Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist Met with the nation's governor's on February 24 and laid out some of the key elements on the Senate agenda for this session of Congress. He had the following to say about key issues:

TANF Reauthorization

The leader said the bill would come to the Senate floor within the next three months. He said to expect "some movement" (in a positive direction) on child care funding on the floor. An extension will be needed before March 31 and Frist said the Senate would enact one.

TEA-21

Frist said he is confident a compromise bill can be worked out that would gain the President's signature. He said the price tag of the bill would have to decrease below the Senate-approved level to achieve this. Despite this show of confidence, he said that various extension options were under consideration, including extending the bill past this congressional session.

Internet Tax Moratorium

Frist said the Senate would have the debate on extending/expanding the ban on taxation of internet access this year. He indicated he did not want to do harm to the states and localities but at the same time he wants to encourage the adoption of new technology.

Budget

The majority leader said the Senate would begin debating the budget resolution during the week of March 7.

Energy Bill

Frist indicated there is a "very good chance" the bill scaled-back energy bill would pass the Senate by mid-March.

Interestingly, the leader did not indicate when the appropriations bills would be completed. Last year at this time he made a point of talking about how important it was to "keep the trains running on time" with regard to appropriations. The problems he experienced last year, which resulted in most appropriations not being completed until the new year, may be repeated this year given the proposal by the President to keep the increase in spending for non-Defense,non-Homeland discretionary spending down to only .5%. Many on Capitol Hill are already predicting a post-election "lame duck" session will be needed to complete the appropriations process for fiscal 2005.

Watch this space for further updates on the legislative calendar for this session.