GOP Priorities cut SS and use money for Tax Cuts-Dem's are election reform

[papau]

differing priorities

GOP(Senate): Social Security, taxes, medical liability, and oil exploration, with only talk about immigration laws, abortion, and same-sex marriage.

Dem: importing prescription drugs, creating national standards for elections, restoring overtime pay, adding military troops, and increasing benefits for veterans and college students.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32963-2005Jan24.html

Social Security Changes, Tax Cuts Among GOP Senators' 10 Priorities
Gay-Marriage Ban Does Not Make List
By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 25, 2005; Page A13


Senate Republican leaders outlined their 10 top legislative priorities yesterday, focusing mainly on cutting taxes and restructuring Social Security. But two notable omissions -- changes to immigration laws and a ban on same-sex marriage -- underscored tensions with their conservative wing.

Senate Democrats announced their own priorities, including increases in military personnel, the minimum wage and education spending. But with Democrats having lost seats in both chambers last fall, the GOP is better positioned to move its agenda aggressively in the newly formed 109th Congress.

The Senate Republicans' top 10 list calls for adding private accounts to Social Security, extending President Bush's tax cuts, limiting personal-injury lawsuits and expanding domestic oil exploration. But GOP Senate leaders moved cautiously on more contentious issues, including abortion, same-sex marriage and immigration.

Although their House counterparts are preparing to offer anti-terrorism legislation that includes broad crackdowns on illegal immigration, Senate Republicans did not mention immigration in the legislative agenda they outlined for reporters yesterday. With several Republican senators supporting expanded guest-worker programs, "we don't have a consensus" in the Senate GOP caucus, said its third-ranking leader, Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.).<snip>