The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Continuing Resolution (CR) today starting around 12:30 our time. Clean CR – no language on funding (or not funding) Obamacare – will be considered and passed out of the Senate funding the Federal Government through November, 15, 2013.
The House is scheduled to be in over the weekend to “work” on the CR but they still do not have a path forward. If Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) decides to amend the CR and include either a delay in implementation or prohibit funding of Obamacare – we are likely headed for a showdown. I”m not convinced this will happen.
Since yesterday it now looks like the likely path forward in the House is a shorter term CR (like a week or two) and continued debate on Obamacare as Congress considers the Debt Ceiling cap.
In addition, the House Rules passed a package for what is called “martial law” allowing anything to be pulled up the same day as it was put on the calendar for consideration in the House through September 30 – this could open up an opportunity for some movement on the Farm Bill over the weekend as well. This would likely be procedural moves to go to official conference and combine the Nutrition and Agriculture portions of the bill.