Senate Analysis –
This week, the Senate will try complete several more over-due appropriations bills. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to formally vote its health care bill out of committee. However, the real work will be going on behind the scenes as Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and members of the Obama Administration continue their efforts to blend two committee health care bills into one, cumbersome monstrosity. Similarly, Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) will be working behind closed doors to fill in the blanks of their recently introduced cap-and-trade energy tax bill.
Major Senate Floor Action –
The Senate will complete its work on the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill.
After a significant delay, the Senate will take up the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill, which could turn into a debate over the Obama Administration’s investigation into the CIA.
Major Senate Committee Action –
The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on minimizing the Iranian threat via sanctions.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on confronting al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.
A Senate Judiciary Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the legality of executive branch czars.
Another Senate Judiciary Subcommittee will hold a hearing on faith-based perspectives on immigration reform.
