MaggieMae
Reality bits
- Apr 3, 2009
- 24,043
- 1,635
- 48
By necessity. There are some major appropriations that must be resolved before the end of the year when newly elected people take office.
Expiring tax cuts
Extension of the alternative minimum tax (again)
Reinstating the estate tax (or not)
Raising the debt limit to keep the governmen running
Defense authorization bill
Another unemployment compensation extension
All other pending bills will be jockeying for position in competition with the above, since all pending bills die at the end of a Congress and must be reintroduced at the start of a new two-year term.
This means lawmakers will have to repeat the laborious process of holding committee hearings, markups and rounds of private negotiations before legislation is brought to the floor again in 2011 or 2012.
Expiring tax cuts
Extension of the alternative minimum tax (again)
Reinstating the estate tax (or not)
Raising the debt limit to keep the governmen running
Defense authorization bill
Another unemployment compensation extension
All other pending bills will be jockeying for position in competition with the above, since all pending bills die at the end of a Congress and must be reintroduced at the start of a new two-year term.
This means lawmakers will have to repeat the laborious process of holding committee hearings, markups and rounds of private negotiations before legislation is brought to the floor again in 2011 or 2012.