The Week of July 7

The Senate took off for its July 4th break with a pile of unfinished business - which it greets again this week.

Spying Rules: Senators plan to vote on a House passed surveillance bill, but not before trying to give it a civil libertarian nudge. Wrapping up a year of political posturing and negotiations, the compromise legalizes a previously "secret" wiretapping program, letting the feds listen in on alleged terrorists who are thought to be abroad, even if they're talking to Americans on US soil (as long as the stateside caller isn't the "target"). The bill also gives telecom companies immunity from law suits over their cooperation with the administration's earlier pre-legal wiretap program; that's the part some senators hope to snip out, but with little chance of success.

• see an overview of the surveillance bills and the wiretapping debate
• see the bill, HR 6304

Housing Helper: The Senate could also wrap up a housing bill that would throw a lifeline to families in mortgage-default-mode while propping up the housing market with other tax and funding boosts.

• see more on the housing collapse and DC's response

Medicare Fee Punt: Senators will also try - again - to delay a planned 10% decrease in doctors' Medicare fees. Normally a ritual Congress walks through every year, this time around Congress is stymied over how to pay for the fix; House members want to cut back funds from private Medicare companies, but that's not flying with many senators.

The House will has a slower week, with plans to vote on their first spending bill for '09 - the Military Construction/Veterans Affair bill - and not much else.