An unusual changing of the guard marks Congress’ return

Benjamin Grove

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- These will be odd days in Washington, even beyond the bizarre contested presidential election.

On Capitol Hill, newly elected members of Congress this week may cross paths with the retiring or recently defeated lawmakers they will replace next year.

Typically, the "old" Congress has finished up its work by this point in the year, and outgoing members have cleared out and gone home. But Congress still hasn't finished four government spending bills to President Clinton's satisfaction. So this week the lame-duck Congress returns for a few days -- ostensibly to finish up the last-minute business.

At the same time some newly elected lawmakers are in town to attend orientation meetings, await committee assignments and scout out departing lawmakers' office space.

"It's unusual," said Scott Bensing, chief of staff for Sen.-elect John Ensign, R-Nev.

Ensign will replace Richard Bryan, D-Nev., who is retiring from the Senate and was honored at a goodbye gala Friday night in Las Vegas.

Ensign arrives in Washington today to begin preparations. On Tuesday he and other freshmen are scheduled to attend Republican Party and other orientation meetings, including one that features an oration on the institution of the Senate, delivered by Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., Bensing said.

Meanwhile the state's other senator, Harry Reid, D-Nev., the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, will help guide his party through the transition.

Still on the to-do list for this year: settling arguments over a $1 minimum wage hike and a small-business tax cut, education spending, workplace injuries and citizenship for about 1 million illegal aliens.

It's also possible Congress could put off everything -- again -- until the presidential race is no longer in question, or even until after the Jan. 20 inauguration.

"If the presidential thing is not wrapped up, I don't think we'll get very far," House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, said.

But Reid wants to finish up this year's work, then focus on next year.

"We've got to pass those bills," Reid said. "I don't think the Republicans want to do any work."

Republican leaders dispute that.

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., met with Gov. George W. Bush at his Texas ranch Saturday to discuss congressional agendas for next year. Hastert said afterward that he expects President Clinton will meet with congressional leaders to discuss this year.

Another unusual issue still pending: Will the Senate, potentially split with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans, maintain its current system of Republican-controlled committees or switch to a 50-50 power-sharing structure?

"We really can't make that decision until the presidential election is decided," Reid said.

The Senate would be evenly split with 50 members on each side of the aisle assuming Bush becomes president and Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman does not become vice president, instead retaining his Senate seat.

Reid and Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., want an equal number of Democrats as Republicans on Senate committees, where much of the body's work is done. Republicans, who now control committees, have mostly been cool to the idea.