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House GOP leaders are planning a quick and clean lame duck session after Election Day victories strengthened the Republican majorities in both chambers, aides said Wednesday.

With the concession of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Republicans face significantly less pressure to push through legislation in the remaining days of this session.

The House returns Nov. 16 for reorganization -- the current GOP and Democratic leadership teams are expected to remain intact -- and Congress will address a short list of must-pass legislation that week. Raising the debt limit and addressing the unresolved appropriations bills, either through a continuing resolution or some combination of omnibus spending packages, are the only items Congress must approve before adjourning for the 109th Congress. The current appropriations CR expires Nov. 20.

Conference work on the intelligence overhaul bill continues, although some GOP leadership aides indicated today that Congress could postpone a final vote on the measure until next year if an agreement is not reached quickly. Aides said leadership is still actively pursuing a deal, since postponing the bill would unravel the conference in the next Congress.

Aides also said today the House might again attempt to move the long-stalled highway bill before adjournment. House leaders, particularly House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., are expected to push for a final bill.

But Senate Democrats Wednesday were bracing for a lame-duck showdown with Republicans which they promised would be a politically charged affair after they suffered bruising losses Tuesday. A senior Democratic leadership aide said Democrats were especially incensed that Republicans intended to reduce Democratic committee assignments and staffing levels in the next Congress.

COMMENTS

• The comment, "I don't think I want to live in a country where Senator Hatch of Utah decides who sits on the Supreme Court and Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont is told to sit down and shut up." This WORKS FOR ME. I am so tired of Senators Durbin and Leahy "badmouthing" excellent Judicial nominees from the President, just because the can; and Senator "Ted", bellowing about "Borking" all the time. Yes, it works for me; AND what would really work for me would be to see Judge Bork re-nominated and SHOVED DOWN the throats of these three. Judge Bork is an excellent judge, deserves to be on the Supreme Court! I am tired of "ACLU Kissing" Justices selling our liberties away in the name of "political (crap) correctness". JOHN V. WELGE Posted November 24, 2004 10:07 AM
• Good for you- yes, let's pack the bench with right wing idealogues who are straining at the bit to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act, EEO and Whistleblower protections, etc.. etc... While we are at it let's overturn the child labor law restrictions, the right of employees to collectively bargain and we can bring back sweatshops. Let's go further back and uphold again the Dred Scott Decision or reenact the 1940s and uphold Koramatsu when we decide to again hold Americans in camps for national security reasons. Here, Here- let's role back 50+ years of advancement in civil rights just so long as a copy of the ten commandments hangs in every courthouse in America and "under God" remanins in the Pledge of Allegiance. Just so long as that flag is protected. But please give me a heads up before all this happens so my family and I can make a rationale decision about remaining in America. I don't think I want to live in a country where Senator Hatch of Utah decides who sits on the Supreme Court and Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont is told to sit down and shut up. GovExec.com reader Posted November 5, 2004 12:23 PM
• Of course the Demos committee positions and staffing should be reduced. Especially on the Judiciary Committee...about all Senator Leahy did was to drag his feet and be a pain in the butt to Senator Hatch. Senator Hatch needs to "grow more backbone" and quit playing "nice"; we lost several good judge appointments from the President because Senator Hatch was too intent upon "playing nice" with Patrick, instead of staying the course and GETTING THOSE JUDGES ON THE BENCH. Does Senator Hatch need to "clean house" and get himself some stronger staff members? Something needs to change! I want to see the President's judicial appointments ON THE BENCH, not growing stale in Hatch's committee. Tired of waiting. GovExec.com reader Posted November 4, 2004 9:32 AM