The Week Ahead: Insider-trading bill hits the House floor

President Obama’s budget proposal was originally scheduled to come out on Monday but it’s been delayed a week to Feb. 13th, which will leave lawmakers and observers one more week to ponder what the president is planning.

But there’s still plenty of action in the executive branch and the legislative branch this week.

The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, which forbids insider trading by members of Congress, will hit the House floor sometime this week. The Senate passed it on Thursday. The lower chamber is expected to amend the legislation and House Democrats are pushing their own version of the bill — all this is expected to be worked out in conference committee.

{mosads}The race for the Republican presidential nomination continues with three states holding their contests on Tuesday. These will be the last contests until Feb. 28th. And the annual Conservative Political Action Conference — featuring an all-star list of Republican names — begins on Thursday.

Monday, Feb. 6

Vice President Biden and Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter will visit Florida State University to discuss ways to combat rising college costs. The event begins at 11 a.m.

The Senate begins consideration of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. Last week the House approved the first long-term funding of the FAA in eight years.  The $63 billion package would fund the agency through 2015.

The states suing over Obama’s healthcare law must file their brief with the Supreme Court on the central question of whether the healthcare law is constitutional.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Colorado and Minnesota hold their GOP presidential caucuses. Missouri holds its primary but its delegates won’t be decided until the state party’s March 17 convention.

Obama will host the second White House Science Fair.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies before the Senate Budget Committee on U.S. monetary and fiscal policy.  It begins at 10 a.m. in 608 Dirksen.

The bicameral Joint Economic Committee meets to discuss extending the payroll tax cut. The hearing begins at 2:30 p.m. in 216 Hart.

Librarian of Congress James Billington, U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, Acting U.S. Public Printer Davita Vance-Cooks, and CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf testify before the House Appropriations Committee about their budgets. The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. in HT-2, U.S. Capitol.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

The Washington Press Club Foundation holds its 68th Annual Congressional Dinner at 8 p.m. at the Mandarin Oriental.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Philip Morse testifies before the House Appropriations Committee about the budget for the Capitol police force. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in HT-2, U.S. Capitol.

Thursday, Feb. 9

Obama will host Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti for meetings at the White House.

Biden will be in Columbus, Ohio, to deliver remarks at the Ohio Newspaper Association Convention. 

First lady Michelle Obama will begin a three-day, nation-wide tour celebrating the second anniversary of Let’s Move!, her initiative to combat childhood obesity. She will be in Des Moines, Iowa; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Fort Worth, Texas.

Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers testifies before the House Appropriations Committee about the budget for his office. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in HT-2, U.S. Capitol.

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) begins its annual conference at Washington D.C.’s Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Speakers include Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Rep. David Rivera (R-Fla.), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas), Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), Herman Cain, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

Friday, Feb. 10

CPAC begins its second day and the speakers include: Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.), Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-Va.), former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.), Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.), and Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.).

Sarah Palin gives the keynote address to CPAC attendees on Saturday.

Michelle Obama continues her tour in Dallas, Texas; Homestead, Fla.; and Orlando, Fla. She will spend Saturday in Longwood, Fla., and Orlando, which includes a stop at Disney World.

— Sam Baker contributed