Leaving poses questions for Congress

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Despite a holiday season filled with horrible travel conditions, anthrax-laced offices and an increasingly bitter debate over the slumping economy, Congress cannot quite bring itself to complete its work and go home. The problem is a stimulus package few seem to really want, but everyone needs as an issue with which to blame other politicians for the state of affairs.

Economic Stimulus

President Bush has demanded that Congress finish work on an economic stimulus package before it adjourns for the dwindling remainder of the year.

"The president is hopeful that Congress will still get an agreement," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said on Monday. "The president just cannot imagine that the Senate would leave town without taking action to help the economy, to help the unemployed and to provide assistance to the people who are already unemployed."

To hear Senate Democrats tell it, Republicans want to help corporations recover billions in refunds through a repeal of the alternative minimum tax on corporations, and do little for the recently no-longer working families that need access to health care.

Although the House did already pass a stimulus bill -- one complete with the AMT repeal and billions in corporate tax refunds -- the president has had to struggle whenever he tries to blame the Senate for the current debacle.

One tactical solution under consideration is for the House to pass yet another economic stimulus bill -- this one without the AMT repeal -- and only propose Republican initiatives for helping displaced workers and additional health care coverage.

This would leave Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., without his favorite argument: that the Republican plan only helps corporate donors to the GOP and leaves the middle class workers under-stimulated.

But Republicans will have to act fast to get this finished in time for the holidays: most observers think the entire stimulus package should be very near completion in the House and Senate by Tuesday night to have a chance.

Congress also faces several other key issues before it can leave for the holidays:

Fast Track Trade Authority

The Senate Finance Committee Tuesday will markup a bill to give the president the permanent authority to negotiate trade agreements. The House narrowly approved the legislation, and while it seems to have more support in the Senate, the outcome is uncertain.

Education Conference Report

The Senate is expected to approve the largest overhaul to the education system in twenty-years on Tuesday. The House approved the report last week. It authorizes about $26 billion in federal education spending and establishes new standards for testing and school performance.

Appropriations

Of the 14 appropriations bills that fund the national government, four remain incomplete -- Foreign operations, Labor/HHS, National Security/Defense, and Transportation. However, all four are close to final approval and should keep the government in full, uninterrupted operations within days.