What's On in the House of Representatives

Each weekend the Leader of the House of Representatives sends an email of the weekly schedule. Next weeks schedule can be found here.

This week Steny Hoyer (Minority (Democrat) Whip) launched an app, which I am already finding useful.

He wrote on his webpage "The app includes real time updates on what’s happening on the Floor; access to the House calendar, which is updated in real time; access to House Floor schedules for both the day and the week ahead; access to press releases and videos from the Whip’s Office; and, for the first time, the ability to view job openings in House Democratic offices. Users can customize how much information they want – and when they want it – by setting notification controls."

Currently it is only available for iPhone and iPads - and can be downloaded from the App Store - search for "Whip Watch"




By the way - Happy Birthday to Steny Hoyer - who celebrates his birthday today.

The Week Ahead

The House of Representatives will not be sitting on Monday - but the lame duck session continues on Tuesday. The "Weekly Leader" from the current Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer - is available here. The Senate looks as if it will continue to be deadlocked by the minority Republicans policy of threatening to filibuster everything until the majority (yes, the Democrats still have a majority) capitulates.

In the House of Commons an Opposition Day on Monday will consist of a debate on local government finance. Tuesday will see the 2nd Reading of the European Union Bill , so expect to see the temperature rise! On Wednesday, after PMQs (Prime Minister's Question Time) there will be the 1st Estimates Day, which will involve debates on (i) Police Funding 2011/12 (ii) Department for International Development’s Assistance to Zimbabwe. The big day at Westminster will be Thursday - where two contoversial motions will be discussed and voted on

1 To approve resolution on increasing the higher amount which is to be applied under the higher Education Act 2004
2 motion relating to the draft Higher Education Basic Amount (England) Regulations

These would increase tuition fees. A day of protest is planned - and tempers are likely to flare, both within and outside the House of Commons.

The Lords plans to hold two further days of the committee stage of the controversial Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill . On Tuesday 2nd Reading of the Savings Accounts and Health in Pregnancy Grant Bill is due. This was declared to be a money bill, which severely reduces the role the House of Lords can play. So some of their Lordships will be an angry mood.

Labour gets two debates in the Lords on Thursday (each party is allocated a particular Thursday for debates)

1 The role of sport in the health and wellbeing of children and young people - Lord Pendry
2 The impact of cuts in grants to local authorities on the provision of social care and other public services - Baroness Thornton

Counting the Electoral Votes

Both Houses of Congress are due to meet today in a Joint Session to count the Electoral Votes - and so formally conclude the Presidential Election and announce who will be inaugurated on January 20th.

The actions to be taken are set out in a paper which has been distributed by Steny Hoyer, Leader of the House of Representatives. It is accessible at http://majorityleader.house.gov/docuploads/ec111.pdf