Latest from John A. Pope

• Congress recessed for a couple of weeks at Easter time.

The Bush Administration has proposed spending $759 billion next year for government agencies and programs other than Social Security, but more than half ha

• As Washington pundits predicted, the $3.1 trillion budget President Bush proposed for the federal fiscal year beginning Oct.

Reviewing the latest from Capitol Hill

• Following the recess for the year-end holiday season, the 110th Congress apparently was in no rush to resume work on leftover legislation and to prepare

• The House of Representatives of the 110th Congress adjourned in mid-December.

Cutting President Bush’s proposals to reduce taxes by some $726 billion; concern over ever increasing deficits that are now approaching a record $400 billi

There was good news and bad news concerning appropriations for those 11 of 13 government agencies that have been impatiently waiting and enduring the agony

The 108th Congress opened for business the first week in January with a few changes of note.

As a result of the Congressional elections in November, the 108th Congress, due to convene early this month, will enjoy a Republican majority in both the S

In his State of the Union address, President Bush proposed cutting income tax and ending the double taxation of corporate dividends, both actions that woul

Wondering if the 108th Congress has been busy? By early last month, the Senate saw 2,505 bills introduced and the House of Representatives, 4,520.

• With many eyes focused on the Presidential election date, both houses of Congress worked diligently on such agenda items as tax cuts, disaster relief, co

• The 108th Congress became history at the end of last year and its pending legislation died on the vine.

• One of the annual Washington rituals calls for the President to send Congress an administration budget proposal for the next fiscal year.

• At press time, appropriations for the 12 government agencies were still in the holding pattern.

When Congress returned from its August recess, both houses set about to debate what to do about the declining budget surplus and what to do about spending.

• By a vote of 404 to 14, the House of Representatives passed a stopgap funding bill that would keep government agencies running until November 16.

Congress recessed for 16 days in mid-April and when it returned, the major issues facing both houses were President Bush’s proposal for $726 billion in tax

• Even though the Senate and the House of Representatives did not sit in session during August, a multitude of committee and subcommittee meetings convened

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has raised its estimates of budget deficits.

Keeping with custom, Congress deserted Washington for the dog days of August with some small sense of accomplishment.

Aside from the cost of military actions against the terrorist factions following the September 11 attacks, the big question is, how the government is going

• Trillions, billions and chump-change millions appear to be the common denominations being bandied about in halls of Congress.

Pushed by President Bush for legislation intended to stimulate the nation’s economy, Congress has taken action on two bills that may affect the purchase of

Lawmakers had much to think about when they returned from their summer break at the end of August.

• Pushing hard to wrap up business before they took their customary August break, lawmakers devoted a good deal of time to deciding what to do about the Ir

• Congress recessed for about a week to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and returned to face a full plate of pending legislation before recessing agai

In the April 23 Federal Register, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued what it called “FairPay” rules that will take effect on August 23.

At present, the most that can be said about the FAA’s intention to have an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) assist in rewriting FAR Parts 135 and 125 is