The Senate today: Healthcare, unions and laserbeams

The Senate will convene today at 10 a.m., and after a much-anticipated speech from new Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will continue to work on an agreement on how to dispose of more than a dozen amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill.

Votes are expected on at least two high-profile amendments, according to an agreement reached by Senate leaders from both parties yesterday. The big amendment is from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), S.A. 13, which would repeal last year's healthcare law. Democrats are expected to raise a point of order against that amendment, and that point of order is likely to be sustained.

Another healthcare-related amendment is S.A. 9, from Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). Her amendment would repeal the 1099 tax reporting requirement in the healthcare law. As we noted late yesterday, this amendment has a chance, as both parties want to kill the 1099 requirement, and Democrats seem to be putting forward 1099 repeal as an alternative to McConnell's bill.

But there are several other amendments that will have to be decided; 16 amendments have been put forward so far. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) has his own 1099 repeal amendment that he will fight to include, although it is very similar to Stabenow's. Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) also has a 1099 repeal amendment.

Another amendment from Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), S.A. 14, would deny Transportation Security Administration employees the collective bargaining rights other federal employees have.

And another from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), S.A. 8, would make it a crime to aim a laser pointer at an aircraft. Whitehouse's amendment would allow fines, prison terms of up to five years or both to those who direct laser pointers at airplanes.