It was one of only two hearings that convened in the Senate, as a new snow storm rolled towards Washington, D.C., as many area residents were still struggling to deal with snow that fell last weekend.

"Good morning everybody," said a cheery Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) as she gaveled in a hearing of her Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. "We all get the star of the day award," for getting to work.

While Boxer's committee held nomination hearings for spots on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, there was more heavy lifting in the Senate Budget Committee, where Senators in both parties debated what to do on the deficit.

The bottom line - there are no easy answers. And neither party likes what the other wants to do. (No surprise there, eh?)

The latest blast of Mother Nature has made this a week off for members of the House, as Democratic leaders gave everyone the green light to get out of town around lunch time on Tuesday.

"Due to inclement weather affecting travel to Washington, D.C, Members are advised that there will be no recorded votes taken in the House this week," said a notice from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

That means a two week vacation, because the House and Senate have a scheduled break next week, meaning there are no votes in the House until Monday February 22.

The Senate is heading for that break as well, but it may take another day, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is still cracking the whip behind the scenes on Democratic jobs legislation.

But like in the House, there are no more votes in the Senate until the week of 2/22.

I have received a lot of messages this week on Twitter, Facebook and via email from people who think it is great that Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C. area have had to be closed for business because of recent snowstorms.

But don't chuckle too loud, because many people believe a DC Snow Day really costs the taxpayer money.

The Washington Post reported earlier this week that "closing the federal government for a day due to the weather costs roughly $100 million in lost productivity and opportunity costs."

So, today makes three full days that government offices have been closed, plus a half day last Friday. By my count, that is $350 million.

And my sister, who is a complete weather geek, says there is another possible storm that could hit next Monday or Tuesday. Could that mean another snow day?

Ching-ching.