I can just imagine conversations going on between senators and their spouses right about now.
“Sweetie, I’m sorry, but I’m going to be stuck in Washington all of next week.”
“Darling, no way. You left me alone last year with your in-laws and the kids. I’m not doing another Christmas in Florida without …
Majority Leader Harry Reid talks to reporters after the Senate Democratic policy luncheon on Dec. 14 (Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images).
–The Senate will pass the tax deal today and is likely to move on to START.
–Jon Kyl says Reid is ruining Christmas. Matt Yglesias pines for
House Democrats have a decision to make this week: do they value messing with President Obama’s tax plan more than their Holiday plans? The Senate today is expected to vote on cloture on the tax plan, which would mean passage by Wednesday (assuming they get cloture, which seems likely). The House would then take up the measure Thursday …
(White House/Pete Souza)
–Obama’s tax cut deal is poised to sail through the Senate today.
–What you missed Sunday: House Dems want to excise the estate tax concession. Rep. Van Hollen says they’re “not going to hold this thing up at the end of the day.” The White House doesn’t want to change anything.
–Treasury kicks the …
Two Democratic constituencies are likely to end the day disappointed: Hispanics and gays. This afternoon Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will try and move to the DREAM Act, which would grant a path to citizenship to millions of illegal children who are getting college degrees or serving in the armed forces. After that he will attempt …
On Meet the Press yesterday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took a victory lap, gloating that he’d forced the administration to bend to Republican will.
We’ve had more conversations in the last two weeks than we’ve had in the last two years, and I think that’s a good sign, a growing awareness that the power’s going to be more
…
Congress tomorrow – yes, on a Saturday – will be holding their second round of just-for-show votes on extending the Bush tax cuts. On the heels of the House vote, the Senate will be tackling the tax cuts, which expire at the end of January if action isn’t taken. Don’t expect real progress, though: the legislation isn’t expected to …
There are a lot of bills floating around this lame duck – most of them lacking the mojo to pass – the ratification of the nuclear START treaty with Russia, the DREAM Act helping the children of illegal immigrants, the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the defense reauthorization bill, the renewal of the Bush tax cuts and a …
(White House Photo by Pete Souza)
–Mike Huckabee tells the Iowa Family Policy Center the state supreme court ousters “may have been singularly the most important election that happened in America.” Back story here.
–New York Magazine‘s Jason Zengerle details how Chris Christie
–Despite remaining schisms over the preferred end game, Democrats are ready to hold votes on extending only the Bush tax cuts for those making $250k or less.
–Still searching for a brave soul to take over the DSCC, Harry Reid and White House court Patty Murray.
–Overtures ongoing, Jon Kyl still sees “no chance” of lame duck …
John Kerry, Hillary Clinton and Dick Lugar hold a media availability to discuss the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. (Douglas Graham/Roll Call)
–President Obama is running the full court press for lame duck ratification of START.
–The national security right jumps all over the Ghailani verdict. Sentencing still to …
(Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
–House Democrats vent on Nancy Pelosi as they nonetheless prepare to elect her minority leader today.
–Minor rescheduling causes hand-wringing over Obama’s ballyhooed bipartisan merlot/slurpee supersummit.
–John Sides thinks the White House need not be too
Remember last summer when Republicans were warning about the scary lame duck? The ruling Democrats, warned GOP candidates and incumbents alike, are going to try and sneak through all manner of controversial bills against the will of the American people. House Republicans even introduced not one but two resolutions calling on Dems to not …
