The Week Ahead

Congress is due to return for its "lame duck session" on 17th November (though it won't happen if there is no agreement with the Bush administration over a stimulus package - see http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/07/dems-wont-hold-lame-duck-session-without-bush-stimulus-deal/). In the meantime there will be much jockeying for positions in the 111th Congress. There will be major changes in the Republican Conference (the term used for the Republican group within the House) in the House of Representatives. Roy Blunt has already announced he is standing down as whip. In the Democratic Party a major battle is developing over the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. John Dingell is being challenged by Henry Waxman.

Both Houses in Westminster are sitting. Monday will see opposition debates initiated by the Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons. There will be a Commons debate on Heathrow Airport on Tuesday. Both Houses will be completing the final stages of legislation as the end of the session approaches. Full details can be found at - http://services.parliament.uk/calendar/2008/11/10/week.html

Details of current Commons committee inquiries are available at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/Current%20Inquiries.pdf.
Details of Lords committees are available at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/LordsWeeklyBulletin.pdf