Senate to take up healthcare repeal, 1099 repeal today

Senate leaders today decided to take up two healthcare amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill. The first, from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), would repeal last year's healthcare law, and the second, from Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), would repeal language that increases the tax filing burden on small companies.

McConnell and Stabenow spoke shortly after 3 p.m. today on their two amendments. McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) interrupted debate on the FAA bill in order to mention the two amendments.

The Stabenow bill could be approved, since both parties have agreed to repeal of the so-called 1099 tax reporting requirement. But McConnell's amendment is highly likely to fail in a party-line vote. Democrats are expected to raise a point of order against the amendment, and a vote could occur by Wednesday.

The Senate convened at 2 p.m. to debate S. 223, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) started debate on the FAA bill by saying the bill is non-controversial and should be quickly approved.

But Ranking Commerce Committee Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) said in her floor remarks that she will insist that the bill expand slots at Reagan National Airport that carriers from western states can use for direct flights. Another Republican senator, John McCain (R-Ariz.), has introduced a bill to repeal federal subsidies for air service to smaller communities.