9/11 Proposals Lead the Agenda Facing Congress (or maybe not?)

[papau]

911 leads agenda in Congress - but the Senate takes up the flag amendment this week; the House, a same-sex marriage ban by the end of the month; transportation funding, a pledge to prohibit courts from hearing cases about the legality of the Pledge, etc. etc. - anf Folks want to re-elect their GOP Congressperson/Senator?

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/07/politics/07cong.html

9/11 Proposals Lead the Agenda Facing Congress
By CARL HULSE

ASHINGTON, Sept. 6 - After weeks of being overshadowed by presidential politics, members of Congress return Tuesday for a charged march to Election Day that has been complicated by the call to reorganize the nation's intelligence agencies.

House and Senate leaders are planning to advance legislation that carries out recommendations from the Sept. 11 commission report that was issued just before Congress recessed for six weeks. Lawmakers must also dispose of a dozen required spending bills as well as decide what to do about a popular highway measure and a host of other proposals, all while jockeying for advantage in the November elections, which will decide control of both houses.

To that end, each party has a distinct political agenda. Democrats say they will pressure the Republicans to embrace the Sept. 11 commission's 41 recommendations fully or face the political consequences.

Republicans intend to use their control of both chambers to schedule legislation in an effort to put Democrats on the spot. In the House, the majority plans to hold a vote this month on the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and will force floor fights over abortion, taxes and reforms to the legal system. In the Senate, Democrats say they expect a floor vote on a proposed constitutional amendment barring flag desecration.<snip>