Congress Mops Up

The 104th Congress today closed in on sine die adjournment after passage of the FAA reauthorization and an agreement was reached on the parks bill.

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said there will be no additional roll call votes, leaving just a Senate "wrap-up" session and House passage of one small piece of the parks legislation and possibly a handful of non-controversial measures. Congressional leaders hope to make the traditional call to the president this afternoon, but minor procedural snags on the parks bill could hold up adjournment until Friday, according to leadership sources.

Sessions often end with the passage of a flurry of non- controversial bills, but an entanglement over confirmations is expected to severely curtail the amount of last-minute floor activity. The dispute originally was over judicial confirmations, but spread to other bills and confirmations.

Democrats have complained for months that Republicans have unfairly held up confirming judges appointed by President Clinton. Seventeen judges were confirmed in July, but Democrats want 13 others confirmed. In retaliation, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., announced this week Democrats will not agree to pass any significant bills by unanimous consent during wrap-up unless the confirmations go through. Daschle also said he is holding up the confirmation of former Secretary of the Senate Kelly Johnston to a Republican seat on the FEC.

The battle has escalated from both sides, with several members putting "holds" on every bill the other party wants to pass. Leadership aides said they see little chance to resolve the dispute.

Both the House and Senate will return to swear in members of the 105th Congress at noon on Jan. 7, 1997, and the Electoral College votes will be counted on the House floor two days later.

Before that, however, both chambers will hold leadership elections and orientation for new members. New House Republicans will get their orientation training Nov. 18-19, with GOP leadership elections and organizing caucuses Nov. 20-22. Freshman Democrats will meet Nov. 15-17, and the Democratic organizing meeting will take place Nov. 18-22. The Senate will hold orientation and leadership elections Dec. 3-4.