Today in Congress: Daily Kos Radio launch, and also, Congress does some stuff

Before we get to the "good" stuff, just a reminder that we'll be launching Daily Kos Radio this morning, live from Netroots Nation. With big thanks to the community at the Netroots Radio group right here at Daily Kos, we'll be turning the key on this thing in the 9 a.m. hour, and I'll kick things off by walking you through everything I'm spelling out below, and more.

If you're here at Netroots Nation, come by the Daily Kos booth in the exhibit hall and make rude noises. If you're catching the "action" at home (it's 2 a.m. as I write, and we're on the air at 9), tweet me (@KagroX) with questions, comments, and the written transcripts of rude noises, and we'll see if I get confused enough to read 'em on the air.

Recapping yesterday's action:

The House was in session until nearly midnight, which explains the use of "Today's Outlook" instead of the normal "Tomorrow's" in the Nightly Whip, below the fold. Amendments to the Energy & Water Development and Homeland Security appropriations bills were the order of the day, with a brief detour for votes on another two motions to instruct conferees on the surface transportation bill. Energy & Water work wrapped up and the bill was passed, and Homeland Security got underway and is still pending. Both bills still face veto threats, and both saw several amendments aimed at cutting spending defeated by a fractured Republican caucus that just can't quite get itself to walk the game they talk.

The Senate ticked another judicial nomination off the list today, with the confirmation of Jeffrey J. Helmick to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, which is a nice, if minor, accomplishment for a day otherwise being burnt waiting for the cloture motion on the motion to proceed to consideration of the farm bill to ripen.

Unanimous consent and other routine business of interest today included the adoption of S. Res. 485, a resolution to authorize representation by the Senate Legal Counsel in the case of Common Cause, et al. v. Joseph R. Biden, et al. That's Common Cause's lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the filibuster.

And secondly, the initiation of the Rule 14 process of S.3268, To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide rights for pilots, and for other purposes, sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK). Why is that interesting? Recall Inhofe's motivation:

Classic. Senator James Inhofe (R-Entitlement) lands his small plane on a clearly-marked closed airport runway, in the process bunny hopping the plane over airport vehicles and workers on that runway to avoid killing them and himself during his, let's call it "landing." The workers are furious. The FAA investigates and makes him attend a "remedial training" program (no word on whether he also had to take a breathalyzer test ... just sayin'.)

So let's say you're a pissy, ultraconservative Republican senator and this happens to you. What do you do? Why, you introduce legislation to stop "overreach" by the mean regulators who made you feel "desperation" after you nearly killed some poor airport workers repairing a closed runway.

Well... here it is. That's all I have to say about that.

Looking ahead to today:

The House is set to begin its day with the Protect Medical Innovation Act, protecting medical innovation'of course'by cutting taxes. Take two tax cuts and call me in the morning. Then take another tax cut to protect your phone innovation. After that, it's more Homeland Security appropriations amendments, plus yet another motion to instruct the surface transportation bill conferees. They've probably just about had their fill of instruction by now, thanks. But hey, Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA-10) probably just wants to instruct them on the fact that he's a homespun country doctor who just happens to hate U.N. lightbulbs. So how bad could that be?

The Senate's plan is the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to the farm bill. There's still no deal in place on amendments, but the schedule makes it look like they've got the votes to get cloture, noting that the vote will take place at 10:30 a.m., that the hour afterward will be equally divided between the party leaders for debate, and that they hope to get an amendment agreement in place during the day. It's the plan for the hour following the vote that makes it sound like they think they've got their 60 votes for moving ahead, though it could certainly also mean they don't have them, and are just resigned to losing the vote and are at a loss as to what to do afterward. But I've seen no serious indication of any plans to block consideration of the bill. Still, you never know. Some of them fellers is crazy.

Today's floor and committee schedules appear below the fold.