A closer look at next week… repealing ObamaCare

The bill was pulled after many Republicans groused about it, and said they’d rather vote on ObamaCare repeal. A few short weeks later, Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said a full repeal vote was coming soon.

{mosads}Democrats can be expected to accuse Republicans of wasting the House’s time, much like they did in the last Congress when the House took several votes to repeal the law.

The House also expects to pass legislation that would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct enhanced cost-benefit analyses of regulations, and would require the benefits of new rules to exceed their cost.

In the Senate, members will finally get a chance to vote on the nomination of Ernest Moniz, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist who has been nominated as the next Secretary of Energy.

This nomination has been held up by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who had complaints about delays in getting a nuclear waste disposal site built in his home state. But last week, Graham lifted his hold, which allowed the nomination to move forward.

The Senate is expected to debate Moniz for three hours before voting on him; a vote is expected Tuesday at the earliest.

The Senate will also continue to slog through amendments to legislation authorizing various government projects, including flood and storm risk reduction, and coastal and environmental restoration.

Off the floor, the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday will hold an oversight hearing on the Justice Department, which will give Republicans a chance to question Attorney General Eric Holder.

Below is a more detailed look at the week ahead:

Monday

The Senate starts work at 2 p.m., and may continue debate on S. 601, the Water Resources Development Act.

Debate may also turn to three nominations who could get votes as early as Tuesday. Aside from Moniz, other nominations up in the Senate are Marilyn Tavenner to be administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and William Orrick to be a U.S. district judge for the northern district of California.

The House is out and will hold a brief pro forma session on Monday.

Tuesday

The House starts at noon, and later in the afternoon will consider three suspension bills. They are:

H.R. 180, encouraging “Blue Alert” plans throughout the country that disseminate information when a law enforcement officer is hurt or killed.

H.R. 1580, affirming U.S. policy on Internet governance, and

S.Con.Res. 10, authorizing the use of the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha.

The Senate is in for the rest of the week, and may begin nomination votes today. In addition, the Senate will vote at noon to end debate on the Water Resources Development Act.

Wednesday

The House meets for speeches at 10 a.m., and legislative work at noon, which will consist of more suspension bills:

H.R. 701, setting an October 31 deadline by which the Securities and Exchange Commission can exempt certain securities from regulation,

H.R. 384, the Homes for Heroes Act, establishing a special assistant for veterans affairs in the Department of Housing and Urban Development,

H.R. 356, the Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act,

H.R. 767, assigning various Bureau of Land Management offices as Pilot Project offices under the Energy Policy Act, and

H.R. 573, providing parity for the Northern Mariana Islands compared to other U.S. territories related to a law granting coastal rights to these territories.

Thursday

The House starts at 10 a.m. again, and shortly after noon will start work on the bill to repeal ObamaCare, H.R. 45. Passage of a rule and the bill itself is expected on Thursday.

Friday

Members meet at 9 a.m., and have just one bill on the calendar: H.R. 1062, the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act. Again, the House will approve the rule and then the bill itself.