producer.

"I am very proud of the critical role West Virginians play in providing energy to our nation," said Manchin. "I imagine the light in this very chamber would be a little bit dimmer if not for West Virginia and its coal."

Immediately following the speech, which started at 3 p.m. and lasted for about 20 minutes, party leaders rose to lavish Manchin with accolades.

"You have just heard a classic Joe Manchin speech," said Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), the senior senator from West Virginia. "It’s full of optimism, strength, and common purpose."

"I too want to join in accolades for the senator for West Virginia," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) "He is just a wonderful guy and he is doing a wonderful job here already."

The Senate is expected by 5:30 p.m. to vow on two amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill.

One vote will be on an amendment from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to exempt infrastructure projects under the FAA from having to pay prevailing wages. The second is an amendment from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) that would make it a crime to aim laser pointers at aircraft.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) on Thursday indicated that consideration of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill is being delayed because Democrats haven't proposed their amendments to the bill yet.

"Democrats aren't coming forward with them," Rockefeller said on the floor just before noon. He added that Republicans have come forward with their amendments, but "the Democrats really aren't doing our part."

Rockefeller said that as manager of the bill, S. 223, he is continuing to work on an agreement on which amendments will be considered. He said many would likely be able to be approved quickly by voice vote, such as one from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) that would make it a crime to aim laser pointers at aircraft.