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WASHINGTON — A well-worn metaphor about the difference between how legislation gets passed in the House and the Senate goes something like this: The House is the place that serves up the coffee, but the Senate is where it cools to a more drinkable temperature.
Except during vote-o-rama.
Today is the day when the typically sedate Senate jams through what could be dozens of amendments to the annual budget bill in rapid-fire fashion one after the other.
Votes are being taken every 10 minutes, with the fate of as many as four amendments per hour being decided. The rally continues until the last amendment is heard, or the senators decide to call it quits. It may spill over until tomorrow.
Think of it as putting the joe in the microwave, setting the oven for 20 minutes and watching the cup bubble over.
Everyone is here for the big day: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are in from the trail, as is John McCain.
Lots of interesting amendments to be offered, including one on whether to put a moratorium on earmarks — special spending directed by the individual senators.
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