For the most part, House leaders plan to take it easy during the last week before they start the final month-long push to adjournment next Wednesday-but politics will still take up some of their time. Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, will be the most active with his drive to pressure President Clinton to resign in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
From his Texas district, DeLay will make additional television appearances and continue to coordinate efforts with other members of the GOP whip operation. DeLay continued to push ahead of his colleagues in the Republican leadership this weekend, when he said on "Fox News Sunday" the House should stay in session this year to act on any report submitted by Whitewater independent counsel Kenneth Starr.
"We need to stay in session as long as it takes to get this behind us," he said. While some Republicans would rather wait until at least after the November election to deal with any charges, DeLay said he disagrees with that notion.
Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., has so far shown little interest in addressing the politically tricky issue before the House adjourns, and GOP leaders have no plans to try to coordinate this week and are not scheduled to meet or have a conference call.
For his part, Gingrich this week will be far from the debate: House Resources Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, is hosting the speaker as he tours portions of the state, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Tonight, Gingrich will attend a fundraiser on Young's behalf hosted by representatives of Alaska's tourism industry. The fundraiser will be held in the home of former Alaska Gov. Bill Sheffield, a Democrat.
Gingrich then moves on to Montana, where he will excavate for dinosaur bones during a family vacation-with a break to speak Tuesday at a fundraiser for Rep. Rick Hill, R-Mont.
Meanwhile, Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, will make a speech to the libertarian Mont Pelerin Society tonight, then leave Wednesday to campaign in several states for Republican candidates.
Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, R-Mo., will return from a similar trip today, then head to New Hampshire Thursday before going to his St. Louis district for the weekend.