Lame-duck sessions of Congress are always unpredictable, but the one starting this week could prove even more muddled because of the unsettled presidential election.
Democrats seem ready to settle and leave town quickly.
With their ally, President Clinton, still in office, they appear eager to shake hands on a huge education, health and labor bill that was nearly completed before Congress left town Nov. 3 for the elections. I don't think we can leave without having addressed them,'' Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said Sunday on CBS' Face the Nation. Five of the 13 annual spending bills for fiscal 2001, which began Oct. 1, are hanging. They cover seven Cabinet departments, dozens of smaller agencies, congressional operations and the District of Columbia's budget. Gephardt said Sunday on ABC's This Week, adding that he hoped the four leaders could all sit down.