by Leslie Wollack

The lame duck 109th Congress returns to Washington on December 4 for a brief session but with much left to accomplish. A second short-term continuing resolution funding most domestic programs expires on December 8. Congress needs to take some final action on funding for major programs such as CDBG and transportation before this Congress adjourns and a new Democratic majority takes over in January. 

Although Congress may pass the 10 individual appropriations bills as separate pieces of legislation, the short time left makes that unlikely. The more likely scenario will be passage of a single omnibus bill that will leave major funding decisions for the 110th Congress.

With the short time remaining, Congress is unlikely to act on NLC priority issues, including telecommunications reform and comprehensive immigration reform. The change to a Democratic majority in the House and the Senate will result in new chairs for all House and Senate committees. The new majority will face daunting political and fiscal realities, including a  budget deficit, the continuing war in Iraq, a slim majority in the Senate and the likely need to adopt a budget for fiscal year 2007 spending.