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15 Tax Foundation's Washington News 1 (1963)

handle is hein.tera/wingnews0017 and id is 1 raw text is: January 4, 1963 vol. --L_5 No.L1 920 Washington Building Washington 5, D. C. The new 88th Congress convenes next Wednesday, January 9. Shortly thereafter it will receive the President's state-of-the-union message, the budget and the economic report, and a series of special messages detailing the Administrationts legislative programs. New Congresses, however, are traditionally slow starters, one reason being that they must complete certain organizational tasks before they can start the legislative mills to grinding. At this writing it is not expected that there will be serious contests for any of the leadership posts, in either House. There are a large number of important committee assignments to be made, however, particularly in the House, and some of these could affect legislative prospects (see page 2). Initial interest centers in possible battles over rules changes in both Houses. In the Senate, the issue is the controversial Rule 22, governing the limitation of debate. Senate liberals, with some leader- ship support, may seek again to change the rule to permit either a con- stitutional majority (51 Senators) or three-fifths of those present and voting to cut off debate. A two-thirds vote is required at present. If this move is pressed, the Senate's year could start off with a lengthy filibuster. liuch more attention is focused on the House, where a new fight may be shaping up over the size of the Rules Comittee. Two years ago the Administration, with the considerable aid of the late Speaker Rayburn, succeeded in pushing through the enlargement of that key House commit- tee, from 12 to 15 members. This was done over the vigorous objections of Rules Committee Chairman Smith (D-Va.) for the admitted purpose of easing the legislative path for key Administration measures. The margin of the Administration's victory, however, was so narrow that a shift of three votes would have reversed the result; and this thin margin was achieved only after Rayburn decided to limit the change to the 87th Con- gress. Thus the size of the Rules Committee in this new Congress must a- gain be determined by the House membership. Chairman Smith has made it clear that he still favors a 12-man committee. Administration spokesmen, from the President down, have expressed the fear thatwith a 12-man group their legislative program would be emasculated. The ).ules CoiittO uue is as cooinplicaLed as cntro.ersial. It could become involved .n horse trading over some of the key committee assign- ments, with moves to curb the Rules Committee powers in other ways, or be affected by maneuvering for political advantage in the 1964 elections. Whether this will be fought out on either a party line basis or as a di- rect liberal-conservative confrontation, of the proportions of two years ago, thus remains to be seen. This may not be determined until the Hous, majority and minority hold their caucuses next week.

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