Free trade pacts and the American Jobs Act: Today in
Congress

post from Daily Kos on 11 October 2011 08:30:02 AM. © Daily Kos

Recapping yesterday's action:

Ha ha! Were you at work yesterday? Congress wasn't! It was Columbus Day! But more than a few of them were probably getting their ears bent somewhere in their districts, possibly by some of you. If so, good work!

Looking ahead to today:

A very unusual-looking schedule in the House today. A typical post-weekend late start, with six suspension bills on tap (which is not at all unusual) and partial consideration of four trade and tariff bills (which is). Sandwiched in between will be the completion of work on the "EPA Regulatory Relief Act." But it seems very unusual to hold general debate on four separate (though similar) bills, and postpone completion of all of them for another day, rather than finishing them one at a time. It's not likely to make any particular difference in the outcome, but it seems... worth mentioning, somehow. Maybe it'll become clear why they did it as events unfold.

By the way, I wonder if there will be any objection to H.R. 1025, the last of the suspensions scheduled for the day. According to the title, the bill purports to "recognize the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law." That sounds like a nice thing to do, but recall that not long ago there was objection to a bill that would have awarded U.S. flags to the families of federal civilian employees who die from injuries in connection with their service. This is slightly different, of course. But you never know.

The Senate also starts work late today, passing the time in "morning business" until 5:30, and then proceeding to three votes in quick succession: a judicial confirmation, passage of the anti-currency manipulation bill, and a vote on cloture (the 32nd such motion this year), this time on the motion to proceed to the American Jobs Act. If it passes, that means up to 30 more hours of debate on whether or not to begin debate on the bill, even though they'll already have decided to begin.

In case you haven't pieced it together yet from the dozens of times I've explained this ridiculous situation, there's really no reason in the world why there ought to be post-cloture time on motions to proceed. If you've decided to proceed, then proceed. Post-cloture time on bills can make sense, allowing additional time for amendments that might still be pending. But on motions to proceed? Or for that matter, executive or judicial nominations? What's the point of post-cloture time on those? There isn't any.

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