Tech asks departing Republicans for favors

TECH ASKS DEPARTING REPUBLICANS FOR FAVORS
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
As Republican politicians return this week to Washington for the waning days of their rule of Capitol Hill, technology lobbyists are frantically pressing for last-minute legislation before Democrats take over next year. At issue are proposals including renewing a popular tax credit for research and development expenses and expanding the number of H1-B visas, which are temporary visas designed for skilled foreign workers. Many spending bills to fund the federal government through the next year have yet to be considered, and the final versions could include antipiracy measures and Web censorship requirements. If history is any indication, congressional lame-duck sessions can result in an impasse, particularly when power shifts are imminent. Politicians from the incoming majority party have a strong incentive to block legislation they don't care for, and political disputes often flare up. If spending bills are unfinished, that leaves the fallback approach: passing a "continuing resolution," which keeps the federal government operating for a few more weeks and postpones debate until the new Congress convenes in January. Another open question is how long the current lame-duck Congress will stay in town before adjourning permanently. The Senate plans to be in session this week, adjourn for the last two weeks of November, and return on December 4 for an indefinite time period, but its precise agenda during that time has not been set.
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