Senate

The House GOP proposal is expected to fail in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The Senate meets at 9 a.m., and at 10 a.m. is expected to hold a "motion to proceed" vote on the House Republican "cut, cap and balance" plan. After the vote fails, Congress will have less than two weeks to reach a debt-ceiling agreement or risk a federal government default on its debt, and/or the inability to fund federal programs at their current level.

Voting against the motion to proceed on the "cut, cap and balance" bill is all but assured this morning. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called the bill "about as weak and senseless as anything that has ever come on this Senate floor," a sentiment other Democrats are likely to share.

Senate leadership scheduled a Friday morning vote, as promised, on House Republicans’ “cut, cap and balance” proposal.

In order to call a vote at the last minute, Senate Democrats deployed a rare procedural tactic, moving to table the cloture “motion to proceed” on the legislation.

The move, hinted at by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) earlier in the day, represents a shift in the Democratic leader’s strategy on dealing with the Republican plan.

The Senate on Thursday afternoon voted unanimously to extend the term of FBI Director Robert Mueller by two years.

Mueller, however, still must still be confirmed by the full Senate to serve the extended term.

In a floor speech, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Mueller had executed his job admirably since taking over the directorship a decade ago. 

“He’s done a wonderful job for 10 years and the country feels that they need him for two more years,” Reid said. “He has agreed to take that, and I appreciate that very much.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said House Republicans' proposal is among the worst pieces of legislation in Senate history.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said on Thursday that despite his endorsement of the Gang of Six deficit-reduction plan, he still supports the House GOP's "cut, cap and balance” proposal and believes a vote against it would be a sign of "cowardice."

"The best way to solve our problem is the bill we are going to be voting on Saturday morning," said Coburn, referring to a procedural vote scheduled for the weekend.

“And come Saturday morning when members of the Senate vote against proceeding on 'cut, cap and balance,' they will display either courage or cowardice," said Coburn.

Schumer said Norquist is signaling House Republicans to relax their hard stance on the debt-ceiling and budget debates.

Senate Majority Leader Reid said the decision painted a "very bad picture" for debt negotiations.

The Senate will take up Republicans' "cut, cap and balance" deficit-reduction plan on Thursday and hold a preliminary cloture vote on the legislation Saturday morning, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Wednesday.

"I am committed to allowing a full and fair debate on this bill," said Reid. "I want the proponents and opponents of this bill to have time to air their views."

The Senate passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) appropriations bill on Wednesday in 97-2 vote. 

H.R. 2055, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies appropriations bill, would increase funding for the VA by 5.8 percent and cut military construction spending by $2.6 billion to reflect anticipated base closures and realignments.

Since reaching the floor last week, the bill has survived two attacks from Republican senators who argued that the Senate ought not be working on appropriations bills without first passing a budget for fiscal year 2012 that would lay down spending parameters.

Prior to the final vote, the Senate also considered several amendments — including one offered by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) that would have required veterans who collect benefits and treatment for injuries they claim were caused by war-time herbicides like Agent Orange to prove a causal relationship between their illness and the chemical, based on proximity.