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Republicans and Democrats are seemingly less inclined to act on issues of international trade as urgently as the US business community would like. Democrats are concerned about trade agreements that may have a negative effect on American workers and Republicans do not seemed to be concerned about international commerce. There appears to be little support for fast track trade agreements from lawmakers.

US businesses are pressuring legislators for specialized tariff bills that would help them avoid losses to imported goods. These range from costumes to televisions to textile machinery. Congress, however, usually combines individual tariff bills into one large measure without regard to specific industries. This can alter the market share and profitability of many firms.

The Senate on May 7, 1998, voted overwhelmingly to restructure the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The measure (HR 2676) would remove some of the IRS's powers and put it under the direction of a board of private citizens. The measure has drawn praises from the GOP leadership and will be backed by the Clinton Administration. However, some experts and business executives criticize the bill, arguing it would prevent the agency from effectively collecting revenues.

Republicans in Congress are facing pressure from businesses to retain favored regulations to set back the competition. Diverse industries such as telecommunications, agriculture, insurance, banking, and securities are seeking such regulations to keep their competitive advantage. Consequently, Republicans who pledged to cut taxes, make the federal government smaller, and deregulate the financial services industry are facing opposition from businesses who argue that certain regulations are necessary.

Republicans and Democrats of the House Ways and Means Committee approved a bill (HR 4579) to cut taxes, but it is not expected to gain favor with Senate Democrats because it would pull monies from the projected budget surplus to grant tax breaks to school boards and low-income communities. The president is expected to veto the legislation should pass Senate opposition.

The Clinton administration and lawmakers from both parties favor renewing the research tax credit, but no action was taken and it expired on Jun 30, 1998. Business executives argue that such a measure is necessary to keep US companies competitive, and they have sent their representative to Congress to lobby for its renewal. Several other tax credits have expired or are scheduled to expire in 1999.

Increasing traffic congestion is discussed, with a focus on proposals to increase highway construction. Topics include environmental consequences, dependence on imported oil, urban sprawl as a cause of congestion, mass transit as a solution, and the most congested urban areas.

President Clinton's success score with the 1998 Congress was only 51%. As a lame-duck President embroiled in a personal scandal, however, he did manage to gain some significant victories. He was able to block the Republican political agenda, contributed to unexpected victories for Democrats in the Nov 1998 elections, and helped bring about the surprising downfall of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

The House on Oct 9, 1998, adopted the conference report on a bill that would overhaul the bankruptcy laws, making it difficult on individuals to walk away from their debts. However, Sen Richard J. Durbin criticized the report, arguing it left many of his consumer protection provisions out. President Bill Clinton has indicated he would veto the bill, but supporters hope they can convince him to include it in the fiscal 1999 spending bill.

The House on Sep 25, 1998, defeated a bill, opposing fast-track legislation. House Speaker Newt Gingrich in a speech criticized Democrats for willing to let the world go into an economic recession. Business leaders lobbied for the bill, arguing they need more access to overseas markets. However, they could not overcome the forces of labor opposition and Democratic Rep Robert T. Matsui of California.

House Democrats are uniting against the Republican $80.1 bil tax-cut bill. A few Republicans have also rebelled against the bill, further weakening any chance of its passage. However, some Republicans are insisting on deeper tax cuts, while others are not sure about using the budget surplus to finance the current bill. Despite these developments, many predict a limited tax bill will pass in 1998.

The House on Sep 25, 1998, rejected a proposal to renew the president's fast-track trade authority, leaving the US trade policies in a state of disorder. Some predict the issue may not be brought up again until 2001. Since fast track's expiration in 1994, many nations have refused to work out trade deals with the US and instead are negotiating with Canada and the European Union.

The House of Representatives has launched a plan to overhaul the government. The HR 3097 bill would sunset most taxes by Dec 30, 2002. The bill suggests that Congress install another tax system on Jun 30, 2002. Proponents of the bill concede they need 60 votes to overcome a Senate filibuster while President Bill Clinton opposes a measure that would harm businesses that make multimillion-dollar investments based on tax provisions.

Congress may not be able to pass a 1998 tax bill even though the Senate and House have passed measures to cut taxes because Republicans are divided over the scope of the cuts. Budget writers disagree on a budget resolution that would allow introduction of tax legislation. The climate for a tax cut is not optimal since the government is facing a budget surplus and can give up tens of billions of dollars without falling into the red.

