Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of GE and hold a Utah tele-press conference at 5:30 PM EST (3:30 MST). He will also appear on Fox Business Network’s Freedom Watch at 8:00 PM EST (6:00 MST).

From the Senator’s Desk

From the Whip

The Senate will convene at 10:00am and will be in morning business until 11:00am. At 11:00am, the Senate will proceed to 1 hour of debate on executive calendar #43, Caitlin Joan Halligan, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. 

At 12:00pm, the Senate will proceed to a Roll Call Vote on the Motion to Invoke Cloture on the nomination.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 - 2:15pm for the weekly policy lunches.

Note – the Majority Leader rule 14’d a new Payroll extension bill yesterday (S. 1944) and may file cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill for a test vote later in the week. Stay tuned for details.

It is anticipated that the Majority Leader will file cloture on the nomination of Richard Cordray to be Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.  As a reminder, 45 GOP Senators have signed a letter saying they will oppose any nominee to direct the CFPB until the agency is reformed to make it more accountable and transparent.

On Twitter

SenMikeLee

I did not support the nomination of Caitlin #Halligan to the DC Circuit Court: http://ow.ly/7QwYC #2ndamendment #gunrights #tcot #utpol

SenLeeComs

Lee on #HalliganNom: "in 2006, Ms. Halligan filed a brief alleging that handgun manufacturers were guilty of creating a public nuisance."

Lee on #HalliganNom: "Such an activist approach is both bewildering and inconsistent w/ original understanding of the 2nd Amend rights"

SenLeePressSec

@DavisClipper don't forget! @SenMikeLee's Mobile Office is coming to David County this week. Times and locations here: bit.ly/tT5Mkc

SenLeeResearch

Why we need entitlement reform NOW—the terrifying math of SS in 5 charts: http://bit.ly/tCnrVr #tcot #tlot #socialsecurity #cantfightmath

Around the Water Cooler

Pakistan pulls out of liaison posts; US concerned

Pakistan on Tuesday temporarily recalled some troops from border posts meant to coordinate activity with international forces in Afghanistan as relations have been pushed to an all-time low by NATO airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Will supercommittee release its secrets?

The deficit supercommittee was notorious for its secrecy, and now that the panel is defunct, good-government advocates are calling for the committee to reveal exactly what it was hiding.

In a letter released Monday, the groups called for unreleased proposals from the supercommittee to be posted online, arguing that full public vetting of those plans will be critical to help trim the nation’s $15 trillion debt.

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of the Utah Arts Council, participate in a videoconference with the Utah Department of Natural Resources, and host a Jell-O bar for visiting constituents in his office at 3:30 PM EST.