Republican Splits May Hurt Pensions Measure, Election Prospects

[Judi Lynn]

Republican Splits May Hurt Pensions Measure, Election Prospects

July 31 (Bloomberg) -- Feuding among congressional Republicans threatens to derail two of their legislative priorities and may damage the party's chances of retaining control of the U.S. Congress in the November midterm elections.

The once-united Republicans were unable last week to come to an agreement on legislation overhauling the U.S. pensions system, and House leaders said they would continue to hold public hearings to criticize the immigration measure approved by the Republican-led Senate.

Just a year and a half after Republicans increased their majorities in both chambers in the 2004 elections, plans for overhauling Social Security, the tax code and medical malpractice have been abandoned or postponed. The bickering over pensions and immigration may heighten the anti-incumbent mood and frustration with Republican control that are increasingly evident in public opinion polls.

``The Democrats will point out that the Republicans conduct the whole orchestra -- president, Senate, House, and for the most part, the courts -- but that they have not played a note,'' said Stephen Schneck, the chairman of the politics department at Catholic University in Washington.
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