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A Long To-Do List Awaits Lawmakers
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| Contributor | Jason |
| Last Edited | Jason Sep 06, 2009 07:21am |
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| Category | General |
| Author | Naftali Bendavid |
| Media | Newspaper - Wall Street Journal |
| News Date | Saturday, September 5, 2009 06:20:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's scheduled appearance before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday reflects Washington's intense focus on health care. But lawmakers have a full plate of other pressing priorities as well, and return from recess facing post-Labor Day fights on everything from spending priorities to shutting down the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
The crowded calendar may force Democratic priorities such as climate change and financial regulation to the sidelines, for this year at least. At the same time, less prominent initiatives -- such as a student-loan overhaul, an extension of jobless benefits and a reworking of the estate tax -- stand a good chance of making it to the president's desk.
The packed agenda has leaders in both parties wary. "It is a tall order," conceded Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat. "I don't know how much we can realistically finish."
Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee said Democrats clearly couldn't accomplish all their goals by year's end. "The president needs to help us set priorities," he said. |
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