Congress tries to clear the decks

With the prospect of an impeachment inquiry looming, Congress returns to work this week intent on clearing as many policy issues as possible before the impeachment issue consumes its attention.

Nearly lost in the furor accompanying the release of the report by Whitewater independent counsel Kenneth Starr late last week was some progress on legislative fronts.

With Friday's agreement to limit the number of amendments to the bankruptcy reform bill and to hold a minimum wage vote Tuesday, the chances for passing bankruptcy reform in the Senate brightened considerably. Republicans said they expect the minimum wage amendment will be tabled. If it is not, the unanimous consent agreement will be voided, leaving the bill subject to a filibuster and probably killing it.

The bankruptcy legislation was held hostage last week by Democrats, led by Labor and Human Resources ranking member Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who want to increase the minimum wage by $1. While a vote will be held on that issue, many Democrats still oppose the current version of the bankruptcy bill. For instance, they complain it does not take on credit card companies with shoddy lending practices.

Supporters believe the bill has a good chance to pass if it emerges with few changes. Still, several amendments on the list made in order will be controversial.

Banking Committee Chairman Al D'Amato, R-N.Y., plans to offer one that would eliminate automatic teller machine surcharges, a proposal which banks vehemently oppose.

There also are no time agreements on the amendments, but aides believe they can finish the bill Wednesday.

However, the conference is expected to be difficult, since the House bill imposes a strict formula that would force more debtors to repay their obligations. And the main House sponsor, Rep. George Gekas, R-Pa., said late last week he is worried that the Senate version is too weak.

Appropriations bills will again be high on the list as both chambers keep working their way through the 13 bills, most of which are still far from completion, that need to be passed before fiscal 1999 debuts on Oct. 1.

Another threat is that Senate Democrats may attempt to attach their Patients' Bill of Rights to an appropriations bill to force Republican leaders into debating the issue.

Senate GOP leaders counter that Democrats are more interested in gaining a political issue by debating health care than producing legislation, given the Democrats' unwillingness to agree to an agreement on the number of amendments to be offered during any such debate.