Senate to Consider HR 1473 Today

According to the Daily Digest for the Congressional Record (pg D 403) the Senate reached a unanimous consent agreement yesterday to consider HR 1473 today as soon as the House notifies them that they have completed action on the bill and its two associated resolutions.

The agreement requires that 60 votes will be necessary for passage. This may be a tough requirement for the bill, but it will be a certain death knell for the two amending resolutions.

The Senate will consider the three items in a different order than will be used in the House. The Senate will consider H. Con. Res 35, then H. Con. Res 36 and then, finally, HR 1473. The House rule called for a vote on HR 1473 with the other two votes to follow only if HR 1473 passes. Apparently there are those in the Senate leadership that were concerned that some members might not vote for HR 1473 if the possibility existed that either (or both) of the two resolutions could also be passed.

That the Senate was able to agree to this consideration format has ensured that a vote will take place if/when the House passes the bill. No one Senator from either extreme will be able to stop the consideration of the bill. It certainly isn’t a guarantee that the bill will pass (I’m betting that it will), but it does insure that a vote will take place.