• Congress recessed for a couple of weeks at Easter time. “Pro forma” sessions continued in the Senate. To keep President Bush from making recess appointments for a number of government positions, the Senate convenes and adjourns in a matter of minutes, thereby blocking presidential action. On the pending list of presidential nominees are three Federal Reserve governors, four members of the Federal Election Commission, the FAA Administrator, the head of the Internal Revenue Service, the deputy Attorney General, 17 ambassadors and 28 judges who would have lifetime tenure. Senate Democrats appeared to be in no hurry to fill the vacant positions.
• As of April 4, there were 5,713 bills introduced in the House and 2,822 in the Senate. More than 100 bills were introduced to extend the temporary suspension of duty on a variety of imported products. The total also included a number of “rubber stamp” approval bills to name post offices. Time may be running out on the vast majority of the remaining bills. Lawmakers seek to end this session sometime next month so that those up for re-election in November can return to their home districts and do battle for votes. Many are keeping an eye on the presidential nomination process to determine whose coattails they can ride.
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