Jockeying over the president’s jobs package is likely to dominate the Hill this week. Senate Democrats say they will quickly take up a job-creation proposal outlined on Thursday night by President Obama, as the party tries to force legislative action on that and other economic measures in the face of a crowded schedule and GOP opposition.

The most likely course for Obama’s jobs package is its introduction in the Senate as one bill later this month and its defeat by GOP filibuster. Individual pieces might then move separately, a course House Majority Leader Eric Cantor did not rule out last week. The White House may send legislative text to Congress by early this week.

House Republicans have their own plans, and have little interest in taking up Obama’s entire measure, though they indicate they could split off pieces they like. They will instead push votes to reject what they call costly regulations.
Democrats are echoing the president’s portrayal of anyone who opposes the package as being a mere obstructionist.

“All of the ideas in this legislation have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the past,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Friday. “Some of them came from Republicans in the first place.” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosiwrote on Friday to Speaker John Boehner, asking him to push House committee chairmen to “move expeditiously” to hold hearings and pass the legislation.

Senate aides said action is possible this week on a $7 billion disaster-aid package that includes $1.5 billion to aid recovery from Hurricane Irene. Democrats want the money approved fast because a FEMA disaster-aid fund is almost empty.

The same issue may crop up as lawmakers work on a continuing resolution that must pass before Oct. 1 to keep government operating. Cantor said a CR will be taken up the week of Sept. 19 and would extend “some time through the fall.”

Congress has limited time to act this month and this fall. Both chambers are scheduled for only about 40 more legislative days before Thanksgiving. Reid has said he might cancel part of a weeklong break at the end of September. Cantor toldNational Journal that he has no plans to scrap this month’s break, which includes Rosh Hashanah, or to beef up the scheduled number of House legislative days.