A Special Weekly Report From The Wall Street Journal's Capital Bureau
REPUBLICANS TRIM agenda and seek small successes by year end.</br></br>After already having dropped Social Security, Senate leaders defer action on making President Bush's tax cuts permanent. House leaders push ahead on immigration-law overhaul; Senate Leader Frist pushes action on that and on asbestos liability into the 2006 election year.</br></br>Congressional leaders will claim victory if they can send a deficit- reduction bill, appropriations measures and avian-flu money to the White House after a brief post-Thanksgiving December session. "I don't think there's going to be much else" accomplished, says Arizona Sen. McCain. Democratic leaders begin unveiling priorities with $128 billion "innovation agenda" increasing funds for basic research, science education and broadband access.</br></br>House Minority Leader Pelosi vows "pay-as-you-go budgeting" but doesn't specify financing.</br></br>DEMOCRATS FACE pressure to fight Alito but won't promise filibuster.