December 11, 2000 Vol. 2, No. 41

This Week in Washington...

For more information, contact Reva Price, Washington Representative at rprice@thejcpa.org

On Capitol Hill: At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Congress returns today to pass another Continuing resolution to keep the Government running for five more days. The good news is that negotiators are continuing to meet on the remaining four spending bills. Legislators are also trying to figure out how to organize for the 107th Congress scheduled to begin the first week in January. Among the items the 107^th Congress will need to sort out is not only the number of members from each part on each committee but also who the new chairs will be. The 1994 term limits require most committee chairs to step aside at the end of the 106^th Congress, and in several cases this has led to battles among members for coveted leadership spots. Rep. Benjamin Gilman (NY), Chairman of the House International Relations Committee is among those who will step down. Last week Reps. Henry Hyde (Ill), Doug Bereuter (NE), Chris Smith (NJ), and James Leach (IA) interviewed with House leadership for the chairmanship of this key committee. With the defeat of Rep. Sam Geidjenson (CT), Tom Lantos (CA) will become ranking Minority Leader.

Democrats are expected to request that House and Senate Republican leaders change the committee ratios and also argue that the committee ratio should correspond to the Republican razor-thin majority in the House and apparent tie in the Senate. In the House, Republicans currently occupy 59% of the seats on the all-important Ways and Means Committee and 57% of the seats on the Judiciary committee. Democrats are requesting that ratios more accurately reflect the 51% majority the Republicans have in the House overall, while in the Senate, Minority Leader Tom Daschle is arguing for a power sharing arrangement.

The Barak Resignation: By submitting his resignation, Barak triggered the law that requires election of Prime Minister within 60 days and prohibits anyone who is not currently a member of Knesset (e.g., Netanyahu) from running. There could be general elections for the Knesset as well, but that happen only if the Knesset now dissolves itself. Another avenue for Netanyahu is to try to get a new law passed quickly that would permit non-members of the Knesset to run for PM in the upcoming election. While Barak has been named by the One Israel Party to be its candidate, Likud hasn't yet decided whether the current chairman Ariel Sharon will be the candidate. And of course, candidates may come from other parties as well.

This Week in New York…

For more information, contact Benita Gayle-Almeleh, Senior Community Consultant at bga@thejcpa.org

Plenum 2001: 65 days and counting….Be sure to take advantage of the "early bird" discount and send in your registration and payment before January 1st. A series of exciting, innovative and informative programs on social action and social justice…late nite sessions on breaking issues…CRC Chairs Summit with JCPA Chair Len Cole…Special sessions at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum…Join in honoring Amb. Stuart J. Eizenstat, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury…Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg on the latest developments in Israel…Dr. Bernadine Healy on the American Red Cross’ efforts to gain international recognition for Israel’s Magen David Adom…and an opportunity to laugh with friends and colleagues as The Capitol Steps take aim at the latest in politics. For more information, call 212-684-6950, ext. 200 for more information and to request your registration form.