Senate preview for next week

When senators come back to Washington next week, they will mostly deal with administrative business in preparing for the legislative schedule ahead, a senior Democratic aide told The Hill on Friday.

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m on Tuesday and, due to a technicality pertaining to an upcoming fight on Senate rules, will remain in its first legislative day. On Tuesday evening, senators will proceed across the Capitol building to the House to attend the president's State of the Union address.

In other business for the week, Senate leadership on both sides will settle committee ratios and assignments. The Senate will also likely put forth a resolution in tribute to the victims of the tragedy in Tucson, Ariz.

The only real fight will likely be over Senate rules, which Democrats will attempt to bend in their favor by lowering the threshold for overcoming a filibuster. Republicans, who are just barely in the minority, fiercely oppose these proposed changes.

In the weeks to come, Democrats plan to take up measures focused on creating jobs and helping foster economic recovery.