House Will Return to Work on Sunday, December 30

The House will return to work on Sunday, December 30, as everyone anxiously wonders whether at least a partial solution can be found to the fiscal cliff before tax breaks and extended unemployment benefits expire on December 31 and spending cuts take effect on January 2.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor tweeted today that the House will resume legislative business on Sunday, with the first votes expected at 6:30 pm ET.  Later he added that the 112th Congress may continue to be in session through Wednesday, January 2. 

The 113th Congress, comprised of the new and returning members elected on November 6, convenes at noon on January 3.  (Congresses last two years.)

The Senate returned to work and President Obama returned to the White House today.  Yesterday, Cantor and other House Republican leaders said the Senate would have to act first before the House would be called back into legislative session.   The Senate has not acted on fiscal cliff legislation, but negotiations are ongoing.   Earlier the House Republican leadership told House members to be ready to return to Washington on 48 hours notice. The announcement today gives them a day more than that.

What will happen is anyone’s guess. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) sounded pessimistic today about reaching any agreement in time, but as the saying goes “it ain’t over till the fat lady sings.”

At least Senator Reid will still have 51 Democrats in his caucus.  Brian Schatz (D) was sworn in as Hawaii’s newest Senator today, succeeding Daniel Inouye (D), who died last week.  Schatz, 40, was Hawaii’s Lt. Governor.  Governor Neil Abercrombie chose him yesterday to replace Inouye.  Schatz hitched a ride to Washington with President Obama on Air Force One and was sworn this afternoon.