Timetable

The prospects:

Tax Cuts: Passed by the House, but locked in Conservative Democrat Harry Byrd's Senate Finance Committee, and won't even get to the Senate floor before Dec. 20, at which point the Senate plans to adjourn for the Christmas holidays until Jan. 2.

Civil Rights Bill: Locked in House committees until the first week of December. If it gets to the Senate, it faces a filibuster.

The betting: no tax cuts or civil rights bill this year.

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