Lawmakers during the 1980s voted to increase the power of the IRS to collect taxes, but the House and Senate in July 1998 have passed different versions of a bill that discourages aggressive collection techniques and cuts penalties. Tax experts contend that while lawmakers are scoring political points, they are undermining the agency's tax collection methods.

Republican social conservatives are proposing to eliminate the marriage penalty in the tax code. However, business groups also want a tax relief if Congress is determined to give married couples a tax break. Furthermore, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups are lobbying for a proposed $17.9 bil appropriations for the International Monetary Fund, which would help protect jobs in the US and stabilize the Asian financial crisis. The Republican Party is divided between social conservative and business factions.

Public testimony regarding IRS methods of operation in Apr and May 1998 may have captured public attention and brought egregious abuses of power to the forefront, but critics charge that unless legislators provide measures of reform the hearings should be considered a waste of time. The Senate has been criticized for dragging its feet in providing legislative relief.

Illinois Rep Dennis Hastert, who is expected to be elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 106th Congress, has compiled a voting record that reveals strongly conservative and moderately conservative tendencies. He strongly favored commercial freedom by advocating tax cuts and deregulation. He moderately favored labor and environmental protection policies. Hastert received low scores from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Americans for Democratic Action but high scores from the American Conservative Union and the US Chamber of Commerce.

Republicans in the 106th Congress have suggestions for tax cuts and tax reform but must work in the context of Pres Bill Clinton's announcement that Social Security reform is more important than tax reform. Sen William V. Roth, for instance, has developed a plan to give tax breaks to companies that create energy uses from chicken manure. The proposal would help Delaware farmers who may be put out of business due to high cost of manure disposal. Other tax reforms pertain to estate taxes, capital gains taxes, and self-employed health benefits.

The impeachment recommendations made by the House Judiciary Committee against Pres Bill Clinton may polarize Republicans and Democrats on whether the punishment fits the crime. Republicans insist that the issue is perjury and obstruction of justice, while Democrats maintain that impeachment is too serious for actions that occurred in private, not public.

Robert L. Livingston's Congressional voting record has been analyzed by several groups that range from conservative to liberal. The AFL-CIO has given Livingston 25%, the NAACP 16.7%, and the American Association of University Women 0%. More conservative groups rated Livingston higher, with the US Chamber of Commerce and the Christian Coalition offering 100%, and The Center for Security Policy 90%.

The House of Representatives took historic action Oct. 8, 1998 and voted to initiate an impeachment inquiry against President Bill Clinton. The inquiry is based on alleged crimes Clinton committed while trying to conceal an affair he had with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The inquiry stems from an investigative report by Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr, which outlines the president's alleged acts of perjury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and abuse of power.

A bill authorizing $271.5 bil, plus $1.9 bil for peacemaking operations in Bosnia was cleared by Congress. The balanced-budget law passed in 1997 pre-empted controversy over the size of the 1999 defense budget until Congress completed work on the annual authorization bill.

Legislators attempted to pass a law that would make taking a minor across state lines for an abortion to avoid her state's notification laws or parental consent illegal. The legislation, however, failed in the Senate. The bill would involve one year of prison sentence and fines of as much as $100,000.

A number of large and small government appropriations bills were included in the passage of a $500 billion spending measure that exceeded budget limitations set in 1997. Republicans eagerly sought the president's signature on the measure which contained an increase in defense spending, anti-drug programs and in exchange withdrew their 'policy riders.' Clinton ended up receiving more in discretionary spending then he had requested in his February budget submission.

Lawmakers in Congress in the aftermath of the GOP's failed tax-package are hoping to pass a $6.2 bil to extend expired tax provisions. Provisions such as a tax credit for research and development are being lobbied by businesses. The House on Sep 26, 1998, passed a bill that would cut taxes by $80.1 bil over five years. However, most Senate Democrats and some Republicans oppose the plan because it would take funds away from Social Security trust.

GOP leaders in Congress are hopeful they will be able to deliver a $70 bil to $80 bil tax cut before the congressional elections of 1998. However, tensions are high as possible impeachment of President Bill Clinton nears and lawmakers prepare to return home for elections. Their tentative plan would use the budget surplus to finance a five-year tax cut.

House appropriators on Jun 11, 1998, approved a bipartisan amendment to freeze the cost of living increase that was marked up for fiscal 1999. The bill would impose a four-year term on the staff director and general counsel of the Federal Election Commission, impose restrictions on White House spending for overtime costs, and bar federal employee health providers from covering abortions.