WASHINGTON — On Capitol Hill, it almost feels like 1995 again.
With year-end legislative negotiations in shambles, Congress is in a budget meltdown that draws comparison to the government shutdown led by then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) five years ago.
Humbled by their defeat in that confrontation, congressional Republicans in subsequent years more often than not sought to cut year-end deals with President Clinton.
But suddenly the political calculations have changed and the GOP is ready to fight again. Republican leaders appear to see confrontation as a useful way of mobilizing conservative supporters on election day. And, after election day, their bargaining position could be stronger if Republicans win at the polls.
Democrats, meanwhile, are happy to deprive Republicans of legislative accomplishments and continue to deride a "do-nothing" Congress.
With control of Congress and the White House on the line, tempers on both sides of the aisle are running high.
"This is the fruit of five years of conflict," said Robert D. Reischauer, president of the nonpartisan Urban Institute and former director of the Congressional Budget Office. "Feelings are as bitter as I've ever seen."
Neither Democrats nor Republicans are predicting another government shutdown. But short of that, anything is possible, including the increasing likelihood of an unusual postelection session of Congress to finish required legislation.
That scenario makes the outcome of next week's election all the more crucial for Capitol Hill lawmakers. If power is about to change hands at the White House or in the House of Representatives, a legislative free-for-all could ensue.
So far, only seven of 13 annual spending bills for the 2001 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, have become law.
A number of agencies--including the Treasury, Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Commerce, State and Justice departments--are operating on stopgap budget bills, known as continuing resolutions. Those resolutions, supported by overwhelming bipartisan majorities, are all that stands in the way of a partial government shutdown.
On Tuesday, with little else to do, Congress passed its 11th continuing resolution, this one to fund government agencies through midnight tonight.
The renewed Republican confidence in dealing with the White House is a remarkable turnaround. Only two months ago, the GOP seemed eager to reach agreement and leave town. Now, perhaps calculating that the political winds are blowing in their favor, they are willing to stand and fight.
