This Week In
Washington
Top 5
Stories
1. House action on a
bill funding the government for the rest of the fiscal year is appearing less
likely this week, but appropriators on both sides of the Capitol remain
optimistic that an omnibus package can be approved before the current
continuing resolution expires next Wednesday.
Look ahead: Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman
Barbara Mikulski said that while six bills are virtually complete, a final
omnibus bill is unlikely before the weekend.
2 2. Senate
Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow expressed optimism about the
farm bill, saying this week negotiators are "just tying up loose
ends."
Look ahead: Major differences remain ahead of a
scheduled meeting of farm-bill conferees, with Sen. John Hoeven suggesting a
number of amendment votes will be necessary before final passage.
3. President Obama
is expected to shift his focus toward income inequality during his second term,
outlining his plans during the upcoming State of the Union address.
Look ahead: The president will announce five
"promise zones" in which the administration will use federal funds to
aid community initiatives.
4. The president is
meeting Thursday with leaders of the House and Senate intelligence committees—and
with a trio of congressional critics of the National Security Agency—to discuss
the agency's surveillance programs.
Look ahead: The president is expected to increase
oversight of the National Intelligence Priorities Framework and restrict the
NSA's access to Americans' phone records, according to sources.
5. Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid, is "cautiously optimistic" members can craft a
compromise agreement to fund the temporary extension of unemployment benefits
proposed by Sens. Jack Reed and Dean Heller.
Look ahead: The bill is expected to clear a procedural
hurdle, but Republicans will stop the measure cold during the next cloture vote
if Reid does not allow an open amendment process.
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