As Congress returns from a weeklong recess today, House and Senate budget writers still face several more weeks of trying to sort out their priorities, in an effort to pass fiscal 1999 budget resolutions.
In the House, a budget task force will continue to try to settle battles between budget hardliners who do not want to adjust discretionary spending caps and House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bud Shuster, R-Pa., who wants to boost transportation spending.
House GOP leaders are likely to try to settle that battle before putting the finishing touches on a budget document.
On the Senate side, Republican leaders have been circulating a budget discussion document, but that plan has led to a mini- revolt among conservatives, who said the $30 billion in tax cuts being discussed was not large enough.
Senate Majority Leader Lott has said he would like to move a budget resolution sometime next month.
Meanwhile, it also remained unclear when either chamber would consider a supplemental appropriations measure or what would be in it.
The Clinton administration has asked for supplemental funds for the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations, and has said it needs more money for the mission in Bosnia and disaster relief.
It is unclear how those funding requests might be packaged.
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