Congress set for combative, pre-election push

[rodeodance]

A month of rancor coming to your screen.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060904/pl_nm/congress_dc

Congress set for combative, pre-election push

By Thomas Ferraro Mon Sep 4, 8:33 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers return to work on Tuesday from a month-long recess with time running out for Republicans to pass legislation, impress unhappy voters and retain control of Congress in the November 7 elections.



With the stakes so high, both parties will jockey for political advantage in the coming weeks, particularly over the increasingly unpopular
Iraq war and the battle against terrorism, as the majority Republicans and minority Democrats debate who can best protect the United States.

Amid the rancor, Congress is expected to pass little more than big spending bills for the departments of Defense and
Homeland Security. Deadlocks appear certain to remain on such efforts as ones to raise the federal minimum wage, revamp U.S. immigration laws and reduce inheritance taxes.

"I'm afraid politics will take over and we won't get much done, other than some appropriation bills," said Rep. Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican.

Dogged by Iraq, scandals, a rising federal deficit, low approval ratings, high-profile legislative setbacks and the unpopularity of
President George W. Bush, Republicans are scrambling to retain control of Congress to help push Bush's agenda in his final two years.........

[flyarm]

1. WE NEED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON ARLIN SPECTER

and the NSA wiretapping stuff..i would bet he is going to do his damnest to shove something through to exonerate *

fly

[rodeodance]

2. yes, it is all planned already. He caved to Cheney (his contact in the WH