The View from Capitol Hill

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When the 109th session convenes next year, President Bush is likely to face a more defiant Congress, with some of the confrontation coming from representatives of his own party.

The growing deficit and the unease over Iraq has politicians on both sides of the aisle grumbling about Bush’s plans to reform social security and the allocation of another 60 billion dollars for the war. The Democrats are also threatening to draw the line on judicial appointments.

Some observers predict the 109th Congress could deadlock in a battle over procedural rules, and if possible, become even more entrenched along partisan lines.

Guests:

Terence Samuel, Chief Congressional Correspondent for U.S. News and World Report

David Hawkings, Managing Editor of The Weekly at Congressional Quarterly.