The Senate adjourned last night after the passage of several bills on its way out of town. In addition to the Homeland Security Bill, which passed 90-9 last night, controversial judicial candidate Denis Sheed was confirmed and a terrorism insurance package was written into law. The Shedd confirmation largely echoed party lines, ending up with a 55-44 tally. The insurance package won by a much larger majoirty, 86-11.

As expected, the Senate also passed yet another continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded at FY02 levels through January 11. Because the 108th Congress begins on the 7th, a sixth CR will probably have to be paseed to keep the government in working order, as only two of the 13 spending bills (Defense & Military Construction) have been finished. The remaining 11 bills may be rounded up into an omnibus package in January, but the size alone would likely prevent Congress from acting before the 11th. A host of smaller legislation also cleared the Senate early Wednesday morning. A water package including the California Federal Bay Delta project (CALFED) was passed by voice vote, as was an authorization to spend up to $150 million on diabetes research and treatment. And finally, a bill to construct a visitor center at American Fork Canyon, in Utah, managed to bring along a friend: $15 million for a natural history museum at the University of Utah.

Those left behind by the 107th included a jobless benefit extension to the 800,000 people currently receiving assistance. The current package will expire 3 days after Christmas, but the House and Senate passed different versions to extend the coverage, the House until February, the Senate until April. A failure to compromise resulted in the bill's demise. And finally, emergency drought assistance for farmers and ranchers didn't garner enough support to push through, despite Majority Leader Daschle's (D-SD) strong support.