This Week on Capitol Hill

It's another low-key week on the floors of Congress, with the House giving a final nod to outlawing discrimination based on what's in your DNA (at least when it comes to insurance and employment) and the Senate weighing in on a plan to modernize air traffic control (by tossing it up to satellites).

• see the DNA discrimination bill, HR 493
• see the federal aviation bill, HR 2881

What's Popping in May

Homeowner helper: Congress could wrap up a major mortgage bail-out bill next month. The Senate already has a small-fry housing bill in the bag, but it looks like it'll align with the House to okay $300 - $400 billion in backing for refinanced mortgages.

• see more on the housing fray

War spending: The Iraq and Afghanistan wars are due for cash infusion - and this time Congress could okay $180 billion to cover expenses for the end '08 and a good chunk of '09. As with previous war spending bills, many an extraneous measure could ride in on its coattails including: unemployment insurance extensions, a sexual orientation hate crimes bill, a hold on decreasing Medicaid payments and $3 - $4 billion for other "emergency" spending. Lawmakers may also revisit old debates over troop withdrawal timelines.

• see more on war spending and the battles over withdrawal

Farm slog: House and Senate leaders are still dotting i's and crossing t's on "the farm bill," divvying up the final numbers for spending on subsidies, tax breaks, a disaster fund and food stamps. A final bill - we know we've said this before - could be passed in the upcoming weeks.

• see more on what's in the farm bill

Budget roadmap: Congress will shoot to pass a budget resolution, outlining spending numbers for '09, before committees get to the hard core accounting of writing budget bills over the summer.

• see more on the making of budget '09

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

If you want to let your Congressfolk know where you stand on any of the issues above, you can email them through Congress.org, because...

Hey, it's your democracy too.

- teamJoe

Next update: May 5, 2008