The Focus of Today's Session will be   H.R. 2673, the Omnibus Appropriations Bill

5:00 P.M.

The Senate will be in recess until 8:40 p.m. this evening. 

3:55 P.M.

By a vote of 48-45 the motion to invoke cloture was not agreed to.  Senator Frist asked for the passage of  H.Con.Res. 349 by unanimous consent. The purpose of this resolution is to receive a message from the President on the State of the Union.  There was no objection to this motion.  The Senate will now be in a period of morning business until 4:30 p.m. when the Senate will recess for the evening.  Senator Biden is now speaking about the passing of former Senator William Roth of Delaware. 

3:15 P.M.

The Senate has just begun a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Omnibus Appropriations bill.  Invoking cloture would limit debate on the bill to thirty hours when a vote on final passage would be required. 

3:10 P.M.

Senator Frist is making his closing comments about the Omnibus bill before beginning a cloture vote.  He is again referencing some of the specific programs that would not receive increased funding if this bill is defeated. 

3:00 P.M.

Senator Daschle spoke about his objections to some of the provisions in the omnibus. He asked that the Senate take a few days to fix this bill before it is finished and to create a tone of bipartisanship at the beginning of the session.  

2:45 P.M.

Speaking in blocks of one to four minutes Senator Reed, Senator Boxer, Senator Johnson and Senator Harkin raised their concerns about provisions in the Omnibus bill.  Each Senator covered at least one of the following issues: school vouchers, country of origin labeling and overtime regulations.

2:30 P.M.

In speaking about what he sees are some of the objectionable provisions included in the Omnibus, Senator Kennedy highlighted how this bill would weaken gun laws, offer school choice to some students in Washington, D.C. and denies overtime pay to workers.  He called this legislation a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde bill, that "what you see is not what you get." 

12:25 P.M.

The Senate is in a period of recess until 2:15 p.m. while the parties hold their weekly caucus lunches. 

12:15 P.M.

Majority Leader Frist has just finished his opening remarks for the second session of the 108th Congress.  He has noted that this will be a short session and that there is much work to be done.  Senator Frist also spoke about the Omnibus Appropriations bill, listing many of the important programs and agencies that would lose funding if this bill is not passed.  Senate Minority Leader Daschle is now making his remarks about the Democrat's goals for this session. 

12:00 P.M.

The Senate will reconvene at noon to resume debate over the Fiscal Year 2004 Omnibus Appropriations bill.  During the last session, Congress passed only 6 of the 13 spending bills for FY04 and the remaining 7 bills have been consolidated into one giant bill.  A vote on the motion to end debate is currently scheduled for 3:00 p.m.