Tagged

Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee will fly back to Washington.

From the Senator’s Desk

From the Whip

WEEK of March 12th

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm today and will be in morning business until 4:00pm. At 4:00pm, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 1813, the Highway bill. 

There will be No votes today.

Reminder - at a time to be determined on Tuesday, the Senate will continue voting on the remaining amendments that are in order to S. 1813, the Highway bill. 

Note - a managers’ package will also be in order, along with applicable budget points of order and motions to waive. Upon disposition of all pending amendments, the Senate will proceed to a Roll Call vote on final passage of the bill.

Amendments:

-Roberts amendment #1826 (tax extenders/ keystone etc.)(60 votes required)                        

-Stabenow amendment #1812 (energy tax credits)(60 votes required)                                 

-DeMint amendment #1589 (repeal certain energy tax subsidies)(60 votes required)  

-Menendez amendment #1782 (energy tax credits)(60 votes required)           

-DeMint amendment #1756 (state authority)    

-Bingaman amendment #1759 (privatized highways)                     

-Coats amendment #1517 (gas taxes equal to percentage of apportioned funds)

-Brown (OH) amendment #1819 (Buy America)                                   

-Blunt amendment #1540 (off-system bridges)        

-Merkley amendment #1653 (farm vehicle exemptions)                             

-Portman amendment #1736 (state transportation spending flexibility)                 

-Klobuchar amendment #1617 (agricultural commodities and farm supplies)                          

-Corker amendment #1785, as modified (FY13 discretionary spending cap)            

-Shaheen amendment #1678 (increase funding for public transportation systems)                        

-Portman amendment #1742 (non-highway uses in rest areas)                  

-Corker amendment #1810 (Highway Trust Fund)      

-Carper amendment #1670 (removal of federal program limitations)             

-Hutchison amendment #1568 (prohibit new tolls)                          

-McCain amendment #1669, as modified (noise abatement over Grand Canyon)             

-Alexander amendment #1779 (over flights of national parks)             

-Boxer amendment #1816 (SoS re: environmental reviews)           

-Paul amendment #1556 (emergency exemptions)    

Tuesday and Balance of the Week:

The Senate is expected to complete action on the Highway bill on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 – 2:15pm for the weekly party lunches on Tuesday.

It is anticipated that the Majority Leader will file cloture petitions on several judicial nominations this week.

Roll Call Votes are expected throughout the week.

On Twitter

We need to abandon the phrase, "picking winners and losers." When the government picks, everyone loses: ow.ly/9yHUc #windfarms

— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 9, 2012

DeMint, Paul, Lee "stalk" the Senatebit.ly/z67z4W (via @brianhdarling)

— Brian Phillips (@SenLeeComs) March 12, 2012

Lee congratulates #utleg on its “willingness to assert Utah’s rightful place in overseeing its own land" bit.ly/yDF9tD #utpol

— Emily Bennion (@SenLeePressSec) March 12, 2012

Gallup's national unemployment rate measurement jumped from 8.6% to 9.1% in February: bit.ly/y5jz6U #weneedjobs #tcot #tlot

— Joe Tauke (@SenLeeResearch) March 9, 2012

Featured Tweet

@SenRandPaul, with @SenMikeLee and @JimDeMint, US Senator have come up with a Senate Budget Plan. #tcot #gopgoo.gl/SJT0i

— Marie McClellan (@mariewmcclellan) March 12, 2012

Around the Water Cooler

Taliban vows revenge after US soldier allegedly kills 16 Afghan civilians

The Taliban is vowing revenge against the U.S. after an American soldier allegedly shot and killed 16 Afghan civilians in a Sunday rampage. 

In a statement on their website, the militant group promised to "take revenge from the invaders and the savage murderers for every single martyr."

Gas prices a drag on Obama's numbers

Gas prices are up, and the president's poll numbers are down.

Way down.

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will meet with Salt Lake City Mayor Becker and City Council members, as well as with representatives of the Utah Psychological Association, the National Association of Postal Supervisors, the Utah TRIO programs, West Valley City, St. George, and the American Psychiatric Association. He will also host a Utah tele-press conference at 5:30 PM EST (3:30 MST).