The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.

• Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.933, the continuing appropriations bill.
• The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
• All time during adjournment, recess and morning business will count post-cloture on the Mikulski-Shelby substitute amendment #26, as modified to H.R.933.
• We hope to reach an agreement to complete action on H.R.933 during Tuesday’s session.

This morning the Senate resumed consideration of the Mikulski-Shelby substitute amendment #26 to H.R.933, Continuing Appropriations, post-cloture. If all time is used, the 30 hours of post-cloture debate time on the substitute would expire at 12:48am on Wednesday, March 20. At that time, the question would be on the substitute amendment. We could either agree to the substitute by consent or have a roll call vote. Upon disposition of the substitute, the Senate would immediately proceed to a cloture vote on the underlying bill. If cloture is invoked on the underlying bill, there would be an additional 30 hours of post-cloture debate prior to disposition of the bill. We hope to reach an agreement to deal with these late night/early morning votes at a more reasonable time. I suspect senators may discuss such matters at the caucus meetings today.

We also hope to reach an agreement to begin consideration of S.Con.Res.8, An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2014, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2013, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2015 through 2023, this afternoon, notwithstanding cloture on H.R.933. The result of such an agreement would be that the clocks run concurrently on both measures (CR and Budget).

The rules governing consideration of the Budget Resolution limits debate on the Budget resolution to 50 hours equally divided and, within that time, allocates 2 hours for first degree amendments and 1 hour for second degree amendments, also equally divided. When the question is on an amendment, we could vote on the amendment (up or down), a motion to table, or a motion to waive any applicable points of order.

We expect to consider amendments throughout consideration of the Budget Resolution, with a crescendo in action near or at the end of time. Upon the use or yielding back of time, senators may offer an unlimited number of amendments and are allowed an immediate vote in relation to the amendment. In the past we have sought unanimous consent to allow for 2 minutes for debate equally divided prior to a vote in relation to the amendment and limit vote time to 10 minutes. As usual, I will send a message when any consent agreement governing consideration of the resolution is reached.

Senators should be prepared for roll call votes throughout the week and into the evenings, once consideration of the Budget begins

enator Reid asked unanimous consent that the Senate vote in relation to the amendments listed below and the Senate complete action on the Continuing Appropriations bill.

– Mikulski-Shelby #98, as modified (60-vote threshold)

– Pryor-Blunt #82 (60-vote threshold);

– Toomey #115 (60-vote threshold);

– Mikulski-Shelby substitute #26;

– Passage of H.R.933, Continuing Appropriations.

Senator Moran objected because Moran #45 (air traffic control towers) was not included in the request.

Senator Reid then asked consent the Senate begin consideration of the Budget resolution today, notwithstanding cloture on H.R.933.

Senator Moran also objected to this request.

The text of the requests and the unofficial transcript of their exchange can be found below.

Request to complete action on Continuing Appropriations (H.R.933)

Senator Reid: I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding cloture having been invoked on the Mikulski-Shelby substitute, the following amendments be in order:

– Mikulski-Shelby #98, as modified with the changes that are at the desk; and

– Pryor-Blunt #82.

That no other first degree amendments to the substitute or the underlying bill be in order; that no second degree amendments be in order to any of the amendments listed above prior to the vote; that there be 30 minutes equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees, prior to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed; that upon disposition of the Pryor-Blunt amendment #82; the Durbin second degree amendment to the Toomey amendment #115 be withdrawn; that the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Toomey amendment #115; that all the amendments, with the exception of the substitute, be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold; that upon disposition of the Toomey amendment, the Senate proceed to vote on the Mikulski-Shelby substitute amendment, as amended; that if the substitute amendment, as amended, is agreed to; the cloture motion on the underlying bill be withdrawn and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended.

Senator Moran objected.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.81, commemorating March 19, 2013, as the 40^th anniversary of National Ag Day.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Request to consider Budget resolution (S.Con.Res.8)

Senator Reid: I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding cloture having been invoked, that at a time to be determined today, it be in order for the Senate to begin consideration of S.Con.Res.8, the budget resolution for fiscal year 2014; that any time used for consideration of S.Con.Res.8 during the post cloture period on H.R.933 also count toward the post-cloture time on H.R.933; further, that on Tuesday, March 19^th at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation of the Republican Leader, the Senate resume consideration of H.R.933.

Senator Moran objected.

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in 3 roll call votes at 11:15am tomorrow. Those votes will be in relation to the following items:

–          Toomey amendment #115 (expect a point of order and motion to waive with 60-vote threshold);

–          Mikulski-Shelby substitute amendment #26, as amended (majority vote threshold); and

–          Cloture on H.R.993, Continuing Appropriations (60-vote threshold).

If cloture on the underlying bill is invoked, the clock (30 hours) will begin counting as if cloture had been invoked at 1am on Wednesday, March 20.

Once the substitute amendment is adopted, no further amendments are in order to the underlying bill. In light of this parliamentary situation, we hope the Republicans (Senator Moran) will allow us to yield back the post-cloture time and vote on passage of the bill. Upon disposition of the Continuing Appropriations bill, the Senate will begin consideration of S.Con.Res.8, the Budget resolution.

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The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 19, 2013.