The most dangerous place in America this afternoon might be the plaza outside the U.S. Capitol, as the House and Senate get ready for a ten day recess.
About that time, lawmakers in both chambers could be finishing up votes for the day, which means their aides will be revving the engines, ready to zip off to the airport for the next plane back home.
On the docket today in the House is an interesting lineup, as the House will first debate and vote on a resolution to force the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, a plan pushed by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH).
After that, the House will vote on a bill that would slash - but not completely cut out - federal funding for public broadcasting.
While that bill will win, it has no future in the Senate.
As for the Senate, debate has bogged down there on a small business bill, which Republicans have loaded down with a variety of amendments, some which would cut large amounts of spending.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has trimmed his original proposal to cut $500 billion down to $200 billion, and offered it to the small business bill.
Whether he gets a vote on it, is not clear.
The same can be said of a plan from Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), who wants to attach his bill that would block the EPA from regulating greehouse gases.
A House committee approved a similar plan earlier this week.
Democrats had talked about a quick vote to scuttle the Inhofe bid, but they have yet to unveil their own alternative, which still seems unlikely to gather a majority in the Senate.
Democrats have harshly attacked the GOP proposals, accusing Republicans of swallowing the arguments of "climate change deniers."
Also ready with a list of amendments is Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), who wants to put the Senate (and especially Democrats) on the record on a host of plans to cut spending.
One of the Coburn plans would block millionaires from drawing unemployment benefits.
Yes, you read that right.
Coburn says the IRS reports that 2,840 households with an income of $1 million or more on "their tax returns were paid a total of $18.6 million in unemployment benefits in 2008."
Another plan would get rid of leftover Congressional earmarks, charging there is $7.3 billion in money just sitting on federal agency shelves.
Those amendments have been around all week - but since this is the Senate - it doesn't mean that any of them will be voted on before Senators head home for their March break.
