This Week in Congress

Recapping Last Week in Congress

The main events in the House last week all involved the same feat of parliamentary magic, that is, "deeming" a budget passed. We all remember how when Democrats deemed things passed, it was tantamount to treason, and derided as "Demon Pass." But hey, no biggie this time. It's just a federal budget. And a draconian one, at that, slashing things people need to live, and building more of the things that kill them. Neither of the things the House did last week were really permissible under the rules as written. Without a real budget in place'one actually adopted by both the House and the Senate'the House was technically prohibited from considering the Commerce, Justice, Space appropriations bill it passed last Thursday. Likewise, the House should not have been able to consider the reconciliation bill it passed on the same day. But in both cases, deeming a budget passed cleared the way, and the adoption of special rules waiving all points of order against the consideration of the two bills wiped out the ability of any members to point to the rules and raise an objection.

That's just the way they roll in the House.

On the other hand, there's the Senate, where they take the rules very seriously. Or at least gnash their teeth and rend their garments whenever they consider tinkering with them. And as a result, of course, we have weeks like this last one, during which only two votes were taken. One on a judicial nomination that was part of the 14 judge deal, and the other on a failed cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the student loan bill. Every single thing the Senate majority wanted to handle was delayed by filibusters, and the only business that moved was the non-controversial items agreed to by unanimous consent. Even the bill reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank that passed with over 300 votes in the House got filibustered. The entire week was wasted, leading Majority Leader Harry Reid to join the bathrobe-wearing Cheeto munchers in calling for filibuster reform, though he did so by referencing the appropriately-dressed Senators Merkley (D-OR) and Udall (D-NM), instead.

This Week in Congress

The House, after its usual slate of suspension bills, takes up the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization. But not the Senate-passed version. Oh, no! Can't have that! They're going to bring their own version. One that makes sure that undocumented immigrants who are victims of domestic abuse are properly screwed over, among other horrible ideas. Why do that? Believe it or not, the claim on this one is that it adds to the budget deficit, because it costs money to give abused immigrants protective visas. This sensible reform, it is hoped, will finally demonstrate that there is no Republican War on Women. How could that possibly do that, you may ask, since it would appear to demonstrate the exact opposite? Because Freedom, Liberty, America, that's how. U-S-A.

So despite the fact that the Senate sent over a bill with strong bipartisan support (68 votes), the House will insist not only on its own version, but on sending a new bill entirely, meaning the Senate will have to go through the motions of amending it and then trying to get a conference in order to even begin negotiating a compromise bill. And that will give Senate Republicans the opportunity to... you guessed it, filibuster. But why would they do that, given the overwhelming support for their own bill? Because Freedom, Liberty, America, that's why. U-S-A. Even if they don't have the votes to actually block it, they can eat up weeks on end of Senate time making trouble.

But back to the House for the moment, they'll also take up this year's defense authorization bill. This gives the same Republicans who just said there was no money to give abused immigrant women protective visas the opportunity to vote to increase  defense spending by nearly four billion dollars above the Pentagon's request. Why would they do that? Say it with me: Freedom, Liberty, America, that's why. U-S-A.

What has the Senate got planned? Well, it's near impossible to plan in that body as it is, and with the constant threat of even nonsensical filibusters, it's even harder than usual. All we know for now is that Harry Reid intends to return to work on the motion to proceed to the Export-Import Bank bill, then take an afternoon detour for two judicial nominations and a cloture vote on that motion to proceed. If they can get cloture, great. Then the 30-hour clock starts counting down to a vote on the motion itself, unless they can suddenly get cooperation on a unanimous consent agreement to dispense with some or all of that time. Otherwise, it's run the clock until Wednesday, waiting to vote to end debate on whether to start debating the Export-Import Bank bill.

Yes, the Senate needs filibuster reform. Has anyone mentioned that?

Full floor and committee schedules are below the fold.