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Document 14 of 96.

September 16, 2000

SECTION: OUTLOOK; Pg. 2880; Vol. 32, No. 38

LENGTH: 525 words

HEADLINE: Hot Bills For September

BODY:

Here is the status of major legislation on the
congressional front burner:

MEDICARE DRUG COVERAGE
House: Approved veto-threatened H.R. 4680 on June 28, 217-214.

Senate: Defeated a drug coverage amendment to an
appropriations bill on June 22, 44-53.

Outlook: Although the Senate Finance Committee plans to
vote soon on a bill devised by its Republican chairman, the White
House and key GOP leaders oppose it. The division between the
parties over cost and approach appears too big to overcome before
adjournment.

PATIENTS' RIGHTS
House: Approved a bipartisan bill (H.R. 2723) on Oct. 7, 1999,
275-151, and merged it with an insurance access bill (H.R. 2990).

Senate: Approved S. 1344 with narrow reforms favored by
health insurers on July 15, 1999, 53-47; approved new GOP
provisions on June 30, 51-47.

Outlook: The recent arrival of Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga.,
stirs Democratic hopes that the pro-consumer House bill can pass
the Senate, with Vice President Al Gore casting the tie-breaking
vote. But GOP leaders control the legislative calendar and will
work to keep Gore out of the spotlight.

CHINA TRADE
House: Approved H.R. 4444 on May 24, 237-197.

Senate: Expected to soon give final approval to H.R.
4444.

Outlook: It's the year of the dragon. That means
happiness and good fortune will come to business backers of H.R.
4444, which grants permanent normal trade relations to China.

PENSIONS AND TAXES
House: Approved H.R. 1102 on July 19, 401-25.

Senate: Finance Committee approved H.R. 1102 on Sept. 7.

Outlook: The Clinton Administration has problems with the
bill, which eases limits on individual retirement account and
401(k) contributions and offers some tax relief to lower-income
workers and small businesses. But the White House has stopped
short of threatening a veto, and everyone seems willing to
negotiate a compromise.

MINIMUM-WAGE INCREASE
House: Approved H.R. 3846 on March 9, 282-143, then attached it
to a small-business tax cut bill (H.R. 3081).

Senate: Approved amended version of H.R. 833 on Feb. 2,
83-14.

Outlook: House Republicans sweetened a tax cut bill by
adding a $ 1 per-hour minimum-wage increase over two years, while
the Senate mixed small-business tax relief and a three-year wage
hike with bankruptcy reform legislation. An election-year deal is
brewing that could yield a two-year wage hike with at least $ 20
billion in small-business tax cuts.

VISAS FOR FOREIGN WORKERS
House: Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 4227 on May 17, 18-11.

Senate: Judiciary Committee approved S. 2045 on March 9,
16-2.

Outlook: Bipartisan proposals to grant more H-1B visas to
skilled foreign workers have stalled in the Senate, as Democrats
insist that Republican leaders include help for Haitian and
Central American immigrants. But high-tech interests are stepping
up pressure on both sides to work out a deal and get a bill to
the White House soon.

LOAD-DATE: September 19, 2000

Document 14 of 96.


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