Thursday: Sequester in the Senate, VAWA in the House

The Senate meets at 10 a.m., and will hold votes on Democratic and Republican proposals to replace the sequester.

The Democratic proposal would replace the $85 billion in spending cuts with a mix of cuts and tax increases. The Republican proposal is designed to give the Obama administration flexibility in how to enact the spending, which some say the administration already has.

At some point in the day, the Senate will hold separate votes on ending debate on the motion to proceed to these bills. But neither is expected to get the 60 votes needed to advance.

The House meets at 9 a.m., and will resume work on the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, S. 47.

The House appears ready to approve the Senate-passed version of the bill. House Republicans have offered their own version of the bill, but it seems clear that the House will vote against the GOP bill and support the Senate version.

Democrats favor the Senate bill, believing it would do more to help Indians, immigrants and LBGT victims of domestic violence. Democrats are so confident that the Senate bill will carry the day that they voted unanimously in favor of the GOP rule governing today's voting structure.

When these votes are done, the House and Senate are expected to be out on Friday, even though that's the first day of the $85 billion sequester.

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