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Despite the portrayal of this week as a "make or break" time for U.S. Medicare negotiations, talks are certain to stretch into next week, members of the core negotiating group said. But despite a one-day hiatus on Wednesday--to allow staff to draft legislative language--they insisted they are still confident. Senate Finance chairman Chuck Grassley said that language probably would have "maybe a dozen items" unresolved, but three in particular would be "critical." They are competition between government-run Medicare and private health plans; tax-preferred health savings accounts; and "some sort of cost containment."

Presents information on the task of drafting ANWR drilling language.

U.S. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Billy Tauzin is circulating a new draft of his anti-spam legislation in hopes of "bridging" some points of disagreement with a competing bipartisan proposal, a Tauzin spokesman said. The new draft of the "Reduction in Distribution of Spam Act," which Tauzin is co-sponsoring with Republican Richard Burr, includes compromise language on what supporters of the other bill called "fairly noncontroversial" issues. Tauzin's spokesman said the new section would create a self-regulatory organization that would provide a free "dispute resolution process" for consumers who have spam-related grievances. The new program would require FTC approval and member companies would have 30 days to try to resolve consumers' complaints. Consumers dissatisfied with the outcome of that process after 30 days could take their complaints directly to the FTC.

Reports on the plans made by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch to draft an asbestos litigation reform bill. Emphasis made by Hatch for the need for a legislation to contain a strong medical criteria for the bill; Need of bipartisan cooperation to pass the bill.

Reports that the chairman of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee W.J. Tauzin has begun drafting legislation on managing digital-rights technologies in digital televisions. Opposition by the electronics companies to the provision under the proposal that requires electronic manufacturers to make devices that limit consumers' ability to make digital copies of programs that have been marked with a 'broadcast flag.'

Focuses on the election reform bill in the United States. Collaboration of House Administration Chairman Ney and ranking member Steny Hoyer on the bill; Inclusions of the reform bill; Efforts of Ney and Hoyer on drafting the reform bill.

The article reports that U.S. House Energy and Commerce Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher has released a discussion draft of the reauthorization of the Satellite Home Viewer Act, which will expire by December 31, 2009.

The article reports on the move of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee to approve the FY09 bill for energy, water and Army Corps of Engineers projects worth $33.3 billion. According to Subcommittee chairman, Byron Dorgan, drafting the bill was a challenge since President George W. Bush has requested reductions on these programs. However, several senators from cold-weather states have argued that it is not the right time to cut costs during winter.

The article reports that there is virtually no chance of reaching a deal on the bill to extend the State Children's Health Insurance Program before the end of the year. U.S. House Republicans have presented the Senate Finance Committee members with their final offer but Democratic leadership said it would not cover the requisite 10 million children. Representative Nathan Deal, one of the lead negotiators for Republicans, said there would be no adjustments to their position.

The article reports that U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer has scheduled a full committee markup on global warming legislation for December 5, 2007 with the possibility that it could roll over to a second day. The announcement followed a public staff briefing on legislation sponsored by Environment and Public Works Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming Subcommittee Chairman Joseph I. Lieberman and ranking member John W. Warner.

The article reports that the U.S. Senate Republicans have blocked an attempt to fix a drafting error in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) overhaul legislation. This Congress passed legislation which is signed by the President, exempts medical device companies from a requirement to list side effects suffered during experimentation. The House had passed the fix as a concurrent resolution.

The article reports that U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell plans to offer a discussion draft of his long-awaited carbon tax measure as President George W. Bush is set to open a two-day conference to discuss voluntary efforts to combat climate change. Dingell said he is not sure what the final package dealing with so-called greenhouse gases will include but has not ruled out a cap-and-trade system.

The article reports that U.S. Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone has released nine Food and Drug Administration-related discussion drafts, including a plan to strengthen drug safety. The House proposal that establishes enhanced strategies to deal with potential drug risks is close to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee's original drafts that required risk mitigation strategies for every new drug application.

The article reports that U.S. Senators who are working on an immigration bill have agreed on a "trigger" that would delay implementation of guest worker and legalization programs until certain enforcement criteria have been met. According to Republican Senator John Cornyn, the lawmakers have agreed to set objective enforcement targets that include hiring a certain number of border patrol agents and putting in place a workplace verification system.

The article reports that U.S. Senate and House Democrats have remained at an impasse over including language in the FY08 budget resolution that would allow the relevant committees to write a higher education reauthorization bill. This to protect the House version from Senate filibuster. Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad offered his strongest condemnation over the prospect of including reconciliation instructions in the budget.

The article reports that U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has released the administration's proposed legislative language for the conservation and credit titles of the 2007 farm bill. He hopes to deliver the energy and rural development titles shortly. Johanns said the Agriculture Department took the step of drafting legislative language because lawmakers requested it, specifically, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin.

The article reports that pension conferees have started drafting language on key provisions that they have agreed on, U.S. lawmakers said on Tuesday, but negotiators are still working to resolve differences that have stymied progress on the conference report for months. Negotiators are still finalizing provisions dealing with companies whose pension plans are considered "at risk." Conferees have appeared to coalesce around a framework under which a company would be subject to tighter funding rules if its pension fund was less than 70 percent funded.

Focuses on the legislation banning unsolicited commercial electronic mail passed by the House of Congress in the United States. Removal of a language allowing Internet service provider to establish and enforce its own anti-spam policy; Details on the changes included in the created alternate draft; Implications of the bill for consumer protection and the computer industry.

Focuses on the technical error in the drafting of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization (NASA) Act of 2000 in the United States. Agreement among House and Senate members to make some technical corrections to the bill; Comments of NASA on the issue.

Reports the appeal of legislators for the United States Senate Finance chairman to consider the middle class in drafting drug prescription coverage bill. Content of the bipartisan letter sent to the chairman; Reservations of the government healthcare adviser on the out-of-pocket expenses; List of legislators that signed the request letter.

Reports the drafting of a Medicare drug prescription plan designed to share drug costs between the government and senior citizens by the United States Senate Finance chairman. Purpose for creating the plan; Overview of the Finance chairman's plan; Details on the Republican budget resolution of prescription drug benefits.

Reports the agreement reached among United States House Republicans on a bill to expanding trade relations with African and Caribbean countries. Plea for the House majority leader to schedule a floor discussion on the bill; Need for the staff to finish the technical drafting of the bill; Priority given by the administration of President Bill Clinton on the bill.

Reports the plan of the United States House Banking chairman to offer a draft legislation exempting over the counter financial derivatives from regulations by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Schedule for a hearing on the bill; Focus of the legislation and the hearing; Details on the separate bill drafted by House and Senate Agriculture Committees.