Competing bills spell ‘trouble’ in upcoming session

Lawmakers should get their rest and relaxation now, because they've got lots to do when they get back from their recess. There will be hearings on federal confe...

Lawmakers should get their rest and relaxation now, because they’ve got lots to do when they get back from their recess. There will be hearings on federal conferences in the wake of the scandal at the General Services Administration, plus competing Postal Service, budget and cybersecurity bills.

“When there’s two competing bills, that means trouble,” said Pete Kasperowicz from The Hill newspaper on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Emily Kopp. “I expect this to be mostly budget…the appropriations bills, and then you might see a lot of things fall off to the side.”

He also predicted a tax showdown, with the democratic majority touting its “Buffett rule” to tax millionaires and billionaires, and House Republicans fighting for tax cuts for small businesses.

He also said it’s unclear if Obama will press Congress for the authority to reorganize the federal government, as he proposed earlier this year.

“I think the Republican reaction was kind of cool. They see it as kind of a gimmick,” he said. “It’s not clear how they would save a whole bunch of money. At this point, I don’t see many proposals moving through the House.”

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