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ELECTION
Republicans regained control of the Senate and buttressed their majority in the House of Representatives in last week's election. The results mean a renewed, and likely successful, effort by President George W. Bush to win congressional approval of his priority issues, including the Homeland Security Department, energy legislation, and his judicial nominees. Regaining control of the Senate was a particularly big win for the Republicans. Over the past year, the House has passed a number of pieces of Bush-supported legislation, only to have them become mired in the closely divided, but Democratically controlled, Senate. In particular, legislation to create a massive Homeland Security Department will likely move quickly next year. Energy legislation has been passed by both the House and Senate, but major differences prevented a conference committee from reaching a compromise. This bill is likely to die in the lame-duck session of the 107th Congress, only to be taken up again in the 108th. With Republicans in control, an energy bill that allows oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will likely be enacted. Many programs Democrats have championed over the past year will suffer, including increased unemployment benefits, help for Medicaid and Medicare programs, and a comprehensive economic stimulus package. Congress will be coming back this week to finish up several matters, especially the 11 of the 13 funding bills needed to keep the government operating. Given how little progress has been made on many of them, a long-term continuing resolution is the likely outcome. |
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