While Democrats will get one concrete thing done today by approving a small business bill, they seem to be setting plans for a series of political votes in Congress over the next week.

Both parties are good at doing this sort of thing, which is aimed at getting the other party on the record about issues that matter to the folks back home.

In this case, Republicans say it's all about Democrats playing to special interest groups.

Earlier this week, we had the Senate attempt to force action on the repeal of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy banning gays in the military and an immigration reform bill known as the DREAM Act.

I call it checking the boxes, all to show your supporters that you tried to pass a bill on a certain subject, but those pesky people in the minority stood in the way.

Another example comes today, as the Senate will try again to break a GOP filibuster on a bill that overturns part of a controversial Supreme Court decision from this year, which allows unlimited corporate and union spending in elections.  It's known as the DISCLOSE Act.

Democrats were one vote short of the 60 needed for action on the first try, and they will probably end up at that point again today.

For certain groups, this is a big, big deal.  All kinds of emails were flying into my email inbox yesterday from organizations like Common Cause and groups affiliated with the Democrats.

One should expect next week will also see a few more votes like those of recent days.  There is talk of a bill in the Senate that would close some tax loopholes of multi-national companies opposed by Democrats.

And we could also see so-called "message" votes on other items as well.

With the Senate floor all but closed off to Republican amendments these days (it's been over three months since a GOP amendment was voted on directly),  that means these message amendments will only be from the Democrats.

You know the Republicans would love the chance to bring up a few things of their own to make Democrats squirm before November, one reason Democrats have clamped down with procedural efforts.