Homeland security to prolong lame-duck session

Last-minute objections to legislation to create a Homeland Security Department will keep the Senate in session into next week, dashing hopes that Friday would be the final day of the lame-duck session.

Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. said he hopes the Senate's final day in session would be Tuesday, although Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said votes on a number of remaining issues could force the session to "slop over into Wednesday."

After the Senate invoked cloture 65-29 on homeland security legislation Friday, Daschle said he will keep the Senate in pro forma session over the weekend to run the clock down on the remaining hours of debate on the issue. A final vote could come Monday or Tuesday after the Senate deals with an amendment offered Friday by Daschle and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., to strike a number of special interest provisions added to the bill.

Other than passing homeland security legislation, Daschle said the Senate also would approve a terrorism insurance bill, a continuing resolution to fund the government through Jan. 11 and at least one judicial nomination.

The Senate likely will vote on the nomination of U.S. District Judge Dennis Shedd to serve on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Shedd, a former Judiciary Committee chief counsel under retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., was approved by the Judiciary Committee this week over the opposition of many Democrats.

The House is scheduled to reconvene at noon next Tuesday for a pro forma session, but legislators are expected to return only if the Senate makes significant changes to homeland security legislation.

Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Wash., said Friday there is virtually no chance the House would return before members of the 108th Congress are sworn in on Jan. 7. "None. And if there is I won't be here," Dunn added.