Conference Committee Might Meet Next Week

At a governmental affairs conference hosted by the Credit Union National Association, Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) announced that his panel would complete its work by the spring recess. Sensenbrenner  disclosed a "global compromise package" which the House has offered to the Senate. The compromise package "resolves all of the remaining issues," including abortion and homestead exemptions.

The day before, Sensenbrenner's staff held a news briefing to announce that House conferees had sent the compromise to the Senate. It was reported that aides to Senate Democratic conferees saw the move as somewhat abrupt. Senator Leahy's office commented that publicizing  the compromise offer was not in keeping with the construct of bipartisan, bicameral staff-level negotiations. However, Leahy's office also stated that they  welcomed the compromise, since it represents the existence of more recent agreements between the House and Senate conferees' staff. On pivotal issues such as homestead and  abortion however, Leahy's office noted that the House had offered minor changes. Leahy's spokesman said "that provides further evidence that we need the principal conferees themselves to meet, and not just staff, to resolve the major differences."