The lingering question over Congress these days concerns the so-called “fiscal cliff,” that set of policies that expire at the end of the year, which are likely to be cleared up in an unaccountable lame duck session of Congress. The move now is to claim that this party or that party won’t leave these loose ends untied before the election, and that they’ll have the courage to act sooner. They won’t act, of course, they’ll just push out a legislative set unpalatable to the opposition.

The Senate failed to advance a bill today that would have kept the interest rate on Stafford federal student loans from doubling to 6.8% by this June. The vote was 52-45. Republicans and Democrats now profess to support averting the change, but they differ on how to pay for the extension.

While the favorability rating of local and state governments has only declined slightly in the past decade, Americans’ rating of the federal government has collapsed.

Dissenters’ Digest takes a look back at the week’s stories covering whistleblowers, watchdogs, and government accountability.

In a move that could be seen as election-year expedience, a friendly nod to the nuclear industry, or a sign of a coming battle with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the Obama administration announced Thursday that it would nominate Kristine Svinicki for a second term on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Reid had gone public just a day earlier with his objections to Commissioner Svinicki getting another five-year appointment when her tenure expires at the end of June.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Senate Republicans blocked consideration of the Buffett rule last night with a filibuster. The bill would have set a millionaire’s minimum effective tax rate at 30%, with a phase-in between $1 million and $2 million and an exemption for charitable donations. But Senate Republicans wouldn’t let it get onto the floor for debate.

Today, the Senate will vote on a motion to proceed to the Buffett rule, formally known as the Paying a Fair Share Act. A filibuster is expected, about 5:30 p.m. ET. This concludes a two-week push by Senate Democratic leaders and the Obama Administration on the bill, and the larger conversation around tax fairness and the need for the rich to pay a higher amount than those in the middle class.

Let’s briefly recap Congress’ busy day yesterday, as they head out for a two-week recess (Spring Break ’12 Cancun?).

It’s unusual when the Senate passes one bill in a single day, but today they’ve passed two. And both are an indication of the seriousness of legislating in the modern age.

We’re headed for a real showdown. The House has now rejected the bipartisan transportation bill from the Senate. Harry Reid has said that he would not accept a 90-day extension and wants to see the Senate bill pass. Something has to give.