Guide to gun legislation on Capitol Hill Tuesday

Sandy Hook families come to the Capitol today to press senators for tougher gun measures.

We expect them to stick to the Senate side and meet with senators who oppose enhanced gun laws or moderate Democrats who may have trouble voting for a gun bill.

There is a conference call this afternoon with those families.

From a parliamentary standpoint, the Senate is NOT on the gun bill. That's because they are stuck on the "motion to proceed" to the actual bill, due to a threatened GOP filibuster. In other words, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., would need to cobble together 60 votes just to formally LAUNCH the debate and get cloture, and then another 60 votes to end debate.

So, we'll hear a lot about guns on the floor today. But they are technically not on the bill.

Reid has not yet filed cloture on the motion to proceed. He could do that today. And even so, that typically takes TWO DAYS from when he has filed cloture just to get to that vote. So that means Thursday is most likely for the first big procedural vote on guns.

That said, Democrats will probably pick up a couple of their moderate-to-conservative Democrats who face tough re-elections next year -- but lose a few, too. That means they need some Republicans to vote for cloture.

Don't forget: President Obama is having dinner Wednesday night with 11 Republicans senators. If a big vote is pending Thursday, he could really use that meal to apply pressure to vote for cloture Thursday.

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Guide to gun legislation on Capitol Hill Tuesday

Sandy Hook families come to the Capitol today to press senators for tougher gun measures.

We expect them to stick to the Senate side and meet with senators who oppose enhanced gun laws or moderate Democrats who may have trouble voting for a gun bill.

There is a conference call this afternoon with those families.

From a parliamentary standpoint, the Senate is NOT on the gun bill. That's because they are stuck on the "motion to proceed" to the actual bill, due to a threatened GOP filibuster. In other words, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., would need to cobble together 60 votes just to formally LAUNCH the debate and get cloture, and then another 60 votes to end debate.

So, we'll hear a lot about guns on the floor today. But they are technically not on the bill.

Reid has not yet filed cloture on the motion to proceed. He could do that today. And even so, that typically takes TWO DAYS from when he has filed cloture just to get to that vote. So that means Thursday is most likely for the first big procedural vote on guns.

That said, Democrats will probably pick up a couple of their moderate-to-conservative Democrats who face tough re-elections next year -- but lose a few, too. That means they need some Republicans to vote for cloture.

Don't forget: President Obama is having dinner Wednesday night with 11 Republicans senators. If a big vote is pending Thursday, he could really use that meal to apply pressure to vote for cloture Thursday.

View the original article here

Is Tenn. Capitol sink for Muslim feet washing? No

Published March 25, 2013

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –  Sometimes a mop sink is just a mop sink.

In Tennessee, legislative staffers and building managers have sought to reassure a few concerned lawmakers that recent state Capitol renovations didn't install special facilities for Muslims to wash their feet before praying. State officials say a new sink is instead meant to make it easier for custodial staff to fill buckets and clean mops.

Senate Clerk Russell Humphrey said he had been approached by two lawmakers to inquire about a new basin, which replaced a utility sink that had been mounted higher on the wall.

State Sen. Bill Ketron said he had asked about the change after being approached about it by a fellow Republican, Rep. Judd Matheny. Ketron said the answer dispelled any potential concerns, while Matheny said he couldn't recall raising questions.

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