Congress Returns to Face Tough Issues
WASHINGTON -- With lawmakers returning from their Independence Day recess, Congress faces such tough issues as the crisis in medical malpractice insurance while reaching for a historic deal on giving older Americans a prescription drug benefit.
A main task for the House and the Senate before they leave again in August for a month will be advancing the 13 spending bills needed to run the federal government in the budget year starting Oct. 1.
In the run-up to the 2004 election campaign, politics will enter into every vote. The spending bills in particular will give Democrats a forum for their argument that the Republican pursuit of tax cuts has saddled the nation with a budget deficit projected at $400 billion this year while leaving education, health, veterans and homeland security programs underfunded.
snip>
Among other tough legislative issues pending:
* Democrats continue to block two Bush federal appeals court nominees and strongly oppose efforts by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., to change the rules on filibustering nominees.
* The Senate Judiciary Committee is close to agreement on setting up a $108 billion fund, financed mainly by companies and insurers, to compensate people sickened by asbestos exposure. Past efforts to find a solution acceptable to bankrupt companies and victims' groups have been unsuccessful.
and more.......................
http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-congress-returns,0,5755064.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlinesThis won't be easy to watch :-(
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
