07-28-2001

OUTLOOK: Hot Bills

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


Patients' Rights


House: Republican leaders postponed floor votes scheduled for July 26 on
their bill (H.R. 2315) and a broader bipartisan one (H.R. 526).


Senate: Approved S. 1052 on June 29, 59-36.


Outlook: House Republican leaders admitted they need more time, perhaps
until September, to round up support for their bill, which provides only
limited rights to patients to sue their health plans. They still hope that
President Bush's veto threats against the bipartisan House and Senate
bills will be taken seriously.


Education Reform


House: Approved Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization
bill (H.R. 1) on May 23, 384-45.


Senate: Approved ESEA bill (S. 1) on June 14, 91-8.


Outlook: House-Senate conferees plan to meet again on August 1 but will
put off until September their efforts to resolve differences over
spending, state accountability standards, and sanctions against schools
that shun the Boy Scouts.


Faith-Based Initiative


House: Approved H.R. 7 on July 19, 233-198.


Senate: S. 592 introduced on March 21.


Outlook: The Bush plan to expand both federal aid to church-related social
services and tax deductions for charitable contributions faces strong
Democratic opposition in the Senate this fall. The plan cleared the House
with its $89 billion in tax breaks over 10 years slashed to $13.4
billion.


Medicare Package


House: No pending action.


Senate: Referred a bipartisan prescription drug bill (S. 358) and a
broader Democratic bill (S. 1135) to the Finance Committee.


Outlook: The Finance Committee will wait until September to take up
legislation bolstering Medicare solvency and creating a prescription drug
benefit. Committee leaders are having trouble crafting a bipartisan bill
that doesn't force seniors to pay a high monthly premium for drug
coverage.


Bankruptcy Reform


House: Approved H.R. 333 on March 1, 306-108.


Senate: Approved S. 420 on March 15, 83-15, and an amended H.R. 333 on
July 17, 82-16.


Outlook: This legislation, which would make it harder for people to hide
behind bankruptcy laws to avoid their debts, still awaits its first
House-Senate conference meeting. A session appears unlikely before the
August recess, as House leaders are taking time to size up the army of
Senate negotiators and hone their strategy.


Campaign Finance Reform


House: Rejected GOP leaders' procedural rules for the Shays-Meehan bill
(H.R. 2356) on July 12, 228-203, canceling debate on that bill and a more
limited substitute (H.R. 2360).


Senate: Approved McCain-Feingold bill (S. 27) on April 2, 59-41.


Outlook: Backers of the Shays-Meehan bill still hope that the House
Republican leadership will agree to return the measure to the floor, but
they've also begun the lengthy discharge-petition process to try to force
House action.




National Journal