Email from the Republican Minority Whip's Floor Assistant:
**Please advise your boss that immediately following the adoption of the Budget Resolution, Republican Whip Blunt will call to move the House into a Secret Session.**
Following this motion, a thorough Floor clearing process is required once the session is agreed to. We expect this security sweep process to take a while. Therefore, we currently do not expect the Secret Session to begin until this evening. We will keep you posted throughout this process on timing and logistics.
The reason for calling a closed session is so that that all Members of the House can be present to discuss and have a candid debate on the importance of passing a long-term modernization of our nation’s foreign surveillance. This debate must take place behind closed doors because of the sensitive nature of the information discussed. This will require a vote.
Following the Secret Session, we expect to proceed with debate on the Rule for FISA. The Democrat Majority has indicated that, at this time, there is a strong possibility of us voting on FISA, tomorrow.
Last votes expected: Late Evening
NOTE: At this time, we are scheduled to be in session and voting tomorrow, Friday.
A little FYI: If this happens, it will be the first time since 1983 that the House of Reps was called into a Secret Session for talks regarding Nicaragua. The Senate was in a Secret Session in 2005 to discuss Iraq War Intelligence. And that, friends, is the awesomeness of Congress. Never a dull moment.
**********UPDATE********** (from the minority whip's floor assistant)
The House Floor is concluding a Security Sweep to accomodate the Secret Session. We currently expect the House to reconvene for the Secret Session at approximately 10:00pm.
**Leadership Encourages Strong Republican Member Attendance in the Secret Session**
NOTE: The majority Leader has announced that we will consider FISA tomorrow. Tomorrow, Strong Republican Attendance is Important.
So Secret Session has actually only been called three times in the House since 1830. Three times!
I'll keep you all posted on this FISA and Secret Session business. This is kind of exciting. Either that, or I'm really a poli sci nerd.
1 comment:
No, this is TOTALLY exciting! I was following the news on the closed session while I was home for break! (Or I might just be as big a poli-sci nerd as anyone else!) Did you have fun?
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