Washington - The tumultuous 107th Congress all but ended yesterday, leaving for next year and the incoming Republican majority a host of domestic policy issues pushed aside by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The Senate adjourned yesterday. The House is expected tomorrow to take a procedural step giving final approval to the new Homeland Security Department before officially ending a historic session defined by terrorism and torn by partisan divisions.

Senate Republican leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) yesterday laid out an ambitious agenda for next year. He listed steps to prompt economic growth, provide prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients, secure pensions, address rising costs and availability of health care, and act on spending bills pushed over to next year.

President George W. Bush's stalled priorities also top the to-do list, including expanding the role of religious groups in providing social services - the so-called faith-based initiative - limiting medical liability and boosting domestic energy production.

Renewing welfare programs and passing a sweeping bill that allocates the nation's highway and transit funding also are on the table.

"A lot of what we will do in the first part of next year will be to finish up work undone," Lott said. "We'll have a full load. We're going to try to think through very carefully the right timing."

The reference to timing was a recognition that Bush and his political team already are planning how the new Republican majority rolls out its agenda, creating tension between the congressional Republicans and the White House.

Democratic leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), who moves into the minority next year, named several of the same priorities, signaling possible compromise on prescription drugs, homeland security funding and new pension protections.

He accused Republicans of blocking progress on many issues for political advantage in the midterm elections and predicted more compromise next year.

Daschle said the shrill tone of today's politics, fed by conservative talk-show hosts, namely Rush Limbaugh, have turned politics into a form of disturbing entertainment that has resulted in increased death threats against him and his family.

"What happens when Rush Limbaugh attacks those of us in public life is that people aren't satisfied just to listen," he said. "They want to act because they get emotionally invested. The threats to those of us in public life go up dramatically, on our families and on us."

Contentious issues about special-interest provisions inserted by the House in the bill to collapse 22 federal agencies into a new Homeland Security Department are just one issue that could renew partisan battling next year.

Already yesterday, Lott appeared to step away from a pledge made Tuesday to remove the offending provisions from the bill, saying Republicans have promised only to consider, not make, changes.

Daschle vowed Democrats would "fight as hard as we can" to ensure the provisions are repealed. The focus of Daschle's ire is a limit on the liability of pharmaceutical companies that make vaccines. Some vaccinated children have come down with autism, and the provision would nullify lawsuits brought by their parents, Daschle said.

The failure of Congress to do its required work on 11 of the 13 appropriations bills that fund government programs, including the soon-to-be-created Homeland Security Department, also offers fertile ground for battles when Lott seeks to pass them early next year.

Robert Reischauer, a budget expert with the nonpartisan Urban Institute, a think tank, said difficult decisions about spending priorities avoided this year will force members to make tough trade-offs between education, health programs, federal parks and homeland security programs.

"There will be a more chaotic beginning to the 108th Congress," Reischauer said. "They are going to have to finish business of the previous Congress first."

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD

What the 107th Congress did and didn’t do during its two-year run.

Enacted into law

$1.35-trillion, 10-year tax cut including rate reductions and larger deductions for individuals.

Economic stimulus package of business tax cuts and expanded unemployment benefits.

Stronger powers for the president to negotiate trade treaties.

Almost $70 billion for anti-terrorism and recovery from the Sept. 11 attacks.

Resolutions authorizing President George W. Bush to use force against terrorists abroad and against Iraq.

Creation of a Department of Homeland Security.

Stronger powers for the government to investigate terrorists inside the United States.

Grants and loans to help airlines in the aftermath of the terror attacks.

Requirements for federal screening of air passengers, more federal air marshals, stronger cockpit doors.

Federally backed terrorism insurance.

Corporate Accountability Act to address crime in executive suites.

Record $355-billion defense bill and $10.5-billion military construction bill for fiscal year that started Oct. 1.

$450-billion increase in the government's debt limit to $6.4 trillion.

$190-billion, 10-year farm bill.

Expanded student testing, federal education aid linked to performance by schools.

Some loopholes closed in campaign finance laws.

Aid to states to update election equipment.

Yucca Mountain, Nev., designated as nation's nuclear waste repository.

Passed at least one chamber but not enacted

Stricter bankruptcy laws.

Expanded rights for patients.

Prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients.

$6 billion in drought aid for farmers and ranchers.

An energy policy encouraging more production.

A federal budget for the current fiscal year.

11 of the 13 spending bills for this fiscal year.

No or little progress

Reducing the federal deficit.

Long-term solvency problems for Social Security and Medicare.

SOURCE: The Associated Press