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14 Tax Foundation's Washington News 1 (1962)

handle is hein.tera/wingnews0016 and id is 1 raw text is: 920 Washington Building Washington 5, D. C. When the second session of the 87th Congress is gaveled into action next Wednesday it may mark the opening, from the spectators viewpoint, of one of the most interesting sessions of recent years. Every session opens with certain imponderables--circurstances or impending events--which may have significant effects upon the sessionts decisions. The 1962 session will be confronted with several such questionmarks6 First of all, 1962 is an election year, when the entire House membership and more than one- third of the Senate will be looking forward to fall campaigns. In addition, the House will begin its work under a completely new majority leadership set-up (see page 3). Even though all doubts have been removed as to the selection of the new Speaker and Majority Leader, the departure from the scene of long-time Speaker Rayburn and the shift of leadership authority in the House seems certain, for a time at least, to affect legislative developments in that body. A third and major factor could be the impending legislative battle over the proposals of President Kennedy to liberalize U.S. foreign trade policies. All reports to date, as well as past history, indicate these proposals may generate perhaps the most heated controversy of the session. If, as has been reported, the foreign trade proposals are at the top of the Administration's must list and action is sought early in the session, it seems reasonable to expect that a legislative battle of such proportions may leave in its wake wounds and scars, particularly in the House. Usually by this time there would have been an announcement of the schedule of messages which the President submits at the outset of a new session--the State of the Union, Budget, and Economic messages. No such announcement has been made as yet. According to reports, the Chief Executive plans to deliver the State of the Union address in person, probably on Thursday or Friday of next week. If past procedures are followed in releasing the budget message, the most likely date for its release would appear to be January 22. The economic report might either precede or follow the budget message. Close observers of pre-session activity and speculation may have been struck by one item which could be fiscally significant. There have been the usual leaks and rumors as to the budget totals, discussion about ex- pected increases for defense and space programs, but little said of the spending levels for non-defense programs. Most significant of all, perhaps, there has thus far been almost no mention of any economy senti- ment, either within or outside the Congress.