The Month of August

Congress takes a summer break, returning September 8.

Down the Pike in 08?

Congress didn't get to finish a handful of priority crime bills last year, including a hate crime bill already passed by the House, HR 1592 (WP) and a bill that would bar terrorist suspects from buying guns (NYT) - although at the last minute it did tighten mental health background checks for gun buyers (WP). Lawmakers may, however, get around to taking back a gambling law that penalized banks for allowing transfers to online betting outfits.