So Much Legislation, So Little Time

SO MUCH LEGISLATION, SO LITTLE TIME
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Charles Babington]
It's hardly a news flash that Congress procrastinates. But even by its own foot-dragging standards, the 109th Congress has pushed an extraordinary amount of unfinished business into this week, its final stretch of legislative work before the Nov. 7 elections. Republican leaders in both houses share a handful of priorities, starting with a bill to set standards for interrogating and prosecuting terrorism suspects. They also seem determined to approve spending bills for the military and homeland security, and to finance construction of a fence along 700 miles of the Mexican border before adjourning Friday or Saturday. Items left unfinished next weekend will have a final chance in the legislative session scheduled to begin Nov. 13, a week after the elections. But the "lame duck" session's political atmosphere is unpredictable, and it could become a graveyard even for bills with substantial support. If Democrats make strong gains, as many predict they will -- and especially if they win enough seats to control the House in the 110th Congress, which will convene in January -- then Democratic senators will have added incentives to use stalling tactics to thwart legislation they dislike.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/25/AR200609...
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