Bush's Bills: Lost In Action

One casualty of the war in Iraq and the way it has dominated the nation's attention is President Bush's legislative agenda. Nearly all his initiatives have either stalled or run into trouble in Congress. His immigration-reform initiative, which would give illegal immigrants guest-worker status, appears to be going nowhere. Conservatives spurn it as a reward for illegal activities, while liberals complain that it doesn't go far enough. A welfare-reform bill, which would toughen work requirements, got caught in a tussle over whether to raise the minimum wage. Meanwhile, even with gasoline prices rising, the energy bill that was once a top priority for Dick Cheney is now limping along; some Democrats are trying to break it up to pass the salvageable parts, like measures aimed at preventing another blackout. The one major bill that has moved through both houses lately — a measure to expand and repair the nation's highways — is in trouble with the President himself. He's called both the House and Senate versions too expensive.

The sorry track record has given ammunition to Bush opponents, who say the Administration is too scattershot and isn't working hard enough to get bills passed. "They just seem to have trouble keeping their attention on one bill," says Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle. Administration officials, in response, point to such Bush legislative successes as the Medicare prescription-drug benefit and a bill imposing additional criminal penalties on those who harm fetuses while committing certain crimes. The President will continue to push for his legislation, but White House officials recognize that, with the election approaching, it won't get any easier.