November 21, 1997

The first session of the 105th Congress came to a close last Thursday night after clearing the last three fiscal 98 spending bills, an overhaul of Amtrak and revamping of federal adoption policy. Many of the most highly contested bills were put off until next year. The second session is due to begin in the fourth week of January. The adjournment resolution allows Congress to try to reconsider any legislation pocket-vetoed in the interim. Republican leaders are worried that President Clinton might use this procedure to deep six the defense authorization bill. The three spending bills that cleared Thursday funded foreign operations, the District of Columbia and the departments of Commerce, Justice and State. Republicans dropped their plans to use the bills to start a school voucher program, bar sampling in the 2000 census and curb funding for international family planning groups that advocate abortion.

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