Thursday: Senate is in, schedule unclear

Assuming the half-inch of snow crippling the Washington, D.C., region doesn't lead to a government shutdown, the Senate reconvenes at 9:30 a.m. this morning.

As of late Wednesday, the Senate had no votes planned for Thursday. But Senate Democrats did hold out the possibility that some votes might occur. The main legislative issues before the Senate are two House-passed bills — one providing $50.7 billion worth of Hurricane Sandy relief (H.R. 152), and the other suspending the debt limit until mid-May (H.R. 325).

The House approved the latter bill on Wednesday. Senate Democrats indicated that they would pass it, and produce a budget resolution for the first time in nearly four years.

The Senate is also wrestling with whether and how to change its own procedures in the new Congress to speed up the consideration of legislation. On Wednesday, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) indicated that Democrats might push through some reforms by a simple majority, but not a rule change requiring senators to actively talk and hold the floor during filibusters.

The House is out all day, and returns Friday afternoon for a pro forma session. The House is also out all next week.