The Week of May 12

Wars & the dole: The Iraq and Afghanistan wars may get a hefty allowance approved by the House this week; the $184 billion bill lined up for a floor vote would cover the wars' expenses through '08 and into '09. As with all must-pass national security bills, it will come with add-ons (the better to avoid vetoes with) including: extensions for unemployment insurance, a mini GI bill, and a hold on new Medicaid regulations that would cut payments to the states. Lawmakers may take another swipe at setting a timeline for troops to come home, but that's not going to happen.

• see more on war spending, economy stimulating and withdrawal battling
  

Petroleum skirmishes: Senators will use a flood insurance bill this week, S 2284, as a soap box for some of their notions on how to bring down gas prices. Dems will push a measure to keep the president from adding to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (which will probably pass) while Republicans will rally to open up drilling in coastal waters and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (which probably won't).

• see the flood insurance bill, S 2284

• see more on the debate over gas prices and ANWR 

Farm finale (?): The House and Senate may pass a farm bill this week - no, really - but it might not be the final act for the the mammoth bill - which covers farm subsidies, conservation programs and food stamps. The president has threatened a veto, arguing that fewer wealthy farmers should be eligible for subsidies and that international food aid programs should buy more food abroad. It's a close call on whether Congress has the votes to override a veto.

• see more on what's in the farm bill

Down the pike: In the next month or so, Congress could also take a look at; a final budget resolution; a patent reform bill; alternative energy tax breaks; a possible free trade agreement with Columbia and support for downsized workers; and intelligence wiretapping rules.